City Guides
Strasbourg
Getting Around
Getting Around
Strasbourg
Public Transport
The Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS) (tel: 03887 77070; website: www.cts-strasbourg.fr) operates the bus and tram systems in Strasbourg.
Trams run daily between 0420-0040, and every few minutes in rush hour. There are five tram lines.
Line A links the northwest (Hautepierre) with the south of the city (Illkirch-Graffenstaden) and passes through the main train station, place Kléber and place de l'Etoile.
Line B links southwest Strasbourg to the northern districts.
Line C semi-circles through the southern half of the city, linking Elsau, the university quarter and Esplanade district to the centre.
Line D runs northwest to east through the city centre. Lines A-D meet at place de l'Homme de Fer in central Strasbourg.
Line E, running from the Baggersee airport shuttle terminal in the south to the European Union institutions in the northeast, meets lines B and C at the central République stop.
Buses run daily between 0500/0600 - 0000, with a less frequent service (and some lines not running) on Sundays. There are about 23 routes covering the city. Lines 4 and 6 are useful for travel and sightseeing within the city centre.
Bus and tram tickets are available from CTS bureaux located at place Kléber and at the central station, as well as from post offices, some newsagents and ticket machines at some of the stops. Tickets must be stamped for validation before boarding the tram or bus. There are machines at the stops for this purpose.
A discounted book of 10 tickets is available from CTS sales points and other outlets, as well as bargain-priced tickets called ‘24h Individuel' and ‘Trio' (for up to three people travelling together), which allow unlimited bus and tram travel in a 24-hour period. CTS sales points or the Central Tourist Office, 17 place de la Cathédrale (tel: 03885 22828) can provide a free map of the public transport network.
Further information on transport in Strasbourg is available from the tourist office, 17 place de la Cathedrale (Tel: 03885 22828; website: www.otstrasbourg.fr).
Taxis
There are many taxi operators in Strasbourg. One of the principal companies is Taxi 13 (tel: 03883 61313; website: www.taxi13.fr), which has over 200 vehicles and operates round the clock. Taxis can also be hailed at ranks at the train station, airport and place de l'Homme de Fer. Many taxis accept payment by credit card and tipping is not expected.
Driving in the City
Almost the entire centre of Strasbourg is pedestrianised and cars should be left at the large car parks on the fringes of the city centre. The popularity of public transport (particularly the trams) means that traffic congestion is rarely a problem. What rush hour there is takes place Monday to Friday 0800-0900 and 1630-1830.
In order to encourage drivers to use public transport, several large car parks outside the centre charge low daily rates, which cover tram tickets for all passengers. More central car park charges are more expensive. Three large car parks cluster around the place des Halles. Parking at the railway station, St Aurélie, Serres, Canal and Porte de l'Hôpital car parks is free for up to 30 minutes. The Bateliers Car Park, near place d'Austerlitz, and Parking 2 Sebastopol, at Centre Halles, are free 2000-0200 - ideal for nights out. Further information is available from Strasbourg's online parking guide Parcus (website: www.parcus.com).
Car Hire
Providers include Avis (tel: 0820 050 505; website: www.avis.fr) and Europcar France (tel: 0825 358 358; website: www.europcar.fr), both located near the train station, and Hertz France, 10a boulevard Metz (tel: 03883 25762; website: www.hertz.fr). The minimum age for car hire varies from 21 to 25 years. A credit card is required and drivers must have possessed a national driving licence for at least one year. Insurance is usually included in the price.
Bicycle Hire
Strasbourg has the largest cycle network in France. Bicycles are available for hire from non-profit Vélocation (tel: 03882 35675 or 03882 40561; website: www.velocation.net) at place de la Gare and 10 rue des Bouchers, and Esprit Cycles, 18 rue Jacques Peirotes (tel: 03883 61841; website: www.espritcycles.com). A deposit and ID are required. Maps of the cycling routes are available when you hire.
Travel Essentials
Public Transport
The Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS) (tel: 03887 77070; website: www.cts-strasbourg.fr) operates the bus and tram systems in Strasbourg.
Trams run daily between 0420-0040, and every few minutes in rush hour. There are five tram lines.
Line A links the northwest (Hautepierre) with the south of the city (Illkirch-Graffenstaden) and passes through the main train station, place Kléber and place de l'Etoile.
Line B links southwest Strasbourg to the northern districts.
Line C semi-circles through the southern half of the city, linking Elsau, the university quarter and Esplanade district to the centre.
Line D runs northwest to east through the city centre. Lines A-D meet at place de l'Homme de Fer in central Strasbourg.
Line E, running from the Baggersee airport shuttle terminal in the south to the European Union institutions in the northeast, meets lines B and C at the central République stop.
Buses run daily between 0500/0600 - 0000, with a less frequent service (and some lines not running) on Sundays. There are about 23 routes covering the city. Lines 4 and 6 are useful for travel and sightseeing within the city centre.
Bus and tram tickets are available from CTS bureaux located at place Kléber and at the central station, as well as from post offices, some newsagents and ticket machines at some of the stops. Tickets must be stamped for validation before boarding the tram or bus. There are machines at the stops for this purpose.
A discounted book of 10 tickets is available from CTS sales points and other outlets, as well as bargain-priced tickets called ‘24h Individuel' and ‘Trio' (for up to three people travelling together), which allow unlimited bus and tram travel in a 24-hour period. CTS sales points or the Central Tourist Office, 17 place de la Cathédrale (tel: 03885 22828) can provide a free map of the public transport network.
Further information on transport in Strasbourg is available from the tourist office, 17 place de la Cathedrale (Tel: 03885 22828; website: www.otstrasbourg.fr).
Trams run daily between 0420-0040, and every few minutes in rush hour. There are five tram lines.
Line A links the northwest (Hautepierre) with the south of the city (Illkirch-Graffenstaden) and passes through the main train station, place Kléber and place de l'Etoile.
Line B links southwest Strasbourg to the northern districts.
Line C semi-circles through the southern half of the city, linking Elsau, the university quarter and Esplanade district to the centre.
Line D runs northwest to east through the city centre. Lines A-D meet at place de l'Homme de Fer in central Strasbourg.
Line E, running from the Baggersee airport shuttle terminal in the south to the European Union institutions in the northeast, meets lines B and C at the central République stop.
Buses run daily between 0500/0600 - 0000, with a less frequent service (and some lines not running) on Sundays. There are about 23 routes covering the city. Lines 4 and 6 are useful for travel and sightseeing within the city centre.
Bus and tram tickets are available from CTS bureaux located at place Kléber and at the central station, as well as from post offices, some newsagents and ticket machines at some of the stops. Tickets must be stamped for validation before boarding the tram or bus. There are machines at the stops for this purpose.
A discounted book of 10 tickets is available from CTS sales points and other outlets, as well as bargain-priced tickets called ‘24h Individuel' and ‘Trio' (for up to three people travelling together), which allow unlimited bus and tram travel in a 24-hour period. CTS sales points or the Central Tourist Office, 17 place de la Cathédrale (tel: 03885 22828) can provide a free map of the public transport network.
Further information on transport in Strasbourg is available from the tourist office, 17 place de la Cathedrale (Tel: 03885 22828; website: www.otstrasbourg.fr).
Taxis
There are many taxi operators in Strasbourg. One of the principal companies is Taxi 13 (tel: 03883 61313; website: www.taxi13.fr), which has over 200 vehicles and operates round the clock. Taxis can also be hailed at ranks at the train station, airport and place de l'Homme de Fer. Many taxis accept payment by credit card and tipping is not expected.
Driving in the City
Almost the entire centre of Strasbourg is pedestrianised and cars should be left at the large car parks on the fringes of the city centre. The popularity of public transport (particularly the trams) means that traffic congestion is rarely a problem. What rush hour there is takes place Monday to Friday 0800-0900 and 1630-1830.
In order to encourage drivers to use public transport, several large car parks outside the centre charge low daily rates, which cover tram tickets for all passengers. More central car park charges are more expensive. Three large car parks cluster around the place des Halles. Parking at the railway station, St Aurélie, Serres, Canal and Porte de l'Hôpital car parks is free for up to 30 minutes. The Bateliers Car Park, near place d'Austerlitz, and Parking 2 Sebastopol, at Centre Halles, are free 2000-0200 - ideal for nights out. Further information is available from Strasbourg's online parking guide Parcus (website: www.parcus.com).
In order to encourage drivers to use public transport, several large car parks outside the centre charge low daily rates, which cover tram tickets for all passengers. More central car park charges are more expensive. Three large car parks cluster around the place des Halles. Parking at the railway station, St Aurélie, Serres, Canal and Porte de l'Hôpital car parks is free for up to 30 minutes. The Bateliers Car Park, near place d'Austerlitz, and Parking 2 Sebastopol, at Centre Halles, are free 2000-0200 - ideal for nights out. Further information is available from Strasbourg's online parking guide Parcus (website: www.parcus.com).
Car Hire
Providers include Avis (tel: 0820 050 505; website: www.avis.fr) and Europcar France (tel: 0825 358 358; website: www.europcar.fr), both located near the train station, and Hertz France, 10a boulevard Metz (tel: 03883 25762; website: www.hertz.fr). The minimum age for car hire varies from 21 to 25 years. A credit card is required and drivers must have possessed a national driving licence for at least one year. Insurance is usually included in the price.
Bicycle Hire
Strasbourg has the largest cycle network in France. Bicycles are available for hire from non-profit Vélocation (tel: 03882 35675 or 03882 40561; website: www.velocation.net) at place de la Gare and 10 rue des Bouchers, and Esprit Cycles, 18 rue Jacques Peirotes (tel: 03883 61841; website: www.espritcycles.com). A deposit and ID are required. Maps of the cycling routes are available when you hire.
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