Where to stay · Strasbourg · France
Where to stay in Strasbourg
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Claude TRUONG-NGOC, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Grande Île. The UNESCO-listed island of the cathedral, squares and winstubs. Best alternatives — families: Neustadt; budget: Krutenau; nightlife: Krutenau.
Key facts
- First visit
- Grande Île
- Families
- Neustadt
- Budget
- Krutenau
- Nightlife
- Krutenau
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Grande Île | The UNESCO-listed island of the cathedral, squares and winstubs |
| Families | Neustadt | Grand German imperial boulevards, the university and Place de la République |
| Couples | Grande Île | The UNESCO-listed island of the cathedral, squares and winstubs |
| Budget | Krutenau | Former fishermen's quarter turned student district of bars and bistros |
| Luxury | Orangerie and the European Quarter | Parkland, embassies and the European institutions in the north-east |
| Nightlife | Krutenau | Former fishermen's quarter turned student district of bars and bistros |
| Food lovers | Krutenau | Former fishermen's quarter turned student district of bars and bistros |
| Solo travellers | Krutenau | Former fishermen's quarter turned student district of bars and bistros |
| Shopping | Grande Île | The UNESCO-listed island of the cathedral, squares and winstubs |
| Quiet stays | Neustadt | Grand German imperial boulevards, the university and Place de la République |
Strasbourg neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and shopping
Grande Île
The island formed by the River Ill and the Fossé du Faux-Rempart holds the cathedral, Place Kléber, Place Gutenberg, the Palais Rohan and most of the city's traditional restaurants. Hotels here put you within walking distance of everything, though rooms are smaller and pricier, and it is packed during the Christmas market.
- Good
- Walk to every major sight; Many restaurants and shops; Beautiful at night
- Watch out
- Expensive during the Christmas market; Crowded on weekends
- Nearby
- Strasbourg Cathedral, Place Kléber, Palais Rohan, Maison Kammerzell
$$$ · Best for couples, first-timers and culture
Petite France
The former quarter of millers, tanners and fishermen is a cluster of 16th- and 17th-century half-timbered houses, canals and footbridges around the Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban. A few small hotels and guesthouses are set in historic buildings, and it is quiet after the evening crowds leave.
- Good
- Picture-perfect setting; Quiet at night; Close to the cathedral and station
- Watch out
- Limited hotel choice; Busy with day visitors
- Nearby
- Ponts Couverts, Barrage Vauban, Rue du Bain-aux-Plantes
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Krutenau
Just south-east of the Grande Île across the Ill, Krutenau is a lively district of university students, bars, small restaurants and independent shops around Place de Zurich and Rue de Zurich. It is a short walk from the cathedral and good value for food and drink.
- Good
- Lively evenings; Good-value restaurants; Short walk to the old town
- Watch out
- Noise from bars at night; Few hotels
- Nearby
- Place de Zurich, Musée Tomi Ungerer, University of Strasbourg
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, culture and families
Neustadt
Built when Strasbourg was part of the German Empire (1871–1918), the Neustadt is a district of wide avenues, villas and monumental buildings such as the Palais du Rhin and the National and University Library around Place de la République. It was added to the UNESCO listing in 2017 and is calmer than the old town, with good trams.
- Good
- Elegant and calm; Good tram links; Near the old town and parks
- Watch out
- Fewer restaurants in some streets; Quieter in the evening
- Nearby
- Place de la République, Palais du Rhin, University Palace
$$ · Best for budget and first-timers
Gare district
Around the main station, with its glass canopy added over the 19th-century façade, the Gare district has many chain and budget hotels and the airport shuttle train. Petite France is about 10 minutes away on foot, and trams leave from under the station forecourt.
- Good
- Convenient for trains and the airport; Wide choice of affordable hotels; Close to Petite France
- Watch out
- Less atmosphere; Station surroundings busy and less attractive
- Nearby
- Strasbourg station, Petite France, Musée d'Art Moderne
$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and luxury
Orangerie and the European Quarter
The north-east of the city is home to the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights, along with the Parc de l'Orangerie. It is quiet and green, popular with business travellers and families, and about 15 minutes by tram from the cathedral.
- Good
- Green spaces for children; Quiet nights; Near the European institutions
- Watch out
- A tram ride from the old town; Busy and pricier during parliament sessions
- Nearby
- Parc de l'Orangerie, European Parliament, Palace of Europe
$$ · Best for quiet stays and families
Robertsau
Further north-east, the Robertsau keeps a village atmosphere with old farmhouses, market gardens, the Château de Pourtalès and forest paths along the Rhine. It suits travellers with a car or those looking for a peaceful, residential stay.
- Good
- Very peaceful; Green surroundings; Lower prices than the centre
- Watch out
- Far from the old town; Few restaurants and hotels
- Nearby
- Parc de Pourtalès, Parc de l'Orangerie, European Parliament
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Grande Île | $$$ | Strasbourg Cathedral, Place Kléber, Palais Rohan, Maison Kammerzell |
| Petite France | $$$ | Ponts Couverts, Barrage Vauban, Rue du Bain-aux-Plantes |
| Krutenau | $$ | Place de Zurich, Musée Tomi Ungerer, University of Strasbourg |
| Neustadt | $$$ | Place de la République, Palais du Rhin, University Palace |
| Gare district | $$ | Strasbourg station, Petite France, Musée d'Art Moderne |
| Orangerie and the European Quarter | $$$ | Parc de l'Orangerie, European Parliament, Palace of Europe |
| Robertsau | $$ | Parc de Pourtalès, Parc de l'Orangerie, European Parliament |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Strasbourg for first-time visitors?
Grande Île. The island formed by the River Ill and the Fossé du Faux-Rempart holds the cathedral, Place Kléber, Place Gutenberg, the Palais Rohan and most of the city's traditional restaurants.
+Where should families stay in Strasbourg?
Neustadt: Elegant and calm.
+Which area of Strasbourg is best for a budget stay?
Krutenau ($$): Former fishermen's quarter turned student district of bars and bistros.