10 ESSENTIAL PLACES TO VISIT IN STRASBOURG

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This list of essential places to visit in Strasbourg, will help you not to miss anything in the capital of Alsace and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
Located near the border with Germany, this city impresses with its historic center declared a World Heritage Site, and with its colorful half-timbered houses from the 16th and 17th centuries.
In addition Strasbourg is also known as the "Capital of Christmas", when installed throughout the month of December, eleven beautiful Christmas markets, scattered around the most beautiful squares and areas of the city, which make this city, one of the most recommended destinations at this time of year.

Based on the experience of the time we spent in the city during our trip to Alsace by rental car, we have made this list of what we believe are, the 10 essential places to see in Strasbourg. We start!

1. La Petit France

La Petite France, located on the Grand Island next to the Ill River, is our favorite neighborhood and one of the most picturesque places to visit in Strasbourg.
Stroll through its cobbled streets, see the colorful half-timbered houses that are reflected in the water, sit on one of its terraces with views, take a boat ride on the canals, are just some of the best things to do in This old fishermen's neighborhood that we are sure of, you will love and engage in equal parts.
Among all the typical Alsace houses of La Petit France, the Maison des Tanneurs stands out, an old tanner house converted into a restaurant, which we recommend not to miss.

La Petit France

2. Notre Dame Cathedral

Another 10 minutes walk from Le Petit France is another of the most essential places to see in Strasbourg, the Notre Dame Cathedral.
This Gothic cathedral, built over four centuries, between 1015 and 1439, was for more than two centuries the tallest building in the world with its 142 meters, which reaches its bell tower.
In addition to climbing its bell tower to enjoy the views, we recommend you to entertain yourself to discover all the details and sculptures of the fantastic main facade of the cathedral and enter inside to see the pulpit, the organ and above all, a beautiful astronomical clock .
A great option to know the history and not miss anything about the city is to book this free tour of Strasbourg with a guide in Spanish Free! which starts at the Cathedral Square or this private tour where you choose the itinerary.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 08: 30h to 11: 15h and from 12: 45h to 17: 45h. On Sundays it opens from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Notre Dame Cathedral

3. Kammerzell, one of the places to visit in Strasbourg

The Kammerzell house, located in a corner of the Cathedral Square, is the best preserved and most beautiful medieval building what to see in Strasbourg.
This house of dark tones and Gothic style that was built in 1427, impresses with its numerous windows surrounded by sacred and profane sculptures, its ground floor of stone and the ornate wooden framework of the upper floors.
To visit the interior and see the frescoes of the painter Léo Schnug, you have to eat in his restaurant or stay at the hotel, both quite expensive.
In the Cathedral Square there is also the Rohan Palace in a classic style and it houses the Museum of Fine Arts, the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Decorative Arts.
If you plan to visit museums or other points of interest in Strasbourg and Alsace you may find it profitable to book this tourist card.

Kammerzell House

4. Ponts Couverts and the Vauban Dam

Ponts Couverts or Covered Bridges are a group of three bridges and four defensive towers, which mark the entrance to the La Petit France neighborhood.
These bridges were built between 1230 and 1250 on the Ill river, a tributary of the Rhine, as a defense to repel the attacks of the enemies and were once covered by wooden roofs, hence its name, and there were 5 towers, since one It was destroyed during a fire in 1869.
A few meters from these bridges is the Vauban Dam, another of the places to visit in Strasbourg whose purpose was defensive by raising, in case of attack, the level of the river and hindering the advance of the enemy through floods.
Inside this 120 meter dam you can see different sculptures and enjoy the views from its terrace to the Ponts Couverts and the La Petit France neighborhood.

Ponts Couverts, one of the places to see in Strasbourg

5. German Quarter

The German Quarter or Imperial Quarter, another of the places to see in Strasbourg, is the result of the expansion of the city by the German authorities during its annexation between the years 1880 and the First World War.
Germany wanted to make Strasbourg an important city within its empire and built a new city full of official and monumental buildings, north of the historic center.
Among its most prominent buildings are the National and University Library of Strasbourg, the Palais du Rhin, the Palais Universitaire and the train station.

Our recommended hotel in Strasbourg
We stay and recommend to stay the Hotel Graffalgar, located 200 meters from the train station and 5 minutes walk from La Petite France. In addition to its excellent location, it has spacious rooms, quality breakfast and has one of the best quality / price ratios in the city.

6. Kléber Square

Kléber Square, located in the commercial area, is the main square and the largest what to visit in Strasbourg in which the statue of General Kléber, born in the city, and the classic-style Aubette building stand out.
Another of the most famous squares in the city is the Gutenberg Square that owes its name to Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the modern printing press.

To get to these two squares, we recommend taking the Rue du Vieux Marché Aux Poissons, one of the busiest in the city, full of shops and restaurants, which is a pleasure to walk around.
In December in these two squares two of the best Christmas markets of the city are mounted, while the Rue du Vieux Marché Aux Poissons is decorated with the famous luminous sign of "Strasbourg, Noel Capital".

Kleber Square, one of the places to visit in Strasbourg

7. European Quarter

It is in the so-called European District where the headquarters of several European Union institutions such as the European Parliament, the Council of Europe or the European Court of Human Rights are concentrated.
A few meters from these buildings is the Parc de l'Orangerie, the oldest park and another one of the places to see in Strasbourg, perfect for strolling along the nature-filled trails and relaxing by having a picnic by the shore of a lake.
In the middle of the park is the Josephine Pavillon palace from the beginning of the 17th century, which served as the royal residence of Empress Josephine and as a greenhouse for orange trees.

European Parliament

8. Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune Church

The Protestant church of Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune, which has its origins in 1031 and is located in the historic center, is one of the most interesting buildings what to visit in Strasbourg. Inside the Gothic church there are several jewels such as frescoes from the 14th century, the cloister with columns from the 11th century, the box and, above all, the vestiges of an old church from the 7th century, currently used as a crypt.
The Lutheran church of St. Paul, an imposing neo-Gothic building and declared a historical monument of France, is another of the most impressive churches to see in Strasbourg.

St. Paul's Church

Recommended travel cards
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.

9. Christmas Markets

If you travel to Strasbourg at Christmas like us, you will enjoy one of the best Christmas environments and decorations in the world.
Most of the 11 Christmas markets, spread across the most beautiful squares in the city, open from November 25 to December 31, including the oldest in France, which is mounted on the Cathedral Square.
In addition to this market of the year 1570, it is worth approaching the Petite France market full of handmade products, the Place Broglie with all kinds of Christmas items and food stalls, the Place des Meuniers to buy typical products from Alsace and the one in Gutemberg Square, which is dedicated every year to a country or region.

Strasbourg Christmas markets

10. Villages of Alsace

If you have completed the list of places to visit in Strasbourg and you still have time, we recommend you to know some of the most essential places to see in Alsace.
This region, one of the prettiest in France, is characterized by the fairytale villages of colorful houses and its magnificent vineyard landscapes and among the most essential villages in Alsace are Eguisheim, Colmar, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé and Kaysersberg.
Although at Christmas it is a great time to visit all these villages, being decorated with Christmas lights and motifs, we believe that if you want to enjoy them with more tranquility, the spring and autumn seasons are perfect.
The best way to travel this region is by rental car making a route from Strasbourg to Colmar or vice versa, landing in Basel or Baden Baden.
If you travel at Christmas and do not want to rent a car or waste a lot of time with public transport, you can book this tour through the Christmas markets of Alsace with a guide in Spanish.