Strasbourg Getting there & around

Getting around

Car & motorcycle

Parking

Virtually the whole city centre is either pedestrianised or a hopeless maze of one-ways, so don’t even think of getting around the Grande Île by car – or parking there for more than a couple of hours. For details on parking options check out www.parcus.com.

At Strasbourg’s eight Parking-Relais (park-and-ride) car parks, all on tram lines, the €2.50 all-day fee gets the driver and each passenger a free return tram ride into the city centre. If you’d like to visit the city without car hassles this is the way to do it. To get to a Park-and-Ride lot from the autoroute (freeway), follow the signs marked ‘P+R Tram’. Locals figure that your vehicle is least likely to be burnt to a crisp by bored youths from ‘the projects’ if you park north of the city centre in the Rives de l’Aar P+R car park; northwest of the centre in the Rotonde P+R car park; or south of the centre at the Baggersee P+R car park. The Elsau P+R car park is said to be especially dicey.

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Bus & tram

Four highly civilised tram lines – to which a fifth line, 13.5km of track and 22 stations are being added – form the centrepiece of Strasbourg’s outstanding public transport network, run by CTS (03 88 77 70 70; information bureau 56 rue du Jeu des Enfants; Mon-Sat). The main hub is at place de l’Homme de Fer. Buses – few of which pass through the Grande Île – run until about 11.30pm; trams generally operate until about 12.20am. This being earnest, hard-working Strasbourg there are no night buses.

Single bus/tram tickets, sold by bus drivers and the ticket machines at tram stops (English instructions available), cost €1.20. The Tourpass (€3.20), valid for 24 hours from the moment you time-stamp it, is sold at tourist offices and tram stop ticket machines. The weekly Hebdopass (€12) is good from Monday to Sunday.

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Local transport

Taxi

Round-the-clock companies:

Alsace France Taxi (03 88 22 19 19)

Taxi Treize (03 88 36 13 13)

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Bicycle

Strasbourg, a European leader in bicycle-friendly planning, has an extensive and ever-expanding réseau cyclable (network of cycling paths and lanes; www.strasbourg.fr/Strasbourgfr/GB/SeDeplacer/Avelo). Free maps are available at the tourist office.

The city government’s vélocation system can supply you with a well-maintained one-speed bike (per half-/whole day €4/7, Monday to Friday €10) or a kid’s bike (per day €2). A €100 deposit is required. Outlets:

City Centre (03 88 24 05 61; 10 rue des Bouchers; Porte de l’Hôpital; 9.30am-noon & 2-6.30pm or 7pm Apr-Oct, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri Nov-Mar)

Train Station (03 88 23 56 75; 4 rue du Maire Kuss; Alt Winmärik; 9.30am-7pm Mon-Fri, 9.30am-noon & 2-7pm Sat, also open 9.30am-noon & 2-7pm Sun & holidays Apr-Oct)

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