In 2023, I visited Strasbourg, France, and heard that the German border was only 1.5 hours away from Strasbourg. But since my second trip to Europe was already packed with activities, I could only explore Strasbourg and didn’t have time to take the train to the German border. This year, with five days in Strasbourg, a free schedule, and after recovering from the exhaustion of traveling, I finally decided to take the tram to the France-Germany border. Kehl, here I come!
Many people say that Kehl is boring, there’s nothing special about it, just a little town, etc. That’s what I heard from Strasbourg locals whenever I asked about Kehl. But as an Indonesian, where our country is an archipelago, the idea of crossing into another country by land is pretty amazing. Usually, if we want to visit neighboring countries, we have to fly or take a boat. There are land borders between Indonesia-Malaysia and Indonesia-Timor Leste, but they’re far away in remote areas, so they aren’t commonly crossed. That’s why, for me, the France-Germany border is unique, interesting, and a must-visit while I’m in Strasbourg.
Kehl, the France-Germany Border
In Indonesia, most borders are maritime, but in Europe, countries are separated by land. It’s very easy to step from one country into another. For example, going from France to Germany is as simple as walking across a bridge or taking a tram.
One of the borders between Germany and France is located in eastern France, in the city of Strasbourg. In this city, which is one of the capitals of the European Union (EU), the Pont de l’Europe Bridge stands. This bridge, which spans the Rhine River, connects Strasbourg in France with the city of Kehl in Germany.
Every day, hundreds of people from both cities cross the bridge. It’s not just to visit the other country, but many people from Kehl work in Strasbourg, while many Strasbourg residents go to Kehl to buy cigarettes because they are 25% cheaper there than in France.
The easiest way to cross the German border is by taking Tram D from Strasbourg. Just sit comfortably for 30 minutes, and you’ll arrive in Kehl, specifically at Kehl Bahnhof station. However, if you want to cross the border bridge, you can also get off at the Port du Rhin station and walk for 10 minutes to Kehl. The reverse trip is just as simple.
The fun part is that the France-Germany border here is completely open. There are no soldiers or immigration officers checking passengers’ passports or IDs. For those who want to spend more time at the border, you can also visit the park that straddles both cities and cross another bridge called Passerelle, which is dedicated to pedestrians.
What’s the France-Germany Border Town Like?
As people say, Kehl is just a small German town. It has a main square surrounded by supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, and a church in the center. Other than that, there are houses and apartments. Although it’s a small town, it has a distinct German vibe because the houses and apartments look different from those in France. I stopped by McDonald’s (of course!) to try the German version, and took a quick look at the shops near the border. This is probably where the French come to buy cigarettes. For me, even though Kehl isn’t particularly special, it was still fun to cross from France to Germany by just hopping on a tram and walking for 30 minutes. When else can you visit two countries without flying?!