Best Day Trips from Strasbourg

Undoubtedly the best things to do in Strasbourg have to do with getting to know its neighborhoods full of medieval buildings as well as enjoying the public parks and its beautiful canals. However, another of the great attractions that go unnoticed in tourism in this city are the excursions that take you to know other parts of Alsace, which is this part of France that is distinguished by its historical, culinary and commercial connections with neighboring Germany.

So I recommend you to continue reading this publication that I have prepared for you, because in it I group you different alternatives of excursions to the outskirts of Strasbourg that are distinguished by their convenience and quality, which will help you enormously to make a decision in case you have a trip long enough so that you can dedicate a couple of hours to know the surroundings of this beautiful European city.

One of the first alternatives you have at your disposal when it comes to an excursion from Strasbourg are those tours that take care of visiting the nearest villages and towns, which are characterized by beautiful and authentic Franco-German architecture. The city of Colmar, which is located south of the Strasbourg metropolitan area, is usually one of the first stops and is distinguished by being part of the Alsatian wine route.

Eguisheim is usually another site visited in this type of excursion and is known not only for its architecture, but also for having been the birthplace of Pope Leo IX. It is likely that the experience will also include some of the walled villages in the area, but undoubtedly the great protagonist of this type of tours along Alsace and the Rhine River is the visit to the castle of Haut Koenigsbourg. It is a fortress located on top of a mountain dating from the twelfth century and has recently been restored.

Definitely an excursion with these characteristics is the perfect complement to some of the best tours of the city of Strasbourg knowing that help you understand a little more the development of the architectural style of Alsace in other parts of this region. From the experience you have to know that this is a guided tour. In addition, it is most often a transfer for a small group of people.

It is definitely a recommended plan for the whole family although you have to know that food and drink are not included. However, there is the opportunity to have lunch at one of the stops along the route.

Details of interest

• Price: the price of an excursion like this is around 175 euros per person. Cheaper rates may be available for minors.
• Duration: as it is an itinerary that visits a city and several villages and even a castle, it is logical to know that it takes about nine hours in total.
• Means of transportation: it is almost always a small bus, although it could also be a minivan, depending on the number of participants.
• Advantages of this option: it is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the history and culture of Alsace and at the same time it is a good entertainment for people of all ages.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is a significantly long activity that does not fit into the tourist itinerary of many families.

Alsace is a region of France that is not only distinguished by its curious architecture and its historical relationship with Germany, it also has a thriving wine industry. In fact, it is an area with its own appellation of origin and, therefore, other of the best tours departing from Strasbourg are those that focus on touring the vineyards and wineries.

Of this type of experience you have to know that the most common is that there are stops in two or three cities that are directly related to the production of the famous white wine that comes from this part of France. You should also know that it is a slightly shorter excursion and, therefore, you have the alternative of choosing between a morning ride or an afternoon ride.

It is almost always a tour reserved for a very limited group of people and the most common is not only to travel in a vehicle through the area of the Alsace wine route, but also to have a stop in at least two family wineries. This is to do a tasting of the types of white wine produced in this part of northeastern France.

There are usually no stops for lunch or breakfast on this itinerary and, therefore, it is recommended to start the tour after having eaten. However, you should know that the experience offers you the accompaniment of a guide specialized in the history of the villages you will visit, as well as in everything that has to do with the wine world of Alsace. Most often there is a meeting point in the center of Strasbourg and, therefore, a direct transfer to the hotel is not usually offered.

Details of interest

• Price: an excursion like this is usually around 110 euros per person and there is no difference in the price per age group because it is recommended for adults only.
• Duration: the average duration of an excursion from Strasbourg that focuses on the Alsace wine route is about four hours in total.
• Means of transportation: as this is an experience for a maximum of eight people, it will almost always be a minibus or minivan.
• Advantages of this option: this alternative is very favorable for those who consider themselves wine lovers and wish to learn a little more about wine production in the French northeast.
• Disadvantages of this option: as it is an adults-only excursion, it may be unfavorable as an entertainment alternative for family travelers.

Another highly recommended type of excursion that leaves from Strasbourg to the villages of Alsace is one that occurs during a very specific time of the year. And it is those tours that are in charge of going to the different Christmas markets that are organized in the towns and cities near Strasbourg, all because it is one of the most special traditions for this French region.

The most common is that Colmar is included in the itinerary because it is characterized by having the second largest Christmas fair in Alsace. In addition, as this is a guided tour, you will not only learn about the history of these communities but also about the development of this Christmas tradition that has been taking place during the whole month of December in most of these towns for a couple of centuries.

It is definitely an excellent opportunity for you to taste the typical gastronomy of this time of the year, as well as to enjoy the beauty that characterizes these towns with medieval architecture, but now under the typical Christmas illumination and decoration. Carols and shopping are also part of this experience and without a doubt it is a highly recommended plan for families traveling with small children.

So an excursion like this is one of the best things to do in Strasbourg during Christmas, although you should keep in mind that food and beverage expenses are not included in the experience. Neither are the entrance fees you pay if you wish to visit museums and attractions in the towns that are part of the itinerary.

Details of interest

• Price: the approximate rate is about 130 euros per person, although children under 12 years of age usually pay less.
• Duration: it usually lasts about seven hours on average, but it is also possible that the tour may take a little longer depending on traffic and weather.
• Means of transportation: as this is a tour for a very limited number of people, it is usually a minibus or even a minivan.
• Advantages of this option: it is an excellent way to learn a little about this important tradition so distinctive of this part of France and at the same time it is ideal to learn a little more about the cultural mixtures that occurred due to German influences.
• Disadvantages of this option: although you have 31 days to enjoy these excursions it is true that there is a high demand and, therefore, it is usually recommended to book well in advance.

There are different options when it comes to booking an excursion from Strasbourg, but my recommendation is to go for an online purchase of the service for different reasons. One of them has to do with the fact that there are almost always more competitive rates and that you can make the purchases from the comfort of your home with enough months in advance.

Another reason why this option is more convenient is the fact that you get to know the opinions of other people who have already had the excursion you are interested in experiencing. However, if this idea does not convince you, then you can choose to visit some of the tourist agencies that are located within the city of Strasbourg, but this alternative presents greater challenges.

And that is that you will have to adjust to some prices that are not necessarily convenient for your tourist budget. That while at the same time there is no guarantee that there will be availability on the excursions you are interested in for the dates and times that are most convenient for you.

The average duration of most tours from Strasbourg varies between 5 and 8 hours. However, it is also possible that you may encounter slightly longer itineraries depending on the traffic or the number of towns and cities visited. For this reason, it is quite important that you analyze very well your participation in this type of tours before buying the service, because if they last many hours they may not fit into the itinerary of a two-day visit to Strasbourg.

At the same time, if you do not have much time to spend in this city, but you are still interested in touring its surroundings, then you can bet on a guided tour of the city center. That knowing that they favorably shorten the tourist exploration so that you can dedicate the rest of your visit to an excursion that will also take you to sites of historical and cultural importance.

In this type of excursions you will usually find a wooded and slightly hilly landscape that resembles very much that of eastern Germany because the Alsace region extends along the Rhine River, located just between the French border with neighboring Germany. Likewise, the villages that are included in these types of itineraries are often characterized by medieval architecture that blends many German patterns, but under the French aesthetic and urban planning.

Likewise, if you are making a single day trip to Strasbourg and are worried about the fact that you will not be able to participate in these tours, then you should know that the Grand Isle area of Strasbourg and specifically the neighborhood of La Petite France are very similar to the aesthetics of the villages that are part of these tours.

The first recommendation that I can make so that you enjoy to the maximum an excursion from Strasbourg is that you choose an alternative that has to do with your interests. It does not make sense to participate in a tour oriented to the wine route if you do not like this drink.

Another recommendation I can make is that although these plans are recommended in summer, it is better to opt for them at other times. And this type of excursions are part of the best things to do in January in Strasbourg or even the best things to do in Strasbourg during the month of November for the simple fact that the tourist demand is quite low, which means that you will find the possibility to enjoy the cities and villages that make up Alsace with more tranquility.

The price of an excursion from Strasbourg always varies between 100 and 180 euros and this has to do with the fact that these are exclusive experiences oriented to limited groups of people that also include the accompaniment of a professional guide. So they definitely represent an economic investment, but at the same time they are an indisputable guarantee of enjoyment and comfort.

Moreover, the fact that they allow you to explore one of the most important cultural traditions in Europe such as the Christmas markets of the French northeast is a real privilege. So at the end of the day these prices translate into your participation in one of the best things to do in Strasbourg during the month of December.

One of the first reasons why it is advisable to opt for a guided tour when it comes to excursions around Strasbourg is the fact that you don't have to worry about any logistical aspects. That's because you are only paying a single amount that guarantees you transportation, guided accompaniment and safety.

Another reason is the fact that you actually learn about the sites you are visiting, which is something that is not guaranteed when you have to deal with a visit on your own where there are language and even economic barriers. This knowing that sometimes you have to pay entrance fees for each of the monuments you visit in the villages and if you want an audio guide or the accompaniment of a specialist then you have to pay even higher figures.

You have to know that in the same way these criteria apply to visit other parts of Strasbourg. It is important to know how to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg to avoid mistakes and, in this context, a guided tour is the best alternative when it comes to investing your time and money wisely.