Before you go

Your trip to Estrasburgo.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Estrasburgo – Grande Leste Destination Alsácia Capital

How to get there

Aéroport Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Roissy-en-France · 480 km
Aéroport de Strasbourg-Entzheim (SXB) Entzheim · 12 km
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) Saint-Louis · 140 km
Gare de Strasbourg 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

From Paris, the TGV departs from Gare de l'Est and arrives at Gare de Strasbourg in about 1h50. Strasbourg Airport (SXB), in Entzheim, is 12 km away and has a regional train to the central station. The EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is further south. Confirm before you buy.

How many days

With 1 day you can see the cathedral, the Grande Île and the Petite France. With 2 days you can include the museums, the boat tour, the European Parliament and the Parc de l'Orangerie. Add 1 or 2 days for Colmar and the Wine Route.

When to go

From May to September the days are long and warm; October is usually cool. Winter (December to February) is cold, with short days. The Christmas markets usually run from late November to late December and fill the city.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The center is small and almost entirely pedestrianized, and the tram links the station, the European quarter and the airport (with train). A car only gets in the way: leave it in a park-and-ride with tram on the outskirts. For the Wine Route, a car or an organized tour helps.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Estrasburgo

Morning
Cathedral, clock and platform
Start early at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame: see the nave, the stained-glass windows and the Pillar of the Angels, then climb the 332 steps to the platform to see the city from above. In the square, notice the wooden façade of the Maison Kammerzell.
Afternoon
Grande Île and lunch in a winstub
Have lunch in an Alsatian winstub, around 12:00–14:00, and walk along the Place Gutenberg and the Place Kléber. If you prefer a museum, the Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame, opposite the cathedral, houses the original statues from the façade.
Late afternoon
Petite France and Barrage Vauban
Walk to the Petite France, cross the Ponts couverts and climb to the terrace of the Barrage Vauban for the view of the towers with the cathedral in the background.
Evening
Dinner and the quay of the Ill
Have dinner from 19:30 in the Petite France or in the Krutenau, with flammekueche and a white wine from Alsace, and return along the riverbank.

2 days in Estrasburgo

Day 1

Morning
Cathedral and platform
Spend the morning at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame and the climb to the platform. Buy the ticket early for the astronomical clock presentation, in the early afternoon.
Afternoon
Astronomical clock and Palais Rohan
Watch the procession of automatons of the astronomical clock and cross the Place du Château to the Palais Rohan, to see the cardinals' apartments and the painting museum.
Late afternoon
Boat on the river Ill
Board the sightseeing boat next to the Palais Rohan to circle the Grande Île, pass the locks of the Petite France and see the European quarter from the water.
Evening
Dinner on the Grande Île
Dine near the cathedral and see the illuminated façade. Remember that many restaurants only serve dinner from 19:30.

Day 2

Morning
European Parliament
Take the tram to the Parlement européen and visit the hemicycle and the Parlamentarium Simone Veil. Bring your passport for entry control.
Afternoon
Parc de l'Orangerie and Neustadt
Cross to the Parc de l'Orangerie to see the storks and the lake, and return on foot through the Neustadt, passing the Place de la République.
Late afternoon
Petite France
End the day in the Petite France, with the Ponts couverts and the view from the terrace of the Barrage Vauban.
Evening
Krutenau
Dine in the Krutenau, a neighborhood of bars and restaurants on the other side of the Ill, frequented by students and locals.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Paris to Strasbourg?

By TGV, departing from Gare de l'Est in Paris to Gare de Strasbourg, in about 1h50. There are also direct trains from the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport station. Buy in advance to pay less.

How many days to stay in Strasbourg?

Two days allow you to see the cathedral, the Petite France, the museums of the Palais Rohan, the boat tour and the European Parliament. With only one day, focus on the Grande Île and the Petite France.

When does Strasbourg's Christmas market take place?

The Christkindelsmärik usually runs from late November to late December, spread across several squares in the center. It's the busiest time of the year: book accommodation well in advance.

Can you go from Strasbourg to Germany?

Yes. The German town of Kehl is on the other side of the Rhine and is reached by tram. Take your passport, even without fixed border controls.

Is Strasbourg a good base to explore Alsace?

Yes, because of the train network: Colmar is about 30 minutes by regional train. For the wine-village towns, however, Colmar is closer.

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