One Day in Strasbourg France – The Ultimate Itinerary
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Here’s the ultimate guide to spending one day in Strasbourg, France. Located in Alsace, Strasbourg is a French town with German influences as it’s situated near the border of France and Germany. The picturesque views and the fusion of French-German culture make for a dreamy vacation.
The streets are lined with colorful half-timbered homes, similar to small towns in Germany. Local cafes offer fresh baguettes, pastries and other goodies that remind you that you’re in France. While I could easily spend days meandering its streets, it’s possible to see Strasbourg in a day.
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Justin and I actually spent about a day and a half in Strasbourg in total (two nights), though I’m going to show you how to see everything in a day. While it’s possible to make a day trip to Strasbourg, I recommend spending at least one night here, if not two nights like we did. It’s even ideal to make a weekend trip to Strasbourg.
Strasbourg was included in a European vacation we took to France, Germany and Switzerland. Our itinerary was a roundtrip from Frankfurt, Germany. Strasbourg was our first stop after Frankfurt. We then headed to Switzerland. Bern, ThunWengen, the Swiss Alps and Lucerne. Justin and I returned to Germany via train. TubingenThe following are some examples of how to get started: HeidelbergBefore returning home.
Getting to Strasbourg
There are several ways to reach Strasbourg. First, there’s the option to arrive by plane on a Flight to Strasbourg. You may find cheaper international airfares Frankfurt flightsIt is a relatively short distance away.
We took the train in Frankfurt to Strasbourg. Unfortunately, we were traveling during a time when there were strikes in France. We were delayed by a few minutes and had to take 3 trains. This likely won’t happen to you, but it cut down our two days in Strasbourg to one and a half. You can buy train tickets in advance.
If you’re put off by the idea of train travel and you’d rather explore Europe by car, this is always an option. It might be easier to drive from place to place, but you’ll need to sort out where to park your car at night. It can be a problem in some smaller towns and cities. At any rate, you should make sure that Compare car rental ratesDiscover Cars offers the best rates when you book in advance.
Get the Strasbourg Pass for One Day in Strasbourg
Once you’re ready to hit the town, head straight to the Strasbourg Tourist Office to pick up your Strasbourg Pass. I recommend purchasing the Strasbourg City Pass online in advance. Bring your voucher with you to the tourist office. When I arrived in the tourist office I received my official Strasbourg City Pass in seconds. Book yours now to avoid disappointment.
You can use the pass for 7 days consecutively, although it’s worth it even if you’re only spending one day in Strasbourg. The Strasbourg Pass offers all the best activities in Strasbourg. You can get free admission to certain attractions and reduced prices at others.
Take a boat trip in Strasbourg, visit Notre-Dame Cathedral to see the astronomical timepiece, and you can visit one of the museums free of charge. You can also visit a museum and take part in other activities or tours for half price.
If you’re looking for what to do in Strasbourg, the activities and tours on this city card are a great place to start. The Strasbourg Pass is worth it even if you only do a few things. Things aren’t exactly cheap in Strasbourg, so it’s nice to receive a deal now and again!
Best Things To Do In Strasbourg: Take a Cruise
Use your Strasbourg Pass for a boat trip along the River Ill to start the list of Strasbourg attractions. You can learn about the city’s geography and history by taking a boat tour.
This 70 minute boat trip is a great way to get acquainted with the city, particularly if you are visiting Strasbourg for the first time. It’s also very relaxing, you can see beautiful places from a different perspective, and you learn facts about the town. With one day in Strasbourg, I’d start here.
The audio guide is available in 11 different languages. The tour begins downtown at the Batorama offices. Then, you’ll visit the European Parliament building, the district of Neustadt, and Petite France. You’ll travel through two canal locks, and underneath old bridges. I recommend starting your day with a boat ride, as it’s one of the best attractions in Strasbourg.
One Day in Strasbourg, Visit Petite France
It’s called a fairy tale town for good reason; the Petite France section of Strasbourg is like stepping into the scene of a dreamy book or movie. It’s easy to feel like Belle from Beauty and the Beast.
The River Ill splits in many smaller channels, with lots of narrow and winding streets surrounding them. The two of us walked around Petite France at least twice: once, in the late afternoon hours, and again the next morning.
While it certainly wasn’t crowded when we visited Strasbourg in June, there was a whole different aura surrounding the neighborhood in the morning. There weren’t any tourists in sight; there were only people taking their dogs out for a sunrise stroll.
It was a delight to watch Strasbourg awaken. Sitting on the edge of a calm canal, I watched an older man, shirtless, standing out on his terrace. On a balcony next door, an elderly woman opens her balcony doors to do her laundry. The man and woman exchanged morning greetings, and spoke back and forth in French. I wondered if it was their morning routine.
After exploring a very quiet Petite France, we walked down Grand’Rue, one of the main streets in town with shops and restaurants. Even though it was early, there was a long line at the local bakery. L’atelier 116. I asked them if they had vegan options and there were some freshly baked baguettes and rolls. I was happy to have a fresh baguette as breakfast. Am I right to say that you are in France?
Visit the Strasbourg Cathedral
The Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre-Dame, in a nutshell, is one of Europe’s most beautiful gothic churches. It’s not to be missed, and it’s hard to miss this massive structure at Place de la Cathédrale. Victor Hugo called it a “skillful combination of monumental size and delicateness”. Visit the Cathedral in Strasbourg even if you only have a day.
The cathedral was built on the site of an ancient Roman temple over a thousand years ago. It has endured the test and many disasters. The first version of the Cathedral, dating back to 10015, was destroyed in a fire. The cathedral’s reconstruction began in 12th century and the 142-meter spire was finished in 1439. The church was severely damaged by three wars from 1870 to 1945, but survived.
The exterior facade is decorated with hundreds of statues, intricate carvings and pink sandstone that changes color depending on what time of day it is. The interior is calm and peaceful, with stained glass windows dating back to the 12th and the 14th centuries. You’ll also find the astronomical clock inside the cathedral.
The Platform of Strasbourg Cathedral
Then, take the narrow and winding staircases up to the top of the cathedral. This attraction is included with your Strasbourg Pass. Otherwise, one ticket costs 5 euros.
Climbing up to the top offers a unique experience. The staircases are not spacious but they offer a variety of views as you climb. We stopped to take photos when there weren’t other visitors coming up behind us.
The best views are always from the top. You can see the town from two different angles. We watched the rainbow flags and cheering crowds fill the streets below where a Pride event was taking place. I love seeing cities and architecture from above. I recommend you to do this.
Strasbourg Astronomical Clock
The astronomical timepiece inside the cathedral is also quite beautiful. The first astronomical timepiece in Strasbourg, which was built between 1352-1354 and stopped working in 16th century, is the oldest. The present-day mechanism dates from around 1842. You can watch a show every day at 12:30pm with a variety of miniature figures. (Except on Sundays and holidays).
In contrast, the cathedral is most likely to be crowded at 12:30pm. If you have no interest in viewing the astronomical clock, I’d recommend going there at a different time of the day. It might not be too crowded depending on the season.
What to Do in Strasbourg? Rent a bicycle
Justin and myself rented bicycles in Strasbourg for a couple of hours. We walked everywhere, but we wanted to get to places farther away and enjoy the simple joys of riding a bike.
It’s a great way to see Strasbourg in a day because you can travel farther than walking alone. It’s easy to rent a bike in Strasbourg. Although there are many stations for renting bikes in the town, we decided to rent directly. Vélhop.
You can rent by hour at the stations or buy a day’s worth of bikes from the stores. It’s very inexpensive to rent a bike, and we had a wonderful time exploring the city this way. This was one of my favorite activities in Strasbourg.
Ride to Park L’Orangerie
If you’re seeking green space during your one day in Strasbourg, head directly to Park L’Orangerie. There are duck ponds, rows of trees and many paths. We even saw a book library where you can exchange, take or drop off your reading materials. Park L’Orangerie is the perfect picnic spot, place to curl up with a book, or place to ride your bike. We saw a family with babies of swans when we were there. They were so cute.
We Loved Strasbourg Restaurants
Who knew that Strasbourg had so many vegan restaurants? Justin and I were able to find plant-based meals with no problem. Actually, we didn’t have enough time to sample everything that Strasbourg had to offer. I guess that means we’ll have to return someday.
We spent two nights and a full day in Strasbourg. This Strasbourg dining list should be enough to keep you busy for at least 2 days. I’ve outlined everything that we ate in my Strasbourg vegan guide. Here is a selection of the top restaurants in Strasbourg.
Vélicious
VéliciousThis cozy cafe and restaurant serves organic, plant-based food. Justin and I couldn’t resist ordering the vegan cheese platter (because…well, vegan cheese! Enough said! This dish is made up of three types of cheeses, bread, fig chutney, and more.
For my main course, I requested a Middle Eastern wrap with seitan. (Seitan, chickpeas with mint, lemon, cream and cream). Justin had a Greek salad topped with Greek vegan cheese. Without a doubt, it’s one of the best restaurants in Strasbourg.
Vélicious Burger
Velicious Burger is a fast food version of Vélicious, and it’s right on the main tourist street in town (20 Grand’Rue). Justin and I ordered the Queen Cheese Burger as a combo, with fries. They served vegan mayo and Ketchup as a dip for the fries.
The burger itself was delicious. If you’re looking for fast food that’s satisfying and tastes great, stop by Vélicious Burger. The omnivores in the crowd won’t even be able to taste the difference!
Harmonie Bowl & Juice
Harmonie Bowl & Juice serves up fresh and delicious meals, perfect as a brunch or lunch spot. Justin chose the Tokyo Bowl (adzuki, cucumber, and avocado) while I went for the K-Bowl with tofu kimchi sweet potato.
We also ordered iced watermelon juice and tea. The food looks as good and tastes as well as it is prepared. It’s one of the best restaurants in Strasbourg for flavorful, healthy cuisine.
Bistrot et Chocolat
You should definitely head to Bistrot et Chocolat for dessert, especially if you have a sweet tooth. An iced latte made with almond milk gave me the energy boost I needed to make it through a busy day of sightseeing. Justin and I shared a dessert of chocolate molten cake with mango-sorbet. The cake was warm and gooey. It was delicious.
What to do in Strasbourg?
We took Uber from the train station and our hotel. MGallery Cour du Corbeau. It’s one of the best places to stay in Strasbourg. The staff were friendly and made us feel at home. Cour du Corbeau is a stunning example of Renaissance architecture and it’s one of the oldest hotels in Europe.
Our suite was a combination of modern design and old world charm. The half-timbered framing from the building’s exterior carried right into our room. Exposed wooden beams marked the corridor to the bedroom where we enjoyed a restful night’s sleep. The living area was located just across the room and included a sofa, coffee table, TV, and a coffee table. The sofa bed is ideal for couples and families as it offers a second sleeping area.
The best surprise of all was the view from our suite’s window overlooking the inner courtyard. I pulled the curtains back and opened the window next to the bed. When I looked outside, the half-timbered building and the flowers that lined every balcony space was so captivating. Strasbourg’s enchanting qualities were clearly visible from our window. I felt as if I was living a fantasy.
Are you looking for more places to stay in the area? Use the booking map below to find the perfect hotel. All hotels and accommodations are listed in one place. Enter your travel dates in order to receive more precise information. Click on the property name to learn more about it and book your stay.
Strasbourg, you have quickly won our hearts! It’s like a living and breathing fairy tale. With so many wonderful things to do in Strasbourg France, you’re guaranteed to have a blissful visit. Whether you spend one day in Strasbourg or several, you’ll have a fantastic time in this Alsatian city.
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Lauren is a full-time travel writer and content creator for Justin Plus Lauren. She started Justin Plus Lauren back in 2013 and has traveled to more than 50 countries. Lauren is a vegan travel expert and one of the world’s first vegan bloggers. She is also interested in eco and sustainable travel as well as outdoor adventure travel. She creates amazing travel itineraries and focuses on cities and small town.
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Original content by justinpluslauren.com: “One Day in Strasbourg France: The Ultimate itinerary”
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