What to do in Strasbourg, France
Cathédrale Notre-Dame
Perhaps the most iconic place in Strasbourg, the Cathédral Notre-Dame is also my favorite place in the city. The church is simply stunning, inside and out. It's over 1,000 years old, with construction having begun in 1015 but not completed until 1439. It's seen a lot over the years and suffered during many of the conflicts the region has experienced, yet it still stand, with its grandiose bell tower and intricate gothic details. Inside, you can spend hours admiring the stained glass windows and another treasure: an astronomical clock built in 1842 with intricate figurines and stunning details. You can also climb to the top of the cathedral for an amazing view of the rest of the city. During my time in Strasbourg, I often enjoyed simply sitting outside in the Place de la Cathédrale and enjoying the buzz of people and streets musicians while eating gelato and admiring the beautiful cathédral.
Place Gutenberg
Just a short walk from the Cathédrale is Place Gutenberg, a busy square with a statue of Johannes Gutenberg, the man who invented the printing press in Strasbourg in the 1400s. Depending on the day, you'll find farmers markets and antique markets filling the square and during different holidays and festivals there are often carnival rides for children and booths serving waffles and mulled wine (which I HIGHLY recommend).
Petite France & the Ponts Couverts
The area of Petite France is probably the most scenic and classic area of Strasbourg, with cobblestone streets, winding canals, and half-timber houses. You can walk around the area for a few hours and find lots of treasures! Restaurants, shops, and bakeries are all around and I always enjoyed walking in the area and simply enjoying the atmosphere and quaint feeling. You can also visit the Ponts Couverts for a gorgeous view of the canals and surrounding buildings.
Palais Rohan and Musée des Beaux-Arts
Forming one of the outer edges of Place de la Cathédrale is the Palais Rohan which houses three museums including the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée Archeologique, and Musée des Arts Decoratifs. The 18th century palace has housed Marie Antoinette and Napoleon I. Walking through any of the museums, you'll be immersed in the history, art and culture of Strasbourg and Alsace! If you're visiting on the first Sunday of the month, entrance into France's museums is free but if not it is around 7.50 euros for each museum. Definitely one of my favorite places in Strasbourg!
Parc de l'Orangerie
France is well known for it's beautiful public parks, and the Parc de l'Orangerie is no exception. It has beautiful walking paths, a few playgrounds for children, beautiful flowers and landscaping, as well as a pond where you can rent a canoe or watch the swans! Although it is located about a 20 minute walk from the Grand Isle, it's worth the walk or the quick tram ride. If you do walk from the Grand Isle, you'll get to enjoy the views along the canal and walk past a beautiful reformed church that sits on the canal while you enjoy the quintessential French outside atmosphere. You'll also walk by the Council of Europe, an international human rights organization It's a perfect place for a relaxing evening walk, a picnic by the pond, or enjoying a good book on one of the benches by the fountain. In the summer, you'll find a few gelato shops on the outer edges of the park as well as a free book shack where people donate and borrow used books!
Thrifting
If you enjoy thrifting, Strasbourg has a couple cute spots with great finds! These spots are all relatively close to each other, centered around the Grand Isle!
And that's it, my favorite things to do in Strasbourg! Whether you're there for a day or a month, I hope you'll enjoy all Strasbourg has to offer. If you're looking for food recommendations, make sure to check out my guide "Eating and Drinking in Strasbourg, France."
Make sure to leave a tip if you found this guide helpful and follow me on Thatch and Pinterest for more travel recommendations! Thanks for allowing me to do what I love!
~ Kelli
Links:
Guide to Eating and Drinking in Strasbourg: https://www.thatch.co/guide/2p8cys9ekhsyz/view?s=6f5ec016-bbc9-4d53-a1e7-67ea9fb093d7&s_f=e&s_t=c_l&s_b=y
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