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Colmar Christmas Markets - Visitor numbers forecast

Christmas market attendance

forecasts for 2024

To help you choose the best time to visit Colmar's Christmas markets, for the first time this year we are offering you a calendar detailing our attendance forecasts.

Download the calendar in PDF format

Read more …Colmar Christmas Markets - Visitor numbers forecast

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

For real-time weather forecasts, visit Météo France.

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.

Read more …Frequently Asked Questions

Getting here and around

How to come to and get around the Land of Colmar

How to come to the Land of Colmar

By car

The Colmar region is served by the A35 motorway (free of charge).

By train


Colmar is served by daily TGV services to Paris (2h20) and Lyon (3h00).

There are daily services between Basel - Mulhouse - Colmar - Sélestat - Strasbourg with a train every 30 minutes.

By plane


There are two airports close to Colmar:

Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg EuroAirport, 70 km away (45mi)

Strasbourg Entzheim 70 km away (45mi)

How to get around the Land of Colmar

By train

There are daily services on the Basel - Mulhouse - Colmar - Sélestat - Strasbourg line, with a train every 30 minutes.

Other markets are also accessible by train: Turckheim, Munster, Rouffach, Herrlisheim-près-Colmar.

By bus

From 29 November to 22 December, take the Navettes de Noël (Christmas Shuttles) which run every weekend (Friday to Sunday) to the Christmas markets in Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Turckheim and Munster; every day to the Eguisheim Christmas market; and on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December to the Neuf-Brisach Christmas market.

Regular bus services are also available throughout the Colmar region. For more information, visit www.fluo.eu

By car

Park-and-ride facilities with free shuttle buses are available for visitors at :

Colmar (charged)

Kaysersberg (4€)

Ribeauvillé (8€)

Read more …Getting here and around

Christmas Shuttles

Online ticketing

With the Christmas Shuttles, discover the Christmas markets in the Colmar region without using your car!

Departing from Colmar station, the shuttle runs to Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Eguisheim, Turckheim, Munster and Neuf-Brisach. With a ticket valid all day, you can take the shuttle as many times as you like! *

The shuttles will run from 27 November to 20 December 2026.

LINES 1 AND 2

Colmar - Kaysersberg - Riquewihr - Ribeauvillé - Colmar

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November 27 to December 20 inclusive.

LINE 3

Colmar - Eguisheim

Every day from November 27 to December 20 inclusive.

LINE 4

Colmar - Turckheim - Munster

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November 27 to December 20 inclusive.

LINE 5

Colmar - Neuf-Brisach

Saturday, December 12, and Sunday, December 13 only.

2026 Fares

To be announced

Explorer fare

Discover the Christmas markets of Turckheim, Munster, and Neuf-Brisach with a €10 explorer ticket !

Ticket valid one whole day only on lines 4 and 5 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Unlimited rides.

Free for children under 12.

How to buy your ticket

ONLINE TICKETING ONLY

Tickets will be available for purchase in November 2026.

The Christmas Shuttle service is in high demand. To ensure optimal service, a limited number of tickets are available for purchase each day of operation. We encourage you to plan your reservations and travel in advance.

Schedule and bus stops

2025 Schedule

  • Line 1 • Colmar ⮕ Kaysersberg ⮕ Riquewihr ⮕ Ribeauvillé ⮕ Colmar

    Fridays

    Colmar • Trainstation 09:3010:3011:3012:3013:3014:3015:3016:3017:3018:30
    Kaysersberg • 5e Division Blindée parking in Kientzheim 10:1011:1012:1013:1014:1015:1016:1017:1018:1019:10
    Riquewihr • Rue du Stade 10:3011:3012:3013:3014:3015:3016:3017:3018:3019:30
    Ribeauvillé • Bus parking 10:5511:5512:5513:5514:5515:5516:5517:5518:5519:55
    Colmar • Trainstation (return) 11:3012:3013:3014:3015:3016:3017:3018:3019:3020:30

    Saturdays & Sundays

    Colmar • Trainstation 09:3010:0010:3011:0011:3012:0012:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:3018:0018:30
    Kaysersberg • 5e Division Blindée parking in Kientzheim 10:1010:4011:1011:4012:1012:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1017:4018:1018:4019:10
    Riquewihr • Rue du Stade 10:3011:0011:3012:0012:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30
    Ribeauvillé • Bus parking 10:5511:2511:5512:2512:5513:2513:5514:2514:5515:2515:5516:2516:5517:2517:5518:2518:5519:2519:55
    Colmar • Trainstation (return) 11:3012:0012:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

  • Line 2 • Colmar ⮕ Ribeauvillé ⮕ Riquewihr ⮕ Kaysersberg ⮕ Colmar

    Fridays

    Colmar • Trainstation 10:0011:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:0018:0019:00
    Ribeauvillé • Bus parking 10:4011:4012:4013:4014:4015:4016:4017:4018:4019:40
    Riquewihr • Rue du Stade 11:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:0018:0019:0020:00
    Kaysersberg • 5e Division Blindée parking in Kientzheim 11:2012:2013:2014:2015:2016:2017:2018:2019:2020:20
    Colmar • Trainstation (return) 11:5512:5513:5514:5515:5516:5517:5518:5519:5520:55

    Saturdays & Sundays

    Colmar • Trainstation 09:4510:1510:4511:1511:4512:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:45
    Ribeauvillé • Bus parking 10:2510:5511:2511:5512:2512:5513:1513:5514:2514:5515:2515:5516:2516:5517:2517:5518:2518:5519:25
    Riquewihr • Rue du Stade 10:5011:2011:5012:2012:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:50
    Kaysersberg • 5e Division Blindée parking in Kientzheim 11:1011:4012:1012:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:10
    Colmar • Trainstation (return) 11:4512:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

  • Line 3 • Colmar ↔ Eguisheim

    Monday to Thursday from 12/01 to 12/11

    Colmar • Trainstation 11:1014:0016:3018:30
    Eguisheim • Townhall 11:3014:2016:5018:50
    Eguisheim • Townhall 11:4014:3017:0019:00
    Colmar • Trainstation 12:0014:5017:2019:20

    Monday to Thursday from 12/15 to 12/18

    Colmar • Trainstation 09:5014:0016:3018:30
    Eguisheim • Townhall 10:1014:2016:5018:50
    Eguisheim • Townhall 10:2014:3017:0019:00
    Colmar • Trainstation 10:4014:5017:2019:20

    Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays

    Colmar • Trainstation 09:5012:0014:1016:3018:50
    Eguisheim • Townhall 10:1012:2014:3016:5019:10
    Eguisheim • Townhall 10:2012:3014:4017:0019:20
    Colmar • Trainstation 10:4012:5015:0017:2019:40

  • Line 4 • Colmar ↔ Turckheim ↔ Munster

    Included in the Explorer Fare !

    Fridays

    Colmar • Trainstation 10:4011:4012:4013:4014:4015:4016:4017:40
    Turckheim • Place de la République 11:0512:0513:0514:0515:0516:0517:0518:05
    Munster • Place du Marché 11:2812:2813:2814:2815:2816:2817:2818:28
    Munster • Place du Marché 11:3512:3513:3514:3515:3516:3517:3518:35
    Turckheim • Place de la République 11:5812:5813:5814:5815:5816:5817:5818:58
    Colmar • Trainstation 12:1813:1814:1815:1816:1817:1818:1819:18

    Saturdays & Sundays

    Colmar • Trainstation 09:3010:3011:3012:3013:3014:3015:3016:3017:3018:3019:30
    Turckheim • Place de la République 09:5510:5511:5512:5513:5514:5515:5516:5517:5518:5519:55
    Munster • Place du Marché 10:1811:1812:1813:1814:1815:1816:1817:1818:1819:1820:10
    Munster • Place du Marché 10:2511:2512:2513:2514:2515:2516:2517:2518:2519:2520:25
    Turckheim • Place de la République 10:4811:4812:4813:4814:4815:4816:4817:4818:4819:4820:48
    Colmar • Trainstation 11:0812:0813:0814:0815:0816:0817:0818:0819:0820:0821:08

  • Line 5 • Colmar ↔ Neuf-Brisach

    Included in the Explorer Fare !

    Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th of December

    Colmar • Trainstation 10:0011:3013:0014:3016:0017:3019:00
    Neuf-Brisach • Porte de Bâle 10:4012:1013:4015:1016:4018:1019:40
    Colmar • Trainstation (return) 11:1512:4514:1515:4517:1518:4520:15

Frequently Asked Questions

I have reduced mobility. Are the shuttles accessible?

The buses on the initial timetable are accessible to people with reduced mobility. The accessibility of additional vehicles deployed during periods of high demand cannot be guaranteed.

My child is in a stroller and I have suitcases. Can I use the shuttles?

Strollers and other luggage may be transported subject to space availability. The driver of the vehicle reserves the right not to accept them.

Can my dog use the shuttles?

The driver reserves the right to refuse pets (except guide dogs) in the event of overcrowding.

Tell us what you think!

Did you use the Christmas Shuttle service in 2025? Help us improve the service by answering this short questionnaire.

Give my opinion

*The Christmas shuttle service is dependent on road traffic and may be subject to delays depending on traffic conditions. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The Christmas shuttle service is for individuals only. Groups are invited to use their own vehicle or to contact a carrier of their choice.

Read more …Christmas Shuttles

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