Boat tour on the Ill

Where it is & how to get there

• Departure: Batorama boats leave from the landing stage by the Palais Rohan, next to the cathedral.
• Tram: Tram A or D to Langstross – Grand'Rue, then 5 minutes on foot.
• On foot: 3 minutes from the cathedral square.

The story of the Ill boat tour

The river Ill wraps around the Grande Île, Strasbourg's historic island, and for centuries it was the city's highway for goods, mills and tanneries. Boat tours follow the same loop, passing through the locks of Petite France where the water level changes before your eyes.

The route then continues into the Neustadt, the "new town" built in the German imperial period after 1871, added to the UNESCO listing in 2017, and on to the glass buildings of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, symbols of Strasbourg as a capital of Europe.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Book ahead in summer and during the Christmas market.
• The commentary is available in many languages through individual headphones.
• Book online in summer and during the Christmas market.

What's around the Ill boat tour

• Palais RohanThe bishops' palace by the landing stage, with three museums.
• Strasbourg CathedralJust steps away.
• La Petite FranceSeen from the water through the locks.
• European ParliamentAt the end of the boat route.

Questions travellers ask