Colmar, verdict by verdict

Colmar is a small Alsace town whose old centre is almost entirely half-timbered houses, canals and cobbled lanes, with the Petite Venise quarter as its picture-postcard core. It is also the natural base for the Alsace Wine Route, where villages like Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim sit a short drive or bus ride away.

The catch is that the town is small and very popular. In December the Christmas markets draw large crowds, especially at weekends, and rooms in the old town book out early. Most of what visitors come for can be seen in a day, so the value of staying longer depends on the wine villages and the season.

Plan a night or two if you want the town quiet in the early morning and evening, when the day-trip crowds have left, and use the extra time for the vineyards rather than more of the old town.