Christmas market in Colmar: six fairs, hours and a car-free route
The market in Colmar runs from November 23 through December 29, 2026 (as of 09/2026, festival calendar). Six markets are located within the old town, and you can walk between them. One day is enough to cover the entire program.
There's only one problem: from Friday through Sunday, the lanes get crowded. You'll stand in line for mulled wine longer than it takes to walk to the next square. On weekdays it's a different story: the same stalls, the same lights, but no crush of people.
Below are the dates and opening hours for 2026, a breakdown of all six markets, a weekend plan, and how to get to Colmar without a car.
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What to know about the Colmar market
💡 In short:
- The markets are open from 23.11 through 29.12.2026, and entry to each one is free.
- It's quietest from Monday through Thursday, and the lights come on at dusk.
- Dates and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the organizers' website.
Colmar in December means six markets within a single pedestrian zone. Half-timbered houses and canals serve as the backdrop, and you don't need to look for it: it's all around you.
What's great. The lighting highlights the old facades rather than the garlands themselves. The town is a comfortable size: you can walk everywhere, but you won't get bored. The goods at the stalls are mostly handmade, and it shows in the finish and quality.
- The catch: from Friday through Sunday there are simply too many people, so come Monday through Thursday.
Dates and opening hours in 2026
We checked the dates and hours below with the festival organizers in September 2026 (as of 09/2026, organizers' program). The markets are open every day, but the schedule depends on the day of the week.
© --sinava-- from Berlin · CC BYPhoto: --sinava-- from Berlin, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsDays | Opening hours |
|---|---|
Monday-Thursday | 11:00-19:00 |
Friday-Sunday | 10:00-20:00 |
Source: schedule on noel-colmar.com, data as of 09/2026.
On holidays the schedule shifts:
Date | Opening hours |
|---|---|
December 24 | 11:00-17:00 |
December 25 | 11:00-19:00 |
December 26 | 10:00-20:00 |
Source: official program, data as of 09/2026.
The Marché Gourmand on Rue de la Montagne Verte, the Ferris wheel on Rue des Chasseurs, and the rides on place Rapp stay open longer than the markets, until January 3, 2027. They welcome visitors daily from 11:00 to 22:00, and on December 31 they close earlier, at 17:00 (as of 09/2026, noel-colmar.com).
City of lights: decor and illumination
Colmar is beautiful year-round, but during Advent it looks more put together. Half-timbered facades, cobblestones, the canals of the Petite Venise quarter: the light picks out details that are easy to miss during the day.
Look up. Decorations hang on facades and in windows, garlands are strung across the lanes, and the densest installations are on Rue des Tanneurs. At dusk the city transforms, and it's worth walking the same streets a second time.
Scents are part of the experience too: gingerbread, cakes, and mulled wine waft from every other stall. The goods on display are made by local artisans, not souvenir factories.
The advice is simple. Come on a weekday, and you'll have time for photos and a relaxed dinner. On weekends, head out in the morning before the tour groups arrive.
Six markets in the old town
Colmar hosts six Christmas markets. They're all close to one another, and you can cover them in a day. Each has its own character and its own crowd.
Place des Dominicains: the market by the old church
This is the city's most traditional and most visited market, set up against the walls of the Dominican church. The atmosphere is defined by the Gothic facade, which is lit up in the evening. It has the most sweets and souvenirs, so on weekends this square gets the most crowded.
© Gzen92 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Gzen92, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons- Cost: free entry.
- Who it's for / Not for: for a first introduction to the city; not for those looking for quiet on a weekend.
Place de l'Ancienne Douane: the market by the Schwendi fountain
The square surrounds the old Schwendi fountain. The focus here is on food: tarte flambée, sausages, Alsatian cheeses. Tables are set up right there, so you can eat on the spot without hunting for a cafe.
© --sinava-- from Berlin · CC BYPhoto: --sinava-- from Berlin, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons- Who it's for / Not for: for those who came for the food; not for those who only want souvenirs.
Koïfhus: the indoor artisans' market
Koïfhus, the former customs house, operates as an indoor market in winter. It's warm inside, and in December that's a real plus. Vendors sell ceramics, hand-blown glass, wooden sculptures, and jewelry made by local artisans.
© stefano Merli from legnano, italy · CC BY-SAPhoto: stefano Merli from legnano, italy, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsPetite Venise: the market for children
On place des Six Montagnes Noires, in the Petite Venise quarter, there's a children's market. It has carousels, rabbits, sheep, and chickens, and a large mailbox for letters to Santa Claus. Every child who drops off a letter gets a reply, and some letters are entered into a gift drawing.
© Maksym Kozlenko · CC BY-SAPhoto: Maksym Kozlenko, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsPlace Jeanne d'Arc: the food market
This square is given over to food lovers: regional specialties, tastings, stalls with local products. It's a good place to put together a basket of edible gifts.
© joergens.mi · CC BY-SAPhoto: joergens.mi, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsMarché Gourmand: dinner at a shared table
On Rue de la Montagne Verte you can sit down and order Alsatian dishes cooked right in front of you. This isn't a quick bite on the go, it's a full dinner.
Beyond the six markets, there's a Ferris wheel on Rue des Chasseurs and a small amusement area on place Rapp. A ride on the wheel gives you a view of the illuminated city from above.
Tours and tickets in Colmar
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What to see over a weekend
Colmar isn't just about market stalls. We've picked what's worth adding to your Saturday and Sunday plans, with time to spare.
For adults
- Carrousel-Bar on place Rapp: mulled wine or Christmas beer at the counter of a slowly rotating carousel. You sit at the counter, not on the horses.
- Exhibition in the Dominican church: around twenty artisans show selected works, and entry costs less than a cup of coffee.
- Light show at Unterlinden: the cloister of the Unterlinden Museum turns into a projection space in the afternoon.
For the whole family
- Ferris wheel: a ride above the rooftops with a panorama of the illuminated city.
- Children singing on boats: children's choirs perform on flat-bottomed boats in the canals of Petite Venise, usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays toward evening.
For children
- The carousel on place Rapp.
- A small toy exhibition on the second floor of Koïfhus.
- The market in Petite Venise with the Santa Claus mailbox.
Nearby you'll find Christmas markets all over Alsace, from Kaysersberg to Riquewihr, and we have separate articles about them.
© Gzen92 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Gzen92, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsLocal tips: mulled wine, food, and lodging
Where to find the best mulled wine
- White wine: the Chez Alex stall at the children's market. They also serve hot spiced apple juice.
- Red wine: the Domaine Martin Jund chalet on place Jeanne d'Arc. This is organic, locally produced mulled wine made right in Colmar.
Where to grab a bite along the way
- Gugelhupf for breakfast: pick up fresh pastries at the L'Enfariné bakery under Colmar's covered market (Marché couvert).
- Tea rooms: if you're chilled to the bone, stop into a tea room for hot chocolate and a pastry.
Where to stay and have dinner
- Accommodation: rooms in Colmar get booked up from late summer, so reserve early. Check availability and prices on Trip.com.
- Dinner: in December, many wine taverns (Winstub) don't take weekend reservations. Book a table on a weekday or arrive at opening time.
© 0x010C · CC BY-SAPhoto: 0x010C, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsHow to get there and where to park
The old town is closed to cars during the holidays. Driving there is inconvenient, so leave your car at the entrance to the city.
- By train: Colmar station is within walking distance of the first market. TER trains connect the city with Mulhouse and Strasbourg, and the journey takes under an hour (according to the practical information page).
- Christmas shuttles: if you're staying in Colmar and want to see the neighboring villages (Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Eguisheim), use the special bus routes.
- By car: don't try to park in the center. Follow the signs to the P+R park-and-ride lots near the exhibition center or the station. You can leave your car there for free, and a shuttle will take you to the center.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much time do you need to see the Christmas market in Colmar?
One day is enough to cover all six markets: the old town is walkable. Stay until dark, and you'll catch the lights being switched on. On the same day you'll also have time to ride the Ferris wheel, sit in a tea room, and have dinner.
Is the market open on December 25, 2026?
Yes. According to the organizers' program, the chalets are open on December 25 from 11:00 to 19:00 (as of 09/2026, organizers' program). It's one of the few major markets in Alsace open on the first day of Christmas. Some stalls may be closed that day, so don't count on the full range of food.
Where and when can you see children singing on boats?
Choirs perform in the Petite Venise district: children board illuminated flat-bottomed boats and sing from the water. This usually happens in the afternoon on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The spot is popular, so get to the embankment early, otherwise you won't get a good view or a place to stand.
Where in Colmar can you buy handmade goods?
Head to the Koïfhus covered market, the former medieval customs house. It's been entirely given over to artisans from the region.
How do you get to the wine villages without a car?
Christmas shuttles called Pays des Étoiles run from Colmar station to the wine villages. That way you don't have to look for parking in the villages and you pay less than for a taxi.
In short: what's worth booking
Colmar ticks two boxes at once: you see a beautiful old town and visit one of the main Christmas markets in Alsace. Entry to the markets is free, and the whole program fits into one day (as of 09/2026, holiday program).
- If you have one evening: start at place des Dominicains and finish with dinner at Marché Gourmand.
- If you're traveling with children: plan for Petite Venise, the carousels, and the Ferris wheel.
- If you're looking for gifts: head straight to the Koïfhus covered market.
- If you don't have a car: stay in the old town and book your room in advance.
Accommodation in December sells out quickly, so compare Colmar hotels on Trip.com before you pick your dates.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.