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Strasbourg is the perfect city to spend a fun weekend with your family. From historic strolls to parks and river cruises, here are ideas for spending the day in Strasbourg with the whole family in mind.
Strasbourg is a vibrant symbol of Europe, with a complex history and diverse cuisine. The city is famous for being the headquarters for the European Parliament, Council of Europe or the European Court, so there is plenty to do. Stroll through the narrow streets or along the picturesque river with its magnificent bridges. The dazzling cathedral and the fairytale buildings are definitely must-see destinations.
Pirate River Cruise
For the kids, a tour of the city by boat will be extremely captivating and informative. The boats are heated and covered in the winter. Children have their own headphones as their tour is presented in the manner of a pirate learning about Strasbourg’s history (in English!). To enjoy this tour with your family go to Place du Marche aux Poissons.
City Center Parklife
Near the city center, you will find the Petite France District, a beautiful neighbourhood with half-timbered gingerbread houses that give you the impression of walking through a fairytale. As you walk on the waterfront promenade, you will find an amazing park. Kids will enjoy spending time here, especially for the climbing and swinging.
The oldest and largest park is located in front of the Palace of Europe and is a symbol of Strasbourg. The Orangerie, features a wide range of play area, a zoo and a miniature farm. The park has a lake with boats available for rent.
Sightseeing on Foot or Bike
If your children are a little older, they might be willing to allow you to visit some of the sights by foot, or by bike. Here are some of the top sites you should try to see:
Strasbourg Cathedral
The Cathédrale de Nôtre Dame soars over Strasbourg’s old town. Built between 1190-1439, the highest medieval building in Europe, with a height of 142 meters, stands on the site of a Roman temple. It is built on a mound above the marshy land surrounding the camp of Argentoratum, and an early church commissioned by King Clovis of the Franks.
The first works begun in 1015, but fire destroyed most of the original Romanesque building, and by the time work started on rebuilding it at the end of the twelfth century, the Gothic style had reached Alsace, and stonemasons and master builders who had worked at Chartres were soon bringing their skills to this new project.
Find it at Place de la Cathédrale. Admission is free, so if your little ones are restless after just ten minutes you haven’t wasted a fortune on entrance fees.
Petite France
This popular corner of the Grand Île (the Main Island) is where the Île River splits up into a number of canals, and cascades through a small area of half-timbered houses. The quarter is brimming with tourist restaurants, hotels, and souvenir shops.
Ponts Couverts
Towers and footbridges situated at the end of ‘Petite France’ are the Ponts-Couverts, one of the most famous tourist attractions in all of Strasbourg. Comprising three 13th-century towers, these ancient fortified remains owe their name to the series of roofed, wooden footbridges.
Quartier Allemand
The Quartier Allemand (German District) is the showcase of German neoclassical architecture in Strasbourg. At the heart of the district lies Place de la République, a vast square centred on a small wooded park.
Segway Tours
One terrific way to whizz around the capital of Alsace is a segway — great fun and you can see lots more than on foot. This will certainly have the kids excited! But it’s not the cheapest way to sight-see, so perhaps call up first and see if you can get a deal for a family booking.
Discover more:
The capital of Alsace can be visited all year long, but don’t leave until you try an authentic Alsacian dish. The traditional restaurants or winstubes serve coq au riesling with spaetzle or choucroute and tarte flambé.
How to get there:
Strasbourg is less than a 2-hour drive from the KMC and Wiesbaden, a 2.5-hour drive from Wiesbaden. As always, check bahn.de for trains and skip traffic.
