Best Things to Do in Strasbourg, France

Top Things to Do in Strasbourg, France

What to do in Strasbourg? This Strasbourg things-to-do list includes the best places to visit in Strasbourg, activities, and ideas for a day trip. As the famous architect Le Corbusier once said, in Strasbourg, the eye is never bored! If you are in a hurry, here’s a quick summary:

1. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
2. Take the Time to Explore the Petite France
3. Visit the Covered Bridges and the Barrage Vauban
4. Explore the European District
5. Visit the Musée Alsacien
6. Take a River Cruise
7. Visit France’s Most Famous Christmas Market
8. Enjoy the Best of Alsace Food in a Winstub
9. Learn about the Wines of Alsace
10. Taste the Local Beer
11. Visit Colmar and the Alsace Villages on a Day Trip
12. Explore Fort Mutzig
13. Take in the Views from Mont Odile

How Many Days in Strasbourg? Spend two days in Strasbourg to cover the main things to do on this list and get a good taste of what the city has to offer. Spend more time to tick off the full list or if you wish to explore the city’s surroundings on day trips from Strasbourg.

1. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral

Located in the heart of the city, Notre Dame de Strasbourg is one of the main things to see in Strasbourg. With an imposing shape, unique pink color, and only one tower, this beautiful cathedral is a jewel of Gothic Art.

Visit the inside: the entrance is free, and there’s plenty to admire! The history of this thousand-year Cathedral is interesting, too, as it has overcome fires, storms, and bombs, changing from Catholicism to Protestantism and vice versa, and changing nationality according to wars and political agreements.

Don’t miss the climb up to the tower for a beautiful panoramic view of Strasbourg. When the sky is clear, you can also see the Black Forest in Germany!

Address: Place de la Cathédrale, Strasbourg; Opening times: Monday to Saturday, from 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and from 12:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.; Sunday, from 2 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

2. Take the Time to Explore the Petite France

La Petite France is another must-see in Strasbourg. La Petite France is a picturesque neighborhood in the heart of the Old Town known for its lovely cobblestone streets, canals, and well-preserved half-timbered homes. 

In the past, this lively neighborhood was occupied by tanners, fishers, and millers. Here, the Ill River is divided into five arms, which allowed the construction of water mills and the installation of tanneries.

La Petite France is a tourist hub dotted with local eateries and souvenir shops. But it’s a lovely place to get lost, especially late in the afternoon when day-trippers are gone. Because of its central location, this neighborhood is also one of the best places to stay in Strasbourg. If you want to know more things about La Petite France and the Old Town in general, this Strasbourg walking tour always gets the best ratings.

3. Visit the Covered Bridges and the Barrage Vauban

The visit to the Ponts Couverts (the covered bridges) is one of the best things to do in Strasbourg. These are three bridges spanning the Ill River and are dominated by three imposing square towers, the remains of the 13th-century city walls.

In the past, these bridges were wooden walkways covered by a large roof – hence the name – but in the 19th century, they were replaced by stone bridges without roofs. A bit further, there’s a fourth tower nicknamed “the Executioner’s Tower.” This tower was used as a prison until 1823.

A few meters further stands the Vauban Dam, another of the top sights in Strasbourg. As you may know, Vauban was a French military engineer who served under King Louis XIV. He is famous for designing the most ingenious defensive fortifications in France.

The Vauban Dam was designed to flood an entire part of the city in the event of an enemy attack. Strewn on 13 arches, it has a panoramic terrace on the roof, offering a superb view of the city and the covered bridges.

4. Explore the European District

Strasbourg is also known as the Capital of Europe, mainly because it plays host to more than 20 European institutions.

Strasbourg’s European district is a beautiful area to explore. Apart from being home to important European institutions, it is also where the expatriates live, with beautiful houses and green spaces.

The best way to explore the European District is with a guided bike tour. This tour with a local guide explores the European District, the 19th-century Neustadt, and La Petite France.

5. Visit the Musée Alsacien

The Musée Alsacien (the Alsatian Museum) is a great opportunity to learn more about Alsace’s culture, traditions, and quirky stories like the Strasbourg dancing plague. Set in a former private house, It contains over 5,000 exhibits about all aspects of daily life in pre-industrial and early-industrial Alsace.

I particularly liked the reconstruction of several traditional houses’ interiors. The section that shows how the three main religions in Alsace (Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish) celebrated the different life passages from birth to death was very interesting too.

Address: 23-25 Quai Saint Nicolas, Strasbourg; Opening times: Wednesday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

GOOD TO KNOW: The Alsatian Museum (and all the museums in Strasbourg) is included in the Strasbourg City Pass. This pass has a minimum cost, and you can use it for 7 days.

6. Take a River Cruise

If you wonder what to do in Strasbourg on a sunny day, a boat tour is a good option. A river cruise through the heart of Strasbourg is an unmissable experience that will allow you to discover the city must sights from a different point of view.

Spend a relaxing hour navigating the Ill River and enjoy the commentaries in 12 different languages with the use of individual headphones. The boats can be covered or opened up when the weather is good.

These boat tours are offered by Batorama. You will find Batorama’s docks (ticket sale and departures) at Place du Vieux Marché aux Poissons at the foot of Palais Rohan. This boat tour is also included in the Strasbourg City Pass.

If you are traveling with a group (up to 7 people) or you want to surprise your other half, this private boat tour through the Ill River is a great alternative.

7. Visit France’s Most Famous Christmas Market

The Alsace Christmas Markets are one of the top things to do in France, so if you are visit Strasbourg in November or December, you cannot miss them! A visit to the Christmas markets in Alsace is both a shopping experience and a destination discovery.

Strasbourg hosts the best Christmas market in Alsace and is also the oldest (since 1570). If you only have time for one Alsace Christmas Market, Strasbourg is the place to go.

Strasbourg’s Christmas Market is actually made up of multiple markets occupying the city’s central squares. Each square has a different market with a different theme, and they sell everything from handmade decorations to traditional food and sweets of Alsace.

8. Enjoy the Best of Alsace Food in a Winstub

Strasbourg is also an excellent place to taste the regional cuisine in Alsace. The list of traditional Alsace food includes baeckeoffe, tarte flambée, cordon bleu, vol-au-vent, spaetzle, fleischnacka, and bretzel. 

The best places to taste good traditional cuisine are the winstubs. A Wistub (or Winstub) is a type of traditional wine bar and restaurant that are specific to Alsace. In principle, winstubs are inexpensive and rather popular, frequented by regulars. Winstubs are coquettishly rustic, with a warm atmosphere and local food.

The list of the best winstubs in Strasbourg includes Au coin de Pucelles (12 Rue des Pucelles), Le Fink’stuebel (26 Rue Finkwiller), Winstub Le Clou (3 Rue du Chaudron, Strasbourg) or Winstub Chez Yvonne (10 Rue du Sanglier). If you visit Strasbourg during the Christmas Market, it’s best to book in advance.

9. Learn about the Wines of Alsace

If Strasbourg is the starting point of your Alsace Wine Route, use your stay in the city to learn more about the Alsace wines before hitting the road.

The wines of Alsace are often dry white wines, and you will find delicious Rieslings, Gewürztraminers, and Pinot Gris. The land and climate primarily lend to white wines, but you can still find some sweeter reds and rosés in Alsace.

The Cave des Hospices de Strasbourg (1 Place de l’Hôpital, Strasbourg) is a great place to visit for wine lovers. The historic wine cellars of the Strasbourg Hospital made wine for 6 centuries and although activity ceased in 1999, its barrels are still use for aging the wines of wine-producers nearby. No tastings here, but a very interested self-guided tour (with or without an audio guide) and the opportunity to see the world’s oldest wine, dating from 1492! The cellar’s shop has an interesting collection of local and French wines produced by other hospices in France.

Out of Strasbourg but very easy to reach by regional train, this cellar visit with tastings is consistently rated five stars. Maison ZEYSSOLFF is one of the rare cellars in Alsace to still vinify in century-old oak casks of more than 10,000L. You’ll be educated on a plethora of Alsace wines to round out your wine tasting in Alsace.

10. Taste the Local Beer

Being so close to Germany, beer is a big thing in Strasbourg and Alsace in general. In Alsace, five breweries ensure over 50% of French production (Fischer, Heineken, Karlsbrau, Kronenbourg, and Meteor), and there are also many micro-breweries producing interesting beers for local consumption.

Bendorf (114 Rue Jean Jaurés, Strasbourg) and Le Tigre (5 Rue du Faubourg National, Strasbourg) are two micro-breweries well-established in the city, but there are many more in the surrounding towns.

So drinking local craft beer is also one of the top things to do in Strasbourg, and it always tastes better on a sunny terrace or in your favorite winstub.

What to Do Near Strasbourg

There are many beautiful places to visit near Strasbourg. Check out the full list of my favorite day trips from Strasbourg.

11. Visit Colmar and the Alsace Villages on a Day Trip

If you have a spare day in Strasbourg, visit Colmar or a couple of Alsace villages on a day trip. The region of Alsace is dotted with picturesque towns and villages with traditional architecture, pretty squares with stone fountains, and a lively atmosphere.

This top-rated guided day tour from Strasbourg explores four villages on the Alsace wine route: Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, and Eguisheim.

12. Explore Fort Mutzig

This is a great site to visit if you are interested in military history and you have a car. Built from 1893 to 1916, the Mutzig Fortress was a prototype, the first German fortification to be made of concrete, entirely armored, ventilated, and lit by electrical power.

Fort Mutzig was the most powerful and largest fortification in the German Empire in 1914: it spanned 254 ha, covered 40,000 square meters underground, and had 22 artillery turrets. Following its construction, Alsace changed hands from Germany to France several times, so the Fort could not be used for WW2 because the turrets pointed in the wrong direction.

Its exceptional preservation and the excellent rehabilitation work make this fort a great place to visit in Alsace. Visits to the Fort are self-guided or with an expert guide. We took the guided tour, and it was super interesting, although it can be boring if you are not too into this. Count on 2,5 hours for the guided tour and good walking shoes (you will walk 2km inside).  Check out Fort Mutzig’s official website for the opening days and hours.

13. Take in the Views from Mont Odile

Just outside Strasbourg, Mont Saint-Odile (also known as Hohenburg Abbey) is a must-do. This site dedicated to Odile, saint-patron of Alsace, is the most important religious site in the region, with a history that goes back to the 7th century. Today, it consists of an abbey, built with the typical pink stone from the Vosges, a hotel-restaurant, and a small chapel.

Climbing to the summit of Mont Sainte-Odile to take in the views (and perhaps a little prayer) is one of the best things to do in Alsace. You can see the tomb of Saint-Odile inside the abbey.

With more time, you can hike the Pagans’ Wall, built in 1000 BC through a beautiful wooded area. You can also stay for the night in the hotel in the complex. Set in a historical building and with gorgeous views, staying overnight is a unique experience in a unique atmosphere.

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