Strasbourg sits in Alsace right on the Rhine and the border with Germany, and you can feel it all over the city. You get half-timbered houses along the canals in Petite France, a Gothic cathedral rising above the rooftops and winstubs serving tarte flambée and choucroute. In December, the city turns into one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets.
The city is small, but the areas are very different. Here are my recommendations for six areas with hotels in several price ranges, so you can pick the base that suits your trip.
Contents
The Best Areas in Strasbourg
- Grande Île - best area for first-time visitors and the Christmas market
- Petite France - best area for couples and a romantic weekend
- Krutenau - best area for food and nightlife
- Neustadt - best area for peace and quiet close to the centre
- Around the Station - best area for train travellers and a smaller budget
- European Quarter and Orangerie - best area for families and drivers
Below, I’ll take you through the six areas one by one, with three hotels in each area in different price ranges, from luxury hotels on Place Kléber to cheap rooms by the station.
1. Grande Île - best area for first-time visitors and the Christmas market 🎄
- 📍 Distance from the cathedral: You’ll be staying in the middle of the Old Town on the island between the two arms of the River Ill, and it’s no more than ten minutes’ walk to the cathedral.
- 🚶 Transport: Large parts of Grande Île are pedestrianised, so you’ll get around on foot. Trams stop at several points on the island, including near Place Kléber, if you’re heading further out.
- ✈️ Time from Strasbourg Airport: Around half an hour on the airport train to the station, followed by a tram or a 15-minute walk.
- 💰 Price range: € to €€€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £65 to £200 a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Grande Île is safe, but it gets very crowded around the cathedral and at the Christmas markets, so keep a firm grip on your bag in the crush.
Grande Île is the obvious choice if it’s your first time in Strasbourg. The island is the city’s historic centre and, together with Neustadt, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is where you’ll find Notre-Dame Cathedral, the carved half-timbered Maison Kammerzell, Place Kléber and Place Gutenberg, and almost everything you’ll want to see is within walking distance.
The cathedral is 142 metres tall and can be seen from large parts of the city. Every day at 12.30pm, the figures on the astronomical clock inside the church come to life, and if you want the view, you can climb the roughly 330 steps up to the platform 66 metres above the square.
This is also where you’ll find the Christmas market. According to the city’s official Christmas market website, the Christkindelsmärik started in 1570, and today there are markets on a number of squares in the centre, including Place Broglie, the squares around the cathedral and Place Kléber, where the big Christmas tree stands. The markets are usually open from late November until 24 December.
See hotels on Grande Île here.
Book a walking tour with a local guide past the cathedral and Petite France here.
The downsides are the price and the crowds in December. When I searched for a weekend in mid-December, Hôtel Gutenberg cost more than three times as much per night as in June, and many of the hotels were completely sold out. If you’re coming for the Christmas market, book as early as you can, and choose a room facing a side street if you want a quiet night’s sleep.
Places to Stay on Grande Île
Maison Rouge Strasbourg Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection - best luxury hotel on Place Kléber
Maison Rouge is a five-star hotel in the pedestrian streets right by Place Kléber, where the big Christmas tree stands in December. The hotel has a spa with a sauna and a Turkish bath, the rooms range from around 20 to 42 square metres, and the guest rating is 8.8. The spa costs extra, and private parking is around €50 (about £40) a night, which several guests feel is expensive.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Fantastic location, friendly staff, very helpful. Highly recommended.”
See photos and book Maison Rouge Strasbourg Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection here.
Hôtel Gutenberg - best mid-range hotel between Place Kléber and the cathedral
Hôtel Gutenberg is on Rue des Serruriers between Place Gutenberg and Place Kléber, so you’re just a few minutes’ walk from both the cathedral and Petite France. It has four stars, a lift and a breakfast buffet, and the guest rating is 8.6. The standard rooms are small at around 14 square metres, and some guests mention noise from nearby nightclubs.
One guest highlights the breakfast on Booking.com: “The location is excellent. The breakfast was fantastic.”
See photos and book Hôtel Gutenberg here.
Hôtel Patricia - my cheapest pick in the Old Town
Hôtel Patricia is a simple one-star hotel on Rue du Puits near Place Gutenberg, and it was by far the cheapest of my three picks on Grande Île when I searched. The guest rating is 8.0 from more than 3,000 reviews. There’s no lift, breakfast is served at a nearby café, and some of the rooms have a shared bathroom, so check the room type before you book.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The location was good, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The bed was comfortable.”
See photos and book Hôtel Patricia here.
2. Petite France - best area for couples and a romantic weekend 💕
- 📍 Distance from the cathedral: Around ten minutes’ walk from Place Benjamin Zix to the cathedral.
- 🚶 Transport: You’ll walk everywhere, and it’s around 15 minutes on foot to the station, so you can easily walk from the train with your suitcase.
- ✈️ Time from Strasbourg Airport: Around 25 minutes on the airport train to the station and a walk from there.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £95 to £230 a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe. In many places, the canals have low edges without railings, so keep an eye on small children, and watch out for the slippery cobbles in winter.
Petite France is the Strasbourg you’ve seen on postcards. The quarter lies at the western end of Grande Île, where the River Ill splits into several canals, and the white half-timbered houses stand close together along the water. It’s my first choice for couples and for a romantic weekend.
According to the Strasbourg tourist office, Rue du Bain-aux-Plantes was once the tanners’ street, and the open lofts at the top of the houses were used to dry hides. Maison des Tanneurs is on Place Benjamin Zix, and a little further west you’ll reach the Ponts Couverts, where three towers from the medieval city wall still stand by the bridges.
Head up to the terrace on the Barrage Vauban, the dam from the time of Louis XIV. From there, you look out over the Ponts Couverts, Petite France and the cathedral, and it’s one of the best places to see the city from, both during the day and when the lights come on in the evening.
See hotels in Petite France here.
In the evening, there are winstubs and restaurants along the canals, and in December there’s also a Christmas market on Place Benjamin Zix and Place Saint-Thomas. Once the day-trippers have gone, it gets quiet, and that’s when the quarter is at its most beautiful.
The downside is that there are few hotels in Petite France itself, and the best ones get booked up quickly. The streets are cobbled and narrow, so getting around by car or with big suitcases is a hassle. That’s why several of the hotels are just outside the quarter towards Place Kléber or the station, but from there you can still walk to the canals in a few minutes.
Places to Stay in Petite France
Hotel & Spa Régent Petite France - best luxury hotel by the canals
Régent Petite France is a five-star hotel on Rue des Moulins right by the water in Petite France, and it has a spa with a sauna and a hot tub. The rooms range from around 26 to 89 square metres, and the guest rating is 8.9. Some guests do mention, though, that the bathrooms could do with a renovation.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “A wonderful hotel in a fantastic location.”
See photos and book Hotel & Spa Régent Petite France here.
HANNONG Hotel & Wine Bar - best mid-range hotel with a wine bar
Hannong is on Rue du 22 Novembre between Petite France and Place Kléber, a few minutes’ walk from the canals. The hotel has a wine bar, the classic double rooms are around 23 square metres, and the guest rating is 8.8 from more than 4,000 reviews. There’s no private parking, but the hotel has an arrangement with the car park at Place Kléber, and some guests still find the rooms small.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel was excellent and had a beautiful location.”
See photos and book HANNONG Hotel & Wine Bar here.
ibis Strasbourg Centre Petite France - my cheapest pick between the station and the canals
ibis Strasbourg Centre Petite France is on Rue du Faubourg National, a few minutes’ walk from the station and less than ten minutes on foot from the canals in Petite France. It was the cheapest of my three picks in the area, and there’s a lift and a breakfast buffet. The rooms are around 16 square metres, the guest rating is 7.8, and some guests feel the rooms are a little worn.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Good location and a comfortable, quiet room.”
See photos and book ibis Strasbourg Centre Petite France here.
3. Krutenau - best area for food and nightlife 🍷
- 📍 Distance from the cathedral: Less than ten minutes’ walk from Place de Zurich across the river to the cathedral.
- 🚋 Transport: You can walk to most places, and the trams run along the edge of the quarter. According to the CTS transport company, a single ticket is valid for an hour, including changes between bus and tram.
- ✈️ Time from Strasbourg Airport: Around half an hour on the airport train and a tram.
- 💰 Price range: €€ to €€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £90 to £205 a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Krutenau is safe, but the bars stay lively until late, especially at weekends, so choose a room away from the street if you’re a light sleeper.
Krutenau is just across the River Ill to the south-east of the cathedral, and it’s where many locals go out. The quarter has a student feel thanks to the nearby university, and it’s my pick if you want to eat well and have bars and cafés within walking distance.
Along Quai des Bateliers by the river, you’ll find restaurants and winstubs looking out over the water towards Palais Rohan and the cathedral, and around Place de Zurich and Rue de Zurich there are cafés and small bars. Place du Corbeau at the western end is right by the bridge over to Grande Île.
If you’d like to get to know Alsatian cooking, you can join a food tour with tastings, where you’ll try pretzels, sausages, cheese and other specialities from Alsace along the way.
Krutenau is also a good choice for the Christmas market. You can walk across the bridge to the markets around the cathedral in a few minutes but sleep a little away from the biggest crowds, and in the evening there are enough restaurants that you won’t need to queue on Grande Île.
The downside is that you don’t get the postcard charm of Petite France, and there are few hotels in the quarter itself. The rooms in the smaller hotels are often small, so check the square metres before you book. I’d choose Krutenau for a weekend with friends or for couples who’d rather have good restaurants than half-timbered houses outside the window.
Places to Stay in Krutenau
Cour du Corbeau Hotel Strasbourg - MGallery Collection - best luxury hotel on Place du Corbeau
Cour du Corbeau is a four-star MGallery hotel on Rue des Couples by Place du Corbeau, right next to the bridge over to Grande Île. It has one of the highest guest ratings in my search, 9.3, and the largest rooms are around 37 square metres. Breakfast costs around €25 (about £20) per person, and some guests mention that there aren’t always enough seats in the breakfast room.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Beautiful building with character and a central location. Spacious and well-equipped rooms.”
See photos and book Cour du Corbeau Hotel Strasbourg - MGallery Collection here.
Hotel Roses - best mid-range pick with an Alsatian breakfast
Hotel Roses is on Rue de Zurich in the middle of Krutenau and has three stars, a sauna and a gym. The breakfast buffet includes Alsatian specialities, and the guest rating is 8.1. There’s no lift, the double rooms are around 14 square metres, and a few guests have complained about the cleaning.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Excellent location and very friendly staff!!”
See photos and book Hotel Roses here.
Hôtel De L’Ill - my cheapest pick by Quai des Bateliers
Hôtel de l’Ill is on Rue des Bateliers a few steps from the river, and it was the cheapest of my three picks in Krutenau when I searched. There’s a lift and a breakfast buffet, and the guest rating is 8.4. The standard rooms are only around 10 square metres, and there’s no parking at the hotel, so it suits couples who travel light best.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Top marks for the breakfast and the location.”
See photos and book Hôtel De L’Ill here.
4. Neustadt - best area for peace and quiet close to the centre 🏛️
- 📍 Distance from the cathedral: Around ten minutes’ walk from Place de la République to the cathedral.
- 🚋 Transport: Trams run through the quarter, but from most places it’s just as quick to walk into Grande Île.
- ✈️ Time from Strasbourg Airport: Around half an hour on the airport train and a tram.
- 💰 Price range: € to €€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £80 to £160 a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: Neustadt is a calm quarter with wide streets and few bars, so it’s quiet in the evening.
Neustadt is the new town the Germans built after Strasbourg became part of the German Empire in 1871. Today the quarter is on the UNESCO World Heritage List together with Grande Île, and according to the tourist office’s page about Neustadt, the large squares, wide avenues and monumental buildings were meant to show off Prussia’s power.
At its heart is Place de la République, a round square with a park, where you’ll find the Palais du Rhin, the national theatre and the BNU university library. From here, Avenue de la Liberté runs down towards the Palais Universitaire, and the side streets are lined with beautiful Art Nouveau buildings that very few tourists see.
I’d choose Neustadt if you want to stay close to the centre but sleep in peace. You can walk to Grande Île and the Christmas markets in ten minutes without having the crowds right outside your door, and the streets are wide and easy to find your way around.
Neustadt borders the European Quarter and the Orangerie park, so it’s also a good compromise if you want to see both the Old Town and the European institutions. The hotels here are often smaller and more personal than the chain hotels by the station.
The downside is that Neustadt doesn’t have the same atmosphere as the Old Town. There are fewer restaurants and bars, and in the evening you’ll need to walk into the centre or over to Krutenau to find some life. For a short weekend where you want everything right on your doorstep, Grande Île is the better choice.
Places to Stay in Neustadt
Hôtel Régent Contades - best four-star hotel on Avenue de la Liberté
Régent Contades is on Avenue de la Liberté near the Palais Universitaire, around ten minutes’ walk from the cathedral. The hotel has four stars, a sauna and a steam room, and the guest rating is 8.7. The classic rooms are around 16 square metres, and the private garage costs around €30 (about £25) a night. Some guests find the parking awkward.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Good location, beautiful room and a large, lovely bathroom.”
See photos and book Hôtel Régent Contades here.
Maison LUTETIA R - best mid-range hotel with a high guest rating
Maison Lutetia R is a small three-star hotel on Rue du Général Rapp, around 15 minutes’ walk from the cathedral. It has one of the highest guest ratings in this guide, 9.2, and there’s a lift, a bar and a breakfast buffet. On the other hand, there’s no restaurant, and the single rooms are only around 13 square metres.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Everything about our stay here was absolutely perfect!”
See photos and book Maison LUTETIA R here.
Ibis Budget Strasbourg Centre Republique - my cheapest pick near Place de la République
Ibis Budget Strasbourg Centre République is on Rue Oberlin a few minutes’ walk north of Place de la République, and it was the cheapest of my three picks in Neustadt. The guest rating is 8.4. The rooms are small at around 13 square metres, and there’s no parking at the hotel.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel is central and very beautiful. The room was very clean and cosy.”
See photos and book Ibis Budget Strasbourg Centre Republique here.
5. Around the Station - best area for train travellers and a smaller budget 🚆
- 📍 Distance from the cathedral: Around 20 minutes’ walk or a few minutes by tram.
- 🚆 Transport: This is where the TGV trains from Paris, the regional trains and the airport train stop, and trams run from the station into the centre.
- ✈️ Time from Strasbourg Airport: Less than ten minutes on the airport train.
- 💰 Price range: € to €€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £85 to £125 a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: The area around the station is busy and a bit more run-down than the rest of the centre. It’s fine during the day, but stick to the main streets late in the evening.
The area around the station is my pick for train travellers and for anyone who wants to keep costs down a little. The station is easy to spot thanks to the big glass dome in front of the old building, and from Place de la Gare it’s less than a kilometre to the canals in Petite France.
According to Strasbourg Airport, the train from the airport to the station takes just 8 minutes, and there are up to five trains an hour. On the fastest TGV trains, you can get here from Paris in just under two hours, so Strasbourg also works well as an extension of a trip to the French capital.
If you’d like a few nights in Paris first, you can read my guide to where to stay in Paris, and if you’re landing at Charles de Gaulle, I’ve also written about getting from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city centre.
See hotels near the station here.
Around Place de la Gare, there are lots of chain hotels and smaller three-star hotels, and in my search the prices were generally lower than on Grande Île. If you’re arriving late or catching an early train, you’ll also avoid dragging your suitcase through the cobbled streets.
The downside is that there isn’t much to see right around the station, and you’ll need to walk or take the tram to the sights. I’d choose the station area for a short trip, or if you want to combine Strasbourg with other cities by train. If you’re heading south to Lyon, you can read my guide to where to stay in Lyon.
Places to Stay Near the Station
Hotel des Vosges BW Premier Collection - best four-star hotel right opposite the station
Hotel des Vosges is on Place de la Gare right opposite the station and is a four-star hotel from Best Western’s Premier Collection with a sauna and a gym. The guest rating is 8.7, and the Comfort rooms are around 15 square metres. A few guests mention that the sauna and gym couldn’t be used during their stay.
One guest highlights on Booking.com: “Friendly staff, the location, the quality of the room and the comfortable bed.”
See photos and book Hotel des Vosges BW Premier Collection here.
Hotel Saint Augustin - best mid-range hotel with renovated rooms
Hotel Saint Augustin is on Rue Kuhn a few minutes’ walk from the station and had the highest guest rating of the hotels around the station in my search, 8.9. The rooms are around 15 square metres, and there’s a lift and a breakfast buffet. Some guests find that the rooms get too warm.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Very friendly and helpful staff, nicely renovated room, clean and comfortable.”
See photos and book Hotel Saint Augustin here.
Ibis Budget Strasbourg Centre Gare - my cheapest pick on Place de la Gare
Ibis Budget Strasbourg Centre Gare is right on Place de la Gare, and it was the cheapest of my three picks by the station. It has two stars, a lift and a guest rating of 8.0 from more than 4,000 reviews. The rooms are only around 12 square metres, and parking costs extra.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Perfect stay, good location, clean and simple hotel and lovely, friendly staff.”
See photos and book Ibis Budget Strasbourg Centre Gare here.
6. European Quarter and Orangerie - best area for families and drivers 🌳
- 📍 Distance from the cathedral: Around two kilometres, which is half an hour’s walk or a short ride by tram or bus.
- 🚋 Transport: Trams and buses run into the centre, and it’s easier to park here than in the narrow streets of the Old Town.
- ✈️ Time from Strasbourg Airport: Around 40 minutes by train and tram or around half an hour by car.
- 💰 Price range: € to €€€. The three hotels below cost roughly £80 to £120 a night when I searched for a weekend in June.
- 👮 Safety: A calm and safe quarter with lots of offices and institutions, and it’s very quiet in the evening.
The European Quarter lies north-east of the centre, and it’s home to the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights. Right next door is the Parc de l’Orangerie, the largest park close to the centre and the most popular with locals.
According to the City of Strasbourg, the park covers around 26 hectares and has a lake where you can go out in a rowing boat and a free zoo, where the storks are one of the big attractions. That makes the area my first choice for families who want green spaces and playgrounds close to their hotel.
See hotels in the European Quarter here.
A couple of the hotels here have both parking and a spa, and Villa La Florangerie even has a pool. If you’re driving in from Germany or further afield, it’s much easier to stay here than to find a parking space close to Grande Île.
In the weeks when the European Parliament meets in Strasbourg, the hotels in the quarter can fill up with politicians and journalists, and then prices go up. So check prices for several dates if you’re flexible about when you travel.
The downside is that you’re staying outside the atmosphere most people come to Strasbourg for, and restaurants are few and far between in the evening. I’d choose the European Quarter for families, for drivers and for a longer holiday, where you want peace and space and don’t mind taking the tram into town.
Places to Stay in the European Quarter and Orangerie
Hôtel Villa La Florangerie - SPA & Piscine - best hotel with a pool and spa by the park
Villa La Florangerie is on Rue Westercamp a few minutes’ walk south of the Parc de l’Orangerie. The hotel has an indoor pool, an outdoor pool in summer and a spa, and access to the wellness area is included in the price. The guest rating is 8.6. The classic double rooms are only around 15 square metres, spa treatments need to be booked in advance, and the garage costs around €40 (about £35) a night.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The room, the breakfast, the staff and the pool were all absolutely exceptional!”
See photos and book Hôtel Villa La Florangerie - SPA & Piscine here.
Residence Inn by Marriott Strasbourg - best choice for families, with a kitchenette
Residence Inn by Marriott is on Boulevard de Dresde near the European Parliament, and every room has a kitchenette. The studios are around 22 square metres, there’s a gym, and parking costs around €20 (about £15) a day. The guest rating is 8.8, but some guests mention that the rooms aren’t cleaned often enough.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Big, clean room, really good curtains and built-in air conditioning. I slept like a baby.”
See photos and book Residence Inn by Marriott Strasbourg here.
Hotel de l’Orangerie - my cheapest pick near the park
Hotel de l’Orangerie is on Allée de la Robertsau a few minutes’ walk from the Parc de l’Orangerie, and it was the cheapest of my three picks in the area. It has three stars and a guest rating of 7.8. The standard rooms are small at around 11.5 square metres, and some guests would like more facilities.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Very clean and newly renovated room.”
See photos and book Hotel de l’Orangerie here.
Where should you avoid staying in Strasbourg?
I wouldn’t choose Kehl on the German side of the Rhine, even though the hotels there are sometimes cheaper. The tram crosses the river to the centre of Strasbourg, but the journey takes around 20 minutes each way, and in the evening you’ll have to head back across the border when the restaurants and Christmas markets close.
I’d also avoid the hotels in the business parks on the outskirts of the city and by the airport in Entzheim. They’re handy for an early flight, but you lose all the atmosphere and have to take the train or the car in every day.
Strasbourg is small enough that you can walk to most places, so it rarely makes sense to save a few pounds by staying far out and spending the time on transport instead.
If it’s your first time in Strasbourg or you’re coming for the Christmas market, I’d stay on Grande Île or in Petite France if your budget allows. Krutenau is the best choice for food and bars, Neustadt suits you if you want to sleep in peace close to the centre, and the station area is the most practical if you’re arriving by train or want to keep costs down. Families and drivers get the most space in the European Quarter.
Book early if you’re travelling in December, because the best hotels in the centre sell out quickly. If you’d like to combine Strasbourg with a trip further south in France, I’ve also written about where to stay in Provence, and if you’re carrying on to Switzerland, you can read my guide to where to stay in Switzerland.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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