Looking for the best things to do in Colmar? Visiting Colmar is like stepping into a storybook. Every corner is picture-perfect, with colorful, half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, and quaint canals that look straight out of a fairytale. From quaint squares and medieval architecture to tiny bridges over scenic waterways, Colmar is practically overflowing with charm and picturesque details.
Colmar is on the very eastern edge of France — right on the border of France and Germany — and is in the region of France known as Alsace.
Quickly plan your trip! These are the best hotels in Colmar — top-rated and centrally located in the city. Petite Venise is THE most charming area in Colmar and makes the list as one of the most colorful and most charming neighborhoods in all of France. The neighborhood, which means Little Venice in English, centers around a few tiny, shallow streams that are part of the Lauch River.
Now, the canals are primarily used for sightseeing barges, but they remain one of the most distinctive spots in the city. The entire neighborhood is lined with picturesque half-timbered houses painted in soft pastel shades, with vibrant flowerpots overflowing along the riverbanks.
A quaint activity in Colmar is going on a boat ride or a promenade en barques on the traditional flat-bottomed wooden boats through the Lauch River of Petite Venise. I will note that La Petite Venise felt much, much busier, whereas the crowds at Sweet Narcisse were a lot smaller.
