A Local’s Guide to Getting to Alsace

I moved to Alsace in 2019 and, as you have probably guessed, I love to travel.

So, I am always looking for the quickest and least expensive ways to get to and from Alsace.

And it isn’t always the same.

For example, if I am returning from a trip to see my mom in Chicago, I fly into Charles de Gaulle (Paris) and take a TGV train to Strasbourg.

But, if I am coming home from a vacation in the south of France, I opt to travel by train because there is a direct TGV train from Marseille to Strasbourg.

In this guide, I’ll share the best travel options for getting to Alsace as well as tips to make your journey as seamless as possible.

This is the main entrance to the Gare de Strasbourg. Taking the train is one of the easiest ways of getting to Alsace.
Gare de Strasbourg

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Where is Alsace?

Alsace is a region in eastern France, bordering Germany and Switzerland.

It has three main transportation hubs: Strasbourg, Colmar, and Mulhouse.

And, of these three, Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace, and Mulhouse have the most connections with France and the rest of Europe.

Colmar, on the other hand, has the most options for regional transportation within Alsace, particularly along the Alsace Wine Route.

Transportation Options

By Air

This is the parking lot and main entrance to the Strasbourg Airport. There is the main building and cars are parked in the lot.
Strasbourg Airport

The nearest airports are Strasbourg Airport, EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, Paris’ Charles de Gaulle and Orly, and Frankfurt International Airport.

Below, I’ll cover how to get from each one to Strasbourg:

  • Strasbourg Airport: Located in Entzheim, this airport is 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Strasbourg. You can either take the local TER train (10 minutes), rent a car, or take a taxi to get to Strasbourg.
  • EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg: Located in Saint Louis, this airport sits on the border of all three countries. You’ll first need to take a shuttle to the Saint Louis train station, from where you can take a local TER train to Mulhouse, Colmar, or Strasbourg.
  • Charles de Gaulle Airport: Located in Paris, this airport is a major international hub. From there, you can take a high-speed TGV train directly to Strasbourg (approx. 2 hours).
  • Orly: This is the other airport in Paris, but, unlike CDG, it doesn’t have direct trains to Strasbourg. From the airport, you’ll need to take the RER B train to Gare de l’Est, from where you can take a train directly to Strasbourg. The journey is about 3 hours.
  • Frankfurt International Airport: Located in Germany, this airport offers both trains and a direct bus to Strasbourg. By train, the journey takes about 2 hours with two transfers. Then, Lufthansa provides a bus transfer to Strasbourg if you fly with them. The bus ticket has to be booked when you buy your plane ticket.

Helpful Tip: Colmar is a 30-minute train ride from Strasbourg, and Mulhouse is a 60-minute train ride from Strasbourg.

Of these options, I almost always fly in and out of CDG airport. It’s the cheapest and easiest option for me personally.

But it depends on where you are flying in and out of.

I have members in my Alsace Travel Tips Facebook group who only use Frankfurt International Airport and others who only use EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg.

They are all valid options, and it’s best to use the most convenient airport for your trip.

By Train

This is the front of a TGV train that is parked at the train station in Strasbourg. This is the train I took from the airport in Paris to Alsace.
TGV Train at Strasbourg’s Train Station

In general, France is a very easy country to travel around by train. And Alsace is well-connected to other parts of France and Europe by train.

For long-distance travel, there is the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse), a high-speed train.

Helpful Tip: OUIGO is a cheaper alternative to the TGV.

And, for short distances, there are the regional TER (Transport Express Régional) trains.

I buy my tickets on the official SNCF-Connect website or on Omio.

For TGV trains, I buy my tickets as soon as they’re available, as prices usually increase closer to the travel date.

For TER trains, I buy my tickets while I am running to the train. Prices are fixed, and seats are not assigned, so I always purchase them the same day I travel.

Below is a list of cities that are connected to Alsace by train (travel times are to Strasbourg):

France:

  • Paris: Direct trains to Strasbourg and Colmar (2 hours).
  • Lyon: Direct trains to Strasbourg and Colmar (4 hours).
  • Dijon: Direct trains to Mulhouse, Colmar, and Strasbourg (4 hours).
  • Marseille: Direct trains to Strasbourg and Colmar (6 hours).
  • Bordeaux: Direct trains to Strasbourg (5 hours).
  • Lille: Direct trains to Strasbourg (3 hours).
  • Montpellier: Direct trains to Strasbourg and Colmar (6 hours).

Helpful Tip: Direct trains from Lille, Bordeaux, and Montpellier are available once or twice per day. All other trains require a transfer, usually in Paris.

Outside of France:

  • Basel: Direct trains to Mulhouse, Colmar, and Strasbourg (approx. 1 hour).
  • Brussels: Direct trains to Strasbourg (4 hours).
  • Stuttgart: Direct trains to Strasbourg (1.5 hours).
  • Luxembourg: Direct trains to Strasbourg and Mulhouse (2 hours).
  • Frankfurt: Direct trains to Strasbourg (2 hours).

Helpful Tip: The direct train from Frankfurt to Strasbourg departs from Frankfurt am Main Hbf (i.e., Frankfurt’s main train station) and not the airport.

By Car

This is me, Jen Ciesielski, taking a photo of myself in the driver's side mirror. This is the car I drove from Montpelier to Strasbourg.
Me Driving from Montpelier to Strasbourg

If you prefer the flexibility and freedom of driving, renting a car is also a viable option for traveling to Alsace.

The city is well-connected by highways, and there are plenty of rental car companies available at all the airports listed above.

Below is a list of distances and driving times to Strasbourg:

France:

  • Paris to Strasbourg: 491 kilometers (305 miles), 5 hours.
  • Lyon to Strasbourg: 493 kilometers (306 miles), 5 hours.
  • Dijon to Strasbourg: 331 kilometers (205 miles), 3.5 hours.
  • Marseille to Strasbourg: 800 kilometers (497 miles), 8 hours.
  • Bordeaux to Strasbourg: 931 kilometers (578 miles), 10 hours.
  • Lille to Strasbourg: 524 kilometers (325 miles), 5.5 hours.
  • Montpellier to Strasbourg: 791 kilometers (491 miles), 8 hours.

Outside of France:

  • Basel to Strasbourg: 136 kilometers (84 miles), 1.5 hours.
  • Brussels to Strasbourg: 440 kilometers (273 miles), 4.5 hours.
  • Frankfurt to Strasbourg: 207 kilometers (128 miles), 2.5 hours.
  • Luxembourg to Strasbourg: 259 kilometers (160 miles), 3 hours.

I’ve driven from Paris to Strasbourg, Montpellier to Strasbourg, and Dijon to Strasbourg.

While the drives were nice and there were plenty of things to see along the way, I prefer taking the train to Alsace.

It’s faster, and renting a car in Strasbourg is cheaper than in most other cities, especially Paris.

By Bus

This is a BlaBlaCar Bus parked at the bus station in Strasbourg. It's a large pink bus with the word BlaBla Car written on the front.
BlaBlaCar Bus at Strasbourg’s Bus Station

One of the most affordable ways to get to Alsace is by bus.

Both Flixbus and BlaBlaCar operate in Alsace and stop in cities like Strasbourg, Colmar, and Mulhouse.

This is my least favorite option because most long-distance buses travel at night, and I never sleep on the bus. I usually arrive tired and disgruntled.

Below are the long-distance bus routes that travel to Strasbourg:

France:

  • Paris to Strasbourg: 6-13 hours
  • Lyon to Strasbourg: 7 hours
  • Marseille to Strasbourg: 13-17 hours
  • Lille to Strasbourg: 10-12 hours

Outside of France:

  • Amsterdam to Strasbourg: 12-16 hours
  • Basel to Strasbourg: 2.5 hours
  • Brussels to Strasbourg: 6-12 hours
  • Frankfurt to Strasbourg: 4-5 hours
  • Luxembourg to Strasbourg: 3 hours

Helpful Tip: Strasbourg has one main bus terminal – Gare Routière de Strasbourg (Bus & Autocar) (Address: 1 Parc de l’Étoile).

Conclusion

In general, Alsace is very easy to get to. It’s well-connected by roads, trains, and buses from within France and neighboring European countries.

If I am traveling from abroad, I almost always opt to fly into Paris (CDG airport) and then take the train to Strasbourg.

I have also driven from Paris, Dijon, and Montpellier to Strasbourg. And this would be my second most preferred option because there are so many places to stop along the way.

My least favorite option is the bus. The cost savings aren’t worth being uncomfortable for hours on end.

Now that you know how to get to this beautiful part of France, why not check out some of the cool things to see and do in Alsace?

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Jen Ciesielski
Jen Ciesielski

Jen Ciesielski is the creator of Dabbling in Jet Lag. Originally from the United States, she moved abroad in 2012 and has since made France her permanent home. After spending three years in Paris, immersing herself in the culture, language, and history, she relocated to Strasbourg in 2019. Jen has traveled extensively across France, uncovering its hidden gems and unique locales. Her journey culminated in 2024 when she was granted French citizenship, solidifying her expertise and commitment to sharing the beauty and intricacies of living and traveling in France.

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