Planning a trip and looking for the cool things to do in Strasbourg? I'm taking you for the day as if you were an inhabitant of the city!
Here are 10 things to do in Strasbourg. They're my favorite activities to do when my friends are spending the week-end with me. You'll feel like a real Strasbourgeois 😉
Going to the top of the platform of the cathedral of Strasbourg
The cathedral of Strasbourg is a must see if you want to immerse yourself in the city's culture.
The cathedral can be discovered both inside and outside from the top of the building. I especially enjoy going to the platform of the cathedral. After climbing the stairs (330 staircases!!!!), you can appreciate the magnificent panoramic view of Strasbourg. It is a good physical exercise that is worth the detour!
Taking a stroll in the Presqu'île André Malraux
I spend a lot of time in the Presqu'île André Malraux quarter. I love to show my friends and family the beautiful structures of the area, both modern and industrial.
I also recommend you to contemplate the 3 Black Swans buildings and their beautiful reflection in the Austerlitz basin, the media library which occupies an old port building and the Cité de la Musique et de la Danse. They're beautiful buildings!
There are also some nice local addresses, where I regularly take my friends to relax:
- Having a drink on the terrace of the Blue Note Café The concept of the place is very nice: it's a café, a restaurant and a concert bar at the same time...I promise you'll enjoy your time there!
- Eating local at Pur Etc. Malraux. It's a locavore shop which sells jars with fresh and seasonal products. The menu offers gluten-free and vegan dishes.
- Enjoying a charming moment at Blue Flamingo restaurant. I absolutely want to go to this place. I heard a lot of good things about this floating restaurant, with its tasty and refined cuisine!
If you're a food lover, there are plenty of restaurants in Strasbourg and it's really enjoyable to eat there that you should go to!
Climbing to the top of the Barrage Vauban in the Petite France quarter
The Vauban dam is a great photo spot to enjoy a magnificent view of Strasbourg and its covered bridges. I could stay for hours there while contemplating the landscape. I find it very poetic when the sun goes down.
When I come down from the Barrage Vauban, I always take a small tour to the Maison des Ponts Couverts to admire the cathedral of Strasbourg in the background.
Alos, since I'm walking around in La Petite France, I take the opportunity to show my friends the big wall of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Strasbourg, which is amazing.
Eating a good ice cream
In downtown Strasbourg, Glacier Toscani and Glacier Franchi are two addresses not to be missed, with a wide variety of flavors that make your mouth water: traditional flavors, but also violet, cocoa sorbet, blood peach, ... A real treat.
If you take a trip to Parc de l'Orangerie, there are also several ice cream shops lining the park. But I have a preference for the one near the Palais de l'Europe, which allows me to enjoy the view of the impressive European institutions in Strasbourg.
Walking on the Passerelle Ducrot
After I watched the pretty storks of Strasbourg while eating my ice cream, I go back to the center of the city. This is the opportunity to cross the elegant Passerelle Ducrot, which is one of the many bridges of Strasbourg.
When you take time to stop, you have a nice view of the European Parliament and the mythical Homme Girafe statue in front of the building of the French-German TV channel Arte.
Biking in Strasbourg
To visit the city from the perspective of an inhabitant, a bicycle is the best way to get around. Strasbourg is indeed the ideal city to get around by bike, with its 560 kms of bike paths.
Having a brunch
Sunday brunch is a tradition when I welcome people home!
Among my good addresses - tested and approved - I highly recommend the all-you-can-eat brunch at the Café de l'Opéra with vegetarian options and quality products. In summer, you can enjoy this copious buffet on the steps of the Opéra National du Rhin. I advise you to book your table in advance, because it is a very popular place!
Another address I recommend is the adorable Bistrot & Chocolat tea room. It's on an outdoor terrace, at the bottom of the cathedral. There are gluten-free and vegan alternatives, which are delicious. No need to book your table there.
Finding the shells hidden in the facades of Strasbourg
I always like to go with my friends in search of the shells of 1870 embedded in the facades of Strasbourg.
The most famous shell of the city is on the Cathedral square, in the white facade of the Cathedral hotel. It is always with surprise that my friends and family discover this piece of Strasbourg's history, which dates back to the siege of the city by the Prussians at the end of the 19th century.
There are about ten shells to be found in the facades of Strasbourg.
Spending the evening in a board game bar
I'm such a great lover of game nights. I always enjoy spending a few hours with my friends, drinking a good tea or a good beer (depending on my mood) and trying to understand the rules of various games...
I strongly advise you to go to the Philibar, a great activity to do when Strasbourg is rainy!
Going to a speakeasy in Strasbourg
Strasbourg is full of surprises and surprising places! Its hidden bars (speakeasy) are naturally part of it... The Secret Place of the Aeden Place or the Moonshiners of the bistro Les Galopins are among my favorite hidden bars.
Prices are a bit higher but the atmosphere is worth it. Now it's your turn to find the hidden entrance 😉
