Visit Mulhouse: the charm of Alsace

Dernière mise à jour de cet article le 10 July 2025

We had the opportunity to visit Mulhouse twice recently. The first time to discover the Christmas markets and the second time to explore the city.

Mulhouse is located in the heart of Alsace. The city is brimming with historical, cultural and gastronomic treasures, making it an ideal destination for an enriching weekend.

So what’s there to do in Mulhouse? Here are the must-do activities in this charming Alsatian town. And of course, at the end of the article you’ll find Kiki’s opinion, for whom Mulhouse rhymes with paradise.

Where is Mulhouse?

Mulhouse, with 110,000 inhabitants, is located in the Haut-Rhin department of the Grand Est region in eastern France, close to the Swiss and German borders. In fact, Basel is less than 25 minutes by train from Mulhouse.

To get to Mulhouse, it takes 3 hours by train from Lyon, 2 hours 40 minutes from Paris and 55 minutes from Strasbourg. For our Swiss friends, Mulhouse is 1h20 from Zurich and 2h20 from St. Gallen.

You can also fly into Basel-Mulhouse international airport.

So what can you do in Mulhouse for a weekend? Find out now!

Visit Mulhouse’s historic center

Any visit to Mulhouse starts with the historic center, a well-preserved district that bears witness to the city’s rich past, including the Place de la Réunion, Mulhouse’s main square.

The square features the Saint Etienne temple and the former Hôtel de Ville. The latter has been adorned with trompe l’oeil decoration since 1698. This handsome edifice is still used for town council meetings and weddings, and today houses the Historical Museum.

In fact, we had a wonderful evening on the Place de la Réunion in front of the Temple Saint Etienne, with singers from a singing school and a lantern launch to unveil the new lighting for public buildings.

To discover Mulhouse’s old town, we recommend strolling through the cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses, admiring the colorful facades and soaking up the authentic atmosphere of this picturesque district.

We really enjoyed discovering Mulhouse’s historic center, with its historic buildings and numerous stores. The atmosphere is really relaxed.

Visit the Mulhouse National Automobile Museum

A visit to the Musée National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse is a must if you’re visiting Mulhouse, even if you’re not interested in cars. This renowned institution offers a fascinating insight into the history and evolution of the automotive industry.

The Musée de l’Automobile houses an impressive collection of classic cars and iconic vehicles, spanning over a century of automotive history.

You’ll find legendary models such as the Ford T, Citroën 2CV, Porsche 911, Rolls-Royce and legendary racing cars. There are also numerous Bugatti models.

We were really impressed by the size of the Musée de l’Automobile and the number of vehicles on display. By the way, for those of you who are curious, Kiki will give you some background information on the history of this museum at the end of the article.

Practical information:

• The Automobile Museum is within easy reach by car.
• You can also take the streetcar from downtown Mulhouse.
• More information on the Musée de l’Automobile website.

Visit the Cité du train de Mulhouse

We’re staying with means of transport. After the car, the train! The Cité du Train in Mulhouse is a unique railway museum, reputed to be the largest railway museum in Europe.

The Cité du Train houses an impressive collection of locomotives, carriages, passenger cars and railway objects from all eras.

You can also see inside the trains. Impressive!

The highlight? The orange TGV. It’s the first TGV I took with my grandma when I was a child to Paris.

After this visit, all we wanted to do was get on a train! But then we thought for a moment. It’s not quite the same thrill taking the train in France these days!

Practical information:

• Like the Musée de l’Automobile, the Cité du Train is easily accessible by car.
• You can also take the tram-train from Mulhouse town center.
• More information on the Cité du Train website

A must if you’re visiting Mulhouse!

Visit The Mulhouse Christmas market

On our first visit to Mulhouse in December, we discovered the Mulhouse Christmas market. It’s not as famous as its neighbors in Strasbourg or Colmar, yet it’s well worth the detour. On the Place de la Réunion, you’ll find numerous chalets where you can do your Christmas shopping, drink a glass of mulled wine and eat a pretzel or a dish of sauerkraut.

We really enjoyed the family atmosphere. It’s much less crowded than the Strasbourg and Colmar Christmas markets, which is great.

The best way to visit Mulhouse

You can buy a Mulhouse City Pass, valid for 3 days, for your visit to Mulhouse. This pass includes a visit to one tourist site (such as the Automobile Museum or the Cité du Train) and discounts for others.

Where to stay in Mulhouse?

We stayed both times at the hotel La Maison de Mulhouse. A real favorite, especially for the Christmas decorations at the entrance to the hotel. A magical atmosphere!

What’s more, the room is very pleasant and comfortable. What’s more, the hotel’s location is ideal. It’s right in the heart of old Mulhouse, offering a magnificent view from the room.

And what about this incredible breakfast with its magnificent decor?

An address we really recommend if you’re planning to visit Mulhouse.

Where to eat in Mulhouse

During our various visits to Mulhouse, we were able to try out two restaurants that we recommend.

Winstub Factory

We went to a Winstub, a typical restaurant and wine bar in the Strasbourg region and Alsace vineyards. When we visited Mulhouse, we went to the Winstub Factory in the old town. You can enjoy Alsatian specialties such as sauerkraut, Flammekueche or Spätzle.

A great place to try Alsatian specialities.

The Earth is flat

So no Alsatian specialities for this restaurant, but the excellent crêperie La Terre est plate. When I think of this crêperie, I’m still frustrated. Why is that? Because we were late for the train and couldn’t get a sweet crêpe.

An address to remember, with excellent home-cooked food.

Kiki’s opinion

Mulhouse turned out to be a real treasure trove for Kiki. The picturesque town center immediately appealed to him, and in winter, the Christmas market unfurls an enchanting charm the likes of which he had rarely seen. Two museums triggered his passion, inviting him to explore for hours. The Automobile Museum in particular fascinates him to no end, as the passion for petrol pulses through Kiki’s veins.

How was it that a collection of hundreds of cars was built up here? Kiki certainly shares this astonishment with many others. An industrialist by the name of Fritz Schlumpf, even more passionate about cars than Kiki himself, had invested his entire fortune in this unique collection. His dedication went so far that his company went bankrupt, leaving thousands of employees unemployed. The significance of this decision still leaves Kiki speechless. But he does want to mention one highlight of the museum: for the first time in his life, he saw an Aston Martin Lagonda (and did you recognize it in the photos in the article?).

The train city of Mulhouse also impressed him greatly. But what a contrast when he realized the glorious past of the railroads! His personal highlight was, of course, the orange TGV. But today, for him, the SNCF is synonymous with strikes and stress. He’s sorry, dear French people, but this has gone too far. The country deserves a railroad that works, on which the people can rely and perhaps even be proud of again.

Edit: Don’t talk to Kiki about the SNCF. He was stuck on a train to Strasbourg for 2 hours 30 minutes.