Comparison · Strasbourg vs Zurich · France / Switzerland
Strasbourg vs Zurich
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jonathan Martz, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Strasbourg for Strasbourg Cathedral, Petite France, lower day-to-day costs and free sights; choose Zurich for Lake Zurich and Bahnhofstrasse. Strasbourg is generally less expensive, and the two are about 145 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 145 km
- Less expensive
- Strasbourg
- Best time for Strasbourg
- May–June, September–October and December
- Best time for Zurich
- May–September
Side by side
| Strasbourg | Zurich | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | Switzerland |
| Known for | Strasbourg Cathedral, Petite France and Christmas market | Lake Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse and Old Town (Altstadt) |
| Best time to visit | May–June, September–October and December | May–September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$260 | $280–$450 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Very expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 26°C (79°F) | July, 24°C (75°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 4°C (39°F) | January, 3°C (37°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | SXB, FKB, BSL | ZRH |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Strasbourg for…
Strasbourg Cathedral, Petite France, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Strasbourg, capital of Alsace on the Rhine border with Germany, mixes French and German culture in its food, architecture and dialect. The Grande Île, an island ringed by the River Ill, holds the pink-sandstone cathedral with its 142-metre spire and…
Choose Zurich for…
Lake Zurich and Bahnhofstrasse. Zurich wraps around the northern tip of Lake Zurich, where the Limmat river flows out through a compact medieval Old Town. The twin towers of the Grossmünster and the Chagall windows of the Fraumünster face each other across the river, Bahnhofstrasse runs…
Top sights compared
| # | Strasbourg | Zurich |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strasbourg Cathedral | Niederdorf and the right-bank Old Town |
| 2 | Astronomical Clock | Lindenhof hill |
| 3 | Cathedral platform | Grossmünster |
| 4 | Petite France | Fraumünster |
| 5 | Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban | Bahnhofstrasse |
Food compared
| Strasbourg | Zurich |
|---|---|
| Choucroute garnie | Zurich-style veal |
| Tarte flambée | Rösti |
| Baeckeoffe | Cheese fondue |
| Bretzel | Veal sausage |
Which is cheaper?
Strasbourg is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $150–$260 per person there, against $280–$450 in Zurich (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Strasbourg on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Strasbourg and Zurich are about 145 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Strasbourg and 3 in Zurich.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Strasbourg or Zurich cheaper?
Strasbourg is usually less expensive: about $150–$260 a day mid-range against $280–$450 (estimates).
+Is Strasbourg or Zurich better for a first trip?
Pick Strasbourg for Strasbourg Cathedral, Petite France, lower day-to-day costs and free sights, or Zurich for Lake Zurich and Bahnhofstrasse.
+How far is Strasbourg from Zurich?
About 145 km in a straight line.