Strasbourg Day Trip Guide: Best Things to Do in One Day

On Day 12 of our European adventure, we decided to leave our base in Colmar for a quick 35-minute train ride to the historic city of Strasbourg as we decides it was a must-see. Here is how the two cities compare.
The first thing that comes to mind is that you have woken up inside of a postcard; the only item missing is your Lederhosen. This town is a real-life fairy tale, with its cobblestone streets, Boulangerie Pâtisseries, its many restaurants, crêpes shops and so much more.

Early morning was the perfect opportunity to take photos without the crowds. With the markets stocking their fresh fruit and veggies, the smell of freshly cooked baguettes, it was just another day in Colmar.

We were going to do the wineries today, except we had a bit of a sleep-in (7am). Instead we chose to visit Strasbourg, which is only a 35-minute fast train ride away, and we’ll do the wineries tomorrow. Today was also cooler and the sun was out and still walking around in shorts and a shirt.

Best Things to Eat in Strasbourg: Tarte Flambée & Local Specialties

Arriving in Strasbourg, we wandered through Petite France—a little like Colmar’s Little Venice, but more spread out and with fewer people to weave through. Restaurants were preparing for the lunchtime rush, and we were about ready to eat. Prices in Strasbourg are typically 2 to 5 euros cheaper for a main meal, drinks costing about the same as in Colmar. One dish you’ll see everywhere is the tarte flambée (Flammekueche): it looks like a pizza, but comes on an ultra-thin crust without a sauce base.

Before lunch though, we couldn’t resist riding the carousel. “Why not?” we said—it had been years since either of us had climbed onto one. We each chose a horse, and as the ride sprang to life, the music began and around we went. The lights and melodies brought back early childhood memories.

Traditional Sauerkraut with bacon and 3 types of sausage

A little giddy, we struggled to hop off, especially when the horse was at its highest point and nobody was going to lift us down. Off we went to Cathédrale Notre-Dame. The sheer size of it is overwhelming—it was the tallest building in the world for over 200 years. Inside, the vast space is arranged with rows of chairs rather than pews lining the aisles, and some of the stained-glass windows date back to the 12th century.

The cathedral also houses a huge astronomical clock, where figures of Jesus and the saints appear at intervals throughout the day. The Pillar of Angels, depicting the Last Judgement with Christ at the top, along with many other sculptures, all tell a story and add to the grandeur. A visit here is truly worthwhile. Admission is free, though you do have to line up—but the queue moves very quickly.

Time to eat! We both settled on sharing a mushroom tarte flambée, an Alsatian specialty. Its base is paper-thin, topped with a tangy cheese (not just any cheese will do), then sprinkled with mushrooms, onions, and a little bacon. It's simple yet delicious and was far better than any thin-crust pizza—it's now a new favourite food.

Tarte flambée a new favourite

Making our way back to the station we came to the Barrage Vauban, built in the 17th century for defense. It was essentially a weir wall, where gates could be raised or lowered to flood the river and halt advancing troops from entering the city. You can walk underneath, where many statues are displayed—likely removed from churches for restoration and from the top, there is also a wonderful view across old Strasbourg.

The locks are still in use today but mainly serve tourists on canal tours. It’s impressive to watch as the chambers fill and empty as boats pass smoothly along the waterways.

Strasbourg is a lovely city, and you certainly need more than just a day to explore it properly. Even so, a short visit gives you a taste of the charm and beauty of the Alsace region.

Barrage Vauban in Strasbourg

Arriving back in Colmar we settled in with a drink at the Deer and Beer, just down from our accommodation. They have a beer named after them so I decided to try one—though I didn’t realize it was mixed with a shot of Jägermeister. In Australia, you would usually take the Jägermeister as a shot first and then drink the beer, but here it’s combined into one. It wasn’t to my taste, but at 9 euros I forced myself to drink the concoction.

That night we dined at the little French restaurant just around the corner from us where I chose a traditional three sausage and sauerkraut dish and Leanne had Veal scaloppini followed by a few glasses of wine to finish off the evening.