28 Less Touristy Things to Do
Overview Table
| Name | Appeal | Type | Visit | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | St. Thomas Church | ★★★☆☆ | Church | Self | Free |
| 02 | St. Pierre Protestant Church | ★★★☆☆ | Church | Self | Free |
| 03 | St. Pierre Catholic Church | ★★★☆☆ | Church | Self | Free |
| 04 | Fine Arts Museum | ★★★☆☆ | Museum - Fine Arts | Self | Paid |
| 05 | Decorative Art Museum | ★★★☆☆ | Museum - Decorative Art | Self | Paid |
| 06 | Archeological Museum | ★★☆☆☆ | Museum - Archeology | Self | Paid |
| 07 | Modern & Contemporary Art | ★★★☆☆ | Museum - Art | Self | Paid |
| 08 | Food Markets | ★★☆☆☆ | Food Markets | Self | Free |
| 09 | Hospice Cellars | ★★☆☆☆ | Historic Wine Cellars | Self | Free |
| 10 | Alsatian Museum | ★★☆☆☆ | Museum - Regional Heritage | Self | Paid |
| 11 | 5e Lieu | ★★☆☆☆ | Museum - Urbanism | Self | Free |
| 12 | European Parliament | ★★☆☆☆ | European Parliament | Self | Free |
| 13 | Orangerie Park | ★★☆☆☆ | City Park | Self | Free |
| 14 | Botanical Garden | ★★☆☆☆ | Garden | Self | Free |
| 15 | St. Paul Church | ★★☆☆☆ | Church | Either | Free |
| 16 | Temple-Neuf Church | ★★☆☆☆ | Church | Self | Free |
| 17 | St. Pierre-le-Vieux Churches | ★★☆☆☆ | 2 Churches | Self | Free |
| 18 | Russian Orthodox Church | ★★☆☆☆ | Church | Self | Free |
| 19 | St. Maurice Church | ★★☆☆☆ | Church | Self | Free |
| 20 | Vodou Museum | ★★☆☆☆ | Museum - Vodou | Self | Paid |
| 21 | Tomi Ungerer Museum | ★☆☆☆☆ | Museum - Illustrations | Self | Paid |
| 22 | Zoological Museum | ★☆☆☆☆ | Museum - Animals | Self | Paid |
| 23 | République Square/Garden | ★☆☆☆☆ | Square/Garden | Self | Free |
| 24 | Citadelle Park | ★☆☆☆☆ | City Park | Self | Free |
| 25 | 2 Rives Garden | ★☆☆☆☆ | City Park | Self | Free |
| 26 | Tourist Train | ★☆☆☆☆ | City Train Tour | Tour | Paid |
| 27 | ECCAS Artistic Center | ★☆☆☆☆ | Contemporary Art | Self | Free |
| 28 | Aubette 1928 | ★☆☆☆☆ | Avant-Garde Hall | Self | Free |
01. St. Thomas Church
Appeal ★★★☆☆
Type Church
Visit Self
Cost Free
This is one of the most important Protestant churches in Strasbourg and a beautiful example of Gothic architecture. Constructed between the 12th and 16th centuries, it stands out for its imposing structure and austere style, typical of Lutheran buildings.
Inside, the church is renowned for its historic organ, on which Mozart played during his visit to Strasbourg in 1778.
It also houses several tombs of historical figures.
⚙️ Visitor Info
02. St. Pierre-le-Jeune Protestant Church
Appeal ★★★☆☆
Type Church
Visit Self
Cost Free
This church was built in the 14th century in Gothic style. Its history is marked by several transformations that reflect the city’s religious evolution. Originally Catholic, it became Protestant during the Reformation in 1524 and remains one of the most important Lutheran churches in Strasbourg today.
Inside, the church stands out for its rich decor, including colorful medieval wall frescoes, an imposing rood screen, and a Baroque altar, showcasing different periods of religious art.
⚙️ Visitor Info
It also features the only cloister in Strasbourg, which surrounds a tiny garden.
03. St. Pierre-le-Jeune Catholic Church
Appeal ★★★☆☆
Type Church
Visit Self
Cost Free
(Palais Rohan)
04. Fine Arts Museum
Appeal ★★★☆☆
Type Fine Arts Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
The Museum of Fine Arts houses a rich collection of European paintings, including French, Italian, Dutch, Flemish, and Spanish works, ranging from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
⚙️ Visitor Info
05. Decorative Art Museum
Appeal ★★★☆☆
Type Decorative Art Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
This museum showcases the diversity and evolution of decorative arts in Strasbourg from the 17th to the 18th century, notably in the fields of furniture, ceramics, horology, and goldsmithing.
It is located in the luxurious apartments of the Palais Rohan.
⚙️ Visitor Info
06. Archeological Museum
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Prehistory + Archeological Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
This museum showcases a collection of regional prehistoric and ancient objects, ranging from the Paleolithic period to the early Middle Ages.
⚙️ Visitor Info
07. Modern & Contemporary Art Museum
Appeal ★★★☆☆
Type Art Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
This vast museum offers a rich collection of works, including paintings, sculptures, graphic arts, multimedia, and design of modern and contemporary art, from the late 19th century to the present day.
It is located in a large building featuring contemporary architecture.
⚙️ Visitor Info
08. Food Markets
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Food Markets
Visit Self
Cost Free
The city’s main food market takes place on Wednesday and Friday mornings at Place Broglie square.
Another market is held on Tuesdays and Saturday mornings along Marne boulevard.
A smaller market takes place on Saturday mornings at Rue de la Douane street.
09. Hospice Cellar
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Historic Wine Cellar
Visit Self
Cost Free
This historic cellar is a medieval wine cellar covering 1,200 m² from the 14th century, located within the grounds of the hospice managed by religious figures.
The main attraction of the site is the visit to the cellars.
(Wine tastings are available only on a few select dates each year.)
The site also features a wine shop.
⚙️ Visitor Info
10. Alsatian Museum
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Regional Heritage Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
This museum of regional arts and traditions showcases testimonies of Alsatian life from the 18th to the 20th century, including housing, furniture, everyday objects, ceramics, costumes, religious items, toys, and crafts.
The museum is located in two adjoining 17th-century residences.
⚙️ Visitor Info
11. 5e Lieu
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Urbanism Museum
Visit Self
Cost Free
This museum is dedicated to the architecture and heritage of Strasbourg, as well as its neighborhoods, religious life, commerce, and universities.
⚙️ Visitor Info
12. European Parliament
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type European Parliament
Visit Self
Cost Free
The seat of the European Parliament is located in Strasbourg and is open for visits to learn about the European Union, its history, and the functioning of its institutions.
There are two types of visits available: outside plenary sessions or during plenary sessions.
⚙️ Visitor Info
13. Orangerie Park
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type City Park
Visit Self
Cost Free
This vast 26-hectare park, created in the 17th century, is the largest in the city. It features a boating lake and play areas for children.
14. Botanical Garden
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Garden
Visit Self
Cost Free
This botanical garden, spanning 3 hectares and affiliated with the University of Strasbourg, was established in the 18th century on the site of an older garden. It features an arboretum, pond, flower beds, and a greenhouse that is sometimes open to the public.
15. St. Paul Church
Appeal ★★★★★☆☆☆☆
Type Church
Visit Outside or Self
Cost Free
This Protestant church dates from the 19th century and is built in Neo-Gothic style. It notably features two slender spires and stained-glass windows.
The interior is rarely open to visitors, though it may be more accessible during the summer.
You can get a nice view of the facade from the Pont Royal bridge.
16. Temple-Neuf Church
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Church
Visit Self
Cost Free
This Protestant church was built at the end of the 19th century in pink sandstone and features Neo-Romanesque style.
17. St. Pierre-le-Vieux Churches
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type 2 Churches
Visit Self
Cost Free
The Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux religious structure is actually composed of two interlocking churches, one Catholic and the other Protestant, positioned perpendicularly. The initial structure was built in the 14th century, with a second section added in the 19th century.
Catholic
The Catholic church corresponds to the northern part of the building and is open to visitors.
Protestant
The Protestant church makes up the western part and is rarely open to visitors.
18. Russian Orthodox Church
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Church
Visit Self
Cost Free
This Russian church is affiliated with the Orthodox faith and dates back to 2018.
19. St. Maurice Church
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Church
Visit Self
Cost Free
This Catholic church was constructed at the end of the 19th century during the period of German annexation of the Alsace region. It features a Neo-Gothic style.
20. Vodou Museum
Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Vodou Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
This private museum showcases a collection of items related to the Vodou religion in West Africa, covering the regions of present-day Benin and Togo. With over 1,000 items, it holds the world’s largest collection of Vodou artifacts.
The museum is housed in a former late 19th-century water tower.
⚙️ Visitor Info
21. Tomi Ungerer Museum
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Illustrations Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
This museum is dedicated to the work of Tomi Ungerer, a 20th-century Alsatian artist and illustrator.
The museum houses several thousand of his works, which are presented on a rotating basis. These include children’s illustrations, advertising posters, political art, humorous and satirical drawings, and even erotic works (in the basement).
The museum is located in the Villa Greiner, a 19th-century building.
⚙️ Visitor Info
22. Zoological Museum
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Zoological Museum
Visit Self
Cost Paid
The museum features a rich and diverse collection of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, marine mollusks, invertebrates, and insects from different regions of the world.
⚙️ Visitor Info
23. République Square/Garden
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Square/Garden
Visit Self
Cost Free
Place de la République is one of the major squares in the city. It features a garden and is surrounded by several historic buildings.
24. Citadelle Park
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type City Park
Visit Self
Cost Free
This large city park, built around an old citadel, features a water playground, sports fields, and walking paths.
25. 2 Rives Garden
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type City Park
Visit Self
Cost Free
This city park, located at the eastern edge of the city, is a transboundary park between Strasbourg and the town of Kehl in Germany. It spans both sides of the Rhine River, connected by a bridge designed for pedestrians and cyclists.
26. Tourist Train
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type City Train Tour
Visit Tour
Cost Paid
The tourist train allows visitors to discover the city in a unique and enjoyable way by providing a guided tour of the streets of Strasbourg and its main monuments.
⚙️ Visitor Info
27. ECCAS Artistic Center
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Contemporary Art Exhibitions
Visit Self
Cost Free
The ECCAS (European Contemporary Artistic Actions Center) showcases temporary exhibitions of contemporary art by regional and international artists.
⚙️ Visitor Info
28. Aubette 1928
Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Avant-Garde Hall
Visit Self
Cost Free
Aubette 1928 is a hall that is part of the long, grand building known as Aubette, dating back to the 18th century, which now houses a shopping center.
This 1928 hall is a remnant of a leisure complex characterized by its avant-garde decoration from the 1920s, notable for its abstract decor that spans from floor to ceiling.
Located on the upper level, it also offers a view of the large Place Kléber square.
⚙️ Visitor Info
