France · Grand Est

Strasbourg and Alsace travel guide

Timbered houses, canals and France's best Christmas markets

Strasbourg Cathedral. Photo: Jonathan Martz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

1h 15mflight from London

SXBnearest main airport

20° in Julwarmest month

1° in Jancoolest month

Alsace sits between France and Germany, and you can taste both. Strasbourg's Petite France quarter is all canals and half-timbered houses, and its cathedral is one of Europe's great Gothic buildings.

Beyond the city, the Alsace Wine Route winds through storybook villages like Colmar, Riquewihr and Eguisheim. In December, the whole region turns into a Christmas card.

Good forChristmas marketsWine villagesCity breaksFood

Top things to do in Strasbourg and Alsace

1
Petite France
Canals, flower boxes and timbered houses, best explored on foot or by boat.
2
Strasbourg Cathedral
Climb the 330 steps to the platform, and see the astronomical clock strike at 12.30pm.
3
The Christmas markets
Strasbourg calls itself the 'Capital of Christmas', with markets in almost every square.
4
Colmar
Pastel houses and canals in 'Little Venice', 30 minutes by train.
5
The Alsace Wine Route
Village after village of Riesling and Gewürztraminer cellars.
6
A winstub dinner
Cosy Alsatian taverns serving tarte flambée and choucroute.

Tours and tickets in Strasbourg and Alsace

Where to stay in Strasbourg and Alsace

Grande Île
The old town island, close to the cathedral and Petite France.
Krutenau
A lively student quarter with bars and restaurants.
Colmar
A smaller, prettier base for the wine villages.

Find a hotel in Strasbourg and Alsace

Best time to visit Strasbourg and Alsace

Best value: Apr–Jun, Sep. May to September for the wine villages, and late November to December for the Christmas markets.

Best valueBusy and pricierQuietAverage temperature in Strasbourg and Alsace, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 1h 15m from London to SXB, and flights from most UK airports.

Strasbourg's trams are excellent, and the old town is easy on foot. Trains reach Colmar in 30 minutes. From London, the train via Paris takes about 4½ hours. Basel-Mulhouse airport is an alternative for flights.

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