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I just love a cute little village, don’t you? Cobble-stone streets, pretty buildings, views for days. If it’s fairytale villages you’re looking for you don’t need to look any further than the fantastically beautiful region of Alsace, France. They’ll hook you faster than you can say happily ever after.
Where is the Alsace Region?
Alsace is a region of eastern France that borders Germany. This area is a completely unique blend of French and German in culture, food and appearance. That makes it a magical and very special area to visit.
The closest big city, and one you might either want to use as a base, or visit while you’re here, is Strasbourg. This is definitely one of my favorite French cities, and deserves a few days on its own. You can take tours of the Alsace region leaving from Strasbourg. Or rent a car there and make your own way around these pretty French villages.
How long do I need to explore these Alsace villages?
I’ll let you in on a little secret – once you see these Alsace villages you will never want to leave. Time will stop, or maybe revert back to a storybook fairytale era. In my opinion you can’t spend enough time here. That said, we only have so much vacation time, right?
Whereas you can see a lot of these villages in a day, I would recommend you plan for at least two or three days of exploring. More if you have time.
A good idea is to make one of the villages your base – I suggest one of the busier ones like Ribeauvillé or Riquewihr. Both have a number of accommodation options and are large enough so that you won’t have any issues finding food or shops. The bonus? Both are said to have been the inspiration behind Disney’s Beauty & The Beast. Could you get more fairytale that that?
10 Picturesque Alsace Villages To Visit
Visit one, or visit them all, but these are some heartbreakingly adorable villages. It’s not too easy to get around if you don’t have a vehicle. Therefore I would highly recommend renting a car to better explore this region. Here are the best of the best of these jaw-droppingly stunning Alsace villages.
Bergheim
Lavender bushes punctuating small rural roads, half timbered houses in a variety of pastel shades and a village church at the end of the main road into the village. Bergheim is the perfect introduction to the idyllic Alsace villages.
The narrow streets are wonderfully fun to explore, maybe only outdone by the medieval fortifications you can also find here. These 14th Century walls and towers surround the petite village. If it weren’t for the cars, you might think you’d stumbled into France in the Middle Ages.
Ribeauvillé
One of the most popular Alsace villages, but on the list for very good reason. This quintessential French village has it all, and as one of the larger villages it has some good places to stay while you explore the area.
The Three Castles trail is a great way to see some of the historical sites of Ribeauvillé, like the village itself isn’t historic enough. Make time to peruse local Alsace foods and crafts for sale in the shops lining the main street.
But to really get a good sense of why Ribeauvillé is so magical, take a detour onto some of the quieter side streets where you’ll find some adorably quaint and colorful buildings.
Hunawihr
Where Ribeauvillé caters to hordes of visitors, less than 3km away is the more unassuming village of Hunawihr. Delightfully picturesque, it is somewhat concealed amongst the vineyards on the surrounding hills. Even the pretty church can be found with the distinctive rows of grapes growing up towards it.
The church is by far one of the highlights of the village, perched high atop a hill with little houses dotted all around. The houses and buildings are not nearly as colorful as its neighboring villages Ribeauvillé or Riquewihr, but Hunawihr is no less pretty.
Riquewihr
Along with Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr is the other most popular of the Alsace villages. The main street grows with beauty as you ascend the hill to the stunning clock tower at the top.
Every turn in this lovely little village will make you gasp with delight. Although, it can get busy so I recommend arriving early to beat some of the crowds. There are lots of places to try some local Alsace cuisine, and many hotels and B&Bs if you wish to stay longer (and see it with even less people).
The Christmas shop at the top of the hill is a delightful year-round festive stop that must be made. And the pretty houses with their well-manicured flower displays make for some prime photo opportunities.
Kayserberg
One of the bigger villages in the Alsace region, Kayserberg has plenty of history and pretty half-timbered houses. The ancient castle ruins are worth checking out, not least of all because of the scenic views over the village. It’s a bit of a climb, but worth it.
The village sits along a river, and some of the best views are after walking through the main village to the bridge. It’s also around here you’ll find some wonderful local pottery shops – I definitely bought some nice gifts here.
The ornate window shutters further enhance this already beautiful village. It’s an easy place to spend an afternoon, getting lost in the little side streets, and stopping for a drink along the way. Or taking a private walking tour if you want to learn more. There are also lots of places to buy local wines in the town.
Kientzheim
Kayserberg could quite easily be the shiny distraction from making you stop in Kientzheim. Don’t let it be, though. This little village is about a tenth the size of Kaysterberg, but undeniably stunning.
You can’t mistake where you are if you enter the old part of the village through the fortified Porte du Lali. Emblazoned with the village’s name on, this is the gateway to the classically Alsace buildings that make up old Kientzheim.
My favorite thing about the village? It’s exquisite fountain set in Place Lieutenant Dutilh, a quiet square with a few nice bars and eateries. A great place for people watching.
Niedermorschwihr
A very small village compared to some in the area, and one you might not necessarily think to stop at. Niedermorschwihr, as well as being difficult to say and spell, also has a few other quirks to it.
The old buildings are often seen to be larger on the second level than ground level. The reason? In Medieval times taxes were based on square footage of the ground floor. So locals found a way around this by making the second floor overhang.
Another quirky thing is the church in Niedermorschwihr. Saint-Gall Church has a twisted spire. Sure, you’ll see a lot of nice churches around the Alsace villages, but this crooked spire design is unique to Niedermorschwihr around here.
Turckheim
Set in a little dip of a valley surrounded by the greenest fields and vineyards, is Turckheim. With mountains in the background, it is one of the prettiest little Alsace villages. The views over this village were some of the nicest I saw in the region.
As with many of these Alsace villages, half-timbered houses of varying colors, cobble-stoned streets and historical architecture are just par for the course. Three large city gates make up part of the original fortifications of Turckheim, still in place today.
The highlight for me, though, was the Church of St. Anne. The gorgeous mosaic style spire was also a different shape to many others we’d seen in the area. However if you’re a big history buff you might be interested in the Musée Mémorial des combats de la Poche de Colmar telling of WWII history in the region.
Munster
If you spend enough time in the Alsace region of France you’ll realize the French really do love their cheese. Munster cheese might be one of the most famous in the area. This soft, creamy cheese is in many local dishes, so you must give it a try.
But Munster shouldn’t just be visited for cheese. The town is pretty and in a delightfully scenic setting. Wander to some of the lovely churches in the town or enjoy one of the many green areas – the town has a number of parks.
End your visit with a stop at The Cheese House on the way out of town. Discover how the famous Munster cheese is made and taste some of the finished product.
Eguisheim
One of my favorite of the Alsace villages. It was a little less busy than some of the bigger places which made it a nice, quiet place to spend an afternoon. There were some cute little streets with some wonderfully small and interesting looking buildings.
Eguisheim has a circular route around the town which you can follow in a full loop. It holds some of the most unique buildings alongside a narrow cobbled street.
Look out for local art on sale, and a shop all about mushrooms. Did you know Eguisheim has an annual mushroom festival every October? And the village also has one of the best Christmas markets in the Alsace region.
TOP TIP: If you’re looking for a more unique way to see Eguisheim, you can take a Segway tour around the town and the vineyards.
Colmar – Bonus town when visiting Alsace villages
I agree, Colmar cannot really be classed as one of the Alsace Villages, but I just had to include it here. Why? Because it’s a perfectly charming gateway town to the dozens of adorable villages surrounding it. Colmar is the ideal base for exploring everywhere on this list.
Colmar doesn’t feel like a town. Its small streets are just as cute as those of the smaller villages. The flower-box half-timbered houses that line the canals around La Petite Venise, which translates to exactly what you think it does, make it even more appealing if that’s even possible.
Make sure to stop off at the historic covered market before making your way into the center of the town. Here you’ll get to wander the tiny shop-filled streets encircling St. Martin’s Church. And if you’re a real history buff there’s a museum dedicated to Auguste Bartholdi – the creator of the Statue of Liberty – in the home where he was born.
Other pretty Alsace villages to visit
These cover only a few of the many villages in the area that are well worth a visit. You can spend days or weeks visiting the most spectacular small villages and towns in Alsace. Each one more fairytale-looking than the last.
Mittelwihr and Bennwihr are adjacent villages that should be added to any itinerary, and have some great places to try local wines. Ingersheim is a little bigger, but with scenic river walks and a small nature preserve. Just on the outskirts of the village you’ll be able to see Castle Wineck.
Zellenberg, just a stones throw away from Riquewihr is another delightful village. With only about 300 residents this might be one of the most compact villages you’ll visit.
Exploring beautiful Alsace villages
However much time you have in the region will never be enough, most likely. You’ll undoubtedly want to stay longer, because just look at the place! There aren’t many places in the world that you can say you visited a real-life fairytale.
While there might not be any princes, knights or dragons, there are pretty colorful buildings, castles and wine. And let’s face it, I think we all agree that might be better.
Strasbourg and Colmar make a great base for exploring the region, but if you really want to soak up the undisputed charm of these Alsace villages, book a night or two in one of them. Go for walks, rent bikes, or sit in the village and fill yourself on wine and cheese – no judgement here.
Spring and summer will have the most color – the sun will really make those painted houses shine. However, winter in Alsace is the most magical time. Strasbourg is one of the best places to visit at this time of year and so many of these incredible little villages also have Christmas markets worth checking out.
Wherever you end up and whenever you find yourself there, I can guarantee you’ll be floored by the beauty of this region. You might never want to leave.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Which of these Alsace villages would be your first stop? Have you been to any others you recommend?
I’ve been trying to do exactly what you did in the post myself. I had it all booked up, hotel n flights just when Covid struck and I had to cancel it all.
I was so looking forward to this, as a tour company wanted me to do a review of their trips so it was a double bow.
The streets and houses in the region are like walking back in time several centuries and your beautiful photos certainly high light that too.
So much info here that I will use when I rebook, thanks so much.
Can’t wait to finally get back there now
That’s such a shame you had to cancel. Highly recommend a visit, it was one of the most beautiful regions I’ve ever visited and I just loved exploring the small streets. Would 100% go there again and probably spend more time and overnights in different villages
Alsace is one of those regions where you want to buy a house and live there. These villages look like something out of a fairy tale, with their picturesque architecture and charming alleys. Although Colmar is the best known, I am sure that all the others are equally beautiful and that it is difficult to choose one to visit over the others.
I’ve seen many posts about the Alsace region but only see the advice to rent a car for hopping around. How easy would it be with a rental car and what does the parking situation look like? Would getting out of the car and driving to the next village exceed the time exploring? I was also wondering if there was a particular reason for the very distinctive architecture and style, or is this just a lucky amalgation of French cuteness and German grade II listed craftsmanship?
Carolin
The distances between most of the villages were small enough that driving doesn’t commit you to a ton of time in the car. Most villages that I went to and stopped in had some free parking, or bigger parking lots, usually just outside the main village so it was only a few mins walk. Ribeauville and Riquewihr both had paid parking options, others it was a mix of free street parking or paid lots dotted around
Alsace is definitely a region that I would love. I love the smaller towns and everyone of these towns is beautiful and quaint. Being a lover of cheese , Munster would be at the top of my list.
I’ve wanted to visit Colmar for a few years now but I didn’t know about all the other villages in Alsace. Your post has such a great selection and they all look adorable and full of charm. I’m already dreaming of a summer road trip or a Christmas shopping holiday!
Haha the smell of Munster cheese still haunts me 😉
Every time I go back to Strasbourg I try to visit another couple Alsatian villages, and there’s a few on this list that I’ve got my eye on now. Bergheim just won favourite village in 2022 (I voted for it haha) and so it’s at the top!