Strasbourg from Karlsruhe

You just get a train from Karlsruhe to Strasbourg - simple.
Look for train times on the DB (German Railways) site: https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml

It takes 40 minutes on a fast train, or 1½ hours on a slow train. You could buy tickets in advance, or for this short distance you can buy tickets on the day at the station.

Kehl is the last station in Germany, and only comes into discussion for people who have tickets only valid in Germany and have to buy another ticket from there - not your case.

I wouldn't say Karlsruhe is not touristy. It has a Royal Palace to visit.

Thanks Chris...and the palace, botanical gardens, Marketplatz and some other Karlsruhe sites are already on our plans. Thanks again.

when I do a search for train times/rates, this doesn't seem to be the best.

You can take an RE from Karlsruhe to Appenweier, then change to the SWE train from Offenburg to Strasbourg via Kehl. That takes about 1½-2 hr and cost about 20€ one way. That connection leaves hourly at least.

Alternatively, for about 30€ one way, you can catch a TGV or ICE going through Karlsruhe (next stop Strasbourg) in about 40 minutes, but they run on an irregular schedule.

I don't think you'll find anything faster or cheaper. Maybe a bus?

Flixbus has 9(?) trips during prime time daily between Karlsruhe and Strasbourg. Takes around an hour and a half each way. One way fares are from 8€ to 22€ and seem to vary randomly (might depend on seats left).

How many is "we"? I will assume it is 2, and over 25 yo.
You can buy a Baden-Wuerttemberg Ticket for 30 EUR for 2 people. Then buy 2 roundtrip tickets for Kehl to Strasbourg. That will cost 17.20 EUR. Now, again assuming it is a week day, take the 9:09 regional train from Karlruhe Hbf heading to Konstanz. Get off at Appenweier and change to the SWE train to Strasbourg. The B-W ticket is good to Kehl, then you also are holding Kehl to Strasbourg single tickets. That will get you to Strasbourg by 11:00 am. You can get return trains at 5:22, 6:22, 7:22, 8:22 pm.

If you do it on a weekend, you can leave earlier than 9 am. Doing this way cost is 47.20 EUR for 2. If you just buy regular tickets, it will cost 81.20 EUR for 2.

OK, thanks so much. It may be a little longer to do it the cheaper away but we will see new sights also. We may do the cheap way one way and the fast way the other just to experience the ICE/TGV.

Again, thanks again for all the excellent responses.

Another thing I see, instead of single tickets from Kehl to Strasbourg, you can just get off at Kehl and buy a "24H Trio" Strasbourg transport pass for 6.90 EUR. Good for 2 or 3 people traveling together for 24 hours. The tram stop is outside of Kehl station and tickets are sold from a vending machine (warning, credit card or coins only). The tram takes you into Strasbourg and anywhere in town you want to go for the rest of the day and back to Kehl when its time to leave.

Also how are you getting to Karlruhe? If coming from Frankfurt airport, you can ride an ICE from there.

Hi, that sounds like a good plan especially with the option to use the tram for our stay in Strasbourg. Thanks.

We arrive in Frankfurt but we travel first to Mainz to spend a day in the Rhine area so we will be traveling from Mainz to Karlsruhe. My plan was to purchase a Rheinland-Palatinate ticket since I thought that would be the cheapest option for my husband and I. We will be traveling after 9:00 that day as I am sure there are a few sites in Mainz we will want to see before we leave. Any better suggestions?

Hi,

Regardless of the area around Karlsruhe is attractive to tourists or not, something I see as completely irrelevant, I went there in 1989, my only time in Karlsruhe and environs. If you're there, I would suggest seeing Rastatt, where I went in 1989, the Schloss (chateau), and Zentrum.

If you want more frequent connections from Strasbourg to Germany, I suggest going Strasbourg to Offenburg, a major junction point for not only regional trains but the ICE trains as well, eg, the Offenburg to Berlin night train and also its day connections.

Take the S-Bahn from Strasbourg to Offenburg.

Agree with Chris F suggestion to use DB Bahn. Took the fast train from Strasbourg to Karlsruhe 1 1/2 weeks ago. It was the only railway I could buy a ticket stateside. The rates go up the closer a ticket is bought to a travel date. The train stations and railway between these two towns are simple to navigate. When in doubt, we asked questions at the information centers. Very helpful and no misdirections. Loved Strasbourg - delightful, beautiful city. Once you arrive in Strasbourg train station, go downstairs to the tram. For a few Euros the tram runs the the heart of the downtown corridor. Buy a day ticket so you can hop on and off then back to the station at the end of the day.

Tourist office next to the Cathedral is a great first stop if you do not have your day plan set. They offer walking maps and points of interest. You won't miss the Cathedral - it is a must. Canal ride was enjoyable and informative. Le Petit France as well as all of Strasbourg is full of nice coffee shops, restaurants and shopping stores.

If you had more time, highly recommend the "Pearls of Alsace" wine road tour to Colmar via Ophorus Excursions (www.ophorus.com). With informative guide, explored the Haut Koenigsbourg Castle and enchanting, little Equisheim village (voted one of Frances most beautiful villages). Storks are up from Africa and nesting in huge nests snuggled on top the rooftops!

In closing, recommend reserving your plan. Stay in Strasbourg and take a day trip to the Karlsrhue to explore your family town. Believe you will enjoy Strasbourg more than Karlsrhue.

Given a choice to choose only between Karlsruhe and Strasbourg, I choose Strasbourg....obviously. Strasbourg is one of the cities where I've done repeat visits whereas Karlsruhe was only once, ie in 1989.

Hi...thanks for the advice on my question. We are staying in Karlsruhe because it is close to Waldbronn where we are hoping to connect with some family. However, we do definitely want to spend a day in Strasbourg and from reading your responses to my question, it sounds like my best bet is to take the Deutche Bahn direct from Karlsruhe to Strasbourg. I would like to get advance tickets as recommended to save a few bucks but want to make sure I am choosing the right "destination" point for Strasbourg. Can someone tell me which "Strasbourg" I should choose from the dropdown menu on the train site. You would think I would have this figured out by now, wouldn't you? Wish me luck in 2 weeks when I am navigating our way through our trip! Thanks for your help.

Just use Strasbourg. If you choose any of the others, including the second one which is something like Strasbourg (Frankreich) Hbf, you are getting a bus stop or tram stop.

OTOH, if you know which bus or tram stop you will want then you can put that in. Much simpler though to just go with Strasbourg and get familiar with a bus/tram map and town plan before you go. The station isn't directly in the centre, and the architecture of the station is something else....

Thanks...and great advice to look into the tram routes in Strasbourg before our arrival...will do.