Introduction: Strasbourg Travel Guide
Strasbourg is currently the city we call home, and it has been our base for the last 3 years. We spend lots of time within its streets and got to know it quite well. So, we will be writing a couple of Strasbourg Travel Guide on different topics.
Not only that we love the city, but we also believe it is one of the top cities to visit in France, especially that the city has 2 faces. One during spring and summer, with a nice and sunny weather where it is amazing to stroll around the canals, parks and center. And another one when Christmas comes. The city then wear one of the most impressive Christmas mood we have ever seen. Each street is filled with stunning decorations and lights.
This Strasbourg Travel Guide will bring you around town during the sunny season. If you want to discover Strasbourg during Christmas: A beautiful Strasbourg Christmas Market Guide (Before Covid-19)
Table of Contents
Mapping the Strasbourg Travel Guide
Getting to Strasbourg Travel Guide
The best way to get to Strasbourg is to either arrive by Strasbourg High Speed train station which is 5min walking from the city center of Strasbourg.
Or to fly to Strasbourg Airport located outskirt of the city but well-connected. The journey takes 9min on train. You can get a TER (Train) + CTS (Bus/tram) tickets for 4.5€.
Moving Around Strasbourg Travel Guide
Strasbourg does not have metros, but it has a huge network of Trams and city bus. The best way to discover the city yet is to walk from one place to another. Most of them are not that far from one to another.
When to Visit Strasbourg Travel Guide
The best time to visit Strasbourg is during Spring, from May to June when the weather is already warm and sunny yet not too hot. Alsatian weather can reach up to 35°C in the peak of summer.
Yet the city can be visited all year round.
Where to Stay Strasbourg Travel Guide
What to Eat Strasbourg Travel Guide
There are tons of traditional dishes that must be try, and as far as we know there is not one that is healthy! But there do are yummy:
- Tarte Flambee: Thin Pizza with cream, onions, and bacons (Plus tons of variations, cheese, mushrooms…)
- Baeckeoffe: Pork, Beef and Lamb meat cooked together for 24h with potatoes, cabbage, carrots, onions, and white wine.
- Bretzel: One of the most famous snacks. Traditional bread with salt.
- Alsatian Salad: Made with local cold cuts and grated cheese.
- Choucroute: Mix of the fermented cabbage, potatoes, meets (or fish) and cold cuts.
- Spaetzeles: Local Pastas
- Kougelhopf: Traditional Alsatian brioche (sweet or salty)
Things to do Strasbourg Travel Guide
Kléber square
The Place Kléber is the central square of Strasbourg. It is the largest square at the center of the city and was named after French revolutionary general Jean-Baptiste Kléber, born in Strasbourg in 1753.
The Kleber square is surrounded by lots of shopping mall and store. In winter, it’s there that the big Christmas tree of the city is setup.
Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg
Up to 1874, the stunning Cathedral of Strasbourg was the tallest building in the world and hold this title for 227 years. Today it is still the highest surviving structure to have been built entirely during the medieval period.
The entrance to the cathedral if free and if you wish to get a top view of Strasbourg, you can walk up its tower for 8€ (entrance on the right side).
PS: there are 66m to get on over 332 steps.
Palais Rohan
Located on the right side of the Cathedral, this baroque Episcopal palace was built in the 1720s following the designs of Robert de Cotte, the “first architect” of Louis XV.
There are three museums to visit inside, an archaeology exhibit in the basement, decorative arts on the ground floor and a display of fine art on the first floor.
Temple Neuf
The Temple Neuf is a Lutheran church built on the site of the former Dominican convent where Meister Eckhart studied.
The Temple was errected at the end of the 19th century after the old Dominican Church was destroyed during the Siege of Strasbourg during the Franco-Prussian War.
The ensuing fire also destroyed the libraries of the University of Strasbourg and the City of Strasbourg which were located at the Temple Neuf site
Batorama
Get on a tour on the canal of Strasbourg with Botorama. The company offers various circuit going all over the city. The most iconic one is “Strasbourg, 20 centuries of history” but they also offer: European Parliament cruise, Strasbourg les bâtisseurs, Strasbourg, the European, Strasbourg Grande ïle.
Le Coin d'Alsace
That is our favorite boutique in town. The shop is located in an old Alsatian Half-timbered house on 3 floors. Even, if you do not intend to shop there, it is worth visiting. The house is amazing and going upstairs on the narrow staircase is a great experience.
Historical Museum of the City of Strasbourg
Also located in the hyper center, this museum is one of our favourites. The museum is in the city’s former slaughterhouse and trace the period between the middle ages and the 18th century.
It displays weapons, maps, clothing, sketches and sculptures to help illustrate the complicated history of a city.
The masterpiece of the collection is a plan relief dating to 1727, a highly detailed 1/600 scale model of Strasbourg.
Musée Alsacien
The Alsatian Museum is located in a 17th-century house and provide several reconstructions of historic home scenes and workshops from the Alsace region. All presented with original ceramics, costume, furniture, tools, toys, and everyday utensils.
The most intriguing gallery is the one called “savoir-faire” (know-how) of the Alsace region. Illustrating how, wine was pressed in the 1700s and taking you through the Roman origins of winegrowing.
Quai des Bateliers
Quai des Bateliers is a gorgeous pedestrian street going from the city center of Strasbourg to the Saint Paul Church.
It’s a great place to walk along the canal and discover the city center of Strasbourg from its outer ring
Reformed Church Saint Paul
The St. Paul’s Church of Strasbourg is a major Gothic Revival architecture building. Built between 1892 and 1897 during the time of the Reichsland Elsass-Lothringen (1870–1918), the church was designed for the Lutheran members of the Imperial German garrison stationed in Strasbourg.
Palais du Rhin & Neustadt
This area of Strasbourg is home to many official and government buildings. Neustadt (German for new town) is also known as the German Quarter for its Prussian-style buildings including the Palais du Rhin (Place d’Austerlitz), the National Theater and University Library. In fact, it was built by the Germans during the Reichsland period (1871–1918) to serve as a new city center.
Petite-France
The most iconic spot in town, you district is made of half-timbered house and surrounded by waterways. The houses date back the 1500s and 1600s.
In its center, you can see boat going on their elevator and then passing a rotation bridge.
Église Saint-Thomas
The Saint-Thomas church is a protestant church which was the main Lutheran place of worship after Strasbourg became part of France in 1681. The Saint-Thomas church was completed in the 1520s and is the only example of a German-style hall church in the region.
Meaning that the nave and the aisles have the same height.
Ponts Couverts, Strasbourg
This set of 3 fortified bridges and 4 towers were built in the 1300s and were another part of Strasbourg defense system.
The name Ponts Couverts mean Covered bridges because up to the 1700s, the bridges were protected by long roofs.
Barrage Vauban
The Vauban dam was built in the 1600s and is originally a fortified bridge. It was a cornerstone of the Strasbourg’s defense system up until the Franco-Prussian war (1870). Made of pink sandstone from the Vosges, its was design to raise the level of the Ill and flood the lands to the south and prevent invaders from passing through.
There is an inside corridor that can be visited (it is now used to stock old statues and parts from the cathedral) and there is an access to its rooftop for an incredible view toward the Ponts Coverts.
Catholic Church Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune
This remarkable church was for 200 years divided in two: The Protestant got the nave, while the Catholics used the choir. Only in 1898 did the Catholics relinquish their claim to the older place.
The Catholic Church Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune has a stylized blend of neo-Romanesque and neo-Byzantine. It is crowned by the largest dome in Alsace (interior height 50 meters, maximum interior diameter 18.5 meters)
Orangerie
L’orangerie is a district in Strasbourg and is famous for its park (Parc de L’orangerie). Located next to the EU Parliament, the park took shape during the French revolution when 140 orange trees confiscated from Château de Bouxwiller were granted to the city. Unfortunately, there are now only 3 of these trees remaining.
But the Orangerie Park has much more to offer. There is a large boating lake, a huge mansion in its center, a mini zoo (free), lots of nice walking path and a bowling/Snooker club.
There is also a stork reintroduction center. This type of bird is a symbol of the Alsace region and has a special place the local folklore. Tt’s meant to be good luck for a household if a pair perch on the roof.
PS: Further than the folklore, the storks are beautiful birds but super noisy if on your roof. The way the communicate is by clapping their beak.
Parlement européen
The European parliament of Strasbourg is a beautiful structure that can be visited. In fact, Strasbourg is also called European Capital (but it is not official) and it makes lots of sense since it has always been a place where different cultures, faiths and languages have been reconciled.
Strasbourg is one of three non-capital cities around the world to have an international institution.
Rivetoile
For a more modern approach of the city, Rivetoile is district south of the city where a huge shopping mall and cinema complex are located. It’s also a nice area for a walk along the canal.
This place is a cool area of strasbourg but not a must to visit in Strasbourg Travel Guide
3 Days Itinerary Strasbourg Travel Guide
Strasbourg Travel Guide Day 1:
- Kléber square
- Temple Neuf
- Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg
- Palais Rohan
- Le Coin d’Alsace
- Batorama
- Historical Museum of the City of Strasbourg
Strasbourg Travel Guide Day 2:
- Alsatian Museum
- Reformed Church Saint Paul
- Place D’Austerlitz
- Petite-France
- Église Saint-Thomas
- Ponts Couverts, Strasbourg
- Barrage Vauban
Strasbourg Travel Guide Day 3 :
- Catholic Church Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune
- Palais du Rhin
- Orangerie
- Parlement européen
- Rivetoile
“L’habit ne fait pas le moine”
Photos by
Nadia is one of our good friends in Strasbourg. She is a professional portrait photographer since 2015. She is passionate about portrait photos, speaks French, English & Russian and will be super happy to take you on a photo journey.
