Visit Strasbourg in 1 day – My must-sees

My ideal day trip to Strasbourg

Morning program

Here’s a schedule for a one-day visit to Strasbourg. I’ve put together my ideal program for you, the one I always recommend to my friends who only have a day in the European capital and therefore want to make the most of it to discover the city’s must-sees… while still allowing themselves some gourmet breaks!

Gourmet breakfast

If you haven’t had breakfast at your hotel, how about starting the day with a (first) gourmet address? Here’s a selection of our favorite cafés in Strasbourg: some open early, so you can start with a gourmet breakfast. Yummy!

Fly boat trip

That’s it, your belly is full? To digest, we follow up with the must-do of a visit to Strasbourg: a trip on a fly boat. Don’t worry, it’s certainly a tourist activity, but one that I personally recommend to all my friends visiting Strasbourg! What’s more, you can do it whatever the weather, as there are covered and uncovered boats.

The tour with Batorama allows you to discover Strasbourg along the water, and offers some really interesting explanations: it’s ideal for a first approach to the Alsatian capital, from the point of view of its geography, history and architecture! A superb 1h10, especially as the boat will even take you to see the European Parliament. Find out more about the fly boat trip here.

Visit Strasbourg Cathedral

For the second activity of the morning, we head for another must-see: Strasbourg’s Notre-Dame Cathedral, a Gothic cathedral built of pink Vosges sandstone. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from the Batorama landing stage at Place du Marché aux Poissons.

First, take the time to stroll around Place de la Cathédrale and admire the view of the cathedral from Rue Mercière and the junction with Rue des Hallebardes. These are the two most beautiful views of the cathedral in my opinion! You’ll be able to take some great photos.

Next, I recommend climbing the platform of Strasbourg Cathedral. 332 steps await you, but the panoramic view of Strasbourg from the platform is a great reward!

Finally, of course, it’s time toenter the cathedral. If you can, I advise you to arrive by 12 noon to be able to see the film and the presentation of the astronomical clock. Please note that the ticket must be purchased in addition (access to the cathedral is free, but access to the clock presentation is subject to a charge). Find all the practical information you need to visit Strasbourg Cathedral in my dedicated article.

Lunch: tarte flambée on the menu!

There’s no shortage of Alsatian specialities to try, and Strasbourg is brimming with good gourmet addresses. For lunch, I tend to recommend you try one of the region’s emblematic dishes, tarte flambée (or flammekueche, but don’t try to pronounce it, it’s better to say tarte flambée or flam so as not to hurt Alsatians’ ears :-P).

Although tarte flambée is traditionally eaten in the evening, I find that it’s a perfect lunchtime dish, less heavy than other typical regional dishes. This will give you plenty of energy to continue your day of sightseeing in Strasbourg! Here are my top addresses for flam in Strasbourg:

• Brasserie du Tigre
• Le Meteor
• Les Chauvins
• La Binchstub (2 addresses in Strasbourg)
• Mama Bubbele (with lots of vegan options and gluten-free tartes flambées!)
• La Fignette (with plenty of options for vegetarians too)

Afternoon program

Stroll through Petite France and climb the Vauban Dam

Petite France is undoubtedly the most popular historic district in Alsace, and one of the most enchanting!

With its canals, picturesque locks, many typical half-timbered houses adorned with flowers, cobbled streets and bridges, it’s simply impossible not to succumb to the charm of this emblematic Strasbourg district. It’s the perfect place for a peaceful stroll along the water. Maison des Tanneurs, old ice houses, Pont du Faisan… See our article dedicated to visiting Petite France to discover its must-see places.

I’d also recommend climbing the Vauban dam: it’s very easy and a lovely panorama of the city awaits you! See Strasbourg’s covered bridges, canals and cathedral. This spot is particularly nice at sunset… Feel free to bring your own appetizers!

Strolling on the Grande Ile

The in the heart of downtown Strasbourg is located on an island, surrounded by the Ill, the local river, and bears the name of the Big Island (yes, that’s a lot of islands :-P) This is where you’ll find Strasbourg cathedral, the Palais Rohan and Petite France, for example, but it would be a pity not to go further by on the Grande Île. Strasbourg can be visited on foot, so make the most of it!

Strasbourg’s Grande Île is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional architecture. As you explore this historic district, which is mostly pedestrianized, you’ll quickly realize just how beautiful the city is, with its many historic monuments and charming typical houses.

Don’t miss out on any of the must-see attractions on the Grande Île:

• Petite France, of course
• the Grande Rue, one of the city’s main shopping streets
• Place Broglie with the Opéra national du Rhin and Place Kléber with Aubette
• Place Gutenberg, Rue des Tonneliers and Place des Tripiers
• the Goldsmiths district around the rue des Orfèvres (with a stop to admire the Maison Kammerzell, Strasbourg’s oldest)
• the Palais Rohan, next to the cathedral, which houses several of Strasbourg’s museums
• Place du Marché Gayot (PMG for its friends, always lively) and Place Saint-Etienne
• the quai des bateliers and its barges

Don’t worry, the list seems long, but it’s all easily done on foot.

Take a snack break in one of Strasbourg’s cafés

It would be a shame not to enjoy a little gourmet break during the day, wouldn’t it? We’re fortunate to have a number of excellent cafés and tearooms in Strasbourg. Whether you prefer tea or coffee, traditional or more refined pastries, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for for a rejuvenating snack break.

Discover Strasbourg’s Neustadt

Here’s an area of the European capital that’s a little less touristy, but nonetheless very interesting too. The Neustadt, also known as the German Quarter or Imperial Quarter, dates back to Strasbourg’s German period in the 19th century. Like the Grande Île, the Neustadt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At the very least, go and admire the Place de la République with (among other things) the magnificent Palais du Rhin and, if you still have a little energy left to continue wandering around, don’t hesitate to check out our article on Strasbourg’s Neustadt with our tour itinerary.

Evening outings

Enjoy Alsatian specialities in a winstub

Ah, Alsatian gastronomy… It’s quite heavy and roborative, I must admit, but also good and very comforting! For dinner, I recommend a visit to a winstub (a traditional restaurant) to sample some Alsatian specialities. Sauerkraut, baeckeoffe, braised ham hock, spaetzle, bibeleskäse, pretzel… The hardest part will be choosing 😉 Here’s a selection of Strasbourg’s best winstubs (or at least my favorites!).

A drink to end your day in Strasbourg on a high note

Strasbourg has many great bars. It’s up to you to choose according to your preferences:

• Beer lover? Here are our favorite beer bars in Strasbourg.
• Wine lover? I recommend Black & Wine, the wine bar on the top floor of the Hannong Hotel.
• Cocktail lover? Here are our favorite cocktail bars.

Additional tour ideas to suit your tastes

Do you have a little more time or specific desires? Here are a few more ideas:

• Looking for more ideas? Discover here my Top 35 things to do in Strasbourg
• If you like museums, we have many interesting museums in Strasbourg.I recommend the Musée alsacien and the Musée historique de la ville de Strasbourg if you’re interested in Alsatian history and culture, but also the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Musée d’art moderne et contemporain or the Musée Tomi Ungerer if you prefer art.
• To find out more about the European Union, visit the European Parliament and the Place d’Europe. Yes, Strasbourg is a European capital!
• If you’re in the mood for an unusual visit, check out this article dedicated to unusual activities in Strasbourg.
• If you feel like crossing a border, go over to the German side! Strasbourg’s geographical position makes it easy: only the Rhine separates the city from Germany. Nearby Kehl can be reached by streetcar, on foot or by bike. The great classic is to go for an ice cream in summer!
• If you like wine, visit the Cave des Hospices de Strasbourg, a historic and rather unusual cellar.
• If you’re in the mood for greenery, head for Parc de l’Orangerie or Parc du Contades.
• If you’re visiting Strasbourg as a couple, here are some ideas for things to do together.
• If you’re visiting Strasbourg as a family, here’s an article with ideas for child-friendly tours.
• If you come during the Christmas season, don’t miss the huge Christmas tree and the famous Strasbourg Christmas market.

Practical information

Where to stay in Strasbourg?

If you’re looking for accommodation, I’ve put together an article with my favorite hotels in Strasbourg. Camping in Strasbourg is also a good option.

Where to eat in Strasbourg?

Here’s an article with my favorite restaurants in Strasbourg to enjoy Alsatian and French gastronomy.

Getting around Strasbourg

Small and flat, Strasbourg is a city that can easily be visited on foot, which is clearly what I recommend you do if you can. In my opinion, this is the best way to enjoy the city!

If the walking tour proves a little too tiring for you, you can complete the walk by taking the streetcar: attractive day tickets are available.

Another option is to rent a bike! This is probably the best way to put yourself in the shoes of a Strasbourgeois, as bicycles really are the locals’ preferred means of getting around. With its many cycle paths, Strasbourg is even France’s leading cycling city. It’s a great option if you want to get away from the city center for a while and visit the European institutions, for example, or take one of the cycling routes around Strasbourg.

Coming to Strasbourg

If you can, coming to Strasbourg by train is an excellent option. The station is right in the center of town (it’s only a 10/15 minute walk from the station to the historic center!), so you can easily start your day of sightseeing there.

If you’re coming by car for the day, I strongly advise you to use the park-and-ride facilities around Strasbourg. This is unquestionably the best option. For a reduced price (between €4 and €5), you get a full day’s parking as well as a streetcar ticket to go into town and back to the parking lot, for all passengers in the car up to 7 people! A real economic, ecological and practical plan.

However, I wouldn ‘t recommend coming to the city center by car: the city has many pedestrian zones, traffic is complicated (small streets, streetcars and bicycles everywhere on the program) and parking is really expensive. If you still want to take this option, I recommend the Parking des Halles (easier to get to) or the Austerlitz or des Bateliers parking lots (closer to the center).