Strasbourg to Nancy takes about an hour fifteen by train, and Strasbourg to Metz around an hour twenty-five — both easy day trips or one-way legs of a longer stay.
Discover Authentic Alsace-Lorraine: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Alsace-Lorraine, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as Strasbourg's Bains Municipaux, the Musée Vodou and the Musée National de l'Automobile in Mulhouse.
Top 5 Things to Do in Alsace-Lorraine
Strasbourg
The Petite France district's half-timbered houses sit along canals that once housed tanners and millers. Notre-Dame Cathedral's astronomical clock still draws a crowd at noon, and the city's Christmas market, running since 1570, is one of the oldest in France.
Colmar
Canals nicknamed 'Little Venice' run past more half-timbered façades, in even brighter colours than Strasbourg's. It's compact enough to see on foot in a day, but worth a slower pace.
Eguisheim
Built in concentric circles around its medieval core, this village was voted France's favourite in a national poll in 2013. Come for the wine, stay for the fact that you'll get genuinely lost in a village barely a few streets wide.
Nancy
Place Stanislas, a UNESCO-listed 18th-century square framed by gilded ironwork gates, anchors a city that later became the birthplace of the Art Nouveau École de Nancy movement.
Metz
The Gothic cathedral of Saint-Étienne holds some of the largest stained-glass window surfaces in France, including panels designed by Marc Chagall. The Centre Pompidou-Metz, a satellite of the Paris museum, adds a contemporary counterpoint.
Explore Alsace-Lorraine's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Alsace-Lorraine
We've mapped local spots around Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse – and on into Lorraine.
Strasbourg
Bains Municipaux
Designed by Fritz Beblo and opened in 1908, Strasbourg's listed municipal baths reopened in 2021 with their original pools, Roman-style baths and a new wellness area. Slip in for a swim – it's 15 minutes' walk from our Mercure Strasbourg Centre.
Strasbourg · Historic baths · Perfect for relaxation
Musée Vodou
Inside a former water tower, the world's largest private collection of West African Vodún objects: some 1,400 pieces. Curious? It's 15 to 20 minutes' walk from our Strasbourg hotels.
Strasbourg · Museum · Made for curious minds
La Fabrique à Bretzels
The first place in Alsace devoted to the pretzel, from its history to the knot and the oven. Taste as you learn – it's 40 minutes from our central Strasbourg hotels.
Alsace · Visitor centre · Great for foodies
Colmar & Mulhouse
Cité 14
Built in 1957 for the workers of the Grand Canal d'Alsace, then abandoned for more than 50 years, Cité 14 has been reclaimed by nature. Hikers and cyclists love it. 30 minutes from our Mercure Colmar Centre Unterlinden.
Near Colmar · Nature site · Ideal for walking and cycling
Route de la Potasse
How did potash shape the Mulhouse area? Follow this heritage route through former mines, museums and converted industrial sites to find out. 20 minutes from our Mercure Mulhouse Centre.
Mulhouse area · Heritage route · Perfect for industrial history
Drive a legend at the Musée National de l'Automobile
At Mulhouse's National Automobile Museum, you can take the wheel of a Chevrolet, Cadillac, Ferrari or Lamborghini on the test track. Who's driving? 10 minutes from our Mercure Mulhouse Centre.
Mulhouse · Car museum and driving experience · Made for car lovers
Parc de Wesserling
A former royal textile-printing factory with a museum, gardens and a restored château, 30 km from Mulhouse.
Husseren-Wesserling · Heritage site · Ideal for history
Ballon d'Alsace
A rounded summit with sweeping views. Hike it, snowshoe it or ride it by mountain bike.
Vosges · Mountain · Perfect for the outdoors
Fête des Vendanges, Barr
On the first Sunday of October, 15,000 people fill Barr for its harvest festival and parade of dahlia-covered floats.
Barr · Festival · Great for October
Eguisheim Christmas market
One of the region's most authentic Christmas markets, in a 'Most Beautiful Village of France' near Colmar. Mulled wine in hand, wander the lanes.
Eguisheim · Christmas market · Perfect for Advent
Nancy & Metz
Musée de l'École de Nancy
One of the few French museums devoted to a single movement: the Nancy School of Art Nouveau, with works by Gallé and Majorelle.
Nancy · Museum · Made for Art Nouveau
Brasserie Excelsior
A 1911 Art Nouveau brasserie of mosaics, woodwork and stained glass, serving traditional cooking. Look up between courses.
Nancy · Brasserie · Ideal for a memorable meal
Wallace & Co
Modern, creative cooking with local, seasonal produce.
Nancy · Restaurant · Perfect for dinner
Amis
Traditional Lorraine cooking – quiche lorraine included – near the UNESCO-listed squares.
Nancy · Restaurant · Great for local dishes
Les Bacchanales
Creative, local vegetarian cooking.
Nancy · Restaurant · Perfect for vegetarians
Le Louis 15
Gourmet cooking in the historic Palais du Gouverneur.
Nancy · Restaurant · Ideal for fine dining
La Maison dans le Parc
A cultural space in a landscaped park, with exhibitions, concerts and a restaurant.
Nancy · Cultural venue · Great for culture
Les Montgolfiades
On the last weekend of August, some thirty hot-air balloons lift off over the lake in Metz. Look up.
Metz · Festival · Perfect for late summer
SnowWorld
France's longest indoor ski slope, open all year in Amnéville. Skiing in August? Why not.
Amnéville · Indoor ski · Great for families
Saint-Louis-Arzviller inclined plane
A boat lift unique in Europe, replacing 17 locks to carry boats over the Vosges. Watch one glide up.
Arzviller · Engineering site · Made for families
FAQ
Yes — the wine route villages and cities like Nancy and Metz have plenty to see year-round, and summer means vineyard visits without the winter crowds.
It's harder — many of the smaller villages along the 170km route have limited public transport, so a car gives the most flexibility for stopping where you like.
Yes. The 1908 baths reopened in 2021 with their original pools and a wellness area.
Yes. The Musée National de l'Automobile offers driving experiences in legendary cars on its test track.
A museum in a former water tower holding the world's largest private collection of West African Vodún objects.
Where to Sleep in Alsace-Lorraine
See our Mercure hotels across Alsace-Lorraine, ideally placed to explore these picks.