Things to do in Strasbourg

Why go to Strasbourg

• Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame)

  A soaring Gothic masterpiece with a famous astronomical clock that performs a daily mechanical pageant at 12:30 PM.

• La Petite France Quarter

  A postcard-perfect tangle of half-timbered houses, canals, and lock towers that feels like stepping into a Brothers Grimm illustration.

• Palais Rohan Museums

  Three exceptional museums, Fine Arts, Decorative Arts, and Archaeology, housed in a stunning 18th-century royal palace.

• Musée Alsacien

  A charming deep-dive into traditional Alsatian folk life, crafts, and costume set inside interconnected Renaissance townhouses.

• European Parliament Visitor Centre

  A free, genuinely fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the seat of EU democracy, with guided tours of the hemicycle chamber.

Good to know in Strasbourg

• The Strasbourg Pass (~$18 for 3 days) covers one museum of your choice, half-price Cathedral tower entry, a boat tour, and a bike rental day, a solid deal if you plan to explore widely.
• Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory in France; rounding up or leaving 5-10% at sit-down restaurants is considered generous and locals rarely tip more.
• Tap water in Strasbourg is clean, safe, and excellent, carry a refillable bottle and save $3-5 per day versus buying bottled water.
• The Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain (MAMCS) offers free entry on the first Sunday of every month, and the Palais Rohan museums occasionally waive fees on European Heritage Days in September.

Trip essentials