Strasbourg sits right on the border of France and Germany, and it shows—in the half-timbered houses, the piping-hot tarte flambée, and the bilingual charm. Founded by the Romans, transformed by merchants, and now home to the European Parliament, the city mixes Medieval, Renaissance, and art nouveau facades with a cosmopolitan pulse.

The UNESCO-listed Grande Île hides secret courtyards and stone bridges, while the soaring Strasbourg Cathedral—once the world’s tallest building—anchors the skyline. Wander Petite France, a former tanners’ district wrapped in canals, then drift under weeping willows on an Ill River cruise. In winter, Strasbourg becomes “Capital of Christmas,” its markets glowing with gingerbread, vin chaud, and folklore.

Alsace is also one of Europe’s most celebrated white-wine regions. Day trips whisk you along the Alsace Wine Route to pastel villages like Colmar and Eguisheim for Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and kougelhopf. Expect fantastic public transport, card-friendly venues, and a laid-back dining culture—book popular winstubs, carry a reusable water bottle (carafe d’eau is free), and savor meals at the local pace.

Strasbourg

Strasbourg is a city of spires and storks, storybook rooftops and grand boulevards. On the Grande Île, canals carve around Petite France and the cathedral’s pink sandstone dazzles at golden hour. North in the Quartier Européen, sleek institutions and embassies sit beside leafy parks and stork nests.

• Top sights: Strasbourg Cathedral and Astronomical Clock, Petite France, Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban (panoramic terrace), Palais Rohan museums, Musée Alsacien, Parc de l’Orangerie, Quartier Européen.
• Can’t-miss bites: Tarte flambée (flammekueche), choucroute garnie, baeckeoffe, spaetzle, munster cheese, kougelhopf, and Alsatian Riesling and Pinot Gris.
• Coffee & pastries: Café Bretelles (Krutenau or Petite France) for specialty coffee, Café Mokxa for expert roasts, Pâtisserie Christian and Naegel for exquisite cakes and seasonal pastries, and Au Pain de Mon Grand-Père for hearty sourdough.
• Neighborhood feel: Stay in Petite France or the Grande Île for postcard views; Krutenau for bohemian cafés; Orangerie/Contades for leafy calm near the European Quarter.

Where to stay: Browse character-filled apartments and half-timbered lofts on VRBO Strasbourg or compare central hotels near the cathedral and Petite France on Hotels.com Strasbourg. Aim for Grande Île or Petite France to walk to most sights.

How to get to Strasbourg: From within Europe, high-speed trains are easiest: Paris–Strasbourg in about 1h46–2h05 (from ~€25–€85); Frankfurt–Strasbourg about 2–2.5h; Basel–Strasbourg ~1.5–2h. Search and book trains via Omio Trains (Europe) or compare regional buses on Omio Buses. For flights within Europe, check Omio Flights. Flying from outside Europe? Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com Flights into Paris (CDG/ORY), Frankfurt (FRA), or Basel-Mulhouse (BSL/MLH) and connect by train.

Day 1: Grande Île, Cathedral Glow, and Winstub Classics

Afternoon (arrival): Drop bags and stretch your legs with a gentle loop around Petite France. Pause at the Ponts Couverts and climb the Barrage Vauban terrace for a postcard panorama of towers, rooftops, and canals. Fuel up at Pâtisserie Christian (individual kougelhopf or a seasonal fruit tart) or Naegel (buttery kougelhopf, almond croissants).

Afternoon activity: Get your bearings with a local-led primer: Strasbourg Historic Two-Hour Walking Tour with Local Guide (about 2 hours; typically from ~€25–€35 per person). Expect cathedral legends, Petite France anecdotes, and Neustadt grandeur.

Evening: Time your cathedral visit for the late glow on its rose-hued facade; step inside to see the pulsing Astronomical Clock and stained glass. Dinner at a traditional winstub: try Winstub S’Kaechele (tiny, homey; reserve), Le Tire-Bouchon (excellent choucroute and baeckeoffe), or Maison Kammerzell (historic timbered setting near the cathedral; classic sauerkraut and river fish). Nightcap at Académie de la Bière (large Alsatian and Belgian list) or a glass of Riesling at Au Pont du Corbeau (old-school ambiance).

Day 2: Alsace Wine Route, Pastel Villages, and a Castle

Spend the day in the countryside on a small-group tour that bundles the region’s headliners: Colmar’s canals and timbered lanes, the flower-laced village of Eguisheim, postcard-perfect Riquewihr, and the hilltop ramparts of Haut-Koenigsbourg. You’ll taste benchmark Alsace whites—Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewürztraminer—and learn about soils and cellar traditions.

Alsace Colmar, Medieval Villages & Castle Small Group Day Trip from Strasbourg typically runs ~9–10 hours door to door (often from ~€120–€170 per person), with guided strolls and a tasting or two.

Lunch ideas en route: In Riquewihr, look for hearty plates like coq au Riesling or a slice of onion tart; in Colmar, grab a casual tarte flambée and a glass of Sylvaner. Save space for a bakery stop—kougelhopf or pain d’épices travel well.

Evening (back in Strasbourg): Treat yourself at Les Haras Brasserie (modern Alsatian dishes in a dramatic timbered space; make a reservation) or La Corde à Linge in Petite France for fresh spaetzle in creamy mushroom sauce. For cocktails, Code Bar near Place Gutenberg shakes excellent classics; for a last wine flight, ask a server for a dry Riesling versus a fragrant Gewürztraminer to taste the spectrum.

Day 3: European Quarter by Segway, Food Tour Feast, and Sunset on the Ill

Morning: Start with specialty coffee at Café Mokxa (silky flat whites, filter options) or Café Bretelles (expert espresso, light breakfast). Then glide through Strasbourg’s old-and-new landmarks on 2-Hour Strasbourg Euro Tour by Segway (about €55–€75). It’s a relaxed way to see Petite France, the Ill quays, and the European institutions in one sweep.

Afternoon: Dive into Alsatian flavors on the Strasbourg Food Tour - A Taste of Tradition by Do Eat Better (usually ~3–3.5 hours; often €80–€110). Expect charcuterie, munster cheese, tarte flambée, pretzels, and sips of regional wine and beer, all with neighborhood stories.

Evening: If time allows before departure, take a leisurely Ill River cruise for a final perspective of locks, bridges, and Petite France from the water. For a last meal, pick Binchstub (Broglie or Petite France) for crisp, wood-fired tarte flambée with creative toppings (think bacon-onion-classic or goat cheese-honey), or book Le Clou for timeless choucroute and a carafe of Edelzwicker. Grab gelato at Franchi near Place du Marché Gayot before you say au revoir.

Seasonal tip: Visiting late November–December? Slot in the Strasbourg Christmas markets (Christkindelsmärik) around your evenings—try Place Broglie for traditional stalls and Place de la Cathédrale for fairy-lights and choir music. Prefer beer to wine? Consider a dedicated tasting—Alsace is France’s top beer-producing region.

Alternative or add-on Viator options (if you’d like to swap activities):

• Alsace Wine Route Small Group Half-Day Tour with Tasting — great if you want more free time in the city.
• Alsace Christmas Markets Day Tour — magical in December.

Logistics recap: Strasbourg is compact—walk or hop on the efficient tram network. Most restaurants open for lunch (roughly 12:00–14:00) and dinner (from ~19:00). Book popular winstubs; many shops close Sunday. Tipping is modest (service is included; rounding up or 5–10% for excellent service is appreciated).

Where to book stays again? Try VRBO Strasbourg for character apartments and Hotels.com Strasbourg for centrally located hotels. For trains and buses across Europe, compare on Omio Trains and Omio Buses; for international flights, use Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com Flights.

At-a-glance dining picks to bookmark:

• Breakfast/Coffee: Café Bretelles (espresso, tartines), Café Mokxa (filters, pastries), Au Pain de Mon Grand-Père (hearty loaves, kougelhopf).
• Lunch: L’Épicerie (Alsatian tartines and salads), La Corde à Linge (spaetzle by the canal), Binchstub (creative tarte flambée).
• Dinner (traditional): Winstub S’Kaechele, Le Tire-Bouchon, Le Clou, Maison Kammerzell.
• Drinks: Au Pont du Corbeau (wine), Académie de la Bière (beer), Code Bar (cocktails).

This 3-day Strasbourg itinerary balances cathedral awe, canal-side rambles, and a deep dive into Alsace wine and cuisine. With Petite France as your stage and Riesling in your glass, you’ll leave plotting a longer return. Bon voyage—ou plutôt, bon séjour!