Strasbourg
Self-declared Capitale de Noël since 1570, and the title is deserved: half-timbered Petite France under fairy lights, a market spread across a dozen squares and a cathedral rising pink and improbable above it all.
- Best forCouples · Foodies · Culture seekers
- In December7°C · 16 rainy days
- Ideal stay2–3 nights
- Approx. flying time~11h 45m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageFrench
- Local time13:381h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / EBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+33
Why go
The old city sits on an island in the Ill, with a sandstone cathedral the colour of rose gold and a quarter of half-timbered houses leaning over the water. Alsace has been French and German by turns, and the food, the dialect and the architecture all carry both. It is compact, walkable and greener than expected, with the European institutions in their own quarter to the north.
December is why many people come, when the Christmas market fills a dozen squares and rooms sell out months ahead. The rest of the year is calmer and cheaper, and spring along the wine route towards Colmar is lovely. Two or three nights covers the city, with a day added for the vineyards. Trains from Paris take under two hours, which makes a short break easy.
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- The vibe
- Half-timbered, festive, Franco-German
From our guides
Drink vin chaud beside the canals, eat choucroute in a centuries-old winstub and take the Alsace wine route to Colmar for a second helping. Book accommodation months ahead for December — the secret is comprehensively out.
Featured in Ten cosy winter city breaks for two
Things to do
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Cathedral and astronomical clock
A single-spired Gothic cathedral in pink sandstone, once the tallest building in the world. The Renaissance clock performs its apostle procession once a day.
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Petite France
The old tanners' quarter, all half-timbered houses, locks and canals. Busy by day, and much better at breakfast time or after the evening crowds thin.
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The Christmas market
Running since 1570 and spread across squares throughout the centre, each with a different speciality. Vin chaud, bredele biscuits and a great deal of tinsel.
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Choucroute in a winstub
Sauerkraut cooked in Riesling under a pile of pork and sausage, served in the panelled Alsatian taverns known as winstubs. One portion feeds most people twice.
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The Alsace wine route
A road south through Riesling and Gewürztraminer villages towards Colmar and Riquewihr, all geraniums and timber frames. Easy by train to Colmar, better by car.
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Boat trip on the Ill
A loop around the island past the cathedral, Petite France and the European Quarter, with locks along the way. The simplest way to grasp the city's layout.
Getting there
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Fly to
Strasbourg (SXB)
Nearest airport to Strasbourg, about 10km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Strasbourg
About 20 minutes from Strasbourg (SXB) on the shuttle train to the central station. The TGV from Paris takes under two hours and is often the better way in.
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On the ground
Getting around
The centre sits on an island ringed by water and is comfortably walked, with Petite France and the cathedral markets all within it. Trams handle anything further out.
Public transport: Very good trams and buses, and regional trains run out to Colmar and the Alsace wine villages.
Flights
Los Angeles Strasbourg, France
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Roughly 11h 45m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 6°C in January to 25°C in August. Wettest in December, with rain on about 16 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
December7° · rain 16 daysCold and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Historic hotels in timbered buildings, French mid-range chains around the station and a big apartment market. Rooms in the old town tend to be small and reached by stairs.
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Best base overall
Grande Île
The island holding the cathedral and most of the Christmas market squares, so you sleep inside the event rather than commuting to it. Expect crowds outside your door all December.
Find stays in Grande Île -
Best for couples
Petite France
The half-timbered canal quarter at the western end of the island, the prettiest corner and the busiest photo stop. Rooms are small, historic and heavily booked.
Find stays in Petite France -
Best value
Krutenau
Just across the water south east of the centre, a student and restaurant district with cheaper rooms and a ten-minute walk in. Livelier at night and far less touristy.
Find stays in Krutenau -
Best with children
Neustadt
The grand German-built quarter around the university and Place de la République, with larger apartments, parks and the tram. Quiet streets and easier parking.
Find stays in Neustadt
Worth knowing before you book: December rooms are taken by summer and rates multiply, while the market's security cordon closes streets to cars, so check access if you are driving.
Search everything else in Strasbourg by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Book ahead
- Accommodation for the December market is taken months in advance and prices climb sharply. Consider staying in Colmar or a wine village and travelling in.
- Getting there
- High-speed trains from Paris take under two hours, and Basel and Frankfurt airports are both within reach by train.
- Cycling
- The city is flat and has one of the densest cycle networks in France, with a public hire scheme. It is genuinely the fastest way to cross town.
- Crowds
- Market weekends bring security checks and one-way pedestrian systems in the centre. Weekday mornings are far more pleasant.
- Language
- French is the language of business, but Alsatian and German are widely understood, and menus often carry Germanic dish names.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Europa-Park
Germany · 36km away →
Baden-Baden
Germany · 41km away →
The Alsace wine route
France · 63km away →
The Lake Constance loop
Germany, Austria and Switzerland · 148km away →
Mosel Valley
Germany · 156km away →
Rigi Railways
Switzerland · 179km away →Elsewhere in France
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Strasbourg?
Daytime highs run from about 6°C in January to 25°C in August. Wettest in December, with rain on about 16 days.
How long should I spend in Strasbourg?
Our suggestion: 2–3 nights.
How do I get to Strasbourg?
About 20 minutes from Strasbourg (SXB) on the shuttle train to the central station. The TGV from Paris takes under two hours and is often the better way in.
Do I need a car in Strasbourg?
No. Very good trams and buses, and regional trains run out to Colmar and the Alsace wine villages.
What currency and language are used in Strasbourg?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: French. Plugs: type C and E.
Who is Strasbourg best for?
Best for couples, foodies and culture seekers. In a phrase: half-timbered, festive, Franco-German.