Things to do in Strasbourg: the cathedral, the canals and Alsace
Strasbourg is a small, flat city on an island in the River Ill, with a red sandstone cathedral, half-timbered houses and canals you can walk round in an afternoon. Two days is enough. The one thing to know: from late November it is the busiest Christmas market city in France, and rooms and tables go early.
The short answer
- First trip
- Walk the Grande Île: the cathedral, Petite France and the covered bridges. Add a canal boat and a winstub dinner.
- Where to stay
- The Grande Île for walking, the Krutenau for a local feel, near the station for trains.
- How many days
- Two days for the city, three if you add Colmar or the wine villages.
- Best time to go
- May to September for terraces, late November to 24 December for the Christmas market.
- Book ahead
- Hotels and winstub tables in December, and a canal boat on summer evenings.
- From the airport
- A train runs from the airport to the main station in about 10 minutes.
Where to stay in Strasbourg, in brief
Grande Île and the cathedral
first-time visitors
The old center, with the cathedral, the squares and Petite France on foot. It is the dearest area and crowded by day, and in December it is packed.
Krutenau
a local feel
A student and residential quarter just east of the island, with cheaper cafes and bars. Ten to fifteen minutes on foot to the cathedral, and louder on weekend nights.
Near the station
trains and budgets
Practical, with the airport train and trams at the door and more mid-range beds. Less charm, and some streets feel rough late at night.
Neustadt
quiet and grand streets
The German-era district north-east of the island, with wide avenues and large apartment blocks. Calm, and a walk or a tram ride to the old center.
Things to do in Strasbourg
Strasbourg Cathedral
A Gothic cathedral in pink sandstone, with an astronomical clock inside. You can climb to the platform for a view over the roofs. Go early, before the tour groups.
Petite France
The old tanners' quarter, with half-timbered houses along the canals. It is the most photographed corner of the city, so walk it early or in the evening.
Ponts Couverts and the Barrage Vauban
Three towers from the medieval defences beside a dam. The terrace on the dam gives a view over Petite France and the roofs, and is free.
Canal boat trip
A boat circuit of the Grande Île lasts about an hour and passes the locks, the Ponts Couverts and the European quarter. It is a good first hour in the city.
A day ahead in December and summer
Place Kléber and Place Gutenberg
The two main squares of the old center, a few minutes apart. Kléber is where the big Christmas tree stands in winter.
Palais Rohan museums
An eighteenth-century palace beside the cathedral that holds the fine arts museum, the decorative arts museum and the archaeological museum. A good wet-weather choice.
Alsatian Museum
Old houses on the south bank of the Ill, filled with the furniture, costumes and tools of rural Alsace. Useful before a day in the villages.
The European quarter
The seat of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, a tram ride north-east of the center. Check the Parliament's visiting rules before you go, as access depends on its calendar.
Check visiting rules a few weeks ahead
Parc de l'Orangerie
The city's oldest park, with a lake, a small zoo and storks that nest in the trees. A quiet afternoon away from the crowds.
The Christmas market
From late November to 24 December, chalets fill squares across the center, with the biggest around the cathedral and Place Broglie. Weekends and evenings are very crowded; weekday mornings are easier.
Rooms 3 to 5 months ahead
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Strasbourg can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Strasbourg, and which to pick- Hotels in the Christmas market season3 to 5 months ahead
Rooms near the cathedral sell out first, and prices rise for weekends in December.
- A table at a winstub1 to 2 weeks ahead, longer in December
The best-known rooms are small and fill every evening in winter.
- A canal boatA day or two ahead in summer and December
Evening departures sell out, and you can book online.
What to skip in Strasbourg
- Eating on the cathedral square
The setting is the draw and the menu shows it. Walk five minutes to a winstub in a side street, or book Maison Kammerzell if you want the building.
- The Christmas market on a Saturday evening
Queues are long and the lanes barely move. Go on a weekday, before 11am or after 8pm, or walk the smaller markets away from the cathedral.
- A hotel out by the airport or the motorway
Strasbourg is compact and walkable. Stay in it, or near the station, and the airport train covers the rest.
Best time to visit Strasbourg
May to September is the easy season: long days, canal-side terraces and warm evenings. July and August can be hot, and some smaller restaurants close for part of August.
From late November to 24 December the city holds its Christmas market, the best known in France. It brings crowds, higher hotel prices and cold, dark afternoons, and it is worth it if you plan early. January to March is quiet, gray and cheap.
- From Strasbourg airportA train runs from the airport to the main station in about 10 minutes, several times an hour. Trams then link the station with the center.
- On footThe Grande Île is about a kilometer across. Cathedral to Petite France is a 15-minute walk, and you rarely need transport inside it.
- Trams and busesTrams run from the station through the center and out to the European quarter. Buy a ticket at the machine before you board, and validate it.
- By bikeStrasbourg has one of the best cycle networks in France, with bike lanes and a public bike scheme. It is flat, so cycling is easy.
Strasbourg in two days
- Day 1
Climb the cathedral early, then walk to Petite France and the Ponts Couverts. Take a canal boat in the afternoon and eat at a winstub in the evening.
- Day 2
Visit the Palais Rohan museums or the Alsatian Museum in the morning. Spend the afternoon in the Krutenau or the Orangerie, and finish with tarte flambée.
Day trips from Strasbourg
- ColmarAbout 30 to 40 minutes by direct train. A small town of canals and painted houses, and a good wine-route base.
- Route des Vins villagesVillages such as Obernai, Riquewihr and Kaysersberg sit in the vineyards. Obernai is closest by train and bus; for the others a car or a tour helps.
- Baden-Baden, GermanyAbout an hour by train via Kehl and Appenweier, with a spa town and a park of old villas across the Rhine.
Strasbourg: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Strasbourg?
Two days covers the cathedral, Petite France, the canals and a museum. Three lets you add Colmar or a wine village. In December, allow an extra evening for the market.
Is Strasbourg worth visiting?
Yes, for a short city break. It is compact, flat and easy to walk, with a great cathedral, good food and a strong Alsatian character. It suits people who like architecture and meals more than nightlife.
When is the Strasbourg Christmas market?
It usually runs from late November to 24 December, with exact dates announced each year. Book rooms months ahead, and visit on a weekday if you can.
Can you do Strasbourg and Colmar together?
Yes. Colmar is about 30 to 40 minutes by direct train, so it works as a day trip from Strasbourg or the other way round. Stay in one and see the other.
Is Strasbourg in France or Germany?
France, on the Rhine and the German border. The culture, the dialect and the food mix French and German influences, and Kehl in Germany is a short tram ride away.
Is Strasbourg expensive?
It is a mid-range French city, dearer in December. Winstubs and lunch menus keep food affordable, and the center is walkable, so transport costs stay low.