Frequently Asked Questions
What you need to know before your trip
I'm coming by car. Do I need any special equipment on my vehicle?
About half of the Colmar region is covered by the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park. Many of the communes located within the Parc Naturel's perimeter are affected by the requirement to have 4 winter tires (4-season tires or snow tires) or metal chains on at least two drive wheels when driving in the area.
For details of the list of communes, visit the Préfecture du Haut-Rhin website.
The A35 and A36 freeways are not affected by these regulations.
The mandatory equipment zone is indicated by these signs:
We'd like to take our meals in a restaurant. Do we need to book in advance?
Before your visit, we recommend that you make reservations at the restaurants where you'd like to have lunch or dinner. Christmas markets are very busy events, and many restaurants will be fully booked before the event even starts - especially on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
For your information, traditional restaurant opening and dining times are between 12pm and 2pm for lunch, and between 7pm and 9pm for dinner.
Click here for the list of restaurants open during the festive season.
What's the weather like at this time of year in the Colmar region?
In December, the weather is quite cold and damp: we recommend you dress warmly (coat, mittens and scarf). Temperatures fluctuate between 0°c and 6°c.
Snow is expected, but not always: in 2023, it snowed only at the very beginning of December.
What you need to know during your stay
When are the markets less busy than usual?
Christmas markets attract many locals and special visitors, especially on weekends (Thursday to Sunday) and every day from 5pm. We advise you to visit the markets during the week, if possible.
Click here for market dates and opening days.
I'd like to see the illuminations. What time do they light up?
Darkness generally falls between 4:15 and 4:45 pm. The decorations light up as soon as it gets dark, between 4.30 and 5 pm.
I'd like to drink mulled wine. Is the container returnable?
In some markets, when you buy a drink (mulled wine, chocolate, etc.), you pay a deposit on top of the price of your drink, which you get back if you return the cup.
The container is returnable at the following markets: Colmar
The container is not returnable and is purchased by visitors at the following markets: Eguisheim, Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé, Neuf-Brisach
I'd like to visit several Christmas markets in the Colmar region. Is there any transport available?
The Christmas Shuttles will run this year from November 29 to December 22 inclusive. They serve the markets of Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Munster and Turckheim from Friday to Sunday, Eguisheim every day and Neuf-Brisach on December 7 and 8.
Find out more about the Christmas Shuttles here.