Petit arc en ciel

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to Petit arc en ciel on Rue de l’Arc-en-Ciel, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes the best surprises come in understated packages. This little gem sits tucked away in what’s basically a quiet residential street, just a few minutes’ walk from the cathedral (and I mean actually walkable, not that “short walk” nonsense some hotels claim when they mean a 20-minute hike).

The whole vibe here is refreshingly unpretentious – it’s run by people who actually seem to care about what they’re doing rather than just going through the motions. The rooms aren’t huge, but they’re thoughtfully laid out with these charming touches that feel authentically Alsatian without being kitschy about it. I particularly loved the windows – they actually open properly, which sounds silly but you’d be amazed how many places have those awful sealed units. On quieter evenings, you can hear the cathedral bells, which is either romantic or annoying depending on your tolerance for being reminded what time it is every quarter hour.

What really sets this place apart, though, is how it sits in the neighborhood. You’re close enough to the tourist action around Petite France and the cathedral that nothing feels like a trek, but far enough away that you’re not dealing with crowds of people taking selfies outside your window at 7 AM. There’s this fantastic little bakery about two blocks over – honestly, their pain au chocolat alone makes the location worth it. And if you’re driving, well… parking in Strasbourg is generally a nightmare, but the staff here actually knows which streets have decent overnight spots and won’t just shrug when you ask. The tram stops at République, which is maybe an eight-minute walk, so getting around the city is pretty straightforward even if you ditch the car.

The breakfast situation is solid without being fancy – fresh pastries, decent coffee, and they don’t make you feel rushed even if you stumble down at 9:30 looking like you’ve been hit by a truck. I mean, it’s not going to win any awards, but it’s the kind of spread where you can actually fuel up for a day of wandering around rather than just grabbing a sad croissant and running. The 8.9 rating honestly makes sense – it’s the kind of place that does the fundamentals really well without trying to be something it’s not. No marble lobbies or over-the-top amenities, just a comfortable base that lets Strasbourg itself be the star of the show.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $229. Three-Bedroom Apartment with 1 single bed, 2 × 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 7

Reviews

• Looks just like the photos! Marc was great to deal with and super helpful. – Brigid from Ireland – 8 July 2025 (10/10)

  Beautiful apartment, very bright, spacious and clean!

• Absolutely fantastic – thank you Mark! – Amy from Sri Lanka – 11 December 2024 (10/10)

  I absolutely loved the host Mark, who met us when we arrived, despite my terrible communications beforehand (I ran out of battery on the plane!)
  
  What could be improved: Nothing – fantastic location. Mark even put up a Christmas tree for us! I wish I stayed longer to enjoy all of the little extras in the flat.

• Exceptional – Nana from Georgia – 7 December 2024 (10/10)

  I absolutely loved this apartment! The decor was beautiful, and the space was so comfortable and well-designed. The location near the city center was perfect, and the view from the window of the charming square with decorations and a Christmas tree was magical. The apartment had everything we needed for a perfect stay. Highly recommend!
  
  What could be improved: Loved everything!

• Reasonable considering Strasbourg high prices – Melanie from Spain – 3 December 2024 (8/10)

  The kitchen was well equipped and new.
  
  What could be improved: The apartment is equipped with 2 bedrooms and 1 living room with a sofa bed. Only one bathroom for 7 people.
  No lift, but the apartment is located at the 1st floor.

• Très French! – Ana from Australia – 28 January 2025 (8/10)

  Great location! Walking distance to all great restaurants and major sites and attractions. Wonderful, warm hosts!

• Central location but above a bar, lack of soft furnishings and comfort. – Charis from United Kingdom – 26 November 2024 (6/10)

  Location was very central and easy to get to everything. The rooms are big and the kitchen has everything that you need, including a coffee machine and a raclette machine. Check in was easy (someone met us) and for check out you just leave the key in a key box.
  
  What could be improved: There were three of us, and we booked this flat to have a bed each – instead one double was made up and then the other double had a single pillow and duvet on it. No other sheets anywhere and the duvets were SO thin. It was cold at night and we had to fold the pillow over to get any height. Overall just lacking any comfort. I did check about the third bedroom but apparently it's only used when there are five people… But maybe fully grown adults don't want to share a bed? Very odd. We also had to ask for more towels as there wasn't a hand towel or anything in the bathroom.
  
  Bedside lights in the bedroom weren't charged so couldn't be used.
  
  The main other issue is that this flat is above a club, Legends. It's only open on Friday and Saturday but it's directly below one of the bedrooms and the noise is super loud. Overall it was fine(ish) but I wouldn't stay here again, unless it was mid-week and they increased the comfort levels by a lot.

• Wir kommen wieder – Anke from Germany – 19 March 2025 (8/10)

  Super zentral, toll ausgestattet, Altbau lieben wir
  
  What could be improved: Das dritte Zimmer war ein bisschen klein, aber ausreichend

• Very good – Myriam from France – 16 March 2025 (8/10)

  Appartement très confortable bien équipé…
  Petit bémol salle à manger sombre: éclairage jour et nuit nécessaire
  Autre petit bémol : bruit

• Exceptional – Despoina from Greece – 21 November 2024 (10/10)

  Η τοποθεσια ηταν τρομερη και το σπιτι φανταστικο.Οι οικοδεσποτες ευγενεστατοι

• Exceptional – Marion from France – 29 October 2024 (10/10)

  Très bien situé, propre, cuisine équipée

SURROUNDINGS