Strasbourg in 1 Day: all you need to know

It is quite convenient that the best things to see and do in Strasbourg can be completed in a relatively short time. Strasbourg is quite a touristy city, but at the same time it is not too big and, therefore, the main attractions can be visited in less than 24 hours.

So my recommendation is that you follow the itinerary I have planned for you, as I have organised it in a way that will allow you to get to know the most representative areas of the city. So that when you return home you can say that you know Strasbourg's greatest tourist treasures.

There are plenty of places to start your tour of Strasbourg during your visit. However, one place that stands out for its logistical convenience is the southwest end of the Grand Ile de Strasbourg where the Barrage Vauban bridge is located.

This is a bridge that doubles as a dam and is notable for its roofed structure as well as its proximity to the Petite France neighbourhood, a must-see stop on the best tours of Strasbourg.

This area is a small neighbourhood that stretches along the canals of the River III and is notable for its cobblestone streets as well as half-timbered houses dating back to medieval times. It really is the tourist epicentre of Strasbourg beyond the cathedral area and therefore a great place to have breakfast before continuing your day.

Restaurants can be found at both ends of the River III. However, my recommendation is that you do so in the cafes that are already on the shore of the Big Island, as this will allow you to move on to the next place on your itinerary more quickly. You should also keep in mind that this is a favourite area for some of the private walking and Segway tours. These could be a good alternative if you are willing to invest your money and time in the experience.

When you've had your fill and are ready to get on with your day, then take one of the diagonal streets of the Grand Isle, specifically Rue des Drapiers, straight to the famous Place Kleber. This place is the geographical epicentre of the Grand Isle of Strasbourg and is known for being surrounded by cafes and shops, as well as being home to the famous Christmas tree that is installed annually in this part of the city.

And you should know that Strasbourg is internationally known for its Christmas markets and in fact has one of the oldest on the planet. So if your visit coincides with the month of December, then it would be good to spend a couple of hours touring this square and the different stalls that will be exposed knowing that it is undoubtedly one of the best plans to do at Christmas in Strasbourg.

If your visit occurs at another time of year, then you should know that the square is also usually full of people because it is a fairly basic meeting point for social life in Strasbourg. As such, it remains an ideal place to appreciate the medieval architecture that defines this city.

Walking from Place Kleber to the cathedral of Notre Dame de Strasbourg will not be difficult, because although it is about four streets away, the path is ideal for you to appreciate the beauty that characterises the historic centre of the city.

When you reach the Place du Chateau you will have the opportunity to enjoy different historical and architectural gems of this town, including the Kammerzell, a house built during the 15th century that has an iconic wooden facade full of sculptures and dozens of windows.

The cathedral is a church known for its facade that perfectly represents the French Gothic style and also for having an astronomical clock dating from the 16th century. For several decades the building was the tallest in the world, as its bell tower is still today the tallest structure in the whole city.

In fact, if you have a two-day visit to the city of Strasbourg, my recommendation would be to opt for a guided tour of the famous church, as it is one of the most important buildings in Western Europe and with the accompaniment of a specialist you will learn many details about its history and construction.

Tour the Rohan Palace

Directly opposite the cathedral is the Rohan Palace. It is a large 18th century residence that is known for the rococo interiors of its spacious rooms. Today it is home to three different museums. The museum of fine arts, the museum of decorative arts and the museum of archaeology of the city.

On a slightly longer trip it would be a really recommended place to enjoy at a more leisurely pace. However, if you don't feel like doing any of the activities on the itinerary, then you could spend a few hours here knowing that it will be a good investment of your time.

When you've finished touring the cathedral and its surroundings, you'll need to start a walk that will take you off Strasbourg's Grand Isle to discover other parts of the city that are just as interesting. To do this, you will need to start walking in a northerly direction, as your next stop is the famous Place de la République garden.

Once you have reached the Place de la République, you will notice that the architecture changes significantly. This area was developed during the German occupation after their victory in some of the battles of the Franco-Prussian war. Today it is one of the most important squares in the city and the epicentre of its most modern sector.

To get to this site you will have different alternatives because there are five different bridges that connect this island with the Neustadt neighbourhood where the canal du Faux-Rempart is located.

On this part of the trip you will also come across the famous Palais du Rhin and the National Theatre of Strasbourg, as well as the National University Library of Strasbourg. Together with other equally large and representative buildings, these are buildings from the Neustadt area that were intended to demonstrate German power through the values of Prussian architecture.

Visit the Église réformée Saint-Paul if you are already in the area

While you are in the Neustadt area, you should also visit the reformist church of Saint Paul. It is notable for having been built during the period when Lutheranism and German Christianity were in religious control of the city and is definitely one of the greatest architectural works of this period in Strasbourg's history.

Once you have crossed the Pont d'Auverge to see St Paul's Church, you can go straight to the campus of the University of Strasbourg. This site stands out for its architecture and also for its contribution to the history of Strasbourg, because thanks to this institution it has become a city that for centuries has been a reference point for academic advances in Western Europe.

When you arrive in this part of the city, the first thing you will find is the university palace and behind this impressive building you will find the palace gardens, as well as the botanical garden. Just where the Strasbourg astronomical observatory is located, which is another building dating back to the 19th century and nowadays offers guided tours which unfortunately you won't have the time to do.

If you cross the Boulevard de la Victoire street you will find several bars and restaurants with quite affordable prices that are located in this part of the city due to the high demand of the old university public. My recommendation is that you take the opportunity to have lunch in these places to save money and to understand the true gastronomic essence of this city.

When you have eaten or simply stopped touring the University of Strasbourg area, then you should take a taxi which will cost you no more than 10 € in total. Ask him to take you in a northerly direction to get you directly to the European Parliament.

This building is impressive for its size and innovative, modern design. It also does so because it offers free guided tours from Monday to Friday for those who want to learn a little more about this legislative body, as well as the history of the European Union.

Meanwhile, if you need to know how to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg, you should know that it is not necessary to book in advance for these guided tours, but it is important that you are at this place before six in the afternoon, which will not be a problem because if you have followed the itinerary I have recommended you should be at the gates at about four in the afternoon.

Once you've had your guided tour of the European Parliament, including watching some of the plenary sessions, cross the bridge over the River III and head for the Parc de l'Orangerie. This site is the most beloved public park of the local population and is known for having been built during the 17th century, as well as for having a navigable lake and a restaurant with a terrace and a permanent waterfowl area.

It is open every day of the week until 8 pm and is therefore an excellent place to enjoy the sunset during most of the year. In fact, it is one of the best things to do in Strasbourg during the month of January and also one of the best things to do in Strasbourg during the month of November.

This is because these are two months when you can enjoy this open-air space at a time of the year when the sun usually sets quite early.

After walking through the park and enjoying the beautiful sunset, you will have one last activity to do, depending on how tired you are. Depending on where you are staying, you may be able to have dinner there. But it would be a real shame to return home without having had the opportunity to explore the authentic Alsatian gastronomy.

Therefore, my recommendation is to take a taxi back to the Grand Ile de Strasbourg, which will probably cost you no more than €10. This is so that you can sit down in a restaurant that will really convince you to spend your evening enjoying typical food from this part of the country

Munster cheese and white wine are two representative elements of the culinary world of Strasbourg and these dishes are complemented by other recipes such as the wide variety of locally produced sausages. So it would be a good idea to sit down for a meal in any of the 30 culinary establishments on the island.

Although it would be preferable to visit an authentic Alsatian tavern such as the Winstub Le Clou or La Fignette. Then you will feel like your palate will have travelled through the region as if you had taken part in some of the best day trips from Strasbourg. A gastronomic tour that takes place during the night is also an excellent alternative, especially as you will have the opportunity to get to know different establishments.

Although a 24-hour trip to the city of Strasbourg is not something that presents major challenges, it is still true that there are some decisions that can help you to increase the guarantees of success in the experience, because the truth is that with the following tips you can live a much more pleasant visit that will help you to meet all your expectations so that you will be eager to return to this destination in the near future.

Walk at your leisure and enjoy the tour

The first thing you should do during a one-day visit to Strasbourg that follows the itinerary I have suggested is to walk around at your leisure and without rushing. Despite having a wide variety of attractions, Strasbourg is relatively small and easy to navigate.

Most of these sites are within walking distance of each other, which means that a walk of less than 10 minutes will get you from one attraction to another and, specifically, in the planning I've prepared for you, you'll have a favourable route that doesn't let you waste time going in opposite directions.

Wear good coats

The city of Strasbourg is characterised by being very cold during most of the year and these temperatures will remain from autumn until almost the end of spring. It is therefore essential that you take coats that will allow you to walk comfortably even if wind or even rain are present throughout your visit.

Take a chance and try new things

Throughout the trip you will find different restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I recommend that you take the risk of trying new things, as Alsatian gastronomy stands out in the French culinary world for having a lot of German influences, which creates a wide range of flavours that are practically non-existent in other parts of the country.