Best Things to Do in Strasbourg

The north-east of France is one of the most diverse regions in 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 centre as well as other architectural wonders that have been added over the centuries.

My recommendation is that you keep reading this post, as I bring you 10 different plans that are favourable for a visit to Strasbourg no matter the time of the year, which is something that will help you enjoy the trip and be able 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 of the historic city centre. This is because a large part of the city's most important buildings and most of its most iconic neighbourhoods are located on the Grand Ile de Strasbourg as well as in the surrounding area.

The exact type of tour depends on the service you choose, but it is almost always a shared experience for up to 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 familiarise yourself with the locals' perspective on 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.

It is almost always a very personalised route oriented to the interests of the travellers and tourists who are participating in the tour. You should also note that this is a great 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 around €50 per person. You may be able to find slightly more expensive alternatives.
• Duration: Typically between 3 to 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 in Strasbourg. 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 its famous 142-metre high 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 characterises its overloaded exteriors and interiors, which have the typical sculptures and details that characterise the Gothic style. The corners of this structure that you cannot miss are its main façade, as well as the interior of the pulpit, the organ and above all the beautiful astronomical clock, which is a site of interest in its own right.

You should know that its opening hours are from Monday to Saturday from eight in the morning until 18:45 in the evening. 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 in the entire Alsace region.

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 East Germany, but within the French territory. However, another reason that puts it on the map of European tourist interests is the thriving wine industry that has been developing for centuries in this region.

This part of the country has its own designations of origin. For this reason, there are tours that take you along the wine route to discover some of the most picturesque towns dedicated to the production of this beverage.

From the experience you should know that it is highly recommended, especially if you like the idea of visiting small and large wineries dedicated to the production of white wine. You should also bear 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 fairly specific tourist itinerary with few hours of availability.

These tours are available for the whole family, although the wine tastings will clearly only be available to adults. The driver of the vehicle is also usually a guide who specialises not only in the history of wine production, but also in the history of the villages you will visit. Either way, this idea is one of the best day trips 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 around 110 euros per participant.
• Duration: these types of excursions usually take 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 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 waterfowl section and a restaurant with a terrace.

For centuries it has been the epicentre of the exclusive residential neighbourhood that bears the same name as the park. Moreover, all year round it is an excellent place to enjoy the outdoors as well as to walk, jog, 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 what the more modern areas of the city look like. In fact, it is an unquestionable stop on most of the best Strasbourg city tours, so you should enjoy it. Especially if your visit is long enough to take in different parts of the city.

If we are talking about must-see areas representative of the city of Strasbourg then La Petite France is a neighbourhood that tops this list of recommendations. It is a small part of the southern end of the Grand Ile de Strasbourg and for some people it is the most interesting area of the entire metropolis as it is the largest concentration of the picturesque houses that define this city.

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

If you want to enjoy the interior of one of these buildings, then I recommend you visit the Maison des Taneurs. This is an old house that belonged to a family of several generations of tanners and has now been converted into a restaurant.

Another recommendation is to explore this place in peace and quiet. It is definitely something you can fit into the itinerary of a two-day visit to Strasbourg. Although even on a trip of less than 24 hours you might 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 to these places and, in the case of Strasbourg, you should know that the Museum of Decorative Arts is a place you should not miss during a 24-hour visit to the city. This institution is located inside the Rohan Palace, which also houses the city's museum of fine arts and the museum of archaeology. So it functions as a museum focus within Strasbourg.

Of the place you have to know that the exhibitions focused on the Alsatian arts that have to do with porcelain, silverware and goldsmithing stand out, paying special attention to what was produced from the late seventeenth century to the early nineteenth century. You should also know that several of the palace's rooms are decorated in the late baroque, rococo and imperial styles. It is therefore a work of art in its own right.

There are certain times of the year when admission to the three museums of the Rohan Palace is completely free, although the entrance fee is usually around 6.5 euros per person. You should also know that these are some of the best things to do in Strasbourg during the month of November because they are an indoor entertainment alternative in a very rainy season for this city.

Wine is not the only thing that characterises the productive traditions of the area 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 take part in a tour that focuses on getting to know the local cheese alternatives while also tasting the traditional breads of this city.

The most usual thing 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 specialised in the gastronomic history of these places.

These types of culinary tours are also part of the best things to do in Strasbourg during the Christmas season, as it is common for the menu to include some desserts and cheeses that are typical of the fes tive season. You should also know that it is recommended for the whole family and that the area covered on the walk is not very extensive. The walks are almost always focused on the Great Island of Strasbourg or some neighbourhoods quite close to it.

Details of interest:

• Price: this type of tour usually costs around 75 euros per person.
• Duration: a gastronomic tour through the centre 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 1427 and is notable for its size and its dark-toned exteriors under a Gothic architecture, which are full of windows, creating a unique architectural work in the world and in the French north-east.

Although the exterior of the building is the main interest for most people, you still have to know that if you want to visit the interior, you would have to stay at the 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 you can enjoy in perfect peace and quiet 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 should know that it is one of the best things to do in Strasbourg in January. This is due to the fact that the number of tourists drops significantly during this month of the year and there is a better chance that you will be able to eat in the restaurant without waiting too long.

In more recent times, the city of Strasbourg has gained 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 quarter 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 highly recommended. Especially because it has different paths and streets that are conditioned both for tourism and for the use of the civil servants who work every day in this part of the city.

You should also keep in mind that to find out how to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg you should plan a trip to coincide with the guided tour schedules, as there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year at various times.

In any case, the area is ideal for architecture lovers, as it is one of the most modern and innovative areas of Strasbourg, which creates an interesting contrast with the German-influenced medieval architecture that characterises 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 to do in 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 staple stops on this type of tour. A guided tour of the castle of Haut Koenigsbourg is also a common addition to the experience. In addition, an excursion like this almost always lasts about nine hours in total and, therefore, it is an activity that will take up an entire day of your trip.

Likewise, it is almost always a tour reserved for fairly small groups of people and in addition to the accompaniment of the professional guide there is also Wi-Fi on board the minibus or minivan in which all participants will travel. It is definitely a recommendable plan for those who want to get to know a little more of Alsace and it is also recommended for families who want a quiet and favourable 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.