Strasbourg: A Fairy-Tale City in Alsace

Beyond Giverny, here's one more recommendation: Strasbourg. It's a little too far to call a day trip from Paris, about two and a half hours by train. Leave early and you can do it in a day, or make it an overnight stay. It isn't a small town, but unless you're lingering, you can see the center in a day. Strasbourg is in Alsace, in northeastern France, right on the German border, so its architecture and regional food feel closer to Germany's than France's. That gives it a different feel from Paris.

First on the list is the Petite France district. The whole neighborhood looks like a fairy tale. Your guide loves having coffee while looking out at the canal that runs through it. There are plenty of charming little shops around, so you won't be bored, and it's probably Strasbourg's most famous spot.

Second is Strasbourg's Notre-Dame Cathedral, whose exterior looks quite different from Paris's Notre-Dame. Your guide recommends going inside rather than just admiring the facade. After traveling around Europe for a while, churches start to look alike, but this had the most beautiful interior of any she's visited, and the stained glass moved her. In December, a Christmas market opens on the square in front of the cathedral. Strasbourg is France's most famous city for Christmas markets, so don't miss it if you're traveling in December.

One more tip: most French cities have a little white tourist train. Hop on it as soon as you arrive. Ride around to get an overview, mark places you like, then concentrate on those. The train sometimes passes streets you'll love even if they aren't sights, and it shows you what you can skip. Strasbourg's train leaves from next to the cathedral.

Nearby Colmar also draws many visitors. It's a much smaller town, and its Little Venice quarter is said to have been the model for the town in Howl's Moving Castle. It's about 30 minutes from Strasbourg, so if you're staying overnight, consider stopping there too.