If you go

SLEEPING: Hotel St. Martin is a family-run place with traditional rooms ideally situated near the Customs House (splurge, hotel-saint-martin.com). Maison Martin Jund is a ramshackle yet historic half-timbered house with modest but spacious rooms (budget, martinjund.com).

EATING: Winstub Schwendi has a fun, German pub energy inside with seven beers on tap, lively conversation and hustling waiters (moderate, 3 Grand Rue). La Cocotte de Grand-Mere offers a break from Alsatian food, with traditional French cuisine fresh from the market (moderate, 14 Place de l’Ecole).

GETTING AROUND: Most streets in the historic center are pedestrian-only. If you arrive by train, walk 15 minutes or take any Trace bus from the station to the town center.

TOURIST INFORMATION: tourisme-colmar.com.