Hello! We are planning to stop a few days in the Strasbourg area during our Euro-trip this summer. We are hoping to visit Colmar and the Black Forest in Germany as well. How many nights would you recommend staying? We are currently planning on 3 nights, is that too much? Additionally, I have heard people saying that Colmar would be a better "home base" than Strasbourg. What are your thoughts on this? Thank you!
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
Personally, I really like Colmar - it's soooo pretty! Extremely easy to get around in, and a manageable size. Great for just wandering around and taking photos - the canals and flowers boxes have used up lots of film/camera cards at our house. Very important historically, too, and wonderful restaurants. Love the Unterlinden Museum, the churches... For me, three nights would be good for Colmar alone, so it really depends on exactly where in the Black Forest you want to visit. You don't want to spend all day en route :-( and Colmar may not be as good as Strasbourg if you really just want a town to use as a base for day trips. (assuming you're using trains; you didn't say)
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7161 posts
Try this link to a recent discussion of Strasbourg vs. Colmar. http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/96929/colmar-or-strasbourg.html If the link doesn't show up, here's the address. http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/96929/colmar-or-strasbourg.html
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32353 posts
Lucia, I've visited both Strasbourg and Colmar, but was VERY happy that I'd decided to stay in Colmar. Colmar is a much smaller town with a more "comfortable and relaxing" ambience. Wandering about in the evenings listening to the street musicians and dining in the local restaurants (some right on the canals) was wonderful. When you visit Colmar, be sure to see the wonderful Unterlinden Museum. Happy travels!
Posted by
Stafford, Virginia, USA
143 posts
I agree with Eileen. Three days would be barely enough to see Strasbourg and Colmar and a little bit of the Route du Vin - the little Alsace wine villages between Strasbourg and Colmar. If you also wanted to visit the Black Forest, you would need at least a couple of more days.
Posted by
OP
Austin, Texas, United States
3 posts
Thank you for the responses! Eileen and Tom, I think you are right about needing more time for the Black Forest. We will be traveling by train, which makes getting around the forest a bit harder. Nancy, thank you for the link! I am reading over all those comments are leaning towards Colmar at this point. I'm assuming it's easy to get around the area by train from Colmar? The wine villages also sound interesting, I will look into them some more.