Some friends (2 couples) have asked for my help in planning their first time abroad. They are
thinking of Strasbourg and the Alsace area. They do not want to drive on their first trip abroad, so it makes this particular itinerary more difficult, I believe. I am trying to figure out how they
might be able spend the first 3 or 4 nights in Strasbourg and then go to the Alsace Wine area
to spend a week or so settling in one of the quaint villages from which they would take day trips from to that village (they are wondering about Riquewhir as their base) to the other cute villages
in the area. They want to be able to spend mornings or afternoons in maybe one or two villages at most each day, not rushing about, returning to their accommodation in late afternoon or evening. I just do not know how they will do that without a car. I have read that public transportation is almost non-existent in those villages and buses are not reliable, often running late. I think they could take a train from Strasbourg to Colmar, but they want to be in Riquewhir and they want to be able to tour from there. They do plan to return after about a week to Strasbourg for an overnight then flying out the next day. I suspect they will have to fly out of
Paris or some other airport?? Any suggestions for my friends?
Posted by
Belgium
262 posts
Just to help with the current bus timetable Riquewihr (valid until August 31, 2026)
https://app.avizi.fr/fichiers/get/5e0f461018e14
AN : circulates all year round
SC : circulates during school vacations
L-->S : Mondays to Fridays
DF: Sundays and holidays
Posted by
Washington, DC USA
797 posts
I have not traveled to this region yet but I have been looking into it. Two things I have learned that might help your friends plan are: (a) There is a direct train from CDG airport to Strasbourg that takes about 2 hours; and (b) from April-October there is a hop-on hop-off bus service that goes to Colmar and 7 wine village stops, see.
Posted by
Chicagoland
1623 posts
I spent a week in Colmar several years ago without a car rental.
I took a wonderful all day tour with L' Alsaciette to several wine villages and the Haut Konigsberg castle. Perhaps they could work something out with Agnes or Arnaud.
During the tourist season the Kutzig bus makes a circuit several times a day through several villages including Riquewihr. On 2 days I used the Kutzig bus to visit a village in the morning and then boarded a later bus for lunch and a wander in another village.
I also used the local bus from Colmar to visit nearby Turckheim.
Another possibility is taxi. But I would suggest they pre book.
No need to overnight in Strasbourg before heading home. There are several TGV trains daily between Colmar or Strasbourg to Paris. There is even direct trains from Strasbourg to Charles de Gaulle Airport Paris.
There are also connecting flights from Strasbourg or Basel to the US.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3824 posts
Fast TGV trains run between Paris and Strasbourg. From Strasbourg, trains run to Selestat ( near Ribeauville) and then to Colmar. From Colmar, buses travel through the valley to many of the villages— Eguisheim, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauville— to name just a few. It’s easy to travel between the villages by bus as long as you coordinate your plans around the bus schedules. Because this is rural France, bus service runs much less frequently than in cities, with about ten daily buses departing Colmar for Riquewihr. However, with careful planning, taking the local buses around Alsace works fine.
A week in the area is plenty of time to comfortably visit one or two villages each day and really enjoy the Alsace.
Posted by
Canada
34 posts
About 4 years ago, my sister and I flew into CDG and took a train directly from the airport to Reims (amazing cathedral and champagne cellars) for a couple of days, followed by another train to Strasbourg for 2 days and then on to Colmar, also by train. We based ourselves there for the remainder of our trip, and took day trips by train to Turckheim and by public transit (bus) to Kaysersberg and Eguisheim. We found the buses to and from Colmar to be reliable and easy to use. The tourist office in Colmar was very helpful in assisting us with the bus schedules. My feeling is that it would be easier for your friends to base themselves somewhere larger, like Colmar, in order to better access the smaller villages they would like to see.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
723 posts
Depending on the couples age, condition and experience … Cycling! Guided or self-guided. E-bikes available though not necessarily essential.
See our recent TR … https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sw-germany-e-france-alsace-burgundy-pt-3-of-4
Posted by
OP
62 posts
It has been some time since I posted anything here and while I had no trouble posting my question about helping my friends with their Alsace touring, I cannot find a way to individually respond to each of you. You all have been so generous with your time and helpful information and I would like to thank each of you. I just cannot figure out how to do individual responses. My apologies . (if someone can point out to me how to do a response, I once again thank you!)