Nickname(s):
"The Capital of Europe"
Demonym(s):
Strasbourgeois
Founded:
1262
Democracy:
Developed:
European Union:
Schengen:
Euro:
National Capital:
RegionalState Capital:
Population (City):
285 000
Population (Urban):
475 000
Population (Metro):
790 000
Population Density (km2):
3 700
Population Density (mi2):
9 600
8th Largest City in France
Largest City in Grand Est
Language:
French
Currency:
Euro
Avg. Summertime High:
26 °C
78 °F
Avg. Summertime Low:
15 °C
59 °F
Warmest Month:
July
Coldest Month:
January
Avg. Wintertime High:
2 °C
40 °F
Avg. Wintertime Low:
0 °C
32 °F
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In Strasbourg, you'll be able to look at and be impressed over astonishing architecture in world-class. It features the once tallest structure in the world in form of Strasbourg Cathedral, which is still one of the tallest churches in the world. In Petite France, you can see a large collection of half-timbered houses and in Neustadt, you have some great examples of German architecture from the Imperial period. It’s a must-see destination for lovers of architecture and beautiful buildings!
French Republic | République Française
France
English / French
Region:
Western Europe
Area:
551 695 km2
Ranked out of 195
Population:
Population:
65 274 000
Ranked 22 out of 235
Urbanization:
81 %
Ranked 41 out of 194
Capital:
Paris
Population: 13 025 000
Largest City:
Paris
Population: 13 025 000
Major Cities:
Paris
Lyon
Marseille
Toulouse
Bordeaux
Economy & Development:
Human Development Index:
Very High
Ranked 26 out of 189
Inequality-Adjusted HDI:
Very High
Ranked 23 out of 189
GDP (PPP) Per Capita:
$46 184
Ranked 35 out of 225
Democracy & Freedom:
Democracy Index:
Flawed Democracy
Ranked 22 out of 167
Freedom House:
Free
90 points out of 100 possible
Press Freedom:
Satisfactory
Ranked 26 out of 180
Economic Freedom:
2nd Quartile
Ranked 50 out of 162
National Identity:
Independence Since:
1792
Independence From:
Kingdom of France
National Day:
14th of July
What Is Celebrated On The National Day:
The 14th of July is also often called "Bastille Day" in English and it celebrates the 1789 Storming of the Bastille, a fortress, prison, and armory, in Paris during the French Revolution. The Bastille was seen as a symbol of the Royal powers and the Storming is symbolic of the fall of the Kingdom of France and the establishment of the Republic of France. On the same day one year later, in 1790, a massive festival was held throughout France in honor of the Revolution and the national day is commonly named "Fête de la Fédération" after that festival in France.
Facts & Codes:
Driving Side:
Right
-
Time Zone:
UTC +1 (CET)
Summer Time: UTC +2 (CEST)
Country Calling Code:
+ 33
-
Country Code:
FR
ISO 3166
French Region | Région Française
Grand Est
English / French
Großer Osten
German
Grossa Oschta
Alsatian
Region:
North-Eastern France
Area:
57 433 km2
Ranked 5 out of 13
Population:
Population:
5 550 000
Ranked 6 out of 13
Population Share:
9 %
Of National Population
Capital:
Strasbourg
Population: 790 000
Largest City:
Strasbourg
Population: 790 000
Major Cities:
Strasbourg
Reims
Metz
Mulhouse
Nancy
Information:
GDP Per Capita::
$34 250
Lower than national average
Climate:
Oceanic Climate
Köppen: Cfb
Time Zone:
UTC +1 (CET)
Summer Time: UTC +2 (CEST)
Cultural Region
Alsace
English / French
Elsass
German
Alsatia
Latin
Region:
Eastern Grand Est
Area:
8 280 km2
-
Population:
Population:
1 896 000
-
Population Share:
3 %
Of National Population
Capital:
Strasbourg
Population: 790 000
Largest City:
Strasbourg
Population: 790 000
Major Cities:
Strasbourg
Mulhouse
Colmar
Haguenau
Schiltigheim
Information:
GDP Per Capita::
$37 900
Lower than national average
Climate:
Oceanic Climate
Köppen: Cfb
Time Zone:
UTC +1 (CET)
Summer Time: UTC +2 (CEST)
English:
Strasbourg
French (Local):
Strasbourg
German (Local):
Straßburg
Alsatian (Local):
Strossburi
Swedish:
Strasbourg
Meaning of the Name:
"Town (At The Crossing) Of Roads", which is of Germanic origin from its German name Straßburg.
Former Names:
Argantorati (Before the 5th century)
Nicknames:
Demonym(s):
Strasbourgeois
Petite France
Half-Timbered Houses
Notre-Dame de Strasbourg
Cathedral
Palais du Rhin
German Imperial Palace
Aéroport de Strasbourg
IATA Code:
SXB
ICAO Code:
LFST
Passenger Volumes:
Distance:
10 km / 6 mi (SW)
Located In:
Entzheim
Named After:
-
Information:
A small regional airport and it will probably not be your port of entry into Strasbourg.
Transfer To/From:
The best way to get into town is by train from the Entzheim-Aéroport Station. The journey into Strasbourg Main Train Station (Gare de Strasbourg) takes seven to twelve minutes.
Alternatives:
It's usually better to try to get to Strasbourg by train or by car as the flight options are limited. Strasbourg-SXB is not a large and major airport. There are two main alternatives if you are so far away that you have to fly at least part of the distance. You can either fly to Frankfurt ( FRA | 170 km | 105 mi ) in Germany and take a train from there. This train journey takes between two to three hours depending on which service and route you want to use. A train leaves up to every 30 minutes in each direction. The second option is to fly to Paris ( CDG | 400 km | 248 mi ). There's a high-speed train route between Paris and Strasbourg which covers the distance in just 1 hour and 48 minutes.
Underground Metro
Tram / Light Rail
Elevated Rapid Transit
Walkability
Public Transportation:
The Strasbourg tramway system is a network of six lines covering a distance of 65 km (40 mi). The current system was opened in 1994. A previous tram network existed between 1878 - 1960 in various forms. There's also a large network of buses, which works in co-operation with the tram network. Biking is another popular transport option of the city and bike paths are common and everywhere.
Walkability:
Strasbourg is very walkable and the center of the city, Grande Île, is mostly pedestrianized to even further enhance the walkability of the city. The island isn't very large and can easily be crossed in a few minutes if you walk fast. The main areas outside of the Grand Île are all surrounding the island and easily explored on foot. The only major sight that is further away and requires you to make use of the tram network is the European Parliament.
Currency:
Euro
Code:
EUR
Subunit:
Cent
Symbol:
€
Cash Or Credit:
Either works fine.
Good To Know:
-
Local Language:
French
Language Family:
Romance (Indo-European)
Writing System:
Latin Alphabet
What About English?
Strasbourg is one of the most international cities in Europe since it hosts the European Parliament and several other international institutions, combined with its history as a border city between France and Germany. I had no problem at all with the language in the city. From my experience, both young and old were often able to speak and help out in English and no one seemed annoyed at my lack of French knowledge.
Other Common Languages:
German and Alsatian are also spoken in Strasbourg. German is traditionally the main language of this city, which is located just a few kilometers from the German border.
Grand Rue
Pedestrianized
Partly
Built
-
District
Grande île
Strasbourg doesn't have a main street in the sense that many other cities have in which there's one street that is larger and more active than all other streets. Grand Rue on Grande Île is the best candidate for the main street in Strasbourg, but it is in no way a street that you will undoubtely end up on by just walking around. I would rather say that Strasbourg has a main square which fills the position that main streets usually do, and that is Place Kléber. Grand Rue will take you from Place Kléber to Petite France and like most of Grande Île, it is pedestrianized.
Anywhere on Grande Île would be considered as central and a good location for your accomodation. If you really want to be as central as possible then look for a hotel near Place Kléber, Place Gutenberg, and the Cathedral. I was happy with the location of my hotel in Poincaré, just north of Grande Île. As long as you are close to the river you will be central if both Poincaré and Krutenau to the south of Grande Île.
Strasbourg is not a destination you go to and eat fast food. If you do want a quick lunch I can recommend trying Fresh Burritos, but in reality, you should be able to find a local restaurant instead as there are a lot of them.
Fresh Burritos
Origin:
Founded:
2011
Type of Food:
Burritos
Did I Try:
Yes
My Score:
3 / 5
About:
A smaller chain with 39 stores across France (as of July 2021). It's like a Subway but for Burritos. You customize all the ingredients and how you want your Burrito. So you will have an endless amount of possibilities, as long as you enjoy Burritos!
Comment:
You'll find it on Rue des Grandes Arcades in the city center on Grande Île. The food was very good and the location was clean but cramped.
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Colmar
How To Get There:
Driving if you have a car. If you don't have a car, there are several organized tours from Strasbourg that you can choose from. The distance is 70 km (43 mi), and it takes about an hour to drive.
Sights:
The half-timbered houses are what Colmar is best known for. La Petite Venise is a canal lined with half-timbered houses. The city is not that large so you won't miss it.
Do I Recommend It:
Yes. Strasbourg has lots of half-timbered houses, but Colmar is the place where you can truly see and appreciate this beautiful architectural style.
Freiburg im Breisgau
How To Get There:
By car is the easiest. There are no direct trains. If you want to go by train you will have to change in either Offenburg or Basel. The distance is 86 km (53 mi), and it takes about an hour to drive.
Sights:
The two remaning city gates: Martinstor and Schwabentor. Freiburg Bächle in the Old Town is a unique sight. It's small canals that run along most streets.
Do I Recommend It:
Not as a day trip actually. It's close enough to be a day trip and you can do it as such. But I would rather recommend that you go to Freiburg for at least a night instead. If you have a car it's a perfect next stop on your road trip.
Before I visited Strasbourg I had this, ungrounded, view that the city was a boring bureaucratic city due to the presence of the European Union and the European Parliament. I have never been so wrong! Strasbourg is a strong contender for the title of the most beautiful city in Europe! I truly loved my visit to this gorgeous city!
Do I Recommend You To Visit?
Definitely!
Will I Come Back Again?
It is a typical city that you would visit once and then be done with, but I liked it so much that I can't rule out another visit later in life.
Weather During My Stay:
Sunny, blue skies, and temperatures around 25°C (77°F).
Best:
The half-timbered houses everywhere! The architecture in Strasbourg is so beautiful!
Not As Good:
The city has some horrible areas outside of the traditional core. Stay close to Grande Île.
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The Scenery in central Strasbourg is one of the most beautiful I've seen anywhere in the world. This picture is taken from Grande Île.
At the western end of Grande Île, there's a small area known as Petite France.
The half-timbered houses and riverside location in Petite France give it a fairytale-like appearance.
Rue du Vieux-Marché-aux-Poissons near Place Gutenberg and Strasbourg Cathedral.
Strasbourg Cathedral is a prominent feature of central Strasbourg. Inside you'll find an astronomical clock.
Beautiful buildings lining the eastern side of Place Kléber, a large central square.
St. Paul's Church is in the background.
Palais du Rhin is a Prussian-style Neo-Renaissance palace built in the 19th century.
Avenue de la Liberté in Neustadt, with Palais du Rhin in the background.
Street in Poincaré.
Place Kléber in the background.
A street in Grande Île, central Strasbourg.
On the left is Grande Île and on the right is Neustadt.
A group of friends is hanging out, literally, by the river in Strasbourg.
Strasbourg Cathedral is visible between the houses from many parts of Strasbourg.
Skyline of Grande île.