What to do in Alsace this weekend? 5 must-sees and ideas for every season

Flower-decked villages, vineyards, castles, Vosges forests, museums and Christmas markets: Alsace is perfect for two- or three-day getaways. Here are our five must-sees, worthwhile in any season, followed by ideas for outings depending on the time of year and the weather.

5 must-sees for a weekend in Alsace

1. Drive the Wine Route and taste Alsace wines

Opened in 1953, the Alsace Wine Route winds for about 170 km between Marlenheim, west of Strasbourg, and Thann, in the south. It links dozens of wine villages at the foot of the Vosges. Take the time to step into a cellar and taste the seven Alsace grape varieties (Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir), the grands crus and the crémant. To find out more, read our guide to Alsace wines.

Our tip: choose a designated driver or explore part of the route by bike: many waymarked vineyard trails also let you walk to a neighbouring village through the vines.

2. Stroll around Strasbourg

Strasbourg deserves at least a day. Its Grande Île, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to Notre-Dame cathedral and its pink sandstone spire, the Petite France district with its half-timbered houses and canals, and many museums. A boat trip on the Ill gives you another view of the city, all the way to the European quarter, seat of the European Parliament. Between visits, sample Alsatian cuisine in a winstub.

3. Discover Colmar and Little Venice

About 70 km south of Strasbourg (around thirty minutes by regional TER train), Colmar charms visitors with its remarkably well-preserved old town: the Little Venice district on the banks of the Lauch, the Maison Pfister (1537) and the Maison des Têtes (1609). The Unterlinden Museum houses the famous Isenheim Altarpiece, and the Bartholdi Museum pays tribute to the Colmar-born sculptor of the Statue of Liberty.

4. Visit Haut-Koenigsbourg castle

Perched at 757 m above Orschwiller, Haut-Koenigsbourg castle towers over the Alsace plain. Medieval in origin and ruined during the Thirty Years’ War, it was rebuilt between 1900 and 1908 at the request of Emperor Wilhelm II, under the direction of the architect Bodo Ebhardt. The tour takes you through the living quarters, the furnished rooms and the fortifications. It is one of the most visited sites in Alsace: in high season, arrive early in the morning.

Other castles in Alsace are well worth a detour, such as Fleckenstein, a 12th-century semi-troglodyte castle carved into the sandstone near Lembach.

5. Go hiking in the Vosges mountains

The Vosges mountains offer hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails waymarked by the Club Vosgien. The Grand Ballon, the highest point of the range (1,424 m), offers views over the Alsace plain, the Black Forest and sometimes the Alps on a clear day. The mountain lakes, ridges and fir forests are also ideal for mountain biking and, in winter, snowshoeing.

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What to do in Alsace at the weekend, season by season

In spring: flower-filled villages and the first walks

From April, the villages are decked with flowers and the fruit trees blossom at the foot of the vines. It is the ideal season for vineyard trails, bike rides along the canals and the reopening of seasonal wildlife parks (check their opening dates before you go). Storks, the emblem of Alsace, are easy to spot on the roofs and in their nests in the villages of the plain.

In summer: ridges, lakes and fermes-auberges

When it is hot in the plain, head up into the Vosges: hike along the ridges, swim or picnic by a lake, and have lunch at a ferme-auberge (farm inn) over a traditional repas marcaire. Late afternoons are perfect for village festivals and local produce markets. Down in the plain, the Écomusée d’Alsace in Ungersheim brings rural life of the past back to life, an ideal family outing.

In autumn: grape harvest, golden forests and castles

September and October are harvest time: the vineyards change colour, the villages come alive and it is the season of new wine, traditionally served with onion tart. The forests of the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park, around La Petite-Pierre, Lembach and Niederbronn-les-Bains, turn ochre and red, making a beautiful backdrop for exploring the sandstone castles.

La Petite-Pierre castle now houses the Maison du Parc of the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park: only the courtyard is open to the public, but the fortified village and its forest trails are well worth the walk.

In winter: Christmas markets and snow in the Vosges

From late November to late December, Alsace lives to the rhythm of Advent. The Strasbourg Christmas market, whose origins go back to 1570, is one of the oldest in France; those in Colmar, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Turckheim have a more intimate atmosphere. In January and February, when there is enough snow, the Vosges resorts (Lac Blanc, Champ du Feu, Markstein) offer downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

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• Mulhouse: the Cité de l’Automobile and the Cité du Train, two major technical museums that are perfect for families.
• Colmar: the Unterlinden Museum and the Isenheim Altarpiece.
• Wingen-sur-Moder: the Lalique Museum, devoted to the art of glass and crystal.
• Strasbourg: the city’s museums or an escape game with friends.

Practical tips for your weekend

• Getting around: TER regional trains easily link Strasbourg, Sélestat, Colmar and Mulhouse; a car or bike is still useful for the Wine Route villages and the Vosges mountains.
• Booking: in December and on summer weekends, book your accommodation in advance.
• Checking: opening times and days vary with the season; always check the official website of each site before setting off.
• Tasting: sauerkraut (choucroute), tarte flambée, baeckeoffe, kougelhopf… discover our Alsatian specialities.

Whatever the season, Alsace has plenty to fill a weekend: vineyards, art cities, castles and mountains are never more than an hour’s drive from one another.

Lucas

Hi, I’m Lucas! My heart beats for the pleasures of the table, and here in Alsace, I’m in paradise. Whether it’s a glass of Riesling shared with friends, a hearty sauerkraut dish, or a culinary adventure around a blueberry tart, I live every meal like a celebration. My goal? To make you hungry with articles that highlight our local producers, talented chefs, and delicious specialties. But beware, I don’t just eat (well, almost): I also offer itineraries to explore our vineyards and gourmet markets.

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