Alsace without a car – 20 ideas for visits and activities

1. Explore Alsace’s cities

The good news is that it is easy to get to the main towns in Alsace by train, and even to some villages. Here is a small list of my favorites:

• Strasbourg, European capital and a great city to visit!
• Colmar, the small Alsatian postcard full of charm
• Mulhouse, an old industrial city full of life with beautiful museums.
• Sélestat, rather unknown but nevertheless very pretty, which has in particular an astonishing Humanist Library.
• Obernai, a small town on the Wine Route that really deserves a visit
• Rosheim, a pretty village located on both the Wine Route and the Romanesque Route
• Barr, a charming village on the Wine Route where it is good to stroll
• Scherwiller, a village full of charm on the Wine Route, with many wash houses
• Turckheim, another beautiful village on the Wine Route
• Haguenau, a pleasant and lively little town
• Wissembourg, a city located in the north of Alsace and full of charm even though it is not the most famous corner of the region
• Saverne, a charming city away from the tourist routes, where you can admire the magnificent Château des Rohan.

2. Discover Alsace’s vineyards by train or bus

The train line from Strasbourg to Sélestat via Molsheim holds a little secret: between Molsheim and Sélestat, the train takes a much gentler pace and passes through the Alsatian vineyards! Several small towns can be visited along the way: Obernai, a must-see tourist stop on the Wine Route, but also Barr, Epfig, Dambach-la-Ville or Scherwiller.

Another option, the Kutzig bus allows you to discover some of the villages of the Alsace Wine Route located near Colmar. The bus operates on the Hop On Hop Off principle: you buy your ticket for the day and off you go for a day of sightseeing.

3. Taking in the sights at Château du Haut Koenigsbourg

The Castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg is one of the most visited sites in Alsace: it must be said that it is impressive, both inside and outside since it dominates Alsace and offers a magnificent panoramic view of the surroundings. The castle is accessible by the Navette du Haut-Koenigsbourg (line 500), which leaves from the Sélestat train station and takes about 30 minutes. Attention, it does not circulate every day.

4. Meet the animals at Monkey Mountain and the Eagles’ Volerie

The Monkey Mountain and the Eagles’ Flight House are also a must for those who visit Alsace with their family. These two parks are located really close to each other (and also close to the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle) and are really nice to visit. To reach them, you must also take the Navette du Haut Koenigsbourg (line 500), which leaves from Sélestat station and takes about 15/20 minutes. Attention, it does not circulate every day.

5. Fill up on Alsatian culture at the Ecomusée d’Alsace

Ecomuseum of Alsace is undoubtedly one of my favorite museums in Alsace: you can discover beautiful Alsatian houses as well as old trades and many animations are proposed all year long. You can easily go several times because there are so many things! To reach it, you have to take the Navette Soléa which leaves from Mulhouse station and takes about 30 minutes. Be careful, it doesn’t run every day!

6. Family fun at Parc du Petit Prince

Right next to the Alsace Ecomuseum is the The Little Prince Park, a leisure park. It is possible to connect the two on foot by a 900m path. It’s a great way to spend a day with your family! To reach it, you have to take the Navette Soléa which leaves from Mulhouse station and takes about 30 minutes. Be careful, it doesn’t run every day!

7. Cycling along the Alsace Wine Route

The Alsace Wine Route has its own bicycle route: the Vineyard cycle route allows you to enjoy the magnificent landscapes and villages of the Wine Route while pedaling, which is much more charming than riding by car!

There are several options to start: the train stations of Molsheim, Barr, Dambach-la-Ville, Obernai, Colmar or even Sélestat (from where it is easy to join the vineyard bicycle route). It’s possible, for example, to take the train to one of these stations, take a bike ride and then hop on a train at the next station for the return journey. Good news, it is possible to transport your bike for free in the trains in Alsace (except TGV), except in some trains during rush hours.

8. Discover the world of brewing at Villa Météor

The Villa Meteor is a museum located next to the famous Alsatian brewery of the same name. We discover the history of this family brewery but also the process of making beer, without forgetting at the end to taste the different beers of the brand! Villa Météor is within easy walking distance (approx. 5 minutes) of the Hochfelden train station, which is easily accessible from Strasbourg.

9. Relax at Spa Chez Julien

Why not spend a day at the Chez Julien spa? One of the most beautiful spas in the region awaits you for a day of relaxation in the heart of the Bruche Valley. Chez Julien is accessible by train from Strasbourg: just stop at Fouday station and walk 10 minutes.

10. Fun at Europa Park

Europa Park, the world-famous amusement park voted best in the world several times over, needs no introduction! The good news is that it’s located in Germany, but very easy to get to from Alsace: it’s just over the border! The easiest way to get to Europa Park is by train to Strasbourg or Sélestat, then take the Fluo Grand Est shuttle to the park.

11. Hiking around Mont Sainte Odile

The Mount Sainte-Odile (753m) is a high spiritual place in Alsace: it shelters an abbey and a convent still in activity today. The place has been a place of worship since Celtic times, and is surrounded by a wall called the “pagan wall”, which is said to be more than 3000 years old.

A path from the train station in Barr leads to the city center, where the marked route starts. The climb is done in 2h15 with a good rhythm. On the way, the Kiosk Jadelot is a nice place to have a picnic, with a great view! The route also takes in Landsberg Castle and the Pagan Wall.

12. Visit the Musée Lalique

The Musée Lalique, located in Wingen-sur-Moder, traces the history of the famous crystal maker and presents the world and creations of René Lalique and his successors. This is a beautiful museum! It is possible to reach the museum from the train station of Wingen-sur-Moder, located 2km away. It’s a 20-minute walk, or you can take a cab (which must be booked in advance, as you won’t find one on the spot).

13. Hiking in the Vosges

Train lines serve the Alsatian valleys of the Bruche, Munster and Thann. This is excellent news for hiking enthusiasts, as these lines sometimes provide access to the starting points of very beautiful hikes in the Vosges! You’ll have to look at each individual case, but to help you find your way around, here’s a map of the TER Grand Est network. In summer, don’t hesitate to take the Navette des Crêtes, a shuttle service that takes you to the Route des Crêtes by bus: it’s just too convenient!

14. Swimming at Kruth-Wildenstein lake

Looking for nature and freshness? How about a swim at Lac de Kruth in the Thann Valley? In addition to swimming, you can rent canoes or pedal boats and even go tree climbing! A train serves the station of Kruth from Mulhouse. Then, a bus serves the lake in 15 minutes. If you have a bike, you can also pedal to the lake from the station (about 20 minutes, 4km).

15. Stroll through the Parc de Wesserling

Not far from Kruth is the Park of Wesserling and its textile museum. A very pleasant visit to make with the family: the gardens of the park are beautiful and the museum interesting! A train serves the station of Husseren-Wesserling from Mulhouse. Then walk for about 10 minutes.

16. Hiking around Saverne’s castles

This hike takes place in Saverne and it is possible to discover up to 5 castles depending on your motivation! The city is crossed by the Canal de la Marne au Rhin. A signposted footpath starts at lock no. 30/31 and takes 45 to 60 minutes to reach Haut-Barr castle on foot.

These ruins overlook Saverne and offer a view of the whole of Alsace, as far as Strasbourg cathedral and the Black Forest on a clear day. A very popular walk for the locals, who usually go up to the Haut-Barr for the Sunday outing. By extending the 45-minute walk to the Brotsch Tower through a beautiful forest, the visitor will be able to discover the Petit and Grand Geroldseck. More information on the different possible walks here.

17. Treat yourself to Gertwiller, gingerbread capital

Gertwiller is a small village on the Alsace Wine Route, which is also the capital of Alsatian gingerbread! Today, you can visit two manufacturers: Maison Lips and Palais du Pain d’épices (Fortwenger brand). A fun activity to discover the secrets of delicious gingerbread and do some gourmet shopping! Both museums can be reached in 5/10 minutes on foot from Gertwiller station.

18. Understanding history at the Alsace-Moselle Memorial

The memorial of Alsace-Moselle is a museum retracing the history of Alsace and Moselle from 1870 to the post-war period, with a particular focus on the period of the Second World War (1939-1945). An extremely interesting place to discover the history of the region. It is easy to get there from Strasbourg by taking the train to the Schirmeck station, which is a 10-minute walk from the memorial.

19. Shopping at Roppenheim The Style Outlet

If you’re in the mood for shopping, in Alsace we have the Roppenheim The Style Outlet outlet center, which brings together factory outlets for top brands. The mall provides a free shuttle service from Strasbourg, but you’ll need to make a reservation in advance.

20. Bathing in the Rhine, Basel

In Basel, Switzerland, the Rhine flows through the city and is specially designed for swimming for 3 km. From June to August, the people of Basel are used to letting themselves be carried by the current of the Rhine. You need a waterproof bag called Wickelfisch, which is sold for 25 to 30 CHF at kiosks in the city. It allows you to put your things dry, while serving as a buoy, because the current can be strong.

With the Alsa+ ticket, you can take the TER to Basel SBB/CFF station (direct train from Strasbourg, 1h15). Then simply walk towards the Wettsteinbrücke, a bridge over the Rhine.

On the opposite bank, you should spot the huge Roche Tower and its 178m of stacked pizza boxes: it is after this tower that a beach allows you to go into the river. I advise to leave 300m after passing the bridge with the 6 arches. Here you’ll find refreshment stands!