2 days in Strasbourg

Day by day

1. Day 1: Strasbourg Cathedral and Place Kléber

   Strasbourg Cathedral, Place Kléber, Astronomical Clock and Cathedral platform, then Krutenau in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Strasbourg Cathedral

      Inside are rose windows, medieval stained glass and the Pillar of Angels. Entry to the nave is free.

   2. Late morning

      Place Kléber

      In December a giant Christmas tree is raised here as the centrepiece of the Christmas market.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Choucroute garnie

      Traditional winstubs and brasseries across the Grande Île.

   4. Afternoon

      Astronomical Clock

      Every day at about half past midday, a procession of the apostles passes before Christ and a rooster crows.

   5. Late afternoon

      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.

   6. Evening

      Krutenau

      Student bars and pubs around Rue de Zurich and Place de Zurich.

2. Day 2: Petite France and Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban

   Petite France, Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban, Batorama boat tour and Palais Rohan, then Place du Marché Gayot in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Petite France

      Rue du Bain-aux-Plantes is lined with 16th- and 17th-century houses, and the swing bridges turn to let boats through.

   2. Late morning

      Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban

      Just beyond, the 17th-century Barrage Vauban, a covered dam, has a free panoramic terrace on its roof looking back over the towers, Petite France and the cathedral.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tarte flambée

      Winstubs and specialist flammekueche restaurants, often sold all-you-can-eat on some evenings.

   4. Afternoon

      Batorama boat tour

      An audio guide explains the city's history over about 70 minutes.

   5. Late afternoon

      Palais Rohan

      The 18th-century palace of the prince-bishops, beside the cathedral, houses three museums: the Museum of Decorative Arts in the state apartments, the Museum of Fine Arts with European painting from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, and the Archaeological Museum in the basement.

   6. Evening

      Place du Marché Gayot

      A small square behind the cathedral lined with bar terraces.

Before you go

• Batorama boat tour: Departures sell out at peak times; reserve online for summer and the Christmas season.

If it rains

• Swap in Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame (Grande Île): Visit before or after the cathedral to compare the originals with the copies on the façade.
• Swap in Musée Alsacien (Grande Île): Look out for the painted wooden furniture and the traditional Alsatian costumes with their large bow headdresses.
• Swap in European Parliament and the European Quarter (Orangerie and the European Quarter): Check the European Parliament site for visitor-centre access and whether a plenary session is taking place.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 7–9 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.3 hours in December to 16.1 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. The Grande Île, Petite France and Krutenau are best explored on foot; walking from the station to the cathedral takes about 15–20 minutes.

More or fewer days

• One day in Strasbourg
• 3 days in Strasbourg

Questions travellers ask