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The Black Forest is one of the most beautiful regions of Germany, full of picturesque spa towns and scenic hiking trails. When planning a trip to Germany, be sure to add a visit to the Black Forest to your itinerary!
Before we delve into 10 of the best things you can see and do in the Black Forest, let’s cover some useful information for planning your trip to this beautiful region of Germany.
Where is the Black Forest?
The Black Forest lies in the state of Baden-Württemberg in the southwest of Germany. The mountainous area spans for 99 miles, from the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden, down to the Swiss border, with the Rhine River bordering the west side of the region.
There is a wide range of accommodation in the Black Forest – from 5 star spa hotels to guest houses and holiday rentals. I always use Booking.com to find the best deals across a range of accommodation types and filter the reviews to newest first so you can check the most recent reviews!
What is the Black Forest known for?
The Black Forest is most known for its thick dense forest of fir trees, which covers most of the region. The name ‘Black Forest’ is derived from the dark shadows created by the trees and the lack of sunlight within the forests. As well as the forest itself, the region is also known for quaint spa towns, cuckoo clocks and of course the Black Forest gateau! The Black Forest was also a great source of inspiration for many of the Grimm brothers’ fairy tales.
How many days do you need in the Black Forest?
This depends on what activities you would like to take part in when visiting the Black Forest. If you enjoy hiking, you will probably want to explore many of the beautiful hiking trails throughout the region, so you might need more time here. Anywhere between 3-5 days would be a good amount of time, this will allow you to visit some of the picturesque towns and villages and see some of the beautiful waterfalls, lakes and hiking trails.
Why not extend your trip to Germany and visit the romantic Rhine Valley, another one of Germany’s most beautiful regions.
10 Amazing things to do in the Black Forest, Germany
Contents
Visit Mummelsee (Mummel lake)
Mummelsee is one of the most popular cirque lakes in the Black Forest. Mummelsee is located just off the main high road, and can be viewed from the parking lot. This means that even if you don’t want to hike, you can still admire the beautiful surroundings of the lake.
At Mummelsee there is a hotel, restaurant, cafe and shop. There is a short, flat walking path around the edge of the small lake, which is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. One of the most popular hiking trails from the lake is the Mummelsee – Hornigsrinde circular trail. This trail is just 4km in length and will take you past the Mummelsee viewing point and up to the ridge of the Hornigsrinde, which is the tallest mountain in the Black Forest. This trail is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Black Forest, with stunning views.
Relax at a day spa
The Black Forest has become well known for its thermal spas, which centre around the main spa towns of Baden-Baden and Bad Wildbad. The mineral rich, warm water was discovered below the surface by the Romans years ago. Today, for just €5, you can visit the ruins of the Roman bath in Baden-Baden. For your own spa experience, some of the most popular spas are the Friedrichsbad, or Caracalla Spa in Baden-Baden or the Palais thermae spa in Bad Wildbad.
Spend the day in the spa town of Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is Germany’s most famous spa town and is one of the most popular towns to visit in the Black Forest. It is full of luxury hotels, cafes, restaurants and high end shops. There are many beautiful buildings here, perfect for wandering around. Afterwards, relax in one of the parks which sit on either side of the town. For the ultimate relaxation experience, one of the best things to do in Baden-Baden is to visit a spa.
Explore the ruins of Hohenbaden castle in Baden-Baden
Sitting on a hilltop on the outskirts of the town are the ruins of Hohenbaden Castle. Sections of the castle date back to the 12th and 14th century. The castle was badly damaged in a fire in the 16th century and eventually fell into disuse. It was resurrected in the 19th century, when the town of Baden-Baden increased in popularity. Today, you can explore the ruins of the castle, and if you climb the tower, you will be rewarded with one of the best views in the region. From the top of Hohenbaden castle, you can see over the town of Baden-Baden and the surrounding countryside. Hohenbaden castle is free to visit and there is a small cafe and toilets onsite. There is a small parking lot, but, if you prefer, you can walk from the New Castle in Baden-Baden town.
Visit Titisee lake
Located in the south of the Black Forest, Lake Titisee is one of the most popular tourist areas within the region. There are a range of activities on offer at Lake Titisee, such as sailing, hiking and boat excursions. Whilst not as picturesque as Oeschinensee in Switzerland, it is a great day out for all the family.
Have fun at Bad Wildbad’s Sommerberg Mountain resort
Bad Wildbad is a small town in the north of the Black Forest. There’s not much to see in the town itself, but there are plenty of activities at the Sommerberg Mountain resort, which sits above the town. To get to the Sommerberg resort, you will need to take the funicular from Bad Wildbad town.
Within the Mountain resort are various hiking and mountain biking trails. You can buy tickets for the ‘Wildline’ – a 380m suspension bridge swinging high above the forest. Another popular attraction at the resort is the treetops trail – a 1250m circular path that winds its way up above the trees, offering 360 degree views over the forest.
There’s also an adventure playground and fairytale trail for families. If all that sounds a bit much, then simply enjoy the view in one of the restaurants and cafes located near the funicular station. An afternoon spent at the Sommerberg resort is one of the best things for families to do in the Black Forest.
Visit the Triberg waterfalls
The Triberg waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in Germany and one of the most popular attractions in the Black Forest. Similar to the Giessbach waterfall in Switzerland, you can get quite close to the Triberg waterfall. A series of paths and footbridges climb through the forest, with viewpoints at each of the 7 cascades. The fee to visit the Triberg waterfalls is €8 for adults, but there is a reduced fee for those who hold a Triberg guestcard.
Walk the All Saints waterfall and Monastery trail
The All Saints Waterfalls are one of the tallest waterfalls in the Northern Black Forest and are a must-visit! The best way to experience the All Saints waterfall is by a 3km hike, which also combines a visit to the ruins of the All Saints Monastery. This short hike will take you alongside the waterfall, climbing up through the forest, via a steep wooden staircase. Once you reach the top of the waterfall, a short path will lead you to the ruins of the All Saints Monastery.
The Monastery dates back to the 13th century, but it was badly damaged by a fire in 1804 and left to ruin. Due to structural damage, you can only view the ruins from the external path. Next to the Monastery is a small cafe and also toilets. This is a great way to spend a couple of hours surrounded by beautiful scenery, especially for families who are looking for a shorter walk.
The All Saints waterfall walk is a great short walk in the Black Forest
Enjoy a picnic at Sankenbachsee (Sankenbach lake)
Sankenbachsee is another great option for families visiting the Black Forest, or for those who don’t want a long hike. The beautiful cirque lake is close to the towns of Baiersbronn and Freundenstadt in the centre of the region.
Sankenbachsee is the only cirque lake in the Black Forest where you are allowed to swim in the water. Because of this, it is a great spot to spend the day. There are several picnic areas and a BBQ area, as well as a playground for children. At one end of the lake is the Sankenbach waterfall.
The Sankenbach lake can be accessed by parking in Baiersbronn and walking 3.2km to the lake. Or, for a slightly shorter walk to the lake, park at the Wildhedge deer park and nature reserve.
Treat yourself to some Black Forest gateau
You can’t visit the Black Forest without trying a slice of the famous Black Forest Gateau! The Black Forest Gateau (or Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte), is a chocolate sponge cake, layered with whipped cream and boozy kirsch cherries. There are many cafes serving this delicious cake, so you have plenty of opportunities to sample it!
