Major city · France
Strasbourg
Give Strasbourg 2 nights: one full day for the Grande Île and Petite France on foot, one for the European district or a wine-route day trip.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct; Dec for the Christmas market
- avoid Jul–Aug (crowds and heat), late Dec school holidays
- Airports
- SXB · BSL · FKB
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
Strasbourg is the capital of the Grand Est region and the seat of the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights. Its UNESCO-listed Grande Île is compact and flat, walkable end to end in about 30 minutes, so the city works as a 2-night base or as a stop on the Alsace wine route. Most visitors come for the cathedral, Petite France and the Christmas market.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Strasbourg, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).France-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.France-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise.France-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.France-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.France-wide
- SafetyStrasbourg is a safe city by day and night; the real risks are pickpockets around the cathedral and Petite France, tram fare inspectors…
- RestroomsParis has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2).France-wide
- Emergency numbers112 European emergency number · 15 ambulance (samu) · 17 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany national museums close on Monday (Orsay, Versailles, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Pompidou's temporary sites).France-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSXB Strasbourg Airport (Entzheim) (9 min by train to the central station, roughly every 15 min; buy on the platform for about €2.30 (≈ US$3)…
- Getting aroundWalk: the Grande Île is flat and compact, 20–30 min across.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a café€2–4 (≈ US$3–5)
- Beer25 cl draught / 50 cl in a bar€3–5 (≈ US$4–6)€5–8 (≈ US$6–10)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi3.1 mi taxi€14–18 (≈ US$17–25)
- Metro or bus rideCTS single tram or bus ticket€2.50 (≈ US$3)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Musée Alsacien, Œuvre Notre-Dame)€6.50–7.50 (≈ US$8–9)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, 2- or 3-star, a night, per room€140 (≈ US$170)
- High-end bedDouble room, 2- or 3-star, a night, per room€260 (≈ US$350)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €200 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SXB Strasbourg Airport (Entzheim) (9 min by train to the central station, roughly every 15 min; buy on the platform for about €2.30, or about €4 with a tram connection) · BSL Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (EuroAirport) (Bus to Saint-Louis station, then about 1 h 20 min by train to Strasbourg) · FKB Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (About 60 km away in Germany; bus to Baden-Baden Hauptbahnhof, then train with one change, 45 min–1 h)SXB Strasbourg Airport (Entzheim) (9 min by train to the central station, roughly every 15 min; buy on the platform for about €2.30, or about €4 with a tram connection) · BSL Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (EuroAirport) (Bus to Saint-Louis station, then about 1 h 20 min by train to Strasbourg) · FKB Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (About 37 mi away in Germany; bus to Baden-Baden Hauptbahnhof, then train with one change, 45 min–1 h)
Weather and climate
Strasbourg: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
4°C39°F
−1°C30°F
9 rd
Feb
6°C43°F
−1°C30°F
8 rd
Mar
11°C52°F
2°C36°F
9 rd
Apr
15°C59°F
5°C41°F
9 rd
May
20°C68°F
9°C48°F
11 rd
Jun
23°C73°F
12°C54°F
10 rd
Jul
26°C79°F
14°C57°F
10 rd
Aug
26°C79°F
14°C57°F
10 rd
Sep
21°C70°F
11°C52°F
9 rd
Oct
15°C59°F
7°C45°F
9 rd
Nov
9°C48°F
3°C37°F
9 rd
Dec
5°C41°F
0°C32°F
10 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk: the Grande Île is flat and compact, 20–30 min across. Tram and bus (CTS) cover the rest, six tram lines A–F plus BRT lines G and H; validate every ticket before boarding. Bikes are the local default: the centre is flat with dense lanes, and vélhop stations rent by the day. Trams link directly to Kehl in Germany.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Colmar
goDoor to door: About 1 h
TER train from Gare de Strasbourg, about 30 min, roughly hourly
Old town and Unterlinden museum; pairs well with the wine route.
Mulhouse
goDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
TER train, about 50 min
Car and rail museums; a full day if you do both.
Riquewihr
goDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
Train to Colmar, then bus 106 or a taxi, about 30 min
Wine-route village; buses are sparse on Sundays.
Eguisheim
goDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
Train to Colmar, then bus or taxi, about 20 min
Ring-shaped village; go early for empty streets.
Sélestat
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
TER train, about 20 min
Small centre; combine with Haut-Kœnigsbourg castle by bus or car.
Kaysersberg
goDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
Train to Colmar, then bus or taxi, about 30 min
Castle ruin above the village; steep walk up.
Saint-Louis, Haut-Rhin
skipDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
TER train toward Basel, about 1 h 10 min
Mostly useful as the EuroAirport rail link, not a sight in itself.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Grande Île (cathedral and Petite France)
Everything on foot; book early, rooms are small and priciest. Best for a first visit.
Around Gare de Strasbourg
5–10 min walk west of the centre; tram and TGV access, cheaper rooms, some street noise.
Krutenau
South-east of the cathedral across the Ill; student bars and cafés, 10–15 min walk to the centre.
European district (Wacken)
Quiet, near the Parliament and Parc de l'Orangerie; bus or tram to the old town.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €55–85 (≈ US$65–100) excl. bed
- Mid
- €90–150 (≈ US$110–180) excl. bed
- High
- €160 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, 2- or 3-star1 × 2 nights × €140 | €280 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €110 | €440 |
| SXB train to the central station, one way2 × €2 | €5 |
| CTS 24-h ticket, one person2 × €5 | €9 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 | €30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €76 |
| Trip total≈ €210 per person per day, bed included | €840≈ US$1,000 |
2026 estimate in euros; long-distance trains and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at a café | €2–4 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Tarte flambée (flammekueche) | €8–14 (≈ US$10–17) |
| Choucroute garnie in a winstub | €16–26 (≈ US$19–35) |
| Beer: 25 cl draught / 50 cl in a bar | €3–5 (≈ US$4–6) / €5–8 (≈ US$6–10) |
| CTS single tram or bus ticket | €2.50 (≈ US$3) |
| Cathedral tower climb | €8 (≈ US$10) (check) |
| Museum entry (Musée Alsacien, Œuvre Notre-Dame) | €6.50–7.50 (≈ US$8–9) |
| 5 km taxi | €14–18 (≈ US$17–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Validate your tram or bus ticket before boarding; inspectors fine on the spot.
- The cathedral astronomical clock is only shown at set times, and the tower climb has separate hours: check the official site.
- Petite France and the cathedral square are pickpocket territory in summer and at the Christmas market.
- Many shops and some restaurants close Sunday and Monday in the old town.
- Parking inside the old town is expensive; use a P+R lot and ride the tram in.
Emergency numbers
- European emergency number
- 112
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 15
- Police
- 17
- Fire
- 18
- By text, deaf callers
- 114
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
StrasbourgStrasbourg
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- European emergency number112
- Ambulance (SAMU)15
- Police17
- Fire18
Embassy
The US has a consulate general in Strasbourg; most other countries keep embassies in Paris (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- SXB → Gare de Strasbourg, train: about €2.30 (≈ US$3) on the platform, 9 min
- CTS single ticket: €2.50 (≈ US$3), validate before boarding
- Strasbourg → Paris, TGV: 1 h 50 min; book ahead for the cheapest fare
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- S'il vous plaît — Please (seel voo PLEH)
- C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kom-BYEN)
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH)
- Parlez-vous anglais ? — Do you speak English? (par-lay voo ahn-GLEH)
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Strasbourg. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct; Dec for the Christmas market · avoid Jul–Aug (crowds and heat), late Dec school holidays · month by month →
- 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SXB and BSL: last train times, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: cathedral and Grande Île, Petite France and Ponts Couverts, Krutenau, European district.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (cathedral, astronomical clock, museums) and eat pages with last orders.
- Christmas-market fixtures: dates, crowd windows and tram diversions.
Sources
- officialStrasbourg official city site
- officialVisit Alsace — Strasbourg tourist office
- officialCTS — Strasbourg public transport
- officialStrasbourg Airport
- officialSNCF Connect
- secondaryWikivoyage: Strasbourg, revision 5340053 (CC BY-SA 4.0)