Colmar was the first town in the Alsace area of France that I visited. It was most definitely not the last. I love the entire region. I've done 3 day trips to Colmar - my first was the Christmas market. It was back in the day when I'd type the city name into my map & just go. At that time my research consisted of finding pretty places to photograph. I hope you find some helpful information & are inspired to visit this picturesque town.
Driving from the Ramstein area:
From the Ramstein area, the trip is about 2.5 hours one way. As a day trip, it may not be ideal for families with little kids or those on a time crunch. You may want to consider spending the night or making it your base for a few nights to visit different towns in the Alsace area. Some of my favorites: Riquehihr, Eguisheim, Kaysersberg, & Strasbourg. (Stay tuned for more videos & posts on these towns).
There are a few routes if you drive to Colmar. Most of the quicker routes require you to drive on the A4 in France with tolls. For a day trip, I normally pay it, at least one way. When you approach the toll booths the first time, you will take the printed ticket. Look for the lanes with the Euro signs. You pay when you exit. The machines take tap & pay, credit cards & cash. Tolls are 3.95 - 7 euro depending on the route. There are a few routes with no tolls that can add up to 30 minutes.
Parking
There are lots of areas available for parking including garages, lots & street parking. I was able to fit my older model Ford Explorer in this lot (Parking Montagne Verte). It's also is a short walk to market 2 of the Christmas Market. I really enjoyed parking at Parking Turenne. It is very close to La Petite Venise but qualifies as European tight parking spots. I had our other car & not sure I would have gotten the Explorer in there. The payment machines take euro, card, tap & pay or parking apps. Pay first then take the ticket & display it in your windshield. Make sure you know your license plate number as well.
Parking Apps: https://www.colmar.fr/paybyphone-easypark-flowbird
Getting Acquainted with the Colmar
The first thing I do after parking the car & finding the toilet is to head to the tourist center. Keep in mind, the tourism offices in Alsace close for at least an hour in the afternoon. Current hours are Monday - Saturday 1000-1300/1400-1700 and closed Sundays. They have information about Colmar, nearby Alsatian towns & souvenirs.
Alsace website
Colmar Tourism website
Both of these websites offer a wealth of information. If you like to plan there is information on museums, restaurants, hotels, etc. The Alsace website allows you to order paper maps & brochures to be sent to your local address or download.
Shopping
I love shopping in the Alsace region for gifts. I shop a mix or small businesses, creative artisans and the grocery store - stay with me on this one!
This is a boutique with hand sewn goods. The fabrics are designed by the owner. There are some cute French inspired prints. I bought a kitchen towel with line drawings of Colmar buildings & a zip pouch I’m using to hold my masks. There were a variety of kitchen/housewares, accessories & clothing.
How many of you collect Starbucks mugs? I was excited to get a Colmar mug to add to my collection. There is also a general France one available. Sometimes they have it, I saw it last at the Starbucks in Strasbourg.
STEMPELFABRIK
For those of you that like to create cards or travel journal, I found a local artist that creates her own stamp line. There are quite a few designs that are Alsace related. These can be purchased at the tourist office. She also has her own location, but that’s on my list to visit next time!
GROCERY STORES
I have a few favorites I visit when I go to France. There’s Cora, Leclerc, & Monoprix. In Colmar, consider visiting the Cora on the way out of town. This location is huge & clean. (You can also see the traffic circle with the Statue of Liberty.) I buy baked goods to bring home to the family. I’ve also picked up fresh baguettes & the salted butter for newcomers as part of their welcome package. If you want some goodies to send in care packages, there is a good selection of housewares: hotpads, dish towels, mugs, wine glasses. I even found some Alsace themed baking supplies.
Are you interested in all the locations I’ve visited? It’s all together in one list on my Google map of Colmar.