Our 5 favorite things to do in Strasbourg (and 3 things we wish we’d done!)

If you stay on the Grand Île, which we highly recommend, you’ll be staying in the midst of one huge UNESCO World Heritage Site. So, spoiler alert, right up front: one of the best things to do in Strasbourg is just to look around you. Winter or summer, much of this city is the definition of picturesque. Bring. A. Camera. But photography ended up being only one of our favorite things to do in Strasbourg.

One of the benefits of staying in what amounts to a gigantic, open-air museum is that there’s so, so much to do. Of all the things we tried to get out and do – despite how very cold it was while we were there!) – here are our 5 favorites, and three things we’re super bummed to have missed, but super excited to do next time.

What we loved about Strasbourg:

Interior of the Strasbourg train station

Is this Disney, orrr…?

Architecture, up close

Sunset views on Strasbourg

• Exploring the canals and architecture of Petite France. Most of these beautiful timber structures were constructed in the 1500-1600s. While they used to accommodate the artisans and craftsman of the time, they’ve now been repurposed into a wide array of restaurants, shops, businesses, hotels, and private homes. But what’s most stunning is how faithfully most have been preserved and restored. Make sure you spend a fair bit of time walking through these tiny, winding streets – most are only pedestrian-wide, so you can take it slow and really enjoy looking up and around you.
• Arriving at that masterpiece of a train station. Honestly, most train stations are built for one purpose: to make sure people get in and get out in one piece and on time. The majority don’t make you catch your breath a little when you step out of the train. Strasbourg defies the odds here, as its Art Deco flourishes near each of the bays greet you as soon as you disembark. Walking towards the station, proper, you see a a bit of Mid-Century/modern tiling. And then you walk into station, and you’re right back to Belle Epoque/Art Deco loveliness, complete with statues, stained glass, and decorative soaring ceilings. And don’t forget to look outside – there you’ll find a hyper-modern wind break enclosing the exterior of the station, time boards, and escalators down to the buses.

Boyfriend Perspective: Arriving at the train station with a clear and singular focus of getting to the apartment, you may not ever look around in the station or behind after your leave. Coming back to the station leave the city is a completely different experience. The size of the modern, all-glass station is something to behold and looks like it could be Apple HQ, but it is a bubble protecting the beautifully vintage train station of Strasbourg within.

Selfie time 😉

MAGIC.

The Barrage over the canal at sunset

• Seeing the Astronomical Clock (even though it was under construction). So, we read lots of reviews saying not to bother paying for the “show” – that is, when the clock strikes and all the mechanical bits do their thing. So, we didn’t. But it doesn’t really matter. Even when this HUGE clock is hiding behind restoration scaffolding, it’s still pretty damn magnificent to behold. The craftsmanship is clear, and knowing that you’re standing in front of one of the few clocks of its type – and in a stunning cathedral, no less! – makes the experience impressive, all on its own.
• Touring Notre Dame de Strasbourg cathedral. Speaking of stunning cathedrals, this is the home to the astronomical clock and some of the most stunning architecture in the city. As you walk through all these old streets, almost completely lined with medieval buildings, it’s hard not to be overwhelmed – not just with how breathtaking the place is, but with how impressing and meaningful it must have been to medieval pilgrims and visitors coming to this amazing place from tiny towns and villages. And to add to the magic, we actually got to listen to an incredibly gifted cellist busking in the square in front of the cathedral. I mean, come on. Stop. How cool can this get?!

Vauban Barrage bridge panorama

• The views from the terrace of the Vauban Barrage. Okay, we’re bloggers, so getting The Photo is always important. But this was one of those stops that was just an absolute pleasure. The barrage is open most of the day as a foot bridge across the canal, but during certain times, you can ascend a couple flights of stairs and head out onto the patio to enjoy some incredible panoramas on the oldest part of Grand Île.

Boyfriend Perspective: Gated open rooms along the foot path of the Barrage were home to gargoyles that had either been replaced or were awaiting repair (we aren’t entirely sure) but it was the closest we will probably ever get to them since usually they are perched high above. And also, when they’re at face-level at low light in an enclosed space, they’re frickin’ creepy. Just sayin’.

What we wish we could’ve done in Strasbourg:

Neustadt district, by Edelseider – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45944074

Church of St Pierre le Jeune, by © Ralph Hammann – Wikimedia Commons – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10909825

• Visited the Neustadt district. One of the great parts about Strasbourg is its heavily German-influenced heritage (thanks, obviously, to its close proximity to what’s now the border). And there’s almost nowhere in the city that’s more clear than the Neustadt district, with its distinct architecture and layout. Its complete opposition to the style of the rest of the city makes it noteworthy and certainly worth exploring.
• Tried more local food. If it comes down to food or sight-seeing, I’m afraid both of us will often choose sight-seeing. This is probably why I had a couple of noticeable blood sugar drops on this trip! Ha! But in a place that does have such famous mixed heritage, it’s worth it to make more time for trying traditional, unique dishes, and we wish we’d made just a little more time to explore this aspect of the city.

Boyfriend Perspective: I’m going to blame being popsicles for us not trying enough of the local cuisine. When all focus is on keeping your extremities from being frostbitten, all you can think about are simple, comforting foods like pastries and coffee. These become more welcome compared to pushing gastronomic boundaries. Our next trip will be planned in a warmer season (or Arctic-level coats will be bought!) so that we can relax a bit more in this diverse town.

• Explored the church of Saint Pierre le Jeune. Churches are one of those places you just have to visit, and this one looks absolutely stunning on the inside. Its history is also incredibly fascinating, both because of its famous Silbermann organ, its structures dating back beyond the 11th century, and the fact that it’s an extremely rare shared Catholic and Protestant place of worship.

Have you ever been to Strasbourg? What was your favorite part of your trip! Share with us below!

And if you enjoyed, please repin for later! 🙂