- Freiburg and Baden-Baden bracket the forest and make easy bases
- Triberg, Titisee and the Feldberg are the classic sights in the central and southern forest
- Many hotels give guests a card for free local buses and trains
- Driving the Black Forest High Road is a highlight in autumn
- Airports
- Basel-Mulhouse (BSL), Stuttgart (STR), Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (FKB), Zurich (ZRH)
- Best time to go
- May-October for walking; December-March for snow on the higher hills
- Type
- Region
The Black Forest (Schwarzwald) is a long range of wooded hills in the far south-west of Germany, running roughly 160km from near Karlsruhe to the Swiss border, with the Rhine and France to the west. It is the Germany of cuckoo clocks, cherry gâteau and farmhouses with huge sloping roofs, but also a serious walking and cycling region with deep valleys, lakes and long-distance trails.
It is part of Baden-Württemberg and pairs naturally with Freiburg, Baden-Baden and Lake Constance. For the wider country, see our Germany guide.
Things to do
- Triberg Waterfalls – among Germany's highest falls, tumbling through forest in a series of cascades. The town is also the home of giant cuckoo clocks.
- Titisee and Schluchsee – lakes in the southern forest for swimming, pedal boats and lakeside walks.
- The Feldberg – at roughly 1,490m, the highest peak in the Black Forest, with sweeping views towards the Alps on clear days and skiing in winter.
- The Black Forest High Road – the B500 between Baden-Baden and Freudenstadt runs along the ridge past viewpoints and the Mummelsee lake.
- Black Forest Open-Air Museum – the Vogtsbauernhof in Gutach brings together historic farmhouses and traditional crafts.
- Gengenbach and Schiltach – two of the prettiest half-timbered towns, in the Kinzig valley.
- Freiburg – the sunny "capital" of the southern Black Forest. See our Freiburg guide.
- Baden-Baden – spa baths and elegant parks at the northern edge. Read our Baden-Baden guide.
For walkers, the Westweg runs the length of the forest from Pforzheim to Basel, and the Black Forest National Park protects wild high moors in the north.
Where to stay
| Area | Why stay there |
|---|---|
| Freiburg | Lively city with trains into the southern forest |
| Baden-Baden | Spas, culture and the northern Black Forest High Road |
| Titisee or Hinterzarten | Lakes, the Feldberg and winter sports |
| Triberg | Central forest, waterfalls and the Black Forest Railway |
| Gengenbach | Pretty town in the Kinzig valley with good rail links |
Getting there
Basel-Mulhouse airport, on the French side of Basel, is the closest for the southern forest; Freiburg is around 45 minutes away by road. Stuttgart and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden airports suit the north. Zurich is another option for the south-east. Check current routes from your nearest UK airport.
By rail, take Eurostar to Paris, then a high-speed train to Strasbourg or Karlsruhe and connect to Offenburg or Freiburg. The scenic Black Forest Railway climbs from Offenburg through dozens of tunnels to Triberg.
Best time to visit
May to October is best for walking, with lush green valleys in early summer and golden colours in October. Summer weekends at Titisee and Triberg can be busy. From December to March the higher areas around the Feldberg usually have snow for skiing and winter walking.
Ask your hotel about the KONUS guest card, which gives free use of buses and regional trains across much of the Black Forest during your stay.
Top attractions in Black Forest
LandmarkBrandenburg Gate
Berlin's neoclassical city gate, crowned by the Quadriga, once trapped behind the Wall and now the symbol of a reunited…
LandmarkEast Side Gallery
The longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, painted in 1990 by artists from around the world and now an open-air…
LandmarkNeuschwanstein Castle
King Ludwig II's fairy-tale castle on a crag in the Bavarian Alps, the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Black Forest on the map
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best base for the Black Forest?
Freiburg for the south and city comforts, Baden-Baden for the north and spas, or a smaller town like Titisee or Triberg if you want to wake up in the forest itself.
Do I need a car in the Black Forest?
It helps for the high roads and remote villages, but trains and buses cover the main towns, and the KONUS card makes them free for many visitors.
What is the Black Forest famous for?
Cuckoo clocks, Black Forest gâteau (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte), smoked ham, traditional costume with pom-pom hats, and great walking.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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