A Standard Alsace Vacation

What You'll Find in Most Alsace Guide Books

Now that you've decided to take an Alsace vacation, you might be interested in how far all those charming Alsatian villages are from Strasbourg...

Strasbourg is in northern Alsace in a not particularly touristy area...

And if you're looking to go visit the touristy villages and sites on your Alsace holiday, you're looking at about an hour or more trip depending on where you want to go.

But that doesn't mean you are far away from some really interesting parts of Alsace. They may not be well known by English speaking tourists, but they are definitely worth a visit...

There is so much to see in northern Alsace and they are prominently featured in my guide book on Strasbourg and the northernmost areas of Alsace.

But if you don't find what you're looking for...ask me a question about your Alsace vacation here!

Distances given are the approximate distances from the center of Strasbourg.

Villages with a * have a train stop and train station.

Your Alsace Vacation:Touristy Alsace

Haut Koenigsbourg

39 miles/62 km

The Haut Koenigsbourg castle was originally built in 1147 in the Vosges mountains. Like many castles it was enlarged a number of times and updated to deal with changes in warfare. But like most castles in Alsace, it was severely damaged in the Thirty Years War in the 1600s, but it was also fully restored in the 1900s. Haut Koenigsbourg will give you a very clear picture of life in a medieval castle in Alsace.

Ribeauvillé

40 miles/63 km

If you've already started researching where to go in Alsace, you've probably heard of Ribeauvillé. It's a beautiful wine road village with lots of medieval buildings, restaurants, shops and wine. I think Ribeauvillé is a great place to visit, although I have no idea why it is more popular than other wine road villages that are just as beautiful. There are also three castles above Ribeauvillé that you can hike up to and back in three hours if you're interested...

Riquewihr

44 miles/71 km

Riquewihr is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France because visiting Riquewihr is like stepping hundreds of years back into history. Somehow this wine road village managed to survive through countless wars (including World War Two) unscathed. So enjoy it, but remember that there are a lot of other people planning to visit Riquewihr with you especially around July, August, and December.

Kaysersberg

47 miles/79 km

Kaysersberg is a just as beautiful medieval wine road village as Riquewihr with the added bonus of a ruined castle only a 15 minute hike away. The photo at the very top of this webpage was taken in Kaysersberg to give you an idea. So if you want to avoid the crowds in Riquewihr, Kaysersberg might be a good choice for your Alsace vacation. And it's the birthplace of Albert Schweitzer too.

Colmar*

44 miles/71 km

Colmar is a medium sized town right in the middle of Alsace. It's on many many people's list of "most beautiful towns in France". The wine business made a lot of people wealthy during the late medieval period so there are a lot of beautiful and unique buildings to look at in Colmar.

Freiburg, Germany*

58 miles/93 km

One of the nice things about visiting Alsace is how close you are to Germany. Freiburg Germany is a beautiful big city with a large medieval quarter. From Freiburg you can make your way into the Black Forest if you would like to spend a day at a natural mineral spring spa, although you will probably need a car for a trip like this.

Basel, Switzerland*

87 miles/139 km

Basel, Switzerland is right on the border of France, Germany, and Switzerland. This 2000 year old city has an unbelievably well maintained medieval city center for such a big city (over 250,000 people), not to mention the four story Spalentor city gate from the 1400s. You'll just love wandering up and down the tiny little medieval lanes in Basel.

More Information about Planning a Vacation in Strasbourg 

Looking for Hotels in Strasbourg France?

Your Strasbourg Holiday: Strasbourg for Beginners

Your Strasbourg Flights and the Strasbourg Airport

Need More Alsace Vacation Ideas?