Photo by Shalev Cohen on Unsplash
A slow week by car through the Black Forest: Freiburg and its minster, the lakes of the high country, the waterfalls and clock country around Triberg, half timbered towns, the spa town of Baden-Baden and the High Road. Three stops a day, and afternoons left open.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
A gentle start in a university town at the edge of the forest. The sights are close together, and the day ends on a hill with a view of the roofs.
The red sandstone cathedral with a tall, lacy spire that dominates the old town. Walk around it, step inside, and look at the carved figures over the doorway.
Go when Morning, when the stone is still cool and the square is quiet.
Local tip Look up at the spire from the square, then walk once around the outside. The carved figures around the doorway are worth a slow look.
The red building with a row of statues on its front, on the minster square. A short look from outside is enough.
Go when Any time you are crossing the minster square.
Local tip Count the statues on the front. They are rulers from the past of the region, and they make a good photograph from the square.
Flammkuchen is a thin, crisp flatbread baked in a hot oven and topped with cream, onions and bacon. Easy to share, and a light lunch for a warm day.
Local tip Order one to share and add a green salad on the side.
The wooded hill above the old town, with paths up through trees and a view over the red roofs and out to the forest. An easy, shaded walk.
Go when Late afternoon, around sunset (about 9:00 PM), when the roofs glow.
Local tip Walk up under the trees by the shady path. The climb is gentle, and the view is worth a bench and ten quiet minutes.
Spaetzle are soft, hand-cut noodles, served with melted cheese and crisp onions, or with a mushroom sauce. A simple, filling dinner.
Local tip Ask for the version with mushrooms or cheese, and eat it slowly with a glass of local wine.
The first drive into the high forest: a lake with a town on its shore, then the highest mountain in the Black Forest. Lifts and trails depend on the season, so check ahead.
A glacial lake ringed by dark forest. Walk the shore path, or simply sit on a bench and watch the boats.
Go when Morning, before the shore paths fill.
Local tip Walk away from the busiest part of the shore. The quieter side has benches, and the water is calm in the morning.
A small dark lake in a bowl under the Feldberg, reached by a woodland path. Quiet and cool even on a warm day.
Go when Midday, when the light reaches the water.
Local tip The path is a woodland walk with some climbing, so wear shoes you are happy to walk in. Check ahead for the state of the trail if there has been snow.
Black Forest ham is smoked and cured, with a dark rind, and is usually served thinly sliced on dark, hearty bread. A trail lunch, with a pickle on the side.
Local tip Buy it at a butcher or a village bakery and take it to a bench by the water.
The highest peak in the Black Forest, with wide, open slopes and views that can reach far across the region on a clear day. Check ahead for lifts and trails before you go.
Go when Afternoon, if the sky is clear.
Local tip Check ahead for the lifts and for the weather on the top, which can be cold and windy even in late spring. A hat and a warm layer help.
Black Forest cake is layers of chocolate sponge, whipped cream and cherries, with a splash of cherry spirit. The region's most famous sweet.
Local tip Have it in the afternoon with coffee, and share a slice if you are not sure you can finish it.
A day around Triberg, the heart of cuckoo clock country, with a famous waterfall and a farm village that has been kept as it was. Long pauses, short walks.
A small town in a steep valley, known for its clocks. Browse a few shops, and listen for the cuckoos calling the hour.
Go when Morning, before the clock shops fill up.
Local tip Cuckoo clocks come in many styles, from simple to very ornate. Look at a few and listen to them strike the hour before you decide anything.
Trout is a long-time favorite in the region, served whole with potatoes and a little butter. A light, simple plate after a morning in the hills.
Local tip Ask for it with boiled potatoes and a squeeze of lemon.
A cascade of water that drops down a series of steps through the forest. A path with many stairs runs alongside, so take it slowly.
Go when Midday, with a long pause on the way.
Local tip The path is steep with many steps. Go as far as is comfortable, and stop at the first viewing points. Check ahead if there has been ice or heavy rain.
Old farmhouses with deep thatched roofs, brought together near Gutach and kept as they were. Walk between them and look at how families lived and worked in the hills.
Go when Afternoon, when the groups have thinned out.
Local tip Duck into the low rooms of the farmhouses and notice how small the doors and beds are. The big thatched roofs reach almost to the ground.
Maultaschen are large stuffed pasta pockets, served in broth or fried with onions and egg. A comforting dish from the region.
Local tip Try them in broth on a cool evening, or pan fried with a side of salad.
A day in the quieter south: a big lake, a grand domed church in a forest town, and a summit with a long view. Check ahead if you want to ride a lift.
The largest lake in the Black Forest, with a shore of meadows and woods. Take a stroll along the water, and watch the sailboats.
Go when Morning, when the water is still.
Local tip Walk a stretch of the shore path and stop where the meadows meet the water. It is a good place to do nothing for a while.
A smoked sausage with a tangy potato salad and mustard, a simple lunch by a lake. Easy to eat outdoors.
Local tip Order it at a lakeside kiosk and sit on the grass.
A huge round church with a green dome, set among the forest hills. Step in and look up at the pale interior.
Go when Midday, then sit in the square outside.
Local tip Stand in the middle and look straight up into the dome. The inside is plain and pale, which makes it feel very large.
Cherries grow well on the sunny slopes of the region, and cherry cake and kirsch cakes are a staple of village cafes. A pause with a pot of coffee.
Local tip Pick whatever cherry cake looks best in the glass case, and sit outside if the sun is out.
A bare, rounded peak in the southwest of the forest with views over the Rhine plain and, on a clear day, to the Alps. Check ahead for the lift before you plan your day.
Go when Late afternoon, around sunset (about 9:00 PM), if the sky is clear.
Local tip Check ahead for the lift and for the weather. In low cloud there is little to see, so swap this for a day of lake walks.
A day of quiet old towns in a river valley, with lanes of half timbered houses and a vineyard slope behind them. Easy to walk and easy to linger.
A small old town on the Kinzig river, quieter than its neighbor. Walk its lanes and stop at a bench.
Go when Morning, with coffee on the way.
Local tip Walk the main lane slowly and look up at the painted fronts and carved beams. It is much calmer than the bigger towns in the valley.
A tidy walled town of half timbered houses and flower-hung windows, with vineyards on the hill behind. Walk to the market square and look at the town hall.
Go when Midday, with a slow lunch in the square.
Local tip Walk the lanes between the gates and stop at the town hall. Late in the year its windows are turned into an Advent calendar.
A Vesper is a cold plate of cured meats, cheese, pickles and bread, a traditional snack of the region. Good with a glass of local white wine.
Local tip Share one plate between two and add a salad.
An old monastery with a baroque church and a calm garden, a short walk from the center of town.
Go when Afternoon, when the garden is warm.
Local tip Step into the church, then sit in the garden. It is a calm place, and the right size for the end of a day.
The slopes around Gengenbach are planted with Riesling and other white grapes. A small glass on a terrace is a mellow end to the afternoon.
Local tip Choose one glass, especially if you are driving on.
A day of elegant slowness in a town that has been a spa for centuries. Soak, stroll and drink your coffee on the terrace.
A grand 19th century bathhouse in the middle of Baden-Baden. Check ahead on the rules and what to wear before you decide to go in, or simply admire it from the street.
Go when Morning, when the town is still waking.
Local tip Bathing houses here have their own customs on dress and on who may enter and when. Check ahead before you plan to go in, and admire the building from the street if it is not for you.
The columned spa house at the edge of the park, with a pillared hall and a wide lawn in front. Walk the colonnade and look in.
Go when Midday, then stroll on into the park.
Local tip Walk the colonnade out front, then look in at the great hall if it is open. Dress neatly, because the town has an elegant air.
In spring the Rhine plain is full of white asparagus, served with new potatoes and ham or butter. A traditional spring plate.
Local tip Ask for the seasonal menu in late spring, and eat it with a cool glass of white wine.
A long, shaded park walk beside a small river, lined with great old trees and flower beds. An easy walk with shade the whole way.
Go when Afternoon, slowly, with a bench in the shade.
Local tip Walk it end to end, or just as far as the first bench you like. In late spring the rhododendrons and azaleas can be in flower.
A Konditorei is a traditional cake shop with a cafe. Choose a slice of tart or torte and a pot of coffee, and linger.
Local tip Sit by the window and watch the park paths.
A last drive along the ridge on the old mountain road, with a dark lake and a summit with a view. Roads and car parks can be closed after snow, so check ahead.
A small, round, dark lake high on the ridge, full of old stories about the water spirits said to live in it. Walk the shore path in a few minutes.
Go when Morning, before the road gets busy.
Local tip Walk the shore path, then take the short climb from the lake toward Hornisgrinde. Check ahead on the road after snow, since it can close.
The highest point of the northern Black Forest, a bare plateau with a short walk from the road and a long view in every direction.
Go when Midday, or at sunset (about 9:00 PM) on a clear evening.
Local tip Wear a warm layer. The wide plateau is open to the wind even in spring, and the view across the Rhine plain is long.
A thick soup of lentils or potatoes with sausage, served with dark bread, the old mountain lunch on the ridge.
Local tip Eat it hot after a windy walk on the top.
The ruined walls of a medieval monastery in a forest valley, with a path to waterfalls close by. A cool, quiet place to end the week.
Go when Afternoon, in the shade of the valley.
Local tip The path down to the waterfalls is steep and has many steps. Go as far as is comfortable, and check ahead for the condition of the trail.
Venison stew with spaetzle and red cabbage, a classic dish of the Black Forest in the cooler part of the year.
Local tip Ask what is on the seasonal menu, and share the cabbage and noodles.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, May to October are the most comfortable months for walking around Black Forest. This plan is built for late May, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 7 days in Black Forest, planned for late May. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 0.6 to 38.8 kilometers between its stops, and 112.7 kilometers in all across 7 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
5 days in the Swiss AlpsAbout 160 km awayAn easy add-on
6 days on the Rhine and MoselleAbout 210 km away
6 days in MunichAbout 250 km awayOther guides with a page about Black Forest. Each one opens in a new tab.
WikivoyageBlack Forest, the free travel guide
Lonely PlanetBlack Forest travel guide
Rick StevesBlack Forest travel guidePhoto by Dennis Ottink on Unsplash · Photo by Heidi Braun on Unsplash · Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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