Travel guide · France
Strasbourg travel guide
A Gothic cathedral, half-timbered canals and Alsace wine country
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jonathan Martz, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
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 astronomical clock, the half-timbered tanners' quarter of Petite France and covered bridges, all listed by UNESCO together with the German-era Neustadt. It is also a seat of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, home to one of France's oldest Christmas markets and the gateway to the Alsace Wine Route. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June, September–October and December.
Key facts
- Country
- France
- Best time to visit
- May–June, September–October and December
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- SXB, FKB, BSL
- Mid-range daily budget
- $150–$260 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Strasbourg Cathedral, Petite France, Christmas market and European Parliament
Why visit Strasbourg
- The cathedral's west façade and single spire dominate the old town, and the platform 66 metres up gives views to the Black Forest and the Vosges.
- Petite France's half-timbered houses, locks and the Ponts Couverts towers make one of Europe's most picturesque old quarters, best seen on foot or by boat.
- Alsatian cooking — choucroute, tarte flambée, baeckeoffe and bretzels — is served in traditional winstubs with Riesling and Gewurztraminer.
- The Christmas market, held since 1570, fills squares across the old town from late November.
- Colmar, the Alsace Wine Route villages, Haut-Kœnigsbourg and Germany's Baden-Baden are all within about an hour.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Religious site · Grande Île
Strasbourg Cathedral
Built from pink Vosges sandstone between the 12th and 15th centuries, Notre-Dame de Strasbourg has an intricately carved west façade and a single 142-metre spire, the tallest building in the world for over two centuries.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Petite France
Petite France
The old tanners' and millers' quarter has some of the best-preserved half-timbered houses in Alsace along canals and locks.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Architecture
Landmark · Grande Île
Place Kléber
Strasbourg's largest square, named after the Revolutionary general Jean-Baptiste Kléber whose statue stands in the centre, is the heart of everyday city life.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Shopping
Historic site · Grande Île
Astronomical Clock
The cathedral's astronomical clock, rebuilt in its current form in the 1840s by Jean-Baptiste Schwilgué, shows planetary positions, the date of Easter and the phases of the moon.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Viewpoint · Grande Île
Cathedral platform
A climb of 332 steps up a spiral staircase leads to the platform 66 metres above the cathedral square, with views over the old town's roofs to the Black Forest in Germany and the Vosges mountains.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Active
- Photo spot
Historic site · Petite France
Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban
The Ponts Couverts are a set of bridges and four medieval towers that once guarded the river entrance to the city.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Grande Île is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and shopping
Grande Île
The UNESCO-listed island of the cathedral, squares and winstubs
$$$ · Best for couples, first-timers and culture
Petite France
Half-timbered tanners' houses, canals and locks at the island's western tip
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Krutenau
Former fishermen's quarter turned student district of bars and bistros
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, culture and families
Neustadt
Grand German imperial boulevards, the university and Place de la République
What to eat
- Choucroute garnie — Sauerkraut cooked in white wine and served with sausages, smoked pork, bacon and potatoes.
- Tarte flambée — A paper-thin bread base topped with fromage blanc, crème fraîche, onions and lardons, baked in a hot wood-fired oven.
- Baeckeoffe — A slow-baked casserole of beef, pork and lamb marinated in white wine, layered with potatoes and onions and sealed with a pastry lid.
- Bretzel — The Alsatian pretzel, glossy brown and sprinkled with coarse salt, sold warm at bakeries and stalls and sometimes split and buttered.
- Kougelhopf — A ring-shaped brioche with raisins and almonds baked in a fluted mould, eaten for breakfast or with coffee, and also made in savoury versions with bacon.
- Munster cheese — A soft, strong-smelling washed-rind cheese from the Vosges valleys, often eaten with cumin seeds and boiled potatoes.
When to go
The best times to visit Strasbourg are May to June and September to October, when weather is mild, the canals are pleasant for walking and the vineyards are green or golden. December is the most popular month for the Christmas market, but it is crowded and expensive. Winter outside Advent is cold but quiet and low-priced.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Blossom, nesting storks and mild weather, with showers and busy holiday weekends in May. |
| Summer | June–August | Warm days, outdoor dining by the canals, concerts and the occasional heatwave or thunderstorm. |
| Autumn | September–November | Harvest season on the Wine Route, autumn colours and the start of the Christmas market in late November. |
| Winter | December–February | Christmas market crowds and lights in December, then cold, quiet and low-priced January and February. |
Getting there and around
Strasbourg-Entzheim airport is about 12 km south-west of the centre; a shuttle train from the airport station reaches Strasbourg's main station in about 10 minutes. Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden airport in Germany is about 50 km away, and EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is about 140 km south, linked by train via Mulhouse.
Strasbourg's old town is compact and largely pedestrianised, and most sights are within a 20-minute walk. The CTS tram network connects the station, the old town, the European Quarter and Kehl in Germany, and the city has one of France's most extensive cycle networks.
Plan your days
Two days covers the cathedral, Petite France, a boat tour, the Palais Rohan museums and a winstub dinner. A third day adds the Neustadt, the European Quarter and Orangerie park; with four or five days, take day trips to Colmar, the Wine Route or the Black Forest.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- French and Alsatian
- Plugs
- Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Service is included by law.
Strasbourg is generally calm for visitors. Pickpocketing increases in the Christmas market crowds, so keep valuables secure. Watch out for cyclists and trams when crossing streets.
Flights to Strasbourg
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Strasbourg?
Two days covers the cathedral, Petite France, a boat tour, the Palais Rohan museums and a winstub dinner. A third day adds the Neustadt, the European Quarter and Orangerie park; with four or five days, take day trips to Colmar, the Wine Route or the Black Forest. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Strasbourg?
The best times to visit Strasbourg are May to June and September to October, when weather is mild, the canals are pleasant for walking and the vineyards are green or golden. December is the most popular month for the Christmas market, but it is crowded and expensive. Winter outside Advent is cold but quiet and low-priced.
+What is Strasbourg known for?
Strasbourg Cathedral, Petite France, Christmas market, European Parliament, Tarte flambée, Alsace wine and Half-timbered houses. The cathedral's west façade and single spire dominate the old town, and the platform 66 metres up gives views to the Black Forest and the Vosges.
+Is Strasbourg expensive?
Strasbourg is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $150–$260 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Strasbourg?
Not for the city, where walking, trams and bikes cover everything. A car is useful for the Alsace Wine Route villages, though trains and tours reach Colmar, Obernai and Haut-Kœnigsbourg.