Colmar for 3 nights after Paris How to best see the area?

Dot,

If you're interested in seeing Strasbourg, it's a very easy day trip from Colmar. The Cathedral there is magnificent and well worth seeing! Colmar and the wonderful Unterlinden Museum are also worth some time.

Can we travel by trains to the wine areas?

Dot

Dot,
No sorry, The Route des Vin d'Alsace runs along the wine villages at the foot of the Vosges mountains, see this website (and select 'English'). The railway line runs along the flat valley bottom, Strasbourg - Sélestat - Colmar - Mulhouse, some 10-15 Km further east. You need a car (either a hire car or a tour, but I recommend the former) to visit the wine villages.
Also recommended is Haut Koenigsbourg castle (Click here), only accessible by car, this is a castle so stereotypical that if disney built a replica nobody would take it seriously, mainly because it was "restored" by the German Emperor at the start of the 1900's (Alsace is in France now, but it was in Germany before 1919).

Thank you. I will look into renting a car when in Colmar. Do you know if the driving is easy. We drove in Italy and will never do that again. Last year in beautiful Switzerland (can't wait to go back to) we took trains only.

Dot

Driving in rural Alsace is easy, nothing like Italy. The "Route des vins d'Alsace" includes some narrow roads, and very pretty villages, but fun.

Whether you do or don't decide to drive, I recommend using Rick Steves' France guidebook, which has quite a bit of information about local bus routes and some recommended tour operators for this Route du Vin. The top tour listing is for Jean-Claude Werner at www.alsace-travel.com.

Thank you Laura. I bought rs Paris and Europe and back door but not France. I just love the recommendations that you guys make.

My husband and I usually take public transportation when we travel. While in Colmar, we enjoyed the 10 min. train ride to the village of Turckheim. Also, we took a shuttle bus from the train station to Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg and visited the Monkey Mountain on the way back where you can hand feed Barbary macaques. Another day we took a bus to the town Riquewihr. The TI in Colmar helped us with all of the schedules. We had a wonderful time.

Great suggestions Christine, thank you.

Do you think 3 nights in Colmar are enough? Doing Paris (4) before Colmar (3) and Bacharach(4), Germany after - still have 3 nights left. Suggestions please.

Dot

Viator offers day trips to include the surrounding areas and wine tasting:
http://www.viator.com/tours/Strasbourg/Alsace-Day-Trip-from-Strasbourg-Colmar-Eguisheim-Riquewihr-High-Koenigsbourg-Castle-and-Alsace-Wine-Tasting/d5502-2016ALSACEHIGHLIGHTS

We took the RS Villages and Vineyards of Eastern France tour and had Jean Claude Werner for a guide through some of the vineyards. He was excellent. Very informative, interesting and good sense of humor. I think that you would enjoy a tour with him!

Have a great trip,
Mimi

Thanks all.

I e-mailed Alsace Tour and he is closing the business the end of this month (which is the only one RS recommends).

Has anyone tried Regioscope? I'll also look into Viator.

Dot

Though Colmar is on the Route de Vin, I was not overly impressed. We spent one day walking the city but we were spoiled after having stayed 5 days in Riquewihr, which received the French National Award for the "prettiest village". While in the area, we drove to Ribeauville, Obernai, and Eguisheim (one of my favorites). Having previously travelled to many of the French regions (Normandy, Loire, Languedoc, Provence, Cote D'Azur, Luberon), I can honestly say that I found the Alsace region to be the Prettiest of all. Flowers everywhere! The driving was very easy compared to other places in France.