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- To Know
Alsace is a region that has been marked by several historical events, including both World War I and World War II. As... Read More
How to get around in Alsace
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by Ralph Ward
- July 7, 2020
- To Know
- 0
Already in Alsace? Great! Being the smallest region in France, it’s pretty easy to move around. Here’s an overview of the common options you have.
By car
Alsace has a one major motorway called the A35 that goes from North to South, that directly goes through some of the main cities (Strasbourg, Obernai, Sélestat, Colmar, Mulhouse, Saint-Louis and Basel. It takes about 2 hours in total to cross the whole region.
💡 Good to know: motorways don’t have any tolls in Alsace!
You can also take the smaller roads such as the famous “Wine Route” and the “Crest Road” which will take you through the traditional picturesque villages and lovely landscapes.
Here’s a road map indicating the time needed to get around Alsace:
Public transportation
You may have heard of the “SNCF” in France, the national state-owned railway company. Being funded by the state, they are able to offer an extensive rail network, even to the remote parts of Alsace which would otherwise be not economically viable. That being said, the national company has also inherited the infamous disorganisation, and trains often run late, or there is a sudden employee strike.
So on one hand you can have cheap transportation but on the other hand you could be unlucky and have your trip plans messed up. You have been warned, but the train still remains an excellent choice for most people.
Again, here is a map with the time needed to get around Alsace by train.
There is also quite a big network of buses and coaches. The most simple way to organize your trip is to surf on Fluo a site that helps you to plan your trip with public transportation.
💡 Good to know: It can be cheaper to buy a Alsa+ ticket which is available in all train stations. This ticket offers you unlimited access to all public transport for 24 hours.
By bike
With over 2,500 kms of bike paths and with a majority on a flat surface, Alsace is very attractive to cyclists. To organise your biking tours, I recommend checking out the website Cycling in Alsace which offers a plethora of cycling information.
💡 Good to know: Apart from high speed TGV trains, you can take your bike for free on the trains in Alsace! More info here.
