Strasbourg, France
About This Stop
After learning an expensive lesson about Eurail pass reservations on our high-speed train from Paris (a costly reminder to always book seat reservations in advance for express routes), we spent four wonderful days exploring this enchanting Alsatian city where French and German cultures beautifully blend in architecture, cuisine, and daily life. Strasbourg immediately captivated us with its unique character as a true European crossroads, serving as the seat of the European Parliament while maintaining its historic charm and regional identity.
Our perfectly located two-bedroom apartment in the heart of the old city provided an ideal base for daily adventures, allowing us to walk to virtually every major attraction while experiencing authentic neighborhood life. We strategically arrived early each morning at the breathtaking Gothic Strasbourg Cathedral to be among the first visitors inside this magnificent 1,000-year-old masterpiece. The kids were absolutely mesmerized by the enormous astronomical clock with its intricate moving figures, the spectacular rose window and stained glass panels that cast rainbow light throughout the interior, and they even discovered a tiny bat hiding on one of the ancient stone walls during our thrilling tower climb that rewarded us with spectacular panoramic views across the city's red-tiled roofs and the Rhine valley beyond.
The picturesque La Petite France Quarter completely enchanted our family with its fairy-tale collection of half-timbered medieval buildings reflected in peaceful canals, charming stone bridges perfect for photo opportunities, and lovely riverside parks that became our favorite spots for morning family runs and afternoon playtime. Our highly entertaining 'La Petite Train' tourist train tour proved both educational and fun, revealing important WWII historical sites including former Nazi headquarters, teaching us about the region's complex and fascinating French-German history through centuries of border changes, and pointing out Napoleon's former lodgings and other historical landmarks while giving us wonderful ideas for later self-guided exploration on foot.
Our culinary adventures in Strasbourg were absolutely delightful, starting each day with fresh-baked baguettes and decadent Nutella-filled croissants from a charming local patisserie just outside the Old Town boundaries. We enjoyed a memorable lunch at the historic 400-year-old Maison Kammerzell right in Cathedral Square, with its elaborately carved facade and traditional Alsatian atmosphere. We also discovered hidden gems like an authentic Vietnamese restaurant tucked away on a quiet side street, savored delicious Greek chicken sandwiches while sitting by the riverside watching boats pass, and found surprisingly good authentic pizza at a cozy local shop frequented more by residents than tourists.
Our family activities created a perfect blend of culture, exercise, and everyday life experiences. Morning runs through the historic neighborhoods became our favorite way to start each day, taking us past beautiful architecture and giving us a local's perspective on the city as it awakened. Relaxing riverside strolls in the afternoons provided peaceful family time while the kids fed ducks and played in waterfront parks. Shopping adventures at local specialty stores revealed unique regional products and gifts, with the boys particularly enjoying browsing the well-stocked running shoe shops and sports stores. Even our unexpected visit to a local Office Depot for a necessary USB hub became part of our authentic travel experience, showing us how locals handle everyday needs.
Strasbourg's perfectly manageable and walkable scale made it absolutely ideal for family exploration, allowing us to blend major tourist attractions with genuine everyday moments like discovering the perfect neighborhood bakery for our morning pastries, finding hidden pocket parks where local children played, and stumbling upon quiet squares where we could sit and watch daily life unfold. This beautiful border city offered us authentic insights into European life while providing all the cultural richness and historical significance we hoped for, making our time here a true highlight of our entire European journey and leaving us with memories we'll treasure forever!
Our perfectly located two-bedroom apartment in the heart of the old city provided an ideal base for daily adventures, allowing us to walk to virtually every major attraction while experiencing authentic neighborhood life. We strategically arrived early each morning at the breathtaking Gothic Strasbourg Cathedral to be among the first visitors inside this magnificent 1,000-year-old masterpiece. The kids were absolutely mesmerized by the enormous astronomical clock with its intricate moving figures, the spectacular rose window and stained glass panels that cast rainbow light throughout the interior, and they even discovered a tiny bat hiding on one of the ancient stone walls during our thrilling tower climb that rewarded us with spectacular panoramic views across the city's red-tiled roofs and the Rhine valley beyond.
The picturesque La Petite France Quarter completely enchanted our family with its fairy-tale collection of half-timbered medieval buildings reflected in peaceful canals, charming stone bridges perfect for photo opportunities, and lovely riverside parks that became our favorite spots for morning family runs and afternoon playtime. Our highly entertaining 'La Petite Train' tourist train tour proved both educational and fun, revealing important WWII historical sites including former Nazi headquarters, teaching us about the region's complex and fascinating French-German history through centuries of border changes, and pointing out Napoleon's former lodgings and other historical landmarks while giving us wonderful ideas for later self-guided exploration on foot.
Our culinary adventures in Strasbourg were absolutely delightful, starting each day with fresh-baked baguettes and decadent Nutella-filled croissants from a charming local patisserie just outside the Old Town boundaries. We enjoyed a memorable lunch at the historic 400-year-old Maison Kammerzell right in Cathedral Square, with its elaborately carved facade and traditional Alsatian atmosphere. We also discovered hidden gems like an authentic Vietnamese restaurant tucked away on a quiet side street, savored delicious Greek chicken sandwiches while sitting by the riverside watching boats pass, and found surprisingly good authentic pizza at a cozy local shop frequented more by residents than tourists.
Our family activities created a perfect blend of culture, exercise, and everyday life experiences. Morning runs through the historic neighborhoods became our favorite way to start each day, taking us past beautiful architecture and giving us a local's perspective on the city as it awakened. Relaxing riverside strolls in the afternoons provided peaceful family time while the kids fed ducks and played in waterfront parks. Shopping adventures at local specialty stores revealed unique regional products and gifts, with the boys particularly enjoying browsing the well-stocked running shoe shops and sports stores. Even our unexpected visit to a local Office Depot for a necessary USB hub became part of our authentic travel experience, showing us how locals handle everyday needs.
Strasbourg's perfectly manageable and walkable scale made it absolutely ideal for family exploration, allowing us to blend major tourist attractions with genuine everyday moments like discovering the perfect neighborhood bakery for our morning pastries, finding hidden pocket parks where local children played, and stumbling upon quiet squares where we could sit and watch daily life unfold. This beautiful border city offered us authentic insights into European life while providing all the cultural richness and historical significance we hoped for, making our time here a true highlight of our entire European journey and leaving us with memories we'll treasure forever!
Location
Photo Gallery
