Discover one of the most fascinating cities and things to do in Strasbourg, France. 

Strasbourg is the capital of Elzas region in the North East of France, bordering with Germany. For most visitors Strasbourg is a mixture of Germany and France, since it reminds the features of both countries. But still Strasbourg is a very special place, worth visiting even if you have a short holidays break.

There are plenty of things to do in Strasbourg on holidays! Here are some suggestions:

• Visit the Strasbourg Cathedral: One of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the Strasbourg Cathedral is a stunning Gothic masterpiece. Climb the tower for panoramic views of the city.
• Explore Petite France: This picturesque district features charming half-timbered houses and narrow cobblestone streets. It’s a great place to wander and take photos.
• Walk along the canals: Strasbourg is home to a network of canals that are perfect for a scenic stroll. Take a boat tour or rent a paddleboat for a unique perspective on the city.
• Visit the Palais Rohan: This stunning palace houses three museums: the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Archaeological Museum.
• Wander the Parc de l’Orangerie: This beautiful park features gardens, a lake, a zoo, and plenty of walking paths. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
• Try the local cuisine: Strasbourg is known for its Alsatian cuisine, which includes dishes like choucroute (sauerkraut and sausage) and tarte flambée (thin-crust pizza with cream, onions, and bacon).
• Visit the European Parliament: Strasbourg is home to the European Parliament, and you can take a guided tour to learn more about the European Union and its institutions.
• Shop at the Christmas markets: If you’re visiting during the holiday season, be sure to check out the famous Strasbourg Christmas markets. They’re a great place to shop for unique gifts and enjoy traditional foods and drinks.
• Take a day trip to the Vosges mountains: The Vosges mountains are just a short drive from Strasbourg and offer beautiful scenery, hiking trails, and ski resorts.
• Visit the Musée Alsacien: This museum showcases traditional Alsatian culture and features exhibits on local crafts, costumes, and architecture.

You will admire the architectural masterpieces, and will not be limited to step by for lunch or dinner in one of the amazing restaurants of the city.

Strasbourg is the second city after Paris, getting funds for the development of culture. Thus, the number of Strasbourg tourist attractions is really huge.

Place de la Cathedrale

Start your tour in Strasbourg from Place de la Cathedrale. It is located on the highest point of Strasbourg at the height of 144 meters above the sea level, which gives an opportunity to see the whole city from a single point.

Nearby there is Cathedral Square (Place de la Cathedrale ), which used to be a market place. Today this is the best tourist attraction of Strasbourg.

La Petite France 

La Petite France, Strasbourg – a “must to see spot” in your things to do in Strasbourg plan. This is a special romantic place, where tourists can enjoy the beauty of small town on the water.

La Petite France, Strasbourg is the most fascinating district of the city. You will have nice relaxing time walking around, among the channels; have a cup of coffee or tea in one of local restaurants.

The center of la Petite France is in Benjamin Zix Square.

Beautiful buildings along the channels of Strasbourg are creating the atmosphere like in a fairy tail.

Benjamin Zix square serves as a working place for local artists.

Soborna square 

Soborna square is located on the highest point of Strasbourg, at the height of 144 meters above the sea level. Soborna square used to be a popular market place, where cherries, bread, cakes, old clothes were sold.

Today Soborna square is also a popular tourist destination, with maison Kammerzeil – one of the most beautiful buildings of Strasbourg.

The Kammerzeil  building has 75 windows, decorated with carved frames. Each frame tells a story from the Bible, about mythical heroes from legends, depicts signs of Zodiac, 5 senses and famous musicians.

Maison Kammerzeil

Interesting fact about maison Kammerzeil is that the three female figures are carved on its corner. They are the embodiment of the Christian virtue. Love is depicted with her two children and a pelican.

On the third and fourth floor there is Hope with Phoenix bird and Faith with Griffin bird.

In XVI century Martin Braun, a cheese seller, bought maison Kammerzeil and in 1589 finished its reconstruction. According to his order only the first floor with three decorative arches were left from the initial design.

The other floors were entirely rebuilt in Renaissance style, which is preserved till our days. The Kammerzeil building was known as Alter House till the middle of the XIXth century, and then was bought by the Grocery owner from Vurzburg, Phillip-Fransua Kammerzeil.

As you have already realized he gave his name to the building. Beautiful fresco of Leo Shnut (1878-1933) are decorating the interior of maison Kammerzeil. In 1879 the building was transferred into the ownership of Strasbourg and received the status of the monument of architecture.

Former Pharmacie du Cerf, the first mentioning of which relates to XIII century, is located next to the Cathedral. The first floor of Pharmacie du Cerf is of stones arches. They are beautifully decorated with tree braches and snakes. The upper floors relate to 1567.

Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre Dame 

Notre Dam Cathedral in Strasbourg is one of the most visited sightseeing in the city. This is a beautiful building built in Gothic style, of rosy-brown color. Special feature of the Cathedral is the only tower, which is open for visitors. It is not only the Cathedral that attracts thousands of tourists but also the square on which it is located. You can get inside of the Notre Dam Strasbourg Cathedral and find ancient watches, which show time, month, year, and zodiac sign, location of planets. Moreover the watches are unique mechanism, which shows a special performance each half an hour.

In order to see the whole city from one point you would need to go to the top, to reach the observation platform of the Cathedral. Be prepared to walk upstairs as this is the only way to get there. Entrance to the observation spot is on the right side of the Cathedral. The observation platform of the cathedral can be reached by foot only. The stairs count 332 steps.

The height of Strasbourg Cathedral is 124 meters. It was built on the base of ancient Rome Basil, erected in 1015 by Bishop Wernger von Habsbourgs. The basil was destroyed by fire and a new cathedral was founded on its place.

Interesting fact is that it took almost 400 years to finish the construction of Strasbourg Cathedral – from the moment of its foundation in 1176 till final works in 1439.

Till XIX century Strasbourg Notre Dame remained the highest temple of the Christian world, until the bell towers in Köln and Ulme were built.

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Approximately in 1225 the construction works changed the design of the building, by masters from Chartres. Local builders learnt the mystery of magnificent Gothic art from the master, whose name remained unknown.

The Strasbourg Cathedral is open daily from 7am till 11:40am and from 12:40 till 19:00.

What places to visit in Strasbourg?

Strasbourg is also world known for the Council of Europe, European Court on Human Rights and EU Parliament headquarters.

There is a river tram in Strasbourg, which will take you round the city and that would be the best alternative for any excursion you would take. You will be able to see all Strasbourg attractions from the boat. There is audio guide, speaking several languages to help you get to know the city in a language you speak.

There are number of parks in the city, but Parc de l’Orangerie is favorite one. It was built according to the order of Napoleon for his wife Josephine. The thing is she never stayed in the park, but the citizens are very happy to have in their area, and bring family and friends for a picnic there.

Location of Strasbourg is such, that you can walk to cross the border between France and Germany. There is a bridge (which is pedestrian area) connecting the two states. The guests of the city and local citizens like to take a walk on the bridge, going to one of the parks beautifully stretching on the territory of both countries. Bus #21 will take you to the bridge, or you can rent a bike.

Plan a visit to the Museums of Strasbourg

There are number of museums on the territory of Strasbourg. Among the museums to visit are the Museum of the History of Strasbourg, Museum of Alsace, and Museum of Contemporary Art.

Archeological Museum of Strasbourg

The Archeological Museum of Strasbourg is the second museum in France after French National Museum, which is located near Paris. The collection presented in the museum of Strasbourg is old, the first artifacts started to be collected in the end of the 18^th century.

It took a while till the museum was open officially and for years the collection of historical artifacts was stored in the society in charge of taking care of the historical monuments. In the past century it was decided to create Museum, later it was relocated into another building, and currently the Archeological Museum of Strasbourg is located in Rogan Palace, and its collection grew significantly over the years.

Elsass region was inhabited since 600 000 BC and the exposition of the Museum covers whole this period till the 8^th century AD. Among numerous offers, tourists’ excursions and other things to do in Strasbourg visiting the Archeological Museum would be your best experience.

Collection of the museum grows due to the new findings and donations.

Archeological Museum of Strasbourg

The exposition of the Museum is divided according to several historical periods. The first part is devoted to a man in the period of paleolith. Pottery, arms, bones of the prehistoric animals – these are the artifacts of the collection in this part of the Museum.

The second part of the Archeological Museum of Strasbourg is devoted to the history of Bronze and Iron Ages. During this period of time Celts lived on the territory of the city. All the items of everyday life were found in the forest which is considered to be sacred. This forest still exists and is located not far from Strasbourg.

The next hall of the Museum discloses the 5 centuries of Rome Reigning. Glass, arms, decoration items, pieces of architecture – this is what the collection consists of. During the 5^th and 8^th centuries Strasbourg was under Alemans and Francs. The collection includes numerous items of daily life of this period of time.

Address of the Archeological Museum in Strasbourg:

Strasbourg, place du Chateau 2, Palais Rohan, Мusee archeologique.

It is open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am till 6pm.

Try local cuisine in Strasbourg

Strasbourg city is a mixture of cultures, which becomes obvious as soon as you enter the city. That is of course reflected in the local cuisine. The main dish here is choucroute (dressed sauerkraft) served with all kind of meat. The dish is rather German then French, but is popular no matter where the tourists are from. The size of sauerkraft is enormous, that’s why you can be sure to order one for two persons, and beer of course.

You will fall in love with this city, where peaceful streets and green parks create a harmony of ideal place for living. Should you decide to go to Alsace, make sure to include into your List of places to visit in Strasbourg city: Palais Rohan, Visit Strasbourg medieval churches and St. Paul’s church, Broglie Square, Strasbourg Historical Museum, take Strasbourg bike tour, visit The Orangerie Park, Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, go on Alsace wine route. 

What to do in Strasbourg with your family?

If you’re planning a family trip to Strasbourg, there are plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained. Here are some ideas:

• Visit the Strasbourg Cathedral: Kids will be fascinated by the intricate architecture and towering spire of this stunning Gothic cathedral.
• Take a boat tour: Kids will love cruising along the canals of Strasbourg and seeing the city from a new perspective.
• Explore the Musée Alsacien: This museum showcases traditional Alsatian culture and features exhibits on local crafts, costumes, and architecture. Kids can learn about the history of the region in a fun and interactive way.
• Visit the Parc de l’Orangerie: This beautiful park features gardens, a lake, a zoo, and plenty of space to run and play. Kids can also ride the carousel or rent a paddleboat.
• Check out the Strasbourg Zoological Museum: This museum features exhibits on the animal kingdom, including taxidermy specimens and interactive displays.
• Take a day trip to Europa-Park: Just a short drive from Strasbourg, Europa-Park is one of the largest amusement parks in Europe and offers rides and attractions for all ages.
• Visit the Vaisseau Science Museum: This interactive science museum is perfect for kids who love to learn and explore. It features exhibits on physics, biology, and technology.
• Try the local cuisine: Kids will love sampling traditional Alsatian dishes like tarte flambée (thin-crust pizza with cream, onions, and bacon) and kugelhopf (a sweet bread with raisins).
• Visit the Strasbourg Christmas markets: If you’re visiting during the holiday season, the Strasbourg Christmas markets are a must-see. Kids will love the festive atmosphere, decorations, and treats.

With so much to see and do, Strasbourg is the perfect destination for a family vacation.

What to do in Strasbourg for a weekend?

If you’re planning a weekend getaway to Strasbourg, here are some things you can do to make the most of your time:

Day 1:

Visit the Strasbourg Cathedral: Start your day by admiring the stunning architecture of the Strasbourg Cathedral, one of the city’s most famous landmarks.

Explore the Petite France district: Take a stroll through this charming neighborhood with its half-timbered houses, winding canals, and quaint bridges.

Lunch at a traditional Alsatian restaurant: Sample some of the region’s famous cuisine, such as choucroute or tarte flambée, at a local restaurant.

Visit the Musée Alsacien: Learn about traditional Alsatian culture at this museum, which features exhibits on local crafts, costumes, and architecture.

Boat tour: Take a relaxing boat tour along the canals and see the city from a different perspective.

Day 2:

Visit the Palais Rohan: This historic palace features three museums with exhibits on fine arts, decorative arts, and archeology.

Parc de l’Orangerie: Spend the afternoon in this beautiful park, which features gardens, a lake, a zoo, and plenty of space to relax.

Check out the Strasbourg Christmas markets: If you’re visiting during the holiday season, be sure to visit the famous Christmas markets.

Try the local pastries: Sample some of the city’s delicious pastries, such as kugelhopf or bretzels, at a local bakery.

Dinner in a cozy restaurant: End your weekend with a delicious meal at a cozy restaurant in the city center.

With so much to see and do, a weekend in Strasbourg is the perfect getaway to explore the city’s history, culture, and cuisine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Strasbourg worth visiting?

Strasbourg is worth visiting – there are more than 20 beautiful bridges, number of museums, art galleries, cathedrals in the city. You can take boat or bike tours to discover other parts of Strasbourg, book Alsace wine route, visit Europa Park, travel to Haut-Barr and other castles in Alsace. For sure, Strasbourg is worth visiting!

How many days should I spend in Strasbourg?

2-3 days should be enough to spend in Strasbourg. You can take a boat tour, go to the European institutions, visit Saint-Paul church, Orangerie park, stroll and observe storks, have dinner in a typically Alsatian winstub.

What is the city of Strasbourg famous for?

Strasbourg is famous for being a business, commercial, and cultural center of France. It is the chief city of Alsace, and the seat of European institutions and bodies such as the Council of Europe, European Parliament, and the European Court of Human Rights.

Strasbourg is famous for several things, including:

• The European Union: Strasbourg is home to several key institutions of the European Union, including the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights.
• The Christmas markets: Strasbourg is known for its famous Christmas markets, which draw in visitors from all over the world.
• The Petite France district: This charming neighborhood features picturesque half-timbered houses and narrow cobblestone streets, making it a popular destination for tourists.
• The University of Strasbourg: Founded in 1538, the University of Strasbourg is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe.
• The canals: Strasbourg is home to a network of canals that are perfect for a scenic stroll or boat tour.

Overall, Strasbourg is a city that is rich in history, culture, and charm, making it a popular destination for travelers from around the world.

Do they speak English in Strasbourg?

A lot of people in Strasbourg speak English quite decently, and since several international institutions are based there, and they employ people who speak fluent English. The primary language in Strasbourg is French. You will have no issues visiting shops or restaurants or other venue, since people speak English in Strasbourg.

What is the best area to stay in Strasbourg?

The best area to stay in Strasbourg is Grande Île (Grand Island), the historical part of the city. All nice restaurants and shops are located in Grande Île. Top Strasbourg city attractions are in the walking distance, this is why it is the best area to stay in Strasbourg.

Is one day in Strasbourg enough?

If you are pressed for time, 1 day is enough for visiting Strasbourg to see historical center and palaces. Just plan your day in Strasbourg in details and beforehand and you will be able to enjoy the city and visit main tourist attractions.

If you are traveling to Strasbourg during Christmas period, we would recommend to plan at least 2 days for this trip. The reason is during Christmas the city center may be a bit overcrowded. Also visiting Strasbourg in Christmas gives you an opportunity to check local markets, which are really great here!

Strasbourg offers a plethora of activities and attractions that are perfect for tourists of all ages. Visitors can explore the charming Petite France district, marvel at the stunning Strasbourg Cathedral, and take a boat tour along the city’s picturesque canals. The city also offers a range of museums and cultural attractions, including the Musée Alsacien and the Palais Rohan. Food lovers will enjoy trying the local Alsatian cuisine, while families can take advantage of the many parks and family-friendly attractions such as the Parc de l’Orangerie and the Europa-Park. And during the holiday season, the famous Strasbourg Christmas markets provide a festive and magical atmosphere for visitors. Whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or with family, Strasbourg is a must-visit destination.