Key facts — Colmar's weekend itinerary: Saturday at Wax of Legends (60 wax statues, 15 interactive experiences, from €13), Choco-Story and Vino-Storia (3-wine tasting), all at 12 Place de la Cathédrale. Sunday: Little Venice, the covered market, Eguisheim village 8 km away. All three museums open daily 10am–6pm, 365 days a year; trio pass saves 33%.
You have two days, a town small enough to cross on foot, and time to fill. You arrive on Saturday morning, park the car, and cover the rest on foot: the cobbled lanes, the half-timbered houses, the canals of Little Venice, and experiences that put you inside the story rather than watching from the side.
This guide gives you a two-day plan. You will see where to drop your bags, what to do when it rains, where to take the children, and how to get from one activity to the next without touching the car again.
For a great weekend in Colmar, keep Saturday for the historic heart and its immersive experiences — at Wax of Legends, Choco-Story and Vino-Storia, all at 12 Place de la Cathédrale — and Sunday for Little Venice, the covered market and a short drive to the wine villages. The whole centre is walkable, and the three museums are open 7 days a week, public holidays included.
It is a plan that works in any weather, with teenagers as much as with grandparents.
Saturday in Colmar is best spent in the historic heart around Place de la Cathédrale, where three immersive experiences — Wax of Legends, Choco-Story and Vino-Storia — are gathered at a single address (12 Place de la Cathédrale, 68000 Colmar), open from 10am. Saturday is the day for the big discoveries, while you are fresh and the town is waking up.
You push the door open, and Harrison Ford is there, life-size, a few centimetres away. A little further on, Charlie Chaplin, Angelina Jolie, Louis de Funès. You do not look at them from behind glass: you slip in beside them, you pose, you share the scene. Wax of Legends brings together 60 wax statues, 30 listening points and 15 interactive experiences, and the idea is simple: here, you are the legend.
In practice, you climb the red-carpet steps festival-style alongside Tom Cruise, you step into a studio where the microphone is waiting and sing with Katy Perry, you sit down at the roulette table between Brad Pitt and George Clooney, you take a penalty against Neymar, and you follow a lesson with Einstein. On the way out, the paparazzi flashes crackle and you leave with the photo.
Colmar has its place in this gallery too: Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, was born here, and the museum devotes a room to him. The legends of Alsace have their own space as well — Saint Odile, patron saint of Alsace, the Wassermann, the Storks, the White Ladies and the others.
Visitor information
- Address: 12 Place de la Cathédrale, 68000 Colmar
- Opening hours: 10am–6pm, 7 days a week, public holidays included (last entry at 5pm)
- Duration: allow 1 hour to 1.5 hours
- Audioguide included, in 6 languages (French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch)
- Price: from €13 for adults, Wax + Choco duo pass from €21 (–20%), trio pass from €29 (–33%)
Choco-Story Colmar is a chocolate museum at the same address as Wax of Legends (12 Place de la Cathédrale), open 10am–6pm daily, where visitors follow cocoa's journey from bean to bar and take part in hands-on tasting. After an hour and a half posing with the stars, you will be ready to sit down.
If you plan to do both, the Wax + Choco duo pass gives you –20%, valid for 7 days from your first visit. That lets you spread the visits across the weekend.
→ Discover the Wax + Choco duo pass
Vino-Storia is a family-friendly wine discovery trail at 12 Place de la Cathédrale, Colmar, ending with a tasting of 3 Alsace wines in real tasting glasses — an alcohol-free fruit-juice alternative is available for children. It makes a good close to Saturday.
Vino-Storia follows the story of a region built around its hillsides: the grape varieties, the vine and the grape, the landscapes. You start the day with stars from around the world and finish with the terroir around you.
Good to know
The trio pass brings together Wax of Legends, Choco-Story and Vino-Storia with –33%, meaning one museum free, valid for 7 days from your first visit. Useful when you want to do everything in a single weekend.
| Pass | What's included | Saving | Price from | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single ticket | Wax of Legends | — | €13 (adult) | 1 visit |
| Duo pass | Wax of Legends + Choco-Story | –20% | €21 | 7 days |
| Trio pass | Wax of Legends + Choco-Story + Vino-Storia | –33% | €29 | 7 days |
The best thing to do in Colmar is Wax of Legends, an interactive wax museum at 12 Place de la Cathédrale where visitors pose alongside 60 life-size statues and take part in 15 hands-on experiences — from a penalty shootout to a karaoke studio — making it the top choice for families, teenagers and groups.
For heritage lovers, the Unterlinden Museum and its Isenheim Altarpiece (dated 1512–1516, painted by Matthias Grünewald) remain a landmark in town. With 4,500 m² of exhibition space, it is one of the largest art museums in northeast France. But if you are after the moment you will talk about once you are back home, look at the interactive experiences.
The smart tip
Teenagers are in their element at Wax of Legends: stars, selfies, games. The children take to the interactive experiences. Choco-Story rounds out the day for families, and Vino-Storia speaks to lovers of terroir. One weekend, three audiences.
In one day in Colmar: Wax of Legends from 10am (allow 1h–1h30), lunch in a winstub, Choco-Story or Vino-Storia in the early afternoon, and Little Venice at dusk — all on foot within Colmar's 1.5 km² historic centre.
Here is a run-through that fits into a day without rushing:
Everything is done on foot, without touching the car. Colmar's historic centre covers roughly 1.5 km², so you can chain visits together without waiting for a bus or hailing a taxi.
A rainy weekend in Colmar is not a problem: Wax of Legends, Choco-Story and Vino-Storia are three fully indoor activities gathered at the same address, open daily 10am–6pm regardless of the weather.
You move from one to the next barely reaching for the umbrella, and you fill an entire weekend without depending on the sky. Add the town's museums to that, including the Unterlinden Museum (4,500 m² of exhibition space), and the rain stops mattering.
What you need to know
All these places are open 10am–6pm, 7 days a week, public holidays included. A rainy weekend in Colmar is a weekend spent indoors and warm.
The ideal Sunday in Colmar starts early at Little Venice before the crowds, continues at the covered market for local Alsatian produce, and ends with a 10-minute drive to Eguisheim, France's most-cited beautiful village near Colmar (8 km away). Sunday runs at a slower pace, made for wandering.
Get up early and head down to the Little Venice quarter before the crowds. The colourful houses reflect in the water, the boats wait, and the morning light does the rest. This is the Colmar of postcards. A ride in a flat-bottomed boat on the Lauch completes the picture — allow 30 to 45 minutes for a leisurely circuit.
Depending on the season, Colmar's covered market is a Sunday-morning pleasure: local produce, cheeses, pretzels, a neighbourhood atmosphere. You linger, you taste, and you leave with the makings of an improvised picnic.
If you did not do everything on Saturday, Sunday is a good time to go back. Did you discover Bartholdi at Wax of Legends, which devotes a room to him? The Bartholdi Museum, in town, follows on naturally from that. The Unterlinden Museum calls for 2 to 3 hours and rewards art lovers; its Isenheim Altarpiece is regarded by art historians as one of the masterpieces of late Gothic painting.
Eguisheim, 8 km from Colmar (10 minutes by car), is most often cited as the most beautiful village near the city: it is listed among the "Most Beautiful Villages of France" and is built in concentric circles with flower-lined medieval half-timbered houses.
Just behind, Riquewihr and Kaysersberg vie for second place, both on the Wine Route and less than twenty minutes from Colmar. Save this trip for Sunday afternoon, after the historic centre on Saturday.
For the record
The three flagship villages around Colmar: Eguisheim (the closest, and often cited as the most beautiful, about 8 km away), Riquewihr (the most visited, about 13 km away) and Kaysersberg (voted the French people's favourite village in 2017, about 12 km away). All less than 20 minutes away by car.
The seven must-do activities in Colmar and its surroundings for a weekend are: Wax of Legends, Little Venice, Choco-Story, Vino-Storia, the Unterlinden Museum (Isenheim Altarpiece, 1512–1516), the Alsace Wine Route, and the covered market.
Here is a short list for a weekend, from the centre out to the surroundings:
Enough to fill two days, with room left to wander.
Colmar is not a tourist trap: it is a lively Alsatian town of 70,000 residents with an active local market, genuine winstub restaurants and a historic centre where more than 3 million visitors a year share space with everyday local life. The centre is very busy in fine weather, but you only need to shift your timing — Little Venice at first light, the museums in the middle of the day — to find an authentic town again.
To avoid the crowds, favour the experiences you step inside over the viewpoints where people cluster. An afternoon at Wax of Legends, Choco-Story or Vino-Storia is time spent doing something, not elbowing your way across a packed square.
For a two-day weekend, sleep in the historic centre or right on its edge, within walking distance of everything. The hotels around the Little Venice area and the old town put you five minutes from the museums, the restaurants and the lanes worth photographing.
For organisation, book your activity tickets online in advance. You save time at the entrance, and a duo or trio pass spreads the visits across the whole weekend at a reduced rate. Arrive on Saturday morning, park once, and leave the car until you go.
What to do in Colmar on Saturday?
Devote Saturday to the historic heart at Place de la Cathédrale and its immersive experiences. In the morning, Wax of Legends from 10am — 60 statues, 15 interactive experiences, allow 1 hour to 1.5 hours. In the afternoon, Choco-Story (bean-to-bar journey and tasting), then Vino-Storia (3-wine Alsace tasting). All three are at 12 Place de la Cathédrale, 68000 Colmar — no car needed.
What is the best thing to do in Colmar?
Wax of Legends is Colmar's top interactive experience: 60 life-size wax statues, 30 audio listening points and 15 hands-on activities (penalty shootout, karaoke studio, roulette with Brad Pitt and George Clooney, Einstein's classroom). Audioguide included in 6 languages, tickets from €13. For heritage, the Unterlinden Museum and its Isenheim Altarpiece (1512–1516, Matthias Grünewald) remain the city's artistic landmark across 4,500 m².
What can I do in Colmar in one day?
In one day: Wax of Legends from 10am (1h–1h30), winstub lunch, Choco-Story or Vino-Storia early afternoon, Little Venice at sunset. All concentrated within a 1.5 km² pedestrian historic centre — no bus or taxi needed. Colmar's compact layout means no site in this guide is more than 15 minutes' walk from another.
What is the most beautiful village around Colmar?
Eguisheim, 8 km from Colmar (10 min by car), is most often cited as the most beautiful village near the city: it is listed among the "Most Beautiful Villages of France" (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France) and features a unique concentric-circle medieval layout with flower-lined lanes and half-timbered houses. Riquewihr (13 km) and Kaysersberg (12 km, voted the French people's favourite village in 2017) are close rivals on the Alsace Wine Route, all under 20 minutes away.
What to do in Colmar this weekend for free?
Several of Colmar's highlights are completely free: Little Venice and its canals, the cobbled streets of the old town (notably Rue des Marchands and Rue des Têtes), the covered market, and the Pfister House facade (one of the best-preserved Renaissance buildings in Alsace). The entire historic centre is pedestrianised and free to explore — only the indoor experiences and museums require a ticket.
Is Colmar a tourist trap?
No. Colmar is a living Alsatian city of roughly 70,000 residents that welcomes over 3 million visitors a year without losing its local character. The winstubs serve authentic Alsatian cuisine, the market draws local shoppers, and the historic centre is genuinely inhabited. To avoid the peak crowds: visit Little Venice before 9am and opt for indoor experiences (Wax of Legends, Choco-Story, Vino-Storia) rather than queueing at open-air viewpoints.
Are Colmar's museums open on weekends and public holidays?
Yes. Wax of Legends, Choco-Story and Vino-Storia are open every day of the year, 10am–6pm, including weekends, public holidays and school holidays (last entry at 5pm). This makes Colmar one of the most flexible weekend destinations in Alsace — no risk of a closed door.
How long does it take to visit Wax of Legends?
A full visit of Wax of Legends takes 1 hour to 1.5 hours, covering 60 wax statues, 30 audio listening points and 15 interactive experiences. Families with young children often spend closer to 2 hours. The audioguide in 6 languages (French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch) is included in the ticket price at no extra cost.
Can you visit Colmar as a family with young children?
Yes. Wax of Legends, Choco-Story and Vino-Storia (with an alcohol-free fruit-juice alternative for children) are suitable from age 5–6. The pedestrianised historic centre means no car crossings between sites, and all key attractions are within 15 minutes' walk of each other. Pushchair access is available on the main pedestrian routes.
How much does a weekend in Colmar cost for a family of 4?
For 2 adults and 2 children, the trio pass (Wax of Legends + Choco-Story + Vino-Storia) offers the best value: –33% off combined individual prices, equivalent to one museum free, valid for 7 days from first entry. Adult tickets from €29 per person (trio), children's rates available — contact Wax of Legends directly for current family pricing.
What is the price of Wax of Legends in Colmar?
Wax of Legends adult entry starts from €13. The Wax + Choco duo pass starts from €21 per person (–20% vs. separate tickets, valid 7 days). The trio pass — Wax of Legends + Choco-Story + Vino-Storia — starts from €29 per person (–33%, valid 7 days). Book online to skip the queue at the entrance.
Where is Wax of Legends in Colmar?
Wax of Legends is at 12 Place de la Cathédrale, 68000 Colmar, at the foot of the Saint-Martin Collegiate Church in the historic heart of the city. Choco-Story and Vino-Storia are in the same building. The site is reachable on foot from anywhere in Colmar's historic centre in under 10 minutes; a car park is available nearby on Place des Six-Montagnes-Noires.
How does Colmar compare to Strasbourg for a weekend?
Colmar and Strasbourg are both excellent Alsatian weekend destinations, but they suit different profiles. Strasbourg (75 km north) is a larger European capital with the European Parliament, a vast Gothic cathedral and a full urban programme. Colmar (population ~70,000) is more compact, with a better-preserved medieval old town, easier parking and a concentration of experiences — Wax of Legends, Little Venice, the wine villages — all within walking distance. Colmar suits a family or couple wanting a complete, car-free weekend without navigating a big city.
Information verified by the Wax of Legends team (July 2026).
Cover photo : Tamara Gerwinat / Unsplash
