The Best Hotels in Colmar, France for Every Traveller

With its exterior walls daubed in royal blue and the painted face of King Louis XIV looking on, you’ll have no trouble locating this four-star hotel, north of the town centre. The King’s portrait also hangs in reception, while other murals feature throughout this brightly decorated building, including pictures of Ray Charles and Billie Holiday in the neon purple jazz lounge. If the weather is duly fit for a Roi Soleil (Sun King), you can take a dip next door at the popular swimming lake.

A 10-minute walk from the train station will take you to this breezy three-star hotel that is ideal for groups and families, thanks to a combination of three-person guest rooms and eight interconnecting rooms that are handy for keeping kids close by – but not too close. Free parking is another plus, particularly if the 20-minute walk into the old town proves a little too far for some.

Don’t be fooled by the unassuming exterior, for inside this Kyriad hotel is a colour scheme bolder than Alsace’s best Pinot Noir. In the lounge, the soft furnishings are ruby red, as is the Smeg fridge, the pool table and let’s not forget the two-metre (7ft) Eiffel Tower. Renovated in 2019, the graphic lines and playful vibes exude a youthful confidence amidst the history of its surroundings, and the 41 compact rooms here are just as stylish.

There’s a smart use of space in this four-star Novotel just south of the old town. The rooms feature fridges, microwaves and coffee machines, and the communal areas contain plenty to keep the children entertained while the adults check in, including a mini-cinema, a small library of kids’ books and an interactive games table. If their thirst for amusement remains unquenched, Colmar’s toy museum is a five-minute drive away.

Located in Colmar’s historic heart, the Hotel Saint-Martin is as resplendent as one might expect from a building that finds itself on the corner of Rue de l’Église and Grand Rue. Dating back to 1361, its façade, interiors, vintage furniture and Renaissance-era courtyard have been reverentially preserved, to the delight of the many guests who come to Colmar to experience this type of live-in time capsule. As an additional nice touch, kids under six eat free at breakfast.

Run by a former footballer, Jaime ‘James’ Armindo’s passion is now firmly focused on the meticulous design of his family-run boutique hotel on Avenue d’Alsace. With help from renowned Parisian interior designer Caroline Tissier, Alsace’s old-world charm is reimagined in gold, pastel and blue, while its top-floor terrace gives a seemingly limitless view over Colmar’s low-lying burgundy rooftops. At breakfast, Alsatian specialities including bretzeln and kugelhopf brioche are obligatory accompaniments to a morning coffee.

Sitting right at the water’s edge of the Petite Venise (Little Venice) area of Colmar, Hotel Le Colombier provides guests with a private view of the canal, neatly hidden away from the crowds on the Quai de la Poissonnerie. This 18th-century building has had a contemporary overhaul inside, with slick decor that nonetheless retains nods to its former style, including exposed timber beams, vintage window shutters and an imposing arched wooden door that wouldn’t look out of place in a castle.

An ideal launchpad to the Alsace wine route (either north to Ribeauvillé or south to Guebwiller), this splendid roadside stopover is six kilometres (3.7mi) east of Colmar’s town centre and boasts a relaxation area, complete with jacuzzi, sauna, a sizeable indoor pool and sun loungers on the outdoor terrace. Head to the bar in the hope that the grand piano will be occupied, though if it’s not, the kitchen most certainly will be. The specials here change daily, though Alsatian staples like choucroute and kugelhopf are proudly ever-present.

With 2,500km (1,550mi) of cycling routes in the Alsace region, the potential is vast for exploring its pretty villages and vineyards on two wheels. Not only do the 44 bright rooms of the Arc-En-Ciel come with a secure lock-up and bike washing area, but it is situated near popular countryside routes for cyclists keen to enact their own Tour de France. The hot breakfast – including Alsatian favourite flammekueche – is served from 7.30am, but those keen to explore sooner can request an earlier mealtime.

The engaging reception staff are only too happy to point you in the direction of dozens of the finest nearby eateries, including a clutch of heavenly boulangeries among the covered markets. The bumper breakfast on offer at the hotel (free to kids under four) will also more than satisfy most appetites. Its three-star rooms can accommodate up to six people, while access to the Novotel wellness and fitness area in the same building is provided for a reasonable daily fee.