Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tourist Information
Strasbourg's main TI faces the cathedral (daily 9:00-19:00, 17 Place de la Cathédrale, tel.
03 88 52 28 28,
www.otstrasbourg.fr
,
info@otstrasbourg.fr
). Another TI is in the train sta-
tion's south hall (across from the station's
accueil
office, same hours, sells day passes for
thetram).Learnaboutspecialevents(likethesummersound-and-lightshowatthecathed-
ral,mentionedin“SightsinStrasbourg”later)andbuythe€1.50citymap,whichdescribes
adecentwalkingtourinEnglish,orpay€5.50torentanaudioguidethatcoversthecathed-
ral and old city in more detail than most need (available only at the main TI, includes a
cute little map of the route, allow 1.5 hours). The TI also has bike maps for the city (€1
with English explanations) and surrounding areas.
The Strasbourg Pass
(€15, kids-€7.50), valid three days, is a great value for travel-
ers wanting to do it all. It includes one free museum entry and half-off coupons for others,
adiscountonthetownaudioguide,freehalf-daybikerental,theboatcruise,andfreeentry
to the cathedral narthex view and the astrological clock tour.
Arrival in Strasbourg
By Train:
TGV trains serve Strasbourg's gleaming train station. Limited baggage storage
is available at platform 1 (daily 6:15-21:15, allow time for its airport-type security screen-
ing). WCs are across from the stairs to platform 2, and a helpful TI is in the station's south
(sud)
hall, across from the
accueil
office. Rental bikes are available in the lower level of
the glass atrium (see “Helpful Hints,” later), and you'll find many budget eating options.
To
walk
tothecathedralin15urbanminutes,exitstraightoutofthestation,crossthe
big square (Place de la Gare), and walk past Hôtel Vendôme and up Rue du Maire Kuss.
Cross the river, and continue up serpentine, pedestrian-friendly Rue du 22 November all
the way to the grand Place Kléber. Angle a bit left through Place Kléber (whose name-
sake graces the center of the square), then turn right on the broad pedestrian street (Rue
des Grandes Arcades). In a few blocks, turn left on Rue Mercière (just after the merry-go-
round) then follow that spire.
To get from the train station to the city center by
public transportation,
catch the
caterpillar-like tram that leaves from under the station (buy €1.60 one-way ticket or €4
day pass from the station TI, or from machines on platforms—coins only, then validate
in skinny machines,
www.cts-strasbourg.fr
). Take tram #A (direction: Illkirch) or tram
#D (direction: Aristide Briand) three stops to Langross-Grande Rue, two blocks from the
cathedral. (You can return to the station, Gare Centrale, from the same stop.)
