ADVENT 2026 · COLMAR · WEEKEND TRIP
Colmar Christmas market weekend: arrival, where to stay and a two-day plan
Two days in Colmar are enough for two clear interests and a relaxed pace, not for six compulsory stops. Arrive by train and walk in from the station, or use the park and ride on the Advent weekends. This page shows how to put the days together and get home again.
How do you plan a Christmas market weekend in Colmar?
Choose two interests, for example craft and food, or books and a family afternoon. On Saturday, start at the Dominican Library, which opens at 10:00 that day, then visit Place des Dominicains and end with dinner at the Marché gourmand. On Sunday, when the library is closed, begin at the Toy Museum or combine the Koïfhus with Ancienne Douane, and finish with the Unterlinden light show. Arrive by train and walk in along Avenue de la République, or by car on one of the eight park and ride dates.
- Train
- Station southwest of old town
- Park and ride
- €5 per day, 8 dates
- Trace 72-hour
- €7 per person
- Library
- Saturday yes, Sunday closed
How do you get to the Colmar Christmas markets?
The guide describes three ways in: on foot from the station, by local bus, or by car with park and ride on selected dates.
From the station on foot
Colmar station lies southwest of the old town. The official Christmas map shows a pedestrian approach along Avenue de la République towards the centre. It is an orientation, not a measured walking time or a checked accessible route, so plan the way to your accommodation separately if you have luggage or children with you.
Trace local buses
A single ticket costs €1.50 and is valid for one hour; ten journeys cost €11 and the 72-hour ticket €7. The tourism office announces free public transport within the agglomeration on 5/6, 12/13 and 19/20 December. Routes may change in the Christmas season, so check Trace for your actual date.
Park and ride at the Parc des Expositions
Announced for 28 and 29 November and 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December 2026, at €5 per day including the return shuttle to Rue Saint-Eloi. Last departures back: Saturday 23:30, Sunday 21:10. It does not run on 26 and 27 December. Vehicle access to the centre is restricted during market hours.
Where should you stay for a Colmar Christmas market weekend?
The guide does not recommend individual hotels. It suggests choosing your accommodation around your arrival and your evening plans.
Start from the station
If you arrive by train with luggage, check the actual route from the station, the check-in time and luggage storage. An old-town address alone is not enough: steps, an entrance on a narrow street or a late check-in can affect your day more than the distance to a market.
Think about the way back
Decide on your main evening destination first: the Marché gourmand, a restaurant or the Unterlinden light show. Then compare routes back from there. A hotel close to one market is not necessarily convenient for everything else, and the market's closing time does not guarantee a suitable bus.
Parking and access
Ask whether the advertised parking is included, how to reach it and when you can leave. Because vehicle access to the centre is restricted during market hours, request current arrival directions. Check cancellation terms, breakfast times and luggage services against the actual booking.
What does a two-day Colmar Christmas trip look like?
Two interests instead of six stops. Use the first evening to note what you want to follow up on day two.
Books, gifts and dinner
On Saturday the Dominican Library museum trail opens at 10:00. Afterwards, the Dominicains market is right next door for decorations and small gifts. In the late afternoon, choose Place Jeanne d'Arc for regional biscuits and gingerbread, and end the day at the Marché gourmand, open until 22:00.
Craft and a light show
On Sunday the library is closed. Begin at the Toy Museum from 10:00 if you travel with children, or go straight to the Koïfhus and Ancienne Douane to follow up a gift idea from day one. From 16:00, use the Unterlinden event ticket for the light show, if it runs on your date.
Leave a buffer
Save your train departure and allow a separate buffer between the market and the station. If you came by park and ride on a Sunday, the last announced shuttle back leaves at 21:10. Large purchases are easier to collect at the end, so agree that with the stall in advance.
Weekend plan: Saturday and Sunday
Based on the guide's two-day route, for a weekend in the main season. Adjust it to your date.
-
Sat · 10:00
Dominican Library
Free museum trail; Saturday is one of its morning-opening days.
-
Sat · Midday
Place des Dominicains
Decorations and gifts in front of the church; markets open from 10:00 at weekends.
-
Sat · Afternoon
Place Jeanne d'Arc
Regional food to take home; ask about storage and transport.
-
Sat · Evening
Marché gourmand
Nine huts, standing tables, open until 22:00.
-
Sun · 10:00
Toy Museum or Koïfhus
Museum with the family, or craft at 29 Grand'Rue.
-
Sun · Afternoon
Ancienne Douane and Petite Venise
Outdoor browsing, then the letterbox and carousel at Place des Six Montagnes Noires.
-
Sun · 17:00
Light show, then home
Unterlinden projections on show days, then your checked connection back.
Weekend checklist
Your weekend in one PDF
The Colmar guide includes six routes, including the two-day plan this page is based on, plus arrival from the station, Trace fares, the park and ride timetable and notes on choosing accommodation. Planner pages let you write down your own connections and breaks.
- Two-day route and five other plans
- Train, bus and park and ride details
- Budget table with published prices
Frequently asked questions
Is a weekend enough for the Colmar Christmas markets?
Yes, if you plan around two interests rather than all six markets. The guide's two-day route combines a museum or library with a matching market on day one, and the Koïfhus with Ancienne Douane on day two, finishing with either the Marché gourmand or the Unterlinden light show.
How do I get from Colmar station to the Christmas markets?
The station lies southwest of the old town. The official Christmas map shows a pedestrian approach along Avenue de la République towards the centre. There is no measured walking time in the guide. With luggage or reduced mobility, plan the connection separately, or check Trace buses for your travel date.
Where can I park for the Colmar Christmas market?
On eight dates in 2026 there is park and ride at the Parc des Expositions: 28 and 29 November and 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December. It costs €5 per day including the return shuttle to Rue Saint-Eloi. It does not run on 26 and 27 December, so plan another option for those days.
Is public transport free in Colmar during Advent?
The tourism office announces free public transport within the agglomeration on 5/6, 12/13 and 19/20 December 2026. Before you rely on it, check with the operator Trace whether your particular journey is covered. Regional Christmas shuttles are not automatically included in regular tickets.
More for your Advent trip
Research status 28 October 2026; Tabiara is an independent guide, not an official publication, so please check the official sources before travelling.