Best Viking Excursions in Strasbourg for Couples

Strasbourg is where the Rhine Getaway turns French, or at least Alsatian, which is something a little different. Half-timbered houses lean over canals in La Petite France, a towering Gothic cathedral fills the skyline, and the food is a mix of French and German traditions. For many guests, it’s the day of the cruise they talk about most.

For couples, Strasbourg’s question is usually about food. One of you wants a full day of tasting, the other wants a cathedral climb, a car factory or a quiet canal ride. Viking offers all of these, and here’s how they compare.

Why Strasbourg and not Basel? Basel is where the Rhine Getaway starts or ends, and Viking’s current itinerary pages don’t list Basel excursions for those embarkation and disembarkation days. Couples who want time in Basel can look at Viking’s Basel hotel extension. Strasbourg, a couple of sailing days away, is where the excursion choices are.

A quick note: Viking says shore excursions “vary by itinerary and are subject to change.” The options below appear on Viking’s current Rhine Getaway pages in both directions. Check your own sailing in My Viking Journey. The activity levels below are our estimates; check the rating Viking gives each tour before you book.

The Included Tour: Strasbourg Highlights

Viking’s included Strasbourg Highlights promises to help you “get to know this delightful city steeped in equal parts French and German culture.”

What to expect: The essentials of Strasbourg’s historic center are the cathedral, with its famous astronomical clock, and La Petite France, the old quarter by the canals. Your guide’s exact route will vary.

Activity level (our estimate): Moderate. It’s mostly walking, on cobblestones in places.

Why couples like it: It gives you your bearings in a city that rewards exploring on your own, which is useful if you split up later.

Optional Viking Strasbourg Excursions Worth Considering

Flavors of Alsace (Moderate to Active, Full Day, Our Estimate)

Viking says you’ll “sample Alsatian and French flavors and pleasures as you meet food merchants, a French sommelier and a local chef.” One travel writer who took it on a recent Rhine Getaway described a full-day walking food tour. It started with kougelhopf (a crown-shaped brioche) and coffee, then went on to mini sausages with mustards and a cheese shop tasting. Lunch was tarte flambée, which the group helped make, at one of the city’s oldest restaurants. The afternoon brought chocolate and gingerbread, and the day ended with a wine tasting led by a sommelier and a final pastry. She called it her second-favorite day of the cruise and joked that she skipped breakfast to make room.

Best for: Food lovers with stamina. It’s a long day on foot, so we rate it moderate to active.

Alsatian Wine Tasting (Easy, Our Estimate)

Viking describes this as a chance to “explore the treasures of Alsace, from its Renaissance beauty and distinct culture to its crisp, clean white wines.”

Best for: The partner who’d like a taste of Alsace without a full day of walking, and couples who want a relaxed outing together.

Strasbourg from the Top (Active, Our Estimate)

“View Strasbourg from the top of its cathedral and explore its historic, culture-rich center,” says Viking. The name says it all: expect stairs.

Best for: The climber in your couple. The views are the reward.

Panoramic Strasbourg by Land & Water (Easy, Our Estimate)

Viking pairs “a scenic drive and canal boat ride” to show Strasbourg’s mix of German and French culture.

Best for: Anyone who’d rather sit and look than walk and climb, and a good choice for partners with limited mobility.

Mercedes-Benz Factory (Easy to Moderate, Our Estimate)

“Witness the precision that goes into every Mercedes on this fascinating tour,” Viking says. It’s an unusual option on a river cruise, and that’s exactly why some guests love it.

Best for: Car enthusiasts and engineers, or anyone who’s had their fill of churches.

Tips for Couples with Different Interests

Foodie + climber: The foodie spends the day on Flavors of Alsace. The climber takes Strasbourg Highlights and adds the cathedral climb with Strasbourg from the Top if the timing works, then has the afternoon free. Meet for an evening stroll through La Petite France.
Car lover + wine lover: One heads to the Mercedes-Benz Factory and the other to the Alsatian Wine Tasting. Each of you will come back with your own stories.
Both want an easy day: Panoramic Strasbourg by Land & Water covers the city with minimal walking. Add the Alsatian Wine Tasting if the timing works.
Full-day vs. half-day: Flavors of Alsace takes up most of the day. If only one of you wants it, the other can keep it simple with the included tour and an afternoon at a café near the cathedral.

Popular tours can fill up. Viking opens shore excursion booking in My Viking Journey months before you sail; check your booking for the exact date, and plan together before it opens.

Making the Decision Together with PortPlanner

Strasbourg is a classic “we both want different things” port. One of you has already decided on the all-day food tour, and the other is still choosing between the cathedral climb and the car factory.

PortPlanner lets each of you rate the Strasbourg excursions on your own, then compare your picks side by side to see where you overlap and where you’ll split up. You’ll still book in Viking’s My Viking Journey, but it doesn’t have a way for couples to compare picks. PortPlanner fills that gap.

You can browse one cruise free, and PortPlanner Pro is $3.99/month and covers both travelers. Plan your Strasbourg day at portplanner.io.

FAQ: Viking Strasbourg Excursions

What’s the included Viking excursion in Strasbourg? Strasbourg Highlights, on current Rhine Getaway itineraries.

Is Flavors of Alsace worth it? For food lovers, guests say yes. It’s a full day with lots of tastings and lots of walking, so plan for the whole day.

What’s the easiest Strasbourg excursion? Panoramic Strasbourg by Land & Water, which combines a drive with a canal boat ride. The Alsatian Wine Tasting is also a gentle option.

Are there Viking excursions in Basel? On current Rhine Getaway pages, Basel is the embarkation or disembarkation day and no Basel excursions are listed. Viking offers a Basel extension on some itineraries.

Can we do different excursions on the same day? Yes. Strasbourg is compact, so meeting up afterward is easy.