One of the most picturesque cities in France, Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region and an incredible destination for a weekend away.

The city’s architecture and culture are a rich blend of French and German traditions and history, in fact, the two countries engaged in a tug-of-war for centuries over the city of Strasbourg. 

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Top Things to Do in Strasbourg, France

Basic Things to Know About Strasbourg

Strasbourg is crossed by the River Ill, the city which is actually made of several islands.

The Grande Isle is the historic center of the city and hosts Strasbourg Cathedral, four medieval churches, medieval palaces, and other gorgeous buildings.

The Grande Isle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Strasbourg is also the seat of the European Parliament.

Where is Strasbourg

Strasbourg is a well-known French city that is situated in the northeast of the country, close to its border with Germany. 

Strasbourg is located 491 kilometers from the capital of the country, Paris, and about eight hours from Marseille, the second-most important city in France.

Capital of the Alsace region, which has recently changed its name to The Grand Est, a region known in the past as the Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine, Region of France.

How to Get to Strasbourg

The easiest way to get to Strasbourg from the rest of Europe is to fly to Strasbourg International Airport (SXB).

The airport is easy to reach as it is located only a 10-minute train ride from Strasbourg’s city center.

Since the city is very close to the German border, another alternative way to get there is by bus from Frankfurt (there are shuttle buses leaving from Frankfurt International Airport).

If you want to travel to Strasbourg from Paris by car (A35 highway – E25), the journey lasts about 4 hours and it is a pleasant ride through the stunning landscapes of France.

The journey by car from Lyon (A35 highway – E25) is about 5 hours.

There is also a high-speed train from Paris (the ride is about 2.5 hours), and there are also trains to Strasbourg from Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Moving Around in Strasbourg

The most convenient way to move around is by tram. The city has 4 lines (A, B C, and D) connecting the most important places you will want to see in Strasbourg.

The city also has an efficient bus system and most buses run daily until 11 pm. Unipass tickets are valid both for bus and tram. Tourpass tickets give you the possibility to travel for 24 hours from the moment you validate the ticket.

When to Visit Strasbourg

To make the most of your day and enjoy more hours of light, it is better to visit from May until September. The temperatures start dropping and days get shorter during October.

From November until March, the weather is generally cold, being January and February the coldest months and even if it can snow in winter, cold winds and rain are much more common.

Where to Stay in Strasbourg

There are a lot of accommodation options for a stay in Strasbourg. If this is your first visit or if you are interested in checking the most famous landmarks, my suggestion is to find a hotel in the Old Town or near the train station.

The historic city center (Grande Île) is ideal if you want to discover the city on foot, to visit the best restaurants, and stores for shopping, and it’s perfect in December, as it hosts magical Christmas markets!

These are my suggested places to stay in Strasbourg:

• Hotel Kaijoo by HappyCulture is a fantastic hotel in the Petite France district, only 600 meters from Strasbourg SNCF Train Station. It has spacious guest rooms, some of them with views over the city.
  Click here for more information and to get the latest prices.

• Hotel Rohan, Centre Cathédrale boasts a top location in the historic center of Strasbourg, just 150 meters from the Strasbourg Cathedral and the Rohan Palace. The hotel offers 2 furnished terraces and elegantly decorated rooms with air conditioning.
  Click here for more information and to get the latest prices.

• Hotel des Arts – Centre Cathédrale is an affordable 2-star hotel ideally located in the center of Strasbourg, in the heart of the pedestrian area of the historic district. The cozy hotel is housed in a charming building near the historical museum, directly on the small square of Marché aux Cochons de Lait.
  Click here for more information and to get the latest prices.

Best Things to Do and Top Attractions in Strasbourg

So it’s time to start exploring the city, pack a small day bag and check out the following attractions and places to see in Strasbourg.

Strasbourg Cathedral

Built in medieval times, this huge sandstone cathedral was the tallest building in the world for centuries until 1874.

The cathedral stands in the heart of La Grande Isle and is certainly awesome. It is the oldest Gothic cathedral in the world and a magnificent example of medieval building skills and craftsmanship.

The West Facade is particularly magnificent and the apse that runs along the eastern side of the building and many other parts of the cathedral date from the twelfth century.

There are three special architectural features of the cathedral you should see:

• The cathedral has the highest Christian spire, which was built in 1439.
• The stunning rose window is situated above the main entrance.
• The famous astronomical clock. Get there at 12.30 p.m as the automated system begins a sequence of scenes portraying the different stages of life and the parade of the Apostles in front of Christ.

While you are visiting the cathedral, climb to the top of the fifteenth-century North Tower as it offers superb panoramic views and on a clear day, the Black Forest (which is about 30 kilometers away) can be seen on the horizon.

>> This Cathedral Guided Walking Tour is a perfect option to learn everything about one of the most stunning buildings in this region of France.
Click here for more information and to book the tour.

La Petite France

Have your camera ready for this part of the city as it is like a picture postcard and has plenty of Instagram appeal.

Much of this part of the city dates from the sixteenth century and has numerous old black and white half-timbered houses and workshops plus waterways and cobbled streets. Today this area is a car-free zone.

The area used to be a thriving one with fishermen, millers, and tanners all hard at work. Some of the buildings have flat areas on their roofs and this is where the dyed animal hides were put out to dry.

Today, many of the buildings have been converted into restaurants where you can relax over a meal of traditional Alsatian dishes.

Pont Couverts

At the entrance to Petite France stand three distinctive fortified bridges with their four square towers. They all date from the fourteenth century.

Their name describes how the bridges were covered to protect the residents during times of siege but these roofs were removed during the eighteenth century.

The bridges lost their importance when work was completed on the Barrage Vauban further up the river as this became the city’s main defense.

Barrage Vauban

This impressive bridge with sluice gates was built by Vauban, the French military engineer, and spans the river Ill.

The bridge was built in the seventeenth century and proved to be a vital part of the city’s defenses in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.

The bridge was built in pink sandstone. Vauban designed the bridge so that in times of siege, the sluices under the arches could be opened to let water through to flood the area south of the bridge.

Barriers on the bridge could also be put in place to stop invaders from advancing on the city. Today, Visitors can walk along the internal corridor and climb the stairs up to the roof to get good views of the cathedral.

At night time the archways of the bridge are floodlit in blue and the bridge itself in golden lights.

Uncover the City’s History

Standing overlooking the river Ill is a very impressive-looking building that houses the Musée Historique de Strasbourg and tells the story of the city from the Middle Ages until the eighteenth century.

The building itself was once the city’s slaughterhouse, but there are plenty of other interesting snippets of history to learn from the exhibits that include maps, clothing, sculptures, and weapons that reveal how Strasbourg was once the social, economic, and political hub of Europe.

A particularly interesting exhibit is the 1/ 600 scale model of Strasbourg which covers 80 square meters and is very detailed. On the model, you will easily identify all the main landmarks in town.

Modern and Contemporary Art

While you are in the Petite France area of the city, it is well worth having a browse at the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain de Strasbourg – the museum of modern and contemporary art.

It is an interesting museum with work by Picasso, Monet, and Brauner and there is also an interesting display that showcases graphic art.

Insider’s tip: At the end of your visit, relax with a drink on the museum terrace as it has great panoramic views to enjoy.

Le Vaisseau, the Interactive Science Museum

Le Vaisseau is perfect for a rainy day in Strasbourg with children! Everyone is encouraged to have fun with the interactive displays and all the instructions and useful information are printed in French, German and English.

The highlight of the museum must be the building site for children aged 3- 6 years where they are encouraged to build and learn about different design concepts.

There are more than 130 interactive displays and a 3D movie to enjoy.

European Parliament

It is worth deciding early on if you would like to visit the European Parliament as you have to book ahead.

Strasbourg is a good choice for it to be located as the city has for centuries been a melting pot of different cultures, faiths, and languages.

Today, the building is home to the world’s largest multi-national parliament. It was built in 1999 so is very modern, cylindrical in design, with a debating chamber that seats 750 people.

The interior of the building is so large that it has internal streets and a winter garden. There are guided tours available and there are often interactive exhibitions.

Alsatian Foods and Drinks That You Must Try

Alsatian food is a blend of French and German dishes with Choucroute being considered the top regional dish.

Also known as Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage which has a distinctive flavor), the dish is served with a variety of different sausages including frankfurters and morteau (a smoked variety of sausage). 

Tarte Flambée is another local specialty, made with bread dough covered with fromage frais, chopped onion, and lardons and then baked in the oven – tastes great when still warm.

>>This Strasbourg Traditional Food Group Walking Tour is perfect to taste the most authentic dishes of this French region.
Click here for more information and to book the tour.

Baeckeofe is the region’s traditional casserole with vegetables, wine, and three types of meat (pork, beef, and lamb). 

The famous kougelhopf is not to be resisted! This tall sponge cake is cooked in a distinctive fluted tin. It is usually chocolate, vanilla, or lemon in flavor or a marbled combination of vanilla and chocolate. Simply delicious!

Alsace is well known for its wines, so what better excuse to try a glass or two? Riesling is a crisp white wine that is the perfect accompaniment to many dishes, while Gewürztraminer is a combination of spicy and sweet which makes it the perfect dessert wine – although it is often served as an aperitif too. 

If you enjoy a good beer, Strasbourg lies in the heart of France’s best-known beer region and is surrounded by hop fields.

There are some large breweries in the city, but Meteor, which is a small independent brewery, is great fun to visit as it offers guided tours with a tasting session.

Relish the Strasbourg Christmas Market

The city’s Christkindelsmärik is the oldest and most famous Christmas market in France and is well worth visiting if you get the chance. 

There are more than 300 wooden chalets that are grouped in 12 different locations – including the square in front of the cathedral.

To get to know the best of the Christmas market, I suggest joining this Christmas Market Tour in Strasbourg.
You will experience the festive charm of the city with a local through the Christmas markets. Click here for more detail and to book the tour.

Other Strasbourg Christmas tours to consider:
– Strasbourg Christmas Market Tour with a local
– Christmas Joy in Strasbourg Walking Tour
– Strasbourg Christmas Market by night with mulled wine

The market displays beautiful Christmas decorations for sale as well as a variety of handicrafts plus tasty things to eat and mulled wine and other hot drinks to sip. 

The Strasbourg Christmas Market is open just for December and in that time has nearly one million visitors.

During this month, the magic of Christmas is prevalent across the whole city as shops have Christmas window displays and many of the houses are decorated with Christmas lights.

Part French, part German, and combining the best of the two nations, there is a lot to see and enjoy in Strasbourg no matter the time of the year you decide to visit!

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