Black Forest
The Black Forest is a mountain range in southwest Germany, known for hiking trails, mountain lakes and spa towns.
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The Black Forest is a forested mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwest Germany, near the French and Swiss borders. It is Germany's highest and largest connected low mountain range, covering more than 6,000 square kilometers. Its highest peak is the Feldberg at 1,493 meters. The Danube and the Neckar both rise here.
Visitors come to hike, to try water sports such as diving and windsurfing on Titisee and Schluchsee, and to see the Triberg Waterfalls. The range stretches about 150 to 160 kilometers from north to south, so a single trip usually covers only one part of it. Freiburg and Baden-Baden are two bases to consider. The KONUS guest card, given by about 11,000 hosts in 143 resorts, allows free use of local buses and trains. Hiking and mountain biking run from spring to autumn, and the Feldberg area offers skiing in winter.
Black Forest in five
- Get a guest card with free transitMany towns give overnight guests a KONUS card, which covers buses and regional trains across much of the region. Ask when you check in.
- Ride the Höllental line to TitiseeThe train from Freiburg climbs through the Höllental gorge to Titisee in about 40 minutes.
- Walk to the Triberg waterfallsAmong Germany's highest waterfalls, reached on a paid path from the town. Go early to avoid tour coaches.
- Take the Schauinsland cable carIt climbs from the edge of Freiburg to a summit with trails and views to the Alps on clear days.
Neighborhoods
Freiburg
- Price band: $$
Baden-Baden
- Price band: $$$
Things to do in Black Forest
See all attractions in Black Forest
Need to know
- Airport
- EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, about 1 hour by bus to Freiburg
- Getting there
- ICE to Freiburg or Baden-Baden; Frankfurt to Freiburg about 2 hours
- Getting around
- Regional trains and buses, often free with a guest card
- Best base
- Freiburg for trains, Hinterzarten or Titisee for the hills
- Time needed
- 3–4 days
Weather by month
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow on hills
- FebruarySnow, ski
- MarchCool, thaw
- AprilSpring, blossom
- MayGreen, hiking
- JuneLong days
- JulyWarm, storms
- AugustWarm, busy
- SeptemberClear, mild
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberGray, fog
- DecemberChristmas markets
Festivals: Jul Rossini in Wildbad
Right now in Black Forest
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
5
- Feels like
- 2°
- Humidity
- 69%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Black Forest
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°0°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue7°3°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed7°4°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu10°0°0%Thursday: Fog. High 10°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri7°-1°2%Friday: Rain. High 7°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat9°2°12%Saturday: Rain. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sun12°1°16%Sunday: Rain. High 12°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 16%.
Updated 09:17 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jul–AugZelt-Musik-FestivalFreiburg, a day trip
- JulRossini in WildbadBlack Forest
- Sep–OctCannstatter VolksfestStuttgart, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Titiseeabout 40 minutes by train from FreiburgA lake with boats and walking paths in the southern hills.
- Colmar, Franceabout 1 hour by car or busHalf-timbered Alsace town across the Rhine.Read the guide
- Baden-Badenabout 45 minutes by train from FreiburgA spa town with thermal baths at the northern edge of the forest.Read the guide
Before you go to Black Forest
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Plan around Black Forest
Cities, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideFreiburgThe base for trains, food and day trips
Read the guideBaden-BadenThermal baths at the northern edge
Read the guideColmarHalf-timbered Alsace, about an hour west
Read the guideTrains, buses and carsGetting around Germany beyond the ICE
Read the guideBlack Forest FAQ
Where should I stay in the Black Forest?
Freiburg for trains, food and day trips. For hiking and quiet, stay in Hinterzarten, Titisee or another hill village.
Can I see the Black Forest without a car?
Yes. Regional trains and buses reach most villages and trailheads, and many guest cards make them free.
What is the KONUS card?
A guest card given by many Black Forest towns to overnight guests. It covers local buses and regional trains across much of the region.
When is the best time to visit the Black Forest?
May to October for hiking, with September and October often the clearest. Winter brings snow on the higher hills for skiing and Christmas markets in the towns.
How many days do you need in the Black Forest?
Three or four days cover a Freiburg base, the Höllental line to Titisee, Triberg and a hill village. Allow fewer if you only want Freiburg and one day on the trails.