From juniper-spiced sauerkraut to smoked mountain hams, the distinctive cuisine of Alsace blends the influences of nearby Germany and Switzerland with classic French cooking. This private walking tour will give you a thorough introduction to the region’s traditional dishes, along with a chance to explore Strasbourg. Widely considered Alsace’s culinary capital, Strasbourg overflows with markets, shops, and bakeries, especially in the Petite France district.
The tour includes plenty of stops to nibble on local treats — including several wines — and gives you a chance to admire the half-timbered houses and leafy canals of the medieval core. Along the way, you’ll learn local recipes and hear about the city’s history.
After meeting your guide at your hotel, you’ll start your tour in the narrow pedestrian lanes and half-timbered houses of the historical district, which includes the canal-laced Petite France quarter. As you stroll, you can admire the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the graciously proportioned Place Gutenberg. If it’s market day, you’ll also spend some time among the stalls that sell regional produce including white asparagus, plump berries, and deep-purple quetsche plums, as well as local crafts.
Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to sample a wide selection of the regional delicacies that Strasbourg is known for. You might nibble on cured meats paired with local cheeses and wines, and stop at a bakery for the chance to enjoy some Alsatian baked goods. Among them is the traditional brioche known as kouglof or pains d’épices (bread of spices), a regional version of gingerbread. There’ll also be several stops for different wines, including the effervescent Crémant d'Alsace.
As you walk, your guide will share the historical context of the dishes you’re trying, and offer cooking tips if you want to recreate the foods at home.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our France specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Pearls of Alsace
Get to know Alsace on this full-day private tour. You’ll thoroughly explore the region, which is known for its distinctive French-Germanic character. Experience the half-timbered houses of Colmar, small medieval villages, a winding wine route, and a turreted castle on a hill.
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tour below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.
