Alsace

Alsace is a French region of half-timbered villages, wine-road rieslings and Christmas markets, on the border with Germany and Switzerland.

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Alsace is a historic region in northeastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine, bordering Germany and Switzerland. Strasbourg is its capital and largest city and hosts the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. Visitors come for half-timbered villages, mostly white wines such as dry riesling and gewurztraminer, and a cuisine built on pork. Its culture blends German and French influences, which shows in the architecture and food.

Give Alsace at least three days for Strasbourg or Colmar and a few wine villages, and about a week if you add the Vosges, the castles and the museums in Mulhouse. The Route des Vins d'Alsace runs about 170 km from Marlenheim to Thann, so a car or bike makes it easier to link the villages. From Paris, the TGV Est reaches Strasbourg in about 1 hour 50 minutes. Summers are hot and stormy and winters are cold and dry, so late spring and early autumn suit most trips. The Christmas markets in Strasbourg, Colmar, Mulhouse and Kaysersberg are held at the end of the year.

Alsace in five

Drive or cycle the Route des VinsThe wine road runs about 170 km along the Vosges foothills with a village every few kilometers. Choose two or three stops a day, and rent an e-bike if you plan to taste.
Book rooms early for the Christmas marketsMarkets run from late November through December, and weekends fill first. Reserve a room months ahead and base outside the biggest towns to save money.Tourist taxes in Europe
Taste at a producer, not just a village shopMany family estates pour for a small fee or free with a purchase. Call ahead outside high season, since some close on Sundays and for lunch.
Cross the border on a half dayFreiburg in Germany and Basel in Switzerland are about an hour from Colmar, and the Schengen area has no routine border check. Your 90 days count across all three.Schengen 90/180 days
Use TER between Strasbourg and ColmarRegional trains link them in roughly 30 minutes and cost less than a rental for a day. Hire a car only to reach the villages off the line.Strasbourg

Neighborhoods

Where to stay in Alsace, the full guide

white and brown concrete building beside river during daytime

Strasbourg

Price band: $$$

Read about Strasbourg

Things to do in Alsace

See all attractions in Alsace

Sight · AlsaceMusée Lalique

Sight · AlsaceFort de Vaux

Historic site · AlsacePalais Rohan

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to AlsacePut the places you like in Alsace on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Strasbourg (SXB) or Basel-Mulhouse (EuroAirport)
Getting there: TGV from Paris to Strasbourg in about 2 hr
Getting around: TER along the plain; car or bike for the wine villages
Best base: Colmar or a village on the wine road
Time needed: 3 to 4 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain15 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh6°Low0°Cold, frosty
FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh9°Low2°Cold, quiet
MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh12°Low3°Vines waking
AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Spring blossom
MayRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Green, mild
JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Warm, wine fairs
JulyRain13 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh26°Low15°Hot, busy
AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Hot, busy
SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Harvest starts
OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Wine harvest
NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Grey, markets start
DecemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low2°Christmas markets

Average daily high and low in Alsace, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Alsace

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 5°
Humidity: 57%
Wind: 13 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Alsace

09:46 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today10°4°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue9°3°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 3%.
Wed10°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu8°0°0%Thursday: Fog. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri5°1°8%Friday: Fog. High 5°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 8%.
Sat10°3°18%Saturday: Fog. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 18%.
Sun11°2°17%Sunday: Rain. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 17%.

Updated 05:40 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Alsace

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Strasbourg, FranceStrasbourg Christmas marketNov 27 – Dec 24, 2026 · Read the event guide

Day trips by train

Before you go to Alsace

Rental car for the wine roadPick up at Strasbourg or ColmarCompare car rental

TGV to StrasbourgSeats reserved, about 2 hr from ParisRead the guide

eSIM for AlsaceWorks on both sides of the Rhine borderRead the guide

Travel insurance for FranceCover for market-season cancellationsRead the guide

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Rules for Alsace, checked

Check passport and entry rules for France on the France-Diplomatie website before you fly, since France is part of the Schengen area.Source
A bill to separate Alsace from the Grand Est region passed the National Assembly in April 2026 but had not yet passed the Senate. Check its current status before you travel.
Local law applies in parts of Alsace and Moselle and differs from the rest of France. Ask your accommodation or the local tourist office what applies to your stay.

All Alsace guides

Where to stayWhere to stay in Strasbourg: four bases from the cathedral to the stationChecked Oct 1, 2026

ItineraryStrasbourg in 2 days: cathedral, Petite France and a choice for day twoChecked Oct 1, 2026

Head to headStrasbourg or Colmar: which Alsace town to choose, and where to sleepChecked Oct 1, 2026

Plan around Alsace

All of France

Paris, regions and the rules every visitor needs

Read the guide Alsace & Lorraine

The wider region, with Metz and Nancy

Read the guide Colmar

The canal-side old town at the heart of the wine road

Read the guide Strasbourg

The cathedral city and the EU's seat

Read the guide Schengen 90/180 days

How your days count if you cross to Germany

Read the guide

Alsace FAQ

How many days do you need in Alsace?

Three days cover Colmar, a few wine villages and Strasbourg. Four or five let you slow down, stay in a village and add a castle such as Haut-Koenigsbourg. A day trip from Strasbourg only skims it.

When is the best time to visit Alsace?

May, June, September and October for walking, wine and fewer crowds, and the grape harvest in autumn. December suits the Christmas markets but needs early booking and warm layers.

Is Alsace more French or German?

Both. The names, half-timbering and food such as choucroute and flammekueche share German roots, while language and administration are French. It changed hands several times, and locals say Alsatian.

Where should you base yourself in Alsace?

Colmar for first trips: central, walkable and on the train. Choose a village such as Riquewihr or Eguisheim for quiet evenings. Strasbourg suits a city stay with day trips.

Can you visit Alsace without a car?

Yes for Strasbourg, Colmar and Sélestat by train. The smaller villages need buses, a bike or a rental. Split your stay if you want both city and wine road.