In the end, we spent a little over twenty-four hours, which amounts to a day, in Strasbourg. It was enough time to get a general sense of the place, but not to really get to know it. My first impression of the Alsatian city was, at best, mixed. But not every destination that I’ve ultimately come to love is easy to love at the outset. Don’t forget, it took me four visits over two decades to start to understand London. And that’s just one example. When I say that, it might make these day trips seem a bit silly, or even ill-considered. But we take these them because we can, but even more so because we want to understand if we’d like to spend longer getting to know certain cities.
Based on our day in Strasbourg, do I want to go back? Not immediately, but I haven’t ruled out the possibility of returning in the future. In spite of the absurd and chaotic bike traffic, and the lack of cafe culture, there were places in the city we loved. And places we’d want to explore further on a second trip. If you have the chance to spend a day in Strasbourg, I’d recommend you take it. While you’re there, you might want to stop in at a few of the places that we really enjoyed.
For a comfortable and elegant stay in a central location, you can’t go wrong with the Maison Rouge Strasbourg Hotel & Spa.
The local cuisine is a mix of French and German ingredients, as well as cooking styles. The result is delicious, rich and very hard to find disappointing. We loved everything we ate, but particularly enjoyed a lunch of Alsatian specialities at Restaurant Gurtlerhoft. (Don’t be put off by the somewhat dated decor. It’s true that this spot will win no prizes for design, but the early nineties German vibe can grow on you and food, which is the real attraction, is fabulous.) And, of course, you can’t visit Alsace without trying spaetzle. We sampled, and loved it, at La Corde à Linge, an exceptionally charming outdoor restaurant (which is wildly busy in good weather, so consider making a reservation.)
As far as what to see, there are many attractions to choose from, but the one you really can’t miss is La Petite France. The neighbourhood, known for its picturesque, rustic architecture, is the perfect place to wander and wile away a sunny afternoon. It’s also a UNESCO world heritage site. Which means you don’t have to take my word for it – experts believe its both worthy of preservation and visits.
And, of course, no holiday is complete without a souvenir. I picked one up at the Marché aux Livres, which happens weekly near Place Kléber (but about which there is almost no further information available online, unfortunately.) Most of the vintage books and collectible books available at the market are French. But if you don’t speak the language, there are, of course other options. A good bottle of wine is the perfect souvenir from any French holiday. And the nearby Caves Jacques Baumann offers an impeccable selection of regional wines to savour during, or after, your day in Strasbourg.
