10 Ways to Save Money in Strasbourg

The Strasbourg Pass is a great option for those looking to visit the city's landmarks at a reduced cost. It's significantly cheaper than purchasing individual tickets, and you get to enjoy many services for free. The pass includes free entry to the Cathedrale Notre-Dame's astronomical clock, a museum of your choice, and a boat tour through Strasbourg.  

You can also enjoy reduced rates on a Segway discovery tour and a mini-train ride (April–October), along with notable museums like Les Secrets du Chocolat and Château Vodou. The Strasbourg Pass is valid for 3 days, so it's worth researching on days when the museums are closed for your itinerary. 

Grande Île (Grand Island) is great for learning about Strasbourg's history, as you can explore historical monuments and period houses along its canals. The UNESCO World Heritage site has half-timbered houses, private mansions, and religious sanctuaries dating back to the 15th century. 

Start your day in this open-air museum with a tour of Place de l’Homme de Fer, cross old bridges like Ponts Couverts and Pont Saint-Martin, before unwinding in Place Kléber, the island's central square. Must-sees on Grande Île include Strasbourg Cathedral, Palais Rohan, and St Thomas' Church.

Parcours d’Europe is a signposted walking route that runs from Rue Boecklin to Place Kléber in Strasbourg. It has metal markers dotted along the path, taking you past prominent institutions such as Lieu d'Europe, the Arte TV headquarters, and Agora-Council of Europe. You can even enter the inner courtyard of the European Parliament for free.

The 2.5-km walking tour has illustrations detailing the role and involvement of the bodies that govern the old continent. Information boards, puzzles, telescopes and hourglasses are also fitted along Parcours d’Europe. 

Anticafé is a creative coworking space on Strasbourg's Grand Island, just a short walk of Église Saint-Thomas and Historical Museum of the City of Strasbourg. While entry isn't free, you only pay according to how long you stay inside the cafe. Unlimited drinks and snacks are included in the price. 

Anticafé's concept is aimed more towards those looking to work, read or unwind in a calm environment. You can sit around a shared table with mismatched chairs or in a snug alcove surrounded by posters with inspirational quotes. 

Strasbourg offers free admission to all of its museums on the first Sunday of every month. These cultural venues open their permanent collections and temporary exhibits to the public, as well as offer several free activities for families.

You can take part in drawing workshops in the gothic gardens of the Museum Œuvre Notre-Dame, immerse in the world of folklore at the Alsatian Museum, and wander through the vast galleries of the Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Cave des Hospices Strasbourg is a vaulted wine cellar below Strasbourg Hospital, one of France's oldest medical centres. It dates back to the 14th century and were intended to meet the needs of the sick, poor and pilgrims who were treated in the hospices. At that time, the wine was actually used for therapeutic reasons, though the cellar also stocks grains and foodstuffs. 

Today, Cave des Hospices Strasbourg is open for wine tastings, with barrels containing wines from different regions of Alsace. You can also see 3 historic barrels dating back to 1472, 1519 and 1525, as well as an 18th-century winepress.

Strasbourg's astronomical clock occupies a Renaissance-style cabinet within the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg. This technical masterpiece required the combined efforts of clockmakers, mathematicians, sculptors and painters. It's known for not only displaying the time, but also the date, current lunar phase, and position of the planets. 

At noon, the astronomical clock has several automata that come to life every 15 minutes. It's a good idea to arrive at the church around 11.30 am to catch a short film and get a good seat. The experience is free for toddlers below 6 years old.

Botanical Gardens of Strasbourg University dates back to 1884 and houses over 6,000 plant species in a 3.5-ha space. On Sunday afternoons, you can join a free guided tour of the gardens, with an expert sharing interesting facts while taking you along the tree-lined paths.

A must-see is the Serre de Bary greenhouse, which is home to around 2,200 trees and shrubs from temperate regions. There's a cold house sheltering over 500 plant species, including conifers from the Southern hemisphere, cacti and succulent plants.

Happy Strasbourg organises a free walking tour of Strasbourg every day (weekends from January to March), with knowledgeable guides taking you to some of the city's most popular squares. The excursion takes less than 2 hours, so it's a good idea to carry some water and wear comfortable shoes. 

The original tour leads you to Grand Island, where you'll pass by landmarks such as Strasbourg Cathedral, Place Kléber and Palais Rohan. You can choose to pay any amount to your guide at the end of the walking tour. 

Stimultania defines itself as a photographic centre in Strasbourg, offering free exhibitions and events to the public. Opened in 1987, this eclectic gallery covers several styles and eras, with archival images mingling with contemporary works. 

Exhibits are often combined with sound fragments to stimulate the viewer's curiosity and thoughts. A series of free tools called 'Click Words' is available for those who want to develop their photographic criticism.