# 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. Web page: https://yesgo.io/france/strasbourg ## All 2 places with the YesGo score - [Strasbourg Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/france/strasbourg/strasbourg-cathedral.md): YesGo score 59/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Free; platform ticket. Strasbourg's Cathedral of Notre-Dame is a Gothic masterpiece carved from pink Vosges sandstone. Its single openwork tower rises 142… - [Colmar](https://yesgo.io/france/strasbourg/colmar.md): YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 5 h · Free. Colmar is Alsace's most fairy-tale town, 30 minutes by train from Strasbourg. Its old centre is a picture of colourful half-timbered… ## 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. ## Trip essentials - How long: 1–2 days, +1 day for Colmar - Best time: May–September, and December for the markets - Entry: Schengen rules; ETIAS for visa-free visitors when it starts - Money: Euro; contactless almost everywhere - Airports: Strasbourg (SXB) and Basel-Mulhouse (BSL) - Transport: Tram, bikes, a pedestrian centre - Christmas markets: Late November to late December; book early - City tax: Charged per person per night by your hotel - Cathedral: The apostles' clock show at noon - Time zone: CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer ## Key facts - **1988** — the Grande Île joined the UNESCO list (source: UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 495) - **142 m** — height of Strasbourg Cathedral's tower (source: Wikipedia, Strasbourg Cathedral) - **227 years** — the cathedral was the world's tallest building (source: Wikipedia, Strasbourg Cathedral) - **30 min** — by train to Colmar (source: SNCF, TER Grand Est) ## Things 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. | Area | What to see | Time | | --- | --- | --- | | **Cathedral** | [Strasbourg Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/france/strasbourg/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](https://yesgo.io/france/strasbourg/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. | Area | Best for | Bear in mind | | --- | --- | --- | | **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. | How | From — to | Time | | --- | --- | --- | | **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. - **January in Strasbourg**: day ≈ 5°C, night ≈ -1°C, rainy days: 9. Cold, few tourists. - **February in Strasbourg**: day ≈ 7°C, night ≈ -1°C, rainy days: 8. Frosty, occasional snow. - **March in Strasbourg**: day ≈ 12°C, night ≈ 2°C, rainy days: 9. Spring, first flowers. - **April in Strasbourg**: day ≈ 16°C, night ≈ 5°C, rainy days: 9. Warm, gardens in bloom. - **May in Strasbourg**: day ≈ 20°C, night ≈ 9°C, rainy days: 11. A great month for the canals. - **June in Strasbourg** (best time): day ≈ 24°C, night ≈ 13°C, rainy days: 10. Warm, long evenings. - **July in Strasbourg** (best time): day ≈ 26°C, night ≈ 14°C, rainy days: 10. Warm, boats on the Ill. - **August in Strasbourg**: day ≈ 26°C, night ≈ 14°C, rainy days: 9. Warm, festivals. - **September in Strasbourg**: day ≈ 21°C, night ≈ 10°C, rainy days: 9. Late-summer sweet spot, grape harvest. - **October in Strasbourg** (best time): day ≈ 15°C, night ≈ 7°C, rainy days: 9. Autumn on the wine route. - **November in Strasbourg**: day ≈ 9°C, night ≈ 3°C, rainy days: 9. Markets begin. - **December in Strasbourg**: day ≈ 5°C, night ≈ 0°C, rainy days: 10. 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](https://yesgo.io/france/strasbourg/strasbourg-cathedral) — Free; platform ticket - [Colmar](https://yesgo.io/france/strasbourg/colmar) — Free ## 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. ## Questions ### 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 - 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 Facts checked: 12.11.2026 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.