Ah, Bienvenue à Colmar! 🍁
During my last business trip to France, I decided to treat myself to a week-long holiday after a long project. Originally, the plan was Paris, then a whirlwind tour through Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands before heading back to Lille for work. But fate, or maybe just Instagram, had other plans! One beautiful day, scrolling through pics, I stumbled upon Colmar. It instantly became a must-see on my bucket list, and that's where my love affair with this "Little Venice" began! 😉
Colmar is nestled in northeastern France, a town in the Alsace region – the third largest in the area, and smack-dab on the famous Route du Vin (wine route)! This route winds through key cities like Strasbourg, Colmar, Eguisheim, and Riquewihr. And in Colmar, no one can miss Petite Venise – Little Venice. True to its name, Petite Venise is tiny, tucked neatly between Marché couvert, Quai de la Poisonnerie, and bordering Saint-Pierre street. It's a maze of charming canals and quaint houses, and I, a small and delighted traveler, happily lost myself in this fairytale village.
1. Getting Around:
You can reach Colmar from Paris in several ways. For a budget-friendly option, hop on a FLIXBUS or ISILINES night bus for around €22-€25 (check goeuro.com). It's about an 8-hour journey. Alternatively, take the TGV – pricier, but only a 2.5-hour ride. I opted for the TGV because, for me, saving time is worth more than saving money. It's less tiring and allows more time to explore! Speaking of which, let me tell you about a ridiculously forgettable episode that became a travel lesson. I booked a TGV ticket with OUIGO more than a week in advance for only €39. OUIGO has only one daily departure to Colmar from Gare de l'Est at 9:25 am. The day before, I went sightseeing in Paris, and I was so exhausted that I didn't bother re-checking the ticket and was under the impression that my train was at 11 AM. Of course, I arrived at the station late and had to buy a last-minute ticket for a heart-stopping €105! That definitely made my Colmar trip more "valuable," I could've easily spent a week vacationing in Thailand for the cost of getting there!
2. Where to Stay:
Arriving in Colmar at 7:30 PM, I headed to my hotel to check in and relax before exploring Colmar by night. Hotels in central Colmar are quite expensive. I chose Brit Hotel Primo Colmar Centre because it was close to both the train station and the city center at €56 per night/person. After arriving at the hotel, I was exhausted from walking a lot in Paris the day before, so I decided to pack, take a shower, and get some sleep to get ready for a fun night out. :)
3. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry:
Colmar is truly magical at night. The colorful lights, the restaurants along the canals shimmering in the water with graceful swans, and the charming streets with their vibrant houses – it's all enchanting. Wandering around, I stumbled upon a wine bar inside an old building. Behind the bar stood a beautiful French woman. I asked her for a glass of Rosé d'Alsace 2017. Enjoying a glass of wine next to the La Lauch river in the cool air was heartwarming and blissful. Seriously, the wine here is incredible! Later, back in Lille, my colleagues shared that white wine is a Colmar specialty. After soaking up the Colmar night air, I headed back to the hotel, feeling quite hungry. By chance, I found a Kebab shop – a traditional family-run place, I think. After a helpful recommendation from the friendly owner, I chose a Tacos kebab for €4.5. It was absolutely worth it – huge, delicious, I have no words. Happy end to the night. :)
Just breathing the morning air in Colmar feels satisfying. Strolling around, I discovered a cute little bakery and chocolatier and decided to have breakfast there. I had a croissant and a Bretzels – a local specialty. Although, I wasn't a huge fan – it was too salty, truly salty like sea salt, made me incredibly thirsty! :)) Colmar is also known for Choucroute, but I didn't know about it at the time. Back in France, a colleague recommended buying canned versions at the supermarket to try back in Vietnam. Next time! I kept exploring the side streets for photo ops, waiting for the Marché couvert farmers market to open at 10 am. The Marché Couvert was built long ago, from 1863-1865 by architect Louis-Michel Boltz, the market opens from 10:00 in the morning. The Marché Couvert is near Petite Venise and sells all kinds of fruits and vegetables, as well as canned goods and locally produced wines. Seeing the fresh mint and basil, the juicy red tomatoes, and the tiny, perfect beets made my inner chef bubble with excitement! I wanted to buy everything but couldn't do much without a kitchen. Sigh. I did, however, buy delicious fresh milk that was surprisingly cheap – only €1.50 per liter!
Colmar is renowned as one of the most beautiful villages in France, located about 64 km southwest of Strasbourg – the capital of the Alsace region. Colmar is famous for its Christmas market during the Noel season, actually, they sell christmas-themed items all year round in the shops so it's not as special. I visited in the summer, so I missed out on that Christmas atmosphere.
If you visit Colmar, you'll notice that most houses are built from wood and are meticulously maintained, with neat, square windows. Each house has a different color, making Colmar even more charming.
Colmar has two iconic symbols: First, the Stork: In Western cultures, storks symbolize good luck, prosperity, and wealth; and deliver newborn babies to parents and families. Anyone who's seen the movie "Storks" will better understand this. Second, Mr. Bartholdi: Remember the Statue of Liberty in New York, USA? It was a gift from France! Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, a Colmar resident, was the sculptor who created this masterpiece. There's a small museum dedicated to him, showcasing images and items from his work and life. A small replica of the Statue of Liberty stands on the highway leading into Colmar. Within the town, many construction sites display his statue, and there's even a street named after him.
Colmar is small, so you can explore the entire town in just one day, but I chose to stay for two days and one night to fully enjoy Colmar at night.
Yeahhh. A truly perfect and meaningful destination in my life. If I have the chance, I'll come back during the Noel season to fully experience the Christmas atmosphere here. 😘
Book your Colmar hotel here: Colmar Hotel
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