25 ideas for visiting Mulhouse and the surrounding area

1. Discover Mulhouse’s historic city center on foot

Mulhouse’s historic center is full of charm. Don’t expect to find any typical Alsatian half-timbered houses – there aren’t any here – but the architecture of the city center is no less interesting. I’m particularly fond of the Place de la Réunion and its incredible Hôtel de Ville, as well as the city’s many painted walls, a unique feature of Mulhouse.

Take the time to stroll through the narrow streets starting from the Place de la Réunion, it’s really quite cute! Along the way, you’ll also see the Tour de l’Europe, which I personally don’t find very beautiful, but which has really become an emblem of Mulhouse.

2. Visit Mulhouse’s museums

Mulhouse is well known for its numerous museums of quality. A must-see is the Musée National de l’Automobile. (to plunge into the history of the automobile and discover the largest collection of cars in the world!), the Cité du Train (Europe’s largest railway museum) and the Musée d’Impression sur Etoffes. As well as these must-sees, there are many other interesting attractions, such as Electropolis and the Musée du Papier Peint.

3. Discover Mulhouse with a greeter

Have you heard of greeters? Greeters are a network of local volunteers who offer to show you around the city. Visits are offered on a variety of themes, depending on the specific needs of each visitor. The network of greeters in Mulhouse is highly developed. It’s a great way to discover the city through the eyes of one of its residents!

4. Take a walk on the theme of street art

Street art is present absolutely everywhere in Mulhouse (even on road signs!), and you’ll quickly realize this as you stroll through the city. You can choose to discover the works of street art as you stroll through the streets, but also during a visit with a greeter or by taking a street art circuit set up by theMulhouse Tourist Office. It’s up to you, but a visit to the M.U.R, Quai des Pêcheurs and Graffitipolis is a must!

5. Stroll through the Mulhouse Market

The market of the covered canal of Mulhouse which takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, is one of the largest markets in eastern France. It is true that it is huge and the cosmopolitan atmosphere is guaranteed! It is really nice to do your shopping but also to have lunch, there is a lot of choice.

6. Strolling through Mulhouse’s Cité Ouvrière

Not far from the market, it’s pleasant to discover Mulhouse’s old Cité Ouvrière: small, well-lined streets with houses and small gardens, built at the time to give the city’s workers access to property ownership. It’s full of charm, very quiet and green: you’d almost think you’d left the city! Visit the streets around Passage des Alouettes (yes, the names are charming too!). Just be careful to respect the peace and quiet of the locals!

7. Visit Mulhouse Zoological and Botanical Park

This is a must-see if you’re visiting Mulhouse with the family, but not only. Mulhouse boasts a magnificent park that is both interesting for its zoo and its plant species.

8. Taking in the view from Belvedere

The Belvedere is a metal tower located close to the Mulhouse Zooon the heights of the Rebberg, one of the city’s chic districts. From its summit, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Mulhouse and its surroundings.

9. Take a gourmet break

Mulhouse is home to numerous cafés, tearooms and gourmet patisseries. Here are some of my favorites:

• Le temps d’une pause – One of my favorite places, where I go every time I visit Mulhouse! It’s cosy inside, there’s a terrace and good teas and cakes.
• Tilvist – Also a great place to have a cup of tea, eat a delicious piece of cake and even have lunch! I love the atmosphere and the terrace is great too.
• Café Mozart – An emblematic café located on the Place de la Réunion. Very fine pastries and very pleasant terrace.
• Vanilla Café – Another top terrace where it is good to settle.
• Dany Husser Pastry Shop – An excellent pastry shop located in the Engelmann House, a very nice place.
• Cabosse – If you like good chocolate, this is the place to be!

10. Take part in an art workshop at Motoco

Motoco is a place of artistic creation located in the industrial wasteland of the DMC factory. The place hosts 140 artists in residence and also organizes regular events. It is not possible to visit the places freely outside of these, but it is possible to participate in visits + workshops with some artists by purchasing a“Motoco Box“. Contact the Tourist Office for more information.

11. Visit a Japanese garden

Mulhouse is home to an incredible Japanese garden, open to visitors upon reservation… What to travel far while remaining in Alsace!

12. Rent an electric boat

In July and August, you can rent a small electric boat without a license and take a trip on the Rhone-Rhine canal. A fun little trip for the whole family!

13. Go for a drink in a bar

There are lots of nice bars in Mulhouse (click for our best addresses), where you can try Bollwerk, a beer brewed by the Gambrinus bar. I also really like NoMadlocated outside the city center in the Fonderie district, in a former industrial wasteland, and which boasts a magnificent terrace!

14. Discover the Mulhouse Christmas Market

At the end of the year, Mulhouse’s Christmas market is not to be missed! Less well known than markets like Strasbourg and Colmar, it’s nonetheless magnificent and very popular with locals, giving it an authentic, friendly atmosphere.

15. Immerse yourself in Alsatian culture at the Ecomuseum

L’Ecomusée d’Alsace is a museum dedicated to the Alsatian culture and which is interesting for young and old. It is located in Ungersheim, near Mulhouse. It would be a shame not to take advantage of your visit to Mulhouse to discover it, it’s a great visit to make with your family!

16. Family fun at Parc du petit Prince

Right next to the Ecomuseum, still in Ungersheim, is the Parc du Petit Prince. This is a family theme park based on the Little Prince. A variety of rides and hot-air balloons await children.

17. Cycling

If you like cycling, it’s easy to find a number of great rides, some to discover the town and others to explore the surrounding area. For example, you can ride along the canal and into the Hardt forest for easy rides, discover the the Trois Frontières region, the Sundgau or the Thur Valley for longer loops. There’s plenty to choose from, and many cycle paths await you!

18. Grab a slice of pie at Illfurth’s guinguette

If you like homemade pies and the guinguette atmosphere, I can only advise you to go to the guinguette of Illfurth, located on the banks of the Rhone-Rhine Canal, 10 km from Mulhouse. Count on 30 minutes by bike, the ride being very pleasant since it is enough to follow the canal!

19. Visit Ottmarsheim church

Ottmarsheim is a village located at 15km from Mulhouse and which has a Romanesque church which is worth the detour: the abbey church Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul of Ottmarsheim, famous for its astonishing octagonal plan inspired of the chapel of Aix-la-Chapelle

20. Explore the Sundgau

South of Mulhouse lies the Sundgau, a particularly pretty corner of Alsace, with its hills and pretty villages… And restaurants serving fried carp, a local specialty. What’s more, you’ll be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of this region, which is not very touristy but is well worth a visit! If you like cycling, it’s also a great place to do it.

21. Discover the Potash Route

The area around Mulhouse is home to a number of former potash mines. You can discover this part of Alsace’s history by visiting the sites on the Potash Route. I particularly recommend visits with former miners, such as at Carreau Rodolphe, which are truly fascinating!

22. Walking in the Vosges

The Vosges mountains are within easy reach of Mulhouse. If you like hiking, don’t hesitate to discover the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park.

23. Walking in the Parc de Wesserling

Parc de Wesserling is located in the Thur valley, 30km from Mulhouse. It’s one of the locals’ favorite places for a family outing, with a magnificent park and themes that vary from year to year. It’s well worth a visit in fine weather, but also at Christmas time.

24. Basel, Switzerland

Mulhouse is not far from the Swiss border: it takes just 20 minutes by train to reach the charming city of Basel. So it’s easy to make the most of your stay in Mulhouse by taking a trip there: the city is magnificent, and in summer you can even swim in the Rhine!

25. Sleep in comfortable accommodation

Do not hesitate to consult my article on the best hotels in Mulhouse. Otherwise, here are two different-style accommodations I can recommend:

• L’Hotel Mulhouse Centre is ideally located in the city center, with a magnificent decoration, comfortable rooms and a good breakfast… A great value for money!
• The camping de l’Ill for its unusual accommodation. For example, you can sleep in a cabin worthy of a leprechaun’s house!