City trip Strasbourg

When to visit Strasbourg?

Two moments are ideal. April to May: the city wakes up, terraces open, prices are low and the summer and Christmas tourist crowds are absent. Late November to late December: the Christkindelsmärik (Christmas market, 1570) spreads across the entire centre giving the city an atmosphere found nowhere else. Avoid August if you want to enjoy peace: many French people are on holiday themselves but tourist numbers peak. Winter outside the Christmas period is cloudy but quiet and cheap.

Strasbourg's neighbourhoods

• Grande Ile (UNESCO) The entire island was recognised in 1988 as the first city centre in the world to be granted UNESCO World Heritage status. Here you find the cathedral, the best restaurants and shops, but also the highest hotel prices.
• La Petite France The most photographed quarter: half-timbered houses along canals with the sound of water and window boxes. Formerly the quarter of weavers, tanners and millers, now a tourist draw but no less authentic.
• Krutenau Student quarter south of the Grande Ile. Cheaper brown cafes, bric-a-brac shops, market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Here you eat real flammkuche next to locals.
• Neudorf Residential neighbourhood south of the centre with art nouveau architecture and a local market. Away from the tourist trails, interesting for those who want to see the real city.

Top 5 sights

• Notre-Dame de Strasbourg One of the finest Gothic cathedrals in the world, built from pink sandstone. The interior and viewing the facade are free. Climb the tower (EUR8) for a panoramic view over the Alsace plain and the Vosges. Visit on weekday mornings; weekends are crowded.
• La Petite France The half-timbered quarter along the canals is free to explore. Hire a canoe or boat at the quayside for EUR15 to 20 per hour for a different perspective on the medieval houses. Best time: early morning or after 18:00 when the day-trippers have left.
• Palais Rohan Former bishop's palace next to the cathedral. Three museums under one roof: Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Musee des Beaux-Arts and Musee Archeologique. Entry EUR7.50 per museum, combo ticket available. Closed Tuesdays.
• Barrage Vauban This medieval defence work has a free rooftop terrace with the best panoramic view over the bell towers of La Petite France and the rooftops of the Grande Ile. Free entry, open daily 09:00 to 19:30.
• Christkindelsmärik (Christmas market) France's oldest Christmas market, first recorded in 1570. From late November to 27 December it spreads across the entire centre with over 300 stalls. Free entry; mulled wine (vin chaud) costs around EUR4 to 5. Tip: the evening light-and-sound show on the cathedral facade is free and missed by most day-trippers.

Transport from the Netherlands to Strasbourg

The most convenient routes from the Netherlands:

• Train International trains from Amsterdam Centraal to Strasbourg run via Paris or Basel. Total journey time is around 5h30 via Paris with a change (Thalys/TGV). Booking early can cost from EUR42 per leg. Trains to and from Paris run several times a day. No direct intercity from Eindhoven.
• Flight via Schiphol KLM flies several times a week direct Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Strasbourg (SXB) in around 1h10. Return tickets from around EUR263. From Eindhoven Airport there are no direct flights to Strasbourg; fly via Amsterdam or take the train instead.
• Car Strasbourg is around 5h30 drive from Amsterdam via the A12/A16 through Belgium and Germany (Aachen/Karlsruhe). Parking in the city is expensive; use a park-and-ride at the tram outside the centre.

In Strasbourg the excellent CTS tram network runs. Single EUR1.90, day pass EUR4.60 (1 person) or EUR10.40 (Strasbourg Pass, valid for 3 people on 1 day). The city centre is also easily walkable; everything on the Grande Ile is within walking distance.

How much does a city trip to Strasbourg cost?

Hostels in Strasbourg cost EUR11 to 39 per night, simple hotels EUR50 to 90 and mid-range hotels EUR80 to 160 per night. Coffee in a cafe EUR2 to 3, flammkuche EUR12 to 16, choucroute garnie EUR18 to 24. A glass of Alsatian wine in a winstub costs EUR3 to 6. Strasbourg is around 15 to 20 percent more expensive than the Dutch average, but cheaper than Paris. A 3-day city trip all-in (excluding transport) costs around EUR280 to 400 per person depending on accommodation choice.

Insider tip: the cathedral sound-and-light show

During the Christmas market period (late November to 27 December) the city projects a free light-and-sound show on the facade of Notre-Dame cathedral. The show lasts around 15 minutes and repeats every hour. Almost all day-trippers miss it because they have already left by the time it starts (after 18:00). Bring a mulled wine and claim a spot on the Place de la Cathedrale before it gets dark.