SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1: Travel from London to Freiburg by train

Begin your Black Forest rail holiday by travelling from London to Paris on the Eurostar, on a morning departure. After changing stations in Paris, take the train to Freiburg, changing one more time in Karlsruhe. Arrive in Freiburg at around 6pm and check in to your hotel for two nights.

Day 2: In Freiburg

You have one whole day to explore this vibrant university town that is the gateway city to the Black Forest.

One of your first visits should be to the distinctive Freiburg Minster with its Gothic church tower, the only one of its kind in Germany. It is possible to climb this tower and get a wonderful view of the city from its viewing platform. The Minster is located within Münsterplatz, a pedestrianised square which contains a market from Mondays to Saturdays. Take the time to explore the stalls displaying everything from regional produce to exotic spices and homemade wares. The Augustiner Museum is a former monastery which has been converted into an art gallery displaying works from the Middle Ages through to the Baroque period. You will find a variety of works, from original medieval stained glass to Baroque sculptures, paintings and altars.

To gain a true panoramic view of the city, you should take the funicular railway up to the top of Schlossberg, a hill overlooking the city in the Black Forest. This modern railway will take you to the top in just three minutes, rewarding you with views of the city and vineyards. Slightly further out is the much higher mountain of Schauinsland. Reachable via the longest cable car in Germany, the mountain summit looks out onto the peaks of the Alps to the south.

Day 3: Freiburg to Titisee by train

You travel today from Freiburg to Titisee, a journey of roughly half an hour on the famous Hollentalbahn (Hell Valley Railway).

Departing Freiburg’s main station, you travel first through the Dreisam River valley before ascending into the forested mountains. Look out for the Ravenna Bridge, rebuilt following World War II, which offers some of the most dramatic views on the journey. You soon arrive in the town of Titisee nestled on the shores of the lake for which it is named. Check in to your hotel for the next two nights.

Day 4: In Titisee

Titisee is known for its wonderful walking and hiking opportunities. Venturing out around the lake will reward you with stunning views of the Black Forest. There are also thousands of kilometres of bike trails in the forest, giving you a wide variety of options, whether you prefer an intense cycle or a more leisurely ride to take in the scenery.

You will find multiple boat rental places along the lakeshore, ranging from rowing boats to kayaks and motorboats. On a clear day a worthwhile activity is to climb the Hochfirst Mountain, as in the right conditions it is possible to see the Swiss and Austrian Alps in the distance. There is a restaurant at the top where you can replenish yourself, before the return journey back to town.

Day 5: Titisee to Triberg by train

Today you continue from Titisee to Triberg, with a change of trains in Donaueschingen on the eastern edge of the forest.

Check in to your hotel in Triberg where you will spend the next two nights.

Day 6: In Triberg

Your day should start with a trip to the Triberg Waterfalls. Germany’s highest waterfalls, the water plunges 163m and is particularly dramatic after heavy rainfall and after the snow has melted. These are easily reached from the centre of town on foot along multiple marked trails: the “Naturweg”, the “Kulturweg” and the “Kaskadenweg”. Close by the main entrance you will find the Schwarzwald Museum, detailing the history of the Black Forest and its inhabitants.

You can also visit the Eble Uhren-Park (clock park) which houses a huge range of cuckoo clocks, including the largest in the world. On the opposite end of the scale, the world’s smallest cuckoo clock can be found at Hubert Herr’s souvenir store, a family business which has been designing cuckoo clocks since the 1800s. It is possible to buy one of these to take home for yourself.

Day 7: Triberg to Baden-Baden by train

The final stop on your holiday is Baden-Baden.

Board a train mid-morning from Triberg, arriving in Baden-Baden just before lunch time. Check in to your hotel for your last three nights.

Days 8 & 9: In Baden-Baden

Baden-Baden is world-renowned as an outstanding spa town. You may want to take the time to relax at the end of your holiday with a visit to one of the many spa centres specialising in wellness and health treatments. You will find an extremely wide range of treatments designed to treat both the body and the mind. Perhaps the most impressive of these thermal spas is Friedrichsbad: completed in 1877, this palace was built to replenish a struggling town and now offers an exclusive experience of 17 different treatment stations.

Baden-Baden also has some stunning natural locations in its vicinity. Lichtentaler Allee and Lake Mummelsee will allow you to experience the tranquil environment which one associates with the Black Forest, whilst the nearby Merkur Mountain provides a more thrilling activity. The summit can also be reached by funicular train if you prefer this method.

Staying within the town, the Frieder Burda Museum offers fascinating displays of modern and contemporary art, featuring around 1,000 paintings, sculptures and photographs. The Festspielhaus, one of the largest opera houses in Europe, showcases operas and ballets, as well as orchestral music and solo performances from prominent musicians. Baden-Baden’s marketplace, once the vibrant centre of the town, is now a quiet area containing cafes, a historic church and a terraced garden and is well worth the time to take a leisurely stroll around.

Day 10: Baden-Baden to London by train

On the final day of your holiday take the train from Baden-Baden just before 9am.

After a change of trains in Karlsruhe you will arrive in Paris, where you will have to change stations to catch the Eurostar, arriving in London St Pancras in the early evening.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. This price includes second class rail travel, with supplement for first class and standard premier on Eurostar of about £380 per person.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information, including full directions and suggestions on places to visit, to help you get the most from your trip.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.