In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · France
Turckheim
Half a day is enough to walk the medieval walls, see the Night Watchman and taste the wine; use it as a quiet base for the Alsace Wine Route, not a destination on its own.
Turckheim is a small walled town on the Alsace Wine Route, 7 km west of Colmar. Its medieval gates, half-timbered houses and nightly Night Watchman patrol (May–October) are the main draws. Most visitors spend a few hours here as part of a wine-route drive or a day trip from Colmar. One night works if you want a quiet evening and a morning walk before the crowds arrive.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–Oct (Night Watchman runs; wine harvest in Sep–Oct)
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (many restaurants and the Night Watchman are off-season; cold and grey)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €60–90 excl. bed · Mid €90–150 excl. bed · High €150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire 18 · Ambulance (SAMU) 15 · European emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–3.50 |
| Glass of Alsace wine (at a bar or tasting room) | €3–6 |
| Flammekueche (tarte flambée) | €8–12 |
| Baguette from the bakery | €1.20 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | €15–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BSL · EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg
- About 1 h by car or train via Colmar
- SXB · Strasbourg Airport
- About 1 h 15 min by car or train via Colmar
Typical fares
- Train Colmar–Turckheim
- about €3 one way, 10 min (check)
- Taxi from Colmar station
- €20–25
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The old town is walkable in 15 min. Bikes are a good option for the vineyards; rent one in Colmar or at the camping. A car is useful for the Wine Route but parking inside the walls is limited.
See and do
Known for
- Medieval walls with three gates (Porte de Munster, Porte du Brand, Porte de France)
- Night Watchman patrol at 22:00 (May–October)
- Alsace Wine Route vineyards
- Half-timbered houses and quiet streets
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Colmar | Train (TER, 10 min) or bike (7 km (4.3 mi) along the wine route)Train (TER, 10 min) or bike (4.3 mi (7 km) along the wine route) | About 20 min |
| Route des Vins (Wine Route) villages | Car or bike; the route passes through Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim | About 30 min to the first village |
| Strasbourg | Train from Colmar (TER, about 30 min) then tram | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Within the walls
- Quiet, walkable to everything; most hotels and guesthouses are here.
- Along the Route des Vins
- Vineyard views and more space; a 5–10 min drive or bike ride from the centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| Good evening | Bonsoirbohn-swahr |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaîtla-dee-syon, seel voo pleh |
| Where is the train station? | Où est la gare ?oo eh la gahr |
| A glass of white wine, please | Un verre de vin blanc, s'il vous plaîtuhn vair duh van blahn, seel voo pleh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Night Watchman runs only from May to October, at 22:00 sharp.
- Many restaurants close on Mondays and Tuesdays, and in winter (Nov–Feb).
- Parking inside the walls is restricted; use the free lot just outside Porte de France.
Very safe. The main risks are uneven cobblestones and drunk drivers on the wine route after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Turckheim yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Medieval walls with three gates (Porte de Munster, Porte du Brand, Porte de France)
- Night Watchman patrol at 22:00 (May–October)
- Alsace Wine Route vineyards
- Half-timbered houses and quiet streets
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Turckheim, revision 4656018 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4656018
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/turckheim). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.