Best Things to Do in Strasbourg

The northeast of France is one of the most diverse regions in all of Europe and throughout this territory you will find different communities that differ from other parts of the country in both their architecture and their history. For this reason some of the best things to do in Strasbourg have to do with exploring the main buildings of its historic center as well as other architectural wonders that have been added over the centuries.

My recommendation is that you continue reading this publication, because I bring you 10 different plans that are favorable for a visit to Strasbourg regardless of the time of year, which is something that will help you to enjoy the trip and to plan a much more balanced budget.

One of the first things you can do to enjoy a trip to the city of Strasbourg is to opt for a private tour through its historic center. This is because most of the important buildings and most of the city's most iconic neighborhoods are located on the Grand Ile de Strasbourg as well as in the surrounding areas.

The exact modality of this type of tour depends on the service you choose, although it is almost always a shared experience for a maximum of 25 people or a private tour for a family group of no more than 10 participants.

Still, the whole thing is a good way to familiarize yourself with the locals' perspective on what are the must-see sites in Strasbourg's central district. That while at the same time learning how to get around the tourist area of the city on your own terms.

And it is almost always a very personalized route oriented to the interests of the travelers and tourists who are participating in the tour. You should also keep in mind that this is an excellent way to do some sightseeing exploration of the city in a single day visit to Strasbourg.

Details of interest:

• Price: these types of tours usually cost about €50 per person. Although it is also possible to get slightly more expensive alternatives.
• Duration: it usually varies between 3 or 4 hours.

The cathedral of Notre Dame de S trasbourg is the second most visited church in France and is definitely the most important tourist attraction of this city. It is a Gothic style site that was built over four centuries, which was quite common during medieval times. This process began in 1015 and ended in 1439 and for two centuries it was the tallest building in the world with the 142 meters that reaches its famous bell tower.

Visiting it is quite an experience because you have the chance to climb the hundreds of steps that lead to its highest point as well as to admire the architecture that characterizes its overloaded exteriors and interiors, which have the typical sculptures and details that characterize the Gothic style. The corners that you can not miss of this structure are its main facade, as well as the interior of the pulpit, the organ and especially the beautiful astronomical clock, which is a site of interest on its own merit.

You have to know that its visiting hours are from Monday to Saturday from eight in the morning until 18:45 in the afternoon. On Sundays it is open from 13:30 to 18:30. My recommendation is that you opt for a guided tour because this way you will have a full hour to learn all the details related to the history of this famous church which is undoubtedly one of the most representative sites of the entire region of Alsace.

You should also keep in mind that it is one of the best things to do in Strasbourg in December, as the surroundings of the church are usually decorated with the typical Christmas lights and decorations.

The Alsace region is well known for its architecture that follows all the patterns of the German East, but within the French territory. However, another reason that places this locality within the map of European tourist interests is the thriving wine industry that has been developed for centuries in this region.

This part of the country has its own appellations of origin. Therefore, there are tours that take you through the wine route to get to know some of the most picturesque towns dedicated to the production of this beverage.

From the experience you have to know that it is highly recommended especially if you like the idea of knowing small and large wineries that are dedicated to the production of white wine. You should also keep in mind that these excursions can take place either in the morning or in the afternoon. Therefore, they are a good entertainment alternative for those who have a quite specific tourist itinerary with few hours of availability.

These tours are available for the whole family although clearly the wine tastings will only be available for adults. The driver of the vehicle is also usually a guide specialized not only in the history of production, but also in the history of the villages you will visit. Either way, this idea is part of the best one-day tours or excursions from Strasbourg and is definitely a recommended plan if your visit to the city is long enough to explore other treasures of the Alsace region.

Details of interest:

• Price: they usually cost about €110 per participant.
• Duration: these types of excursions usually last about four hours in total and this has to do with the fact that these wine villages are quite close to the city of Strasbourg.

The public parks of the city of Strasbourg are also part of the tourist attractions of this community and definitely one that you should not miss is the famous Parc de l'Orangerie. The site consists of a flower-filled park dating back to the 17th century and along its entire length there is a navigable lake as well as a section for waterfowl and a restaurant with a terrace.

For centuries it has been the epicenter of the exclusive residential neighborhood that bears the same name as the park. In addition, throughout the year it is an excellent place to enjoy the outdoors as well as to walk, run, cycle or do any other similar activity that is completely free of charge.

From the surroundings of this park you should know that it is a very privileged residential area. So it is undoubtedly a good way to see how the more modern areas of the city look like. In fact, it is an undisputed stop on most of the best Strasbourg city tours and you should enjoy it. Especially if your visit is long enough to tour different parts of the city.

If we talk about areas that you can not miss representative of the city of Strasbourg then La Petite France is a neighborhood that tops this list of recommendations. It is a small part of the southern end of the Great Island of Strasbourg and for some people it is the most interesting area of the entire metropolis because it is the largest concentration of the picturesque houses that define this city.

The streets of this neighborhood are completely paved and at the same time it is a fairly small area that is located on different islands that are part of the canal system of the River III. Along the buildings you will find cafes and small galleries that offer terraces with privileged views of both the canals and the rest of the medieval houses.

If you want to enjoy the interior of any of these buildings, then I recommend you visit the Maison des Taneurs. And it is an old house that belonged to a family of several generations of tanners that today has become a restaurant.

Another recommendation I make is that you explore this site with enough tranquility. It is definitely something that can fit into the itinerary of a two-day visit to Strasbourg. Although even on a trip of less than 24 hours it is possible for you to pass through this part of the island and enjoy it in a proper way.

Museums in European cities are almost always part of the main attractions offered to visitors of these places and, in the case of Strasbourg, you have to know that the museum of decorative arts is a site that you should not miss during a visit of more than 24 hours to the city. This institution is located inside the Rohan Palace, which also houses the museum of fine arts of the city and the museum of archeology. So it functions as a museum focus within Strasbourg.

Of the place you have to know that it highlights the exhibitions focused on the German shepherd arts that have to do with porcelain, silverware and goldsmithing with special attention to what was produced from the late seventeenth century to the early nineteenth century. From this floor of the palace you also have to know that several of its spaces have a typical decoration of late baroque, rococo and imperial style. Therefore, it is a work of art on its own merit.

There are some dates of the year when admission to the three museums of the Rohan Palace is completely free, although usually the entrance fee is about 6.5 euros per person. You also have to know that this kind of sites are part of the best things to do in Strasbourg during the month of November because they are an alternative of indoor entertainment in a quite rainy season for this city.

Wine is not the only thing that characterizes the productive traditions around Strasbourg and the entire Alsace region. This part of France is well known for its cheeses and, for this reason, it is an excellent idea to participate in a tour that focuses on getting to know the local cheese alternatives while also tasting the traditional breads of this city.

The most common is that this type of tour focuses on visiting typical taverns that are dedicated to the sale of cheese and sausage boards in the tourist district of the city. This is accompanied by a guide specialized in the gastronomic history of these places.

This type of culinary tours are also part of the best things to do in Strasbourg during the Christmas season, since it is usual that some desserts and some cheeses that are typical of these festivities are offered within the preconceived menu. You should also know that it is recommended for the whole family and that the area covered in the walk is not very extensive. And is that they are almost always tours that focus on the Great Island of Strasbourg or in some neighborhoods quite close.

Details of interest:

• Price: this type of tours usually cost about 75 euros per person.
• Duration: a gastronomic tour through the center of Strasbourg does not usually last more than two hours.

The Kammerzell is another of the great historical architectural treasures of the Grand Isle of Strasbourg. It is a medieval building dating specifically from the year 1427 and stands out for its size and for its dark-toned exteriors under a Gothic architecture, which are full of windows, thus creating a unique architectural work in the world and in the French northeast.

Although the exterior of the building is the main interest for most people, you still have to know that if you want to tour its interior, you would have to stay in your hotel or eat in the restaurant, which can be quite expensive, because the demand is very significant. Especially during the summer season.

Its location within the cathedral square makes it a place that you can enjoy in perfect tranquility after the tour of this important church. Although if you are so interested in entering this structure to see the frescoes of the painter Leo Schnug, then you have to know that it is a plan that is part of the best things to do in Strasbourg in January. This is due to the fact that the number of tourists decreases significantly during this month of the year and there is a greater chance that you can eat in the restaurant without waiting too long.

In more recent times, the city of Strasbourg has taken on a very significant importance for the European Union because it is the permanent seat of the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights. Exactly for this reason, there is a district of the city that is popularly known as the European Quarter and it has to do with the fact that all these buildings are within this part of the city.

This area is located at the western end of the Parc de l'Orangerie and touring the area is something quite recommendable. Especially because it has different paths and streets that are conditioned both for tourism and for the use of officials who work every day in this part of the city.

You should also keep in mind that to know how to visit the Parliament of Europe in Strasbourg you should plan a trip that coincides with the schedules of guided tours, as there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year under very different schedules.

Anyway, the area is ideal for lovers of architecture, as it is one of the most modern and innovative areas of Strasbourg, which creates an interesting contrast with the medieval architecture with German influence that characterizes the tourist areas of the city.

The region is distinguished by its small villages that preserve with impressive perfection the aesthetics that defined these communities during medieval and post-Renaissance life. For this reason, a tour through these communities is one of the best things you could do Strasbourg if your trip is long enough for you to devote a couple of hours to this activity.

The city of Colmar and the villages of Eguisheim and Riquewihr are basic stops for this type of tour. Although it is also common to add a guided tour of the castle of Haut Koenigsbourg to the experience. In addition, an excursion like this almost always lasts about nine hours in total and, therefore, is an activity that will occupy an entire day of your trip.

Similarly, it is almost always a tour reserved for fairly small groups of people and along with the accompaniment of the professional guide also has Wi-Fi on board the minibus or minivan in which all participants will travel. Definitely, it is a recommended plan for those who want to know a little more of Alsace and it is also recommended for families who want a quiet and favorable logistics for an excursion of this style.

Details of interest:

• Price: the usual rate is around €175 per person, but all the amenities offered are included except lunch and drink.