The Black Forest (Schwarzwald) is a region in Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany. It’s famous for its dense forests, picturesque villages, hiking trails, and thermal spa towns.
It’s also the land of cuckoo clocks, chocolate cherry cake, large wooden farmsteads, and thermal spas.
As you drive through the Schwarzwald’s dark conifer forests, you’ll understand why so many Brothers Grimm fairy tales were inspired by this corner of Germany.
Our favorite part about exploring the Black Forest was visiting the bathhouses in Baden-Baden and Bad Wildbad. We’ve included all our recommendations and tips below.
- Top Thermal Spas: Friedrichsbad and Palais Thermal
- Top Towns to Visit: Baden-Baden, Freiburg, and Schiltach
- Get the Travel Guidebook: Lonely Planet Munich, Bavaria & the Black Forest, Rick Steves Germany Travel Guide, or Lonely Planet Germany
- Black Forest Map: View our interactive Black Forest Map
Where to Stay in the Black Forest
Baden – Baden
No trip to the Black Forest is complete without visiting the historic spa town of Baden – Baden. We highly recommend spending a few luxurious days here in order to enjoy the town’s famous bathhouses.
Budget | Guesthouse Nathalie Leser offers comfortable rooms in the center of Baden-Baden.
Midrange | Hotel am Markt is a family-run hotel located in the Old Town of Baden-Baden. Though the guesthouse building dates back to the 18th century, all the rooms are modern and spotless.
Luxury | Belle Epoque is a romantic hotel with lavishly decorated rooms. Built in 1874, the villa is surrounded by expansive grounds.
Look for accommodation in Baden-Baden.
The Kinzig Valley / The Gutach Valley
Kinzig and Gutach valleys form the heart of the Black Forest. This is where many of the region’s celebrated customs originated, like the beautiful cuckoo clock and the Bollenhut, a flamboyant hat for women.
As you drive through these valleys, you’ll see old farmsteads, picturesque medieval towns, and rolling forests. To reach these destinations from Baden-Baden, take the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse (Black Forest High Street).
Budget | Rommelehof is a farmhouse situated in Gutach. It’s more than just a place to sleep; it’s a complete experience. We loved staying in this lively environment, surrounded by cows, pigs, and kittens. Families with children will love this place too.
Midrange/Luxury | If you are looking for something more modern, check out Kirnbacher Hof in Wolfach. This chic family-run hotel features contemporary rooms, a loft spa, and an on-site restaurant and bar (the food is excellent). The spa and wellness area consists of two saunas, a scenic jacuzzi, and relaxation rooms.
Luxury | Adler 1604 Boutique Hotel mit Restaurant im Schwarzwald in Schiltach is probably one of the best places to stay in the Black Forest. The half-timbered building dating back to 1604 offers big, modern rooms and excellent service in a lovely location.
Look for accommodation in Gutach.
Look for accommodation in Wolfach.
Look for accommodation in Schiltach.
7 Best Things to Do in the Black Forest
1. Bathe in the Thermal Pools of Palais Thermal
Visiting a Therme is an essential experience to have in Germany. It’s not only relaxing, but it’s also a cultural experience that’s very valued by the German people. If you’re in the Black Forest, add Palais Thermal to your itinerary.
This breathtaking bathhouse is located in the spa town of Bad Wildbad, where people have been bathing in the healing waters since 1521.
As you hop from one thermal pool to another (12 in total), you’ll be surrounded by sculptures, mosaics, painted columns and arches, and stained glass ceilings and windows.
When it’s time for something to eat, head to the Moorish Hall, a splendidly decorated and light-filled dining space.
Palais Thermal also contains a three-floor sauna complex with thermal pools, saunas, relaxation rooms, and sun decks.
Time Needed | We spent 5 hours here. You’ll need at least that amount of time to experience all the levels. And, if you’re interested in a wellness treatment, add on additional time.
What to Bring | Bring a bathing suit, waterproof flip flops, two towels, toiletries (soap, shampoo, etc…), and a bathrobe. Note: bathing suits are optional on the bottom floor, where the bathhouse is. The sauna area is “textile-free,” which means you’re not allowed to wear a bathing suit.
2. Follow the 17 Stations to Wellness in Friedrichsbad
If you’re in Baden-Baden, which means “to bathe – to bathe,” then you really have to do the “to bathe” thing.
It was the Romans who first discovered the healing waters of Baden-Baden and set up a wellness complex here for their soldiers and citizens. The foundations of the Roman bath ruins are still viewable below Friedrichsbad.
Today, this historic spa town is home to two famous thermal spas: Friedrichsbad and Caracalla Spa.
Friedrichsbad was opened in 1877 and at the time was considered the most modern bathing establishment in Europe. The main attraction was and is the mineral thermal water rich in calcium and magnesium.
Mark Twain wrote, “Here at the Friedrichsbad, you lose track of time within 10 minutes and track of the world within 20.”
The concept of the spa is achieved by relaxing through a sequence of warm and hot dry air baths, a soap and brush massage, steam baths, thermal pools, and thermal water showers.
You’ll be guided (via signs) through a 17 station journey through the spa. The signs let you know how many minutes you should spend at each station.
Good to Know | There are specified days when men and women bathe together, and other days when they bathe separately.
What to Bring | You don’t need to bring anything. Towels and sandals are provided.
Textile-Free Spa | You only get to wear your birthday suit.
Entrance Ticket | There are different package options to consider. We recommend opting for the “Wellness” package which gives you 3.5 hours in the spa as well as a soap and brush massage that stimulates blood circulation. You’ll also feel squeaky clean after that 8 minute scrub.
Eat | After you’re done bathing, head to Weinstube Baldreit for wine and flammkuchen (alsatian pizza) in a hidden courtyard.
3. Visit the Alternative Wolf and Bear Park – Black Forest
This Alternative Wolf and Bear Park is a retirement home and refuge for bears that have been abused and mistreated by humans (e.g. circuses).
These bears are incapable of living in the wild because their behavior has been shaped by human treatment.
The goal of this park is to provide a safe and spacious area for these bears to live in. The park is also home to several wolves. If you love animals like us and want to support a great organization, visit this park.
You’ll need about 1.30 hours to walk the 2 km circuit.
4. Visit the Historic Old Town of Schiltach
Located in the Kinzig Valley of the Black Forest, Schiltach is a story-book town with beautifully restored half-timbered houses. The triangular Marktplatz (Market Square) is the heart of the old town.
The town well with the lion dates back to the 15th century (though renovated in 1750) and is the symbol of the independent status of the market, which was given in 1430.
You’ll also find a renaissance style Rathaus with crow-step gables in the Marktplatz.
After enjoying the beauty of the old town, go to Café Bachbeck for coffee and a slice of their Schwarzwälder-Kirsch-Torte (Black Forest Cherry Cake).
5. Freiburg im Breisgau
Freiburg is a lively city of 220,000 people in the south-western region of the Black Forest. With a charming medieval old town and dynamic café culture, Freiburg harmoniously balances the old and the new.
Narrow water-filled rills (Bächle in Germany) run through the city center. In summer, children and dogs dip their feet and play in these waterways.
Definitely visit the daily market (Monday-Saturday), located at the market square next to the Cathedral (Freiburger Münster). There you can buy fruits and vegetables and choose a sausage from at least seven different Würststände.
There’s a lovely wine bar facing the cathedral called Alte Wache (Münsterplatz 38, 79098), which is the perfect place to sit outside on a sunny day and watch the action of the old town center.
6. Tour Casino Baden-Baden
Marlene Dietrich said it was the most beautiful casino in the world.
Inspired by his visit, Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote The Gambler.
Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt gave concerts in the Kurhaus’ grand halls.
Visiting the famous Casino Baden-Baden is an absolute must.
Though the casino’s golden age was in the 19th century, the splendor of the interior is still intact.
The rooms are lavishly decorated in styles ranging from Louis XIV Versailles-inspired to Art Nouveau style and Florentine Renaissance.
There are two ways to visit Casino Baden-Baden. You can either take a guided tour during the morning, or come at night in fine attire, with your passport, to play and watch.
7. Spend the Night at a Farm
One of our favorite experiences was staying the night in the dairy farm Rommelehof in Gutach.
In this lively environment, surrounded by cattle, kittens, and pigs, it’s fascinating to watch the family operate the farm.
As guests, you can soak in Black Forest rural life, without having to do any of the hard work.
For dinner, we ordered a mixed plate of meats and cheeses and simply relaxed.
In this region, farmers traditionally make their own Schnapps, an alcoholic beverage made with fruit.
They’re very proud of their homemade fruit brandies and will gladly share them with you.
What to Eat & Drink in the Black Forest
Eat
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte – this is the cake you have to eat in the Black Forest. It’s a layered cake containing cream, chocolate, cherries, and Schnapps.
Schwarzwälder Schinken – Black Forest Ham.
Drink
Rothaus Pils Tannenzäpfle – This is the famous regional beer from the brewery Rothaus located in the heart of the Black Forest.
Fürstlich Fürstenbergische Brauerei – regional beer.
Keep Reading about Germany
Germany Travel Guides
- Germany Travel Guide
- Ahr Valley Travel Guide
- Upper Middle Rhine Valley Travel Guide
- Moselle Valley Travel Guide
- Eifel Region Travel Guide
- Cologne City Guide
Upper Bavaria
- 10-Day Bavarian Alps & Tyrolean Alps Road Trip
- Best Things to Do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- Best Hikes in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- Lake Eibsee
- Partnach Gorge Hike
- Alpspitze Via Ferrata
- Kreuzeck to Höllentalklamm Gorge Hike
- Hochplatte Hike, Ammergau Alps
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Winter
- Hoher Kranzberg Hike, Mittenwald, Bavaria
Pin this Image for Future Trip Planning!
Stay Connected:
Connect with us on Pinterest.
Follow us on Instagram.
Like us on Facebook.
Support Us:
If you love reading our content, you can buy us a coffee via Ko-Fi.
