A Day Trip to Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg is the capital of the Grand Est region, formerly Alsace, in France. It’s also the formal seat of the European Parliament and is near the German border. Strasbourg showcases a true blend of German and French culture, which is primarily attributed to its history, which saw it under German control at some points and under the French at others.
Recently, in summer, we went on a weekend trip to Baden Baden in Germany and Strasbourg in France. Although the two cities are in different countries, they are pretty close in terms of distance, which is why we were able to club them together on one trip.
Our trip was beautiful, and in this article, I have jotted down our experience in Strasbourg, one of the most lovely medieval towns in France.
This article contains everything you need to plan your day in Strasbourg. In addition to the places we visited, I have shared information about accommodation, travel, tips based on my experience, and additional tourist sites you can visit if you have more days in Strasbourg.
I have already posted about this first part of the weekend, a day spent in Baden Baden. Do check out that article. Also, check out the lovely photo gallery of Baden Baden here.
Before I start with the places we visited, I will take my readers through some basics, like arriving in Strasbourg, accommodation, travelling within the city, etc. So, let’s start.
Arrival at Strasbourg
By Car
If you live in any of the nearby towns, the fastest and most convenient way is to reach Strasbourg by car. As mentioned above, Strasbourg was the second leg of our weekend holiday, during which we spent one day in Baden Baden and one day in Strasbourg. We live in Darmstadt, Germany, and it took us 1 hour and 45 minutes to drive about 145 km to Baden Baden. Baden Baden lies to the south of Darmstadt in Baden Württemberg. After visiting our places of interest in Baden Baden, we headed to our apartment in Brumath ( a small town in France). Then, the following day, which was a Sunday, we drove from Brumath to Strasbourg. The distance between Brumath and Strasbourg is about 20 km, which we covered in about half an hour by car.
If you don’t own a car or plan to arrive from another country, you can rent a car for your travels. We have rented cars from SIXT multiple times and found their cars to be of top-notch quality.
While you are here, you can read my articles:
How to get a driving license in Germany- Step-by-Step guide
My Experience with renting a car in Germany
By Public Transport
The second best option is to use public transport to reach Strasbourg. The station where you arrive is called Strasbourg-Ville station. From there, you can use local public transport to your desired destination or take a private transfer (which makes sense if you have a lot of luggage). I have discussed local transport in Strasbourg further in the article.
You can book your train on Deutsche Bahn’s official website or check out your options on Omio.
By Flight
If you arrive from another country, you can fly to Strasbourg International Airport, the city’s international airport. From there, you can take a taxi, shuttle train, or rental car to the city centre/your hotel/apartment.
You can check your flight options here.
Moving around within the town of Strasbourg
By Car
If you have arrived by car, you only have to worry about parking. You can read more about car parking in Strasbourg here. Note that street-side parking is free on Sundays and public holidays.
By Public Transport
CTS is both the operator and contracting authority for Strasbourg’s urban public transport network. You can find your connection on their official website, and you can buy tickets online or at the ticket vending machines at the stops.
Most of Strasbourg’s tourist attractions are in the old city, a pedestrian zone. So, if you plan to take public transport and visit the old town, take a tram to Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg. From there, set out on foot and explore the old town area.
I have shared more information about reaching specific locations further in the article.
Accommodation in Strasbourg
Since we are a family with kids already in their teens, having enough space for each of us is essential. Hotel rooms are not spacious, and everyone is restricted to a small room. So, recently, we started booking apartments. We usually reserve a flat or house, preferably with an equipped kitchen and a minimum of two bedrooms, so that each of us has our own space and there is always an option of cooking something.
As a family, we like having a good breakfast and starting our day, and apartments with kitchens allow us to make simple meals at home. We also enjoy exploring the local supermarkets, finding what’s new, and trying out foods and drinks that are locally available. Apartments are an excellent option for all those who want to add this to their holiday experience.
We booked an apartment for this trip, too, and as usual, the experience was great. Since our place was to visit both Baden Baden and Strasbourg, we booked an apartment in Brumath, a small town in France close to Baden and Strasbourg. The prices were much more reasonable than those in Baden Baden and Strasbourg, which was another reason to book an apartment there.
Note that staying away from Strasbourg worked for us because we used our car to travel between places. If you are there by public transport, plan to stay in Strasbourg, so you don’t waste time travelling and waiting for connections.
You can check out accommodations in Brumath here.
You can check out accommodations in Strasbourg here.
Now, let me take you through our day in Strasbourg.
A Day Trip to Strasbourg: Places to see and tips to plan your visit
Before you plan to visit Strasbourg, it would help to understand that the city can be divided into three parts: the Old City area, called Altstadt ( a complete pedestrian zone, including important sites like Strasbourg Cathedral, Petit France, Vauban Barrage, etc.), the New City area, called Neustadt ( featuring impressive squares, spacious tree-lined avenues and many modern and historical structures) and the European district (which houses important offices like the European Parliament, European Court of Human Rights, the headquarters of Arte-the European TV channel, etc). You can check out this website to learn about each of these areas and to get information about all the places you can visit in each of these districts. Based on that, you can choose some or all, depending on your interests and the number of days you spend in the city.
For our day trip, we chose to visit the old city area, i.e. the Altstadt.
If you wish to stay longer in Strasbourg and visit many places, you should get a Strasbourg City Card, which allows discounts on many sites.
Now, let me take you through the itinerary we followed.
We started our day by reaching Strasbourg around 10 a.m. It was a Sunday, and we found free parking on the street a few meters from the old city area. After a short walk, we reached the Strasbourg Cathedral Square.
Strasbourg Cathedral
About Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg Cathedral, also called Strasbourg Minster, is an 11th-century Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg and one of its most important landmarks. It looks majestic, with its spire forming the skyline of Strasbourg. It was, in fact, the tallest structure for about 227 years during the Middle Ages, after which the St. Nikolai Church in Hamburg surpassed it. You can read more about the St. Nikolai Church in my article about Hamburg.
Experiences at the Cathedral
The cathedral is open to the public. However, there is a strict dress code, and they don’t allow uncovered shoulders. So, you must take care of that if you plan to visit it from the inside. The cathedral looks lovely from the inside, and its main highlight is the Astronomical Clock, a Renaissance masterpiece, which was the result of the combined work of artists, mathematicians, and technicians. Visitors can also climb up to the Cathedral’s platform and guard house, which is a thrilling experience. Also, the cathedral square is lined with cafes, restaurants, speciality shops and souvenir shops. The place is full of activity and is a must-visit to experience Strasbourg city vibes.
Here, you can take the digital audio guide to learn more about the cathedral during your visit.
Note that the Cathedral has timings for visitors and you must plan your visit accordingly. Check out their official website for more information about the cathedral, visiting hours etc.
We visited the cathedral and headed to the pier, from where boats take off for a 75-minute tour of Strasbourg. Our plan was to take the boat tour through the city.
Boat Tour of Strasbourg
We bought tickets at the counter (self-purchase and only with a card) and waited in line for the boat ride through Strasbourg. The link shared above is for the location of the ticketing machine. The ticket costs 20 Euros per adult and 14 Euros for children under 18.
If you are a group of about 7, a more reasonable option is to get a Private City Sightseeing Boat Tour, which costs about 120 Euros for the group.
On the boat tour, everyone is given audio guides (available in many languages). The boat goes through the old town, Petit France, the New district, and the European district, covering important landmarks in Strasbourg, many of which lie along the river Ill. It then goes up to Barrage Vauban, after which it takes a U-turn.
On the boat ride, you also have the option of alighting at the European Parliament. We didn’t alight at the European Parliament because we had already seen it in Brussels. To learn more about it, read my article about our holiday in Belgium. Like the European Parliament in Brussels, access to this one is free, but you must book your visit online. Check out their official website for more details.
Highlights of the tour
- The audio guide gives you a pretty good idea about the city and covers many important landmarks. It was quite informative and interesting.
- It was pretty interesting to learn and experience the functioning of the lock gates, which are used to manage water levels and facilitate boat movement.
- The boat takes you through almost all of the important places, so if you have mobility issues, taking a boat ride is an excellent idea. That way, you can sit and, at your convenience, see all the places.
Here are some more pictures we took during the boat ride. I highly recommend taking this ride and adding it to your experiences in Strasbourg.
The boat brought us back to the place we started. We alighted, picked some small snacks, and started walking along the river (following the same path that the boat took on foot) to reach Petite-France.
Petite-France
About Petite-France
Petite France is Strasbourg’s lively tourist hub, sometimes compared to Venice. It is known for cobblestone streets, canals, and well-preserved half-timbered homes. The Tanners’ House and a terrace atop the 17th-century Barrage Vauban that offers panoramic views are some of its important landmarks. Petite France also features local Alsatian eateries and shops that sell clothing and souvenirs, specialty wines, and teas.
You can walk along the river, passing through the many cafes and restaurants that dot the area. Stop by and see the functioning of the lock gates. Boats come every 15 minutes, and the water level is adjusted. It is pretty fascinating!
We walked further ( few meters) and reached Barrage Vauban.
Barrage Vauban
The Barrage Vauban, or Vauban Dam, is a bridge and defensive work erected in the 17th century on the River Ill in the city of Strasbourg. It functioned as a navigation lock. The principal defensive function of the barrage was to enable, in the event of an attack, the raising of the level of the River Ill and, thus, the flooding of all the lands south of the city, making them impassable to the enemy. It was put to use during the Franco-Prussian War. Today it serves to display sculptures and has a viewing terrace on its roof, which visitors can climb to get lovely views of the city.
It took us about an hour to explore Petite France, walking up Barrage Vauban and exploring things on the way. Then, we stopped for lunch at L’Ami Schutz and enjoyed tarte flambée (Flammkuchen in German), local beer and a few desserts. Everything was delicious. My review is posted here.
Here are some pictures:
After a late lunch, we started our walk back to the Cathedral Square, where we had started. We bought some souvenirs, clicked some more pictures, and headed to our car park. After that, we drove back to Darmstadt, the city where we live. It was a comfortable two-hour drive.
If you have more time in Strasbourg, you can add the following to your itinerary:
- Walking Tour with Local Guide: Choose this if you don’t plan to do the boat ride.
- Walking Tour of the European District: Choose this if you would like to learn more about the important offices of the EU, their functioning and significance.
- Guided Tour of the Christmas Market: Strasbourg is famous for its Christmas Market. If you visit Strasbourg during Christmas, add this to your itinerary.
- Traditional Food Group Walking Tour: If you are a food enthusiast, add this food-tasting tour to your itinerary. The Alcase region is well known for its unique food specialities. So it would be worth checking it out.
You can also plan a couple of day trips from Strasbourg, such as:
- Best Of Alsace Historical Day Trip, in which you can visit the Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle, wander through the villages of Riquewihr and Kayserberg, and follow the Wine Route in a bus.
- Black Forest and Baden Baden Day Trip, in which you start from Strasbourg and visit Baden Baden in the black forest region of Germany.
I hope my readers have found this article useful. Read about other holiday destinations here.
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