- The Saar Loop viewpoint and treetop walk near Mettlach is the signature sight
- Völklingen Ironworks is a UNESCO-listed former steelworks
- Saarbrücken is under two hours from Paris by high-speed train
- Easy to combine with Trier, Luxembourg and Metz
- Airports
- Luxembourg (LUX), Frankfurt (FRA), Saarbrücken (SCN)
- Best time to go
- May-September
- Type
- Region
Saarland is Germany's smallest state apart from the city-states, tucked against the borders of France and Luxembourg. It changed hands between France and Germany several times in the 20th century, and that history shows in the food, the language and an easy-going attitude. Coal and steel built its towns, and today old industrial sites sit alongside forested river valleys and quiet villages.
It is not a big destination on its own, but it makes a rewarding stop on a trip through the Moselle, Luxembourg or north-east France. For more on the country, see our Germany guide.
Things to do
- The Saar Loop (Saarschleife) – near Mettlach the river makes a dramatic hairpin through wooded hills. The Cloef viewpoint and a treetop walk with a tall viewing tower give the classic view.
- Völklingen Ironworks – a vast former ironworks, now UNESCO-listed, with walkways over blast furnaces and regular art exhibitions.
- Saarbrücken – the capital has the Baroque Ludwigskirche, a lively St Johanner Markt square full of bars and cafés, and a riverside promenade.
- Mettlach – Villeroy & Boch's headquarters occupy a former Benedictine abbey with a visitor centre and factory outlets.
- Roman sites – the reconstructed Roman villa at Borg and the large mosaic floor at Nennig, both close to the Moselle.
- Bliesgau – a UNESCO biosphere reserve of orchards, meadows and gentle walking country in the south-east.
- Bostalsee – a lake with beaches and water sports in the north of the state.
Where to stay
- Saarbrücken – the most choice of hotels, restaurants and transport links.
- Mettlach – a small base right by the Saar Loop.
- Bliesgau villages – rural guesthouses for walking and cycling.
- Trier – just across the border in Rhineland-Palatinate, a good base for the north of Saarland. See our Trier guide.
Getting there
Saarbrücken has a small airport with limited services, so most UK visitors fly to Luxembourg, about an hour's drive away, or Frankfurt, around two hours by road.
By rail, Saarland is one of the easiest parts of Germany to reach from London: take Eurostar to Paris and a direct high-speed train from Paris Est to Saarbrücken, which usually takes under two hours. Drivers from Calais can reach Saarbrücken in roughly five hours via Reims and Metz.
Best time to visit
May to September is best for walking the Saar Loop trails, cycling along the river and sitting outside in Saarbrücken's squares. Autumn colours around Mettlach are beautiful. Winter brings a Christmas market to Saarbrücken.
Combine Saarland with the Moselle Valley, Trier and Luxembourg for a cross-border week of wine, Roman history and industrial heritage.
Top attractions in Saarland
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.
Saarland on the map
Frequently asked questions
Is Saarland worth visiting?
Yes, for a day or two as part of a wider trip. The Saar Loop and Völklingen Ironworks are genuinely impressive, and Saarbrücken is an enjoyable, relaxed city.
What food is Saarland known for?
Hearty dishes such as Dibbelabbes (a potato and leek bake) and Lyoner sausage, plus a strong French influence on bakeries and restaurants.
Can I visit Saarland without a car?
Saarbrücken, Völklingen and Mettlach all have train stations. A car or bike is useful for the Saar Loop viewpoint, which sits on the hill above Mettlach, and for the Bliesgau.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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