Route des Vins
Route des Vins
4.5
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A beautiful 75-mile drive through the Alsace filled with medieval châteaux and wine vineyards.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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FyFazan
Oslo, Norway1,480 contributions
Jun 2019
Driving from Colmar to Strasbourg was a fascinating experience. There are so many small villages with the fairy tales houses to witness along the way.
Colmar and Strasbourg are both exceptional towns, but also Kayserberg must be mentioned as a must visit location. Driving from Kayserberg back to Colmar in the sunset offered som really terrific views.
Colmar and Strasbourg are both exceptional towns, but also Kayserberg must be mentioned as a must visit location. Driving from Kayserberg back to Colmar in the sunset offered som really terrific views.
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GGGClub
Toorak, Australia1,416 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Beautiful scenic roads along the wineyards, crossing picturesque and ancient villages, each of them deserving a stop.
And while you stop, of course you will be able to shop for souvenirs etc but also and above all, wine tasting is available everywhere, and f.o.c.
The people are generous and perfectly fine if you don't buy their wines and spirits, unlike some other French regions, Bordeaux and Burgundy where the winemakers are too fat and making too much money...
Ideally you can do the trip over a few days and this will allow you to take time to visit jewels such as Riquewhir, Ribeauville and so many others.
And while you stop, of course you will be able to shop for souvenirs etc but also and above all, wine tasting is available everywhere, and f.o.c.
The people are generous and perfectly fine if you don't buy their wines and spirits, unlike some other French regions, Bordeaux and Burgundy where the winemakers are too fat and making too much money...
Ideally you can do the trip over a few days and this will allow you to take time to visit jewels such as Riquewhir, Ribeauville and so many others.
Written April 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David
Lille, France1,899 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
Although I only travelled part of the route de vin what I saw was definitely worth seeing. Very majestic rolling countryside covered with vines, agriculture. It feels like going back to a more distant medieval age.
Written December 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA17,565 contributions
Nov 2019
This was the best part of our visit. The vineyards were golden, the hillsides a sea of gold, really quite a vision. And way more beautiful than I had even imagined. Combine this with lovely towns like Colmar and this region is spectacular, especially in the fall.
Written August 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet W
Brussels, Belgium302 contributions
Nov 2012 • Friends
During my 4 days in this region of Alsace, I had the occasion to visit a number of the typical villages around Colmar. The traditional architecture in the old towns makes strolling around a visual feast. My favorites were Eguisheim, Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé, and Riquewihr but there are many more which are less touristic and probably just as beautiful. I would recommend a wide-angle lens if you tiake pictures, to take a panorama of the colorful houses and pretty town squares.
There are lots of souvenir shops which offer ceramic dishes, blown glass, tea towels, and other crafts of the region. Shop owners offer samples of macaroons and spice bread, even large pretzels. And, of course, endless wine cellars where you can taste and buy. The grapes were already harvested and the fields were yellow and brown when I travelled there, but if I go back I would like to see the vineyards full of ripe grapes! I imagine it would be lovely to take walks into the hills or even between the villages. For seeing the maximum (and getting up into the mountains to see the castles), a car is necessary and I was glad to be driving.
I think everyone should see this area of Alsace at least once in their life; it is truly beautiful. I saw lots of people walking around with kids and with dogs, so it is really family-friendly. Wish I had had even more time to explore ....
There are lots of souvenir shops which offer ceramic dishes, blown glass, tea towels, and other crafts of the region. Shop owners offer samples of macaroons and spice bread, even large pretzels. And, of course, endless wine cellars where you can taste and buy. The grapes were already harvested and the fields were yellow and brown when I travelled there, but if I go back I would like to see the vineyards full of ripe grapes! I imagine it would be lovely to take walks into the hills or even between the villages. For seeing the maximum (and getting up into the mountains to see the castles), a car is necessary and I was glad to be driving.
I think everyone should see this area of Alsace at least once in their life; it is truly beautiful. I saw lots of people walking around with kids and with dogs, so it is really family-friendly. Wish I had had even more time to explore ....
Written November 5, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anuj_Mithani
Mumbai, India4,517 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
Alsace is one of the most beautiful places in France, and the Route des Vins while overshadowed by the disproportionate attention paid to regions like Provence, is an absolute must-do. The villages along the route are picture postcard material, but similar and to that extent unlike Provence or Dordogne where each village is a discovery in itself.
We spent a few days in beautiful Strasbourg, and then commenced driving down the route North-South from Molsheim to Eguisheim. Our route was influenced by Karen Browns itinerary and a Fodors destination expert Stu Dudley. We did this over 1 ½ days, breaking overnight in Colmar. With limited time, its important to cherry pick the villages you’d like to most spend time in and drive through the rest, the route is reasonably well signposted and was a breeze with our GPS - we consciously chose the route with smaller, country roads. For us, the standout stops were Obernai, Ribeauville, Riquewihr, Eguisheim and of course the stopover in Colmar. We stopped to taste wine – most wine-cellars offer free tastings and require no prior appointment - Domaine Gilg at Mittelbergheim, the Cave de Ribeauville and the organic Vignoble Klur near Kayserberg stood out for us.
This drive was one of our most memorable highlights of this holiday in France.
We spent a few days in beautiful Strasbourg, and then commenced driving down the route North-South from Molsheim to Eguisheim. Our route was influenced by Karen Browns itinerary and a Fodors destination expert Stu Dudley. We did this over 1 ½ days, breaking overnight in Colmar. With limited time, its important to cherry pick the villages you’d like to most spend time in and drive through the rest, the route is reasonably well signposted and was a breeze with our GPS - we consciously chose the route with smaller, country roads. For us, the standout stops were Obernai, Ribeauville, Riquewihr, Eguisheim and of course the stopover in Colmar. We stopped to taste wine – most wine-cellars offer free tastings and require no prior appointment - Domaine Gilg at Mittelbergheim, the Cave de Ribeauville and the organic Vignoble Klur near Kayserberg stood out for us.
This drive was one of our most memorable highlights of this holiday in France.
Written April 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TucsonCurt
Tucson, AZ280 contributions
Sept 2010 • Couples
Sorry this review is a little late, but we wanted to get this post up anyway. We took the tour of the Routes des Vins with Les Circuits D'Alsace since it had been mentioned by Rick Steves. Turns out it was one of the highlights of our trip. Our tour was conducted by Jean Claude, who spoke fluent English, French, German and Japanese. The full day tour, in a comportable van seating maybe 8 at the most, cost around 100 Euros per person, plus 6.5 E pp for the castle and 5 E pp for wine tasting before lunch. Jean Clause was an excellent guide. He would tell us all about the village we about to visit, show us the pick up point at one end of the village, then drive to the other end, tell us what to look for and how much time we had (always plenty to explore the streets and shops), then turn us loose to explore on our own. On the way to the next village, we would drive through the vineyards of the Alsace and he would explain all about the local viticulture and how to identify the superior wines form the ordinary. Jean Claude also conducted our wine tasting of 7 wines at the Dopff & Irion Cave in Riquewihr. The tour was worth every penny!
But here's the thing. We stayed at a nice B&B in Colmar, Chez Leslie, and while we very much enjoyed our stay with Leslie, Colmar was impersonal, somewhat uninviting, and terribly expensive for shopping (more so than Paris). However, the various villlages in the vineyards were absolutely charming: full of flowers, with lots of nice restaurants & cafes, bakeries, chese shops and wine stores. If we go back, and we hope to, we will bypass Colmar and take a taxi out to Ribeauville or Requewihr. From there, we can be walking or bike riding in the vineyards in two minutes, but still have everything we need, and at cheaper prices than Colmar, right at our fingertips.
But here's the thing. We stayed at a nice B&B in Colmar, Chez Leslie, and while we very much enjoyed our stay with Leslie, Colmar was impersonal, somewhat uninviting, and terribly expensive for shopping (more so than Paris). However, the various villlages in the vineyards were absolutely charming: full of flowers, with lots of nice restaurants & cafes, bakeries, chese shops and wine stores. If we go back, and we hope to, we will bypass Colmar and take a taxi out to Ribeauville or Requewihr. From there, we can be walking or bike riding in the vineyards in two minutes, but still have everything we need, and at cheaper prices than Colmar, right at our fingertips.
Written August 14, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Traveleator
Singapore, Singapore1,153 contributions
Jul 2013 • Couples
The whole route is over 170kms of winding roads covering more than 100 towns starting from Marlenheim in the north to Thann in the south. Most people will enter the road from Obernai (coming from Strasbourg) and go up to Colmar, especially if they're doing a day trip. That's what we did as well (wish we had 2 days). The towns in the southern half of the drive have a lot more character and would recommend stopping there longer. One can stop at the numerous grand cru (a list of each is provided in the maps) along the way.
The highlights along the way are: Haut Koenigsburg (detour from wine route, well marked at Kintzheim), towns of Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg & Colmar; also mini-version of statue of liberty at a traffic circle in Houssen (on D83 right next to the airport).
If you are staying in Strasbourg and are planning a day trip by car, probably worth exploring driving along the highway straight to Colmar and then working backwards, this will give you more time to visit the prettier towns down south.
A side trip to Haut Koenigsburg is highly recommended but will take the better part of 2 hours. If you have kids and/or elderly, then best to drive up to the entrance of the castle (instead of parking at a spot along the way) and then coming around once again (its a one-way street circling the castle) else you may end up walking a lot if you park right at the base.
In Colmar, petite Venice is nothing like the real Venice and you rather enjoy the other attractions of the town. The boat ride is not recommended.
The highlights along the way are: Haut Koenigsburg (detour from wine route, well marked at Kintzheim), towns of Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg & Colmar; also mini-version of statue of liberty at a traffic circle in Houssen (on D83 right next to the airport).
If you are staying in Strasbourg and are planning a day trip by car, probably worth exploring driving along the highway straight to Colmar and then working backwards, this will give you more time to visit the prettier towns down south.
A side trip to Haut Koenigsburg is highly recommended but will take the better part of 2 hours. If you have kids and/or elderly, then best to drive up to the entrance of the castle (instead of parking at a spot along the way) and then coming around once again (its a one-way street circling the castle) else you may end up walking a lot if you park right at the base.
In Colmar, petite Venice is nothing like the real Venice and you rather enjoy the other attractions of the town. The boat ride is not recommended.
Written August 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
greatrooms
europe4 contributions
just visited Alsace for the first time and with the help of my hosts at LA HAUTE GRANGE a charming and chic B+B in Freland near Kaysersberg I sa w picturesque villages,ate in great little winstub restaurants like La grappe d'Or in Riquewihr and le Morakopf in Niedermorschwihr (!) and slept like a baby in peaceful surroundings (lovely big beds and fantastic bathrooms )
Written August 28, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hitchiker_bear
Country Victoria, Australia715 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
A medieval treasure of the past in a countryside vineyard setting. Colourful, narrow, streets run in concentric circles from the oval outer ramparts of the old town. A wealth of architectural features, balconies, oriels, gables at odd competing angles; balconies and window boxes bursting with colour; planter boxes and pots filled with vegetation and flowers. The colourful well maintained dwellings reflect the pride in this town, though despite this it has a rickety feel to it because of the irregularity and angle of the buildings which crowd one another over the solid, well paved cobbles which also give that rickety impression.
One of those places where, which way to point the camera first, is a real challenge. Pride in this town is obvious, and the history and secrets of Eguisheim are shared with tourists with attractive, informative tiled plaques; on each plaque a QR code for apps to connect the visitor to videos accompanying the walk.
Eguisheim is just south of Colmar, we caught the local bus from Colmar, a pleasant bus ride through villages and vineyards, the Tourist Bureau in Colmar have timetables and information for using the local transport.
Awarded One of the Most Beautiful Villages of France since 2003 (Plus Beaux Villages de France) Eguisheim, like most German villages also has a Christmas Market and Night Watchman Rounds in November/December.
One of those places where, which way to point the camera first, is a real challenge. Pride in this town is obvious, and the history and secrets of Eguisheim are shared with tourists with attractive, informative tiled plaques; on each plaque a QR code for apps to connect the visitor to videos accompanying the walk.
Eguisheim is just south of Colmar, we caught the local bus from Colmar, a pleasant bus ride through villages and vineyards, the Tourist Bureau in Colmar have timetables and information for using the local transport.
Awarded One of the Most Beautiful Villages of France since 2003 (Plus Beaux Villages de France) Eguisheim, like most German villages also has a Christmas Market and Night Watchman Rounds in November/December.
Written November 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello! My partner and I are staying in Strasbourg and would like to bike part of the wine route one day on our trip. We have heard wonderful things about Riquewihr, Kayserberg, and Colmar. I understand it is too far to bicycle from Strasbourg to Riquewihr. Does anyway know if we can take a bus from Strasbourg to Riquewihr and then bike to Kayserberg, and from there to Colmar, ending the day with a bus back to Strasbourg? Or does anyone have a sense of whether this plan is possible/makes sense for one day?
Many thanks!
Written July 16, 2018
I think it is not possible to do this in one day - sorry
Written September 3, 2018
Has anyone taken this route as an excursion from a Rhine River Cruise (e.g. Viking, Avalon, etc.)?
Written July 15, 2016
We did not. In fact, there were no boats on the Rhine when were there due to high water. We know of a couple of years where the river cruises have not been able to travel the Rhine, so you may want to check that out. We understand that the only one that gives refunds in that instance is Tauck - the others base you out of your boat but then you do bus tours. That's what we've seen, heard,witnessed.
Written July 19, 2016
Hola! Tomaste algun tour? Fuiste en carro privado por los pueblos? Si tomaste tour, de donde se toma o como lo consigo y cuanto dura? Mil gracias!
Written November 30, 2015
Was it extremely crowded during August? I am concerned that the route will be jammed with cars and tourists.
Written May 3, 2015
How did you travel along the route des vins ? What other ways are available in addition to car rental: small group van or private car with driver or ??????
Written February 22, 2015
Hi All
We are visiting this area in June. Where would be the ideal town/route to start? We are arriving in Strasbourg, then onto Colmar, Requewihr and Annecy, before heading home.
I appreciate your time.
Hannetjie
Written January 29, 2015
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