Solo travel · Strasbourg · France
Solo travel in Strasbourg
How to enjoy Strasbourg at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Photo Claude TRUONG-NGOC, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Strasbourg is easy to explore alone: compact, walkable and with a large student population. Winstubs and bars are welcoming to single diners and drinkers. Many solo travellers base themselves in Krutenau.
Key facts
- Base
- Krutenau
- Getting around
- Walking
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Language
- French and Alsatian
Solo travel tips
- Stay in Krutenau or near the station for good-value accommodation.
- Join a guided walking or boat tour to learn the city's history.
- Rent a Vélhop bike to explore the city and the Rhine.
- Eat at the bar in winstubs to chat with locals.
- Keep an eye on bags in the crowded Christmas market.
Where to stay
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Krutenau
Just south-east of the Grande Île across the Ill, Krutenau is a lively district of university students, bars, small restaurants and independent shops around Place de Zurich and Rue de Zurich. It is a short walk from the cathedral and good value for food and drink.
- Good
- Lively evenings; Good-value restaurants; Short walk to the old town
- Watch out
- Noise from bars at night; Few hotels
- Nearby
- Place de Zurich, Musée Tomi Ungerer, University of Strasbourg
Great on your own
Religious site · Grande Île
Strasbourg Cathedral
See the west façade twice: in the late-afternoon sun, when the sandstone turns rose-red, and floodlit after dark.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Petite France
Petite France
Come early in the morning or after dinner, when the crowds have gone and the reflections in the canals are clearest.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Architecture
Historic site · Grande Île
Astronomical Clock
Buy a ticket for the midday show and arrive early, as the viewing area fills quickly.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Viewpoint · Grande Île
Cathedral platform
Go on a clear morning for the best visibility of the Black Forest and the Vosges.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Active
- Photo spot
Historic site · Petite France
Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban
Climb to the Barrage Vauban terrace for the classic view of the Ponts Couverts with the cathedral behind.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Experience · Grande Île
Batorama boat tour
Book in advance in summer and at Christmas; the boats leave from near the Palais Rohan.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Views
- Couples
Meeting people
- Dinner in a winstub — Winstubs are cosy Alsatian wine taverns with wood panelling and checked tablecloths, serving regional dishes and local wines by the glass or carafe.
- Christmas market food — From late November, stalls sell vin chaud (mulled wine), bredele, gingerbread (pain d'épices), bretzels and tarte flambée.
- Krutenau — Student bars and pubs around Rue de Zurich and Place de Zurich.
- Place du Marché Gayot — A small square behind the cathedral lined with bar terraces.
Sensible precautions
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.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Staying connected
- Free Wi-Fi is available in many public places; EU roaming applies to European SIMs.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Strasbourg good for solo travellers?
Strasbourg is easy to explore alone: compact, walkable and with a large student population. Winstubs and bars are welcoming to single diners and drinkers.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Strasbourg?
Krutenau: Former fishermen's quarter turned student district of bars and bistros.