Hello Forum
Our plan
day 1 -enjoy Colmar
day 2 -explore another town via 1 day car rental, tour company or train , I am not thinking Strasbourg but possibly?
day 3- 30 minute train Basel Switzerland. town walk and museums
Any ideas from the forum on private tour guides or group tours, one day rental car? or easy train excursions?
thanks
If you are at all interested in cars and/or trains, the two transport museums in Mulhouse, between Colmar and Basel, are world-class.
I've been to Strasbourg twice. IMO its another big city. The cathedral is the main (perhaps only) attraction. I prefer more time in Colmar, but even better, visit some of the wine villages nearby. Basel, is a nice big city, but not in the mountains.
Focus on Alsace. The wine villages such as Kaysersburg and Riquewehr are charming. Strasbourg is a beautiful city with canal boat rides, a beautiful cathedral. Honestly, I would visit all of the above giving Colmar the least time.
Colmar was lovely but very full with tourists and being so small, felt overly crowded. We loved Strasbourg and of course the cathdral was amazing as were the canals. Be sure to spend a day there. As stated, visit some Alsace towns also, beautiful!. We were there in October and lots of tourists.
We really didn’t care for Colmar but loved the wine villages and Strasbourg.
We are planning 6 nights there in late April. Rick Steves’ guidebook has a lot of ideas for the area, more than enough for a week. Do you have the book?
I was there in May of 2017. It was cold and the vines were barely starting, pack something warm. The upside, it wasn't crowded (people everywhere but not hordes) - which is a big upside.
I agree the best day trip is to see some medieval towns on the wine route by rental car. You can cover a lot of ground with a rental. Pick no more than two or three towns; they are all nice, each has it's own claim to fame, but also too similar to worry about visiting every one.
If you like castles, there's a very nice one that could be part of your day - Chateau du Haut Koenigsbourg. Definitely worth a visit.
Colmar and Strasbourg are nice. If you want to go to Strasbourg, you could go by train. I think the real "jewels" of Alsace are the wine villages. I especially liked Eguisheim and Riquewehr, but they are all just really charming. The fort is also interesting and offers great views. I like Basel especially the rathuis and the river views, but I don't know that I'd take a day from Alsace for it. Looking at your timeframe, I think I'd spend one day in Colmar (plenty), take a train to Strasbourg for the cathedral and spend a day with a car touring wine villages.
