Best Day Trip From Strasbourg: Visiting Three Fairytale Villages
If you need one more reason to visit Strasbourg—or to stay one extra day—you’ve got it!
The city is a perfect launch pad to explore some of the other beautiful Alsatian towns that are just a short distance away.
After consultation with the concierge at our hotel in Strasbourg (Regent Petite France), we settled on three places to visit—Colmar, Kayserberg and Riquewihr—mainly because of their rich historical and architectural heritage.
Yes, these villages have become somewhat over-touristed, but you can easily see why when you visit them.
Getting there
We toyed with the idea of renting a car, but the hotel concierge suggested booking a driver and car because parking might be a problem.
As it turned out, we were happy to have the opportunity to spend quality time with Stephan, an English-speaking driver, who was eager to share his opinions about Alsatian culture, politics, food, and the economy during our six-hour day.
To reach the first of these villages, Colmar, we entered the toll-free highway, Autoroute A35. The ride in light traffic on a Saturday morning took about an hour.
Located in the northeast part of France, the Alsace region borders Germany. Along the highway, every charming village is surrounded by vineyards, all set in the dramatic backdrop of the foothills of the Vosges Mountains and the Black Forest.
Here are a few highlights of our stops!
Colmar
With a population of some 68,000 people, Colmar is by far the largest of the three towns we visited but its well-preserved historic center is small and intimate.
Upon exiting the highway, we entered a roundabout at the north end of town where we were welcomed by (and surprised to see) a 12-meter (almost 40-foot) resin replica of the Statue of Liberty.
Built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, it foreshadowed our visit to the birthplace of one of Colmar’s most famous citizens. (Bartholdi’s home is now a museum there).
In the town center, we set off on foot. Like much of the Grand Est region of northeast France, Colmar is filled with color. Floral displays drape the railings of the canal on the Lauch River, an area so picturesque it has been dubbed “Little Venice.”
The tiled roofs on the Gothic Saint-Martin’s Church and the old Custom’s House (Koifhus) are splashed with color, too.
The lively town is said to have been the inspiration for Belle’s hometown in Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast.” Narrow cobblestone streets wind through Colmar, lined with characteristic half-timbered houses.
The covered market first opened in Colmar in 1865 but its interior is quite contemporary, filled with a mix of German and French delicacies including plenty of pretzels, a specialty of Alsace. Here and in each of the cities we visit, beautiful Iron-forged medieval guild signs hang from the cafes, pubs and shops that line the cobblestone streets.
Especially noteworthy: Like Beaune is in Burgundy, Colmar is the wine capital of Alsace, the region’s main center of wine trading and marketing.
For more information: Tourist Office of the Ribeauville-Riquewihr Region
Kayserberg
About 20 minutes away and reached on much smaller roads, picture-perfect Kayserberg pales in population (with only about 2,700 residents) and in size to Colmar. Located in the Weiss Valley, the village’s Renaissance-style Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) dates back to 1521.
With two Michelin starred restaurants in the same tiny town, Kayserberg is known for its food and wine (especially Pinot Gris). The five-star Le Chambard, a Relais & Chateaux property, sits right in the middle of town. The hotel (and the town) sadly achieved recent notoriety as the place where author, chef and TV host Anthony Bourdain took his life.
Kayserberg was the birthplace of Nobel Prize-winning humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer; a small museum occupies a house where he once lived in as a child. It’s fun to wander through the town filled with small shops and eateries.
The beauty of Kayserberg, although tainted by the memory of the death of Bourdain, was one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever visited. In 2017, Kayserberg was named France’s favorite village. Also, France’s National Council of Town and Villages in Bloom (Villes et Villages Fleuris) named it one of 4,246 floral towns because of it beautiful landscaping and floral displays.
For more information: Colmar Tourist Office
Riquewihr
The trip from Kayserberg to Riquewihr was just 15 minutes by car. Riquewihr is one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (one of the most beautiful small, rural villages). A large producer of Riesling wine, the village is filled with wine shops, tasting rooms and winstubs—pub-like wine lounges (that are typical in Alsace). Winstubs serve simple foods along with the wine.
The quaint 16th-century storybook architecture of the town is eye-catching.
Of the three villages, this one is the smallest (population of 1,200) but seems most geared to tourists: In fact, Riquewihr receives more than 2 million visitors every year. In addition to wine and souvenir shops, it has an abundance of eateries, bakeries and sweet shops. Some of the building facades date back to the 1500s.
For those who prefer to go beyond the touristic center, a mini-train runs past wineries and manor houses, departing almost every hour. (We also found mini trains in the historic centers of Colmar and Strasbourg).
The village recently launched GeoVino Alsace, a new immersive wine tourism experience that allows visitors to walk through the vineyards, meet with winemakers and learn about the terroir. The developers hope to sponsor 11 such walks by 2020.
For more information: Tourist Office of Kayserberg
Best day trip from Strasbourg – The bottom line
This road trip through Alsace proved to be a wonderful opportunity to get a glimpse of these fairytale villages and the surrounding vineyards before embarking on our European Waterways hotel barge trip from Strasbourg.
We’d love to return someday and stay a week or more, perhaps in idyllic Kayserberg—to more slowly savor the region’s good food and wine along with its architectural and natural beauty.
Route of Our Road Trip in Alsace
Visiting Alsace?: Read my article on Forbes.com
6 Reasons To Visit Strasbourg, France: Cradle Of Alsatian Culture
For more information:
All photo credits: Jerome Levine
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Fabulous post, Irene! I love all the photos of the three villages nearby Strasbourg. I would absolutely love to spend some time here.
Thanks, Doreen. They are so filled with color that I wish I could spend a week in each one—especially on a gray day in New York like today.
Downright lovely as a fairy-tale. As an American, I would love to see that replica of Bartholdi’s masterpiece. Keyserberg is so beautiful I wonder why Bourdain took his life there?
I will never understand the pain that Anthony Bourdain must have been feeling at that moment, in such a beautiful place.:-(
Oh.. I love all these quaint little villages, but Colmar takes my breath away. I am only sorry that l will never get to visit all the places l want to in this lifetime! We took a mini-train in Marseille and it was so much fun. Thanks for sharing this..on my list now 🙂
Yes, mini-trains are a great way to get an overview. We took one in Strasbourg.
Wow, that brings back some memories. We spent half a day only in Riquewihr, sadly time didn’t permit us to visit the other towns, next time, but it is an incredible village. Some of those buildings date back to the 16th century, that is just so amazing to me.
Yes, visiting these very well preserved places is like stepping back in time!
I don’t need any more reasons – just time and money! Beautiful photos and such great information.
Yes, so many beautiful places to visit~
I stayed in Colmar long ago, and now you’ve enticed me to also explore Kayserberg and Riquewihr. I do enjoy the smaller towns and these look like special ones. Great images!
These towns look perfect for long lazy stays!
We had houseguests last night who’d just returned from a European river cruise and who were singing the praises of Colmar and now I see it on your blog. High time we get ourselves ‘out and about’ in Europe and start visiting these places that are so very tempting!! Beautiful post, Irene.
It’s a funny phenomenon. Often, I’ve never heard of a place and then I hear about it from multiple sources.
It’s easy to see why those villages in Alsace are so popular with tourists! They all look fabulous, but Kayserberg, with its Michelin starred restaurants, would be a winner for me.
I agree!
Love love love these little towns. (notwithstanding the sad connection to Bourdain). It makes me want to visit the Alsace. Like, now!
I want to return and stay longer!
Now that we have “more time to travel” (get it?), I am realizing the benefit of being able to take day trips around “must visit” cities all over the world. I also endorse the idea of hiring a local as a “driver”. They will usually insist they are not a tour guide, but I find this often makes them feel freer to discuss all manner of topics about their area and lives. You can often read the official tour info in a guide book or on line. The photos here do your subjects justice. Beautiful.
Yes, that “extra day” can introduce you to the destination for your next trip!
I’ve long wanted to visit Strasbourg and you’ve given me three extra reasons! The umbrellas in the city of Colmar look specially charming…I’ve got a serious case of umbrella envy
It’s a wonderful part of France!
Love this post-Irene! We did a similar road trip when we did a Burgundy barge cruise, too. We absolutely fell in love with Colmar and would love to spend more time there. BTW I really like your updated website looks wonderful.
Thanks for your comment—and the compliment on my website.
Sounds like a great decision to hire a driver on this trip so you sit back and enjoy the view without a traffic or parking ticket! And such a perfect day trip itinerary too. The small town of Kayserberg sounds especially lovely!
Yes, we would have had trouble navigating parking. So given the limited time we had, this was very time-efficient.
I’ve been to Colmar and loved it. The other two cities look quaint too. The Alsace region is so lovely. Good idea to secure a driver instead of doing it yourself.
Colmar is far larger than the other two villages but together, they make a perfect trifecta!
Thanks Irene. You have a gift to inspire people to visit the places you have been. With your pictures, descriptions, and stories – one would definitely wish to experience what you have shared. My wife and I are planning a trip to Strasbourg in May 2019. We are planning to stay in Strasbourg and were actually considering renting a car to see the beautiful sights of Alsace. However, after reading your article, we are now considering hiring a driver. Are you able to share with we (and your readers) the cost for hiring a driver and car? Thanks in advance.
Thanks for your very nice comment, Joe. May sounds like a perfect time to visit Strasbourg. Frankly, I can’t remember the precise cost of our driver. We found the private driver and booked the tour through our hotel concierge at Regent Petite France.
To save on costs, we booked the driver for 6 hours (rather than a full-day), which was just the right amount of time for us. We didn’t stop for lunch and were able to customize the tour to see the towns that most interested us. This is the company we used: Steph On Tour. We had an English speaking driver who was very knowledgeable and affable—and his Mercedes was quite comfortable.
You can also book tours through the Strasbourg Tourism Office.
In terms of driving yourself, parking can be tough to find during the busy tourist season so having the driver drop us off and pick us up was a godsent. One other piece of advice. We initially tried to book a tour with another company recommended by the tourist office but there was no availability—so do book early!
Hope this helps! Have a wonderful trip!
Best, Irene
I’ve been to Colmar and Kaysersberg and they absolutely stole my heart! All villages around this “wine” part of Alsace are stunning. My friend lives there and I visited him twice and I will be back for sure. I can also recommend Ribeauville, it’s equally lovely! And local Riesling tastes great everywhere… 😉
I hope I get to return, too!