Strasbourg, the second most visited city in France, is a delightful mix of traditional Alsatian culture and a modern, lively city with bustling streets that stay busy late into the night. Who wouldn’t love to see traditional Alsatian houses along the river and canals, dine in fine French restaurants, and taste the famous Alsatian ice cream?! Strasbourg was our final destination on our European trip with three kids and two dogs, and this city, along with its friendly locals, created a special memory in our travel adventure!
Strasbourg, our second stop on our journey back to our West Sussex home, following a beautiful, fairytale-like stay at Lake Königssee in Bavaria. It took us a smooth five hours to reach this French cosmopolitan city. We chose a pet-friendly hotel ´Citadines Eurometropole Strasbourg´ that was around a 30-minute walk and tram ride to the city centre. The hotel was fantastic, and I can easily imagine staying there for more than one night!
As much as we tried to head out early, preparing everything and everyone and cleaning up the Bavarian B&B before our check-out took a bit longer than expected. So, we arrived at our hotel Citadines in Strasbourg around 3 PM. I remember it was a scorching summer day, and we all needed a proper cool shower. Our four-legged travel companions also needed a long walk to stretch their legs, which took another two hours before we could finally explore Strasbourg’s city centre. We walked to the closest tram station, which took us to the heart of the city. The sun was slowly setting as we strolled along the cobblestone Alsatian streets towards La Petite France. As every parent knows, these walks can take ages, especially when our eldest son found something fascinating in every shop window.
I definitely recommend staying in Strasbourg for two or more nights because when we finally got to explore the city, most of the local shops were already closed. However, the restaurants were still bustling, creating a lively atmosphere in the center. If you have the chance to visit La Petite France, the historic heart of Strasbourg, make sure to take a leisurely walk along its picturesque canals and admire the half-timbered houses that date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. You can also visit the Musée Alsacien to immerse yourself in local culture and history or take a boat tour along the River Ill to see the district from a different perspective. For food lovers, there are plenty of charming cafes and bistros where you can enjoy traditional Alsatian dishes or simply relax with a glass of wine while soaking in the ambiance of this enchanting neighborhood.
As much as I loved the historic city and the most visited streets, it felt like we were only seeing the remnants of traditional Alsatian culture. The city has been heavily influenced by cosmopolitan and modern trends, which brought some negative aspects. Seeing heavily armed soldiers patrolling the streets gave me mixed and contrasting feelings about what I expected from an Alsatian French city. That said, if you plan your visit well, you can still thoroughly enjoy Strasbourg, but keep in mind that everything is quite concentrated in La Petite France and the nearby center, so it’s good to be prepared for a compact, but still lovely experience.
Nevertheless, we made the most of it and visited a traditional French shop with the well-known Alsatian gingerbread man. Our Lucas bought one, and we later used it as a Christmas decoration. We also, of course, tasted the Alsatian ice cream, which was a super special treat for our 4-year-old son on this long, hot summer day. We enjoyed the ice cream, even finding a dairy-free alternative for me and the babies!
After the ice cream, we walked over the canal. This was quite a tricky moment for me as our 1-year-old twin, Ollie, was already a super-fast little walker with very adventurous intentions to explore even the things under the canal. I had to run around him to ensure he and Lucas were safe, while Victoria happily watched us from daddy’s Tula baby carrier.
Later that evening, we also explored a local kids’ playground called ´Playground Square des Moulins´ so the kids could release their energy. Whenever we travel with kids, we always look for kid-friendly places because I know how boring what parents find super exciting can be for children. So, we basically do what could be called ‘family pie exploring,’ where every piece of this pie has something for everyone to love and enjoy. We always include special activities for the kids on our travels, which makes them even happier to follow our steps and join in on the adult travel adventures.
For dinner, we chose a highly recommended Indian restaurant called ´Le Madras´ in the city center. We absolutely love Indian food, and we thought it would be great to try some in Strasbourg, especially since traditional Alsatian cuisine wasn’t an option for most of us at the time due to the many dairy ingredients. As soon as we stepped into the restaurant, Jacob and I exchanged a glance and knew without words that we’d opt for takeaway since the kids were already super tired. While they prepared our dinner in the bustling Indian kitchen, I showed the kids the colorful Hindu decorations, then sat with them to sip our orange juices and keep them occupied with some corn puffs.
When our meal was ready, we started the process of ‘packing ourselves,’ which turned out to be surprisingly funny. I couldn’t help but giggle as Jacob took our exhausted 4-year-old on his back in a carrier and his backpack on his chest, while I strapped one twin in a carrier and carried the other in my arms. As we made our way out, creating a bit of a comic show for everyone, we opened the door of the Indian restaurant and were met with a huge round of applause from the locals on the Strasbourg street. Haha, I never realized how peculiar we must look as a family, but I guess seeing such small kids, especially with baby twins, gives everyone the impression that we’re real champions in parenting. And to be honest, after we finally got back to our hotel and unloaded everything—and everyone—from our backs, we did feel like champions, having reached the finish line! Our prize? The most delicious Indian takeaway I’ve had all summer! Even our kids loved it!
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