Stay in Colmar, France or Freiburg, Germany?

We just loved Colmar.

We visited Eguishem, St Hypolite, Haut Koenigsburg castle and Colmar itself and did a day trip to Basel Switzerland. (Sorry about the bad spelling)

Colmar was just so pretty. We were there in October so not a lot of people but gorgeous.

A few years ago (without a car), I spent a night in Colmar, then took a bus and train to Freiburg im Breisgau and spent three nights there, as a base.

I too loved Colmar. Freiburg, while being a convenient base without a car, didn't charm me as much, but it's certainly not a bad place. It's just that I loved Colmar.

Both are nice places, but I’d base in Colmar. It’s a smaller city, and getting in and out of it with a car on your travelling days will be much easier. I visited many of the places on your list during a five night stay in Colmar. I found the driving- and parking- in Freiburg to be much more challenging than in Colmar. Colmar is also more accessible to the route du vin, especially if you want to do some of the towns by bike. You can also get e-bikes in Colmar if you are hill-averse. We stayed at Maison Martin Lund, one of Rick’s recommendations on one trip, and an AirB&B on another. If you’re there for five days, I’d certainly suggest an apartment stay, and there are lots of listings.

Colmar also has a very good art museum, the Unterlinden, with an acknowledged masterpiece, the Isenheim altarpiece.

I was pleasantly surprised about the hotel rates in Colmar last year. It appears that it's a relatively competitive market. I've never been to Freiburg, so I cannot compare the two cities.

They are both too large for me personally as a base, I prefer a village or small town. Unless you flitter from place to place quickly, you have some decisions to make. From what you say you have four full days maximum, three of which can easily be taken up by Strasbourg, Freiburg and Colmar to do them justice. Which leaves one day. All the other places you mention are not overly large but if you are keen on long hikes it reduces your village time even more. That's just the way I go with things, I like a good walk myself. It's a pleasant conundrum.

I liked Colmar and Freiburg. Riquewihr, Keysersbug, Eguisheim, Ribeauville (castle ruins, hike) are all worth a visit or to use as a base. Bergheim is a lovely, little visited place (hardly any shops, beautiful streets). Hiking galore through the vineyards throughout the area. Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg my favourite castle visit so far - hiking opportunities here as well. Staufen is a fabulous little place, hiking from here and in the gorgeous hills to the south in the Munstertal area. Endingen is also a pretty but little visited town. A spa at Bad Krozingen for a rainy day (I've never been). If I had to pick a favourite place it would be Gengenbach, too far north to use as a base.

Been to both. For me Colmar by a wide margin.

Given the places you mention that you want to visit, I would choose Colmar

Thanks so much for everyone's input...It sounds like Colmar is the place to be! Also thinking of adding an additional day as it sounds like there is a lot to see and do.

Colmar is lovely. Freiburg was fine, it just wasn't Colmar. We actually stayed in Gengenbach and loved it there. So if you really want to stay on the German side, that would be recommendation over Freiburg.

Another vote for Colmar.

Colmar is my favorite. We have based ourselves in Colmar twice now and have enjoyed daytrips to the little villages as well as Strasbourg and Freiburg.