by Otourly (cropped) / [CC BY-SA 3.0
A Grandiose Cathedral, Half-Timbered Quarters and the Seat of the European Parliament
Table of Contents
A. About Strasbourg
Nickname The Capital of EuropeStrasbourg, the capital of the Alsace region in northeastern France, is celebrated for its medieval architecture and vibrant cultural heritage.
The underrated city of Strasbourg boasts one of the largest medieval quarters in Europe with romantic half-timbered quarters and a grandiose cathedral.
As the seat of the European Parliament, Strasbourg is a very important city of political Europe.
Strasbourg’s culinary scene is a delightful fusion of French and Alsatian flavors, with specialties like tarte flambée and choucroute garnie.
➕ The Good
Strasbourg enjoys, first of all, a great location with its historic core on the Grande Île in the river Ill.
Furthermore, public transportation with stylish trams and numerous buses is excellent.
Finally, Strasbourg scores consistently good in most other categories.
➖ Negative Aspects
Strasbourg has no real flaw, but with a score of 4.0/10 for its affordability, it is not a cheap city.
B. Best Things to Do in Strasbourg in 2025 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)
In total, we count more than twenty-five sights in Strasbourg. The following sights and attractions contribute to a score of 6.35/10 in this most important category:
# NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL 7
Built from 1015 to 1439 in rose-colored sandstone, this eye-catching church was the world's tallest building from 1647 to 1874 (227 years).
Marvel at the miraculous 18-meter astronomical clock, and exceptional medieval stained-glass windows, and after climbing 332 steps enjoy a wonderful view from the cathedral’s roof.
Cathedral 🌍 World Heritage Site: since 1988 | Height of the Tower: 142 m
by Diliff / CC BY-SA 3.0
# OLD TOWN (Grande Île) 7
Surrounded on one side by the main channel of the Ill River and on the other side by the Canal du Faux-Rempart, a canalized arm of that river, the charming old town of Strasbourg – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is a paradise for pedestrians and home to an impressive historic and architectural heritage.
City District 🌍 World Heritage Site: since 1988
by Jonathan Martz / CC BY-SA 3.0
# PETITE FRANCE (Tanners’ Quarter) 6
Situated on the Grande Île, Strasbourg’s most picturesque area is renowned for its canals, its extremely well-preserved half-timbered houses (that date back to the 16th and 17th centuries), and its covered bridges.
City District 🌍 World Heritage Site: since 1988
by Guilhem Vellut / CC BY-SA 2.0
# Fine Arts Museum (Musée des Beaux-Arts) 5
Housed in the baroque Palais Rohan, Strasbourg’s Museum of Fine Arts displays works by non-Upper Rhenish artists from between the 14th century and 1871 and by Upper Rhenish artists from between 1681 and 1871.
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- Important Masterpieces: 2
- Highlight: Portrait of A Young Lady by Raphael and Giulio Romano (1520), 60 cm x 40 cm
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This is our selection of the ten best paintings of the Museum of Fine Arts in Strasbourg:
1) Portrait of a Young Lady, Raphael and Giulio Romano (1520),
260 cm x 40 cm
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
2) Vanity, or Luxuria, Hans Memling (c. 1485)
20 cm × 13 cm (7.9 in × 5.1 in)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
3) La Garde civique de Saint-Adrien, Cornelis Engelsz (1612),
178 cm × 510 cm (70 in × 16.7 ft)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
4) La Belle Strasbourgeoise, Nicolas de Largillière (1703),
138 cm × 106 cm (54 in × 41 in)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
5) The Virgin of Consolation, William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1875),
204 cm × 147 cm
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
6) Portrait of a Bearded Man, Tintoretto (1620),
55 cm x 44.5 cm
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
7) Cephalus and Procris, Paolo Veronese (1580-1582),
162 cm × 185 cm (63 in × 72 in)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
8) Mater Dolorosa, El Greco (c. 1509),
52 cm × 36 cm
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
9) Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Jusepe de Ribera (1616),
126 cm × 112 cm (50 in × 44 in)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
10) Virgin and Child with two Angels, Sandro Botticelli (1468–1469)
107 cm × 75 cm
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
Interesting Artworks: 5/10
Famous Artworks: 4/10
Art Display: 7/10
Building: 7/10
Size: 4/10
🧮 Overall: 5.4/10
Fine Arts Museum Gallery Space: ca. 4,000 m2 | Galleries: 20 | Artworks on Display: ca. 250 | Established: 1890| Visitors (2017): 66,533
(Click on images to open in lightbox)
# Musée de l'oeuvre-Notre-Dame 5
Located in excellently restored buildings from the era, this museum displays Upper Rhenish fine and decorative arts from the early Middle Ages until 1681.
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- Important Masterpieces: 1
- Highlight: Romanesque stained-glass window "Head of Christ" from Wissembourg (11th or 12th century)
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This is our selection of the three best paintings of the Museum of Fine Arts in Strasbourg:
1) Portrait Romanesque stained-glass window Head of Christ from Wissembourg (11th or 12th century),
diameter 25 cm
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
2) Saint Catherine and Mary Magdalene, Konrad Witz (c. 1440),
161 cm × 131 cm (63.3 in × 51.5 in)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
3) Summer or the Five Senses, Sebastian Stoskopff (1633),
114 x 186 cm
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
Interesting Artworks: 4/10
Famous Artworks: 4/10
Art Display: 7/10
Building: 7/10
Size: 3/10
🧮 Overall: 5.4/10
Fine Arts Museum Gallery Space: ca. 2,000 m2 | Galleries: 42 | Established: 1956 | Visitors (2018): 51,959
(Click on images to open in lightbox)
# ROHAN PALACE 5
Built in the 1720s, this elegant baroque palace with its attractive classical façade, today houses three exceptional museums: the Fine Arts Museum, the Museum of Decorative Arts, and the Archaeological Museum.
Palace 🌍 World Heritage Site: since 1988
by Radek Kucharski / CC BY-SA 2.0
# Parc de l'Orangerie 5
Situated opposite the Council of Europe, this beautiful park features a pavilion, tree-lined paths, pretty gardens, a couple of restaurants, a small zoo, a lake – where one can rent a rowboat in the summer – a waterfall, and a bowling alley.
Park Land Area: 0.26 km2 / 64 acres | Created: 1801
by Fabien Romary / CC BY-SA 3.0
# Place Kléber 5
Named after General Jean-Baptiste Kléber, the largest square in Strasbourg is a very pleasant pedestrian area with beautiful historic buildings, flowerbeds, and water fountains.
by Jorge Franganillo / CC BY-SA 2.0
# Musée d'Art moderne et contemporain 5
Located in the Petite France district along the banks of the River Ill in a building dating from 1997, this museum is home to an expansive collection of 19th- and 20th-century paintings.
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- Important Masterpieces: 0
- Highlight: The Forest, Heinrich Campendonk (1919)
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by D Delavierre / CC BY-SA 4.0
This is our selection of the three best paintings of the Musée d'Art moderne et contemporain in Strasbourg:
1) The Forest, Heinrich Campendonk (1919),
260 cm x 40 cm
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
2) Le Salon de Musique, Wassily Kandinsky (1931)
20 cm × 13 cm (7.9 in × 5.1 in)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
3) Hortus Conclusus, Mimmo Paladino (1992),
178 cm × 510 cm (70 in × 16.7 ft)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
Interesting Artworks: 3/10
Famous Artworks: 3/10
Art Display: 6/10
Building: 6/10
Size: 3/10
🧮 Overall: 5.4/10
Fine Arts Museum Gallery Space: ca. 10,000 m2 | Galleries: 40 | Artworks on Display: ca. 250 | Established: 1998 | Visitors (2017): 126,453
#10 | Musée Alsacien 5
Located in several 17th-century houses, the Alsatian Museum displays an impressive collection of folk art, furniture, costumes, and domestic items.
by Fabio / CC BY-SA 2.0
C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in Strasbourg
# 11 | Barrage Vauban 5
The Barrage Vauban, built in the late 17th century by Vauban, functioned as both a bridge and a defensive mechanism and now provides panoramic views and hosts sculptures.
by Aloïs Peiffer / CC BY-SA 3.0
– 🌍 MUSÉE DES ARTS DÉCORATIFS 5
– Historical Museum of Strasbourg 5
– Musée Archéologique 5
– Place de la Cathédrale 4
– European Parliament 4
– Covered bridges 4
– Musée Tomi Ungerer 4
- Maison Kammerzell 4
– Place Gutenberg 4
– Place du Marché-aux-Cochons-de-Lait 4
– Gare de Strasbourg 4
– St Thomas's Church 4
– Church of St-Pierre-le-Jeune 4
D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Strasbourg
Europa Park 6
Germany’s largest amusement park with more than one hundred rides and its different European neighborhoods is renowned as one of the best in the world.
Amusement Park Distance from Strasbourg: 56.4 km
by Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick / CC BY-SA 4.0
E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Strasbourg (including close-by excursions)
To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend to you when visiting Strasbourg for at least two entire days.