World City Guide

Tours of the City

Walking Tours
Strasbourg is an ideal size to be covered by foot and a trip around the Cathedral (particularly at night) and Petite France district is essential for the visitor. The lush, grassy banks of the Ill and the Fossé du Faux-Rempart canal afford views of the major sights. Audio-guided visits lasting 90 minutes are available in French, English, German, Italian and Spanish and represent by far the best way of exploring the city. Equipment is available for hire for ¬6 from the Office du Tourisme, 17 place d la Cathédrale (tel: (03) 8852 2828; fax: (03) 8852 2829), between 0900 and 1900 for a period of 24 hours. A deposit of ¬30 or ID is required. This form of walking tour is highly recommended for independent travellers who prefer to sightsee at their own pace. The Office du Tourisme also organises French-language- guided tours that cover the Cathedral and Petite France, also lasting approximately 90 minutes and costing ¬6.

Pedestrians need to be aware, however, that the access to some parking areas means that cars have to drive along the pavement to reach them, cycle lanes form part of the pavement rather than the road and, even when crossing at a road junction with a ‘green’ light, cars turning into the road continue to approach – they are obliged to give way to pedestrians on a crossing but the experience can come as a surprise.

Boat Tours
The Service touristique du Port Autonome de Strasbourg, 15 rue de Nantes (tel: (03) 8884 1313; fax: (03) 8884 3313; website: www.strasbourg.port.fr/visites-en-bateaux.htm ), organises a two-and-a-half-hour cruise, departing from the place de l’Etoile daily at 1430 (Jul-Aug). The tour travels along the Ill and Rhine rivers and costs ¬8. In addition, it also offers daytime and night-time cruises on the Ill River, with commentary in English, departing daily from the Palais Rohan pier, Place du Marché aux Poissons, all year round. These tours take 75 minutes and cost ¬6.60 (concessions are available).

Other Tours
CTS (tel: (03) 8877 7070; website: www.strasbourg.com/cts ) operates a mini train sightseeing service, with multilingual commentary. The 50-minute tours run every 30 minutes, daily 1000-1700 (23 March to 26 April), 0930-1830 (27 April to 28 June – except on 1 May), 0930-1900 (29 June to 15 September) and 0930-1700 (16 September to 20 October). From 21 October to 3 November, the train runs every hour daily 1000-1700. It departs from the place du Château, passing the La Petite France district and the Cathedral. Fare is ¬4.60 for adults and ¬2.30 for children.