6 Towns in Alsace, France to Visit

The Alsace wine route was the last trip we took in 2020. We took an extended Valentine’s Day weekend, rented a car, and visited a number of towns in Alsace over the course of a few days.  We even switched hotels to see if the Alsatian villages had a different feel.

These beautiful villages quickly became one of the places that we would return to.  Tom loves a medieval walled city and I love anywhere that I can explore.  Boulangeries and Christmas markets are a bonus!    

This was our first time venturing outside of Paris while visiting France.  We were not disappointed.  The people were very kind and the food was incredible.  When I look back, I am blown away by how much we were able to see and enjoy in the Alsace region in such a short time.  It is definitely one of our biggest 2020 wins, and we were READY to go back.  (And go back we did – in December 2021, as well as July and November 2022.)

In 2023, we opted to visit Mont St Michel, Bayeux, and Honfleur in the summer, and we added Bordeaux to our France itinerary in December. In March 2024, we went back to Bordeaux for 4 nights. All are completely different from Alsace, so you really should do your research to see what fits you best!   

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Getting to the Alsace Region of France

On our first trip, we were coming directly from the United States. We took a direct flight from Dallas to Paris (CDG).  From there, we picked up our luggage and headed to the airport train station.  We boarded a fast train to Strasbourg, arriving less than 2 hours later.  At the train station, we picked up a rental car and headed towards the Vosges Mountains.  The roads are incredibly well maintained and the trip is easy.  If you’ve driven in Italy, you can drive in Alsace.  Pick up a copy of this book on driving in France for more details.

You could also fly into Frankfurt (FRA) directly from the US.  The total travel time would be very similar, so choose a departure point that works best for you.  Personally, I’m never sad about spending another night in Paris and managed to pick up some of my favorite treats from Maison Bremond before heading home.  (This would prove to be a very good thing when we went into quarantine a few weeks later in 2020.)        

Colmar: The Most Famous of the Alsace Villages

Colmar is probably the most famous of the Alsace villages.  It has some of the details of Strasbourg while maintaining some of the village charm.  Colmar offers a lot of hotels at various amenity levels and price points.  There are plenty of restaurants and shops to explore.  The Unterlinden Museum, along with the Bartholdi Museum, may be the more interesting museums in the region.  It even hosts its own Statue of Liberty! 

The Petite Venice (little Venice) area is the most recognized part of the Alsace with pastel colors, half-timbered buildings, and the Lauch river running through the middle of it.  We followed our noses around Colmar, stopping at the covered market and tarte flambees (flammekueche) with canal-side views taunting us.  With no restaurant reservations, we ended up at a restaurant on the outskirts of town.  It was incredible and I’m so grateful to the waiter who took pity on us and gave us the last table.

Stay:  Maison des Tetes, a Relais & Chateaux hotel, is my favorite splurge hotel in Alsace.  The rooms are comfortable and understated luxury.  The location is incredible.  The soaking tub was a huge bonus on cold nights.    

Play: Take an open air boat ride through Petite Venise.  Bonus points if you can time it around sunset!  Regardless of season, it’s sure to be lovely! 

If you’re looking for an Alsatian village with a “big city” feel, Colmar is going to be your best bet.  There are plenty of “name brand” stores and restaurants.  If museums are your thing, definitely don’t skip Colmar.  Similarly, if Christmas markets are your thing, Colmar (and Strasbourg) should be on your list. I do think that Colmar requires you to peel back the layers to find all the delightful hidden gems.  (Sometimes they are buried beneath souvenir shops and touristy restaurants.) 

Even if you aren’t a serious biker, consider booking a tour with Colmar Bike Tours.  We had an incredible experience with Louis, and I’m looking forward to taking one of their gourmet bike tours on our next trip!  Our tour covered the Colmar to Eguisheim (and back), but the longer tours visit some of the smaller towns in Alsace.

Gourmet: My favorite souvenir from Colmar was the traditional Alsatian Linzer and spritz cookies I took back to the hotel for dessert.  It’s easy to see why people fall in love with the area.  

Visit Domaine Martin Jund for a wine tasting.  

Eguisheim: One of the Fairytale French Villages

Eguisheim is one of the most maintained of the walled towns in Alsace.  Entering Eguisheim is like walking into the opening scenes of Beauty and the Beast.  This is one of my husband’s favorite towns that we visited.  In my mind, it could not be more different than Colmar.  The entire village was postcard perfect right down to the cobblestoned streets.  

In some ways, it might be a little too quiet, especially in the off-season.  That said, I can see it being a vibrant place in the spring and summer based on the number of wineries that are present in and around the town.  (You would definitely want to stay in town if you wanted to take advantage of the delicious vin Alsace.) 

Eguisheim is a great village if you want to slow down, enjoy the wine, and take it easy.  It was easily the quietest of all the villages that we visited.  It has a great main square where you can sit and take in the ambiance. 

This is a great village for someone looking for a slower pace of travel.    

STAY:  James Vignoble Hotel – This small hotel offers beautiful views of the vineyards around Eguisheim.  Rooms can be small, but they are comfortable and the spa makes up for it.  Don’t miss the glass sauna with views of the vineyard.  

GOURMET:  Caveau d’Eguisheim offers a menu filled with Alsatian specialties and an EXTENSIVE wine list from local producers.  Try a few and see who you like.

Personally, we loved Paul Gaschy and brought several bottles of his wine home.  They have several varietals and are happy to make recommendations if you can share a bit of your personal tastes.     

Riquewihr: One of the Most Medieval Towns in Alsace

Without question, Riquewihr was my favorite villages to visit.  I think it is one of the best towns in Alsace to visit because it has a little bit of everything.  There is truly something for everyone in Riquewihr. 

This walled town of Alsace feels like it is straight out of the Middle Ages with its ramparts and towers protecting the city.  You can see 13th century weapons, 14th century torture devices, and 16th century wine-making tools, all in one place! 

Curiously, Riquewihr’s artsy feel is in direct contrast to its medieval history.  If history isn’t your thing and you’re not going to make to the Colmar Christmas markets, you’ll want to stop into Feerie de Noel for year-round Christmas cheer (and souvenirs).  There are several beautiful art galleries and shops offering mouth-blown glass that line the main street.  

If you’ve already devoured your Alsatian cookies, make sure to stop at Maison Alsacienne de Biscuiterie to replenish your stash.  (She had the most delicious pretzels. too.)  I love the cinnamon stars, more common referred to as etoile, and the praline flowers.  You should try everything offered and figure out what your favorites are. I’m not ashamed to admit that I went back for the pralines and the stars more than a few times!

Alongside your souvenir shopping and gallery hopping, there are numerous wineries that offer tasting flights in ancient tasting rooms.  (We started with a less intimidating wine tasting in Hunawihr, which is a short drive from Riquewihr.)   

PLAY: Book an Alsatian wine tasting near Riquewihr 

In the summer, Riquewihr hosts a Venetian Festival and Parade.  It is definitely one of the coolest things we’ve just stumbled upon when hopping through the towns in Alsace!

Barr: The Most Underrated of the Alsatian Villages of France

This is actually where we started our trip to the Alsace wine route.  Out of all the towns in Alsace, it’s one the towns near Strasbourg and at the beginning of the wine route.  It is so very underrated and I might argue that it is one of the best of Alsace.  Why?  Because it definitely feels “lived in” and exists beyond the beaten tourist path to the other villages.  We found ourselves returning to Barr for meals and they were all incredible.

It’s hard to imagine why Barr isn’t more popular.  They have the cobblestoned streets and half-timbered houses, but they also have flowers and water features throughout town.  The city has won awards for its flowers from the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom.  At times, Barr feels more modern, but they have done an excellent job of preserving the old city.  The surrounding vineyards are absolutely stunning, even in the off-season.

Make sure to stop by the Lidl for picnic supplies.  I love visiting grocery stores and trying regional specialties.  You’ll want to save room for some of beautiful and delicate French pastries from one of the boulangeries that line the streets of Barr, too.

I really enjoyed staying at the 5 Terres Hotel and Spa in Barr because we were surrounded by friendly locals.  They were particularly kind, patient, and helpful.  We were able to get some great recommendations, whether it was on the menu or where to go in the Alsace-Lorraine area.  Even after we moved to a different village, which had its own charms, I found myself wanting to go back to Barr.    

Kaysersberg: Where to Go in Alsace for Food & Nature

Kaysersberg is another village that we made our home base during our trip to Alsace.  It offers one of the few luxury hotels that is open in the off season, and I wanted to check it out. 

One of the first things we noticed about Kaysersberg was the sheer number of highly rated restaurants.  If you’re a foodie, Kaysersberg is for you.  The entire Alsace region has the highest number of Michelin Star restaurants, so if you’re into eating well, this is the place for you.  It’s also worth nothing that many of these Michelin starred restaurants would fall into a more affordable price range, so it’s certainly worth seeking them out, even if that’s not something you would typically do when you travel. 

Beyond food, Kaysersberg is perfect for the traveler who wants the amenities of being in town while also enjoying nature.  Our hotel overlooked the beautiful wine terraces of the area.  An ancient 12th century castle looks over the town while a river runs through it.  Like Eguisheim, it’s easy to immerse yourself into a fairytale fantasy here. 

The architecture and natural landscape of Kaysersberg makes it a particularly beautiful place to visit.  In fact, I loved it so much that I purchased an incense burner that was a replica of one of the most beautiful buildings in Kaysersberg.  (This proved to be one of my favorite 2020 quarantine purchases.  What beautiful memories during a challenging time.)

Overall, I would rate Kaysersberg as one of the most deliciously quaint towns in France.  I loved how many options for outdoor dining (even in winter) they offered because the scenery is stunning.  The town is very walkable, impeccably maintained, and is pretty perfect for a romantic weekend.         

Ribeauville: The Most Lively Village in Alsace

We spent the least amount of time in Ribeauville on this trip.  It’s not because we didn’t love it, but because there really was so much too see.  While equally as beautiful as Riquewihr, Ribeauville proved to be a bit more lively, even on a Sunday morning.  It feels quite a bit larger than most of the older villages and there is a clear contrast between the historical town center and the new, more modern extension of the city.  They blend together seamlessly, but you can see how it has grown.  

Ribeauville would be a great base for families.  There are plenty of shops and restaurants to explore, including a boulangerie with the largest loaf of bread I’ve ever seen in my life.  Entertainment for days trying to figure out how they made it, honestly.  Many of the cafes and bakeries have outdoor seating, making it an ideal place to sit and watch the world go by.  There’s even a casino nearby, if that’s your thing.

The dichotomy that exists between the quaint villages of the Alsace and the modern world are best illustrated in Ribeauville.  The pieces fit together perfectly. While the quieter towns of Alsace are good for a romantic escape, that’s not what everyone is looking for.  So, if you’re someone who wants to be out and about and doing things, Ribeauville is probably the right place for you.        

Best Places to Visit in Alsace?

Honestly, while you absolutely want to visit the fairytale towns of Alsace, choosing the right itinerary often comes down to your personal preferences.  The region is vast. There are so many towns in Alsace to visit, depending on what  you are interested in.  One of the great things about these smaller medieval villages is that they are significantly less expensive than the urban areas of France.

There are a variety of luxury accommodations available, but it is heavily dependent on the time of year that you are visiting.  If you are hoping to come for the Alsatian Christmas markets, you need to plan in advance because it will fill up and get expensive.  Reservations for restaurants are recommended, particularly during peak times. 

You can explore the larger cities of the region by train or by bus, but we found having a car was more efficient for our itinerary.  We had wine tastings scheduled outside of the major towns and wanted the most flexibility for leisurely meals and sightseeing.  And the more we explored, the more found ourselves returning to some places more often than others. 

We can put together the best of Alsace itinerary based on your personal preferences, so if this is a region that has piqued your interest, let us know how we can help!