Things to do in Strasbourg: top sights and where to go
Strasbourg's headline sights are the pink sandstone Gothic cathedral of Notre-Dame, with its 142-metre tower and an astronomical clock whose apostles parade every day at noon, and the Grande Île with its canals and half-timbered houses. Thirty minutes away by train lies Colmar, with its Little Venice quarter and the Unterlinden Museum. From Strasbourg Airport, a shuttle train reaches the central station in about 10 minutes.
Sights
Strasbourg travel guide
What to know before you go: neighbourhoods and where to stay, the airport and trains, weather by month, the Christmas markets, Alsatian food, costs and a trip to Colmar.
Strasbourg on your own: the essentials
- Entry
- Schengen rules; ETIAS for visa-free visitors when it starts
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - How long
- 1–2 days, +1 day for Colmar
- Best time
- May–September, and December for the markets
- Money
- Euro; contactless almost everywhere
- Airports
- Strasbourg (SXB) and Basel-Mulhouse (BSL)
- Transport
- Tram, bikes, a pedestrian centre
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Christmas markets
- Late November to late December; book early
- City tax
- Charged per person per night by your hotel
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Cathedral
- The apostles' clock show at noon
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 495Sourcei
Wikipedia, Strasbourg CathedralSourcei
Wikipedia, Strasbourg CathedralSourcei
SNCF, TER Grand EstThings to do in Strasbourg
Strasbourg's top things to do are the Gothic cathedral of Notre-Dame with its 142-metre tower and astronomical clock, and the Grande Île with its canals, the Petite France quarter, the covered bridges and half-timbered houses. Every place rated by YesGo is in the list above.
| Cathedral | Strasbourg Cathedral, Place de la Cathédrale | 1.5–2 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Petite France | Canals, half-timbering, covered bridges | 1–2 hours |
| Grande Île | Place Kléber, Place Gutenberg, Palais Rohan | 2 hours |
| Neustadt | The early-20th-century German quarter | 1 hour |
| Colmar | Colmar, Little Venice | 1 day |
You can walk the whole historic centre in a day.
Strasbourg itinerary: 1 or 2 days
With one day in Strasbourg, see the cathedral with its noon astronomical clock and viewing platform, walk Petite France and the covered bridges, and spend the evening on the squares of the Grande Île over tarte flambée. With two days, add a trip to Colmar.
- Day 1 — Strasbourg Cathedral, Petite France, the covered bridges, Place Kléber.
- Day 2 — Colmar: Little Venice and the Unterlinden Museum.
Where to stay in Strasbourg
The handiest base is the Grande Île: the cathedral, Petite France and restaurants are minutes away on foot. The station area is cheaper and good for trains to Colmar; the riverside Krutenau and Kronenbourg areas are quieter and more modern.
| Grande Île | First visit, central | Pricey in December |
|---|---|---|
| Petite France | Atmosphere, canals | Busy by day |
| Station area | Trains to Colmar | Less charming |
| Neustadt | Quiet, architecture | Further from the cathedral |
| Kronenbourg | New waterside hotels | Tram to the centre |
Strasbourg airport to the city centre
Strasbourg-Entzheim Airport (SXB) is 10 km south-west of the city. From Strasbourg airport to the city centre, the shuttle train to the central station is easiest, about 10 minutes, then a tram or a 20-minute walk to the cathedral. Many visitors fly into Basel-Mulhouse or Frankfurt and continue by train.
| Shuttle train | Airport — station | ≈ 10 min |
|---|---|---|
| Tram | Station — cathedral | ≈ 10 min |
| TER train | Strasbourg — Colmar | ≈ 30–35 min |
| TGV train | Strasbourg — Paris | ≈ 1 h 50 min |
| Taxi | Airport — centre | ≈ 20 min |
Strasbourg weather by month
Strasbourg's weather is continental: winter days are around 5 °C with frequent night frosts, and summer reaches 25–26 °C. Rain falls evenly through the year. The best time to visit Strasbourg is May–September for canal walks, and December, when the city becomes a Christmas capital of markets and lights.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 5° | 7° | 12° | 16° | 20° | 24° | 26° | 26° | 21° | 15° | 9° | 5° |
| Night | -1° | -1° | 2° | 5° | 9° | 13° | 14° | 14° | 10° | 7° | 3° | 0° |
| Rain | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: June–July and October and
- day ≈ 5°
- night ≈ -1°
- rain 9 days
Cold, few tourists.
- day ≈ 7°
- night ≈ -1°
- rain 8 days
Frosty, occasional snow.
- day ≈ 12°
- night ≈ 2°
- rain 9 days
Spring, first flowers.
- day ≈ 16°
- night ≈ 5°
- rain 9 days
Warm, gardens in bloom.
- day ≈ 20°
- night ≈ 9°
- rain 11 days
A great month for the canals.
- day ≈ 24°
- night ≈ 13°
- rain 10 days
Warm, long evenings.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 14°
- rain 10 days
Warm, boats on the Ill.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 14°
- rain 9 days
Warm, festivals.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 10°
- rain 9 days
Late-summer sweet spot, grape harvest.
- day ≈ 15°
- night ≈ 7°
- rain 9 days
Autumn on the wine route.
- day ≈ 9°
- night ≈ 3°
- rain 9 days
Markets begin.
- day ≈ 5°
- night ≈ 0°
- rain 10 days
Christmas markets.
Strasbourg's Christmas markets are among Europe's oldest: from late November to late December hundreds of stalls with mulled wine, gingerbread and decorations fill the city's squares.
Day trips from Strasbourg
Day trips from Strasbourg are easy: Colmar is 30 minutes by train, and by car you can follow the Alsace Wine Route through half-timbered villages to the foot of the Vosges.
- Colmar — Little Venice and the Isenheim Altarpiece.
- The Alsace Wine Route — Riquewihr, Eguisheim and Obernai.
What to eat in Strasbourg
Food in Strasbourg is Alsatian, hearty and close to German: tarte flambée, choucroute with sausages and baeckeoffe, with kougelhopf and Christmas gingerbread for something sweet. The best place to try it all is a winstub, a cosy Alsatian tavern, with a glass of Riesling.
- Tarte flambée — thin flatbread with crème fraîche, onion and bacon.
- Choucroute — sauerkraut with sausages and meats.
- Baeckeoffe — a meat and potato casserole in a clay pot.
- Kougelhopf — a brioche cake with raisins and almonds.
- Bredele — Christmas biscuits.
- Riesling and crémant — Alsace wines.
Strasbourg attraction prices
Free in Strasbourg: the cathedral, walks round Petite France and the Grande Île, the covered bridges and the Christmas markets. You pay for the cathedral viewing platform, the astronomical clock show, the Palais Rohan museums and boat trips on the River Ill.
| Strasbourg Cathedral | 59 | 1 h 30 min | Free; platform ticket |
|---|
Free — 1 places: Colmar.
Tips
- For the markets, book rooms months ahead.
- Arrive early for the cathedral clock at noon.
- The centre is best on foot or by bike.
FAQ
What are the top things to do in Strasbourg?
The cathedral and its astronomical clock, Petite France and the covered bridges.
How many days do you need in Strasbourg?
1–2 days, plus a day for Colmar.
How do I get from Strasbourg airport to the city centre?
By shuttle train to the station in 10 minutes, then the tram.
When are the Strasbourg Christmas markets?
From late November to late December.
What is the weather like in Strasbourg in December?
About 5 °C by day and 0 °C at night; snow is possible.
Where is the best area to stay in Strasbourg?
On the Grande Île near the cathedral.
What food is Strasbourg known for?
Tarte flambée, choucroute, baeckeoffe and kougelhopf.
How do I get from Strasbourg to Colmar?
By TER train in 30–35 minutes.
Do I need a visa for Strasbourg?
It depends on your passport; France follows Schengen rules.
When does the astronomical clock perform?
Every day at solar noon, around 12:30.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 495: Strasbourg, Grande-Île and Neustadt
- Wikipedia, Strasbourg; Strasbourg-Entzheim climate normals 1991–2020
- Strasbourg airport, SNCF and CTS websites