Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit the Strasbourg France! Strasbourg is one of my favorite towns in France. There’s a big student population, German and French influence, and half-timbered houses. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when you visit Strasbourg, France.
Hate #1: Hotels in Strasbourg France
Strasbourg is home to the EU Parliament, which is in session nearly every month. When the EU Parliament is in session, it gets really difficult to find hotels in Strasbourg France. So you really need to plan ahead with your reservations and pay attention to the Parliament schedule and book around those dates if you can.
Hate #2: Prices in Strasbourg
Strasbourg is expensive. A half-liter of beer will cost 5-6 Euros, while dinner will cost 20-25 Euros per person. The bright side is that the prices are the same nearly everywhere, so you can go to one of the best restaurants and spend about the same as you would at a mediocre restaurant.
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Hate #3: Tourist Scams & Annoyances
Most of Strasbourg is really cleaned up and safe for tourists, but there are a few pockets where you might run into pickpockets or beggars. Chances are, you won’t even accidentally wander into these areas, so it’s not a big issue like tourist scams in other cities, just something to be aware of.
Hate #4: Isolated from France
Strasbourg is great, but it’s a bit isolated from other destination cities in France. You really have to make a point to go to Strasbourg when traveling in France. Strasbourg is all the way in the northeast of the country, while most other cities in France are in the south or west. In fact, it’s much closer to German cities like Freiburg or Frankfurt. For this reason, it’s easier to include Strasbourg on a trip through Germany, rather than France.
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Hate #5: EU Parliament
Ok, I’m stretching because there’s not much to “hate” about Strasbourg, but if you don’t agree with EU politics, it’s hard to visit the home of the Parliament. Kind of like visiting Washington DC if you don’t agree with the government in power at the time. It’s not likely to affect your trip, but can be a minor annoyance if you pay attention to politics.
Love #1: Grande Ile
One of my favorite things to do in Strasbourg is to walk around the Grande Ile, Strasbourg’s historic center. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with half-timbered houses, colorful flower boxes on each home, palaces and pedestrian plazas. Don’t miss Petite France, the most scenic area of Strasbourg.
Love #2: Strasbourg Museums
Strasbourg has some really great museums. The Museum of Contemporary & Modern Art is great, the Royal Palace museums, cathedrals and my favorite, the Musee Alsacien, Folk Museum. Any list of things to do in Strasbourg should include at least a couple of museums.
Love #3: French and German Cultures
Strasbourg bounced back and forth from being part of France and then part of Germany several times until 1944 when it was returned to France. So, Strasbourg has a really cool mix of both French and German cultures. Even the local dialect sounds like a mix of the two languages.
Love #4: Strasbourg Food & Drink
Strasbourg is a great city for eating out and drinking. With so many university students, there’s a good nightlife scene. There are also lots of bars and bistros where you can spend hours chatting and people watching. The local drink you should try is a Picon, it’s a beer with a shot of something sweet in it.
Love #5: Medieval Sights of Strasbourg
Strasbourg has so many cool medieval buildings that are still standing. From the cathedrals to the half-timbered houses, you can almost feel like you’ve stepped back 500 years. For Americans who may have a picture of Europe in their heads, Strasbourg is it. It’s just a really cool town to explore.
Strasbourg is one of my favorite cities in France, and I’ve even thought about moving here to teach. The “hates” were really a stretch for me as there are very few things not to like when you visit Strasbourg. Want more info about travel in France? Check out these other blog posts: