Why Strasbourg is Worth Visiting: 10 Best Things to Do
Strasbourg is one of the most beautiful cities in France — known for its colorful half-timbered houses, canals, and commanding Gothic-style cathedral right in the city center. As it’s located right on the cusp of French-German border, Strasbourg feels like something straight out of a movie – emanating the best of fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast and making it popular with tourists.
This begs the question: is Strasbourg truly worth visiting in 2026, even with all of the hype?
La Petite France in Strasbourg; May 2019
Why Should You Visit Strasbourg in 2026?
After having traveled all over France and living in the country for several years, I still genuinely believe that Strasbourg is one of the France’s most underrated destinations. It’s enchanting personality makes it worthwhile, whether you plan to visit for a couple of days or even as a day trip from Paris.
At the start of my Europe travels when I was younger, I would stay away from “non-capital” cities like Strasbourg thinking I needed to be in a big one to blend in better –as whenever I travel, I’m usually traveling solo.
But after seeing so many stunning pictures of Strasbourg and having been intrigued by it’s French-German architecture, I finally bit the bullet and took a chance on a place that was a little off the tourist radar.
If you’re hesitating to book a hotel and train ticket to Strasbourg, here are some of the reasons why Strasbourg is worth visiting:
🌸 Reasons to Visit Strasbourg 🌸
Strasbourg is much smaller and easier to navigate than cities like Paris, making it perfect if you want a more relaxed and manageable travel experience.
While still beautiful and historic, Strasbourg is generally a bit more affordable than Paris when it comes to food, accommodations, and everyday travel costs.
Strasbourg is incredibly central for exploring Europe — with easy access to Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium, making it ideal for longer rail trips.
Panoramic view of Strasbourg; May 2019
Is Strasbourg Worth Visiting?
Yes, Strasbourg is absolutely worth visiting – as it’s one of the most beautiful cities in France, offers a unique mix of mystical charm and city vibes, and is home the famous Christmas market and one of the most beautiful cathedrals in all of Europe. Walking through this playfully colored, charming, luminescent French city is bound to feed your soul in a multitude of ways.
In addition to this, Strasbourg makes for a perfect in-between stop for the night when traveling via train on a big European summer trip to major European capitals. For instance, if you’re traveling from Paris to Berlin –spending time in Strasbourg is the perfect way to break up long travel days.
🥨 Should You Visit Strasbourg Quiz 🇫🇷
Choose yes or no for each question — your results update automatically.
⛪ Do you love old cathedrals?
🛍️ Do you love exploring markets, even if it's a little crowded?
🥐 Do you love bakeries?
🏰 Are you a fan of Disney princess movies like Beauty and the Beast?
🚶♀️ Do you like walkable cities?
✨ Your Live Results
🥨 Yes score:
❌ No score:
If you answered yes to several of these questions, you should absolutely consider visiting Strasbourg.
If most of your answers are no, Strasbourg may still be beautiful — but maybe not the French city of your dreams.
How to Get to Strasbourg From Paris
It’s extremely easy to get to Strasbourg from Paris, but I do recommend booking your tickets in advance on France’s official train website called SNCF. Once you have your tickets, you’ll have to go to Paris Gare de l’Est – as the non-stop TGV (high speed train) usually leaves from there.
From there, it’s usually only a 1 hour and 45 minute ride to Strasbourg.
🏨 Where to Stay in Strasbourg
The prettiest part of all of Strasbourg, this is best if you want a leisurely, picturesque trip with café hopping and photo taking – away from the chaos of the tourism in Strasbourg.
Best if you want to be super central and within walking distance to everything, just bear in mind hotel prices will be higher and the surrounding area will be more crowded.
This is my personal favorite place to stay in Strasbourg, as it makes the travel time between Paris and Strasbourg even shorter. Plus, it's only a 20-minute walk to the center of everything – making it a more budget-friendly hotel choice in Strasbourg without sacrificing convenience.
Colorful houses in Strasbourg, France; May 2019
Is Strasbourg Safe for Solo Female Traveler?
Yes, Strasbourg is especially safe for solo female travelers – as I was able to wander around Strasbourg as a 20-year-old girl entirely alone without having spoken a lick of French. As a general rule of thumb, I recommend being inside before dark – but as long as you keep your wits about you, you’ll be plenty safe if you want to take a solo trip to Strasbourg.
When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Strasbourg: Christmas vs Summer
Personally, I think that Strasbourg is prettiest with flowers and sunshine – meaning a trip in the spring or summer is most ideal. Winter is exciting with the holiday lights and the Christmas market, but it’s often overcrowded and strips the best of Strasbourg away as it’ll be swallowed by tourists. Regardless, whether you visit under the summer sun or the chaos of its infamous Christmas markets – you’re bound to be swept away by Strasbourg.
Strasbourg Cathedral in France; May 2019
Is Strasbourg Safe for Solo Female Traveler?
Yes, Strasbourg is especially safe for solo female travelers – as I was able to wander around Strasbourg as a 20-year-old girl entirely alone without having spoken a lick of French. As a general rule of thumb, I recommend being inside before dark – but as long as you keep your wits about you, you’ll be plenty safe if you want to take a solo trip to Strasbourg.
When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Strasbourg: Christmas vs Summer
Personally, I think that Strasbourg is prettiest with flowers and sunshine – meaning a trip in the spring or summer is most ideal. Winter is exciting with the holiday lights and the Christmas market, but it’s often overcrowded and strips the best of Strasbourg away as it’ll be swallowed by tourists. Regardless, whether you visit under the summer sun or the chaos of its infamous Christmas markets – you’re bound to be swept away by Strasbourg.
Strasbourg, France; May 2019
What Makes Strasbourg Different from Paris?
Strasbourg and Paris are two completely different cities. Paris is all around bigger, moodier, and more crowded with locals and tourists alike – and while Paris does have it’s quieter moments in parks and certain neighborhoods, Strasbourg is ultimately a much calmer city than Paris.
Discover more of the differences between Paris and Strasbourg below:
🇫🇷✨ Strasbourg vs. Paris ✨🇫🇷
💶 Cost
Strasbourg is much, much cheaper to live in than Paris, with transport costs being €28 a month. Paris’s monthly metro pass is nearly €90 per month (prices as of 2026). Groceries and rent are also much cheaper in Strasbourg than Paris.
😌 Culture
Strasbourg is ultimately a more “chill” place than Paris. It feels calmer, less hectic, and much easier to settle into than the French capital.
🎄 Activities & Events
Strasbourg, naturally as a smaller city, has much, much less to do than Paris — but it’s still home to various art expositions and of course the annual Christmas market visited by over 2 million people every year.
💳 Cost
Paris is far more expensive, with a monthly metro pass costing nearly €90 per month (prices as of 2026), compared to Strasbourg’s €28. Rent, groceries, and everyday costs are also significantly higher.
😵💫 Culture
Paris often feels hectic and is home to Parisians — who are known to be on the snoodier side than the rest of France.
🎭 Activities & Events
Paris has far more to do, from world-famous museums and monuments to endless restaurants, concerts, exhibitions, neighborhoods, and seasonal events.
However, one of the downsides to Strasbourg is that as it’s not as well of a known city for international tourists coming to France, not everyone knows all of the best photo spots or places to see in Strasbourg. Luckily, there are locals like me to break down all of the best things to do and see in Strasbourg.
Wondering if you too should take the chance on Strasbourg and see why it’s worth visiting for yourself?
Here are all of my favorite things to do on a trip to Strasbourg in the Alsace region of France:
10 Best Things To Do in Strasbourg
Here’s a list of the 10 best things you must do while you’re in Strasbourg:
1. Discover Local Bakeries & Buy a Baguette
It’s true that freshly baked bread in Europe is something else, but the bread in France, especially in this less touristic towns like Strasbourg where English is even less likely is a great chance to find amazing, authentic French bakeries.
If you’re not consuming predominately carbs when you’re in France… then i’m sorry - but you’re doing France wrong!
Is Bread in France Really That Much Better?
Yes, as someone who has traveled the world and lived in France for many years now – I can confirm that bread in France is truly the best in the world. This is due to several factors, such as how the French are passionate about baking, use specific types of flour, and France’s climate which is conducive to growing wheat all year-round.
I couldn’t stop smiling at how the baguettes from Carrefour (a chain grocery store in several European countries) are still so warm like someone had just pulled them out of the oven when you purchase them, how they had the quintessential Ratatouille movie-crunch, and how when I ate them – they were proven to be fresh, because the flour would get all of my hands and sometimes, my camera.
Parisian and French natives will tell you to go to a real boulangerie (which means ‘bakery’ in French), but I honestly think it’s going to be good no matter where you get it from – as my local grocery store in Paris has some of the best baguettes in the neighborhood.
Honestly, even if you don’t like bread – it’s something you need to do, especially while in a city in France like Strasbourg. Just do it. You’ll (most likely) be thanking me later.
2. Enjoy a Picnic at La Petite-France
La Petite France is a non-negotiable place you must see while in Strasbourg, as it is probably the prettiest place in the entire city.
I not only picked up a baguette from Carrefour, but I also grabbed a container of hummus and tabbouleh with the intent of having a picnic. As I walked down the steps to LA Petite France, I simply couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
La Petite France in Strasbourg; May 2019
I thought at first I would sit for a cup of coffee here…
I honestly thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was like someone threw me into a Disney movie; and despite the fact that I’m a cynical happily-ever-after twenty-something year old, to be honest – I didn’t mind it.
If you only have time to do one thing in Strasbourg, I strongly suggest sitting for a small picnic at La Petite France.
3. Sip a Coffee at a Local Cafe
France is known to have incredible cafés and coffee shops, but the ones in Strasbourg are truly on another level – as they’re less tourist-driven and due to the surrounding, scintillating charm.
Restaurant near La Petite France in Strasbourg; May 2019
You could have a coffee right underneath the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg, as the prices aren’t bad and the view simply can’t be beat. There’s a café just outside where you sit, have a cup of coffee, and try to convince yourself that this is real life. However, my personal favorite is to have a coffee along the water in La Petite France.
4. Explore the Streets of Strasbourg
You could try to methodically plan a trip to Strasbourg and map out all of the prettiest streets to see, but in end - Strasbourg was made for wandering around.
There were some bakeries that I walked by, that when I inhaled the sweet smells of the baked bread and pastries effervescing into the air… my heart tingled at its core. That’s a feeling you won’t be able to replicate if you don’t put your phone away and simply wander the city.
Wandering the cobblestone streets of Strasbourg; May 2019
5. Practice Your Photography Skills in Strasbourg
If you’re like me, and you love to take pictures – Strasbourg will be a dream come true.
Wandering the streets of Strasbourg, May 2019
Be sure to leave some time solely for wandering and candid photo-taking while you’re in Strasbourg.
6. See Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg
In all of my Europe travels, the only cathedral that comes close to the one in Strasbourg is the one in Cologne. But honestly, the cathedral in Strasbourg still has a soft spot in my heart – as it’s truly jarring just how commanding it is.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg; May 2019
Is it worth seeing the cathedral in strasbourg?
Yes, it is without a doubt worth seeing the cathedral in Strasbourg – as it’s one of the most commanding cathedrals in all of Europe. As I have seen have seen dozens of cathedrals in Europe: including in Rome, Prague, and Dublin… I can safely say that this the cathedral in Strasbourg is the most impressive one I have ever seen of all time.
How Much Does it Cost to Go Up the Strasbourg Cathedral?
As of 2026, it costs 10€ for adults to climb up the cathedral. Keep in mind, it’s 332 steps up to the top – so be sure to wear comfortable shoes if you’re set on going up to the top of the cathedral in Strasbourg!
There’s a café just outside where you sit, have a cup of coffee, and try to convince yourself that this is real life.
7. Learn About the History of Strasbourg on a River Cruise
Besides La Petite France, taking a river cruise should be your top priority when in Strasbourg. It’s a bit on the expensive for my taste, with a single-ticket costing a little over €16) – but trust me, you won’t have any regrets.
Embarking on a River Cruise in Strasbourg, May 2019
Is It Worth Taking a River Cruise in Strasbourg?
Yes, it’s worth taking the river cruise tour in Strasbourg – as you get to see all of the city’s historical landmarks and learn about the city’s history via the easiest and most efficient way there is to get around the city: which is on water. Plus, the tour offers three different languages – English, French, and German, making it suitable for international travelers of all kinds visiting Strasbourg.
8. Visit the Alsatian Museum (Musée Alsacien)
As Strasbourg is located in a very specific part of France, the Alsace region, it’s the perfect place to learn more about the specific culture that influenced the beautiful architecture that millions of people enjoy in the city and rest of the region today.
One of he best ways to understand Alsatian culture and the city’s French-German influences is to visit the Alsatian Museum – better known as Musée Alsacien. It only costs 7,50€ for a ticket and is bound to be an eye-opening experience while in Strasbourg.
Orange café in Strasbourg, France; May 2019
9. See the Modern Side of Strasbourg at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
If you’re looking to enjoy the more modern art scene while in Strasbourg and aren’t as interested in the deep history of sites like the famous cathedral, I suggest heading down to the Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain de Strasbourg.
At also a low price of 7,50€, this is perfect for creative individuals curious to explore the art culture in Strasbourg – which has both German and French influence.
Pink house in Strasbourg, France; May 2019
10. Walk Through the Famous Christmas Market in Strasbourg
Of course, last but not least, Strasbourg is well known for its annual massive Christmas market. Attracting international and European tourists alike, it’s visited by millions every year – known in French as Capitale de Noël or “The Capital of Christmas”.
It’s true that the Christmas market in Strasbourg blows the small ones in Paris out of the water, but just bear in mind – it will be crowded, so I would suggest avoiding this one if you plan to travel with young kids.
View of Strasbourg Cathedral from the water; May 2019
🇫🇷 Strasbourg Travel FAQ ⛪🌷
Words weren’t enough? Watch me discover Strasbourg for the first time, in real time in my Strasbourg travel vlog below!
Looking for more information and Strasbourg and France as you plan your trip?
Click here to discover more, as I have several articles like this to help you plan the an amazing trip to the rest of France.
Additional articles you may find helpful include:
10 Best Day Trips from Paris by Train (From a Local's Perspective)
10 Best Neighborhoods in Paris: Where to Stay (A Local’s Guide)
Your Guide to a First Trip to Paris: A Local-Approved 5-Day Itinerary
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Last updated: May 8, 2026