Strasbourg Transport

Strasbourg is a wonderfully compact city with a large pedestrian zone in the centre. Most of the city’s best attractions are in the centre and can best be accessed on foot. If you drive, you can park at any of the large car parks along the fringes of the city centre and set out on foot, which is always the best way to explore a city. With over 400kms of high quality paved bike trails, another excellent way to experience Strasbourg is by bicycle; rental shops are available around the city. Public transportation is very good and makes it easy to get from one side of the city to the other as well as to some of the outlying areas.

By train

The most effective and comfortable way to get around Strasbourg is by tram. Four tram lines (A, B, C and D) connect every part of the city and greatly alleviate the local traffic. Lines A, B and C run everyday from 04:30 until 00:30, while the D line operates every day except Sundays from 07:00 to 19:00. There are several parking lots near the tram stations which offer a special ticket to park and ride. This is a great way to avoid the hassles of parking in this pedestrian-friendly city. The main national train lines only run to destinations outside of the city and are useless for intercity travel. Unipass tickets are a convenient way to pay for bus and tram service if you plan on doing any transfers. Bought from a self-service machine in the station, they are good for one-way travel only for a period of up to one hour.

By bus

Strasbourg has 27 bus lines which provide service to nearly every part of the city. Most of them operate until 23:00 every day. Unipass tickets can be used in conjunction with the tram system and can be bought directly from the bus drivers. Children under four years of age don’t need a ticket. CTS runs both the tram and bus services (tel: +33 03 8877 7070).

Taxis

Taxis are a convenient and practical way to get to all points of the city. However, most of the city centre is zoned for pedestrians, so a taxi can only take you to the perimeter. All of the taxis are metered and start at a basic fare. There are taxi ranks at the train station and Place de l’Homme de Fer. Taxis can also be hired 24 hours from France Taxi (tel: +33 03 8822 1919) and Taxi 13 (tel: +33 8836 1313).

Tourist services

One of the most economical ways to see the city is to purchase a three-day chequebook pass, which offers discounts and free entry to most of Strasbourg’s main attractions including the viewing platform at the cathedral, which is 66 metres high. If you plan on using the city’s excellent public transportation frequently during your stay, the Tourpass ticket is the best way to go. The Tourpass allows for unlimited travel within a 24 hour period. If you are travelling with your family, the Familipass ticket is an even better deal. CTS can offer assistance with these tickets.

From the airport

The airport provides a regular shuttle bus to Baggersee Station, from where passengers can take a tram to the centre of Strasbourg and the central train station. The shuttle bus leaves every 20 minutes between 05:10 and 23:10 from outside the Arrivals area of the terminal and takes 12 minutes to reach Baggersee. Once at Baggersee, there is a connection to tram line A, which goes downtown. Alternatively, Entzheim train station is only a five-minute walk from the terminal. From Entzheim you can catch a train directly into Strasbourg. The trip takes 14 minutes and trains depart from Entzheim every 60 minutes from 05:33 until 18:54, Monday through Friday. Visitors should check with the airport information desk for current train times.

Taxis are available 24 hours from outside the Arrivals area of the terminal. Six car hire companies also have offices at the airport. It is a quick and easy drive into the city by taking either the A35 motorway or the smaller D392, both of which run directly into Strasbourg.