The TOP 10 of BEST places to visit ALSACE in 2024!
Summary
A weekend in Alsace for 2, 3, or 4 days?
If you are planning a trip to Strasbourg (Alsatian capital), it is essential to plan a few days to visit this beautiful French region. Alsace is full of things to visit!
Visiting Alsace means exploring a land of exception, a cherished culture and heritage, an extraordinary history, ancestral traditions, a European crossroads, and above all, a place where life is good! Whether in summer or winter, there’s always something to see. In December, discover the numerous Christmas markets in Alsace!
As you’ve understood, Alsace has nothing to envy from major tourist destinations. Today, nearly 15 million tourists visit the Alsatian lands each year!
Whether it’s for a 3-4 day weekend or a week in Alsace, we advise you to plan your stay well. For a 3-day weekend in Alsace, we recommend visiting Strasbourg in one day and then exploring the rest of Alsace over the next two days. For a week-long visit, you can break your stay into several stages while having enough time to see everything.
To make the most of it, it’s essential to plan your stay well and know exactly what to do in Alsace before your arrival.
If you’re arriving by TGV or at the airport, you can easily rent a car in Strasbourg to explore Alsace from north to south at your own pace.
Now, our TOP 10 things you must visit in Alsace. And as they say here: “Jetzt geht’s los!”
1 - Strasbourg : The Alsatian Capital
If you’re staying in Alsace, your priority (after finding a hotel, of course) should be to visit Strasbourg. It’s the place to be in Alsace!
Allow yourself a one or two-day visit to Strasbourg to explore this undeniably charming city.
With its authentic beauty, Strasbourg boasts a rich culture and heritage that attracts tourists from all over the world. Famous for its Christmas market, the European capital also shines with the charm of its cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, medieval streets, and especially its grand cathedral that overlooks the city center.
After exploring the city, it’s a must to dine at a Strasbourg restaurant and savor a traditional flammekueche (Alsatian speciality) and end the meal with more elaborate tarte flambées (sweet, apple, pineapple, etc.).
Are you charmed yet?
2 - Typical Alsatian Villages: Mittelbergheim, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg,...
Now that you’ve visited Strasbourg, we recommend taking a tour of Alsace. But what to do in Alsace? It’s essential to visit the typical Alsatian villages. Famous for their charm and half-timbered houses, you’ll love wandering through these beautiful medieval towns. In December, these villages are often crowded with tourists visiting the Christmas markets.
To visit these Alsatian villages, you can drive there. Just 40 minutes from Strasbourg, you can take the A4 motorway towards Colmar.
Mittelbergheim
Voted “Most Beautiful Villages in France” in 2018, this small village of 600 inhabitants is located on the Alsace Wine Route. Pleasant, charming, and authentic, this village is perfect for a family stroll. You can start by taking a short walk in this village, then head to Barr, a neighboring village, and end with a visit to Mont Sainte-Odile.
Points of interest:
- Fun circuit
- Streets and architecture
- Vineyards
Riquewihr
Designated “Most Beautiful Villages in France” in 2016, this village is located in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards. Riquewihr is a medieval village that has managed to retain its period authenticity by preserving many buildings and relics from the 13th century. Whether you visit the village in winter or summer, you’ll fall in love with its Alsatian charm!
Points of interest:
- Museums (Thieves’ Tower, Hansi House, Dolder Tower, etc.)
- Historical circuit
- Streets and architecture
- Vineyards
Kaysersberg
Located not far from Riquewihr, Kaysersberg is a well-known village highly popular among tourists. Like its neighboring village, Kaysersberg was voted “Most Beautiful Villages in France” in 2017. Hikers and cyclists particularly appreciate this hilly area of forests and vineyards. The village is also famous for its typical Christmas market, featuring local artisans and producers.
Points of interest:
- Museums (Dr. Schweitzer, Historical Museum, etc.)
- Ruins of the castle
- Streets and architecture
- Domaine Weinbach
3 - The Mont Sainte-Odile
One of the must-sees when visiting Alsace is Mont Sainte-Odile. A significant spiritual site in Alsace, Mont Sainte-Odile is a pilgrimage site known worldwide in memory of Saint Odile, the patron saint of Alsatians. Located on the heights of Obernai and Ottrott (30 minutes from Strasbourg), you’ll find a magnificent 12th-century abbey. It’s the ideal place for a walk in Alsace. The visit is entirely free.
With your family, you can take lovely walks to admire the stunning panoramic view of the Alsace plain. You can see the chapels, the main church, Sainte-Odile’s tomb, and some Merovingian graves. Below, you’ll also find the famous pagan wall, whose origin remains unknown to this day.
For more information, you can visit the website here: http://www.mont-sainte-odile.com/
Points of interest:
- Panoramic viewpoint
- Abbey
- Pagan wall
- Sainte-Odile’s tomb
4 - Alsace's Castles
Another must-see when visiting Alsace is its many castles! A priceless heritage awaits tourists and hikers for their utmost pleasure.
The Alsace Castle Trail runs from north to south along the Vosges. To highlight all these history-rich castles, the Alsace Castles Association created this 450km trail, bringing together the 80 medieval castles of Alsace.
Perfect for a walk in Alsace, the castles are easily accessible and safe. If you’re in Alsace for a weekend or a week, we recommend seeing only 2 or 3 at most. For the rest, you’ll have to think about coming back!
The most famous of Alsace’s castles is Haut-Koenigsbourg. This 12th-century monument is one of the most visited sites in Alsace. Perched at nearly 760 meters above sea level, you’ll discover this magnificent reconstructed fortress with its nine centuries of history. Overlooking the Alsace plain, the castle offers an exceptional panorama of Alsace and the Vosges. The paid visit helps maintain and restore the castle.
You can also visit other remarkable castles such as Haut-Andlau, Ortenbourg, and Haut-Eguisheim.
Put on good walking shoes, grab some water, and off you go!
5 - Colmar
Voted the 3rd best European destination in 2018, Colmar is a must-visit city. Highly popular among foreign tourists, Colmar is nestled in the center of the Alsatian vineyards. The city boasts numerous assets thanks to its heritage, architecture, and renowned neighborhoods.
The “Petite Venise” district is a must-see in Colmar. Bordered by the Lauch, the flowered streets allow for stunning photos. You’ll discover many religious buildings and remarkable 17th-century buildings. Regardless of the season, Colmar will offer you a memorable Alsatian stroll.
6 - The Vosges: The Grand Ballon
If you love hiking, we recommend heading to the Vosges, specifically the Grand Ballon d’Alsace massif. Located in Guebwiller, this massif reaches an altitude of 1424 meters, making it the highest peak in the Vosges.
This place is perfect if you want to take a nature walk in Alsace. At the summit, you’ll find a civil aviation radar station and a monument in memory of the French Army’s Alpine hunters.
Once at the top of the massif, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the Alsace plain. On a clear day, you can see the rest of the Vosges, the Black Forest (Germany), the Jura, and even the Alps!
At the foot of the Grand Ballon, you can also visit the Murbach Abbey, dating back to the 11th century. It was one of the most powerful during the Holy Roman Empire period. A walk not to be missed.
7 - The Alsace Wine Route
The Alsace Wine Route is an exceptional route that will allow you to discover Alsace’s vast wine heritage. Inaugurated in 1953, the route winds through Alsace from north to south, crossing over 70 wine villages over 170km.
The Alsace Wine Route is primarily a place of encounters, pleasures, and discoveries of various villages that offer events and tastings throughout the year. All the famous Alsatian grape varieties are on this route: Pinot Blanc/Noir, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Sylvaner, etc. Take the opportunity to meet local winemakers and taste their wines.
8 - The Northern Vosges
The Northern Vosges is a regional natural park that has become a must-see when visiting Alsace. Designated a “world biosphere reserve” by UNESCO since 1989, the park covers over 2600 km of marked trails. One to two days will be needed to visit the essential parts of the Northern Vosges.
A significant nature reserve, the park boasts remarkable biodiversity in fauna and flora. The Northern Vosges are mainly composed of 70% forests. Among all these beeches and oaks, some orchards and meadows populated with Highland cows shape the valleys.
This park has a vast cultural and historical wealth. From prehistoric times to the present day, you’ll discover over 160 historical monuments (including 40 classified castles), Roman-era relics, and exceptional structures from the Maginot Line of World War II.
To learn more, visit the official Northern Vosges website.
9 - Northern Alsace
Authentic, natural, and friendly, Northern Alsace is a place to visit. Hikers and cyclists particularly appreciate the roads and wooded paths. Northern Alsace is also well-known for its pottery artisans located in the villages of Soufflenheim and Betschdorf.
Chemin des cimes Alsace
Here’s a great experience to have if you’re wondering what to do in Northern Alsace. The Chemin des cimes is a beautiful wooden structure that will give you a panoramic view and allow you to observe the north of Alsace from over 29m. With some luck, you might even see Strasbourg Cathedral!
Also, enjoy the exceptional 75m slide that will delight both young and old!
Admission is charged. For more information, visit their official website: https://www.chemindescimes-alsace.fr/fr/alsace/
Hunspach et Seebach
Hunspach is a typical village of the Outre-Forêt. This Alsatian village stands out with its many white half-timbered houses. It’s a favorite among many tourists! The village was even voted “France’s Favorite Village” in 2020.
Right after visiting Hunspach, go see Seebach, an authentic and charming village located nearby.
Wissembourg
A land rich in history, you can visit Wissembourg, a medieval village on the German border. Its origin dates back to 660 with the construction of its abbey, which over time became one of the most powerful in the region. It notably hosted the King of Poland and saw the marriage of his daughter Marie to King Louis XV of France in 1725. Today, the city still has ramparts and some historical monuments in the city center.
Haguenau
Not far from there, between Wissembourg and Strasbourg, you can take a detour to Haguenau. Its origin dates back to 1115, thanks to the father of Emperor Barbarossa, who built his castle there. Subsequently, many significant figures stayed there, contributing to the city’s prosperity (Frederick I, Frederick II, Richard the Lionheart, etc.). Stroll along the quays of the boatmen or in the city’s vast forested area (6th in France) and then relax in a downtown café.
10 - The alsatian Ecomuseum
Located an hour from Strasbourg, the Ecomusée d’Alsace is the largest open-air museum. Once you step through the museum’s doors, you’ll travel back in time!
The museum brings to life a genuine Alsatian village from the early 20th century. You’ll discover the buildings, trades, and inhabitants who perpetuate the art and rural traditions of the time. Throughout the year, numerous events and activities await families.”
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