Strasbourg is one of those cities that gets better the longer you live in it. The tram is genuinely excellent. Germany is 15 minutes away by tram. The food market on Saturday morning at Place du Marché is one of life's simple pleasures. And the Christmas market will ruin every other Christmas market you will ever attend for the rest of your life. Let's get into it.
Getting around — trams, bikes and buses
Strasbourg has one of the best urban tram networks in France. Clean, punctual, above ground (so no descending into dark tunnels), and the rails run through grass in several sections — which sounds like a minor detail until you live here and realise how much nicer it makes the city look.
The network is operated by CTS (Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois). Everything — trams, buses, and the cross-border line to Germany — runs on the same ticket system.
The Place de l'Homme de Fer is the central hub where most tram lines converge. Learn which lines go where from there and navigation becomes simple. Lines A, B, C, D, E and F all pass through or near it.
If you work at the European institutions in the Robertsau district, tram line E goes directly there. If you live in Neudorf, line A is your friend. If you're heading to Kehl, it's always tram D from Homme de Fer.
Supermarkets and food shopping
Strasbourg has a full range of supermarkets, from the budget-friendly to the premium. Here's what you need to know:
Opening hours — what's open, when, and the lunch break
One of the most disorienting things about arriving in France is discovering that the country operates on a very different schedule from what most newcomers expect. Understanding this early saves a lot of frustration.
The general rule
| Day | Shops & services | Restaurants | Markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday – Friday | 9am – 7pm (some until 7:30pm) | Noon–2pm & 7pm–10pm | — |
| Saturday | 9am – 7pm | Noon–2pm & 7pm–10pm | 7am – 1pm |
| Sunday | Mostly closed. Supermarkets until noon–1pm max. Some boulangeries open until 1pm. | Some open, many closed — check ahead | 7am – 1pm (Place du Marché, Place Broglie) |
The French lunch break — and how seriously they take it
France invented the lunch break. Or at least, France has perfected it into something approaching a cultural institution. Between approximately noon and 2pm, much of the country pauses. Not everywhere, not everyone — but enough that it will catch you out if you’re not prepared.
In practical terms, this means:
- Restaurants serve lunch from noon to 2pm. Arrive at 2:15pm and the kitchen is closed. This is not negotiable, not flexible, and not subject to appeal. The chef has already started cleaning down. Plan accordingly.
- Small shops and bakeries often close for lunch. Particularly independent shops, butchers, and specialist food stores. They reopen at 2pm or 2:30pm.
- Administrative offices, banks and the préfecture typically close from noon to 1:30pm or 2pm. If you have an appointment at a government office, confirm the opening hours before you go — arriving at 12:30pm to find a locked door is a Strasbourg rite of passage.
- Phone calls go unanswered. Calling a French company between noon and 2pm is an exercise in patience. The voicemail will pick up. They will call back at 2pm. Or possibly not until tomorrow.
- The lunch break at the EU institutions is slightly more international in rhythm, but even there, the cafeterias fill up at noon and the building noticeably quiets between 1pm and 2pm.
If you need to run errands or make calls to French companies, aim for 10am–noon or 2:30pm–5pm. These are the golden windows when things actually happen.
For restaurants specifically — if you want lunch, arrive before 12:30pm at a popular spot or you may not get a table. The French take their lunch seriously enough that the good places fill up fast.
One silver lining: the lunch break culture means that proper sit-down lunches with colleagues are normal and expected, not something to feel guilty about. A one-hour lunch with a glass of wine is not decadence here — it’s Tuesday.
Commuting to Germany and shopping in Kehl
One of the genuinely wonderful things about living in Strasbourg is that Germany is right there. The town of Kehl, in the Baden-Württemberg region, is a 15-minute tram ride across the Rhine. You will go there more than you expect.
Getting to Kehl
Take Tram D from anywhere on the D line (it passes through Homme de Fer) in the direction of Kehl Rathaus. The tram crosses the Passerelle des Deux Rives — a striking footbridge over the Rhine — and you're in Germany. The journey from central Strasbourg takes about 15–20 minutes. Your standard CTS ticket or monthly pass is valid all the way to Kehl Rathaus.
You can also walk or cycle across the Passerelle in about 15 minutes — it's a pleasant walk with views of the Rhine in both directions.
What to buy in Kehl
Kehl is not a glamorous shopping destination but it is a practical one. Germans shop differently from the French and the price differences on certain items are noticeable:
| Category | Why go to Kehl | Where |
|---|---|---|
| German supermarkets | Rewe and Edeka carry products you can't find in France — German bread, cheeses, Quark, a huge range of Wurst, and significantly cheaper beer and sparkling water | Rewe on Hauptstrasse, Edeka nearby |
| Drugstore / pharmacy items | dm and Rossmann (German drugstore chains) are dramatically cheaper than French pharmacies for everyday items — shampoo, cosmetics, vitamins, baby products | dm on Hauptstrasse |
| Electronics & DIY | MediaMarkt and Obi (hardware/DIY) are just outside Kehl centre and prices are often lower than French equivalents | Retail park off Hanauer Strasse |
| Petrol | German petrol is consistently cheaper than French. If you have a car, filling up in Kehl is standard practice for Strasbourg residents | Several stations near the border |
| Kebabs | A cherished local tradition. The German döner kebab is genuinely different from the French version — larger, different bread, different sauces. Try Star Grill on Hauptstrasse | Hauptstrasse |
German shops accept euros but may prefer to give change in euros — no issue there. Most shops now accept card payments but smaller places may be cash-only. ATMs in Kehl dispense euros.
German shops are generally open Monday to Saturday until 8pm or later — significantly later than French shops. This makes a Kehl run on a weekday evening a genuinely useful option when you've run out of something and French shops are already closed.
Recycling in Strasbourg — what goes where
Strasbourg takes recycling seriously, and the system is well-organised once you understand it. Most residential buildings have shared bins in the courtyard or on the street. The golden rule: when in doubt, check the label on the bin — every bin in Strasbourg should have a sticker explaining what goes inside.
The bins in your building
| Bin | What goes in | What does NOT go in |
|---|---|---|
| 🟡 Yellow lid bin | All plastic packaging, metal tins and cans, aluminium, cardboard and paper packaging, cartons (milk, juice), aerosols | Glass, food waste, nappies, polystyrene, broken crockery, plastic bags |
| 🔵 Blue lid bin (some buildings) | Paper and cardboard only — newspapers, magazines, books, flat cardboard boxes | Anything wet, greasy cardboard (pizza boxes), plastic, glass |
| ⬛ Grey/black bin | Everything else — non-recyclable waste, food scraps, nappies, hygiene products, broken crockery, mirrors | Recyclables, glass, bulky items, batteries, electronic devices |
| 🟤 Brown bin (some buildings) | Food and organic waste — vegetable peelings, fruit, coffee grounds, eggshells, tea bags | Meat and fish (in some areas), plastic bags, packaging of any kind |
Since 2022 the yellow bin in Strasbourg accepts all plastic packaging — not just bottles. Trays, pots, wrappers, films, yoghurt pots: all go in. If it is packaging and it is made of plastic, metal or cardboard, yellow bin. This confused many long-term residents too, so don't feel bad.
Not sure if your building has a blue bin? Most older buildings only have yellow and grey. If there is no blue bin, paper and cardboard go in the yellow bin in Strasbourg.
Glass, clothes and other street containers
Glass and textiles are not collected from your building bins — they go into dedicated street containers that you'll find scattered across the city.
- Glass (🍾 verre): Green cylindrical containers at street level, typically one per block. Bottles and jars only — no mirrors, window glass, crockery or light bulbs. Rinse but no need to scrub. Remove lids (those go in the yellow bin). Note: no glass disposal between 10pm and 7am — the noise bothers neighbours and it is taken seriously.
- Clothes and textiles (👕 textile): Large blue or white containers in car parks, supermarket forecourts and some building courtyards — look for the Refashion or Emmaüs logo. Accepts clothes, shoes, bags, bed linen and curtains — clean or not. Torn and unwearable items are also accepted and sent for industrial recycling. Find your nearest point ↗
- Some buildings do have a glass container in the courtyard — check when you move in. If yours does, use it rather than the street container.
Batteries and electronic devices
- Batteries (🔋 piles): Never in any household bin. Collection boxes are available in virtually every supermarket (Carrefour, Leclerc, Aldi, Lidl), pharmacies, and many tabacs. There are 37+ battery collection points across Strasbourg. Just drop them in the box — no bag needed.
- Small electronics and appliances: Take them back to any electronics retailer — French law requires all shops selling electronics to accept old devices for recycling, regardless of where you bought them. FNAC, Darty, MediaMarkt in Kehl, and supermarkets all have drop-off points. This is called D3E (Déchets d'Équipements Électriques et Électroniques) recycling.
- Light bulbs (💡 ampoules): Dedicated collection points at supermarkets and DIY stores — not in the household bins. Leclerc and Carrefour have them.
Bulky items and the déchetterie
For large items — furniture, mattresses, old appliances, garden waste — Strasbourg offers two options:
- Bulky item collection by appointment (encombrants): Book a free collection at strasbourg.eu ↗ or by calling 03 68 98 51 89. Leave items on the pavement on the scheduled day. Large appliances (washing machines, fridges) are also collected this way. Do not leave items on the street without a booked appointment — fine of €68–450.
- Déchetterie (waste disposal centre): Six déchetteries in the Eurométropole accept almost everything — furniture, electronics, garden waste, hazardous materials, metals, tyres. Free for residents, proof of address required. Maximum 2m³ per visit. The nearest to central Strasbourg is in Robertsau. Find all locations at strasbourg.eu ↗
Veterinary care in Strasbourg
Strasbourg has a good number of veterinary practices across the city for routine care — vaccinations, check-ups, and non-urgent consultations. For emergencies outside of normal hours, the go-to service is Urgence Vétérinaire 67 ↗ — a dedicated emergency veterinary service covering Strasbourg and the wider Bas-Rhin department, available outside standard surgery hours including evenings, nights and weekends. If your pet needs urgent care at 2am, this is where you go. Save the number before you need it.
For day-to-day vet care, ask in the expat Facebook groups — the Strasbourg international community is very active in sharing recommendations for English-speaking vets and practices with good reputations for specific animals. As with GPs, it is worth registering with a vet shortly after arriving rather than waiting until an emergency forces the decision.
Where to eat — Alsatian classics and beyond
Alsatian cuisine is one of Europe's great regional cooking traditions — heavily influenced by both French and German cultures, with a character entirely its own. Living in Strasbourg means you have access to it every day, which is one of the better perks of the job.
Alsatian dishes to know
- Tarte flambée (Flammekueche) — the essential Alsatian dish. Thin crispy base, crème fraîche, onions and lardons. Eaten by the round, not by the slice. Order more than you think you need.
- Choucroute garnie — sauerkraut braised with pork, sausages and potatoes. A serious meal for serious hunger. Best in winter.
- Baeckeoffe — a slow-cooked casserole of three meats and vegetables in Riesling. Needs to be ordered 24 hours in advance at most restaurants — plan ahead.
- Spätzle — soft egg noodles, often served with cheese. The Alsatian answer to pasta and just as comforting.
- Munster cheese — pungent, strong, and deeply satisfying with a glass of Gewurztraminer. Your flat will smell for days. Worth it.
- Bredeles — small Christmas biscuits, ubiquitous from November. You will eat an inadvisable quantity of them.
Restaurants worth knowing
French restaurants serve lunch from noon to 2pm and dinner from 7pm to 10pm. Arriving at 2:30pm and expecting to be fed is a reliable way to be turned away with a polite but firm shake of the head. The kitchen is closed. This is not negotiable. Plan your meals accordingly — you will adapt faster than you think.
Yearly events every resident should know
Strasbourg has a rich calendar of annual events — some intimate and neighbourhood-level, some that draw millions of visitors. As a resident, knowing when these happen is useful both for planning your own life and for warning any guests who might visit.