Strasbourg Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Strasbourg.
Strasbourg has a well-funded public hospital network supplemented by several private clinics. EU citizens can use the EHIC/GHIC; others need complete travel insurance.
The main public hospital for tourists is Hôpital Civil on Place de l'Hôpital, 24/7 emergency department with multilingual staff. Clinique Sainte-Odile in Neudorf offers faster private consultations.
Green-cross pharmacies open Monday-Saturday; at least one stays open overnight on a rotation basis, details are posted on every pharmacy door. Non-prescription painkillers are cheaper than in the UK or US.
Insurance is not legally required but is strongly recommended. Medical bills are settled up-front and reimbursed later by insurers.
- ✓ Bring any repeat prescriptions in original packaging plus a doctor's letter in French if possible.
- ✓ Pharmacists can provide emergency contraception and treat minor ailments without a prescription.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Pick-pocketing and bag-snatching around Place de la Cathédrale, Petite-France footbridges, and tram lines An and D.
Trams have priority and move quietly. Cyclists often ride against traffic in the old town.
Late-night rowdiness near Place Broglie and the student quarter of Krutenau on weekends.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Someone ties a coloured string around your wrist near the cathedral and demands payment, escalating if you refuse.
Young people with clipboards pretend to be deaf and ask for a signature, then request cash donations.
Some tourist-oriented brasseries add a surcharge for bread or water without asking.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
- • Trams run until around 00:30, 01:30 on weekends. After that, use the Taxi Strasbourg app rather than hailing on the street.
- • The riverfront between the Covered Bridges and Rue du Bain-aux-Plantes is safe but poorly lit, stick to Rue des Moulins for better street lighting.
- • Validate tickets immediately on trams. Ticket inspectors are polite but fines are paid on the spot by card.
- • Keep bags on your lap, not the floor, on airport shuttles that stop at Baggersee.
- • Children under four travel free on all buses and trams. Strollers must be folded at busy times.
- • Playgrounds around Place Gutenberg and along the quai des Pêcheurs are fenced and well-maintained. But riverbanks have no barriers, watch toddlers closely.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Strasbourg is generally safe for women travelling alone, with well-lit streets and frequent police patrols. Harassment is rare but can occur in nightlife areas.
- → Choose seats near the driver on late-night trams and avoid empty carriages.
Same-sex marriage and adoption are legal in France; anti-discrimination laws protect LGBTQ+ individuals.
- → Krutenau and the area around Rue des Tonneliers have several LGBTQ+-friendly bars and venues.
Travel Insurance
Protect yourself before you travel.
While healthcare is excellent, costs for non-EU visitors can add up quickly for hospital stays or specialist treatment.
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