From Freiburg to Colmar...Bus or train?
Mar 27th, 2013, 01:19 PM
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From Freiburg to Colmar...Bus or train?
Hello, This is my first time in Europe. I will be here for 3 months since I'm doing a research stay at the university of Freiburg. I know Colmar is beautiful and since is close to Freiburg I would like some information on what is the cheapest and easiest way to get there. I know there is a ticket http://www.rvf.de/Regioelsassticket.php but there is no information in English and I don't know if probably there is a better way to travel to Colmar. I would appreciate any advise on this...
Thank you!
Thank you!
Mar 27th, 2013, 01:38 PM
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That regional day pass looks like a pretty cheap option.
For €12.30 you get to Colmar and back to Freiburg.
You would get the ticket from the machine/kiosk at Freiburg train station and go by train to Breisach.
Change there to bus (with same ticket) to Colmar.
You will find the timetable here:
http://www.rvf.de/PDF/RegioElsassBus.pdf
Montag bis Freitag means mondays thru fridays
Samstag is Saturday
Sonn- und Feiertag means Sundays and public holidays.
For €12.30 you get to Colmar and back to Freiburg.
You would get the ticket from the machine/kiosk at Freiburg train station and go by train to Breisach.
Change there to bus (with same ticket) to Colmar.
You will find the timetable here:
http://www.rvf.de/PDF/RegioElsassBus.pdf
Montag bis Freitag means mondays thru fridays
Samstag is Saturday
Sonn- und Feiertag means Sundays and public holidays.
Mar 27th, 2013, 01:55 PM
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Thank you so much for this info..!! Do you think it is OK to spend just 1 day there? I mean arriving early in the morning and leaving at night? Or, should I spend two days or more in Colmar?
Mar 27th, 2013, 03:20 PM
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Colmar itself is a half-day town - check out the Statue of Liberty replica now standing the in the hometown of the sculptor who sculpted the real statue here, I believe, and had it shipped bit by bit to NYC.
Colmar is a wonderful old town but small and not much to see or do, right in town that is but at its door step are a string of wine towns along the Alsace Wine Road - a meandering road skirting the foothills of the Vosges mountain - lots of wine houses for tasting and buying from the proprietor - so a day along the Wine Strasse - bike rentals available in Colmar or trains actually serve stations near but not always right in the small villages. Maybe that regional pass would cover buses or trains that link Colmar to those picture postcard wine towns.
If traveling around Germany itself by train or nearby countries check out various rail passes - like if under 25 there is a bargain German Railpass or Germanhy-Benelux Railpass (valid in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) or France-Germany; etc or even a Eurail Youthpass if you have vacations or long weekends - lots of overnight trains run to and from Germany - an overnight train could take you to Florence or Venice the next morning.
For loads of great info on German and European trains check out www.bahn.de/en - the English site of the German Railways web site - best site for schedules for any European train and fares for trains involving Germany; and www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com.
The German Railpass - even youthpasses - allows you to hop on virtually any train in Germany any time - fully flexible tickets can cost a ton - good for spontaneous travel. Railpasses also pass in full on K-D boats on The Rhine's best most scenic part - between Rudesheim/Bingen and Koblenz - just hop on and that is one thing any foreign tourist in Germany for that long would probably do.
For regional train travel yes stick to the Lander Tickets - regional tickets for a wide area surrounding a big city - you are restricted to regional trains but since you are not traveling far that is fine.
Colmar is a wonderful old town but small and not much to see or do, right in town that is but at its door step are a string of wine towns along the Alsace Wine Road - a meandering road skirting the foothills of the Vosges mountain - lots of wine houses for tasting and buying from the proprietor - so a day along the Wine Strasse - bike rentals available in Colmar or trains actually serve stations near but not always right in the small villages. Maybe that regional pass would cover buses or trains that link Colmar to those picture postcard wine towns.
If traveling around Germany itself by train or nearby countries check out various rail passes - like if under 25 there is a bargain German Railpass or Germanhy-Benelux Railpass (valid in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) or France-Germany; etc or even a Eurail Youthpass if you have vacations or long weekends - lots of overnight trains run to and from Germany - an overnight train could take you to Florence or Venice the next morning.
For loads of great info on German and European trains check out www.bahn.de/en - the English site of the German Railways web site - best site for schedules for any European train and fares for trains involving Germany; and www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com.
The German Railpass - even youthpasses - allows you to hop on virtually any train in Germany any time - fully flexible tickets can cost a ton - good for spontaneous travel. Railpasses also pass in full on K-D boats on The Rhine's best most scenic part - between Rudesheim/Bingen and Koblenz - just hop on and that is one thing any foreign tourist in Germany for that long would probably do.
For regional train travel yes stick to the Lander Tickets - regional tickets for a wide area surrounding a big city - you are restricted to regional trains but since you are not traveling far that is fine.
Mar 27th, 2013, 06:07 PM
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Normally I'd go along with PalenQ's suggestions, but I differ on his judgment on Colmar. Colmar's old town is certainly large enough to occupy you for a day, particularly if you include an amble down to the canal area. The buildings in the old town are genuinely old, and the place is a pleasure to walk around. However, the highlight of Colmar is in the Musee Unterlinden which is located in the centre of town. The Isenheim Altarpiece by Grunewald is one of the great works of western art, and, along with Strasbourg Cathedral and the Humanist Library at Selestat, one of the three recognized treasures of Alsace. It alone is worth a trip to Colmar to see.
Mar 27th, 2013, 09:42 PM
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I think Colmar is worth an entire day too. Loved just walking around, along the canals, the Cathedral, and enjoying the products on display at the market hall. Great architecture, and wonderful small stores offering unique items. Lots of fun browsing.
Mar 28th, 2013, 06:28 AM
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https://www.google.com/search?q=colm...=1600&bih=1099
Images of Colmar and the Colmar Statue of Liberty
Images of Colmar and the Colmar Statue of Liberty
Mar 29th, 2013, 10:02 AM
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In retrospect I agree with adeben - one can easily spend a delightful day in Colmar - i certainly did on a day trip from Strasbourg once - I guess I meant to say that Colmar was small and compact - well not a village but a small regional town that if you had limited time could still be a sweet stop.
But yes a nice leisurely day - maybe lunch in one of the restaurants along the canal in the "Little Venice part of town" - one of a zillion Little Venices in Europe".
But yes a nice leisurely day - maybe lunch in one of the restaurants along the canal in the "Little Venice part of town" - one of a zillion Little Venices in Europe".
