12 Free and Cheap Date Ideas to Try in Strasbourg

The art of flânerie with your beloved consists of strolling aimlessly, getting lost in the moment and each other. The area of Petite France couldn’t be more perfect for this particular form of entertainment, with its charming streets, half-timbered homes and waterside promenades.

Every year, Strasbourg invites lovers to go off the beaten track for 10 days around Valentine’s Day. The city sets out a special program of Strasbourg Mon Amour events with great deals for restaurants, art installations and concerts, all planned for romance and spending quality time together.

A table at a traditional restaurant can set you back more than you intended to spend, but luckily, one of the most popular and delicious local specialities is affordable. The flammekueche or tarte flambée, a close cousin to the pizza, is an ideal dish to share. A thin pastry slathered with crème fraîche, onions and bacon bits, it can be enjoyed as a snack on the go or as part of a sit-down meal accompanied by a local beer.

A visit to the cathedral is a must on any trip to Strasbourg, and, for just €2, you can take the tour of the astronomical clock. At 12:30pm, the elaborate and ingenious mechanism triggers a procession of automated figures. It’s charming and magical, and a reminder to seize the day and make the most of life. You can climb the tower for €5 to enjoy a spectacular 360-degree view of the city.

If you’re staying in Strasbourg for a few days, then the 3-day pass can save you a little money. At €21,50 per person, it includes a free admission to a museum, boat tour, ascent to the cathedral tower and the astronomical clock. If you consider that just the boat tour is €13, the cathedral tower €5 and the clock is €2, it is a great way to enjoy numerous fun and interesting activities together without spending a fortune.

This is a beautiful area of Strasbourg at any time of day and in any season, but it particularly comes into its own at dusk, when the lights glimmering on the water give the scene an extra allure. It’s a perfect promenade to linger hand-in-hand for hours.

Strasbourg really comes to life around Christmas-time so, if you happen to visit in December, you are in for a real treat. There are market vendors offering tastings, local and regional specialities and arts and crafts. The offers of delicious street food abound with crêpes, Bredele cookies (a traditional Christmas biscuit from Alsace), vin chaud (mulled wine), and the decorations, aromas and sounds of the festive season make for an enchanting time en amoreux.