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TER from Strasbourg to Colmar and back

Posted by (🌲🌲 Minnesota🌲🌲) on

My sister and I will be heading to the Christmas markets in late November/early December, and we will be spending 2 nights in Strasbourg, and would like to visit Colmar's market as well. it looks like the TER trains run pretty regularly between the two places, so it seems like that would be the best mode of transportation to get there and back.

But how early do I need to book train tickets? I don't mind booking the train from Strasbourg to Colmar fairly early, since we'll pretty much know when we want to go there. But if we want to come back to Strasbourg early or stay later in Colmar, would we have any problem changing the ticket? Or is it better to just wait and book it then? But if we do that, is there a risk of not getting seats?

I was on the TER website and couldn't even change the date from today's date to when I wanted to book it, so I left there to go to SNCF. But I'm still a little confused about how flexible the tickets are.

I would appreciate any help! Thanks!

Posted by
23819 posts

You really do not need to book these as they are commuter trains. Buying a ticket in advance does not guarantee you a seat, since there are no seat reservations. You board the train and find a seat, just like the 6:13 LIRR out of Ronkonkama.

Posted by
11659 posts

Sam’s right. You don’t have to buy those tickets ahead of time. Just for the day you want to travel, but you can travel on any train on the day.

Posted by
1999 posts

In Colmar, there's a ticket kiosk in the train station and there was actually a ticket window with a real live human or buy on the SNCF app. No need for an advance reservation. As I recall, if you buy a ticket for that route, it's good for any time that same day, but double check that...

We were just there. If you decide you don't want to walk back to the train station at the end of the evening, you can use the Uber app. Learned from a local that it's reliable now, and often you will get a taxi. It worked for us last month when we decided we didn't want to walk with our heavy luggage.

Posted by
11811 posts

My friend and I spent 4 nights in Strasbourg for the Christmas markets 3 years ago. One day we took the train to Colmar (hubby and I stayed there in the Spring the previous year) and after checking out Colmar we took a special shuttle bus to Eguisheim to see it decorated for the holidays. It’s a very cute little town. When we returned by bus to Colmar we had dinner and then took the train back to Strasbourg. It was a fun day.

As mentioned before, no need to buy your train tickets in advance.

Posted by
13418 posts

Kim, thanks!

KD, thanks for the info on the ticket window AND Uber! I will keep that in mind.

Andrea, I was wondering about Equisheim, because I would like to see that little town. I might talk to my sister about doing exactly what you did. That's a good idea. Thanks so much!

Posted by
2700 posts

Hi Mardee,

Two nights in Strasbourg will barely be enough to do Strasbourg and Colmar. With only two nights (one day) there is not enough time in your schedule to go any place else. We bought train tickets at the station in Strasbourg for the next scheduled departure to Colmar. There was an attendant at the station in Strasbourg who helped us navigate the ticket machine which made life a lot easier. You are going to love both Strasbourg and Colmar. The Christmas decorations and atmosphere are beyond wonderful. Have a great trip.

Posted by
13418 posts

Mary, thanks! I've was in Strasbourg a few years ago, but my sister has not been, so I'm sure she will love it. She's been wanting to go to Alsace for a while now. And Eguisheim is definitely a secondary thing. I'll talk to her about it, and we'll see what she wants to do.

We'll actually have almost 2 full days, even though we're only staying there for 2 nights, because we'll be coming from Gengenbach, which is only about a 45-minute train ride from Strasbourg, and we plan on coming over in the morning, right after breakfast. But that said, Strasbourg and Colmar are our biggest priority, so we'll make sure we have plenty of time there.

It's a whirlwind trip, and not my favorite way of traveling, but it is what it is. Since we're there mostly to see the markets, I figure we'll get out of it what we can. I've been to all the places we're going to before, so I just mainly want to make sure that she gets to see what she wants to see. 😊

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