A Local’s Guide to the Best Day Trips from Strasbourg

Strasbourg is a charming city, but that’s not the only reason to visit. It’s also a great base for day trips to nearby towns and attractions.

I moved to Strasbourg in 2019, and I’ve been exploring the surrounding area ever since. I go on day trips about once a week, so I know which ones are worth it.

In this guide, I’ll share some of my favorite day trips from Strasbourg and how to get there.

This is the main street in Riquewihr. It's a cobblestone road with colorful half-timbered houses on either side. It's one of the best day trips from Strasbourg. — Riquewihr

Table of Contents ▼

#1 Travel Guide

This is my Strasbourg Travel Guide. It's a 70-page e-book with things to do, food to try, itineraries, and more.

Planning a trip to Strasbourg?

I’ve been living in Strasbourg since 2019, and I’ve poured my love of this city into this 70-page e-book.

It’s full of things to do, insider tips, itineraries, and much more.

Learn More ➔

By Train

1. Wissembourg

This is the exterior of Saint Peter and Saint Paul Abbey in Wissembourg. There is the steeple and surrounding it are other buildings and flowers. — Saint Peter and Saint Paul Abbey in Wissembourg

Located in Northern Alsace, this quaint town is 50 minutes from Strasbourg by train.

And, if you’re in my Alsace Travel Tips Facebook Group, you’ve probably seen my posts where I rave about this town.

I’ve visited several times over the last couple of years, and it’s become one of my favorites in the region.

Wissembourg is known for its Saint Peter and Saint Paul Abbey, but you’ll find tons of things to do in Wissembourg.

I recommend taking the Little Tourist Train for an overview of the town’s history. I’ve done it twice and loved both trips.

Helpful Tip: Make sure to check out the websites and apps that I recommend. It will make your trip to Alsace much easier.

2. Sélestat

This is Puits de la Place du Marché aux Poissons in Seletstat. It's a small square surrounded by colorful half-timbered houses. There are trees and benches in the middle. — Puits de la Place du Marché aux Poissons in Sélestat

Sélestat is a 20-minute train ride from Strasbourg.

This is one of the lesser-visited towns, but it’s another one that’s at the top of my list.

There are tons of things to do here, but it’s most known for its Humanist Library, which houses rare manuscripts and books.

I recommend walking Sélestat’s Heritage Trail.

It’s a self-guided walking tour that passes by all the key historical sites. You can pick up a free booklet (with all the stops) at the tourist office or any museum.

3. Colmar

This is a set of traditional buildings along Grand Rue in Colmar. They are decorated with lights and ornaments because I took this photo during the Christmas market. — Colmar at Christmas

Only a 30-minute train ride from Strasbourg, Colmar is the easiest day trip on this list (and the most popular).

It’s known for its colorful buildings, winding canals, and Christmas markets.

There’s also a ton of great museums.

I loved the Village Hansi & its Museum.

It covers the life’s work of one of the most famous artists and illustrators of the region, Jean-Jacques Waltz, aka Hansi.

After you’ve wandered through Colmar and stopped by a museum, I recommend doing a wine tasting at Domaine Martin Jund.

It’s one of the best wineries in town.

By Bus or Car

4. Champ du Feu

This is Champ du Feu in winter. There is snow on the ground and a trail leading to section of snow covered trees. — Champ du Feu in Winter

Champ du Feu is a picturesque mountain plateau located in the Vosges mountains. And believe it or not, it is in Alsace.

The reason it’s on this list is that it offers year-round activities.

I’ve visited in summer and winter, and loved both seasons. In winter, you can go skiing, snowshoeing, and even sledding.

Then, in summer, there are tons of hiking trails.

It’s also very easy to get to from Strasbourg. You can drive or take the bus; both take 60 minutes.

If you opt for the bus, in summer take Bus 257 (via Mont Sainte-Odile), and in winter take the Navettes des Neiges (Bus 258).

Helpful Tip: Reservations are required in winter. You can buy tickets on the bus or at CTBR (14 Place des Halles, 67000 Strasbourg).

5. Kaysersberg

This is Rue du Général de Gaulle in Kaysersberg. It's a cobblestone street with half-timbered houses. In the center there is the Constantine Fountain and baskets of flowers. — Rue du Général de Gaulle in Kaysersberg

Kaysersberg is a 60-minute drive from Strasbourg.

But you can also get there by taking a train to Colmar and then taking a public bus, the Kutzig tourist bus, or the Navettes de Noël.

Helpful Tip: If you opt for using public transport, the journey takes about 90 minutes.

Kasyersberg is one of my favorite places to visit because there is so much to do.

There’s the infamous Kaysersberg Castle, which offers stunning views of the valley, the endless rows of colorful half-timbered houses, fantastic wineries, hiking trails, and the Schweitzer Center.

6. Riquewihr

This is a row of traditional houses in Riquewihr. They are all different colors and are draped in hanging vines. There are two people walking down the cobble street. — Traditional Houses in Riquewihr

Riquewihr is a 60-minute drive from Strasbourg.

But you can also take a train to Colmar and then take a public bus, the Kutzig tourist bus, or the Navettes de Noël.

Helpful Tip: If you opt for using public transport, the journey takes about 60 minutes.

Riquewihr is one of those postcard-perfect villages that Alsace is known for.

And despite its size, there is enough to do here to keep you busy for most of the day.

It’s also home to the Dopff winery, two fascinating museums, and the delicious choucroute verte (a must-try regional dish).

Conclusion

While Strasbourg has a ton of things to see and do, it’s also a great base for exploring the rest of Alsace.

If I had to pick my favorite day trips, I would choose Wissembourg, Champ du Feu, and Riquewihr.

Each one shows a different part of Alsace’s culture, and the combination gives a nice overview of the region.

And now that you know which destinations are accessible from Strasbourg, why not pick an area to stay in?

I hope you enjoyed my post and found it helpful. Here are some other articles that I think you might find interesting.