Alsace travel guide

Strasbourg and Colmar anchor a practical north-south route. Regional trains handle the main cities, while smaller wine-road villages may need buses, cycling, a tour or a car.

Use at least two nights in Strasbourg and one or two in Colmar. Add only the villages that fit the day’s transport instead of trying to drive the entire wine route.

Begin in Strasbourg

Grande Île, Neustadt and the European quarter provide distinct city days.

Move south to Colmar

The old centre is compact and the city is a useful base for nearby villages.

Choose villages by access

Rail and bus links vary, especially on Sundays and outside busy seasons.

A practical itinerary

1. Days 1 to 3: explore Strasbourg.
2. Days 4 to 5: stay in Colmar.
3. Days 6 to 7: add one wine-country route or a Vosges outing.

Christmas market travel

Winter events bring strong demand and temporary traffic arrangements. Book transport and accommodation early.

Cycling options

Flat sections of the Rhine plain suit cycling, while Vosges routes involve more climbing.

Places to add to your map

• Strasbourg: Northern city and main rail hub.
• Colmar: Southern city and wine-country base.
• Vosges foothills: Vineyard and village belt west of the Rhine plain.

Open the route planner to place these stops in a wider France trip.

Continue planning

• Strasbourg travel guide
• Colmar travel guide
• Grand Est travel guide

Questions about Alsace

Should I stay in Strasbourg or Colmar?

Strasbourg suits museums, city life and stronger transport. Colmar is smaller and closer to many wine-country villages. A longer trip benefits from both.

Can I see Alsace villages without a car?

Some are rail or bus accessible, but connections vary. Choose villages around a published route rather than expecting a continuous hop-on service.