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BAM! That was the sound of me falling in love with Strasbourg. I always knew I would like Strasbourg. After all, who could say they wouldn’t want to see the beautiful half-timbered buildings that are so famous in the city and surrounding Alsace Villages. But what I wasn’t sure of was how many days in Strasbourg was enough.
The short answer: there’s never enough time here. The long answer: it depends on what you’re looking to see and do, as well as how much time you actually have to spare.
The first thing you should decide is if you want to limit your visit to Strasbourg, or if you want to visit other places in the Alsace Region. I recommend the latter if you have time.
Falling in love with Strasbourg
I didn’t realize how quickly I would fall in love with Strasbourg. I booked a hotel right near Petite France, without knowing how amazing that area of the city was. No research at all, this really was just a happy accident. In fact, the main reason for booking the hotel I did was the convenience for the train station.
After checking into my hotel I headed out for a walk. Following the tram tracks on the uneven road, I walked across one of the many bridges spanning the circular canal that creates an island in the middle of Strasbourg.
Instantly plunged into the historic part of the city, every cobble-stoned street led me past the most heart-achingly beautiful buildings.
Bright, colorful flower boxes framed every water view, as well as many windows on the half-timbered houses. Less than 15 minutes into my Strasbourg experience and I was in love with this fairytale town. By the time I reached the wonderous Petite-France my fate was sealed – I never wanted to leave.
The best ways to spend your time in Strasbourg
As much as I’d love to keep Strasbourg all to myself, I also can’t help but gush about it. So what makes it so special, and what can you actually do there besides look at pretty buildings?
Museums
My first stop in a new city is typically a local museum. Especially a city or historical museum.
I find museums are the best introduction to a place, and knowing a little more about the region, the people who live there and how it all began makes everything about it a little clearer.
For Strasbourg there are two such museums I would recommend. The first is the Historical Museum of the City of Strasbourg. The second is the Musée Alsacien. While the former takes a deep dive into the city, from how it began to those who lived there, the Alsatian Museum focuses on this region of Eastern France, on the border of Germany – and how the cultures mixed.
Not into history? There are art museums, a science museum, and if you’re looking for something truly unique – a Voodoo museum. While Strasbourg is a beautiful city where you’ll want to spend lots of time outdoors, it’s nice to have a back up plan in case it rains.
Cathedral and churches
My first day in Strasbourg, I arrived early evening. I intended to go for a quick half hour walk, then return to the hotel, tired after a long day of travel. Instead, after wandering through Petite France I continued walking, drawn by the sounds of the chiming bells from the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg.
This monstrous gothic cathedral is so ornately spectacular that you cannot miss it. Whether you’re religious or not, whether you decide to go inside or not, there’s no denying how stunning this cathedral is.
I craned my neck to the see the top, towering high above the central square. Spotting a small café at the side of the square, and despite knowing it likely came with tourist pricing, I opted to just sit and enjoy the view.
Settling in with a beer and a crêpe, I watched the sun go down around the cathedral while listening to the rhythmic clanging of the bells. For people watching and some quiet reflection time, I suggest you do the same one evening.
As well as the cathedral, don’t miss some of the pretty churches around Strasbourg. The Temple-Neuf church, of Réformée St Paul are both lovely. Wander enough streets around Strasbourg and you’ll find even more churches to see.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: Visit Notre Dame Cathedral at noon any day except Sunday for a history lesson and close up views of its wonderful astronomical clock. Tickets are 4€ and don’t have to be booked in advance.
Parks & Gardens
When the weather is nice, a great deal of your time in Strasbourg should be spent outside. Dining on patios? We’ll get there. But for now I’m talking green spaces, and enjoying a little serenity in the midst of a city. Not that Strasbourg is a huge city, but still, it’s nice to make use of the parks or gardens there.
The Parc de l’Orangerie is an absolute must. Perfectly manicured flower beds around the Pavilion Josephine, boat rentals on the lake and lots of resident storks (don’t forget to look up).
With plenty of benches, both in the open and in the shade, there are also lots of places to relax with a book. Which is always my favorite park-related activity.
The Botanical Gardens at the University of Strasbourg are much smaller, but really worth checking out. Wander through the greenhouses, take a peek at the tropical plants, or sit in the shade of the trees along the trails.
Food
Eating is the best part of traveling – am I right?! Don’t worry, you won’t starve in the Alsace region of France. No matter how many days in Strasbourg you opt to go for, there is enough delicious food to keep you happy.
The food in this region is different from other parts of France. German and French cuisines meld together to create some scrumptious local delicacies.
The most famous food you’ll see around Strasbourg is the FlammeKeuche (Tarte Flambée). Essentially a thin and slightly crispy flatbread with a variety of topping options. It might sound kind of basic, but you’ve got to try it at least once.
Spätzle is one of my favorite dishes here. Sort of half-way between pasta and dumplings, it’s delicious with a pasta type sauce or lashings of gooey cheese. In reality, what isn’t better with cheese? Strasbourg has lots of local stinky cheeses that will elevate any meal. A local specialty is Munster cheese.
Want a good view with your food? Try La Corde à Linge restaurant. And my favorite restaurant that I’ve been to in Strasbourg is L’Oignon (the risotto is fantastic).
Shopping
I’m as likely to buy the odd tacky souvenir as the next person, but that’s not all there is to Strasbourg. Sure you’ll be able to get your usual magnets, tea towels and t-shirts, but dig a little deeper for some really good local finds.
Your first stop? One of Strasbourg’s Christmas shops. They’re so over the top festive that you’ll be convinced it’s December even in the middle of July.
The Alsace region is famed for its Christmas markets – Strasbourg especially – so pay a visit and get some top quality decorations ready for the holiday season.
Make your way through the streets of Strasbourg to find some local artwork, artisan crafts and jewelry, and boutique clothing stores. Or stock up on some local foods to take home – some Alsace cheeses, mustards, or sweet spiced bread.
Relaxing
Not all vacations require wall-to-wall planned activities. Strasbourg is one of those places.
I enjoyed nothing more than sitting at a table of a tiny café, people watching over the rim of my cup as I sipped on a once-hot beverage – but not caring that I’d been nursing it for too long.
When asking yourself how many days in Strasbourg you actually need, I would add a relaxation day once you’ve decided on what your activities will be.
A day for lazing around, sidling from store to store, café to café, relaxing in a way the French seem to have mastered. If it works, it works, right?!
Walking around
Like any new place, the best way to get to know Strasbourg is to just walk. Walk up and down the main street, the tiny side streets, to all the hidden corners of this magical town.
The cobble-stone streets may be uneven in places, but charm and character oozes from every tiny crack in the haphazardly paved walkways. Don’t forget to look up, and down. There are little hidden gems everywhere you turn.
Even if you don’t do any of the tourist attractions in Strasbourg you can have a great visit by talking a walk – and a rest along the way and just soaking it all in.
Arguably the most beautiful part of the city, as well as the most popular, is the Petit France area bordering the converging canals. A unique part of the city to walk around, I enjoyed watching where the water flowed beneath the 16th Century buildings. There were times when I wondered if the structural integrity of such historic buildings could stand the rapid currents, but it was mesmerizing to watch.
Tips for exploring Strasbourg
With so much to do in this wonderful city, here are a few things I will pass on that might help with your planning:
- Don’t try and do it all – The city has more to do than you think, leave time for idly wandering the streets and savoring a patio or two
- Stay central – The Petite France area is lovely, booking somewhere central means you can explore earlier in the morning or later in the evening without having to travel too far
- Don’t settle for the first place to eat – Strasbourg is full of amazing restaurants so make sure to shop around before you commit. The biggest or busiest place isn’t always the best, I found some wonderful gems hidden in the smaller streets
- Buy transport tickets in bulk – Spending a few days? Either pay for 10 tickets and save €4-5 or get a 3 day pass with unlimited rides
- The city is very walkable – Transit passes are good if you want to see further away parts of the city or have difficulty walking, but the city is easy enough to get around on foot
How many days in Strasbourg should you plan?
With so much to see and do in and around Strasbourg I recommend a minimum of 3 full days. You won’t want to rush around this gorgeous city and it has a much slower pace than some busier tourist spots.
If you want to visit some of the surrounding Alsace villages like Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr I would suggest at least 5 days in the region. You can either spend them all in Strasbourg and do day trips or have a couple of nights away in these idyllic fairytale French villages.
If you really have the time, a 10-day road trip around Alsace would be the perfect way to spend your summer vacation. Taste some local wine, gorge yourself on stinky cheese, admire the beautiful French countryside and take in the history of this unique region of France.
Being less than 2-hours from Paris by train makes Strasbourg a no-brainer to visit. It looks so far from the major cities on a map, but the transport system in Europe is so good that you can get there easily enough.
I can’t wait to get back to Strasbourg very soon, hopefully for some Christmas markets. From the minute I arrived I knew I would make it here again so take my advice and don’t short change yourself on time to enjoy this very special French city.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you visited Strasbourg before? What did you think? And how many days in Strasbourg would you recommend?
Your love for Strasbourg shines throughout this post. We’ve never visited but would very much like to and this has definitely moved it further up the list. It looks absolutely charming, such a pretty place. Love that there are so many museums to explore. And you are right, eating is one of the best parts of travel, so we would love to relax in the city, exploring its culinary delights. FlammeKeuche and spätzle would be essential dishes to try. Thanks for introducing us to this lovely city.
My ideal first time stay covers usually three full days to give the new destination a chance and I feel it is also important to have one day, with a slower pace aka strolling around, taking in the architecture, visiting markets and shops or drinking coffee. These seemingly everyday life moments can really give you a feel for a place and help connect to it. I’ve never been but Strasbourg strikes me as a place that can enchant you over and over again with its historical setting, maybe similar vibes as to Bruges? One may have seen everything already, but just being present and strolling around or as you mentioned enjoying a coffee and taking in the slower pace whilst on holidays.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
Strasbourg looks absolutely magical. I have always been fascinated by the history of Alsace so a trip to the Musée Alsacien would be one of my first stops. I love the architecture and can imagine wandering the town, simply breathing it all in. I can also imagine gaining more than a few extra pounds — the food scene suits me well!
Lyn | http://www.ramblynjazz.com
I had a visit totally booked and paid for to visit Strasbourg and the surrounding area just as Covid hit and it all had to be cancelled.
I still have it on the list to get back to someday and this post reminds me of what I am missing.
Lovely pictures of the old buildings – I never tire of seeing ancient buildings and Strasbourg seem to have them in abundance.
I’m bookmarking this reread once I get a chance to rebook and visit the area.
Alright, you twisted my arm, I’ll go on a ten day road trip in the area haha. In all seriousness though, this has been a dream trip for me for years. Lazily enjoying the warm weather in small towns with delicious food and refreshing French wine! Sign me up.