We were living in Strasbourg without car for 1 year, and explored ways to travel Alsace without car (and nearby Germany).
Traveling by public transport in Alsace seems cheaper (if you book in advance, use cart Fluo discounts, etc) but rental car gives you more flexibility.
Travel Alsace without car
Public transport Fluo discounts
Fluo Grand Est region network was established in 2019.
Discount tickets for bus and train you can get at Fluo website. Details can change over time, but recently tickets for “Alsace” were much cheaper then if you choose “Grand Est” region. Pick up carefully.
Pictured below: Fluo website:
Depending on the place you travel to, often there are train and bus connected to reach desired spot, or just a direct bus/train.
12 places 1 hour away from Strasbourg we liked to visit with Fluo public transport network
First 4 places below located on the single bus route, 1 hour away from Strasbourg:
1. Monkey Mountain
Monkey Mountain, located in Kintzheim, Alsace, is home to over 200 Barbary macaques roaming freely in a natural setting, offering visitors a unique opportunity to observe these monkeys up close:
More in the post below:
2. Volerie des Aigles
Volerie des Aigles, located in Kintzheim, is a bird sanctuary that showcases stunning birds of prey, including eagles and vultures, through captivating live demonstrations in a medieval castle setting:
3. Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg
Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg is a beautifully restored medieval fortress perched atop a hill in Alsace, offering panoramic views of the Rhine Valley:
More in the post below:
4. Cigoland, amusement park for kids 12y.o. and under
Cigoland is a family-friendly amusement park in Alsace, France, featuring rides, educational exhibits, and animal attractions, with a special focus on local wildlife, storks (“cigogne” in french):
More in the post below:
5. Europa Park, one of the best theme parks in Europe
Europa Park, located in Rust, Germany, is 1 hour away from Strasbourg. It is one of Europe’s largest theme parks, with over 100 attractions, live shows, roller coasters:
It is open year-round and there are plenty of gentle attractions for little kids!
6. Rulantica, indoor and outdoor water park
Rulantica is a Nordic-themed water park located also in Rust, Germany, offering a wide range of water slides, wave pools, attractions, all set in an immersive, beautifully designed environment:
7. Winter walks and sledding at the Champ du Feu mountain
Book in advance (if there is snow, lots of locals would be willing to spend some time at the mountain) and don’t forget sleds and mittens:
Artem walking at the Champ du Feu forest:
8. Karlsruhe, Germany
Karlsruhe is a vibrant, university city, known for its fan-shaped layout. The most popular and beloved attractions for the families in Karlsruhe are EuropaBad waterpark and Zoo (located right next to the train station):
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9. Offenburg, Germany
Offenburg is a small city, but has a great pool (indoor/outdoor), small, but great to visit with kids museum, beach, and river trail with cafe (nice even in dead winter):
More in the post below:
10. Colmar, Alsace
Small city with a wonderful half-timbered old town, lots of things to do, where you can easily spend 1 day. We like it a lot:
11. Saverne, Alsace
Train ride to Saverne is picturesque, through the Vosges mountains. We visited it in winter, and the only 2 places we really wanted and couldn’t see without car were castle and grotto trail.
Pictured below, Rohan Castle, formerly nicknamed “The Little Alsatian Versailles:
More in the post below:
12. Kehl, Germany – place to visit by tram!
Good old Kehl is just 20 min away from the center of Strasbourg and has some secrets you might not aware of, which are great to discover with kids. We like the most this tower and the area around:
More in the post below:
EXTRA: Places we explored around with rental car “Citiz”, 1 day trips
Citiz is a car-sharing network that allows to rent car for 1 hour, 1 day or more. It is great for reaching places that are hard to get to by public transport
We used it several times for places below:
- Alsace Wine Route: from 1 hour from Strasbourg. Lots of small, medieval towns along the way, wineries, and mountains
2. Lac Blanc area, Vosges mountains: 1.5 hour away, 3 places to visit with a family, possible in 1 day:
3. Black Forest: 1-1.5 hour away from Strasbourg. Truly amazing place with dozens spots to visit.
4. Stuttgart: 2 hours away from Strasbourg:
5. Baden-Baden: 1 hour away, lots of discover: funicular, museums, river trail, mineral thermes and water.
Places to explore with rental car: 2 and more days
- Switzerland: Rhein Falls and Stein am Rhein, 2.5 hours away from Strasbourg:
2.Cities in Switzerland: Lucern, Zurich: 2.5 hours away from Strasbourg:
3. Amazing nature in Switzerland: Lauterbrunnen, 3.5 hour away
4. Lake Constance area (Austria, Germany, Switzerland): 2.5 hours away
5. Saint Croix Animal Park camping: 1.15 hour away:
After a year of using public transport and rental cars we decided to buy a car… As a big family of 6, we couldn’t fit into rental car (or it was very expensive) and public transport for all of us too, often cost a lot.
Thanks for reading, friends, and good luck!
Make sure to check out prices, schedules, and conditions before you go
Read next:
Interesting not only during winter times but also when it feels like it (I don’t know why, but September often feels like winter in Strasbourg): 23 things not to be missed in Strasbourg
