The second most popular French city after Paris, Strasbourg is a fine mixture of history, culture, wine, food and everything French. Surrounded by most picturesque attractions and charming villages, Strasbourg is where you get to absorb the best of Alsatian culture, wine and history. It’s the very history of Strasbourg that showers it with some astounding monuments, structures, city squares and houses that bear as architectural marvels for modern France.
A stroll through the quaint district of La Petite France or quartier de la Petite France is often described as an unforgettable experience. Picture renaissance buildings, half-timbered houses and little bridges all snaked around via a sparkling canal system from River III. UNESCO World Heritage Site, this marvellous Strasbourg district can be best enjoyed with a boat trip on River III through the half-timbered buildings, a walk through Rue des Dentelles and its lively narrow streets, a stroll via one of the quarter’s bridges like the Pont du Faisan and lastly, if you have the time and luxury to be in Strasbourg for the night do not miss the chance of capturing the night view of Petite France with its twinkling street light glory and colourful bridges.
A keeper of the culture, heritage and history, Strasbourg lets you in on its treasures of artworks through museums, culture through its Opera and Theatres, nature through calming green spaces like Parc de l’Orangerie and JardinetGothique du Musée de l’Oeuvre Notre-Dam as well as gastronomy through famous local specialties like tarte flambée, kugelhopf and Choucroute garnie. Just 4km from Rhine River next to Franc-German borders, Strasbourg is also every tourist’s favorite destination to begin the Alsace Wine Tour that takes you different fairy-tale villages and towns with best of Alsace wine tasting, architecture and sightseeing.
What to cover in a one-day trip to Strasbourg?
01 Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg)
For 227 years between 1647 & 1874, Strasbourg Cathedral with its 142-meter spire was once the tallest building in Europe and the rest of the world. Today this Cathedral is an architectural wonder that started in 1015 and finished in 1439, offering a tall gothic masterpiece to the world. The facade of this Strasbourg Cathedral is not just gothic but gives you a structure straight out of a Middle Ages storybooks with the sandstone that changes its color with the change in color of the sky and the time of the day.
02 European Parliament
Being a seat of many European institutions, European Parliament in Strasbourg has its political, cultural and international importance, but what makes it popular among tourists is its location, its giant contemporary cylindrical structure and the fact that it offers guided tours for groups and individuals in French, English and German languages. The modern structure of the Strasbourg European Parliament has a very futuristic palace-like tough with the building overlooking the river III. The gorgeous glass facade and the Dome are a modern marvel in a city full of UNESCO heritage sites. The gardens, parks and philodendron forest withing the Parliament region are a must-visit attraction themselves.
03 Grande Île
Strasbourg culture and history oozes from the local cafes, streets and photogenic colorful timbered houses of Grande Île, the island at the heart of Strasbourg. Wandering through Grande Île is like an adventure as you move from attraction to another capturing the local churches like Church of St. Peter the Younger and St Thomas Church or gets blown away by the charm of Maison Kammerzell and its medieval houses or buildings like ôteld’Andlau-Klinglin with its marvelous large facade and the big entrance of the courtyard of the city hall. Medieval and gothic architecture of Strasbourg is well displayed on every corner of Grande Île, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site as declared in the year 1988.
04 Pont Couverts
A gorgeous set of bridges and towers that were once the defense of the city of Strasbourg, Pont Couverts stand tall on River III blaring the 13th-century history to all corners. The three bridges and four towers have been tested by time for their protection, and then in the year 1884, the roofs of the bridges were removed which originally gave the name to this structure as Pont Couverts or covered bridges. With a wonderful lighting system, Pont Couverts at night offers a glorious romantic view. The Covered Bridges of Strasbourg is perfect for a stroll through ancient medieval historical vibes.
05 Cave Historique des Hospices Strasbourg
Being in Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace which is world-famous for its wines, a visit to wine cellars is a must and crucial when trying to know the city up and close. Wine lovers are in for a very mystical adventure as they walk through cave-like cellars with big dazzling barrels offering the aromatic heaven of Alsatian wines.
A wine cellar marvel, Cave Historique des Hospices Strasbourg has a long history to it and today this 1200 meter square vaulted cellar has become a symbol of local culture, tradition and exceptional wines. The entry to Cave Historique des Hospices Strasbourg is free and you could request a paid audio-guide tour designed in different languages. This cellar is just walking distance from the city cathedral.
06 Place Kléber
Strasbourg day trip cannot be deemed as complete without a stroll through Place Kléber, a city square that surrounds you with local people and observes local culture while you are accompanied by the architectural gem the Aubette which is also popular as ‘Sistine Chapel of Abstract Art, local cafes and the statue of Kléber itself.
Place Kléber is also host to one of the finest, liveliest and most beautiful Christmas market or Marché de Noël with its 30m annual Christmas tree. A casual walk across this city square enjoying local culture and cuisine is an ideal way to meet locals for fascinating conversations on the city of Strasbourg.
Strasbourg to Colmar One-Day Road Trip
A one day Strasbourg itinerary can be divided into a city excursion which already has enough to keep you engrossed and mesmerized, or you could after having a quick city tour head to Colmar with just an hour-long scenic drive. One of the most visited towns, not just in France but in the whole Europe, Colmar is in its center of Alsace wine culture with exquisite medieval and renaissance houses and buildings, illuminating Christmas market, spring celebratory squares and markets, gorgeous little cafes overlooking the narrow canals and cobbled lanes between most colorful European houses giving you the postcard moment of your life.
Amid all the richness of Colmar, top 3 reasons to plan a day trip from Strasbourg to this Alsace town are – Quartier de la Krutenau or the Little Venice with its small boats, lovely canals, timbered houses, canal-side cafes & restaurants, walking tour, romantic pedestrian bridges and an ambiance of Europe that just can’t be erased from your heart. You won’t ever find any Colmar tourist who doesn’t want to go back to the little french heaven with the best of Alsatian wine, food and charming little houses.