Colmar Travel Guide

Colmar is loveliest from April to October, when the green vines and painted half-timbered houses glow in the light; the late-September wine harvest and December Christmas market add their own magic. Recommended: take a punt through Little Venice's canals to admire the houses from the water, visit the Unterlinden Museum and the Bartholdi house, wander the Tanners' Quarter's timber lanes, and head out to the Wine Route for a taste of Riesling or Gewürztraminer. Compact and easy on foot or by bike, it pairs naturally with Strasbourg and villages like Riquewihr. Expect busy, tourist-level pricing, especially at Christmas and in summer — book early. Colour, canals, food and wine make this 'Little Venice' one of France's most fairytale towns.