Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace, is one of the most rewarding cities in France for a short break. It has a soaring Gothic cathedral, a canal-lined old town of half-timbered houses, excellent museums, a famous Christmas market and a food culture that blends French and German traditions. It is also a seat of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, which gives it an international, youthful feel.

This guide covers the main sights, museums, neighborhoods to stay in, where to eat and drink, and how to get there and around. For a quick verdict, see is Strasbourg worth visiting; for costs, read is Strasbourg expensive.

Strasbourg at a glance

• Location: on the Ill river near the Rhine in northeastern France, right on the German border. Kehl, in Germany, is just across the Rhine and reachable by tram.
• Distance from Paris: about 490 km by road, or under two hours by TGV.
• Population: roughly 290,000 in the city and about half a million in the wider Eurometropolis.
• UNESCO: the Grande Île (the historic island center) was listed in 1988, and the listing was extended in 2017 to include the Neustadt, the German-era district built after 1871.
• European role: home to the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, the European Ombudsman and the official seat of the European Parliament, which holds its plenary sessions here.
• Port: the Port of Strasbourg on the Rhine is one of France’s largest river ports.

A short history

Strasbourg began as the Roman camp of Argentoratum about 2,000 years ago. In the Middle Ages it became a wealthy free city of the Holy Roman Empire, and in the 1500s it was a center of the Protestant Reformation and of early printing (Gutenberg worked here before returning to Mainz). France annexed the city in 1681. After the Franco-Prussian War it became part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918, then returned to France; it was annexed again by Nazi Germany during World War II. This back-and-forth explains the mix of French and German architecture, language and cuisine you see today. Read more in what Strasbourg is famous for.

Top things to see in Strasbourg

Strasbourg Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Strasbourg)

Built from pink sandstone from the Vosges mountains, the cathedral dominates the old town. Its single spire rises to 142 meters, and from 1647 to 1874 it was the tallest building in the world, until it was overtaken by the Church of St. Nicholas in Hamburg. It remains one of the tallest churches in the world and one of the great masterpieces of Gothic architecture.

Construction ran from the late 12th century to 1439, so the building shows a transition from Romanesque in the choir and crypt to High and Late Gothic in the nave and spire. Highlights include:

• The west facade, designed largely by Master Erwin von Steinbach and his successors, covered in sculpture including scenes of Christ’s Passion.
• The south portal statues of Ecclesia and Synagoga (the Church and the Synagogue), carved around 1230. The originals are now in the Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame and copies stand on the portal.
• The stained glass, much of it dating from the 12th to 14th centuries.
• The viewing platform, reached by 332 steps, about 66 meters up. On a clear day you can see over the rooftops to the Vosges and Germany’s Black Forest.

For other great churches around the country, see our list of must-see cathedrals in France.

The astronomical clock

Inside the cathedral, the astronomical clock is one of the most famous in Europe. The current mechanism was built by Jean-Baptiste Schwilgué and completed in 1842, inside a 16th-century case. It includes a perpetual calendar, a planetary dial and indicators of the positions of the sun and moon. Every day at 12:30 pm, a procession of automata shows the apostles passing before Christ while a rooster crows. Viewing the midday show requires a ticket and usually involves queuing; check the cathedral’s current times and arrive early.

La Petite France

Petite France, at the western tip of the Grande Île, is the postcard image of Strasbourg. Fishermen, millers and tanners once worked along these canals, and their tall half-timbered houses, many from the 16th and 17th centuries, still lean over the water. Some roofs have open lofts once used for drying hides. The lanes are mostly car-free, and the area is best explored on foot, especially early in the morning or in the evening when the day-trippers have left.

The district takes its name from a hospital built here in the late 15th century to treat syphilis, then known in German as the “French disease.” Today it is full of restaurants, winstubs and small shops.

The Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban

At the edge of Petite France, the Ponts Couverts are a set of bridges guarded by three medieval towers, part of the 13th-century city fortifications. The wooden roofs that gave them their name (“covered bridges”) were removed in the 18th century, but the towers remain.

Just beyond, the Barrage Vauban is a 17th-century defensive dam designed in the time of the military engineer Vauban. It could flood the land south of the city in case of attack. The panoramic terrace on its roof is free and offers one of the best views of the Ponts Couverts with the cathedral spire behind.

Maison Kammerzell and Place de la Cathédrale

Facing the cathedral, the Maison Kammerzell is the city’s most ornate burgher’s house. Its stone ground floor dates from 1427, and the richly carved half-timbered upper floors were added in 1589, with dozens of leaded-glass windows. It is now a restaurant and small hotel. On the same square, the former Pharmacie du Cerf, in a building from 1567, housed a pharmacy for centuries and was long considered the oldest in France.

Église Saint-Thomas

Saint-Thomas is Strasbourg’s main Protestant church, sometimes called the “Protestant cathedral” of Alsace. The present building dates mainly from the 12th to 14th centuries and is a rare five-aisle hall church. Its choir holds the dramatic marble mausoleum of Marshal Maurice de Saxe by the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle. Mozart played its Silbermann organ in 1778, and Albert Schweitzer later gave organ concerts here. Check visiting hours, as services take priority.

The Neustadt and the European district

North and east of the Grande Île, the Neustadt was built during the German period with wide avenues and grand public buildings, such as the Palais du Rhin on Place de la République and the university’s Palais Universitaire. Further out, the European district holds the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights and the European Parliament. Next to it, the Parc de l’Orangerie is the city’s oldest park, a pleasant place to walk, row a boat or watch the storks.

Best museums in Strasbourg

Palais Rohan

This elegant 18th-century palace was built between 1732 and 1742 for the prince-bishops of the Rohan family, to plans by the royal architect Robert de Cotte. It now houses three museums:

• Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts): European painting from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, with works by artists such as Giotto, Botticelli, Raphael, Rubens, El Greco, Goya and Courbet.
• Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Decorative Arts): the cardinals’ state apartments, plus ceramics, silverware, clocks and furniture, including Strasbourg faience.
• Musée Archéologique: in the basement, covering Alsace from prehistory to the early Middle Ages.

Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame

Next to the cathedral, this museum displays original sculptures, stained glass and architectural drawings from the cathedral, along with Upper Rhine art from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. It is one of the finest collections of medieval art in France.

Musée Alsacien

Set in old houses on Quai Saint-Nicolas, the Alsatian Museum shows traditional rural life through furniture, costumes, toys, ceramics, religious objects and recreated interiors. It is ideal if you want to understand the region beyond its cities.

Musée Historique

Housed in a former butchers’ hall (the Grande Boucherie), the Historical Museum traces the city’s political, economic and social history, with weapons, models, paintings and everyday objects.

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMCS)

This large glass building on the Ill, near the Barrage Vauban, covers art from the late 19th century to today, with strong holdings of Gustave Doré, Jean Arp (who was born in Strasbourg), Max Ernst and Vassily Kandinsky. Its rooftop café terrace has views over Petite France.

Other museums

• Musée Tomi Ungerer: drawings and illustrations by the Strasbourg-born artist and children’s author.
• Musée Zoologique: the university’s natural history collection, which reopened after a long renovation.
• Strasbourg museum pass: the city sells passes covering its municipal museums; check current prices and opening days, as many museums close one day a week.

Ways to explore the city

• Boat tour: the river cruises on the Ill loop around the Grande Île, through the Petite France locks and out to the European district. They are an easy introduction on a first day.
• Walking tour: the tourist office and private guides run walks of the old town and themed tours, including Christmas market tours in December.
• Cycling: Strasbourg has one of France’s best cycle networks. You can rent bikes through the city’s Vélhop service or from private shops.
• Pedicab and little train: pedal taxis and a tourist train offer a relaxed way to see the main sights.

Strasbourg Christmas market

Strasbourg calls itself the “Capital of Christmas,” and its Christkindelsmärik, first recorded in 1570, is one of the oldest Christmas markets in France. Stalls fill squares across the center from late November until around Christmas, with a giant tree on Place Kléber, mulled wine, bredele cookies and decorations. It is beautiful but very crowded, especially on weekends, and hotels book up months ahead. Security checks at entrances to the Grande Île are common in this period. See our guide to the best Christmas markets in France.

Where to stay in Strasbourg

Most sights are on or near the Grande Île, so staying there or close by means you can walk almost everywhere.

• Grande Île and Cathedral area: the most central and atmospheric, ideal for a first visit.
• La Petite France: picturesque and quieter in the evening, with several historic hotels.
• Krutenau: just southeast of the island, a lively student neighborhood with bars and restaurants, often slightly cheaper.
• Train station area: convenient for arrivals and day trips, a 10 to 15 minute walk from the center.

Luxury hotels

Hôtel Cour du Corbeau (MGallery) occupies a restored 16th-century coaching inn near the river. Hôtel Le Bouclier d’Or in Petite France combines historic architecture with modern comforts and a spa. Regent Petite France & Spa is set in former mill buildings on the water, within walking distance of the museums.

Mid-range hotels

Best Western Hôtel de l’Europe is in a historic building at the edge of Petite France, a few blocks from the cathedral. The boutique Hôtel Rohan sits in the pedestrian lanes beside the cathedral, close to the boat tour departure point. Hôtel Cathédrale looks directly onto the cathedral, in a street full of restaurants and shops.

Budget-friendly hotels

Hôtel Suisse is a few steps from the Palais Rohan museums and the boat tours. Mercure Strasbourg Centre Petite France is near the bridges onto the Grande Île. Hôtel Aux Trois Roses in Krutenau is a short walk from the cathedral and surrounded by restaurants. Prices rise sharply during the Christmas market and European Parliament sessions, so check current rates and book early.

Where to eat in Strasbourg

Alsatian food is hearty and satisfying: tarte flambée (flammekueche), choucroute garnie, baeckeoffe, spätzle, munster cheese and kougelhopf. The classic place to try it is a winstub, a cozy traditional wine tavern. Our food lover’s guide to Strasbourg goes into much more detail. A few well-known addresses:

• L’Ancienne Douane: a large restaurant in the historic customs house on the Ill, serving Alsatian classics with a riverside terrace.
• Maison des Tanneurs: a former tannery from 1572 in Petite France, known for choucroute and other regional dishes.
• Au Crocodile: a historic fine-dining address near Place Kléber, one of the city’s best-known gastronomic restaurants.
• Le Buerehiesel: refined modern cooking in a half-timbered farmhouse in the Parc de l’Orangerie.
• Relais de la Poste: a gourmet restaurant in a former coaching inn in La Wantzenau, a village just north of the city.

Menus and opening days change, so check before you go and book ahead for dinner at the gastronomic restaurants.

Nightlife and culture

Strasbourg’s large student population keeps its evenings lively. Krutenau and the streets around Place du Marché Gayot and Rue des Frères near the cathedral are full of bars, beer pubs and wine bars, while Petite France is more about long dinners in winstubs. Alsace is beer country as well as wine country, so look for local craft breweries and Alsatian white wines such as Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Crémant d’Alsace.

Culturally, the city has a national theater (TNS), the Opéra national du Rhin, a philharmonic orchestra and festivals such as Musica, the contemporary music festival held in September and October. Check the tourist office’s events calendar for what is on during your visit.

How to get to Strasbourg

By train

Strasbourg’s main station (Gare de Strasbourg) is well connected. TGV high-speed trains from Paris Gare de l’Est take about 1 hour 50 minutes, and there are direct TGVs from Lyon, Marseille, Lille and Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. International trains run to Germany, Switzerland and beyond, and regional TER trains serve Colmar, Mulhouse and the Alsace wine villages. Check SNCF Connect for current timetables and fares.

By plane

Strasbourg-Entzheim Airport is about 12 km southwest of the city and has domestic and European flights. A frequent shuttle train links the airport to the central station in around 10 minutes. Larger hubs nearby include Frankfurt Airport in Germany and EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg.

By car

The A4 motorway connects Strasbourg with Paris and the west, the A35 runs south to Colmar and Mulhouse, and German motorways are just across the Rhine. The historic center is largely pedestrian and parking is expensive, so use the park-and-ride (P+R) car parks at tram stops on the edge of town.

Getting around Strasbourg

The Grande Île is compact and best explored on foot. For longer trips, the city’s modern tram network (run by CTS) covers the center, the European district, the station and Kehl in Germany, with buses filling the gaps. Buy tickets at stop machines or through the CTS app, and validate before boarding. Bikes are another excellent option thanks to the extensive cycle lanes.

Practical tips

• How long to stay: two full days cover the main sights; add a third for museums or a day trip along the Alsace Wine Route or to Colmar.
• Best time to visit: May to September for warm weather and terraces; late November to December for the Christmas market. Winters are cold and gray.
• Language: French is the main language, though you may hear Alsatian dialect and German. English is widely understood in tourist areas.
• Safety: Strasbourg is generally safe; keep an eye on your belongings in crowds, especially at the Christmas market. See is Strasbourg safe.
• Many museums close one day a week, so check opening days before planning.

Summary

Strasbourg is an easy city to love: a Gothic cathedral with a world-famous clock, the canals and half-timbered houses of Petite France, strong museums, an influential European role and some of France’s most comforting food. Base yourself on or near the Grande Île, give it two or three days, and consider visiting in December if you do not mind crowds. Combine it with Colmar and the Alsace wine villages for a memorable trip to eastern France.