Colmar Christmas Market Opening Hours & Survival Guide

Six markets, different closing times, and one quiet hour most visitors miss. Knowing the Colmar Christmas market opening hours changes everything here. Arrive at the right moment, and you browse in peace. Show up at the wrong one, and you shuffle through crowds. Below, you will find the full schedule, plus my survival tips for the busiest weeks.

Quick Info

Colmar Christmas Market Opening Hours

The regular Colmar Christmas market opening hours are simple. From Monday to Thursday, stalls open from 11:00 to 19:00. Friday to Sunday brings longer hours, from 10:00 to 20:00. You gain an hour at each end.

The Marché Gourmand plays by its own rules. This food market stays open until 22:00 every day. On weekday evenings, it becomes the town’s main meeting point once the other stalls close.

The holidays bring a few changes. On 24 December, stalls close early, around 17:00. Christmas Day brings shorter hours, usually around 11:00 to 19:00. By 26 December, longer hours usually return.

Hours can shift slightly from year to year. Check the official Colmar Christmas website shortly before your trip. On the day, arrive about 15 minutes before opening to grab the best spots.

Colmar Christmas Market Dates

The Colmar Christmas market dates run from 23 November to 29 December 2026. That gives you more than five weeks of festive evenings. The Marché Gourmand and Place Rapp stay open even longer, until 3 January. Visiting after 29 December? Focus on those two.

A few special dates are worth noting. The children’s choir in Petite Venise performs from 25 November to 19 December. Shows usually take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 17:00 to 18:00.

The Christmas shuttle buses to the wine villages also follow their own calendar. Tickets go on sale online in mid-November, and popular days sell out fast.

Driving in? The Park and Ride outside town runs on December weekends. Free buses link it with the center. In past years, these free shuttles did not run on 25 and 26 December. On some December weekends, local buses in the Colmar area are free, too.

Official Schedule and Top Things to Do in Colmar Winter

Beyond the stalls, there are plenty of things to do in Colmar in winter. Here are the moments I would plan around.

Catch the Boat Choir in Petite Venise

This was the highlight of my whole stay.

One Wednesday, around 17:00, I stood by the canal in Petite Venise. The lights had just come on, and darkness was settling over the water. Slowly, a small boat appeared. On board, a children’s choir was singing Christmas carols. Everyone around me went quiet, and even the phones came down for a moment. It is still my favorite memory of Colmar. Even though I am not very religious, Christmas here is something else, isn’t it?

Arrive a little early to find a spot along the canal. The banks fill up quickly, so bring a warm drink for the wait. Kids can also post letters to Santa at the giant mailbox nearby.

Visit the Unterlinden Museum

On busy afternoons, this museum feels like a quiet refuge. It houses the famous Isenheim Altarpiece. Spend an hour or two here while the crowds peak outside. It is warm, too, which helps on damp afternoons.

Browse the Koïfhus Indoor Market

The Koïfhus is Colmar’s only indoor Christmas market. Ceramic artists, glassblowers and woodcarvers fill the historic hall. It is the perfect plan for a rainy day. Many pieces are one of a kind.

Ride the Ferris Wheel and Skate at Place Rapp

Place Rapp adds a Ferris wheel and an ice rink to the festive mix. Both are open until 3 January. Kids love it, and the views from the top are lovely. Go after dark to see the lit rooftops.

Dine at the Marché Gourmand

Nine chefs serve everything from oysters to Alsace classics. It stays open until 22:00, so it is the best place for a late dinner. Try a tarte flambée straight from the oven.

Explore Beyond Colmar

The wine villages make wonderful day trips. Christmas shuttle buses leave from Colmar station, and tickets are sold online only. Village days fit neatly into a 2-day Colmar itinerary, with Colmar itself on day one. Prefer a guided day? Join a Christmas market tour across three countries, starting right in Colmar.

A Perfect Day Around the Opening Hours

Here is how I would use the Colmar Christmas market opening hours, Monday to Thursday.

Start at 11:00, right as the stalls open. Browse Place des Dominicains and Ancienne Douane while they are still calm. Around lunchtime, grab a bite in a café rather than at the busiest stalls.

In the early afternoon, the crowds build. That is your cue for the Unterlinden Museum. By 16:30, darkness falls, and Petite Venise begins to glow. On a Wednesday, stay for the boat choir at 17:00.

At 19:00, the regular stalls close from Monday to Thursday. Head to the Marché Gourmand for dinner, since it stays open until 22:00. Finish with a ride on the Ferris wheel at Place Rapp.

From Friday to Sunday, shift the start to 10:00, when the stalls open. They also stay open until 20:00, which gives you an extra hour at night. Expect bigger crowds, so arrive right at opening.

Colmar Photography Spots

Colmar is a photographer’s dream in December. Timing matters even more than location, though. These are my favorite Colmar photography spots. Charge your phone fully, because the cold drains batteries fast.

Place des Dominicains at opening time. Arrive right as the stalls open. The square is calm, and the church’s stained glass glows above the chalets.

Petite Venise at blue hour. Dusk begins around 16:30. For about 45 minutes, the sky turns deep blue while the houses light up. Their reflections in the canal look magical.

The Koïfhus and the Schwendi Fountain. Together, the historic customs house and fountain make a classic Alsace frame. Shoot from the square in the early evening, once the stalls light up.

Rue des Marchands early in the day. By afternoon, this lane is packed. Come at opening time for clean shots of the half-timbered facades.

Place Rapp at night. The lit Ferris wheel looks best after dark. A long exposure turns it into a glowing ring.

Bring a small tripod for blue hour, but keep it out of busy lanes. Please respect residents’ doors and windows when you shoot.

Survival Guide: Beating the Crowds

Colmar welcomes about 1.6 million visitors each winter. That makes a little strategy essential. Here is how I handled the busiest weeks.

Visit on weekdays, right at opening time. Monday to Thursday mornings are the calmest. Saturday afternoons, by contrast, can bring the old town to a standstill.

Skip the stroller on busy days. Dense crowds make strollers stressful. Bring a baby carrier instead, especially on weekends.

Use cafés for restroom breaks. Portable toilets often have long queues. Order an espresso in a café, and use their facilities. It is also a nice excuse to warm up.

Keep your cup, or return it. Hot drinks come in a reusable cup with a deposit of €1, sometimes €2. You can return it at any drink stand.

Know the busiest weeks. December weekends are the most crowded of the season. Weekdays in late November are often calmer.

Watch your belongings. Dense crowds attract pickpockets. Keep your phone and wallet in a zipped inner pocket.

Pack light. Expect occasional bag checks at market entrances. A small bag gets you through faster.

Eat like a local. Try vin chaud, tarte flambée and bredele, the small Alsace Christmas cookies. At breakfast, look for kougelhopf, a ring-shaped cake. For edible souvenirs, browse Place Jeanne d’Arc. Dinner? Head to the Marché Gourmand.

Practical Tips

Sleep close to the stalls. The quiet opening hour is easiest to enjoy from a central hotel. Want that hour on your doorstep? Book a room in the historic center.

Travel without a car. Old town streets close to traffic, and central garages fill early. Car-free travel is easier than you think, as my Colmar transport guide shows.

Book shuttle tickets in advance. They are sold online only, and weekend seats go fast.

Rent a car only for villages. A car can help on quieter weekdays in the countryside. Compare rental cars for village trips.

Dress for the cold. Evenings feel damp and chilly. Forgot your gloves? Stalls sell lovely hand-knitted ones. Waterproof boots help on wet cobblestones.

Stay connected. You will need data for shuttle tickets and maps. Get an eSIM before you travel.

FAQ

What are the Colmar Christmas market opening hours? From Monday to Thursday, stalls open from 11:00 to 19:00. Friday to Sunday hours run from 10:00 to 20:00. The Marché Gourmand stays open until 22:00 every day.

What are the Colmar Christmas market dates in 2026? The markets run from 23 November to 29 December 2026. Both the Marché Gourmand and Place Rapp stay open until 3 January.

Is the Colmar Christmas market open on Christmas Day? Yes. On 24 December, stalls close early, around 17:00. Christmas Day brings shorter hours, usually around 11:00 to 19:00.

When does the boat choir sing in Petite Venise? The choir performs from 25 November to 19 December. Shows usually take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 17:00 to 18:00.

What is the best time to visit the Colmar Christmas market? Weekdays, right at opening time. Saturday afternoons are by far the busiest of the week.

What are the best things to do in Colmar in winter? Catch the boat choir, visit the Unterlinden Museum and browse the Koïfhus indoor market. In the evening, ride the Ferris wheel at Place Rapp.

Are the Colmar Christmas markets open in the evening? Yes. Stalls stay open until 19:00 from Monday to Thursday and 20:00 from Friday to Sunday. The Marché Gourmand stays open until 22:00.

Is the Colmar Christmas market open after Christmas? Yes, the main markets run until 29 December. The Marché Gourmand and Place Rapp stay open until 3 January.