Best Villages in Alsace

By Vicky · Published Jul. 24th, 2023 · Updated Apr. 3rd, 2024

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Discover the best and most beautiful villages in Alsace. Visiting any of these will give you a taste of Alsace’s unique culture and history.

Map of the Best Villages in Alsace

Keep in mind that there are many more charming villages to explore in the region, so don’t hesitate to venture off the beaten path and discover hidden gems as well. You may also want to explore the Best Walking Routes in Alsace, which focus on the vineyards, hills and countryside nearby.

If you only have one day, you won’t be able to visit all of the best villages in Alsace. Instead, go on a guided tour of Alsace from Strasbourg*, or a Day Tour of Alsace from Colmar*. This is the most efficient way to make as much of your day as possible.

If you’re interested in exploring any of the best villages of Alsace described here, click on the links to find walking tours of the towns. If you’d like to walk further and go on longer hikes through the countryside, check out our Best Walking Routes in Alsace article, or see our France Hiking page.

Top 10 Best Villages & Towns in Alsace

The top four best villages to visit in Alsace are Eguisheim, Ribeauvillé, Kayserberg and Riquewihr. These are all very cute, lovely villages, though they can be busy with tourists during the summer holidays.

The next four villages on the list – Bergheim, Barr, Obernai and Dambach la Ville are also very nice and worth a visit, while being less crowded than the top Alsace villages. Sélestat is a larger town and is more authentic than the smaller villages with fewer tourists, yet still has some cute streets and interesting places to see.

Number 10 of the best villages in Alsace are not really villages but cities, Strasbourg and Colmar. You could easily spend an entire day in Colmar and two days in Strasbourg. These cities are quite different from each other, so it’s worth spending time in both. They’re not at the bottom of the list because they’re less good, but because they’re not really villages and you should visit both of them anyways!

1. Eguisheim

Location: 10 minutes southwest of Colmar, an hour south of Strasbourg.

Famous for its circular layout and colorful houses, Eguisheim is a delightful village surrounded by vineyards and has been awarded the title of “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (Most Beautiful Villages of France). Le Pigeonnier House, the munch-photographed narrow building at the road junction, inspired the village where Belle lived in Beauty and the Beast.

Discover the Eguisheim Walking Tour

Tips: Eguisheim is a very popular village, so it’s best to explore early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds. You can also walk through the Eguisheim vineyards for a peaceful stroll with lovely views back over the cute Alsatian village.

2. Ribeauvillé

Location: 25 minutes northwest of Colmar, 50 minutes south of Strasbourg.

Nestled in the heart of the Alsace vineyards, beautiful Ribeauvillé village boasts medieval charm with its castles, fortifications, and narrow streets. La Grand Rue, the main street in town, is lined with cute shops, cafes and cozy restaurants serving traditional Alsatian food.

Discover the Ribeauvillé Walking Tour

Tips: After exploring the town, go on the great hike to the Three Castles of Ribeauvillé, which has great views of the town below and the surrounding sloping vineyards.

3. Kayserberg

Location: 20 minutes northwest of Colmar, 1 hour south of Strasbourg.

A quaint village known for its postcard-perfect setting along the river, Kaysersberg has the additional bonus of a partly-ruined castle and beautiful vineyards bordering the village. It’s not far to walk up to Kayserberg Calste, and you can climb the tower for gorgeous views of the sloping fields covered in vines.

Discover the Kayserberg Walking Tour

Tips: This cute village in Alsace is also the birthplace of Albert Schweitzer, a famous philosopher and humanist who you can learn more about in the recently renovated museum.

4. Riquewihr

Location: 20 minutes northwest of Colmar, 55 minutes south of Strasbourg.

The medieval village of Riquewihr is another one of the best towns on the Alsace wine route. It’s known for its well-preserved half-timbered houses and flower-filled, cobblestone streets. It’s surrounded by vineyards, making it an excellent destination for wine enthusiasts.

Discover the Riquewihr Villages & Vineyards Walking Tour

Tips: Riquewihr village is one of the most popular on the Alsace wine route, so start walking earlier and explore the town first. This way you’ll avoid the crowds, and also walk in the coolest part of the day. A great way to explore this village, and the two nearby villages of Hunawihr and Zellenberg, is to walk between the three through the vineyards.

5. Bergheim

Location: 25 minutes north of Colmar, 45 minutes south of Strasbourg.

With its cobbled streets and historical buildings, Bergheim is another lovely village worth exploring along the Alsace Wine Route. One of its best features is the old ramparts circling the village, dotted with watchtowers, which you can walk along.

Discover the Bergheim Walking Tour

Tips: Bergheim is less crowded than the top four villages in Alsace on this list, yet it’s still a lovely town to explore.

6. Obernai

Location: 40 minutes north of Colmar, 25 minutes southwest of Strasbourg.

Not too far from Strasbourg, Obernai is a charming town with timber-framed buildings, a historic market square, and a lovely ambiance.

Discover the Obernai Walking Tour

Tips: Obernai village tends not to get too busy, and it’s a great place to try some typical Alsatian cuisine including Choucroute (sauerkraut), Tarte Flambée (flammkuchen, similar to pizza) and Baeckeoffe (a meat casserole). There are of course also delicious local wines, such as Riesling, Muscat and Pinot Gris.

7. Barr

Location: 30 minutes north of Colmar, 35 minutes southwest of Strasbourg.

This charming town has half-timbered houses and picturesque streets while lacking the crowds of many villages in Alsace. You can also pop out into the surrounding sloping vineyards for great views.

Discover the Barr Walking Tour

Tips: Since it’s a relatively quiet town, it’s a great place to stop for lunch with easy parking and authentic restaurants.

8. Dambach la Ville

Location: 30 minutes north of Colmar, 35 minutes south of Strasbourg.

Another beautiful village surrounded by rolling vineyards, there’s a very cute centre and an opportunity for an easy stroll through the surrounding countryside.

Discover the Dambach la Ville Walking Tour

Tips: There are a couple of great wineries in Damback la Ville, including Domaine Willy Gisselbrecht and Domaine Schaeffer-Woerly.

9. Sélestat

Location: 25 minutes north of Colmar, 45 minutes south of Strasbourg.

Sélestat is one of the larger towns on the Alsace Wine Route, which means it feels less like a theme park and more like a real place where people live. It’s also the location of the famous Bibliothèque Humaniste, the oldest public library in France that now houses a museum displaying many rare books and manuscripts.

Discover the Sélestat Walking Tour

Tips: It’s very easy to get to Sélestat on the train from either Strasbourg or Colmar.

10. Strasbourg

Location: 1 hour north of Colmar.

Strasbourg is a key town to visit in Alsace, with enough to explore for at least two days. While perhaps less cute than some of the smaller villages, there’s no lack of picturesque streets, bridges and half-timbered houses to explore. There are also several worthwhile museums here, as well as the grand cathedral to visit.

Discover the Strasbourg Walking Tour

Tips: Most museums are closed over lunch (1-2pm) and some are closed Tue & Thu, while others are closed Mon & Wed. Check in advance!

11. Colmar

Location: 1 hour south of Strasbourg.

Colmar is a beautiful town in Alsace and home to the famous Musée d’Unterlinden (an art museum). There are many hidden streets and cute buildings to find when walking around the town.

Discover the Colmar Walking Tour

Tips: Colmar gets busy in the summer holidays and in December when the Christmas market occupies the main square. During these times make sure to book dinner reservations in advance!

Best Towns of Alsace from North to South

If you’re traveling from north to south, i.e. from Strasbourg to Colmar, then you should visit the best towns of Alsace in the following order:

Strasbourg, Obernai, Barr, Dambach la Ville, Sélestat, Bergheim, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kayserberg, Colmar, Eguisheim.

If you’re traveling from south to north, i.e. from Colmar to Strasbourg, then reserve the order!

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If you enjoyed our Guide to the Best Villages in Alsace, check out the Best Walking Routes in Alsace, or our France Walking and Hiking page.