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11 Best Things to do in the Black Forest, Germany

The Black Forest is a mountainous region in southwest Germany that was once completely covered by an ancient forest. It’s now home to some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe and offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures.

When you visit the Black Forest, there are several things you can do and see to get the most out of your trip. With its thick coniferous forests, inspirational medieval castles, scenic lakes, and picturesque villages nestled amongst the mountainsides, you’ll find it hard not to be inspired here. 

Known as Germany’s largest nature park, the Black Forest is a bucket-list destination for people all over the place. If you’re also planning to visit the Black Forest, you must gather information about this incredible place to make your trip memorable. 

Well, this post will give you all details like the best things to do in the Black Forest. But first; 

Black Forest Day Tour
1. Black Forest Day Tour Top Recommendation

The Black Forest is a place of dark trees, clear lakes and rushing waterfalls. It’s a place where you can hike for miles through pristine forests, see the remains of castles built in medieval times and walk along the shoreline of sparkling lakes. You can also get up close to friendly animals, eat some delicious German food or try traditional Black Forest crafts and discover stunning architecture. This private tour takes you to all of these highlights and more!

Black Forest and Baden Baden Day Trip
2. Strasbourg: Black Forest and Baden Baden Day Trip

This full-day trip offers you the best of both France and Germany. From Strasbourg, cross the border to visit the Black Forest region in Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a walk through Baden Baden, a small yet wealthy city known for its natural spring water and medicinal qualities. Travel through vineyards to see how German wine is made before relaxing at Mummelsee Lake or visiting the nearby village of Rastatt.

Guided Snowshoeing Tour in the Black Forest
3. Feldberg: Guided Snowshoeing Tour in the Black Forest

Feldberg is a winter paradise for all winter sports enthusiasts. But there is much more to experience in the Black Forest than just skiing and snowboarding. The air here is filled with serenity, magic, and a sense of peace that people from all over the world come to find in this region. See for yourself by joining us on a guided snowshoe tour through Feldberg's stunning scenery!

Where is the Black Forest?

Black Forest Landscape Scenery

The Black Forest is a mountainous region in the southwest corner of Germany in Baden-Württemberg state. It is bounded by the Rhine valley to the south and west and near the borders of Switzerland and France

To help you get a better understanding of this amazing region, here is a map of the Black Forest that includes key towns, landmarks, and sights to see during your visit.

Map of the Black Forest, Germany
Kyle Kroeger / ViaTravelers

The Black Forest or German Schwarzwald gets its name from its unique canopy of pine trees. The trees are so dense that it is even hard for the sun to hit the floor of the forest. Measuring 160 km from bottom to top, this forest is an incredible expanse of valleys, hills, lakes, and forests. 

What is the Black Forest Known For?

Hollental Architecture

Germany’s Black Forest is known for its dark pine forests, picturesque villages with half-timbered houses, spa towns, and rushing waterfalls. It is home to the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales, the world’s largest cuckoo clock, and the highest non-alpine mountains. 

It is hauntingly beautiful, majestic, and home to centuries of German history. Covering an area of about 2,320 miles, there are endless things to discover at this destination. Overall, this forest is one of the most popular hiking and tourist places in Europe. You’ll find some stunning views here if you can make it past all those trees.

History of The Black Forest Germany

Black Forest Aerial View

The Black Forest is a large landscape in southwest Germany. Though it covers much of the Baden-Württemberg state, it also crosses into the adjacent German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. 

The Black Forest of Germany was home to several migrant tribes for centuries. In the 19th Century, this expansive forest came into the list of “Seven Wonders of Germany” for its breathtaking natural beauty.

It features a wide selection of mountains and hills. The highest mountains in the region are the Feldberg (1,493 m), Herzogenhorn (1,415 m), and Belchen (1,414 m). 

Today, this mountain region is renowned for its wooden cuckoo clocks, established crafts, traditional architecture, and rare wildlife. It offers various touristic attractions and a variety of landscape designs largely shaped by time. Overall, this is one of the best-managed forests in Germany. 

See Related: Best Hotels in Munich, Germany

Nature of The Black Forest

Black Forest Nature Scenery

The Black Forest covers part of France’s Rhone-Alps region and Germany’s Central European Plain. Its northern perimeter runs along the western edge of the Upper Rhine Plain as well as the southern boundary of the Central Uplands. 

The weather can get quite cold in the winter. Therefore, consider packing a warm jacket or puffer coat to stay warm while hiking in this gorgeous mountainous region. It is a beautiful sight to see on a day trip to the Black Forest.

Rivers of the Black Forest Germany

Black Forest River Scenery

There are many rivers in the region, the major rivers in the Black Forest being the Kinzig, Rhine, Murg, and Brigach.  Around 93 km long, the Kinzig is one of the best-known rivers in this mountainous region. 

Another river that has its source in this dense forest is the Murg. The local dialect assigns it the name Murgäschtrumm. Similarly, the Brigach River has its source at 3,035 ft (925 m) above sea level in this forest. 

The Rhine, probably the most famous river in Germany, is the second-longest river in Western and Central Europe. It flows swiftly between the Black Forest region and the Alpine foreland.  

Why Is Black Forest Called the Black Forest?

Black Forest and Skyline

The name has nothing to do with fear, negativity, or a dark history! As touched on earlier, it’s called the Black Forest because it has large expanses of coniferous tree woods that can almost entirely block out the sun in patches. However, the Black Forest is a gorgeous place to visit.

The Black Forest has some great tourist attractions and offers plenty of things for families to do during their trip. Though this mountainous region is a part of Germany, it has its own distinct identity. If you want to know more about this region and its offerings, keep reading!

See RelatedBest Things to do in Freising

Best Things to See in the Black Forest

Black Forest Scenery

As mentioned above, the Black Forest is one of the most gorgeous tourist attractions in Germany. But don’t just take our word for it. In this section, you will come across a bevy of wonderful things you can do and see here!

Let’s read on for our favorite reasons why you should visit this forest.

1. Cherish Breathtaking Scenery

Black Forest

The name ‘Black Forest‘ was given to it by the Romans from the fact that dense forests covered most of the area of this mountain region until relatively recently.

Nowadays the Black Forest is still a lush green region. Nothing can beat its rugged beauty, and it is home to some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery.

The scenic lakes, waterfalls, half-timbered houses, and thick pine forests are some of the highlights of this destination. 

2. Try Skiing

Group Skiing

Skiing is one of the best things to do in Black Forest, Germany in winter. The Black Forest is one of Germany’s premier ski destinations. It offers over 170 ski lifts and 250 km of ski slopes in more than 80 different small and large ski regions.

Most of the ski lifts are around Todtnauberg and Feldberg. Since the region features some of the best ski slopes and coolest ski lifts in Europe, it’s no wonder this mountainous region is famous for skiing.

See Related: Best Lakes in Germany

3. Hike in the Forest

Hiking in Black Forest

You don’t need to be physically fit to enjoy a hike in the Black Forest (although it helps). There are routes for everyone, regardless of their ability. 

With picturesque mountain vistas that entice visitors on every trail, the Black Forest hiking trails of this forest will never disappoint you. 

But if you want to make the most of your hike, try the Black Forest High Trail. This scenic route runs about 1,100 miles across Germany and takes you through some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery – wanderlust guaranteed! 

4. Explore Elegant German Towns

Black Forest Town Scenery

Most people associate the Black Forest with its magnificent scenery. But the region is also home to some of Germany’s beautiful small towns. Baden-Baden, Heidelberg, and Gengenbach are the names of a few top spots.

Each town has its own significance and offers so much for its visitors. For instance, Baden-Baden has been famed as a spa town since Roman times.

This town offers multiple spa options for tourists to warm themselves in the frigid weather, with water coming from natural hot springs. Sitting in forested valleys or perched on wooded hillsides, you can often see these beautiful towns from great distances.

5. Visit the Black Forest Museum

Black Forest Open Air Museum
image by Gerd Eichmann  is licensed under C BY-SA 4.0

There are several museums throughout the Black Forest. Among them, the Black Forest Museum in Triberg takes people back to what life was like hundreds of years ago in the region. This is the perfect place to explore the history and culture of this region.

It has a selection of exhibits and subjects colorfully displayed. The museum features exhibitions on mining, clocks, handicrafts, woodwork, and the region’s unique traditions.

Here, you can also take a glimpse into mined minerals and rocks, traditional costumes, straw weaving, musical instruments, antique watches, and jewels.

Visiting this museum is one of the best ways to know more about this historic mountain forest region.

6. Stop by the Black Forest Spa Route

Road in Black Forest

The Schwarzwald Bäderstrasse (Black Forest Spa Route) runs between Freudenstadt and Pforzheim. The route takes visitors on a 270 km circular path through historic villages, lovely valleys, elegant town spas, and monasteries.

Since the route is a loop of spas, including Baden Baden, you’re sure to find a place to relax along this massive stretch of road.

If you want to take a break while enjoying some of the world’s incredible scenery, stop by one of the spas on the route for a massage, pedicure, and facial.

See Related: Best Gardens in Europe to Visit

7. Plan a Trip to the Europa Park

Europa Park Attractions

Europa Park is one of the best and biggest amusement parks in Europe. Spread over 160 acres, this is one of the most visited attractions in Germany.

Each section of this theme park is a reflection of a different European country and its architecture. It features hundreds of attractions, including sledding, roller coasters, a model of Russia’s Mir Space Station, and rafting through an African jungle!

Europa Park also hosts different competitions and shows throughout the year. In short, the park offers something for every age. If you’re a thrill-seeker, you should definitely stop by this incredible amusement park. Get your entrance ticket now.

8. Enjoy Wildlife

Male Deer

The Black Forest is an important European nature reserve. It is a haven for native plants, animals, and birds that depend on forest habitats to survive.

Here you’ll find European bison, fallow deer, mouflon, roe deer, and many kinds of birds, including the red-backed shrike. This forest also has a wide range of flora, offering hiking trails for everyone’s taste.

If you’re someone who appreciates wildlife, this park offers endless opportunities to take a glimpse into some rare species of animals. 

9. Visit Fairy Tale Villages

Schiltach Village Scenery

The Black Forest is best known for its fairy tale-esque villages, including Triberg, Bühl, Hornberg, and Schiltach. These enchanted places come straight from a storybook.

Though some of these villages date back to the 13th Century, they all offer a perfect setting for a fairytale break.

Triberg, Germany

Triberg Waterfalls

Triberg is a picturesque, tiny town in southwestern Germany. This famous tourist destination features Germany’s highest waterfalls and the world’s smallest and largest cuckoo clocks.

The town has a popular ski resort that attracts visitors for winter sports. Around 600,000 people visit this place each year to enjoy stunning views of this tourist attraction while skiing or hiking.

This mountain village is around 20 km southeast of Titisee-Neustadt or Lake Titisee, about 120 km southwest of Freiburg, and about 140 kilometers south of Karlsruhe.

Bühl, Germany

Windeck Castle Ruins

Just a 40-minute drive northwest of Stuttgart lies the small town of Bühl. This fairytale town is home to many paths, bridges, and waterways, which offer an escape from daily worries. 

Full of history, both Buhl and Baden feature many medieval sights worth exploring.

Hornberg, Germany

Hornberg Town Scenery

Hornberg is a small town in the Black Forest region of southern Germany. It is primarily a tourist destination and has many sights worth exploring.  The most famous attraction in the town is the castle. There are also other historic buildings, like churches.

While Hornberg is not known for any particular industry, there are tourist attractions that contribute to its economy. Tourists mostly come here for day trips or stay for extended vacations in nearby hotels or campsites.

Schiltach, Germany

Schiltach Village Covered in Snow

Schiltach is a medieval town in the Black Forest. It is located on the Kinzig River, in a small valley between the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains. There are many natural wonders to explore, including waterfalls and woodlands with beech trees that take you hundreds of years back. 

One of the biggest attractions of Schiltach is its century-old baroque buildings, offering a glimpse into history and culture. Schiltach also has many historical and cultural sites which attract tourists all year round, especially during Christmas.

See RelatedBest Christmas Traditions in German

10. Visit Baiersbronn

Baiersbronn Scenery

Also called the Michelin Star Town of Germany, Baiersbronn is a mountain resort town in Black Forest Germany. Located in the northern part of the forest, it is around 7 km north of Freudenstadt. 

This mountain town consists of nine scenic hamlets and is famous for its Michelin-star restaurants and distinctive food culture. This place offers multiple choices for fine dining. 

When in the town, you can also enjoy long walks through the forests, visit the 12th Century monastery, and shed some calories on ski slopes. 

Surrounded by greenery and trees, this place is a few miles away from the famous Hotel Traube Tonbach, Germany. If you want, you can book your stay in this luxurious hotel to make the most of your visit to Baiersbronn. 

See Related: Best Places to Visit in Germany

11. Discover the Story of Pumpernickel Bread

Pieces of Pumpernickel Bread

Pumpernickel rye bread is a kind of dark bread created in Germany in the 15th or 16th Century. In 1589, King Wilhelm declared that only rye grain could be used to bake bread within his territory. The result? A type of dark bread called pumpernickel! It’s like a kinder version of rye bread.

Rye flour contains more phytates and other substances that react with gluten and lead to the creation of tasty carotenes.

Though pumpernickel is available in most supermarkets, bakers from the Black Forest region are known to make the best pumpernickel bread.

12. Visit a Sports School in the Black Forest

Man Skiing

The Black Forest is popular with many thrill-seekers. There are numerous sports schools that offer skiing classes, trampolining, and even horse riding lessons.

There are probably more than a dozen ski resorts, ranging from small to large ones. Whether you prefer cross-country or downhill skiing, you will find something to your taste. It’s also perfect for those looking to improve their skiing skills.

The place is also home to many indoor and outdoor swimming pools, so if you’re not a skier but still want to enjoy the Black Forest waters in the winter, there’s no need to worry.

And last but not least, horse riding schools will make you feel like a real cowboy or cowgirl. You can take your pick of English-style riding, trekking tours, or horseback archery.

See Related: Best & Most Beautiful Cities in Europe to Visit

13. Walk Into a Fairy Tale in the Holiday Season

Schiltach Village Scenery

Sitting on the western edge of the Black Forest, Gengenbach is a popular tourist spot. The town is famous in Germany for its half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, unique Christmas market, and legendary advent calendar.

The town features a traditional, picturesque town center in the Old Town or Altstadt. It is here you’ll find the world’s biggest advent calendar. The 24 window of the town hall shows the 24 days of the advent calendar during December!

14. Sample The Black Forest Gateau Cake

Black Forest Cake

This German sweet treat is made using cherries, bitter chocolate, and whipped cream – a perfect summer indulgence. The Black Forest Cake is a decadent dessert that contains cherries, chocolate, and whipped cream. This classic German dessert has multiple layers of cake, cherry filling, whipped cream frosting, and dark chocolate topping.

It is a popular dessert in and outside of Germany. A visit to the Black Forest region is incomplete without giving a try to its delicious cake. You can have this eponymous chocolate cherry cake in almost any dining spot throughout the Black Forest area.

See Related: Best Warm Winter Destinations in Europe

15. Try out MORE Chocolate!

Chocolate Crumbles

The Black Forest has some of the best artisan chocolatiers in Germany. Lindt & Sprüngli, Dreistadt, and Teuscher have all set up their shops here. And visiting during German Chocolate Day is a great time to try them out. Yes, it’s a real day.

16. Visit the PLAYMOBIL Fun Park

Playmobil Funpark Entrance
image by Allie_Caulfield is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Yep, you read that correctly! PLAYMOBIL has a park! To make your Black Forest trip unforgettable, consider visiting the PLAYMOBIL Fun Park.

Covering an area of around 90,000 square meters, the Black Forest Playmobil Fun Park is the largest one of its kind in the world. The park has four different zones, including Adventure Land, Knight’s Castle, Village, and Castle Square.

It offers many fun activities to do for everyone. Kids can turn their fantasies into reality in the oversized Playmobil playtime section, and parents can chill in the relaxing park atmosphere. You can spend a day at the Playmobil Fun Park with your family without ever getting bored, no matter their age.

See Related: Best Islands in Germany to Visit

Travel Tips for the Black Forest

Black Forest

Do you still have a few questions? Watch our video for several travel tips to make the most out of your travel in Germany and its top attractions.

Black Forest Tourism Guide – Final Thoughts

Giant German Mushroom Sculptures

If you’re visiting the Black Forest and want the best experience, we recommend trying out these things. If not, then don’t worry! The beauty of this region is too great for a single visit; come back again soon so that you can explore more of what it has to offer.

We hope our guide will help your journey in the Black Forest be as enjoyable as possible. Enjoy exploring one of Germany’s most beautiful regions on your next trip.

FAQs

How many divisions are there in the Black Forest?

Well, the Black Forest has several divisions, including:

– Southeastern Black Forest
– Black Forest Foothills
– High Black Forest
– Black Forest Grinden and Enz Hills
– Central Black Forest
– Northern Black Forest Valleys

What is the best place to find cuckoo clocks in the Black Forest?

The German Clock Museum in Furtwangen is a must-visit if you’re looking for the Black Forest’s famous cuckoo clocks. The place features over 8,000 watches and clocks from across the globe.

Alternatively, if you want to buy a cuckoo clock, there are many fantastic manufacturers based in the region. The museum will be able to point you in the right direction.

What are the unusual things to do in Black Forest Mountain?

Some of the unusual and popular things you can do in this dark forest are as follows:

– Learn cooking with local wild plants
– Visit House of 1000 Clocks – a five-generation clock manufacturer
– Celebrate Christmas at Gengenbach
– Swim at the Titisee Lake
– Cross the Schluchsee Lake with a boat

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