Strasbourg, France

Read time  |  6 min

Bonjour ! This week we're headed to the beautiful and charming city of Strasbourg, Alsace, France! To go along with my adventures, I asked my friend, who's currently living in Strasbourg, for some recommendations!

Things to Do: 
La Petite France Quarter
This is the cutest area! It is a great example of traditional Alsace-style homes. 

Little history lesson---Houses were taxed on the amount of building touching land. Therefore, they built the second floor extending out so houses appear top heavy. Unfortunately, the name itself doesn't have as cute of a story. It's called La Petite France (Little France), because it hosted soldiers who had syphilis then called Franzosenkrankheit aka French disease. It was also known for its many tanneries.

Nowadays, it's a great area to walk by the water, admire the beauty of the buildings, and even grab a bite to eat. 
Tip: Go earlier in the morning before the tourists come out if you want to take some pictures! 

Ah so much charm^^

Vauban Dam*

Visit the Barrage Vauban for a picturesque view of Strasbourg! Climb to the top terrace before 4pm for great views of Ponts Couverts bridges and the Petite France quarter!

Christmas Markets (Nov. 23 - Dec. 30)*

If you’re here for the famous Christmas markets, you definitely need to check out the best markets below. Oh, and be sure to drink some vin chaud, mulled wine! 

Best Spots: 

-  Place Kleber -- Heart of Strasbourg. Includes a huge, beautiful tree and ice skating in the square!

-  Place de la Cathédrale 

-  Place Broglie

-  Place du Marché Gayet 

-  Place Grimmeissen 

Mallory enjoying her vin chaud at the Christmas market at Place de la Cathédrale
Photo credit: Mallory Rongier.

Nougat...delish!

Did I mention mulled wine??

Cathédrale de Notre-Dame, Strasbourg*

This church is very beautiful and impressive. It was the world's tallest building until 1874 and was built in the middle ages! There are sculpture/benches in front with symbols each representing a family who worked on the church.
Tip: In the spring and summer, you can climb to the top! Warning: There are MANY stairs!

Photo credit: Mallory Rongier

Some Museums to Visit*:  $
Cost: 6.50 euros to enter or 4 euros for students under 25.

• Tomi Ungerer Museum: He is from Strasbourg, and lived around the world illustrating children’s books, writing satirical articles about the war, and also had a passion for quite erotic artwork! Quite an interesting mix! 
• Palais des Rohan Museum: The first floor is the palace where Napoleon and other famous leaders stayed. The rooms and chambers still exist – it is beautiful! The basement floor is an interesting archeological site. The top floor has beautiful fine arts. 
• Museum of Alsace: Learn about the Alsace territory and how this city went back and forth between French and German rule. 

Parc Orangerie Gardens* 
A beautiful park to stroll through on a sunny or rainy day. Filled with beautifully groomed gardens and numerous paths - try not to get lost! ;) Great for a picnic, stroll, or jogging. It's even safe at night!

Getting Around!

Tram*  $
It’s a good way to explore and see the city. You can hop on and off trams and busses for one hour. Note: You can also ride tram D to the end into Kehl, Germany!!   Cost: 1.50 euros/ride

Velhop bikes* $

Rent a bike with the city bikes, Velhop! It's a great way to get around the city, because there are lots of other bikers and bike lanes.  Cost: 6 euros for the day! 

Batorama Boat Tour*  $
It's an hour long, not too expensive, and allows you to see Strasbourg from the river/canal view. Includes a headset with your preferred language to tell you about the history of Strasbourg and more!  Cost: about 15 euros/hr

Tip: Not the best for photos because it is enclosed, BUT it's a great way to get a first look at this beautiful city. 

Photo credit: Mallory Rongier.

Segway Tours $$

When I heard of this option, I didn't think it would be for me. But with an awesome guide (Shoutout to Quentin!) and the wind in my hair -- it's beyond fun! A guided segway tour is an awesome way to get an overview of the city quickly with local insight on things to do, see, and places to eat. Plus, zipping around town on a toy? It's definitely worth the splurge;) Check them out here.

Eats!

Tarte Flambée or Flammekueche

You can't go to the Alsace region without trying this treasure. It's a thin "pizza" with crème fraîche, cheese, onions, and lardon. They sometimes deck it out with other toppings as well. It's a great snack you can find at all the christmas markets or sit down for a yummy lunch.

Kugelhopf

Notice another German name? It's a true Alsace treat! It has a unique taste and looks similar to a bundt cake.

Resaurant Maison des Tanneurs*  $$

If you’re looking for a fancy restaurant with traditional alsacienne food – this is the place! Located in La Petite France, it's one of the oldest restaurants in Strasbourg and just a hop away from the canals.

Day Trips: 

Colmar
A smaller, charming city only 30 minutes by train from Strasbourg. It offers some great Christmas markets, picturesque colorful homes, shopping areas, delicious food, and treats. Definitely a must! 

Local tip*: 
If you’d like to visit other famous Christmas markets around Alsace, checkout this website with a bus service that can take you to famous towns like Colmar, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, and Ribeauvillé during the holiday season!  

Basel, Switzerland

Welcome to Europe where a short 1 hour train ride takes you to another country! Basel offers some amazing museums, a cute "old town" to the city, and tranquil day trip. 

Strasbourg, filled with charming streets, hearty comfort food, wonderful museums and culture, adorable cafes, and cute canals-- it truly is a beautiful city. Have you been to the Alsace region? What places did we miss that are a must??

A huge thanks to Mallory for her local insight and recommendations! :) If you'd like to follow her adventures, check her out on Instagram at @abaguetteabroad.

bisous,
Lyndi