Kehl, Germany, is a town my family and I know well – we visit it literally every week! Just across the Rhine from Strasbourg (our home), it has a quite interesting history, a major inland port, and plenty of good places to eat, shop and explore
1. Discover Kehl: history, culture and local life
First mentioned in 1038, the town has a long history as a strategic Rhine crossing. Its railway bridge later became part of the Orient Express route from Paris to Istanbul.
There’s also a lively cultural scene, with concerts, theatre, art exhibitions and seasonal events throughout the year. Check the official events calendar to see what’s on during your visit.
In the post below you can find some of our favourite spots:
Take a look at Kehl from a bird’s-eye view! The panoramic video below shows the town’s layout, with the Rhine running alongside it on the left (the body of water in the middle is a local lake) and Strasbourg just nearby on the other side of the river:
2. Where to eat in Kehl
Dreher bakery and café
Founded in Kehl in 1987, family-run Dreher is a bakery and café known for its fresh bread, cakes, pastries, and light lunches:
Close to the town centre, it offers an outdoor terrace for coffee and regional desserts, takeaway treats, and a spacious seating area:
When strudel is in season, we often have it for dessert:
Das Lolo café and restaurant
Located a little further from the town centre, Das LoLo is set inside a beautifully renovated former church. It has a terrace and two indoor seating areas:
It’s a popular local lunch spot, serving everything from burgers and fresh bowls to weekly changing lunch specials:
3. Shopping in Kehl
Hauptstraße, Kehl’s main shopping street, is a nice place to browse German shops and independent stores in the city centre:
- Müller – cosmetics, stationery, and good-quality German and French art supplies at much lower prices than in the US. Look for brands such as Faber-Castell, Hahnemühle, Canson and Koh-I-Noor.
- La Papeterie – an independent shop for stationery, creative supplies and small gifts
- Buchhandlung Baumgärtner – a nice local bookshop with books about the region as well as general reading (mostly in German)
- dm – popular German drugstore products, including skincare, toiletries and cosmetics
- Weekly market at Marktplatz – on Tuesday and Friday mornings, with fresh produce, flowers and food from local sellers
4. Visit Strasbourg, France, from Kehl, Germany
One of Kehl’s biggest advantages is definitely its proximity to Strasbourg. Just across the Rhine, Strasbourg is known for its beautiful historic centre, canals and impressive cathedral:
Wander through picturesque streets and enjoy French and Alsatian food. And how about taking a ride on one of the few tram lines in Europe that cross an international border?
Getting from Kehl to Strasbourg by Tram
Kehl and Strasbourg are connected by French tram line D, making it super easy to travel between the two towns without a car:
If you’re planning to visit Strasbourg from Kehl and return the same day, this is a very convenient option.
Before travelling, check the CTS website for trams delays or cancellations
Explore Strasbourg: must-sees from a local
As a local (or Strasbourgeoise, as we say in French), I’ve put together a collection of posts about places not to miss and things to do in Strasbourg:
I’m also a local guide in Strasbourg, and I’d be happy to show you around my city. 😊
5. Car Rental in Kehl
Renting a car lets you explore more places around Kehl at your own pace, whether you have a few hours or a few days.
You can compare available cars and prices in Kehl using KAYAK’s car rental search.
6. Best places to visit in Germany by car from Kehl
Kehl is a great base for exploring the surrounding region by car. From charming wine villages and historic castles to scenic vineyards and the Black Forest, here are some of our favourite places to visit, all between 15 minutes and 1.5 hours’ drive from Kehl:
Staufenberg Castle, pictured below, is about 30 minutes from Kehl by car. It’s a great place to sample local wines and go hiking:
Check the official website for the terrace and wine bar opening hours.
Nice little city, 25 min away from Kehl by car:
Gengenbach, pictured below, is famous for its Christmas market, when the town hall becomes a giant Advent calendar:
Also, there is beautiful half-timbered old town and lovely walking trails through the surrounding vineyards:
Unique, one of its kind place, 15 min away from Kehl, in Rheinau:
Our top trails (and more) in Black Forest:
Must visit place during fall, to see Chrysanthema Festival, 40 min away from Kehl:
7. Places to visit in France near Kehl by public transport
Want to explore beyond Strasbourg? From a chocolate museum and Monkey Mountain to medieval castles and charming Alsatian towns, here are some great places to visit within 1.5 hours by public transport from Kehl.
Pictured below: a great museum with tastings, about an hour from Kehl by public transport:
Below: cool place, you can also get there by public transport; we went by bike:
1.5 hour by public transport from Kehl:
Around one hour by public transport from Kehl:
Also around one hour by public transport:
Around 1.5 hour by train and bus (bus stops next to the castle):
A little over an hour by public transport from Kehl, although we visited by car:
I’ve also put together a guide to exploring Alsace and Germany by public transport, with day trips starting from Strasbourg rather than Kehl, which might give you some more ideas for your trip:
8. Kehl’s music scene on the Franco-German border
Speaking of tram D and life on the border, check out this concert by a local band from Kehl. They once gave a live performance right on tram D!
We saw this very tram concert in Strasbourg!
Thank you for reading!
– Your Grazy Goat
