Colmar uses a four-colour zone system (red, orange, green and resident) with prices climbing toward the historic centre. Most visitors should head straight to the free P+R Bleydorn lot (free shuttle to centre every 12 minutes), or pre-book an underground spot at Mairie or Lacarre via Parclick. Fines for unpaid parking start at €17 / $19 and rise quickly inside the red zone.
Colmar centre is divided into four colour-coded zones. Each colour signals a different rate and maximum stay. Enforcement runs Monday-Saturday 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-19:00. Sundays and French public holidays are free.
| Zone | Colour | Hourly rate | Max stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre historique (hypercentre) | Red | €2.50 / $2.72 | 30-60 min |
| 1st ring | Orange | €1.70 / $1.85 | 2 h |
| 2nd ring | Green | €1.10 / $1.20 | 4 h |
| Residential | Yellow (residents only) | Permit only | — |
Petite Venise is fully pedestrian (no vehicle access). The clearest sign is the cobblestones — if the street is cobbled and narrow, do not drive in.
Colmar has four covered car parks plus several open-air ones. Pre-booking via Parclick saves about 20-30 % vs counter rates, especially in July-August and Christmas market season.
Under Place de la Mairie. 3 minutes' walk to Petite Venise and the Cathedral. Covered, 24/7 access, EV charging stations. Pre-book on Parclick for the best price.
Underground, 5 minutes' walk to the cathedral. Open 24/7, perfect for overnight stays in centre hotels.
Covered car park near Place Rapp. Useful for visitors heading to the covered market and pedestrian shopping streets.
Open-air lot 10 minutes' walk from the centre. Tends to have spaces when the underground lots are full, especially at weekends.
Open lot opposite Colmar railway station. Useful if you arrive by train but want a car for excursions, or for drop-offs.
Book your Colmar parking before you arrive and save 20-30 %. Compare Mairie, Lacarre, Rapp and Saint-Josse live:
Compare Colmar parking on ParclickThe smart move for almost every day visitor: park free at P+R Bleydorn (650 spaces) at the northern edge of town and ride the free shuttle “Pass'parc” into the centre. Shuttle runs every 12 minutes from 09:00 to 19:00, journey 5-7 minutes.
Free parking + free shuttle = nothing to pay all day. The shuttle drops you at Place de la Mairie, 30 seconds from Petite Venise.
During Christmas market weekends (late November to late December), it fills up by 11:00. Arrive earlier or use an underground lot instead.
Three methods: PayByPhone app (most popular in France), Flowbird (city operator), or the on-street horodateurs (coin meters).
Register, link your plate, pay by the minute. Available in English, Spanish, German. Service fee €0.15 / $0.16 per session.
City's own app. No service fee but the interface is in French only.
Every block has a meter. Accept coins and contactless cards. Take the printed ticket and place it visibly inside the windshield.
| Violation | Detail | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| No ticket in red / orange / green zone | Visible on windshield | €17 / $19 (red) up to €35 / $38 |
| Over the time limit | Same as no ticket | €17-35 / $19-38 |
| Parked in resident yellow without permit | Non-resident | €35 / $38 |
| Parked in pedestrian / Petite Venise | Cobbled streets | €135 / $147 + tow |
| Double parking | Any time | €35 / $38 |
Pedestrian. Park at Mairie or P+R Bleydorn and walk.
Red zone (30-min max). Use Lacarre or Mairie instead.
Parking Rapp underground is directly underneath.
Mostly pedestrian. Use Mairie and walk in 4 minutes.
Parking Scheurer-Kestner just opposite. Convenient for short stops.
From April 2026 Colmar extended PayByPhone to all four zones (previously only red/orange) and added EV charging stations at Parking Mairie and Lacarre. The Pass'parc shuttle from P+R Bleydorn extended its hours to 21:00 during the December Christmas market.
Yes — all paid zones (red, orange, green) are free on Sundays and French public holidays. Yellow (residents) is always permit-only.
Yes. P+R Bleydorn (650 spaces) is free with a free shuttle into the centre. P+R Centre Hospitalier is also free, 10 minutes' walk to the old town.
Parking Lacarre at €18 / $20 per day, 5 minutes' walk to the cathedral. Or Saint-Josse open-air at €14 / $15 per day.
No. Petite Venise is fully pedestrian. Park at Mairie or Lacarre and walk in — both are 3-5 minutes away.
PayByPhone is the most popular. Flowbird (city's own app) works too but is French-only. Both accept all four zones since April 2026.
Yes — P+R Bleydorn fills before 11:00 and the shuttle runs until 21:00. Pre-book an underground lot if you arrive after midday.
Disclosure: we earn a small commission if you book through our partner Parclick. Information verified on 19 May 2026 against the City of Colmar tourism office, Indigo Park listings and Google Maps reviews.
