10 Things to Do in Strasbourg in January

One of the most convenient factors of visiting European cities is that many of their attractions remain open all year round. At the same time there is the fact that some of the best things to do in Strasbourg have to do with exploring those must-see sites with the addition of some traditions that only occur at specific times of the year.

For that reason, I recommend you to keep reading this post I have prepared for you, as I have grouped different plans that can help you enjoy an excellent trip if your visit to the city of Strasbourg takes place during any of the days of January, which is characterized by its cold weather.

January is synonymous with indoor plans in many parts of Western Europe. In this context, cities like Strasbourg take advantage of turning their museums into a good entertainment plan for incoming tourists, but especially for their local population.

So one of the best things to do this month in Strasbourg is to visit the German shepherd Museum, a site that is composed of different mansions that were built during the sixteenth and seventeenth century. It is distinguished because it has a permanent exhibition of art and folklore that shows what rural life was like in post-medieval Alsace. Something that fits perfectly in the spirit and atmosphere that defines the first month of the year.

Likewise, it is a site that is located within the route of some of the best tours of Strasbourg and, therefore, can be perfectly combined with the itinerary of a Segway tour or a guided walk through the Great Island and the banks of the River III.

Interesting details

• Price: the entrance fee is about 7.5 euros per person.
• Location: 23-25 Quai Saint-Nicolas, 67000 Strasbourg, France.

Epiphany Day is the way the French call the Day of the Three Wise Men and, although this is not as important a tradition in France as it is in Spain, it is true that there are also local customs. The first of these has to do with the culinary world, and the Roscón de Reyes has its own French version known as the Galette des Rois.

In this case it is a puff pastry cake that is filled with an almond cream and traditionally some decorations are usually added on top, either with powdered sugar or syrup. You can eat this dessert in any of the pastry shops of the city and probably in more than one restaurant you will find it as the main protagonist of this celebration.

Another alternative that you have at your disposal to enjoy this day is to visit the cathedral of Notre Dame de Strasbourg to attend any of the masses that will be given during the day in commemoration of this date. In fact it is a highly recommended day to have a guided tour of the cathedral after eating the Galette de Rois, as it is likely that throughout the day different children's choirs will be practicing for the evening mass.

Also, you should know that if your trip is short, this church is a site that you can not miss in a single day visit to Strasbourg for its architectural beauty.

As the month of December is synonymous with shopping and consumption, it is logical that there are sales on many things. This takes place especially in clothing stores and, for this reason, one of the best things you could do when visiting Strasbourg in this month is to take a stroll around the famous stores found in the Poincaré district and in the north of Strasbourg's Grand Isle. This if you are interested in the idea of taking advantage of a good economic saving.

Of these discounts you have to know that they are due to a seasonal change, because while the winter continues to develop the summer clothes are getting cheaper. That means that between late January and early February many department stores and even more exclusive brands begin to lower prices on items that have not sold since last fall and summer.

GeleriesLafayette is one of the places I can recommend if you decide to undertake an afternoon of shopping in this part of the city. Especially since it is one of the most important French stores.

Cheese is one of the most representative things of the French culinary world and specifically during the month of January different types of Alcesian cheeses reach their ideal ripening point to start selling to tourists and locals. For this reason, enjoying an urban tour that is guided and specifically oriented to know different cheese dairies in the city is a good way to escape the cold temperatures and to do indoor tourism at this time of the year.

From the experience you have to know that almost always the accompaniment of local wine is offered because it is another of the gastronomic prides of Alsace. It is definitely a recommended plan for the whole family and in fact it is something that fits perfectly into the itinerary of a two-day visit to Strasbourg. This knowing that it is an urban walk that does not usually last more than two or three hours in total.

Details of interest

• Prices: the price of a gastronomic experience like this is usually 100 euros per person.

One of the favorite activities for locals in Strasbourg is a visit to the botanical garden of the city's university. In turn, specifically in the month of January it becomes a much more recommendable activity because you have the opportunity to counteract the cold and snowfalls with the different tropical greenhouses found in this beautiful urban oasis.

The place stands out not only for its ancient existence since the foundation of the university Strasbourg, but also for its more than 6000 species of plants in perfect state of conservation. It also stands out for its organization, as well as for its privileged location in one of the most beautiful areas of the city.

In fact, it is an ideal place to visit just before you set out to see how to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg. And that has to do with the fact that it is located halfway from the city center to the European Quarter where this important legislative institution is located.

The Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain in the city of Strasbourg is a very important art institution for France and Europe. During the month of January, it becomes relevant to visit it due to the fact that there are usually temporary winter exhibitions.

In fact, it is a place that is also part of the best things to do in Strasbourg in November. That's knowing that the temporary exhibitions of both this museum and the museum of fine arts and the museum of decorative arts usually start from the end of the penultimate month of the year and usually extend until mid-January or even February.

It is definitely a recommended place to enjoy modern art and photography and, above all, to escape the cold that characterizes this time of year. It is open every day of the week except Mondays, which means that it can fit into your visit to the city no matter what exact date it occurs.

Details of interest

• Prices: Tickets cost approximately 7.5 euros.
• Location: 1 Pl. Hans-Jean-Arp, 67000 Strasbourg, France.

One of the typical traditions among the people of Strasbourg for the month of January is the idea of visiting the beloved Parc de L'Orangerie to enjoy the drastic change in its landscape. It is an urban park that is characterized during spring and summer by being full of flowers and animals.

What changes is that specifically during the month of January and February the frequent snowfalls turn it into a small winter oasis accessible to those who do not have the possibility of having a getaway to another of the towns in the Alsace region. So if you want to familiarize yourself a little more with the customs of those who live in Strasbourg during a trip in January, it is an excellent plan to take a walk in this park.

If you do so, you will be able to participate in the snowball battles as well as in some of the cultural meetings organized by the same population to enjoy their city despite the cold and despite the snow. Don't be surprised if you see groups of young people getting together to sing and play, it is more frequent than you would imagine.

As January is synonymous with the return to school for both universities and schools, the Bibliothèque Nationale de Strasbourg is taking the opportunity to organize a series of collective reading sessions. The aim is to promote French literature among the city's young people. They usually take place on weekdays, but increase in frequency on Saturdays and Sundays because school and university students usually have more time to participate in these free events.

Do not worry about booking your participation in these literary meetings, because the truth is that with a simple visit to the library and a question to the reception staff you will reach the special rooms that are designated for these forums and debates. You should know that the language used for the meetings is French, but if you find the plan interesting then it can be a perfect opportunity for you to expose yourself to the language.

Something that characterizes the Alsace region is the beauty of its natural landscapes. It is a very diverse area that combines a favorable soil for cultivation in a land crossed by different rivers. To all this is added a mountain range called the Vosges Mountain Range, which since millenary times has served as a natural border between the regions of Alsace and Lorraine in northeastern France.

Specifically the month of January is a good time to make an excursion along this natural space due to the fact that it is possible that there is some snowfall, which would allow you to enjoy a very special moment in one of the most important virgin forests for biodiversity in Western Europe. Keep in mind that for this idea it is advisable to rent a private car, as you will be able to reach the different corners of the mountain range with more tranquility.

And you have to know that there is really no specific place to visit because it is a long mountain range, but there are different towns that bring you closer to these mountains. Saverne is one of the recommended towns because of its proximity to Strasbourg, although you could also go down to the city of Colmar and then go to the Col du Calvarie to spend an afternoon at the beautiful lake known as Lac Blanc.

Another of the great attractions of Strasbourg and its surroundings during the month of January is a place that can be an ideal entertainment alternative in case rain or snow prevent you from enjoying other areas of the Alsace region. I am talking about the Cité de l'Automobile, which is one of the most important automobile museums in the world and receives more than 500,000 visitors every year.

The institution is located on the site of what used to be a former Citröen factory where cars were manufactured from 1919 to 1954. Today, more than 500 automobiles are on display, including some that were manufactured during the 19th century, which makes this site a highly recommended place for the whole family, especially in January when there are not too many favorable plans for people of all ages.

The museum is located in the town of Mullhouse, another of those places that you can not miss in the Alsace region. In fact, it is one of the best day trips from Strasbourg and with just one hour of driving you will have reached this museum after returning to continue your trip to the capital of this region.

Details of interest

• Price: admission costs about 18 euros per person while children between 4 and 17 years pay 10 euros.
• Location: 17 Rue de la Mertzau, 68100 Mulhouse, France.

The city of Strasbourg is characterized by being quite cold throughout the year and in the month of January you will find maximum temperatures of about 8 °C while the minimum is usually around -2 or -3 °C.

The tourist flow in Strasbourg during the month of January is significantly lower than in December because the Christmas festivities are over, as well as the end-of-year celebrations. It is possible that for the Epiphany weekend there will be more people, but still the whole month usually has a low tourist demand.

Prices during the month of January are quite similar to the rest of the year with the exception of the summer, as this other time is the high season and the demand for accommodation and food doubles or triples in the tourist areas of the city.

If you want to visit Strasbourg in January, it is essential that you bring clothing that is very appropriate for both the cold and the snow. There is a good chance that at some point of your trip there will be a snowfall and that the sky will be cloudy and rainy.