We are undecided on exactly what town to stay in for three nights in October. Our choices are Ottrott, Obernai, and Riquewir. We have looked at hotels in each. Does anyone have a suggestion on which town is better as a base for touring the Route des Vins.

We stayed in Ottrott and travelled to Obernai for shopping/dinner a couple of times. The two are very close. I would recommend Obernai over Ottrott -- much more going on. They are at the Northern end of the Route des Vins. Maybe someone could chime in on Riquewihr is more in the Central part the Route.

Either choice you could get around by car.

joyce...having recently spent some time in the area (we stayed in Strasbourg before embarking on a barge canal trip), we traversed the Route des Vins with stops in all three ...I thought Ottrott was the most charming, Obernai a bit busier and larger. and Riquewihr by far the most crowded.

If you pass through or stay in Ottrott...there's a house on the main winding road leading to and from the dramatic Mount St. Odile (a mountain-top retreat and former nunnery, breathtaking views abound!) which is the most photographed in town...a smallish white bungalow literally engulfed by yellow and purple flower clumps..great photo op... (don't ask me what they are...my wife would remember but she's gone for the day).

Either of these three towns would be very central to the wineries and the pretty Vosges Mountains. Enjoy!

Stu T.

We’ve stayed at Riquewihr and Colmar during our visits in Alsace. Riquewihr is central to the route-de-vins and is a tiny, but very tourist-heavy, very pretty Medieval town. Frankly, I’d go with the Otrott/Obernai suggestion if I were to go back to Alsace. Less touristy, but just as pretty. L’Ami Fritz is a good hotel with a terrific restaurant in Obernai.

BTW, we stayed at Hotel Saint Nicolas in Riquewihr. It’s a good, clean hotel, smack in the bustling middle of the town.

Another vote for L'Ami Fritz in Ottrott. Restaurant there is very good. Basing anywhere on the Route works, as the roads are easy to drive.

Thank you for your responses. I think after these comments we are down to Ottrott and Obernai. Got quite a few responses from emails I sent to various hotels in these two towns, will investiage this weekend including the L'Ami Fritz. Is there any transportation along the Route des Vins that we can take to visit between the towns or is it best to drive?

We also stayed at L'Ami Fritz in Ottrott and would highly recommend it as far as hotel/restaurant is concerned. Ottrott is pretty much dead in the evening. If I were to go back, I would prefer to stay in Obernai for the convenience of restaurants/shops. We had a great Thai dinner there.