Planning a Trip in Colmar

Arriving — If you’re driving, take N83 from Strasbourg; trip time is 1 hour. Because of the narrow streets, we suggest that you park and walk. Leave the car in the Champ-de-Mars, or in the underground Place Rapp for a fee of around 1.50€ per hour, northeast of the railway station, and then walk a few blocks east to the old city; or park in the lot designated "Parking Vieille Ville", accessible from rue de l’Est at the edge of the Petite Venise neighborhood, and walk a few blocks southeast to reach the old city. Trains link Colmar to Nancy, Strasbourg, and Mulhouse, as well as to Germany via Strasbourg, across the Rhine. There are several daily direct TGV trains from Paris’s Gare de l’Est and a dozen others which involve a transfer in Strasbourg (trip time between 2 hr., 15 min. and 2 hr. 30 min.); the one-way fare is 33€ to 97€. For information, see www.sncf-connect.com or call tel. 36-35.

Visitor Information — The Office de Tourisme is at 4 rue Unterlinden (www.tourisme-colmar.com; tel. 03-89-20-68-92). For information on wines, vintages, and winery visits, contact the CIVA (Alsace Wine Committee), Maison du Vin d’Alsace, 12 av. de la Foire-aux-Vins (www.vinsalsace.com; tel. 03-89-20-16-20). It’s usually open Monday to Friday 8am to noon and 2 to 5pm. Make tour arrangements far in advance.

Special Events — Alsatian folk dances on place de l’Ancienne-Douane begin around 8pm on Tuesday from mid-May to mid-September. If you want to listen to classical music, visit during the first two weeks in July for the Festival International de Musique de Colmar (www.festival-colmar.com), which schedules 20 concerts in venues around the city, such as churches and public monuments. Tickets cost 15€ to 35€. The city also plays host to the Colmar fête le Printemps (www.printemps-colmar.com), a 3-week festival celebrating springtime through music, art exhibits, and a handicraft market, held late March through mid-April. The year comes to a colorful close during the city’s annual Marché de Noël, voted one of Europe’s best Christmas markets and taking place late November through the end of December (www.noel-colmar.com). You can get complete information on any of the events in town at the Office de Tourisme or by calling tel. 03-89-20-68-92.

ATMs/Banks — You’ll find ATMs in Place de la Cathédrale or at the intersection of rue Kléber, av. de la République, and rue Stanislas.

Doctors & Hospitals — Hopitaux Civils de Colmar, 39 av. de la Liberté (www.ch-colmar.fr; tel. 03-89-12-40-00).

Mail & Postage — La Poste, 34 av. de la République (tel. 36-31).

Pharmacies — Pharmacie de Vignes, 31 rue des Tetes (tel. 03-89-41-30-09).

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.