Looking for Advice on Alsace & Paris Itinerary

Colmar versus Strasbourg: We were there in late September (coming home from Corsica). We arrived in Strasbourg, and enjoyed a day there, before moving on to Colmar (stayed in Colmar 3 nights). Colmar and Strasbourg are quite different. Colmar is a small city, is very busy (I'd say crowded) with international tourists. It's got obvious charms, but it struck me as inauthentic and way-over-the-top instagrammy (a French "Hello Kitty" experience). My spouse loved it, I rolled my eyes. OTOH Strasbourg is a large, and very real city (though also very historic and very charming). Unlike Colmar, Strasbourg felt entirely authentic to me, with plenty of charm and character. It was full of tourists, too, but it was big enough to absorb them without feeling like we were jostling in the lines at Disneyland.

Overall, I liked Strasbourg better; my spouse was swooning over Colmar. One thing we agreed on: we liked Eguisheim (one of the "wine towns" near Colmar) best of all.

To answer your question directly: Would you recommend staying in Colmar vs. Strasbourg? For me, probably Strasbourg - but my wife would probably disagree. In either case, I'd spend a few days visiting the wine towns around Colmar. Colmar does make a good base for day-trips to those.

Orthogonal: If you've been to Paris but have never been elsewhere in France, I'd look at Normandy (though careful, you're right after early June and D-Day celebration season) and/or the Loire Valley. All are of course lovely and well worth your time.

I'm a village/small town guy as a rule, so I'd choose Colmar over Strasbourg. Colmar gives you easy access by bus to the more famous wine villages of Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Kayserberg and Ribeauville. Bergheim, a very pretty non-touristy village, is (or was at the time) on the same bus route as Ribeauville. Strasbourg is reached quickly, as is Basel, both good day trips.

Riquewihr itself is just about doable as a base without a car, if you are into hiking and want to take it easy. There is a pleasant walking trail between Riquewihr and Ribeauville, via Hunawihr, also a good five village hike. Two different hikes from Riquewihr to Kayserberg (vineyard route or forest trail). Takes a little longer to get to Strasbourg or Basel, easy bus to Colmar.

Strasbourg gives you easy access to Colmar, Wissembourg, Baden-Baden, Gengenbach, Barr, Obernai and Basel. Freiburg, although closer to Colmar, is reached more quickly from Strasbourg.