What to do in Strasbourg with your family? Our 11 activity ideas

1. Take part in a guided tour for children

Strasbourg has a rich history and architecture, with many interesting details hidden all over the city. Some tour guides offer special guided tours for childrenthat blend fun and adventure. Take Élodie, for example, who offers “Tell Me About Strasbourg If You Can” or “The Cathedral’s Facades Explained to Kids.” It’s a wonderful way to discover Strasbourg’s history!

Departing from the Tourist Office and accompanied by Michel, her big Alsatian hamster, she takes the children on a journey to discover the history of the cathedral and its incredible statues which will amuse them a lot or the invention of printing with the passage of Gutenberg. My daughter really enjoyed the legends and the beautifully told anecdotes. Find here the program of guided tours proposed by the Tourist Office.

2. Have fun discovering the city with Familicitirali

Discover Strasbourg as a family, freely and with fun? It is possible with the Familicitirali treasure hunt that you can either download here or pick up for free at the Tourist Office.

From the cathedral square to the old customs house, the route takes you to some of the most important places in the city center, including the Place du Château, the Rue du Maroquin and the Pont du Corbeau. At each step, your child will have some explanations and stories to read and will have to answer questions. The visit is very fun, playful and free.

If you know a little about the city and like to tell stories to your children, you can also give them your own tour. For example, I had fun doing this one day with my daughter by taking her to discover the cathedral with fun details for children.

3. Take a boat trip, a must!

There’s nothing more magical for kids than exploring the city of Strasbourg by boat. Riverboat cruises are always a hit with my daughter and her friends when they visit. I have to say that the company Batorama offers a tour perfectly suited for children, with engaging and entertaining commentary that helps them discover Strasbourg’s history in a fun way. At Christmas, there’s even a special cruise featuring stories about lost elves. The good news is that this activity can still take place even if it rains, since Batorama offers covered boats.

If your child has the soul of a young sailor, I invite you to try out Captain Bretzel’s little electric boats. You can choose between a fun kids’ boat (police, firefighter, cruise ship, or trawler) where your child can take the helm and cruise gently near Le Vaisseau, or a 5- to 10-passenger boat that you can pilot for a slightly longer cruise with family or friends.

4. Playing in Strasbourg’s museums

Who said museums were boring and not suitable for children? The museums in Strasbourg offer many fun activities for the little ones with games, routes and treasure hunts.

I recommend you to discover the beautiful museum of the Œuvre Notre-Dame through the game “La galerie des discrets” that you can get for free at the reception. For more than an hour, your child will have to investigate to find 11 characters hidden in the museum’s collections. The booklet specifies the room and gives you a little riddle to help you find it. And what happens at the end? Surprise!

5. Walk in the Parc de l’Orangerie

The Orangery is the must-see park in Strasbourg, whatever your age. For children, it is particularly magical with a multitude of activities in a beautiful setting. I particularly remember the boat rides and the antique carousel when I was a kid. Now my daughter is enjoying it to my great pleasure.

The Orangery is also the best place in Strasbourg to see storks thanks to the reintroduction center. The large white bird, emblematic of Alsace, often flies over the park and lands in one of the many nests in the trees or on the Josephine pavilion.

My daughter also likes to go to the games a lot. There are 3 areas in the park: 1 for the little ones, 1 with wooden games and 1 with metal structures. Otherwise, a corner of the lawn is particularly suitable for a game of badminton or Mölkky. Finally, the book shack at the Richter Street entrance to the park offers a nice selection of self-service books for both children and parents. And if you want to try out other parks, here are our favorite Strasbourg parks.

6. Go to the beach on the Docks

During the summer, the docks of the Presqu’île Malraux are transformed into a beach and a nautical base. I love going there to spend a relaxing moment on a deckchair while my daughter plays in the sand or cools off with her friends under the giant misting machine. Everything is provided free of charge!

There are also free activities for children from 3 to 8 years old or for older children like paddle, pedal boat or kayak. In short, there is enough to spend a pleasant afternoon with your family and enjoy the coolness of the pool.

7. Stargazing at the Planetarium

Children are often fascinated by the stars. While a real trip to space may not be on the agenda just yet, they can still discover the secrets of the starry sky at the Planetarium. Several shows for children are featured on the dome’s big screen. Budding young astronomers quickly get into the spirit of things as they answer the host’s questions, search for stars, and discover the constellations and planets of the solar system.

8. Fun and learning at Le Vaisseau

Le Vaisseau is the must-visit science discovery center for kids—a sort of Strasbourg version of the Cité des Sciences. I won’t lie—it’s practically become an extension of our home, that’s how much my daughter loves going there (thank goodness for the membership!).

In fact, there is never a dull moment. Children discover the human body, a beehive or an ant farm, electricity or water. They can build a house, an igloo or a bridge, go on a journey in the dark or in a wheelchair, learn about shapes or animals.

In addition, there are often animations proposed for the children during the school vacations. Another interesting point is that the Vessel is the ideal activity when it rains, but also when it is very hot outside because the building is air-conditioned. Otherwise, the park is also very pleasant.

9. Play board games as a family

Are you a player? My daughter is. We enjoy playing board games as a family. But sometimes, we also want to go out or discover other games without buying any. For this, game bars are perfect.

Near Place des Halles, the Philibar is the perfect place to enjoy some quality family time, whether playing Uno or a role-playing game, with a beer or coffee for the parents and apple juice for the kids. Even the little ones have a place here, with a box of games just for them.

10. Go for a bike ride

In the cycling capital, a family bike ride is a must and particularly enjoyable. The numerous bicycle paths and the very flat terrain are perfectly suited for children. However, it remains to find a nice route. I recommend you to start from the Pourtalès park in La Robertsau (parking for car if needed) and to take a part of the “piste des forts“ to La Wantzenau (about 7 kms). You will find yourself in a rather incredible nature, quiet and safe.

There are some pretty fun places to stop with the kids. For example, you can go and say hello to the Highland Cattle, those red Scottish cows with their big curly fringe. There is also a small bird observatory where you will probably encounter ladybugs. Finally, this Rhine forest is full of small ponds, often bordered by pretty fishermen’s huts.

11. Go and see the animals

Children really enjoy learning about animals. While there isn’t a zoo in Strasbourg, there are several great places to see animals that are well cared for or in their natural habitats. At Friedel Park in Illkirch, the animals live in semi-freedom in a large 2-hectare park along the Ill River. Admission is free. You’ll come across donkeys, cows, and even goats that will come sit on the bench right next to you.

In Wolfisheim, a former Prussian fort (Fort Kleber) has been converted into a park with a playground on one side and a mini-farm on the other. Children can accompany the volunteers to feed the animals.

Finally, on theRohrschollen island, a fish pass has been built next to the hydraulic plant to allow migratory fish to swim up the Rhine. Two panoramic windows are freely accessible to watch the salmon go by.