10 Fairytale Towns in Alsace You Have to Visit (+ Map)
The Alsace region of France is packed full of charming towns that feel like they’ve been plucked straight from a fairytale.
Picture cobblestone streets, colourful timbered houses lining the canals, bright bouquets of flowers and quaint cafes and shops to explore.
Throw in some medieval castles, a mountain range, and an abundance of brilliant vineyards, it’s pretty much the perfect holiday destination.
I spent a week exploring Alsace last summer and I’ve completely fallen in love with this magical region.
In this guide I’ll cover 10 of my favourite fairytale towns in Alsace. I’ve ordered them from North to South, which follows the Alsace Wine Route, a popular tourist trail in the region.
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1. Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region, and much larger than the other towns on this list.
I visited last when I’d already explored the quaint, smaller towns, so I wasn’t sure how it was going to compare. But I ended up loving it and would really recommend it for your trip to Alsace.
One of the benefits of Strasbourg being a larger town is that there’s much more to see and do here, so I’d suggest dedicating a whole afternoon to exploring it.
Don’t miss the city’s historic centre, Grande Île, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its well-preserved medieval architecture.
But my favourite part is La Petite France, a historic district where half-timbered houses with colourful facades line the canal.
It’s worth setting aside an hour to wander around the neighbourhood, and make sure you stop for a slice of cake at Salon de thé Grand’Rue!
2. Obernai
I based myself in Obernai for my trip to Alsace, mostly because it had the most affordable accommodation, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised by it.
It’s a larger town and it doesn’t have quite the same charm as some of the other places on this list, but the Market Square in the centre has some really beautiful buildings.
On Thursdays, a weekly market is held in the square, with over 100 stalls selling local products from the region. The market has been running for over 700 years, so it’s a great insight into the history of the town.
If you’re into wine, don’t miss the nearby Robert Blanck winery, where they’ve been making wine since the 1700s!
3. Barr
Wine lovers, this ones for you! Barr is the wine capital of Alsace – it’s surrounded by vineyards and famous for its production of Riesling and Gewurztraminer.
Barr isn’t a super popular town but I absolutely loved it. It has such a lovely feel about it, and the lack of crowds means you can enjoy it at a more leisurely pace.
The town hall is especially beautiful, it sits in a square alongside the Auberge du Brochet, a medieval inn, and is surrounded by beautiful flowers.
When I visited, some of the streets had butterfly decorations hanging overhead, I’m not sure if they’re a permanent feature but I hope you’ll get to see them too, they made the town feel even more magical.
4. Dambach-la-Ville
Dambach-la-Ville is a medieval town enclosed inside medieval fortified walls – you actually have to walk through large gates to enter the old town. What could be more magical than that?
It’s a quiet town, but it’s oozing character, with plenty of brightly coloured timbered houses and winding streets to explore.
Don’t miss the ruins of Château de Bernstein – it’s one of the oldest castles in Alsace and has spectacular views over the town.
5. Kintzheim
Kintzheim is a very sleepy town, perfect if you’re looking to escape the crowds.
There’s not loads to do here and it feels much more residential than the other towns on this list (much less set up for tourists), which I really liked.
Don’t miss the nearby Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle, which is just a 10 minute drive from Kintzheim. This is a real life fairytale castle, and the only castle in Alsace that’s been completely restored.
It’s a huge building that towers over the surrounding countryside, and the views from the top are incredible.
6. Ribeauville
Ribeauville is one of the oldest medieval towns in the region, and it’s simply stunning, it was one of my favourite towns in Alsace. There’s loads of hidden alleyways to explore, and plenty of colourful, characterful houses.
There’s also an idyllic courtyard with a water fountain in the centre which is a lovely spot to sit and watch the world go by.
There’s a brilliant restaurant in Ribeauville called BISTRO by Foreign Local, – they source the ingredients from local producers and farmers, and I had a delicious lunch here.
7. Riquewihr
Nextdoor to Ribeauville is Riquewihr, so I’d recommend visiting them both on the same day.
You’ll only need a couple of hours at each one, so you could dedicate a morning to the two towns, and then stop for lunch afterwards.
Riquewihr is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (a list of the most beautiful places in France), and it is absolutely stunning.
As a result, it’s a very busy place, so I’d recommend getting here as early as possible to enjoy it without the crowds.
The main entrance to the old town is through an archway in the grand City Hall, which provides a passageway to the Rue du Général de Gaulle, the main street in Riquewihr, lined with shops and restaurants.
At the top you’ll see the beautiful Dolder Tower – a watchtower dating back to the 12th century.
Don’t miss Hugel et Fils in the centre of the town – it’s a family run winery and one of the largest producers of wine in the region.
8. Kaysersberg
Kaysersberg is a stunning medieval town with cobblestone streets, historic courtyards and the river Weiss flowing through the centre.
The impressive Kaysersberg castle overlooks the town, adding to its fairytale feel. You can hike up to the castle from the town which I’d definitely recommend doing for the views alone.
Don’t miss the 13th century Sainte-Croix Church, located in the heart of the town.
Kaysersberg is another great spot for wine lovers, as the surrounding Kaysersberg valley is home to plenty of wine estates, run by passionate families who have been producing wine for generations.
9. Colmar
You’ve probably seen pictures of Colmar all over your Instagram feed, and I’m happy to report that it’s even more beautiful in real life.
Colmar is the quintessential fairytale town – with pastel shutters framing the windows of half timbered houses that are standing slightly lop-sided.
Colourful flower boxes sit on the windowsills, and if you ignore the crowds of people, it really does feel as though you’re in a storybook.
It’s one of the larger towns in Alsace so you’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants here. Don’t miss La Petite Venise, or Little Venice – located in the centre of Colmar, with its picture perfect canals and houses overlooking the water.
This is a great place to stop for a drink as many of the restaurants here have terraces with views onto the canal. You’ll also be able to take a boat trip from here if you’d like.
10. Eguisheim
If you’re looking for fairytale, Eguisheim has it in abundance, it’s even said to have inspired Beauty and the Beast!
Eguisheim is another member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, and has previously been awarded the Village Préféré des Français (favourite French village).
It’s a small medieval town with the impressive Château Saint-Léon at its centre. I’d recommend starting here, in Eguisheim’s main square, and then working your way through the narrow streets. They’re simply charming, and packed full of character.
Don’t miss the yellow house in the centre of the village (you won’t, because there’ll be loads of people stood around it) – it’s a beautiful spot for a photo.
Eguisheim was one of my favourite towns in Alsace, and its small size means you can see it all in just a couple of hours.
Alsace Map
How to get to Alsace
I flew into EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg for my trip to Alsace, which is about a 40 minute drive from Eguisheim.
This is one of the craziest airports I’ve ever visited as there’s actually two exits to two different countries – France (and on to Germany) and Switzerland – make sure you exit to France!
Double check which way you’re going when you leave and come back to the airport as I tried to drop my rental car back on the Swiss side and I had to drive back out and across the border to get to the right place, oops.
You can also fly into Strasbourg and Karlsruhe-Baden, but they’re smaller airports with fewer flights.
Where to stay in Alsace
I based myself in Obernai for my trip to Alsace, simply because it had the most affordable hotels and I knew I’d be spending most of my time exploring.
I stayed at OneLoft Hotel which was perfect for what I needed. The rooms are very functional but clean and quiet, and there’s a large secure car park which was very useful as I hired a car for my trip and it meant I didn’t need to search for a space each time I came back.
If you want to stay in a more picturesque location, I’d recommend this Gite in the centre of Colmar. It perfectly blends traditional features with modern amenities, and has exceptional reviews from previous guests.
When to visit Alsace
Alsace is a popular year-round destination, and there’s not really a bad time to go.
I visited in mid September, when the summer crowds had died down, but the weather was still warm and the flowers were still in bloom.
It’s also extremely popular around Christmas – the towns go all out with decorations, but be prepared for big crowds.
Getting around Alsace
The best way to get around Alsace is to drive. Hiring a car means you have full flexibility to stop off in each town for as long or as little as you like.
All of the towns in Alsace are close together so you’ll never be driving for too long, it takes around 1 hour to drive from Strasbourg to Eguisheim (the most Northern and Southern towns in my guide).
I’d recommend renting your car from the airport to save yourself stress when you arrive. I picked mine up from Basel airport and was in Colmar within 40 minutes.
If you do want to hire a car, I’d recommend using Discover Cars to find the most affordable option. They compare lots of different providers to find you the best price.
I use them every time I hire a car and I’ve never had any bad experiences where they won’t give you your money back at the end like you sometimes hear about with dodgy car hire companies. The process is always really simple and stress-free.
TRAINS and buses
The Alsace region has a regional train network that connects the major towns, with the main train stations in Strasbourg, Colmar, and Mulhouse.
Lots of the smaller towns don’t have train stations though, so you’ll need to take a bus or taxi to get between them.
CYCLING
Alsace is a cyclist-friendly region with bike paths passing through idyllic towns and picturesque countryside lined with vineyards.
Whilst you might not want to cycle the whole way, it can be a great option for getting between a few towns that are close together.
If you aren’t renting a car, a guided tour is a brilliant way to see some of the most popular towns in Alsace, without needing to worry about transport
