Batorama – Boat trip in Strasbourg

by | Updated on 7/11/2023 | Open on sundays, Strasbourg, Various (when it rains), With kids | 0 comments

A boat trip in Strasbourg is an alternative and original way to visit the city of Strasbourg. Did you know that the city has a Grand Island, a Unesco World Heritage Site, which is home to its historic downtown? Surrounded by the Ill River (a tributary of the Rhine) and with multiple canals, Strasbourg is well suited for a boat tour with Batorama. What could be better than to admire the Alsatian capital from another angle, to realize the importance of water in the city and to savor the sweetness of life by boat?

Boat ride on the Ill and the canals

Sitting on a big river boat, we slowly go through the rivers of the city admiring the landscape. This boat trip in Strasbourg and the different thematic tours proposed by “Batorama Strasbourg” bring us to discover the city from another angle.

Choice and duration of the visit

I recommend the most complete visit (and also the most classic), which lasts 1h10 and is entitled “Strasbourg, 20 centuries of history“.

From Petite France to the European institutions

Architectural styles follow one another: from the half-timbered houses of Petite France to the modernity of the European institutions, passing by the Germanic style of the Imperial Quarter, the varied architecture of Strasbourg and its beautiful buildings is pleasant to observe from a boat. As a bonus, we pass through a lock in Petite France, which is always a fun moment during this urban navigation.

The walk allows you to have a global vision of the city and to quickly understand its organization and its different districts, witnesses of its past and present history. The audioguide provides interesting explanations on this history while being fun enough for young and old (there is a special version for children).

The cruise, a great way to discover Strasbourg!

So yes, a City tour by boat with Batorama Strasbourg is a very touristy activity, but it’s really nice and it’s in my opinion an excellent way to take your time, to relax, to enjoy the sun and the fresh air and to soak up the atmosphere of Strasbourg, along the water and to the rhythm of the lapping of the Ill. Personally, I recommend it to my friends who come to visit me (and have done so several times, discovering new things each time during the walk!)

Depending on the weather, you can choose a covered and air-conditioned boat or an open boat. Think about sunglasses 😉

Other boat activities

Boat trips and thematic tours

In addition to the classic tour of Strasbourg, Batorama regularly offers other thematic tours, but also one-way trips allowing you to move around Strasbourg by boat: the Citadel Lighthouse, the trip from the European Parliament to the cathedral, Strasbourg the European, Strasbourg the builders, Strasbourg-on-the-Sea… And even an old-fashioned Christmas cruise, a storytelling cruise during the Christmas Market!

For example, I tried the visit of the Port Autonome de Strasbourg during a 1 hour cruise called “Strasbourg on the sea”. Yes, you read that right! Strasbourg is not by the sea, of course, but by the Rhine and thus has the 2nd largest river port in France! Even the citizens of Strasbourg are sometimes unaware of the immense activity that reigns there: with 10,000 employees and goods coming from and going to all over the world, it is a real small town within the city! The visit allows you to discover this immense space and to learn more about its functioning. Really interesting to discover one of the most unknown facets of Strasbourg for visitors!

Batorama show cruises

Batorama also proposes on its “bateaux mouches” some cruises-spectacles: stand up, theaters, concerts… The program is varied! Find the program here.

Pier: where to take the boat?

The landing stage of the “bateaux mouches” of Strasbourg is located on the Place du Marché aux Poissons. It is in the heart of Strasbourg, 150m from the cathedral. Very practical!

I liked

  • See the city from the water: another point of view!
  • Observe the different architectural styles of Strasbourg
  • Possibility of taking a covered or open boat
  • Partner of the Pass Alsace

I liked less

  • Remember to buy your ticket in advance, there are often many people!

My photos of the boat tour in Strasbourg

Practical information

Rates and schedules

Only one company offers tours of the city by boat: Batorama. Schedules vary depending on the month of the year. Here you will find the rates and timetables for boat tours in Strasbourg.

Tickets can be purchased at the boat landing stage (Place du Rohan), but there are regularly busy periods when all the boats are full. To avoid this, it is possible to book Batorama tickets in advance. Click here to buy your ticket online.

Good plan, you can buy online a pack including the boat trip and the Pop Guide audioguide to visit the cathedral of Strasbourg. This last one will cost you only 2€50 instead of 4€ and is quite essential not to miss anything of the visit!

A visit to Batorama can be included in the Alsace Pass (price of 5€ in addition to the pass).

The good news is that it is possible to choose an open or covered and air-conditioned boat. Perfect in case of rain or heat wave!

Guided tours

The visit “Strasbourg, more than 20 centuries of history” lasts 1h10. This is the most common circuit. The audioguide is included in the price.

A little advice: put yourself at the front of the boat and on the side, you will have less trouble taking pictures! Otherwise, there are always heads that get in the way…

Access

The departure of the boats takes place on the Place du Marché aux Poissons (in the center of town). Stop Langstross Grand’Rue (streetcar A and D) / Broglie (streetcar B, C and F) / Corbeau (bus 10).

Laurène

Laurène

Laurène est la créatrice du blog Mon week-end en Alsace. Bretonne installée en Alsace depuis 2014, elle est tombée amoureuse de sa région d'adoption au point de lui dédier un blog et d'acheter avec son mari une maison alsacienne dans un village du Kochersberg, près de Strasbourg. A pied, à vélo, sur ses chevaux ou au volant de sa voiture, elle aime partir explorer les moindres recoins de l'Alsace pour dénicher de bonnes adresses à partager sur le blog.

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