Since visiting the Black Forest for myself back in May, I’ve been amazed by how many of you have got in touch to say its somewhere you’ve never thought of going before, but would now love to visit. So I thought it might be useful for me to share my day-by day itinerary as a starting point to plan your own trip. My itinerary was suggested by destination experts at Tourism Germany, who wanted to make sure I saw all the highlights of the Black Forest. Although I blitzed this route in just 4 days and 4 nights, I would suggest doing it over 7 nights for a more relaxed, holiday-style pace. Here’s my epic Black Forest 7 day Itinerary.
Black Forest 7 day Itinerary
Introducing The Black Forest
The Black Forest is a green and mountainous region of south west Germany. Its best known for its enchanting fairytale forests, quaint villages and spectacular scenes of nature (think lakes, waterfalls and mountains). The biggest town in the region is Freiburg, which is home to a pretty old town of pastel buildings and the gothic Freiburg Minster. The Black Forest is also an unlikely foodie capital of the world, with the small town of Braiersbronn boasting an amazing 8 Michelin stars across 3 restaurants.
This Black Forest 7 day Itinerary in a Nutshell
This Black Forest 7 day itinerary suggests spending
- 2 nights in Freiburg
- 2 nights in Baden-Baden
- 3 nights in Feldberg.
It’s designed to include a range of highlights in the region, combining city, spa and plenty of activities amongst the nature. By including a stop in the famous spa-town of Baden-Baden, you can mix in some luxury or relaxation alongside getting active in the great outdoors. I found this itinerary to be a great introduction to the Black Forest and the route allows stop offs in additional places of interest along the way. A car is also essential for this route, whether it’s your own or a hire car. As the itinerary includes plenty of ‘outdoorsy’ activities, I would suggest doing this in either spring or summer time.
Freiburg
How Many Nights: 2
Where to Stay: The Alex (a stylish and friendly boutique hotel on the edge of town with a great buffet breakfast)
Start your Black Forest adventure in the pretty town of Freiburg and allow 1-2 days for sightseeing, exploring and generally soaking up the al-fresco cafe culture. Start your exploration at the famous Munsterplatz, which is regarded as the heart of the Old Town. Step inside the iconic Freiburg Munster and browse the colourful Munsterplatz Market that is open daily. Navigate your way towards the eye-catching Blue Bridge for a great photo op, take a visit to the Sacred Heart Church and stop for a hearty lunch at nearby Cafe Huber. For something a bit different, you could also head to Europa-Park for the day (Germany’s largest theme park which is only a 30 minute drive from Freiburg).
Baden-Baden
How Many Nights: 2 nights
Where to Stay: Brenner’s Park Hotel and Spa (a luxurious 5 star hotel in the heart of Baden-Baden with fine dining and a world-renowned spa)
After plenty of exploring, embrace the ‘down time’ part of your itinerary with a stay in Baden-Baden. The drive from Freiburg to Baden Baden takes around 1.5 hours along a major highway. The Black Forest is home to a series of spa towns, and Baden-Baden is probably the most well known. You’ll find a range of hotels in Baden-Baden with a focus on wellness as well as two public thermal baths. For the ultimate treat, go Travelista style and indulge in a stay at Brenner’s Park Hotel and Spa. The hotel’s Villa Stephanie spa is one of the best I’ve ever experienced. But if spa-ing isn’t for you, there are plenty of museums on the Cultural mile and lots of elegant boutique shops in the old town. It’s also home to ‘the most beautiful casino in the world’ according to Marlene Dietrich.
Triberg
No overnight stay in Triberg, unless you want to extend your trip beyond 7 days
Next up, take the 1.5 hour drive from Baden-Baden to the small town of Triberg. Whilst this place may not look like much more than a main street with a few restaurants and cafes, it’s actually home to the tallest waterfalls in Germany. Nestled away in the dense forest behind the town, the multi-level falls are a spectacular sight and bridges and footpaths allow you to climb all the way to the top. I was surprised to find that the waterfalls are not well-sign posted at all, so make a note of the entrance at Hauptstraße 85. From there it’s a 5-10 minute walk to the falls. Parking is available in the town centre at Bergsee, Scheffelplatz or Adelheid. Entry is 5 euros per person and 4 euros for students.
Feldberg
How Many Nights: 3
Where to Stay: Hotel Schledhorn (a charming family-run boutique hotel with spa, pool, fantastic restaurant and authentic alpine-style decor)
Once you’ve soaked up the beautiful sights at the Triberg waterfalls, head on to your final destination of this Black Forest itinerary; Feldberg. The drive from Triberg to Feldberg takes around 1 hour. Feldberg is the place I felt there was the most to see and do, so I’d recommend 3 nights to make the most of the area. Start your time in Feldberg with a easy hike to the stunning Feldsee Lake. It’s hidden in the forest and can only be reached by foot, so if you want to see it you’ve got to be willing to put the work in. From the car park its around a 1 hour walk, give or take depending on your pace.
A visit to the Ravenna Gorge is also a must, which you can hike to or drive to. The Ravenna Gorge’s old railway viaduct is an iconic sight and the reward at the end of your journey. If you’re up for the 8km hike, drive to the town of Hinterzarten and follow this trail. About halfway in to your hike take a break at Hofgut Sternen.
Lake Titisee is also a must-visit when staying in Feldberg, and is probably one of the more touristy areas of The Black Forest. This picturesque lake is framed by lush mountains and is a hub of activity in the summer months. You can hire rowing boats and pedalos or you can hop on a large passenger boat for a relaxing river cruise – ideal after all your hiking and activities. If you want to avoid the crowds, check out the lesser known Schluchsee Lake and for some panoramic views take a ride on the Feldbergbahn (Feldberg cable car).
Getting There
If you’re flying, the closest airport is EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg. It’s a pretty unique airport that sits on the border of Germany, France and Switzerland and serves as the main airport for all 3 key cities. Plenty of hire car companies operate at the airport. Of course depending on your starting location, you could also drive. It’s an 8-9 hour drive from Dover in the UK.
How many days do you need in the Black Forest?
If you are wanting to do a multi-stop Black Forest road trip / vacation, I would say that 7 nights is the minimum amount of time you should allow to discover this beautiful region of Germany. You could easily use this Black Forest 7 day itinerary as a starting point and extend the number of nights in each town / village or add on de-tours along the way.
Want to read more Black Forest travel guides? Check out
- The Most Instagrammable Spots in Freiburg
- 7 Unusual Things to do in the Black Forest
What did you think of my Black Forest 7 day itinerary? Have you been inspired to visit this region of Germany or do you have any useful tips you could add to fellow readers? If you enjoyed this post, please leave me a comment in the box below. Jess x
This is a sponsored blog post that has been created in collaboration with Germany Tourism.
Hotel Schlehdorn, Feldsee