Strasbourg sits on the border between France and Germany, and you can see both in its streets: French squares and cafés, German half-timbered houses and Alsatian wine taverns. Its old centre, the Grande Île, is an island ringed by the river Ill and was one of the first city centres to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 1988. In 2017 the listing was extended to the Neustadt, the district built in the German period after 1871.
Most of the sights below are within walking distance of the cathedral, so one or two days on foot show you a lot. Here are fifteen things worth doing.
1. Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, is the first thing to see: a Gothic church of reddish sandstone from the Vosges mountains, with a single spire 142 metres high. From 1647 to 1874 it was the tallest building in the world. Stand in front of the west façade for a while, because its lace of stone figures, pinnacles and tracery is so dense that new details keep appearing. Inside, look for the rose window and the carved Pillar of Angels.
2. The astronomical clock
The astronomical clock in the cathedral is one of the most famous clocks in Europe. Its present mechanism was built by Jean-Baptiste Schwilgué and finished in the early 1840s, inside an older Renaissance case. It shows the position of the planets, the phases of the moon and the date of Easter, and once a day, around midday, its figures come to life: the apostles pass in front of Christ and a mechanical rooster crows.
3. Climb to the cathedral platform
The platform of the cathedral, about 66 metres up, is the best viewpoint in the city. You reach it on foot, up 332 steps, and from the top you look over the roofs of the Grande Île and, on a clear day, as far as the Black Forest and the Vosges. The young Goethe, who studied in Strasbourg, is said to have climbed it repeatedly to get over his fear of heights.
4. Play the Strasbourg scavenger hunt
Our Strasbourg scavenger hunt is a self-guided game you play on your phone, and a good way to explore the old town without a guide. At each stop you solve a riddle by looking closely at the place, then hear its stories, local legends and fun facts. You start whenever you like, walk at your own pace and can stop for a tarte flambée on the way, because the ticket has no time limit.
5. La Petite France
La Petite France is the most picturesque quarter of Strasbourg: half-timbered houses, flower boxes and narrow canals where the Ill splits into several channels. In the Middle Ages tanners, millers and fishermen worked here. The name has nothing to do with charm: it comes from a hospice founded in 1503 for soldiers suffering from syphilis, then called the French disease. Look for the Maison des Tanneurs from 1572, with its open lofts once used to dry hides. Come early in the morning to see it quietly.
6. Ponts Couverts and Barrage Vauban
The Ponts Couverts are three bridges with four medieval towers that once guarded the river entrance to the city. Despite the name, meaning covered bridges, they lost their roofs in the 18th century. Just beyond them is the Barrage Vauban, a dam built at the end of the 17th century that could flood the land south of the city in case of attack. Go up to its roof terrace for a free view of the towers with Petite France and the cathedral behind.
7. A boat trip on the Ill
A boat trip on the Ill is the easiest way to understand the layout of Strasbourg. The tour boats circle the Grande Île, pass through the locks at Petite France and continue towards the European Quarter, with an audio commentary explaining what you see. It is a good choice for a first afternoon or when your feet need a rest.
8. Palais Rohan
The Palais Rohan, next to the cathedral, is the grand palace of the prince-bishops of Strasbourg, built between 1732 and 1742 to designs by Robert de Cotte. Marie Antoinette spent her first night on French soil here in 1770, and Napoleon stayed several times. Today it houses three museums: the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Decorative Arts with the state rooms of the cardinals, and the Archaeological Museum in the basement.
9. Place Kléber and Place Gutenberg
Place Kléber is the largest square in the centre, named after Jean-Baptiste Kléber, a general born in Strasbourg whose remains lie beneath his statue. In winter it holds the city's giant Christmas tree. A few minutes away, Place Gutenberg has a statue of Johannes Gutenberg, who lived in Strasbourg in the 1430s and 1440s and is thought to have worked on his first printing experiments here.
10. The European Quarter
Strasbourg is one of the capitals of Europe: the European Parliament has its official seat here, alongside the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights. The modern buildings of the European Quarter, north-east of the centre, are worth a look from outside, especially the glass Parliament building on the river and the Court of Human Rights by Richard Rogers. Visits inside depend on sessions and need checking in advance.
11. Église Saint-Thomas
Saint-Thomas is the main Protestant church of Strasbourg, and its music history alone makes it worth a stop. Mozart played its Silbermann organ, built in 1741, during a visit in 1778, and Albert Schweitzer later served here as organist. In the choir stands the mausoleum of Marshal Maurice de Saxe, a dramatic marble group by the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, completed in 1777.
12. Eat in a winstub
A winstub is a traditional Alsatian wine tavern, with wood panelling and hearty food, and a meal in one is part of any visit. Order choucroute garnie (sauerkraut with sausages and pork), tarte flambée (a thin crust with cream, onions and bacon) or baeckeoffe, a slow-baked stew of meat and potatoes. Pair it with a local Riesling or Pinot Blanc, and finish with a slice of kougelhopf cake.
13. The Christmas market
Strasbourg's Christmas market, the Christkindelsmärik, dates back to 1570 and is one of the oldest in Europe. From late November through most of December, stalls spread across many squares of the centre, with the largest around the cathedral and on Place Broglie. It is very busy, especially at weekends, so go on a weekday morning if you can.
14. Musée Alsacien
The Musée Alsacien shows how people in Alsace lived in past centuries, set in a group of old houses on the quay of the Ill. Rooms are furnished as they were, with painted furniture, costumes, toys and tools, and a reconstructed kitchen and living room. It is a small museum, and it gives context to the half-timbered houses you see all over the region.
15. Parc de l'Orangerie
The Parc de l'Orangerie is the oldest and best-loved park in Strasbourg, across the road from the Council of Europe. It has a lake with rowing boats, shady paths and the Pavillon Joséphine, named after Napoleon's wife. Look up into the trees: storks, the symbol of Alsace, nest here, and you can see them up close from spring to summer.
How long to stay in Strasbourg
One day is enough for the cathedral, Petite France and a walk around the Grande Île. With two days you can add the European Quarter, a boat trip and one or two museums. A third day gives you time for the Alsace wine villages, such as Obernai or Riquewihr, or a trip to Colmar.
Best time to visit
May, June and September are the most pleasant months for Strasbourg, with mild weather and fewer visitors than in midsummer. December brings the Christmas market and big crowds, so book a hotel early if you come then. In winter the old town is cold but atmospheric, and the canals are often wrapped in mist.
Getting to Strasbourg
Strasbourg is easy to reach by train: the high-speed TGV from Paris takes a little under two hours, and there are good connections from Germany and Switzerland. From the main station it is about a fifteen-minute walk to the cathedral, or a short tram ride.
Frequently asked questions
Is Strasbourg worth visiting?
Yes. Strasbourg combines a UNESCO-listed old town, one of Europe's great Gothic cathedrals, Alsatian food and wine, and the institutions of the European Union.
Is Strasbourg walkable?
Yes. The Grande Île is compact and flat, and the cathedral, Petite France and the main squares are all within a short walk. A tram network covers longer distances.
What is Strasbourg famous for?
Strasbourg is known for its cathedral and astronomical clock, Petite France, its Christmas market, Alsatian cuisine and its role as a seat of European institutions.
What should I eat in Strasbourg?
Try tarte flambée, choucroute garnie and baeckeoffe in a winstub, kougelhopf from a bakery and, in winter, mulled wine at the Christmas market.
How do I play the Strasbourg scavenger hunt?
Book online, enter your booking reference in the World City Trail app and start whenever you like. Everyone in your group can follow the game on their own phone.
Play the Strasbourg scavenger hunt →
Facts checked in October 2026.