i 🏙️ Towns & cities
Boat Trip on the Ill in Strasbourg
Discover the Alsatian capital by boat: La Petite France, the Ponts Couverts, the imperial Neustadt and the European Quarter, along the River Ill.
Overview
Seated aboard a sightseeing boat, you follow the Ill and the canals of Strasbourg, from the medieval districts to the European institutions. Batorama’s main circuit lasts about 1 hour 10 minutes and covers eight kilometres. It begins on the Grande Île, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then heads into La Petite France, with its canals and old ice houses. The boat passes through two locks, glides under the Ponts Couverts and runs alongside the Barrage Vauban, a relic of the 17th-century fortifications.
The route then heads up to the Neustadt, the district built under German administration between 1871 and 1918. Here you see the Palais du Rhin, the opera house, the library and the university palace. It ends in the European quarter, in front of the European Parliament, the European Court of Human Rights, the Council of Europe and the headquarters of the Arte TV channel. Commentary played at every seat accompanies the trip in twelve languages, including Alsatian, and a children’s version is available in four languages. Depending on the season and the weather, the boat is covered, heated or ventilated, or open-top. Cruises run every day of the year, with more frequent departures in summer.
Where to do it
In Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin (67)), in Alsace. Best season: 🗓️ All year round.
Good to know
The most relaxing way to take in 2,000 years of Strasbourg’s history, from the medieval ramparts to the European institutions.
Tips
Board at the Cathédrale landing stage (piers moved during works: check your ticket); audio commentary in 12 languages. Go in the late afternoon for the best light over La Petite France.
Location
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Strasbourg boat tours depart from?
While the landing stages are being renewed, boats leave either from pontoons A or D at the Cathédrale landing stage, or from pontoons 1 and 2 at the Quai au Sable landing stage, about a hundred metres away. The pontoon is shown on your ticket and on the Batorama website. The ticket office is on Place de la Cathédrale.
How long is the Strasbourg river cruise and how much does it cost?
The red circuit, the most comprehensive, lasts about 1 hour 10 minutes. Shorter 45-minute circuits run on certain days. For the red circuit, the official website lists €16.20 full price, €14.70 for ages 13 to 17, €8.90 for ages 4 to 12 and €0.50 for under-4s.
Is the Strasbourg boat tour wheelchair accessible?
Yes, with advance booking. A specially equipped boat can take up to three wheelchairs, and its departures are marked on the online ticket office, where you specify your type of wheelchair. The front row of every boat is reserved for people with reduced mobility who are not using a wheelchair.
Can I take my dog on the Strasbourg boat tour?
Only assistance animals and small animals carried in a bag of limited size are accepted. Dogs on a lead cannot come aboard. Batorama refers owners to a partner pet-sitting service in Strasbourg.
Information checked in October 2026. Opening hours, prices and conditions may change: check the official website before you travel.
Nearby (within 20 km)
Weekend idea around Strasbourg
- 1Boat Trip on the Ill in StrasbourgStarting point · Strasbourg
- 2La Petite France, StrasbourgMust-see place · on site
- 3Cycling the Rhine (EuroVelo 15)Must-do activity · 3 km away
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