Petite France and Strasbourg's old town: guided walk, Segway or on your own?

The answer first. Petite France and the old town around the cathedral are compact enough to explore on foot without a guide. A tour is worth the money for the stories and for a route that does not leave things out, not because you would get lost. For most visitors we would book the two-hour walk with a local guide: it finishes in Petite France, costs €29 per person and is rated 4.8/5 from 345 reviews. The guide speaks Spanish and English, so check your language before you pick it.

What you can do for free

The Barrage Vauban, a 17th-century weir beside the covered bridges, has a panoramic terrace with a view over the Ponts Couverts and Petite France. According to Visit Strasbourg, it is free to enter. The hours depend on the season: from November to February it is open 08:30 to 16:00, and from May to August 07:15 to 21:00, according to the city. The nearest tram stop is Musée d’art moderne (lines B and C). That terrace plus a walk along the canals is a reasonable self-guided hour.

What a walking tour covers

The listings differ more than their titles suggest:

• The Petite France walk (the one above) lists Place Kléber, the cathedral, the Palais Rohan, the Ancienne Douane, Place des Tripiers, Place Gutenberg, Église Saint-Thomas and the covered bridges, ending in Petite France. It starts at 2 Rue de l’Outre and takes up to 20 people.
• The classic walk with a local guide lasts two hours and runs in English and German for up to 30 people. It starts at Place Gutenberg and spends about an hour in Petite France, with shorter pass-bys at the cathedral and Place Kléber. The booking page shows €22.40 per person, 4.4/5 from 1,037 reviews.
• The small-group walk is limited to six people and runs in French and English from Place d’Austerlitz. The listing costs €35 and is rated 5.0/5 from 712 reviews. The page names people with mobility impairments among its restrictions.
• A private walk for your own group of up to 20 people lasts two hours and is offered in seven languages, among them English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. The price is per group: €429, quoted on the page for up to 10 people, so divide it by your group. The page says wheelchair users can take part if they tell the operator beforehand.

Segway and pedicab

The two-hour Segway tour covers more ground than a walk, including Petite France, the cathedral, the German district of Neustadt and the European institutions in the Quartier Européen. It costs €59 (4.8/5, 874 reviews), runs in English, French and German for up to 20 people, and the booking page excludes children under 10, anyone under 30 kg or over 135 kg, and hearing-impaired people. Children must be with an adult.

The one-hour pedicab tour from Quai des Bateliers is private and costs €85 per group. The page gives the group size as two passengers in one place and three in another, so check before you book. It is a good fit for tired legs. The page lists the live guide as French while its includes mention English or German commentary, so confirm the language with the operator.

Which one

A walk is best if you want to learn the history and have time. A Segway or bike tour suits people who want the Quartier Européen as well, and are fit and old enough. For a first visit take the Petite France walk if Spanish or English suits you; for French or German, take the classic or small-group walk, and for a family or group that wants its own guide, the private walk. See all walking tours and the Segway, bike and tuk-tuk tours.

The same places look different from the water: read our boat trip guide. For the cathedral itself, see the cathedral guide.

Our recommendation

Walk it with a guide once, then return alone to the Barrage Vauban terrace and the canals at your own pace.