There’s nothing I love more than experiencing a true Christmas. While I miss the palm trees and ocean breeze of California, it just doesn’t quite cut it during the month of December when I want to be bundled up preparing for Christmas.
Now that I’ve moved to Spain, I’ve been taking full advantage of the European Christmas markets that are scattered throughout each country. Although I know there are many beautiful cities in the US during the month of December, I still think that Europe takes the cake when it comes to holiday spirit.
Back when I was a student, I first got a taste of Christmas markets when I visited Prague in December, which was one of my most favorite memories during my entire semester abroad.
I remember how the Christmas lights illuminated the streets, giant Christmas trees starred in each tucked-away square, and spiced mulled wine perfumed the food stalls throughout the Old Town Square. It was the perfect city for my first encounter with a European Christmas destination.
After my trip to the Prague Christmas market, I promised myself that I’d be back to experience more of European’s festive cities during the month of December.
Which is what brought me to my last destination: Colmar, France.
Christmas Markets in Colmar, France
As you can probably assume by the title of this blog, I’m not here to reminisce on my time in Prague, I’m here to talk about my recent adventures to Colmar, France.
In case you’ve never heard of the place, Colmar is a quaint town tucked away in the Alsace region of France (right on the border of both Switzerland and Germany). Although it may not be the most famous destination in all of France, it is one of the most picturesque towns within this corner of the country.
I had two main reasons for wanting to visit the Christmas markets in Colmar. First, it looked incredibly charming. All the old timbered buildings are painted in pastel-colored hues that pair perfectly with its cobble-stoned streets – I’m such a sucker for these kinds of places. Second, this city is one of the most famous for European Christmas markets, which immediately grabbed my attention.
So when I was planning this year’s Christmas market trip, I knew I had to try and make it to this beautiful fairytale town some way or another. And when I saw cheap flights to Basel, Switzerland (the closest airport to this region), I was sold!
Why You Should Visit Colmar, France In Winter
Okay, so I know this spot might be a bit of a trek to get to, but if you are looking for a festive town with amazing Christmas markets, this is definitely worth a visit!
Colmar on its own is a sight to see. Sitting on a maze of canals, the perfectly-put-together town is exactly what you want when looking for that old European charm. However come December, Colmar completely transforms and looks straight out of a Christmas movie.
While you can spend most of your time in Colmar checking out all the Christmas decorations and lights, the best thing to do is to head over to one of the six markets that are scattered throughout the city.
Here you can find handcrafted specialty gifts, Nutella crepes, sizzling German sausages, and a variety of mulled wines to sip and sample. For me, this is the best part of a Christmas market, the food!
Luckily, my boyfriend Dani came with me so we spent most of the day eating, drinking, and splitting different treats from each market.
How to Get to Colmar, France
For my trip, I stayed in Basel, Switzerland and trained into Colmar. All you need is a solid day to see everything you need to see. You can get to most towns in the Alsace region in just an hour or less from Basel. If you decide to do the same, I highly suggest spending your second day at the Christmas markets in Strasbourg.
Basel, Switzerland was the perfect home base for checking out the Alsace region. Not only does it offer more affordable accommodations than you would find in the smaller towns, but it’s also an incredible city itself and has a number of festive Christmas markets as well!
Plus, you get to cross off two countries in a single weekend, which is always a bonus in my book.
What to See in Colmar, France
To walk off all the pretzels, chocolates, and sausages, go get lost on a walk around the city. As I said, it’s not too big so you really don’t have to worry about trying to find your way later on.
One of the most famous spots to see at any time of the year is Little Venice (or Le Petite Venise). This is where you can take the perfect shot of the colorful buildings right on the canal that Colmar is so famous for.
Need a little extra Christmas spirit? Check out these blog posts below on my favorite European Christmas markets!
Prague’s Christmas Markets
Christmas Markets in Munich, Germany
What to Expect at the Nuremberg Christmas Markets
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