What is the best way to get from Strasbourg to Colmar?

Updated on September 28, 2026

In brief

The TER regional train from Strasbourg to Colmar takes about 30 minutes, with departures at 21 and 51 minutes past the hour in the daytime.
SNCF Connect lists 42 trains a day from Strasbourg to Colmar, from 5:19 to 23:20, including a few TGV INOUI trains that take as little as 26 minutes.
By car, Colmar is 73 km from Strasbourg on the A35 highway, about 1 hour without traffic.
FlixBus runs about one direct bus a day from Strasbourg to Colmar, in about 1 hour.
The Colmar garages Lacarre, Saint-Josse, and Gare/Bleylé charge 3 euros for a full day, and the first hour is free in every Colmar city garage.

Which Strasbourg to Colmar option is worth your time?

For most visitors, the best way from Strasbourg to Colmar is the TER regional train: about 30 minutes, two trains an hour, and a fare far below any car or driver. A car or a private driver only makes sense when you want to stop in wine villages or Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle on the way, or when you travel with luggage, children, or a group.

The wine villages sit west of the rail line, at the foot of the Vosges mountains, and no train reaches most of them. The train is the fast way to Colmar; the road is the way to everything in between.

Every way from Strasbourg to Colmar, one sentence each

There are six practical ways to travel from Strasbourg to Colmar, from a 30 minute regional train to a full private day through the vineyards. Each option below gets one sentence: what it is, how long it takes, and who it suits. Times are for a normal weekday.

The TER Grand Est regional train runs from Strasbourg station to Colmar station in about 30 minutes, stopping in Sélestat, and suits most travelers.
A few TGV INOUI high-speed trains a day also stop in Colmar, taking 26 to 33 minutes and are worth it only if one matches your time.
FlixBus runs about one direct coach a day from Place de l'Étoile in Strasbourg to Colmar station, in about 1 hour, rarely better than the train.
A rental car takes about 1 hour on the A35 highway, and pays off only if you add wine villages or Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle.
Fit cyclists can ride roughly 100 km along the Canal de la Bruche and the Véloroute du Vignoble d'Alsace (part of EuroVelo 5), then take the TER back with the bike.
An FJ13 private driver can do a one-way transfer from your Strasbourg hotel to your Colmar hotel, or a full day with village stops on the way.

Strasbourg to Colmar: train vs bus vs car vs private driver

From Strasbourg to Colmar, the TER train is the fastest and cheapest option door to door for most visitors: about 30 minutes from station to station, with Colmar station about a 15 minute walk from the Colmar old town. Driving takes about 1 hour, plus time to park. FlixBus takes about 1 hour and runs about once a day.

Strasbourg to Colmar: the main options compared
Option	Time	Cost	Best for
TER train	About 30 minutes, 2 trains an hour in the daytime	From 6 euros on selected trains (SNCF Connect)	Couples and solo travelers with light bags
TGV INOUI	26 to 33 minutes, a few trains a day	Check SNCF Connect for the current fare	Travelers already on a long-distance TGV
FlixBus	About 1 hour, about 1 bus a day	Low fare: check flixbus.com	Travelers who only find a bus seat
Rental car	About 1 hour on the A35, plus parking	Rental and fuel, plus 3 euros a day in some Colmar garages	Adding villages on your own
Bike	A full day or two for roughly 100 km	Free, if you have a bike	Fit cyclists who want the vineyards
FJ13 private driver	About 1 hour door to door, longer with stops	Priced per van for 1 to 7 passengers, not per person	Groups, luggage, village stops

FJ13 is not the best option for a couple without luggage going from Strasbourg to Colmar and back: take the TER. It is faster at rush hour and costs a fraction of a private van. Buy your ticket before you board, on SNCF Connect or at a station machine.

Driving into Colmar? Park in a garage, not in the street. Street parking in the Colmar center is paid from 9:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 19:00 (not on Sundays and public holidays) and gets expensive after a few hours.

A private driver makes sense for 4 or more people, heavy suitcases, or a day with Riquewihr and Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle on the way.

When should you travel from Strasbourg to Colmar?

The easiest time to travel from Strasbourg to Colmar is a weekday morning after 9:00, when TER trains run every 30 minutes and the A35 highway has cleared its commuter traffic. The first train leaves Strasbourg at 5:19 and the last at 23:20 on the current SNCF Connect timetable, so a full day in Colmar is easy without a car.

In December, the Colmar Christmas market changes the picture. From November 23 to December 29, 2026, the Colmar town center is closed to all vehicles during market hours (11:00 to 19:00 Monday to Thursday, 10:00 to 20:00 Friday to Sunday), garages fill early on weekends, and evening trains back to Strasbourg get crowded. The train is the clear choice then. See the Colmar Christmas market for dates and hours.

SNCF timetables change each December, so check your exact train on SNCF Connect a few days before you go.

Strasbourg to Colmar with FJ13 private driver

FJ13 is a private transport company with driver, based in Entzheim next to Strasbourg. For Strasbourg to Colmar, FJ13 offers a one-way transfer from your Strasbourg hotel to your Colmar hotel, or a full day of about 10 hours with wine villages on the way. The price is per van, for 1 to 7 passengers.

The one-way transfer suits travelers moving hotels with suitcases, families (a baby seat or booster is available on request), and groups. Your driver waits 10 minutes free of charge on a simple transfer.

The full day is where a private driver earns its place. The Alsace Wine Route private day tour links wine villages between Strasbourg and Colmar, with self-guided time in each village. The Colmar, Riquewihr and Haut-Koenigsbourg day tour adds the castle. Your driver shares local tips along the way. Tolls, parking, and bottled water are included; a 20% surcharge applies between 21:00 and 06:00.

Tell us your date, group size, and luggage in the quote configurator.

Frequently asked questions

Is a private driver worth it for two people going from Strasbourg to Colmar?

Usually not. For two people with light bags going straight to Colmar, the TER is faster at rush hour and far cheaper. A private driver pays off with 4 or more people, heavy luggage, or village stops.

Does a TER ticket from Strasbourg to Colmar tie you to one specific train?

No, in most cases. Most TER Grand Est tickets are valid for one day on the route printed on them, so you can take an earlier or later TER that same day. Each ticket covers one trip, so you need one for the way back too.

Can you bring a bike on the train from Strasbourg to Colmar?

Yes. On TER trains, bikes travel free and without a reservation, subject to space on board.

Which Colmar parking garage is best for a full day?

The Lacarre, Saint-Josse, and Gare/Bleylé garages in Colmar charge 3 euros for a stay from 1 to 24 hours, and the first hour is free. Avoid the street for a full day: it is paid by the hour and gets expensive fast.

How long does it take to cycle from Strasbourg to Colmar?

Plan on at least a full day for roughly 100 km: the Canal de la Bruche bike path to Molsheim (about 23 km, flat), then the Véloroute du Vignoble d'Alsace south through the vineyards, with bike lanes, shared roads, and some climbs. Two days with a night in a wine village is more comfortable.

Can an FJ13 driver stop in Obernai on a one-way transfer to Colmar?

Yes, ask for it in your quote. The price depends on the duration and itinerary, so a short stop in Obernai adds time to the transfer. For several stops, a full private day fits better.