Which day trips from Strasbourg are worth it, and how do you get there?

Updated on September 28, 2026

In brief

Colmar is the easiest day trip from Strasbourg: about 30 minutes by TER Grand Est regional train, or about 1 hour by road (73 km).
Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle is about 52 minutes by road from Strasbourg; without a car, take the TER to Sélestat, then shuttle line 500.
Baden-Baden, in Germany, is about 35 minutes from Strasbourg on the fastest direct trains, and about 50 minutes by road.
The Natzweiler-Struthof memorial, about 60 km from Strasbourg, can be reached by car or coach only.

Why day trips from Strasbourg are worth your time

Day trips from Strasbourg reach two countries, and Switzerland is close: French wine villages, a mountain castle, German spa towns, and the Black Forest all sit within about 1 h 30 of the city. Strasbourg is a rail hub, so some trips are easy by train. Others, like the wine villages and hilltop sites, have no station at all.

One town is a train day. Several villages, a castle, and a wine tasting in the same day is a road day.

The best day trips from Strasbourg, one sentence each

The best day trips from Strasbourg mix Alsace towns, wine villages, castles, and cities across the Rhine. Each trip below gets one sentence, with the typical fastest train time and the driving time from central Strasbourg without traffic, both rounded.

Colmar, with the canals of Petite Venise and its old town, is about 30 minutes by TER regional train and about 1 hour by road.
Riquewihr and the Wine Route villages around it, such as Kaysersberg and Eguisheim, are about 55 minutes by road, or by train to Colmar plus Fluo bus line 816 to Riquewihr (about 30 minutes).
Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle (Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg), a mountain fortress restored in the early 20th century, is about 52 minutes by road, or by TER to Sélestat (about 20 minutes) plus shuttle line 500 (about 30 minutes).
Obernai, a wine town with a busy market square, is about 32 minutes by direct TER and about 30 minutes by road, and Mont Sainte-Odile, the hilltop convent above it, is about 45 minutes by road from Strasbourg with no train station.
Baden-Baden, the German spa town with its Kurhaus and thermal baths, is about 35 minutes on the fastest direct trains and about 50 minutes by road.
Freiburg im Breisgau, the university city at the edge of the Black Forest, is about 1 h 10 by road, and from about 1 h 08 by train with at least one change.
Gengenbach, a small half-timbered town in the Kinzig valley of the Black Forest, is about 40 minutes by road and about 1 hour by train with a change in Offenburg.
Europa-Park, the theme park in Rust, Germany, is about 46 minutes by road, or about 45 minutes on a direct TGV INOUI to Ringsheim/Europa-Park station, then a short bus ride.
Basel, in Switzerland, with its Rhine riverfront and art museums, is about 1 h 17 on the fastest trains and about 1 h 30 by road (137 km).
The Natzweiler-Struthof memorial, the only concentration camp the Nazis built on the territory of prewar France, is about 1 hour by road and cannot be reached by train.

Pairs that work in one day: Colmar with Riquewihr, Obernai with Mont Sainte-Odile, or Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle with a wine village. Freiburg, Basel, and Europa-Park each fill a day alone.

How do you get there: train, bus, car, group tour, or private driver?

For a day trip from Strasbourg to one town with a station, the train is usually the best choice: TER Grand Est reaches Colmar in about 30 minutes and Sélestat in about 20, and trains reach Baden-Baden in about 35. For wine villages, castles, and hilltop sites, you need a bus connection, a car, a group tour, or a driver.

Day trips from Strasbourg: the five ways to travel
Option	How it works	Time	Cost	Best for
Train	TER, TGV, and Deutsche Bahn trains from Strasbourg station	About 20 minutes to Sélestat, 30 to Colmar, 35 to Baden-Baden, 1 h 17 to Basel	Per person: check SNCF Connect for the current fare	One city or town with a station
Bus	Fluo line 816 from Colmar to Riquewihr, line 500 from Sélestat to Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle	About 30 minutes each, on top of the train	4 euros per Fluo ride in the Haut-Rhin; 3 euros on line 500	One village or the castle, on a fixed timetable
Rental car	Drive yourself south on the A35, or east across the Rhine	Road times above, plus parking	Rental, fuel, and parking	Confident drivers who want full freedom
Shared group tour	Minibus or coach day sold per seat, on a fixed route	Half day or full day, fixed schedule	Per seat	Solo travelers and couples on a budget
Private driver	FJ13 van from your Strasbourg hotel, route adjusted on the day	Half day, or full day of about 10 hours	Per van, for 1 to 7 passengers	Families, groups, several stops, wine tastings

Take the train if you are going to Colmar, Baden-Baden, Freiburg, or Basel only: for one or two people it costs far less, and FJ13 is not the best option for those single-city days. Shared group tours also cost less than a private van for one or two people, with less freedom on timing. A car or driver earns its keep when the day links places without a station, and whoever drives skips the tastings.

More Colmar options: Strasbourg to Colmar.

When is the best time for a day trip from Strasbourg?

Spring to early autumn is the easiest season for day trips from Strasbourg: long days, every site open, and the full timetable on bus and shuttle lines. December adds the Christmas markets, but also crowds and sunset around 16:35 in mid-December. Weekdays are quieter than weekends all year.

Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle opens every day except January 1 and December 25 and 26. Shuttle line 500 runs from February 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027.

The Natzweiler-Struthof memorial is closed on Mondays and for its annual closure from December 24, 2026 to January 31, 2027. Europa-Park runs its winter season from November 28, 2026 to January 9, 2027, and closes on December 24 and 25.

Day trips from Strasbourg with FJ13 private driver

FJ13 is a private transport company with driver, based in Entzheim next to Strasbourg. For a day trip, your FJ13 driver picks you up at your Strasbourg hotel, drives you between stops, and brings you back in the evening. You travel in one van for 1 to 7 passengers, and the price is per van, not per person.

The Colmar, Riquewihr and Haut-Koenigsbourg day tour links the castle, a wine village, and Colmar. The Alsace Wine Route private day tour centers on wine villages and tastings. Short on time? Take the Alsace villages half-day tour.

A full day lasts about 10 hours, typically 10:00 to about 19:00. Tolls and parking are included; tastings, site entries, and meals are not. Your driver shares local tips along the way, with self-guided time at each stop. On full days you can add a certified guide-conferencier (optional, extra cost): see certified guide-conferencier.

Tell FJ13 your plan in the quote configurator to get the price for your van.

Frequently asked questions

Can you do Colmar and Riquewihr in one day without a car?

Yes. Take the TER from Strasbourg to Colmar (about 30 minutes), then Fluo bus line 816 from Colmar station to Riquewihr (about 30 minutes). Watch the return: on the current timetable, the last line 816 bus from Riquewihr to Colmar leaves around 18:15, and around 17:45 on Sundays.

Is Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle worth visiting in winter?

Yes, if you plan around the hours. From November to March, Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle opens 9:30 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00, with last entry 1 hour before closing. The visit route has about 300 steps, and strollers are not allowed inside.

How long should you plan for the Natzweiler-Struthof memorial?

Plan at least 2 hours. The memorial suggests about 1 hour for the former camp alone, and 1.5 to 2 hours with the camp museum. The site is closed on Mondays, and can close without notice in heavy snow or ice.

Is Europa-Park open in November and December?

Yes. Europa-Park opens daily from 11:00 from November 2, 2026 to January 9, 2027, except on December 24 and 25.

Which day trip from Strasbourg works best on a rainy day?

Pick a town with indoor sights and a station: Baden-Baden for its thermal baths, Colmar for the Unterlinden Museum (Musée Unterlinden, closed Tuesdays), or Basel for its art museums.