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Colmar Christmas Market 2026: Best Markets & Hidden Gems
By Viktorija Dvariskyte · Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
The Colmar Christmas market returns from Monday 23 November to Tuesday 29 December 2026, according to listings from the Colmar tourist office. Rather than one big square, Colmar spreads its Christmas magic across several markets in the Old Town, each with its own theme, linked by lanes of half-timbered houses lit up for the season. Entry to every market is free.
Colmar, the capital of the Alsace wine region, is often voted one of the most beautiful Christmas destinations in Europe. This guide covers the 4 main Colmar Christmas market sites, plus a day trip to Kaysersberg. Each entry has the location, how to get there and a Pro Tip.
Everything in the Old Town is within a 15-minute walk. The order starts at the Place des Dominicains in the north, heads south through the Place de l'Ancienne Douane and the Place Jeanne d'Arc, and ends in Little Venice, before a final trip out into the Alsace wine villages.
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1Place des Dominicains - Christmas Market Beside the Gothic Church
The market on the Place des Dominicains sets up around the Dominican Church, a Gothic church whose medieval stained-glass windows glow after dark. It is one of the largest Colmar Christmas market sites, with wooden chalets selling Christmas decorations, crafts, local food and Alsace wine.
The 2026 season runs from 23 November to 29 December. Hours for 2026 had not been published at the time of writing; listings show the markets opening from late morning until early evening, with later closing at weekends in past years.
Inside the church, the famous painting Virgin of the Rose Bush by Martin Schongauer is on display, and it makes a peaceful break from the crowds.
2Place de l'Ancienne Douane and the Koïfhus - Artisans Under One Roof
The Place de l'Ancienne Douane is the heart of the Old Town, dominated by the Koïfhus, Colmar's old customs house with its colourful glazed-tile roof. Chalets fill the square outside, while inside the medieval building an indoor market brings together around twenty local artisans.
The Koïfhus market is a highlight for anyone looking for handmade gifts, with ceramicists, potters, glassblowers, woodworkers, hat makers and jewellers selling their work. Being indoors, it is also a welcome place to warm up on a cold day.
Both the square and the indoor market run from 23 November to 29 December 2026, according to the tourist office listings.
3Place Jeanne d'Arc - The Traditional Alsatian Village Market
The market on the Place Jeanne d'Arc recreates the atmosphere of a small traditional Alsatian village, with little Christmas houses, a church and even a small flock of sheep, all overlooked by a row of half-timbered houses. It is the most intimate of the Colmar Christmas markets.
It focuses on authentic local produce, making it the best place to taste and buy Alsatian specialities. Look out for foie gras, charcuterie, Alsace wines, fruit brandies, Bredele biscuits and gingerbread.
The market runs from 23 November to 29 December 2026, and many visitors make it their first stop for edible gifts to take home.
Check dates for Colmar
See what is available on your dates.
4Little Venice Children's Christmas Market - By the Canal
Little Venice (Petite Venise), the picturesque canal district of Colmar, hosts a Christmas market dedicated to children. Chalets line the banks of the Lauch river around the Place des Six Montagnes Noires, with toys, sweets and games, and Father Christmas usually welcomes young visitors.
The setting is the most photogenic in Colmar, with pastel half-timbered houses reflected in the canal and lights strung along the water. Flat-bottomed boat rides on the canal sometimes run during the season, depending on the weather.
Even without children, it is well worth a visit after dark for the views across the illuminated canal.
5Kaysersberg and the Alsace Christmas Shuttles - A Wine Village Day Trip
Kaysersberg, a medieval wine village below a ruined castle, hosts one of the most charming Christmas markets in Alsace. The 2026 market runs from 27 November to 20 December, with stalls filling the narrow streets of the old village around its fortified bridge.
During the same period, Christmas shuttles (Navettes de Noël) run from Colmar station to the Christmas markets of nearby villages, making it easy to visit without a car. Other popular stops include Eguisheim, Riquewihr and Turckheim, each with its own small market.
The shuttles avoid the parking problems that affect the wine villages on busy weekends. Kaysersberg is also the birthplace of Albert Schweitzer.
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Colmar Christmas Market 2026: Dates, Markets & Tips - FAQ
The Colmar Christmas markets run from 23 November to 29 December 2026, according to listings from the Colmar tourist office. Opening hours for 2026 had not been published at the time of writing, so check the official Colmar tourism website before you visit.
Colmar has several Christmas markets spread across the Old Town rather than one single market. The main sites are the Place des Dominicains, the Place de l'Ancienne Douane with the indoor Koïfhus market, the Place Jeanne d'Arc and the children's market in Little Venice.
Yes, all the Colmar Christmas markets are free to enter. You pay for food, drinks and gifts. Mulled wine (vin chaud) is usually served in a reusable cup with a deposit that you get back when you return it.
Yes, mostly. All four Colmar Christmas market sites are within a 15-minute walk of each other in the Old Town. Kaysersberg is best as a separate half-day trip using the Christmas shuttle from Colmar station.
Try Bredele, small Alsatian Christmas biscuits, along with gingerbread, tarte flambée, bretzels, foie gras and vin chaud. Alsace wines such as Riesling and Gewurztraminer are a classic gift, and the Place Jeanne d'Arc market is the best place to find local produce.
Both are worth visiting, and they are only about 30 minutes apart by train. Strasbourg has the bigger, older market and a grander cathedral setting, while Colmar is smaller, more intimate and famous for its half-timbered houses and Little Venice.
Colmar station is a 15-minute walk from the Old Town, with direct TGV trains from Paris and regional trains from Strasbourg in about 30 minutes. The Old Town is closed to traffic while the markets are open, so if you drive, use the park-and-ride at the Parc des Expositions, which runs on weekends during the season.
Yes, the Colmar Christmas markets open on 25 and 26 December, after closing early, around 5pm, on Christmas Eve. Listings give slightly different hours for Christmas Day, so check the official Colmar Christmas website before you go.
Yes. The wine villages of Kaysersberg, Eguisheim, Riquewihr and Turckheim all hold small Christmas markets, and Christmas shuttle buses link them to Colmar on weekends. Some village markets close from 24 to 26 December, so check dates before planning a day trip.
Weekday mornings are the calmest time to browse, while weekends in December are very crowded. Stay until dark to see the Old Town and Little Venice lit up, and finish at the Place des Dominicains in the evening.
