Strasbourg vs Colmar

Strasbourg is much larger than Colmar, so arguably more to do. However, if you're going to Strasbourg, it's an easy 30-minute local train ride to Colmar. You could base yourself in Strasbourg and easily visit Colmar for the day. You don't need to make train rez in advance. They run back and forth every 30 minutes all day.

We have stayed in both. We prefer Strasbourg because there is a lot more to do, especially at night, and loads more restaurant choices, etc. The La Petite area is charming, and the cathedral quite lovely. Strasbourg also offers easy day trips by train to lots of places (including Colmar). Baden Baden and Gengenbach Germany are easy side trips, as well as multiple other places. Car rental is easy (at the train station or other places around Strasbourg.) We rented a car and drove to all the little villages around the area. We love Colmar too. Colmar is small, quaint, and once you've seen the main highlights, that can be done in a day as far as seeing the sights. But if you enjoy small and quiet, and waking up to that, then this is your place. You can easily go see Equisheim from there, but that's probably a short visit. Lots of people love staying in Colmar for the charm. It all depends on what you are looking for and what your interests are. Either would not be a bad decision but we would probably choose Strasbourg for the reasons listed above. Again, it all depends on your interests, time of year, and transportation options.

We stayed in Strasbourg for 4 nights and really liked it. Plenty of restaurants and things to do. We took the train to Colmar - it is charming, but we determined it was too sleepy for our taste, so we didn't regret our choice to stay in Strasbourg.

I've stayed in Strasbourg multiple times, despite only living 2.5 hours away. Mainly because I want to do something and not drive back late at night. But Colmar is a lunch destination for me, and not even my favorite in the area. Cute, but tourist ridden.

Six of one, half dozen of another. They’re about equal to me. We stayed in Colmar mostly because we had a Germany rented vehicle that didn’t have the French emissions zone sticker we would have needed to drive in Strasbourg.

Neither is better. What are your plans? Do you want to explore the wine villages or visit the Haut Konigsberg? Will you rent a car or strictly use public transportation or day tours?

While the much larger Strasbourg has more restaurants, for a 3 night stay there are plenty of restaurants in Colmar. I stayed in Colmar for a week without a car in 2022 and found plenty to see and do I the surrounding area.

Another vote for Strasbourg.

We spent five nights there a couple of years ago and loved it.

We did do a day trip by train to Colmar and very much enjoyed the day, but I wouldn't have liked to have stayed there.

Strasbourg had so many more options and was just as pretty as Colmar in my opinion.

Thank you all. I think Strasbourg works for us. I was afraid it was going to just feel to big to stroll around.