Planning an Alsace Road trip?
This unique journey through Alsace’s picturesque towns by car, campervan, or motorhome showcases one of France’s most stunning wine regions.
Prepare to be charmed.
💐 Hot Tip: Experience Alsace at its best by visiting in spring or summer. Enjoy blooming flowers, fairy-tale villages brimming with a kaleidoscope of colours and an enchanting atmosphere.
It was pure coincidence that we arrived in the Alsace wine region mid-summer in July, on a leg of our motorhoming in France, part of our epic year-long Europe trip. Although we often recommend visiting popular regions during the off-peak season; not this time.
This 5-day Alsatian wine route itinerary is all about slow-paced enjoyment rather than racing from one place to another.
To fully immerse yourself in all things Alsace, you’ll want to walk these beautiful artisanal Alsace village streets like you drink a fine white wine …slowly, savouring every moment. Even UNESCO warrants the Alsace region as something special.
And speaking of white wine… why not participate in a wine tasting tour, featuring the locally famed Riesling or Pinot Blanc? You’re in the Alsace wine region, after all.
Road Trip Alsace Wine Route: Quick Overview
Your Ultimate Guide to an Enchanting Alsace Road Trip
Ready to explore Alsace? This guide will steer you through everything you need to know for a magical road trip, including:
- Enchanting Towns: Discover the most picturesque fairy-tale towns in Alsace.
- Travel Tips: Essential advice to enhance your road trip experience in the region.
- Motorhome Stops: Key spots for campervans with links to facilities, pricing, and reviews.
- Interactive Map: Navigate your journey with our detailed Alsace road trip map.
- Itinerary Suggestions: Our recommended routes for an Alsace itinerary to help you make the most of your visit.
- Driving Tips: Practical insights for navigating France’s roads safely.
Road Trip Alsace Map
How to Use This Motorhome Route Map
- To use this interactive map effectively, click the square icon in the upper right corner to expand.
- A key will appear on the left, guiding you through various locations.
- Clicking on any site reveals detailed information about that spot.
- Each campervan stopover on the map links to the Camper Contact website. Here, you can explore available amenities, pricing, and operational hours and read reviews from other travellers.
- Look for motorhome overnight stops marked by an orange circle (🟠) with a motorhome icon.
- The places we’ve personally visited are also highlighted with distinct location icons.
VideoTaster: Visiting Alsace in Spring or Summer
Visiting Alsace in spring or summer really does showcase the region at its most vibrant. Mild weather and the pretty blossoming flowers enhance its traditional and captivating multi-coloured timber-framed buildings.
Savour this little taster video of how the Alsace wowed us with its half-timbered, colourful houses and vibrant window displays overflowing with flowers:
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5-Day Alsace Road Trip Itinerary
Explore our leisurely Alsace itinerary below outlining daily stops, overnight stops and suggested activities.
For those seeking more in-depth insights, continue reading on further for detailed descriptions of each destination, complete with our personal experiences.
Day 1: Arrival in Hirtzbach
- Morning: Arrive and settle in. Enjoy a leisurely walk through Hirtzbach, admiring the floral displays and serene ambience.
- Afternoon: Visit Parc Charle de Reinach to enjoy its English garden.
- Overnight: Campervan stop at Aire Camping Car de Hirtzbach or stay at Hôtel-Restaurant Auberge Sundgovienne if travelling by car.
Guests rating: 8.5 / 10
✔️ Great location, quiet
✔️Comfortable
✔️ Great staff
✔️ Free Wifi
Restaurant on-site
Day 2: Hirtzbach to Eguisheim
- Morning: Drive to Eguisheim (60km, approx. 50 minutes).
- Afternoon: Explore the beautiful medieval streets of Eguisheim. Enjoy a pastry from a local bakery and wander around St. Leon Square.
- Overnight: Eguisheim Winery Courtyard for campervans or local accommodation at James Vignoble Hôtel for car travellers.
Guests rating: 8.5 / 10
✔️ Great location, Clean
✔️Comfortable
✔️ Free Wifi
✔️ Breakfast options
400m from centre
Day 3: Eguisheim to Colmar
- Morning: Short drive to Colmar (7km, approx 15 minutes).
- Day: Spend the day in Colmar, exploring ‘Little Venice’ and its historic buildings. Don’t miss the Eglise Saint-Martin and the local market.
- Overnight: Campervan parking back at Eguisheim or Parking Camping Car in Colmar or consider Hotel Le Colombier, in the town centre, if travelling by car.
Guests rating: 8.9 / 10
✔️ Refurbished
✔️Comfort
✔️ Free Wifi
✔️ Breakfast options
In the town centre
Day 4: Colmar to Ribeauville
- Morning: Depart for Ribeauville visiting Riquewihr and Hunawihr on the way. (22 km, approx. 40 minutes). Wander through Riquewihr, enjoy the charming streets, and perhaps taste some local wines.
- Afternoon: Explore Ribeauville and hike to the three castles overlooking the town.
- Overnight: If camping, overnight in Ribeauville at Camping des Trois Chateau, or in Riqueville, The Chamber of the Three Churches, or return to Colmar by car.
The Chamber of the Three Churches
Guests rating: 9.5 / 10
✔️ Great location
✔️Comfortable
✔️ Free Wifi
✔️ Superb Breakfast
In the town centre
Day 5: Strasbourg and Hatten
- Morning: Depart for Strasbourg. Spend the morning visiting key attractions such as the iconic Cathédrale Notre Dame and stroll through the historic ‘Petite France’ district.
- Afternoon: Drive to Hatten (approximately 50 minutes from Strasbourg) to visit the Musée de l’Abri de Hatten and explore the historical significance of this site.
- Overnight: If camping overnight at the Hatten Museum carpark, or in Strasbourg, and if by car, stay in Strasbourg at Hotel Leonor.
Guests rating: 9.1 / 10
✔️ Private parking
✔️4 star with bar
✔️ Free Wifi
✔️ Superb Breakfast
600 metres to centre
Places To Visit on Your Alsace Road Trip
Alsace lies between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River, bordering Switzerland and Germany. This unique position blends the architectural and cultural influences of the three regions.
Known for its fertile lands, Alsace is a top wine-producing region. Its famous ‘Alsace Wine Route’ draws wine enthusiasts worldwide.
Beyond its wines, Alsace is dotted with picturesque fairy-tale towns, among the most charming in Europe. The distinctive timbered houses, decorated with colourful flowers, echo Alsace’s history under French and German control.
Since World War II, Alsace has been part of France, specifically the Grand-Est region. It still captivates visitors with its unique heritage and beautiful landscapes.
1. Hirtzbach
Hirtzbach is a cute village with wooden beamed houses laden with colourful floral window boxes. A stream runs through the centre of the town, and the little bridges that cross it are draped with beautiful hanging baskets.
Therefore, it is no surprise that Hirtzbach is a four-flower ‘Village Fleuri’ and consistently wins this accolade year after year.
The village of Hirtzbach also boasts a beautiful place for repose: an English Garden created in the 19th century, the Parc de Reinach.
Nothing escapes Hirtzbach’s floral adornment, and in the centre of the park, you’ll find an old piano, playing its part in showcasing the village’s blooms.
With a trickling stream, duck ponds and an array of English trees, the park envelopes you with a serene sense of calm.
2. Eguisheim
This was our favourite town on our road trip through the Alsace. Being mid-July and midday, the town of Eguisheim bustled with tourists, but you could plainly see why.
It is just the prettiest town with its medieval, half-timbered houses adorned with hanging baskets from every available window and wall.
Standing on the cobbled streets with the pastel-coloured timber houses, as if in a Hans Christian Anderson fairytale, you can certainly see why Eguisheim is one of the most beautiful villages in France.
It also won the accolade of being France’s favourite village in 2013.
The town of Eguisheim has a circular design, spreading out from the central St Leon Square. In the centre of the square, you’ll find an octagonal decorative fountain with a statue of Pope Leon in the centre.
And of course, a frenzy of flowers completes the scene.
Just behind the fountain is the Eguisheim church, the old castle and a small chapel of St.Leon. The steeples of the church drew lots of attention when we were there.
This was due to the sight of the baby storks peeking their heads above the rims of the nests precariously built atop the steeples.
The Alsace region is also proud of its population of storks. You’ll find lots of trinkets and goods in the shape of a stork which, in folklore, are said to be bringers of good luck and fertility.
The stork is the emblem of the Alsace and though they were almost wiped out in the late 1960s the Alsatians began a conservation and breeding program to ensure that storks remained a part o the ecosystem. Remember to look up.
The shops in Eguisheim are beautifully decorated and full of local artisan crafts and wares to entice you.
The patisseries and boulangeries are full of local specialities such as the Alsace kugelhopf, (like a brioche) and pains d’epices (gingerbread).
If you look closely at the door lintels as you wander through the backstreets of Eguisheim you’ll notice old inscriptions on the lintels which used to depict the trade of the house owner.
3. Colmar
Colmar is one of the most talked-about towns on the Alsace wine route. It is much larger than most of the towns and, on its outskirts, you wouldn’t rate it as anything special.
However, in the old part of Colmar, particularly in the area known as ‘Little Venice’ or ‘Petite Venice’, you can see why Colmar gets the popular accolade.
Saying that though, I would say it was our least favourite town that we visited on our road trip in Alsace.
The Gothic 13th-century, Eglise Saint-Martin church is in the centre of the old part of town surrounded by the typical timbered houses that give such a fairytale ambience to the villages on this Alsace road trip.
‘Little Venice’ was admittedly picturesque with its pastel-coloured houses on the side of the River viewed from a bridge of bright flowered blooms.
Maybe because it was overcast and grey, and maybe because it was one of the busiest towns we’d visited so far, but Colmar didn’t quite live up to our high expectations.
Colmar seemed less personal and more commercialised than Eguisheim and Hirtzbach.
Many sing its praises though and on a sunny day, it may shine more brightly. But for us – there are many other towns just as deserving of the attention that Colmar attracts.
The Schwendi fountain is found in the central part of old Colmar. Of particular interest is the statue of Lazarus Schwendi; he is holding a grape vine.
Following the wars in Hungary, he brought the vine to France and started the famous ‘Tokay’ variety which is a famed wine known all over the Alsace.
However, Hungary claimed sole naming rights so the wine is now called Pinot Gris.
Apart from wine and its charming towns, the Alsace is also ranked as one of the leading French regions of chocolate production and represents 40% of the nation’s export.
🍫 Since our visit, Colmar has opened a Chocolate museum … now that would have been on our list to visit! Chocolate and wine – a winning combination! Why not book a 45-minute chocolate-making workshop with a chocolatier and make your own creation?
This museum exhibits a huge 500 kg of chocolate sculptures, 500 collector pieces, 30 experimental activities and runs over 1000 workshops per year.
4. Ribeauville
In Ribeauville, we were up at the crack of dawn to make sure we arrived before other tourists so we could explore the village at its best.
As with all the charming villages on the Alsace ‘routes des vins’, we were greeted with more half-timbered houses and colourful flowers splayed in multiple baskets and pots.
On the hill overlooking the town, you’ll see the three ruins of what were once fortified castles. You can get to them via a hiking trail on the mountain.
The castles were:
- the Saint Ulrich castle (the oldest of the 3 castles)
- the Girsberg castle
- the Haut-Ribeaupierre castle, (the highest of the 3 castles).
You can download a map and brochure of Ribeauville with details of all its points of interest here.
5. Riquewihr
Riquewihr is another popular medieval town on the Alsace wine route. With its nickname, ‘the gem of the Alsace vineyards, combined with the fact that is also one of France’s most beautiful villages, you can appreciate that it is indeed an enchanting and charming village to visit.
We drove to the town and parked in the main carpark. [Note: If your campervan takes up two parking spaces you need to pay for two spaces]. There is also an option to overnight at a carpark in Riquewihr.
The Dolder Tower, in the background of the above photograph, was a defensive gate for Riquewihr, originally built in the 13th century.
The shops are a delight to wander and so decorative. I bought a little white metal heart that says home sweet home and it has travelled with us on all of our journeys as we road trip around the world.
You can download a map and brochure about Riquewihr here.
6. Hunawihr
Just a few minutes drive from Riquewihr is Hunawihr. This little village was a complete contrast to the others we’d visited as it was completely devoid of tourists.
Hanawihr has been awarded the title of being one of France’s most beautiful villages.
One of its main attractions is its 15th-century church on the hill – the Church of St Jacques le Majeure, which is surrounded by a fortified cemetery.
From the church, you have magnificent views over the local vineyards.
There is also a butterfly farm just outside the village that you may wish to visit with a large carpark. We parked there and walked up to the village from there.
7. Strasbourg
The Alsace capital city of Strasbourg is another destination you may wish to add to your Alsace road trip. (We skipped the city but have included a snippet here for your information).
Its Gothic Cathédrale Notre Dame is said to be one of the most visited in France – with an astrological clock and great views of the Rhine from its spire.
Here are 6 reasons to visit Strasbourg to give you an idea as to whether to add this city to your Alsace road trip.
8. Hatten
Our road trip in Alsace ended by stepping back in history — not quite as far as the medieval times that many of the Alsace villages reminded us of, but to the poignant times of WWII.
Hatten is just 50km north of Strasbourg, and it is here that you’ll find the Musée de l’Abri de Hatten.
The museum was once an underground bunker built in 1930. 130,000 men from the Alsace-Moselle region were forcibly drafted into the German Army by the Nazis between 1942 and 1945 when the Alsace region was annexed to Germany.
There is a tribute to these men at the museum.
9. Other Alsace Wine Route Towns
There are many other traditional villages and towns on the Alsace routes des vins that we haven’t covered here.
Such as: Mulhouse, Kaysersberg, Cleebourg, Marlenheim, Rosheim, Obernai, Scherwiller, Bergheim, Ammerschwihr, Katzenthal, Gueberschwihr, Guebwiller and more …
We have included the main ones though and part of the fun of any road trip is taking a detour and discovering places for yourself.
Alsace Towns With French Village Awards
There are a couple of French awards that are of interest when visiting the Alsace French towns and villages – the annual ‘Towns and Villages in Bloom’ competition and the ‘Most Beautiful Villages of France’.
Concours Des Villes Et Villages Fleuris (Towns and Villages in Bloom)
You may often see a sign at the village entrance displaying a number of flowers as a rating.
Those villages with a higher number of flowers ( 4 being the maximum) have been judged as doing the most for the environment and improving the lives of the villagers and experiences for visiting tourists.
Les Plus Beaux Villages De France (The Most Beautiful Villages in France)
This award was established in 1982 and judges the tourist appeal of small rural villages with a rich cultural heritage and what they are doing in their planning to develop tourism.
In the Alsace region, these towns have been judged as the most beautiful villages in France:
- Eguisheim
- Hanawihr
- Riquewihr
- Hunspach
- Mittelbergheim
Several Dordogne villages have been awarded this coveted award. The Dordogne area is another one of our favourite places in France and we were privileged to have lived there for nine months in the tiny French village of Villars.
Driving in Alsace: Tips for the Road
- In France, you drive on the right.
- You will need to have the following documents:
- Drivers licence (An international driver’s licence isn’t required)
- Vehicle insurance
- Vehicle registration document
- Passport
- You are also required to have the following in your vehicle:
- Driving in France requires adjusting the beam pattern to suit driving on the right so that the dipped beam doesn’t dazzle oncoming drivers. You can cheaply purchase beam deflectors to adjust the beam.
- Many of the motorways have tolls. To avoid them, you can program your navigator to avoid tolls, and you can also use www.autoroutes.fr to plan your trip and find out the costs of tolls, etc.
- Speed Limits are as follows unless otherwise signposted and on dry roads
- 130 km/h (80 mph) on toll motorways
- 110 km/h (68 mph) on dual carriageways and motorways without tolls
- 80 km/h (50 mph) on other roads
- 50 km/h (31 mph) in towns. The town name starts with the limit, a bar through the town name is the de-restriction sign
Alsace Road Trip By Motorhome
If you are travelling by motorhome or campervan through the Alsace wine route you can really take time time to enjoy the region. It’s the perfect way to travel here.
Most of the camper stops there were either free or very reasonably priced – and that was in the peak season.
Our itinerary worked well for us, unhurried and fulfilling. You can easily hire a motorhome in Strasbourg and start your Alsace road trip by heading south.
Motorhome Rental For Your Alsace Road Trip
We recommend Motorhome Republic – they can search for the best deals for you with various pick-up points and countries. When we used them, they were incredibly helpful, and we saved more money going directly to them rather than to individual rental companies.
We used the Motorhome Republic for our year-long trip in Europe, and we can't praise them enough. They found and negotiated better deals than we were getting by going directly to the rental suppliers themselves. They went above and beyond to keep us updated and negotiated many extras in our deal.
Alsace Road Trip by Car
If you are road-tripping the Alsace by car, we have included some links for suggested well-reviewed accommodation.
However, you will likely want to only stay in one or two of the towns to save the hassle of packing up each day. The wine route isn’t too long (the whole route is about 170km), so it is easy to do day trips to the places that you want to visit.
If you are travelling on a budget, then we’d suggest maybe choosing a town that isn’t so popular, as you will likely get better rates but still have great access to the wine route.
🚘 If you are looking to hire a car, we recommend DiscoverCars – which we use when we need to rent. They find us the best deal around, and they also have a price match guarantee.
The Best Time To Road Trip Alsace
The best time to road trip along the Alsace region is from May to October (Spring and Summer). This is the best time when the vineyards are lush and vibrant, and the villages boast vivid floral displays.
Bear in mind that the French school holidays begin in early July and end at the beginning of September.
We motorhomed through the Alsace, in mid-July. Although it was peak season, we had no trouble finding camper spots. Arriving early at the villages allowed us to enjoy them before the crowds appeared.
What Weather Can You Expect in the Alsace?
- Spring (March-May): Temperatures range from 8°C to 18°C. Moderate rainfall.
- Summer (June-August): Warm, with temperatures from 18°C to 25°C, occasionally above 30°C.
- Autumn (September-November): Cooler, 10°C to 19°C, with colourful foliage and wine harvests.
- Winter (December-February): Cold, between 0°C and 7°C, with possible snow.
We haven’t visited at Christmas, but by all accounts, the Alsace must be as magical as ever with its floral displays replaced with fairy lights and Christmas trees.
Festivals in the Alsace
- February: Enjoy 10 days of romantic events at Strasbourg’s ‘Strasbourg mon amour’ festival.
- February/March: Join the festive Carnival in Mulhouse with floats and music parades. Dates vary between late February and early March.
- March/April: Experience the Festival of Spring in Colmar, featuring Easter markets and a music festival.
- July: Attend Colmar’s International Festival of Music for world-class performances. For dates and details, visit the festival website. Also, don’t miss the Décibulles festival, offering three days of outdoor concerts (more info).
- July/August: Eguisheim’s Wine Growers Festival showcases wine exhibitions and a festive procession. Colmar’s Alsace Wine Fair features over 300 exhibitors.
- August: Experience the Corso Fleuri in Selestat, a vibrant flower parade with folklore festivities.
- November/December: Explore the enchanting Alsace Christmas Markets, famous for their festive atmosphere and seasonal treats.
Additional Tips for Your Alsace Road Trip
Below are our additional tips and recommendations to ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit to Alsace.
Local cuisine
Not only is Alsace known for its wine, but it also has some local dishes definitely worth trying. Though some of these might be a challenge to the non-Europoean taste buds.
- Choucroute garnie: A garnished sauerkraut cooked in wine with smoked ham hocks, sausages and potatoes.
- Tarte flambée: It’s not the flambee you might know with alcohol that is lit. This flamed tart is pizza-like, with a traditional mix of onions, bacon, and cheese on a yeast-less base so it doesn’t rise. The traditional way to eat this tarte is using fingers only.
- Baeckeoffe: An Alsatian beef or lamb stew with potatoes marinated in a dry white wine.
- Kugelhopf: A traditional yeast-based cake served as a breakfast cake.
Cultural Etiquette and Tips
- Greetings: Offer a light kiss on both cheeks and say ‘Bonjour’ (good day) or ‘Bonsoir’ (good evening).
- Language: French is the main language. Alsatian, a Germanic dialect, is also common, but English is often spoken in tourist areas.
- Mealtime Etiquette: Say ‘Bon appétit’ to wish others a good meal before you start eating.
- Tipping: It’s polite to leave some small change as a tip, even though a service charge is usually included in restaurant bills.
- Shop Hours: Many small shops close for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Politeness: Always start any interaction with a polite greeting and finish by saying ‘Merci’ (thank you).
Packing Tips for Alsace
- Spring/Autumn: Layered clothing, waterproof jacket, comfortable shoes, warm sweater.
- Summer: Light clothing, sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), light jacket, comfortable walking shoes.
- Winter: Thermal clothing, heavy coat, waterproof boots, gloves, scarf, hat, umbrella.
Alsace Road Trip… That’s a Wrap
In wrapping up our Alsace road trip guide, here’s what we genuinely think after exploring this stunning region.
Eguisheim, Riquewihr, and Ribeauville stood out as our favourites, each brimming with unique charm and vibrancy that made our visit unforgettable.
Whether you’re driving through scenic vineyards, tasting local wines, or simply enjoying the fairy-tale settings, Alsace offers an exceptional travel experience.
For anyone planning this journey, consider our highlighted stops and tips to make the most of what Alsace has to offer.
Safe travels and savour every moment!
Do you have a favourite village in Alsace?
Drop us a comment below —we love helping you make the most out of your travels!
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READ MORE HERE
- Roadtripping Around the World
- France: Motorhoming in France: Your Ultimate Guide
- Germany: Campervanning in Germany
- Gifts: Best Campervan, Motorhome and RV Gifts
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