Strasbourg sights and day trips
 

We will be in Strasbourg for four days/nights in July. We will be joining a week long bike tour/cruise at the end of this time (headed to Amsterdam).

What should we "not miss" in Strasbourg, and are there day trips or biking destinations we should add?

We are 50 somethings, like to hike, bike, sip red wine, eat good food, learn about the city where we are staying usually by walking through parks, neighborhoods, markets, going to shows, music events, etc. (we are not huge museum people but enjoy one or two),

Thanks in advance!!

"in advance" you should read a few guidebooks, study a map of the city, and thoroughly peruse the official city website. They will answer all your questions.

When you have specific questions, people here will be happy to help you refine your ideas.

I stopped in Strasbourg off the train from Paris for a few hours, then continued on to Colmar, which I liked slightly better. I highly recommend a day trip to Colmar though - easy to do by train.

You can't go to Alsace without visiting Colmar and Riquewihr. It's the most ridiculously picturesque place I have ever been, don't miss them.

I have been to Strasbourg twice, plenty to see in town. Colmar is a good and easy day trip by train. I also love Nancy, but it is a bit further with less frequent trains.

Fodors is refusing to post the link to the section in my France TR about Strasbourg. Click on my name, go to the trip report on "Taking it Easy in Eastern France", and search for Strasbourg. And Nancy. My second visit is in the "Wandering South" TR.

Cathedral
Musee Alsacian
La Petite France area
Cave Historique des Hospices de Strasbourg

As mentioned above, day trips to Colmar and Riquewihr.

Also, Obernai, Ribeaville, the chateau in Selestat, and Bergheim among other towns/villages.

That is all I have researched in that area to date for my trip in September.

Biking - yes - a great ride is along the official Alsace Wine Road that meanders north of Colmar, passing thru cute wine villages and by many wineries you can tour or taste the product - stay in Colmar and either rent a bike or use your own and head yes to places like Riquewihr and beyond.

Trains go frequently between Strasbourg and Colmar. Another possible day trip I've taken from Strasbourg is to Germany and Baden-Baden, one of Europe's primo spa towns - Basel Switzerland is also within easy reach by train from Colmar or Strasbourg.

These are pretty much regional trains you need no advance reservation for - just buy tickets before the train - for info on trains and places to go on them from Strasbourg check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Colmar is a must - sweet regional town with its own Little Venice - a good base for biking (I once biked from Strasbourg to Colmar and it was just thru a lot of urban areas getting away from Strasbourg -not much fun but possible of course).

The Statue of Liberty was designed and cast in Colmar and there is a museum in the old workshops about that and there is a scale model of the statue in a traffic circle at one entrance to Colmar. Colmar itself is small - one day enough for it.

Cheers!

In Strasbourg itself check out yes the fab cathedral and famous clock and the spots joannyc mentions. I also like taking a boat out to the new EU installations (Strasbourg being the seat of the European Parliament) - or walk out there.

Thanks everyone!!! Great suggestions!

curious are you taking your own bikes?

There are a ton of great things to see/do in Strasbourg including the fantastic cathedral, a couple of great museums (esp that of the cathedral and the folklore museum) and great unique cuisine.

You can easily do one day trip to Colmar (by train or car) which is very quaint and has a fantastic museum. On another day you can visit several of the wine villages between S and C. We did it by car but I'm sure bus is also possible and bike might be reasonable depending on which towns you pick.

Yes there are buses from Colmar to the wine villages north of town- used to be train service but now a bus I believe - by bike just ride out of Colmar and Riquewehr is not that far.

Thanks all for the tips! @PalenQ - yes we are bringing our tandem bike with us!

tandem - great one can get sloshed at a winery and the other can drive!

Cheers!