a Mediterranean garden island of the Bernadotte family + the UNESCO-listed island of medieval churches — a serene lake-ferry day
Mainau best Mar-Oct; ferries Apr-Oct Booking may earn us a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Meersburg + Lindau — the lake's old harboursEssential
Germany's oldest inhabited castle at Meersburg + the storybook island harbour of Lindau with its lion + lighthouse — the Bodensee's most photogenic towns
standing — best May-Oct Booking may earn us a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Black Forest Michelin + kirsch-and-cake trailPremier
one of Germany's densest Michelin clusters, plus authentic Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte at source and Baden wine
Jun-Aug + December Booking may earn us a commission — at no extra cost to you.
7 million+ visitors a season come for ~100 attractions and 14 roller coasters across 20 themed lands
~late Mar-early Nov + winter season; Rulantica year-round Booking may earn us a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Vogtsbauernhof — Black Forest Open-Air MuseumEssential
near Gutach, Baden-Württemberg's oldest open-air museum centres on the Vogtsbauernhof farmhouse of 1612
~late Mar-early Nov Booking may earn us a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Gengenbach + Schiltach Fachwerk towns + world's largest Advent calendarEssential
two of the region's prettiest half-timbered towns, and in December Gengenbach's baroque town hall becomes the "world's largest Advent calendar"
towns standing; Advent calendar Dec Booking may earn us a commission — at no extra cost to you.
The Bollenhut — living folklore of the red pom-pom hatEssential
the whitewashed straw hat with 14 woollen pompoms, worn in Gutach/Kirnbach/Reichenbach since ~1750 and now the symbol of the whole Black Forest
Jun-Aug + December Booking may earn us a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Kaiserstuhl Pinot country — Germany's warmest wine hillsComfort
volcanic terraced slopes west of Freiburg, the warmest, sunniest region in Germany, producing benchmark Pinot Noir/Gris/Blanc
best May-Oct; harvest autumn Booking may earn us a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Mummelsee + Hornisgrinde — the High Road's legend lakeEssential
on the Schwarzwaldhochstraße at 1,032 m, the glacial cirque Mummelsee sits below the Hornisgrinde
~May-Oct; road best Apr-Oct Booking may earn us a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Winter walking + tobogganing on the FeldbergEssential
the softer, non-skier side of a Black Forest winter
snow season ~Dec-Mar Booking may earn us a commission — at no extra cost to you.
A UNESCO 'Great Spa Town' wellness break (Baden-Baden)Premier
Baden-Baden is one of the UNESCO-listed Great Spa Towns of Europe, drawing on twelve springs
standing — year-round; strong Nov-Mar off-season Booking may earn us a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte at sourceEssential
the cake the region gave the world, eaten where EU rules require the Kirsch cherry brandy distilled from Black Forest cherries
Jun-Aug + December Booking may earn us a commission — at no extra cost to you.
Good to know
When is the best time to visit The Black Forest & Southwest Germany?
**Best time:** late spring (**late April–May**) and **September** — pleasant, long days, thinner crowds; summer (Jun–Aug) is peak (and the lake's warmest); late Jan–Feb is the ski/winter window. · https://www.wanderingermany.com/when-is-the-best-time-to-visit-black-forest-germany-weather/
How do I get to The Black Forest & Southwest Germany?
**Triberg Waterfalls:** Germany's among-tallest falls — a total drop of **163 m (535 ft)** with ~2 km of boardwalks, in classic cuckoo-clock country. · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triberg_Waterfalls
What is worth doing in The Black Forest & Southwest Germany?
Feldberg summit + Black Forest National Park — ride/walk to the 1,493 m Feldberg for the region's highest panorama, then the rewilding 10,062-ha National Park along the Schwarzwaldhochstraße. · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Forest_National_Park
Keep exploring
Guides to read before you go, and nearby places worth adding to your trip. All guides
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