11 Unusual and Original Activities to Do in Alsace
- Jérémie Bourquenez
- Jul 11
- 6 min read
During your vacation in Alsace, are you looking for unusual activities to do alone, as a couple, with family, or with friends? While the typical Alsatian villages, the Christmas markets, and the Wine Route are among the region's must-sees, there is a multitude of unusual and original activities to discover Alsace in a different way.
Follow the guide, as we offer you a selection of 11 unusual experiences in Alsace to absolutely try during your next vacation in this beautiful region of eastern France.
1. Go gravel biking in the vineyards with Alsace Gravel Bike
Do you love cycling? You will love exploring Alsace on a gravel bike. Indeed, the region is an exceptional playground for this activity, which sits somewhere between road biking and mountain biking.
Rent your gravel bike for the day or set off on a bikepacking trip for a few days with Alsace Gravel Bike. Explore the region's most diverse landscapes: vineyards and typical villages, forest paths in the Vosges mountains, and ridges offering breathtaking panoramas.
The beauty of gravel biking here is the freedom: riding on agricultural tracks, crossing wine-making villages like Eguisheim, Riquewihr, or Bergheim, and then quickly shifting onto wilder trails toward the Vosges massif.
Alsace Gravel Bike offers routes tailored to your level and desires so that you can make the absolute most of it!
2. Taste Alsatian gastronomy during a food tour in Eguisheim with Alsace Food Tours
Is this your first visit to Alsace? If you are a foodie and curious, why not take part in a food tour to discover Alsatian cuisine. And what a better place for this type of activity than one of the most beautiful villages in France: Eguisheim. This is what Alsace Food Tours offers: discovering Alsatian specialties and Eguisheim in a single tour!
On the agenda for this unusual activity in Alsace: a stroll of about 3 hours through the medieval streets of this pretty circular village, with several tasting stops at the shops of passionate merchants, restaurateurs, and artisans. You will learn more about Alsace's rich culinary heritage as well as about Eguisheim. A delicious and friendly experience!
3. Go rock climbing in Gueberschwihr
The village of Gueberschwihr is one of the hidden gems of Alsace. This village receives few tourists and is very pretty to visit. We love strolling through its paved streets, visiting the Saint-Pantaléon church and the museum, buying local (and medal-winning) foie gras at the Canoie shop in the center (or from the vending machine if the shop is closed 😁), and enjoying a tasting at one of the many winemakers.
But Gueberschwihr is best known for being a climbing spot appreciated by insiders. Indeed, the surrounding cliffs offer routes suitable for various levels, in a peaceful and green setting. It is an ideal activity to combine physical effort and contemplation.
4. Have a drink with the nuns at the Notre-Dame du Schauenberg chapel
Perched above the village of Pfaffenheim, the Notre-Dame du Schauenberg chapel is a pilgrimage site offering an exceptional view of the Alsace plain and the Black Forest.
In this place run by the sisters of the Saint-Marc convent in Gueberschwihr, it is possible to stop for a drink, a bite to eat, or simply to enjoy the peace and the view.
You can come directly by car and park in a large parking lot 300 meters away. It is also possible to walk up from Pfaffenheim through the vineyards along the Chemin de croix (a path marked with a blue cross by the Club Vosgien). It also makes for a pleasant stop during a longer hike or a bike ride on the trails of the Vosges.
5. Explore Alsace on horseback
Are you looking for an unusual activity to do in Alsace? Why not mount a horse and discover the region's landscapes in an original way. Equestrian tourism is highly developed in Alsace. Several equestrian centers offer itinerant horseback riding trips or day rides through the Vosges and the vineyards. Furthermore, many guesthouses welcome riders and their mounts.
At the horse's pace, you cross forests, clearings, and charming villages. It is a different way of traveling—slower, but also more environmentally friendly. You take care of your horse and slow down the pace for a true disconnection and total immersion in nature.
Find all the information you need on guesthouses and equestrian routes on the website alsaceacheval.com
6. Unusual activity in Alsace: fly in a hot air balloon with Aérovision
To fully appreciate the beauty of Alsace, there is nothing better than gaining some altitude. Take flight in a hot air balloon with Aérovision to discover Alsace from the sky. Granted, you have to get up early, but it is truly worth it. You enjoy a superb sunrise from the air, and then you fly over vineyards, medieval villages, the Alsace plain, or the foothills of the Vosges depending on the air currents.
Takeoff usually happens at dawn, when the light is softest and the winds are most stable. You can even help inflate the balloon. From the basket, the view of Alsace, villages like Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, or Ribeauvillé, and the Vosges is simply spectacular. Once this superb journey is over, you will savor a delicious breakfast with the team and the other passengers to recover from your emotions. A unique, magical, and unusual experience to live in Alsace!
7. Explore an old silver mine in the Val d’Argent
What if we left the Alsatian vineyards for a more original and unusual activity? Head to the Val d'Argent, located in the Vosges massif less than an hour from Colmar, which possesses a fascinating mining history. Silver extraction shaped several centuries of economic development there.
Today, it is possible to visit old galleries and dive into the region's industrial past, such as at the Tellure mining park. Helmet on, you descend into tunnels where miners once worked under difficult conditions. During these underground tours, you discover the exceptional world of the mines, the history of the miners, their techniques, and their working and living conditions. It is an authentic adventure and an unusual experience in a natural setting.
8. Stargaze at the Osenbach observatory
After a beautiful day exploring the treasures of Alsace, why not make the most of the evening to admire the starry sky. The village of Osenbach hosts an observatory appreciated by astronomy enthusiasts. Every Friday evening in July and August, observation nights are organized there by the Société Astronomique du Haut-Rhin (starting at 9:00 PM in July and 8:30 PM in August). The price is €6 for adults and €2 for children.
On the program: an introduction to astronomy, a presentation of the sky with binoculars, telescope observations, star-guiders, visits to the observatories, educational games, and other activities. If you get a bit hungry, a refreshment stand and light snacks are even available on-site (hot or cold drinks, snacks including homemade waffles).
9. Go kayaking on the Ill River in Colmar
Is it hot, and are you dreaming of a water activity during your vacation in Alsace? Embark on a kayak ride on the Ill, near Colmar or Sélestat. This river is a major tributary of the Rhine and the main river of Alsace, which it crosses from north to south for about 216 km.
For a few hours, paddle alone, as a couple, with family, or with friends along this pretty, peaceful river, sometimes in full sun, sometimes in the cool shade sheltered by trees. Experience an enjoyable moment with this unusual activity in Alsace that is accessible to everyone. A great way to discover another facet of the region.
10. Another unusual activity in Alsace: meet reindeer in the Vosges
Santa's reindeer don't only live at the North Pole. Did you know that it is possible to meet them in the Vosges in both summer and winter? Located at an altitude of over 1,090 meters in the Tanet massif in Stosswihr, the Ferme aux Rennes (Reindeer Farm) offers a unique experience in the heart of the Vosges. You walk along a forest trail where the reindeer roam freely, while learning about their way of life thanks to an educational trail.
The visit also includes a museum dedicated to the Sámi culture, the indigenous people of Scandinavia who herd this animal. Who knows, you might even spot Santa Claus in his cabin, if he hasn't already headed back to Lapland. The Reindeer Farm is located near the Schlucht pass and Lac Vert (Green Lake), making it an excellent outing idea to complete a stay in the Hautes-Vosges.
11. Get lost in a giant corn maze in Soultz
Fancy an original and unusual activity to do with family or friends in Alsace? We are taking you to Labyrinthis, the giant maze at the Kessler Farm in Soultz. Every summer (until August 30th and the first two weekends of September), several hectares of corn are transformed into a huge playground where young and old must find their way by solving riddles and challenges.
In total, three routes and more than 7 hectares of mazes are offered: the small maze, the large maze, and the expert maze. The venue is open every day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and until 10:30 PM on Fridays in July for a nighttime exploration. Allow about four hours to explore all three routes. The site also offers other activities like inflatable structures or a corn pit (swimming in corn kernels), as well as events like "Terror In the Corn" to experience Halloween in August.
Whether you already know the region or this is your first visit, don't miss out on these original and unusual activities to discover Alsace differently.
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