Oh, how I love the train system in Europe.  With it, so many things are possible – and today I want to share how you can use the Paris to Strasbourg train to make a Paris to Strasbourg day trip work for you!

The first and most important tip for you to be thinking about as soon as possible is…

Get Your Paris to Strasbourg Train Tickets Early!

The key here is to buy these tickets in advance.  Three months in advance if you can manage it for maximum cost savings.  I just looked at ticket prices for the Paris to Strasbourg train right now.  If I want to go in two days, the tickets are going to cost me €112 – €121.  Yipes.

BUT, if I want to go 3 months from today, the very same ticket is going to cost me €35.  Yep.  €35.  That’s an insane savings if you are willing to plan ahead.  In fact, I would even consider looking at my time in Paris, picking a day, and buying the ticket 3 months ahead – even if I’m not 100% sure I’ll do the trip.

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Where to Purchase the Paris to Strasbourg Train Tickets

My preferred site to research tickets Rome2Rio.   You can explore all different options, including other public transportation and flights, before making your choice.  The English version of the site is easily understandable, some tickets can be purchased directly through Rome2Rio website, and the ones that refer you through to another authorized site to purchase are also fairly easy to understand and navigate.  Purchase on line and the will show up in your email within minutes.  You can print a hardcopy and/or download to your smart phone.  (I do both, I’m paranoid.)  Either one is fine to be scanned on the train.

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Your Paris to Strasbourg Train (and back)

The beauty of a Paris to Strasbourg day trip is that train travel between Paris Charles de Gaulle Train Station and Strasbourg Train Station is really pretty easy. If you want to get a look at the station ahead of time, check out this Paris CDG train station guide.   As of this writing, there are direct trains that take approximately 1 hour 50 minutes that depart Paris CDG and arrive in Strasbourg with no train changes in between.  The current morning times for direct trains are:

• Depart Paris CDG at 8:50am and arrive in Strasbourg at 10:49am
• Departs Paris CDG at 11:21am and arrive in Strasbourg 1:11pm.

Obviously, to maximize your Strasbourg day trip from Paris, go with the 8:50 train.  Throw a warm croissant in your bag, grab a coffee, and enjoy a leisurely breakfast while you read about Strasbourg on the train.  😀

There are other train options scattered in there, but they all require at least one train train change and take anywhere from 2 hours 22 minutes to 3 hours and 8 minutes because of the changes, and that’s just silliness.

For your return trains,  there are several options depending on how long you want to stay in Strasbourg.  Each train takes approximately 1 hour 50 minutes again for the direct (no train changes) option. The farther ahead you book, the better your pricing, again, with the return trains in 3 months ranging from €25 -€53 right now.  Currently the trains in 3 months are:

• Depart Strasbourg Train Station at 4:17pm and arrive Paris CDG at 6:05pm
• Depart Strasbourg Train Station at 5:17pm and arrive Paris CDG at 7:05pm
• Depart Strasbourg Train Station at 6:17pm and arrive Paris CDG at 8:14pm

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Navigating Paris CDG Train Station:

The Paris CDG Train Station is actually right in the middle of Terminal 2 of the Paris CDG Airport.  Yeah, I know, that sounds intimidating, and I was intimidated at first, too.  But, as with so much of travel the key is to be prepared, read the signs, and when in doubt – ask someone.  All of the officials and employees I talked to at major train stations in France spoke English, thank goodness, since I’m not the French-speaker in the family!

If you want some help in being prepared, check out this Step-by-Step Guide to Paris CDG Train Station.

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Arriving at Strasbourg Train Station

The intimidation factor drops significantly on your Paris to Strasbourg day trip after departing the Paris CDG station. Strasbourg train station is beautiful, but smaller and pretty straight forward, so yay for that!  You will arrive at outdoor, covered platforms and follow the crowd downstairs to an underground hallway that leads to the main hall.  From there the exit is self explanatory.

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Why Do a Paris to Strasbourg Day Trip?

Strasbourg, France is an ideally located French city with a richly historic Old Town area.   Within walkable distance you can walk the picturesque Petite France area and marvel at the intricate medieval and elegant renaissance architecture.  If you enjoy exploring rich European churches, the Cathedrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg is gorgeous, and tucked inside the science and engineering involved in the astronomical clock will humble our modern science knowledge. The heart of the historic district, the Grande-Ile, and the neighboring Neustadt area have both been named UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Strasbourg also has an excellent public transport system, so use this step-by-step guide to Strasbourg Tram to take advantage and give your feet a break.

If you are looking for more than a Paris to Strasbourg day trip, spend a little more time in the area and explore the Alsace wine region or any number of French and German cities within easy reach.  Strasbourg makes an excellent stopover point on a westerward trip where it can be used as a home base to explore other cities such as Nancy, Colmar, Mullhouse, or even the spa town of Baden-Baden, Germany.  If you are interested in making Strasbourg a home-base for a bit, here are some great ideas for day trips from Strasbourg.

Strasbourg main sights:

There is plenty to keep you occupied in Strasbourg for several days.  If you want a more complete list, check out my 10 Best Things To Do in Strasbourg France that comes with a handy map.  Or if it’s more your thing, be sure to do some shopping in Strasbourg.  However, if you are strictly making a day trip, the areas to focus on would be:

Petite France

This is probably the most picturesque corner of Strasbourg, populated with the half-timbered houses, and even the departure point for an hour long river cruise..

Barrage Vauban – constructed in the late 1600s to reinforce medieval fortifications, it is still beautiful to walk through. Even better, walk across the top level for excellent views of Petite France and Ponts Couverts

Ponts Couverts – The Ponts Couverts was built in the first half of the 1200s, and were originally covered by tiled roofs.  Rebuilt in the 1800s, the bridges are a beautiful sight.

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Strasbourg Grande-Île sites

Place de la Cathedrale – the heart of Strasbourg this square is home to the most visited sights in Strasbourg including the Cathedrale, Palais des Rohan, and prominent medieval buildings.

Cathedrale Notre Dame Strasbourg – the intricately stone-worked Cathedrale was begun in 1277, and the highest spire, the highest in Christendom until the 1800s, was completed in 1439.

Astronomical Clock – While the actual show of the astronomical clock at 12:30 I did not find overwhelmingly impressive, the documentary-style movie leading up to it demonstrates the truly impressive science and engineering that went into the design of this clock that went through several re-buildings between its start in 1352 and the inauguration of the current one in 1842.

Palais Rohan – This gorgeous building constructed between 1732 – 1742 has been home to Strasbourg Cardinals and Napoleon, and now houses three separate museums.

Place Kléber – This square is the largest in the city.  Today, in addition to the fountain and statue of Jean-Baptiste Kléber, the square is ringed by a restaurant, a Starbucks, and many very nice shopping options.

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The Rest of Strasbourg

Place de République Square – This grand and elegant square, ringed by public buildings, has a completely different feel than the Old Town section of Strasbourg.  Most striking is the 1936 memorial in the center speaking to Strasbourg’s town allegiance through history with a mother holding her two sons: one who died for France, and the other for Germany.

Parc de l’Orangerie – This park was created with 140 orange trees that were confiscated during the revolution.  Today it is also home to a boating lake, waterfall, yummy gelato stands, and a stork reintroduction center.

Seat of the European Parliament – 27 countries of the European Union meet here 4 days a month.

Have a wonderful time exploring this beautiful city – it really isn’t hard to take the Paris to Strasbourg train and make a Paris to Strasbourg Day Trip happen!

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