Coach Rental Across France

Strasbourg Coach Hire: Plan the Stops First

Strasbourg limits coaches more tightly than most French cities. There is one permit-free drop-off point, one main coach park and a low-emission zone that tightens in January 2027.

Crit'Air 3 coaches and 2027

The Eurométropole zone covers all 33 communes, for driving and parking, at all hours, and coaches are not exempt. Crit'Air 4 and 5, and unrated vehicles, are out already. From January 2027 enforcement is due to extend to Crit'Air 3, so for a 2027 trip ask for Crit'Air 2 or better.

Foreign vehicles need a French sticker; a German Umweltplakette does not replace it. An occasional visitor may register for a one-day ZFE pass, though only a capped number of times each year. The rules stood after the 2026 court decision but remain open to change.

Mercedes-Benz 59-seat coach, exterior
Mercedes-Benz 59-seat coach, exterior

Étoile, Elsau and the 48-hour rule

The Parc de l'Étoile is the main set-down and pick-up point: 12 places, open at all hours, no permit needed. Closer drop-offs exist on quai Sturm, rue Gustave Adolphe Hirn and boulevard Pflimlin. To use them, a group either travels with a licensed guide or applies online for permission at least 48 hours before.

After the drop, the coach goes to the P+R Elsau coach park, which is fenced and has 80 places. Parking anywhere else is strictly forbidden, and engines go off.

Airports for groups arriving in Strasbourg

  • Aéroport de Strasbourg-Entzheim (SXB) — about 11 km by road to Place Kléber
  • EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) — about 135 km by road to Place Kléber, Strasbourg; about 8 km to Basel SBB station and about 30 km to Mulhouse station, about 1 h 35 min to Strasbourg in light traffic; about 15 min to Basel SBB and about 30 min to Mulhouse

Stadiums and arenas a coach can serve

  • Stade de la Meinau — RC Strasbourg Alsace football, south of the centre
  • Zénith Strasbourg Europe — Concert arena in Eckbolsheim with 20 places for buses
  • Rhénus Sport — Indoor sports hall at the Wacken

Coach day trips from Strasbourg

  • Obernai — about 29 km, about 30 min
  • Mont Sainte-Odile — about 47 km, about 45 min
  • Europa-Park (Rust, Germany) — about 57 km, about 50 min
  • Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg — about 63 km, about 1 h
  • Baden-Baden (Germany) — about 65 km, about 1 h
  • Riquewihr — about 71 km, about 1 h
  • Colmar — about 73 km, about 1 h
  • Eguisheim — about 81 km, about 1.25 h
  • Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany) — about 86 km, about 1.25 h

Rules for coaches in Strasbourg

  • Aéroport de Strasbourg-Entzheim (SXB) is about 11 km by road from Place Kléber, about 20 min in light traffic, and a shuttle train links it to the main station in 8 minutes. EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL), in France next to Basel, is about 130-135 km by road (about 1.5-1.75 h), mostly by the A35.
  • The Eurométropole de Strasbourg low-emission zone (ZFE) covers all 33 communes, 24 hours a day, every day, for driving and parking, and applies to coaches as well as cars and lorries. Vehicles with a Crit'Air 4 or 5 sticker, or no sticker, are banned; the ban on Crit'Air 3 vehicles is due to be enforced from January 2027, and on Crit'Air 2 vehicles in Strasbourg and some neighbouring communes from January 2028.
  • The Strasbourg ZFE rules apply to foreign vehicles too: a French Crit'Air sticker is needed, and a German Umweltplakette does not replace it. Occasional visitors can register for a 24-hour ZFE pass a limited number of times a year. A 2026 law that would have abolished the ZFEs was struck out on this point by the Conseil constitutionnel on 21 May 2026. These rules are current in October 2026 and Parliament may change them again; check them before travel.
  • Coach traffic and parking in the city centre are strongly restricted. The main coach set-down and pick-up point is the Parc de l'Étoile (12 places, open 24 hours, no authorisation needed). Set-down places on boulevard Pflimlin, quai Sturm and rue Gustave Adolphe Hirn are only for groups with an authorisation requested online at least 48 hours ahead, or for groups with a licensed guide.
  • Coaches park at the P+R Elsau coach park (80 places, fenced, open 24 hours). Parking a coach anywhere else outside the reserved places is strictly forbidden, and engines must be switched off.
  • During the Christmas market (late November to 24 December) the Grande Île is closed to traffic for most of the day and parking there is banned; a special coach plan applies, with extra coach parking at the Zénith on busy days.
  • Gare de Strasbourg: the main station, west of the Grande Île, with TGV trains from Paris, Lyon and Marseille, and trains from Germany.
  • The A4 towards Paris is a tolled motorway as far as Hochfelden and free on its last section into Strasbourg. The A355 western bypass (Contournement Ouest de Strasbourg) between Innenheim and Vendenheim is tolled at the Ittenheim toll plaza; the M35 through the city is free.
  • Day trips into Germany (Europa-Park, Baden-Baden, Freiburg) cross the Rhine; German cities have their own environmental zones, so check the rules there before travel. EU drivers' hours rules (Regulation (EC) No 561/2006) apply on both sides of the border: at most 9 hours of driving a day (10 hours twice a week), a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours of driving and at least 11 hours of daily rest.

Cathedral and clock

Entry to the cathedral is free and needs no booking, but groups must use audio headsets and guides may not speak aloud inside. There are no visits during Sunday-morning or feast-day masses. The astronomical clock runs at 12:30; tickets are sold 10:00 to 11:00 and entry is at 11:30 by Place du Château, so shape the morning around it.

Christmas market and Germany

Christmas market weeks, late November to 24 December, close the Grande Île to traffic for most of each day. Coaches follow a dedicated market plan, and on peak days the Zénith opens extra coach parking. Expect longer walks.

Europa-Park, Baden-Baden and Freiburg are each about an hour away across the Rhine. German cities run their own environmental zones, so check those too. Driving-time limits are the same on both sides of the border.

Organisers ask

Which airport suits a group?

Entzheim, the city's own airport, lies about 11 km from Place Kléber: some 20 minutes by road. EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, in France beside Basel, is about 130 to 135 km away by the A35, around 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45.

Can we visit the European Parliament?

Yes. Outside plenary sessions, groups of 20 to 75 are welcome and booking is strongly advised. During plenary sessions, you must book two to three months in advance.

Are there tolls on the way in?

The A4 from Paris is tolled as far as Hochfelden and free for its last stretch. The A355 western bypass has a toll plaza at Ittenheim; the M35 through the city is free.

Other group trips we book

Vehicles with a driver