Strasbourg in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Located in eastern France, in the Alsace region, Strasbourg shines with an extensive historical heritage and boasts the status of European capital alongside Brussels and Luxembourg. Some of the best things to see and do in Strasbourg include visits to its monuments, linked bridges, squares and fairy-tale houses, which you can discover in this 2-day Strasbourg itinerary and recommendations to make the most of your visit.

The first day will be spent exploring the historic centre of Strasbourg, a World Heritage Site located in the heart of the capital. It is a 1.5-kilometre stretch on foot with five iconic sights. Here is the map to make the route easier.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

The majestic Notre Dame de Strasbourg Cathedral is one of the most impressive sites in Europe and thanks to its 142-metre-high bell tower, it will be your point of orientation during your walk.

Let me tell you a few things about it:

• It is a gothic style catholic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
• It was built over four centuries, from 1015 to 1439.
• Besides being the standard-bearer of Strasbourg, it was declared a Historical Monument in 1862.
• Throughout its history, the cathedral has survived many challenges, including sacking during the French Revolution in 1793 and bombing during World War II in 1944.
• Its architecture is exquisite, with sculpted doors, an impressive 15-metre rose window, Gothic pulpit and the first astronomical clock built in 1350.
• It is open Monday to Sunday until 5.30pm, except on Sunday mornings when it is closed.
• Admission is free

The Rohan Palace and its museums

If you are visiting Strasbourg and want to get an idea of what the city was like in its heyday, there is no better way to do so than by visiting the Palais Rohan (Palais Rohan) and you will find it just 120 metres from the cathedral. This former 18th century baroque palace was completed in 1742.

It was the residence of the prince-bishops and cardinals of the House of Rohan, and the favourite abode of French royalty: monarchs such as Marie Antoinette, Louis XV, Napoleon and Louis-Philippe I stayed here, and today it bears the traces of history in three of Strasbourg's finest museums:

• The Museum of Fine Arts.
• The Archaeological Museum.
• The Museum of Decorative Arts.

You can visit them every day from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and in the afternoons from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, except for Tuesdays and Thursdays, when they are closed.

Historical Museum of Strasbourg

Continuing on our route, 250 metres from the Palais Rohan, you will find the Historical Museum of the City of Strasbourg. Housed in the former Grande Boucherie (large butcher's shop) since 1587, it presents a fun and educational way to learn about the history of Strasbourg with its selection of objects and relief plans of the city from 1727.

From its time as a free metropolis of the Holy Roman Empire of the West to its transformation into a royal and revolutionary city, the Historical Museum of Strasbourg will take you on a journey through time in three chapters to facilitate an understanding of the role the city has played in the history of Europe.

Lunch stop

It's time for a break to recharge your batteries and at this point you'll be surrounded by good restaurants with similar prices. Lunch with a drink costs approximately €25-30 per person.

Try the local cuisine such as Choucroute (a combination of sausages and cured meats with vegetables). You could also opt for the Tarte Flambée, a kind of artisan Alsatian pizza which is a delight.

Maison Kammerzell

350 metres from the Strasbourg Historical Museum you will find the famous Maison Kammerzell, on the Place de la cathédrale, another of France's Historical Monuments.

The Maison Kammerzell is one of the 1000 places to see before you die according to the author Patricia Schulz:

• This house is a symbol of tradition and the artistic past that so characterises the area.
• Its well-preserved medieval foundations are an architectural highlight.
• **Its 1427 spiral staircases will impress you.
• Léo Schnug's paintings and wooden sculptures captivate visitors.

After your lunch, stop here for dessert and take the opportunity to discover its spaces, now that they have been converted into a hotel-restaurant.

Le Petite France

800 metres from Maison Kammerzell is Le Petite France, where Renaissance and medieval architecture merge to create a charming walk along Strasbourg' s canals with picturesque mud and wooden houses filled with flowers, ducks and swans.

The area is vibrant by day and night, is one of the highlights to visit in Strasbourg and a great place to take photos, especially at sunset when the light creates beautiful orange tones reflected in the Ill River, a tributary of the Rhine.

At the end of the day, you can take a boat ride to enjoy the views of the historic centre past the large 19th century Neustadt Quarter to the European Quarter or sit on one of the terraces in the area for a glass of local wine or beer (remember that Strasbourg is the capital of France that dresses up as Germany).

On your second day your walking distance will be 4.8 kilometres with eight highlights. Here is the map for the day. You can do it on foot, however, I recommend you to rent a bike or a segway for more comfort. Without further ado, let's get started!

Gutenberg Square

Right next to Notre-Dame Cathedral, you will find Gutenberg Square, named after Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the modern printing press, who, despite not being French, makes clear the close border relationship between the countries.

He spent most of his life in Strasbourg, where he set up his first printing press in 1440. For this reason, in the centre of the square you will see the statue of Johannes Gutenberg. And that's not the only interesting thing, Neubau was also built here in 1585, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the first Renaissance building in Strasbourg.

The way to this square leads you along the Rue du Vieux Marché Aux Poissons, where you will be surrounded by cafés, shops and restaurants and in December the decorations are enchanting. This is one of the best places in the world to celebrate Christmas Eve.

Kleber Square

Continue your way for 350 metres to the Place Kleber, located right in the middle of the Grand Ile de Strasbourg, well known as the "heart of the city" as it is the meeting place of choice. This is where concerts, the main celebrations, demonstrations and any mass event in this European capital take place.

In December, the gigantic Christmas tree is put up there. The decorations are enchanting, not to mention the local markets, the most famous of which is set up here, between the statue of General Jean-Baptiste Kléber and the Aubette building. This is the place to make a must-visit list of things to do and see in Strasbourg at Christmas.

Place Broglie

7 minutes from Place Kleber, in Place Broglie, is located this emblem of the capital because the Marseillaise, the anthem of France, was heard here for the first time. It is also where the Hôtel de Ville or Strasbourg City Hall has its headquarters.

And to one side is the space for art in the Opéra national du Rhin, also known as the Strasbourg Opera House. Formerly, in 1821, it was the seat of the municipal theatre, then it was renovated in the neoclassical style of its original architect, Jean-Nicolas Villot. Its Ionic columns and imposing façade deserve at least a couple of photos.

Garden of the Place de la République

Continue 250 metres further and, after taking a photo of the Janus Gate, Fontaine de Janus, you will arrive at the Place de la Republique, a large circular square whose origins date back to 1871, when the Germans began building a new city here after their victory over the French in 1870, giving rise to the local name of the German Imperial Quarter. The intention was to make Strasbourg the capital of the Reichsland of Alsace and Lorraine.

The square features impressive buildings and broad avenues reflecting imperial architecture, including the Rhine Palace and the Strasbourg National and University Library.

In the centre of the square, the 1936 Léon-Ernest Drivier Monument to the Dead depicts an Alsatian mother weeping for her two sons, one defending France and the other Germany, a symbol of this mixed-race city.

St Paul's Church

450 metres across the Pont d'Auvergne, St Paul's Church is located in the "European zone", where antique and craft shops are replaced by the glass buildings of European institutions, colleges and student residences.

St Paul's Church is of neo-Gothic architecture and was completed in 1897, inspired by the 13th century Sainte-Elisabeth of Marburg in Hesse. This Protestant church was designed by Lutheran members of the German Empire. It has two 76-metre-high towers that simulate a pair of arrows. And inside, the walls are covered with tall stained glass windows. Its location on the banks of the River III provides an enviable backdrop for your photographs.

Lunch stop

The next highlight of the day is the European Parliament, and the walk is 1.8 kilometres from St Paul's Church. And yes, I know it's time for lunch, but I recommend you wait a bit until the last point, the Parc de l'Orangerie. You'll have more options, good prices and the best views of the city. In the meantime, grab a snack at one of the cafés on the way to the Parliament. Take Quai Mullenheim to get there faster.

European Parliament

Strasbourg is home to the European Parliament, making it one of the most important places in the European Union. Your tour of these Alsatian lands would not be complete without a visit to this historic landmark. Furthermore, in the surrounding area, in the European Quarter itself, you will find the headquarters of the European Council and the European Court of Human Rights. Don't hesitate to visit these important buildings.

Strasbourg Gardens

The Parc de l'Orangerie or Strasbourg Gardens is the perfect place to enjoy with your partner, with your family, to sit on a bench and watch the storks - symbol of Alsace -, to stroll around on your bike or segway.

This is the oldest and most famous park in Strasbourg. It is free to enter, has a lake with canoes, a waterfall, a small farm, car circuits, a zoo and much more. It is also 400 metres from the European Council. This is the area where I recommend eating your late lunch to relax and conclude your Strasbourg getaway like the locals.

At the end of your tour of the area, you will have plenty of time to catch your train, car or flight back after a well-deserved holiday in Strasbourg.