
Duration
4 hours
Best Time
Any time
Price
€€
Closures
Closed on Sunday, Saturday
Europcar Colmar Centre sits at the edge of town near the aerodrome, giving you wheels to explore Alsace's legendary wine villages that public transport barely touches. The real prize here isn't the rental counter itself, but the freedom it unlocks: a self-driven loop through Eguisheim's concentric medieval streets, Kaysersberg's flower-lined canals, and Riquewihr's postcard-perfect ramparts. You'll cover about 50km of the Route des Vins d'Alsace, passing endless rows of Riesling and Gewürztraminer vines.
The experience flows like this: collect your car (usually a compact Peugeot or Renault), then head into wine country where every village seems pulled from a fairy tale. You'll park outside ancient walls, walk cobblestone streets past half-timbered houses, and taste wines at family cellars that have operated for centuries. The countryside between villages offers stunning vineyard panoramas, especially the climb toward Haut-Koenigsbourg castle.
Most guides don't mention that car rental prices spike during harvest season (September-October) to around €60-80 per day versus €35-45 in winter. The location isn't actually central despite the name, you'll need a taxi or bus to reach it from Colmar's old town. Skip the insurance upsell, your credit card likely covers it. Focus your driving time on Eguisheim and Riquewihr, Kaysersberg works better as a walking destination from Colmar.
Book online 48 hours ahead to guarantee a manual transmission car, automatics cost €15 extra daily and often aren't available
Most visitors underestimate driving time between villages, allow 20 minutes between each stop as roads wind through valleys
Download the Alsace Wine Route app before pickup, it works offline and marks the best vineyard viewpoints for photos
Address
Aerodrome De Colmar-Houssen, 47 Rte de Strasbourg, 68000 Colmar, France
Neighborhood
Unterlinden & Museum QuarterSkip the queue: Book tickets online to avoid the ticket line.
Plan for about 4 hours.
Europcar Colmar Centre is in the Unterlinden & Museum Quarter neighborhood of Colmar. The address is Aerodrome De Colmar-Houssen, 47 Rte de Strasbourg, 68000 Colmar, France. The area is well-served by metro.
This works well at any time of day, though mornings tend to be quieter. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends.
Comfortable shoes are recommended. Parts are outdoors, so bring a light layer.
Closed on Sunday, Saturday. Check the official website for holiday closures and special hours.