If you’re a fan of beautiful architecture, walkable cities, and delicious food and wine, then spending even one day in Strasbourg is a dream come true.
It did not take much for the capital of the Alsace region in northeast France to charm us completely, and after our first visit, we were eager to plan another.
Part French and part German, with a dazzle of its own magic, Alsace is a region like no other, and Strasbourg is quick to show that off.
Trying to narrow it down and decide what to see in one day in Strasbourg?
Here’s what to do with 24 hours in Strasbourg (or less!).
Table of Contents
What to See in Strasbourg in One Day
Visit the Strasbourg Cathedral.
Also called Notre-Dame (not to be confused with the one in Paris), the opulent Strasbourg Cathedral is located in a central square, not far from the canals and right near the Strasbourg Tourism office.
There are a few things you need to be sure to do here!
First, check out to beautiful interior and visit the impressive astronomical clock that is on the right-hand side of the cathedral’s interior.
If you’d like to see the astronomical clock in action, come for the midday show.
After that, don’t miss the chance to climb the tower–the view of Strasbourg from the top is incredible!
While you’re nearby, be sure to spend some time wandering around the Strasbourg Cathedral Square–it is incredibly picturesque.
Take a scenic boat tour.
With only one day in Strasbourg, there’s no time to waste!
By signing up for a scenic boat tour, you’ll be able to get an overview of Strasbourg’s history, see the European Parliament, admire picturesque spots like the Barrage Vauban and covered bridges, and experience views of Strasbourg from the water (including the beautiful La Petite France), all in one fell swoop.
With limited time, it’s a great way to work through some of the best things to see in Strasbourg quickly, and also leave room in your schedule for things closer to the center of town.
Wander through La Petite France.
If you’re looking for the picturesque views of Strasbourg that you see you see on Instagram, Pinterest, and tourism adverts, head directly to La Petite France.
La Petite France is Strasbourg’s most picturesque neighborhood, home to colorful half-timbered houses that are perched right on the edge of the canals and plenty of pedestrian bridges so you can search for that perfect view.
Meandering through here is absolutely one of the best things to do in Strasbourg–even if you’re only visiting Strasbourg on a day trip, you’ll want to prioritize this area!
Taste some Alsatian wines.
Alsace is known for its wines, and they are delicious.
With only one day in Strasbourg, you won’t have time to visit the Alsace Wine Route outside of town, but luckily, plenty of vineyards offer tastings at storefronts set up in the city as well.
Prices range dramatically depending on how big of a tasting it is and what is included, so if you’re a wine buff, do some research before you arrive.
Check out the Alsatian Museum or the Historical Museum of Strasbourg.
As the capital of the Alsace region, Strasbourg has plenty of museums to choose from–but one day in Strasbourg isn’t enough time to justify spending much of it inside.
I recommend picking just one museum, though Strasbourg has more than one excellent option to choose from!
The Alsatian Museum covering life in the region in the 18th and 19th centuries (it was founded in 1902 as pushback against the Germanization of Alsace, which was then under German rule), and the Historical Museum of Strasbourg (which covers the history of the city from the 13th century to 1800) are both highly recommended.
Grab dinner in a winstub.
Winstubs are traditional Alsatian restaurants, and like Alsace itself, they feel like a cross between German and French cultures, with a little something extra thrown in.
Think of a laid-back German pub–low ceilings, exposed timber beams, low lighting, beer, comfort food like sausages and pretzels–paired with a French country kitchen.
That’s pretty much a winstub: they’re cozy, they’re relaxed, and they tend to serve incredible food.
There’s no better place to eat dinner during your one day in Strasbourg than a winstub!
Like in any city, the touristy areas are going to see higher prices and a need to do some research in advance to make a safe bet on quality–but for your one day in Strasbourg, I’d recommend eating at a well-reviewed winstub in La Petite France, where the environment is excellent and the views are lovely.
Where to Stay When Visiting Strasbourg
Budget
City Résidence Strasbourg Centre — I’ll be perfectly honest: Strasbourg, especially during peak season, is far from the most budget-friendly destination.
However, City Résidence Strasbourg Centre offers a (somewhat) budget-friendly choice with solid reviews and an easily accessible location within walking distance of La Petite France, the Strasbourg Cathedral, and plenty of Christmas markets during December.
It’s a great option for budget travelers visiting Strasbourg!
Check rates & book your stay at City Résidence Strasbourg Centre!
Mid-range
Appartements Le 32 — This is where we stayed on our most recent trip to Strasbourg, and we were completely satisfied with these suites!
Complete with a small kitchenette and located down a quiet street only a few minutes from the Strasbourg Cathedral, these apartments are perfect for mid-range travelers in Strasbourg.
The rooms were impeccably clean and customer service kind and responsive, we’d be happy to stay again.
Check rates & book your stay at Appartements Le 32!
Luxury
Hôtel Gutenberg — Featuring spacious, modern rooms, glowing reviews, and incredible views of the Strasbourg Cathedral from the hotel, Hôtel Gutenberg is the perfect place to check into in Strasbourg if you’re looking for a luxurious stay!
All of Strasbourg is at your fingertips from the Hôtel Gutenberg, making it an incredible choice for visitors to Strasbourg who don’t want to waste a single second of their time in the city getting into or out of the center.
Check rates & book your stay at Hôtel Gutenberg!
The Strasbourg City Card: Worth the Money?
While the Strasbourg City Card has changed in structure a bit since our first visit to the city, as of 2023, by following this one day in Strasbourg itinerary, you’ll at least break even with the Strasbourg City Card, and potentially save a few Euros.
For that reason, we recommend purchasing one if you’re planning to visit several sites during your day in the city (here’s a breakdown of the exact discounts you’ll receive).
With a little extra time in Strasbourg (the Strasbourg City Card is currently valid for 7 days) or a desire to knock off a little more sightseeing than what we suggest here, you can easily save even more.
Plus, as a bonus, you’ll have all your tickets sorted out ahead of time and be able to spend your one day in Strasbourg focused on enjoying and eating your way through the city!
Grab your Strasbourg City Card before you go!
More Than One Day in Strasbourg?
You definitely can’t see everything there is to see in Strasbourg in one day!
With more time, we recommend more visits to La Petite France and various winstubs, possibly biking across the pedestrian bridge to Germany (Strasbourg really is right on the border!) for the sheer novelty of it, and potentially visiting the European Parliament if you can (there are very limited sightseeing hours).
Here’s our pick for the 19 best things to do in Strasbourg.
The real beauty of more time in Strasbourg, though, is that you have more time in Alsace.
Head out on the Alsace wine route to tour some vineyards, make your way to towns like Colmar, Eguisheim, Kaysersburg, and Riquewihr for some incredible Alsatian charm, or take a bike tour in the beautiful countryside.
Please make sure that you enjoy the wine route responsibly!
If you’re a wine drinker, we recommend considering booking an organized day trip to some Alsatian villages and wineries in order to keep your trip as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
This is a time when it pays to have someone else be in charge of transportation!
Getting Around When Visiting Strasbourg
Strasbourg is quite compact, making it fairly easy to get around.
If you stay near La Petite France or the Strasbourg Cathedral Square, you likely won’t need any transportation at all while in Strasbourg.
We stayed in town for nearly a week on our first visit using only our own two feet to get around!
The exception to this was coming into Strasbourg from the train station when we took one of the many easy-to-use trams
Strasbourg’s bus and tram system makes it easy to get around the areas that are a bit further out if needed.
When to Visit Strasbourg, France
There is no bad time to visit Strasbourg (or the rest of Alsace), but there are two wildly different seasons that are the most popular for a reason.
First, you can consider a visit to Strasbourg in the spring or summer.
Strasbourg in full bloom looks absolutely magnificent, with flowers planted all throughout the parks, along canals, and on the edges of the pedestrian bridges that crisscross the city.
Sadly, we were just a few weeks too early to see the flowers bloom on our first trip in late March and early April.
Second, a Christmas trip to Strasbourg is spectacular, and we loved using it as a base for exploring the Christmas markets in the region.
Strasbourg (and Alsace in general) is known for its beautiful Christmas markets, and since the entire city looks like something that belongs in a snow globe, it’s no surprise that their Christmas markets are something special.
If you’re considering a winter trip, keep in mind that the Christmas season is peak travel season in Strasbourg: as the self-declared Capital of Christmas, the city does fill up–you’ll want to book your trip well in advance if you hope to enjoy the markets.
Read More About Visiting France
Ready to keep planning your trip to France?
We’d love to help!
You can browse our dozens of France blog posts here, or check out these guides:
- Paris in Winter: 31 Reasons to Visit (+ Winter Travel Tips!)
- Visiting Goult, The Unsung Gem of Provence’s Luberon Valley
- French Breakfast Guide: How to Enjoy Breakfast in France
- 21 Epic Places to Visit in the South of France
- The Perfect One Day in Paris Itinerary (How to See Paris in a Day!)
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Many thanks to Tourisme Alsace for providing us with two Strasbourg Passes, Tasty Trips Passes, and Alsace Passes during our time in the region. All opinions are, as always, our own.
Dinner in a winstub sounds fun guys! Mainly because of that comfy cozy environment. Right up my alley. This is one reason why I want to visit Germany soon too. The eateries seem to cozy and intimate to me, which I love. Food seems darn filling too LOL….my mom is from the Black Forest and whipped up brilliant German fare for us as kids, so I know Austrian cuisine is likely similarly tasty and satiating. Thanks guys 🙂
Ryan
The winstubs definitely felt very close to German food! They were delicious–we didn’t have a bad meal in Alsace.
Strasbourg has been on my list of must-see places for some time now. I love the idea of the tasting pass and agree with you that every city needs this! One of our favorite things to do is take food tours of the area. I feel like it gives you such an insight into the culture. Thanks for the great share!
Us, too! And the Tasty Pass is much more affordable than the usual food tour, which is a bonus. We loved it!
Strasbourg is one of the cutest towns I’ve visited in Europe and this is a great roundup of how to spend a day there, I’ll have to do some of the things I missed the first time around when I go back. I also strongly recommend visiting the historic wine cellar at the hospital, which was the highlight of my time in Strasbourg. There is a section of really old barrels you can explore and while I wasn’t able to taste any wines, the few bottles I bought blind were delicious!
Oh, that sounds amazing! Definitely adding it to the list for next time. 😀
Your photos are amazing. I’ve always meant to do to Strasbourg but it keeps escaping my list somehow. Thanks for the reminder that it is definitely, DEFINITELY, worth my time!
Hahaha I know the problem! It was between Alsace and Etretat for us on this trip, and Alsace just barely won out. 😀
This is such a beautiful city! We went during Christmas and you’re right, it was like a snow globe! I wish we could have taken advantage of the Tasty Trips Pass. Sounds perfect!
That sounds beautiful! Whenever we (eventually) do a Christmas winter trip, Strasbourg is definitely at the top of the list.
I hope Strasbourg never changes – they have done such an amazing job of preserving the city’s history and culture! I can’t wait to have the chance to visit (… and drink a beer rainbow!).
The beer rainbow was delicious (and I say that as someone who’s not a big beer fan).
What is a beer rainbow? I’m in Strasbourg and no one knows what it is. And I googled it and couldn’t find anything about it. Thank you.
It has been a few years, but reading between the lines, it’s what that particular restaurant called their beer flight–because the beers increased in color like a rainbow. 🙂
Wow, your pictures are lovely. Strasbourg looks like something out of a fairy tale. I would love to spend some time there and explore the Alsace region. Good to know about the card. I pinned for future reference.
Fairy tale is definitely right! It’s a beautiful city.
Okay. I didn’t know this place existed but I need to visit! It looks like the Beauty and the Beast movie incarnate!
That’s exactly it! The nearby town of Colmar that we also visited while in Alsace is one of a few towns rumored to be the inspiration for Belle’s town in Beauty & The Beast, so you’re spot on!
Didn’t realise that the Strasbourg is half German and the other half French. On arrival from Frankjfurt we were amazed at the beauty and many interes6ts of Strasbourg , however on returning by train from Gare du Strasbourg we were asked on the train by the ticket officer to pay 59 Euros to get back to Frankfurt as we had boughjt a rfeturn ticket Frankfurt to Strasbourg in Germany but had not realised we were in the French side of Strasbourg Petite.
South African travellers
Yikes, I’m sorry that happened! Being right on the border, I can definitely see how there might be some confusion.
Hope you enjoyed Strasbourg regardless!
Thank you ! Very romantic town !
Thanks, Ron! Hope you had a great time.
Thanks so much for the post! It really helped my husband and me decide what to do for our one full day here.
He and I both loved Strasbourg!
From a fellow Mediavine blogger!
So glad you guys enjoyed Strasbourg, and it’s always great to get to say hi to another Mediavine blogger in the “wild”!
Hope you guys had a wonderful trip. 🙂