Recommendations for Paris, Alsace visit in September

Posted by Texas girl on 07/14/26 06:37 PM

Hey there RS travelers,
I am planning a trip to Paris and Alsace area for mid September (last minute decision). I need help planning our time and restaurants choices. After researching RS threads, I realized I better make some fast decisions on accommodations and itinerary because my choices were limited. So now I am trying to determine how best spend our time and thankful we are getting to go. We enjoy old churches, museums, local culture, medieval villages, sidewalk cafes, wine, walking and exploring.

Here’s our itinerary:
Mon, Sept 14. - overnight flight to CDG arrive 8:15 am then train to Strasbourg to use as a base for 4 nights.
Strasbourg-store luggage-wander around the area jet lagged, eat.
Check in Airbnb by Cathedral at 4:00 pm
Tues Sept 15 - explore Strasbourg
Wed Sept 16 - train to Colmar-(a RS favorite) then explore by train, e-bike or walking.
Riquewihr and Ribeauville seem amazing but worth a 45 minute ride from Colmar?
Thurs Sept 17 - continue to visit villages or take train to Germany?

Fri Sept 18 train to Paris - check into Airbnb in Arr 6 by Seine at 1:00. We have been to Paris several years
ago but were not able to visit the Louvre (the reason for the trip). Also want to re-visit Notre
Dame and Montmartre(had dinner there only). Is a Seine Cruz’s a good idea? Eiffel Tower? I
have no idea about restaurant choices in Paris and need help!

Sat Sept 19 Paris
Sun Sept 20 Paris
Mon Sept 21 train to Disneyland Paris. Stay 3 nights at hotel.
Thursday Sept 24 leave from CDG-headed home.

Any info or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by Pam

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA

07/14/26 08:06 PM

17340 posts

Go ahead and buy your Louvre ticket at the official Louvre website. There may be some closures on Sept 25/26 for the Pope's visit but you should be OK in your time frame.

https://ticket.louvre.fr/en

You may wind up on a weekend which I have decided for myself is OK because all the rooms seem to be open. During the week they shut down certain galleries on certain days.

https://www.louvre.fr/en/visit/list-of-available-galleries

Notre Dame is free to visit but you need to pay for a timed entry if you want to climb the towers. There are free guided tours offered by volunteers associated with the cathedral. Here is a link to the calendar of visits for the free guided tours.

https://www.acck.fr/GuidesCasa-calendrierCasa/

Many enjoy the Seine cruise but don't feel obligated to do it. Personally I'm not one for cruises - rivers, canals, lakes, whatever....I'm bored after about 45 minutes but you might not be. Don't buy ahead as you can generally walk up. I've not done it in so many years that I have no recommendations on which boat. The all run the same route.

I'e enjoyed Au Petit Suisse cafe and Le Rostand which are both just across from the Luxembourg Gardens entrance. I'm not a foodie, though!

BTW, I loved Colmar and wound up spending 3 nights there just in Colmar. I loved walking around this cool little town! I'm not sure you can do Colmar and the nearby towns in one day. I enjoyed the museum, a DIY walking tour, the cathedral. The DIY walking tour map came from the TI office. Each site had a QR code for more information. I did not have a data plan for my phone then and realized that was now a necessity.

Posted by Slate

Virginia

07/14/26 11:40 PM

857 posts

It sounds good until the 3 nights at Disneyland Paris. Something, anything in France rather than that.

Posted by fred

Seattle, WA

07/14/26 11:43 PM

931 posts

Slow down. You move too fast. Try to make the moments last.

I’d suggest scratching a foray across the Rhine into Germany. And the trip to Disneyland.

That leaves you with 3 days to explore Strasbourg and Alsace. Perhaps one day trip to Colmar, one day in Strasbourg and a one day e-bike ride from Strasbourg to Molsheim and back. And two full days in Paris.

Posted by Melissa H

Washington, DC

07/14/26 11:47 PM

238 posts

In Strasbourg, we had an amazing lunch at La Cloche a Fromage - so good and we left incredibly full. You definitely would want a reservation. We also enjoyed Binchstub Broglie, Cucci, and L'Oignon (will want a reservation here as well).