Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
Germany
Belgium
Spain
Greece
the Netherlands
Ireland
Italy
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Switzerland
Seat of the Parliament · Estrasburgo, Grande Leste
Parlement européen
Official seat of the European Parliament, in the Louise-Weiss building on the banks of the Ill. It welcomes visitors year-round, with the hemicycle, exhibitions and the Parlamentarium Simone Veil.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Parlement européen
Estrasburgo is the official seat of the European Parliament, where Members of the European Union countries meet for monthly plenary sessions. The Louise-Weiss building, with a glass tower that looks deliberately unfinished, sits on the banks of the Ill, in the European quarter northeast of the city centre.
The visit includes the hemicycle, the large plenary chamber, and the Parlamentarium Simone Veil, an interactive space that explains how the European Union works, with content in the 24 official languages, including Portuguese.
During plenary weeks it is possible to watch part of the debates from the public galleries. Outside those weeks, the route goes through the empty hemicycle and the exhibitions.
In the same quarter are the Palais de l'Europe, of the Council of Europe, and the Tribunal Europeu dos Direitos Humanos. The Parc de l'Orangerie lies on the other side of the avenue.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 to 2 hours, including security screening.
Best time
During plenary weeks you can see the MEPs in action; outside those weeks the visit is quieter. Days and access rules change throughout the year: check the official website before you go.
How to get there
It's about 3 km from the centre. The tram stops at Parlement Européen station, and the sightseeing boat on the Ill passes in front of the building. On foot, from the Parc de l'Orangerie it's just a few minutes.
Tip
Take your passport; without it you cannot enter. Avoid large suitcases and backpacks. Combine the visit with a walk in the Parc de l'Orangerie, which is next door.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Parlement européen
Can you attend a session?
During weeks with plenary sessions, the public can follow part of the debates from the galleries. Check the schedule and access rules before you go.
Do you need to reserve the visit?
Individual visitors usually enter without a reservation; groups need to book. Rules can change, so check the official website.
How do you get to the Parlamento Europeu?
By tram to the Parlement Européen stop, or by the sightseeing boat that departs from the Grande Île and passes in front of the building.