Day Trip to Colmar - Pros/Cons on my Three Options

We loved Strasbourg and the wine villages. We did not care for Colmar nor did several other travelers we know. So Strasbourg and some wine villages would be my recommendation. We stayed in Strasbourg and Riquewehr, total six days.

I would pick Option 3. With a private tour, you can enjoy what you are seeing, instead of thinking (in my case worrying) about logistics. I can't believe it's been been 8 years since we were in Alsace - but I would hate to have missed either Eguisheim or Riquewihr. Option 3 gives you both, plus Kaysersberg.

We loved Strasbourg and Riquewehr, a wine village, and enjoyed our stays in both places. We visited almost all of the wine villages. We did not care for Colmar and others have agreed with us.

Daniel,
Option three seems to be the one that will not keep you up at night wondering "What if...?"
Nice to have someone else be responsible for driving and like that. Plus a bit of variety.
Maybe ask whether that tour could include driving the modest route above Riquewihr, the road through the vineyards that gives that postcard view.
Hope it goes well.
I am done. the Colmaresque

We did Colmar as a day trip and we probably spent 5 hours so i think #3 will be best

I, actually, prefer Colmar to Strasbourg, probably because I’m more familiar with it. I’d go for option #3, but perhaps try to spend more time in the villages along the Route de Vin and less time in Colmar. Colmar is closer to the villages you mentioned wanting to see, so it’s a better jumping off point for their exploration than Strasbourg. One thing to bear in mind when in Alsace is that most establishments, except restaurants of course, close from 12-2 for lunch. Be sure to factor that into your plans.

In Colmar, I think there are two “must sees” and plenty of “nice to sees”. The must sees are the Unterlinden museum, a former Dominican convent which houses the impressive Issenheim Altarpiece and other lesser known medieval and Renaissance art (perhaps worth an hour), and then across the square to the Dominican church to spend 15-30 minutes or so viewing the interior and Schongauer’s masterpiece, the Madonna of the Roses. Spend your remaining time just wandering the little streets and lanes until time to make your way back to the train station, which, is pretty impressive itself from the eastern-facing entrance.

I would also pick Option 3. We did one of the half-day village minivan tours from Colmar, and we liked all of the smaller villages better than Colmar’s shop area and streets. I took a lot of photos at Colmar, but the photo I had enlarged on a canvas for the wall in my office was taken at Eguisheim.

I liked Colmar but that's because I spent a couple of nights and got to explore after the daytrippers left.

What is the name of the private tour provider in option 3? I'm also interested in something along those lines when I visit this summer. Thanks!

I am new to this forum and do not know the rules about posting company names. I will PM you (415sAR) with the information.

I’d definitely go for option 3. You get to see Colmar and several villages. I loved Colmar, but for a day trip 5 hours will give you a good amount of time for it.

Option #3!
We greatly enjoyed our time in Riquewihr, Hunawihr and Ribeauville in the Alsace- Colmar not as much.
Your itinerary sounds amazing although 6 nights in Luzern may be more than enough. I am jealous of your 8 nights in the B-O. We have only 4 there which won't give me time for all the hikes, walks and day trips in the region.

Option 3 only gives you enough time in the three villages to say you've been there and nothing else, whereas 8 hours in Colmar may be too much for many travellers. Freiburg is good for a day, just as quick to get there from Lucerne, and easier to get to FRA (if that is where you are flying out of).

Option 3 is the best choice from what you have listed. Too bad it's a three hour tour with 5 hours in Colmar, I would have preferred the other way around since you will be spending at least an hour and a quarter of the three hours on the bus which leaves less than two hours for Kayserberg plus two of the most picturesque towns in all of France. I realize the difficulty of using public transportation, but so it goes.

Thanks again for everyone's response, it is greatly appreciated. Since this is a private/customized tour I am now thinking about adding an hour and skip Kaysersberg.

Private tour for three will now be for 4 hours starting and ending in Colmar with stops in Eguisheim and Riquewihr. This will leave 4 hours in Colmar.

Any thoughts on this change would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Daniel,
FWIW, Kaysersberg was where Anthony Bourdain spent his final moments. Pretty little town. Quiet.
Its beautiful cemetery may have its vines starting to change their color to a brilliant red around the time you are there.
I am done. the end.