Last updated on August 19, 2025
For the Easter holidays we looked at the flights from Berlin and chose the cheapest option. In this case it was Basel, Switzerland. However, knowing that Switzerland is incredibly expensive, we were afraid of spending too much time there. Fortunately, Basel is located on the border of France and Switzerland. We had always wanted to visit Colmar, France. Located just 46 minutes by TER train from Basel, we made our plan to visit Colmar and then continue to Strasbourg. The TER trains in France are incredibly cheap and so we decided to go by train instead of renting a car in Switzerland (which would have been VERY expensive!) Read below how you too can plan a trip to Basel, Colmar & Strasbourg, with Basel as a starting point.
Stay in Basel, near the train station
Since we arrived in Basel so late and we were taking the TER train early the next day, we booked a hotel close to the Basel Central Station. We stayed in the ibis Basel Bahnhof hotel in a double room for EUR 123 per night. It is conveniently located a 4-minute walk from the train station and a 30-minute train ride from the airport. We booked our TER train on the SNCF app at 11:50 the next morning. That meant we woke up, checked out, had some breakfast (outside the hotel), went to play in a nearby park, and then headed to the train station. The trains in France are so cheap! We paid 31 EUR one way from Basel to Colmar for the three of us (Isabella was free).
How to plan a trip to Basel, Colmar and Strasbourg: Spend plenty of time in Colmar
We stayed 2 nights in Colmar in a charming Airbnb located in the city center. Colmar was beautifully decorated for Easter throughout the city. There were markets and food stalls everywhere. The buildings were decorated with flowers, eggs, bunnies and even teddy bears. We had a great time just wandering the streets and taking pictures. Some of the most picturesque spots in Colmar are close by Channel. A photo from the bridge of Little Venice Colmar with all those half-timbered houses is highly recommended. You can even leave a heart lock with your name on the bridge.
When we first arrived in Colmar we stopped to eat St. Peter’s cellara French restaurant right on the canal. We ordered tarte flambée, like a thin crust French pizza, and watched the boats go by. The next day we took a boat trip on the canal this boat company with a jetty close to the restaurant. I would definitely recommend taking a ride on the canal for a different view of the city.
What and where to eat in Colmar: try typical Alsatian cuisine
When eating in Colmar you must try the typical dishes of Alsace. Because this part of France was occupied by Germany at various times in history, there are many similarities with German cuisine. We ate everything from pancakes and galettes to sausages and kase spaetzle. All the restaurants were very casual and very rustic. We had not made a reservation in advance, but had to wait several times to eat. I will mention below where we ate:
For brunch: Artemisia
For lunch: St. Peter’s Cellar And Ancient and gastronomic
For dinner: Brasserie des Tanneurs
Travel by train from Colmar to Strasbourg
From Colmar we took a TER train to Strasbourg. The whole journey takes just 30 minutes by train and tickets cost us a total of 28 euros for the three of us, one way (Isabella was free). There is one in front of Colmar train station beautiful carousel which Isabella enjoyed before boarding our train.
We stayed in Strasbourg Hotel Rozen which I found on Booking.com for only 93 EUR per night. It was a 30 minute walk from the train station, which was inconvenient with all our luggage plus Isabella. During our trip through the city we ended up in a cat cafe (don’t ask!!!) for a cup of coffee and crepe, and finally at The clothesline restaurant for dinner. We ate outside opposite the canal with a view Little Francewhich was incredibly picturesque.
Take the train back to Basel before flying home
Our third and final train was from Strasbourg back to Basel. We paid 54 EUR for the three of us one way and the journey took just over an hour. We spent the afternoon in Basel without an agenda, wandering the streets, enjoying the sun and waiting for our late flight home.
And so we spent our time in Basel, Colmar and Strasbourg! April and Easter were a great time to visit the cities. However, I have also heard that Strasbourg is the Christmas capital of Europe. So I’m definitely going to add it to my Christmas wish list. Have you been to Alsace? Are there any other hidden gems we should discover? Let us know in the comments below!
