Full-Day Alsace Highlights, 8 Hours

Full-Day Alsace Highlights, 8 Hours, 8 hours, rated 4.8 across 396 traveller reviews.

Overview

Eight hours, three headline stops, one minivan. This Ophorus day trip starts at the Strasbourg Tourism Office on Place de la Cathédrale and puts the group on the road to Colmar, where a guided walk takes in the old town, the Pfister house, the Koïfhus, St Martin's Collegiate Church and Little Venice, with some free time afterwards. The route then runs to Riquewihr, a fortified town whose 16th-century houses and walls have survived intact, followed by a drive along the Alsace Wine Route to Haut Koenigsbourg Castle, a 12th-century fortress above the valley that once controlled the wine, wheat and salt routes north and east.

The group is capped at 8 people travelling in a single minivan with a driver-guide, and the entire day runs in English. It needs a minimum of 2 adult passengers to operate, children under 4 are not accepted, and the castle stretch involves many stairs and cobblestone streets, so the operator does not recommend it for people with limited mobility.

Reviews of the guides are consistently warm, with travellers praising their knowledge of local history and wine, and the transport draws regular compliments. The trade-off is time: some travellers find the pace rushed and would like longer in each place.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the tourism officeCheck-in is at the Strasbourg Tourism Office, 17 Place de la Cathédrale, Strasbourg. Hotel pickup is not offered on this tour.
2. Van to Colmar, 1 hourThe first transfer to Colmar takes 1 hour by minivan.
3. Colmar guided tour, 2 hoursA guide leads a 2 hour walking tour of the old town, including the Pfister house, the Koïfhus, St Martin's Collegiate Church and Little Venice. Some free time in Colmar is also part of the stop.
4. Van to Riquewihr, 30 minutesThe drive from Colmar to the fortified town of Riquewihr takes 30 minutes.
5. Riquewihr visit and free timeThe stop combines a 30 minute visit with 1 hour of free time for exploring and lunch on your own, since meals are not included.
6. Wine Route drive, 30 minutesThe 30 minute drive toward the castle follows part of the Alsace Wine Route, which winds for over 170 kilometers between the Rhine valley and the Vosges mountain range.
7. Haut Koenigsbourg Castle, 1.5 hoursA 1.5 hour guided tour covers the 12th-century fortress, which occupies a strategic position once controlling the wine and wheat routes to the north and the salt route from the east. Expect a great deal of walking, numerous stairs and cobblestone streets.
8. Return to Strasbourg, 1 hourThe drive back takes 1 hour. During the Christmas period the drop-off is just outside the Grande-Ile district, with the exact address arranged with the guide.

What To Expect From The Tour

These are the practical details that come up most often in the listing and in what travellers report back about this tour.

• Footwear and stairs. The castle visit involves a great deal of walking, many cobblestone streets and numerous stairs. Comfortable shoes are recommended. People with limited mobility are advised not to book.
• Lunch on your own. Meals and drinks are not included. The 1 hour of free time in Riquewihr is when lunch happens, so budget for food during the stop.
• Small group van. The group is limited to 8 travellers with a driver-guide in a modern, fully equipped minivan. Reviewers often mention the comfortable transport, and one described a guide who kept the whole small group at ease across different ages.
• English only. The tour is operated in English only. Anyone in your party who does not follow spoken English comfortably will find the guided segments difficult.
• Wine commentary. Several travellers said the guides' commentary on the local wine industry and regional history stood out. The Wine Route segment itself is listed as a scenic drive rather than a cellar visit.
• ID and pets. The listing asks travellers to bring a passport or ID card. Pets are not allowed on the tour, so leave animals at the hotel or at home.

Common issues. The tour requires a minimum of 2 adult passengers to operate, so a departure with too few bookings cannot run. Some travellers describe the pace as rushed and would prefer more time at each stop, which is a fair read of a schedule packing three major stops into one day. Children under 4 years old are not accepted, and the castle section is not recommended for people with limited mobility. Meals, drinks, gratuities, personal insurance and entrance fees to monuments other than those mentioned in the description are all extra.

Common Questions