Hello everyone, first time posting! We're thinking of heading to the Alsace to Strasbourg and Colmar. But I hear it's only reasonable to do one day in each of those places so we were looking for another place to go to finish out the week. We were thinking Bruges but it seems like a long treck to get there from the Alsace region. Any recommendations for what else to do would be great! We've already been to Paris several times and don't really have any interest in going to Germany.
Posted by
Green Bay
21028 posts
But I hear it's only reasonable to do one day in each of those places
That statement confuses me. Can you explain?
Posted by
Irving
3172 posts
There are direct trains from Colmar to Basel, Switzerland taking 45m.
Posted by
SF Bay Area
861 posts
You could spend a day touring the wine villages if they interest you.
Posted by
37 posts
When are you going? December? I’d advise visiting some of the smaller villages just outside Colmar for the Christmas markets. Read my rather lengthy trip report on the Alsace and Basel (click on my name).
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1222 posts
jonathanmgerard,
Strasbourg and Colmar are less than an hour apart by train. I suggest staying in Colmar for the whole time (how many nights do you have?). From Colmar there are buses to many nearby villages. Five nights means four full days, six nights, five full days, etc. From Colmar you can do a day trip to Strasbourg, and likewise some of the nearby wine villages. Colmar could use at least one day. This way you wouldn't have to change hotels, etc. If you have more days/nights, Basel is a good suggestion.
Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Bend, Oregon
2515 posts
We spent 4 nights in Colmar in 2023. We visited several nearby villages (Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Eguisheim and Turckheim) and fell in love with the area. One day would not have been enough. We didn’t even get to Strasbourg!
We decided to return for the Christmas markets, and ended up staying 4 night in Strasbourg. We visited Kaysersberg, Colmar, Ribeauville, Obernai and Gengenbach.
It is possible to see either Colmar OR Strasbourg in one day. But there is so much more to see in the area without traveling a great distance. If not interested in Germany, you could go to Switzerland.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11699 posts
We spent a week in Colmar and could have stayed longer. In addition to touring the villages, a walk through the great wine region is lovely. LMK if you want details on that, a couple of hour excursion. There is an interesting stork (and other wildlife) sanctuary at Hunawihr. A wine tour day is a great way to get on the backroads with someone knowledgeable. I will dig up the name of the person we used, if you’d like.
We were so busy we never made it to Strasbourg! Planning that area along with Basel for next fall and will add Freiburg in Breisgau to the itinerary for a day. We also missed Mulhouse which has a couple of interesting transportation museums.
Posted by
Last Frontier aka Alaska 🏔️
3513 posts
@Laurel, I would love your details on this area. You can PM me and I can give you my email, thanks!