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

My Thoughts on Family Outings in Strasbourg

Playing and Having Fun in the City

A guided tour just for them

Strasbourg boasts a rich history and architecture, with many fun details hidden all over the city. Some tour guides offer special guided tours for children that combine play 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!

Starting from the Tourist Office and accompanied by Michel, her large stuffed Alsatian hamster, she takes the children on a journey to discover the history of the cathedral and its incredible statues—which they’ll find very entertaining—or the invention of the printing press with a stop at Gutenberg’s site. My daughter really enjoyed the legends and anecdotes, which were beautifully told. Find the schedule of guided tours offered by the Tourist Office here.

🎈 Local tip: If possible, book outside of the major school breaks—the best time slots with the guide fill up quickly during peak season.

The Familicitirali Scavenger Hunt: Free and Self-Guided

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.

Starting at the Cathedral Square and ending at the old customs house, the tour takes you to some of the city center’s must-see spots, including the Place du Château, Rue du Maroquin, and the Pont du Corbeau. At each stop, your child will find explanations and fun facts to read and will need to answer some questions. The tour is lots of fun, interactive, 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.

🗺️ Local tip: Stop by the Tourist Office first to pick up the free booklet.

Philibar, the family game bar

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.

Museums and Science—Without Getting Bored

Museums Turned into Scavenger Hunts

Who says museums are boring and not kid-friendly? Strasbourg’s museums offer plenty of fun activities for kids, including games, interactive tours, and scavenger hunts.

In particular, I recommend exploring the lovely Œuvre Notre-Dame Museum through the game “La galerie des discrets,” which you can pick up for free at the reception desk:

• 🕵️ The idea: investigate to find 11 characters hidden in the museum’s collections
• ⏱️ Duration: over 1 hour of gameplay
• 📖 The booklet indicates the room and provides a short riddle at each stop
• 🎁 A surprise awaits the investigators at the end!

🕵️ Local tip: Ask for the game booklet directly at the front desk—it isn’t always prominently displayed.

The Planetarium: Head in the Stars

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.

🌌 Local tip: There aren’t always many showtimes throughout the day, so it’s best to check the schedule before heading out.

Le Vaisseau, a Family-Friendly Science Center

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.

🎟️ Local tip: Ask at the front desk about current activities—they change regularly throughout the school holidays.

From the water, the best view of Strasbourg

A riverboat cruise—a must-do

There’s nothing more magical for kids than exploring the city of Strasbourg by boat. The riverboat cruises are always a hit with my daughter and her visiting friends. It’s worth noting that 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.

🚤 Local tip: In the summer, it’s better to make a reservation in advance rather than try your luck when you get there.

The Pop-Up Beach at the Docks Malraux

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.

🏖️ Local tip: Come in the morning to enjoy the sand and lounge chairs before the afternoon crowds arrive.

Nature, Biking, and Animals

A Royal Stroll Through 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 really enjoys playing on the playground equipment. There are three play areas in the park: one for toddlers, one with wooden play structures, and one with metal play structures. There’s also a grassy area that’s perfect for a game of badminton or Mölkky. Finally, the book hut at the park entrance on Richter Street offers a great selection of self-service books for both children and parents. And if you’d like to check out other parks, here are our favorite parks in Strasbourg.

🦢 Local tip: Keep an eye out for nests high up—that’s often where storks land.

A bike ride to La Wantzenau

In the cycling capital, a family bike ride is a must and a particularly enjoyable experience. The numerous bike paths and the very flat terrain are perfect for children. The challenge, however, is finding a fun route. My favorite route:

• 🚲 Starting point: Pourtalès Park in Robertsau (car parking available if needed)
• 🛤️ Route: a section of the Forts Trail to La Wantzenau (about 7 km)
• 🌳 Atmosphere: truly incredible natural surroundings, peaceful and safe

Along the way, a few fun stops: the Highland Cattle—those red Scottish cows with their thick, curly manes—a small bird-watching spot where you’ll likely spot ladybugs, and this Rhine forest full of small ponds, often lined with charming fishermen’s huts.

🚲 Local tip: Try to go on a weekday or early in the morning on the weekend to enjoy the quiet bike path toward La Wantzenau.

Getting Up Close with 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:

• 🐐 Friedel Park in Illkirch: animals roaming freely in a large 2-hectare park along the Ill River; free admission. You’ll come across donkeys, cows, and even goats that will come sit on the bench next to you
• 🐷 Fort Kléber in Wolfisheim: This former Prussian fort has been converted into a park with a playground on one side and a petting zoo on the other. Children can join the volunteers to feed the animals.
• 🐟 Rohrschollen Island: A fish passage has been built next to the hydroelectric plant to allow migratory fish to swim upstream along the Rhine. Two panoramic glass windows are open to the public for viewing the salmon as they pass by.

🐐 Local tip: At Fort Kléber, feeding usually takes place around 5:30 p.m. on weekdays (10:30 a.m. on Saturdays) when volunteers are present—check on site, as these times are not guaranteed.

What You Need to Know for a Family Trip to Strasbourg

• Strasbourg effortlessly combines culture, nature, and entertainment for all ages and budgets
• Several must-see attractions are free: Familicitirali, Parc de l’Orangerie, Parc Friedel, and Docks Malraux in the summer
• Be sure to book Batorama and Le Vaisseau in advance during peak season

Want to extend your stay? Check out our guide, “Visiting Alsace with the Family—20 Activities.”

Practical Information and Directions

Recommended duration: 1 day for the must-see attractions, 2 to 3 days to see everything.

Cost: Free to €€ depending on the activities chosen.

Best time to visit: spring and summer for the Docks Malraux and cycling; year-round for the museums, the Vaisseau, and the Planetarium.

By bike: Strasbourg is France’s cycling capital, with a network of safe bike paths that are ideal for getting to the Orangerie or La Wantzenau.

By public transportation: The CTS tram network is well-developed, and most of the attractions listed are within walking distance or a short tram ride from downtown.

By car: Park-and-ride (P+R) facilities on the outskirts allow you to avoid the pedestrianized city center; driving remains the most convenient way to reach Illkirch (Friedel Park) or Wolfisheim (Fort Kléber).

Your Questions About Family Activities in Strasbourg