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Voykit pocket guide · Germany
Kehl
Spend a half‑day in Kehl as a cheap base for Strasbourg (15 min tram) or a quick Rhine‑river stop; one night is enough.
Kehl sits on the Rhine opposite Strasbourg, offering cheap accommodation, a bilingual atmosphere and easy tram access to the French city. Its own sights – the Two‑Shore Garden, Passerelle bridge and river‑front promenade – fit into a half‑day, so most visitors stay just to sleep and shop before crossing the border.
- Country
- Germany
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, possible river fog)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Card acceptance has improved but some bakeries, bars and small restaurants are still cash only.
- Daily spend
- Budget €55–85 excl. bed · Mid €85–130 excl. bed · High €130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US devices need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.; Bar and café: Round up to the nearest euro.; Taxi: Round up by €1–2.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night, optional.; Free walking tour: €10–15 per person.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants usually sell bottled water; fizzy (mit Kohlensäure) is the default, ask for 'still' or 'ohne'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers; the 'WC' at motorway rest stops takes coins and gives a voucher.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | €2–3 |
| Bavarian pretzel | €1–2 |
| Beer (0.5 l) | €3–4 |
| Tram ticket (single) | €2.80 |
| Museum entry (Weißtannenturm) | Free |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SXB · Strasbourg Airport
- 15 min tram to Kehl
Typical fares
- Tram Kehl → Strasbourg
- ≈ €2.80, 15‑20 min
- Regional train Kehl → Gengenbach
- ≈ €5–7, 20 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Tram line D (Strasbourg) reaches Kehl station in 20‑25 min; local bus (Ortenau Mobil) serves districts; bike rentals work well on riverfront paths.
See and do
Known for
- Two‑Shore Garden (Garten der zwei Ufer)
- Passerelle des Deux Rives bridge
- Bilingual border market
- Affordable lodging near Strasbourg
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Strasbourg, France | Tram line D, 15‑20 min from Kehl station to central Petite France | ≈30 min total |
| Gengenbach | Regional train from Kehl, ~20 min | ≈45 min total |
| Europa‑Park (Rust) | Car or bus, ~35 min drive south | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- DJH Jugendherberge Kehl
- Youth hostel, cheapest option, close to train station.
- Hotel Calamus
- Modern hotel, single room €115, indoor climbing wall.
- Europa Hotel
- Classic, near tram stop, rooms from €64.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | EntschuldigungEnt-shool-dee-goong |
| Thank you | DankeDahn-kuh |
| How much is this? | Wie viel kostet das?Vee feel kost-et das? |
| Where is the tram stop? | Wo ist die Straßenbahnhaltestelle?Vo ist dee shtra-sen-bahn-hal-test-ell-uh? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo'; avoid: Hugs with people you have just met
- Names: Herr / Frau plus surname until invited to use first names; avoid: Using 'du' with officials or older strangers
- Punctuality: Arrive on time for tours, dinners and appointments; avoid: Being more than 5–10 minutes late without a message
- Queues and rules: Follow signs, wait at red lights, sort rubbish; avoid: Walking in cycle lanes
- Conversation: Direct and factual; people say what they mean; avoid: Taking directness as rudeness, or joking about the Nazi era
- Home visit: Bring flowers (odd number, not red roses) or wine; shoes off if the hosts do; avoid: Arriving early
- Paying: Say the total including tip as you pay; avoid: Leaving coins on the table and walking off
Scams and watch-outs
- Random passport checks on tram/TGV for non‑EU travelers (2025 onward).
- Last tram back to Strasbourg departs around 23:30; plan return.
- Some shops close early on Sundays.
Kehl is safe; main risk is occasional border checks for non‑EU travelers; keep valuables secure on public transport.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kehl yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Two‑Shore Garden (Garten der zwei Ufer)
- Passerelle des Deux Rives bridge
- Bilingual border market
- Affordable lodging near Strasbourg
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Kehl, revision 5250814 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5250814
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kehl). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.