Looking for suggestion on a week itinerary to the Black Forest area in and out of Zurich. Maybe sometime of loop or is Black Forest an area you would just want to stay in one location the whole time? We like day hikes, bike rides, small towns and exploring beautiful scenery.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8693 posts
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/switzerland/interesting-town-near-swiss-german-border
Edit: I spent two nights at the Parkhotel Adler, a large luxury resort in Hinterzarten. I used my Konus card to visit Titisee and walk back to Hinterzarten, and spent a half-day in Freiburg im Breisgau. Basel was as important to my car outing as a bit of the Black Forest, while my wife worked in Zurich. I did drive to a few waterfalls.
Posted by
Duluth, MN🌲
11805 posts
You could consider using Gengenbach as a base in the Black Forest. I stayed here for 4 nights in 2022 and loved it. The town is very charming with beautiful half-timbered houses (it's frequently called a "chocolate box" village) and has a lovely Altstadt, with quite a few restaurants and cafes to choose from. There are lots of things to do there and it's very quick (and easy) 40 minute train ride from Strasbourg, France and other towns in the Alsace. One additional benefit is that if you stay in the town, each person is entitled to a KONUS card, which gives you free public transportation throughout much of the Black Forest region.
There is nice shopping and lodging as well. Plus it sits right on the main train line, so it's easy to get to and from places like Switzerland and so on. There is plenty of lodging there as well. It's popular among Germans but most Americans have never heard of it so you won't get the American tourist crowds you get in Rothenburg. It's very walkable and there is an especially nice walk you can take that will get you above the town with some absolutely beautiful views of below. The hike ends up at a church called St. Jakob auf dem Bergle that sits above town. The TIC in town will have maps showing you how to get there. The views are just lovely!.
The town church (Saint Marion) is quite beautiful, and the historic medieval gates to the city are really interesting. The Benedictine Abbey is also worth a visit, and behind it are some cloistered gardens that were a joy to wander through. This was one of my favorite places. It was peaceful and inviting and I could have stayed for hours. Also don't miss a walk through Engelgasse and Höllengasse streets (near the TIC). Here you will find cobblestones and half-timbered houses, flower pots and cats resting on doormats and quaint dolls in the window. I felt like I had walked back in time when I strolled through these quaint and narrow streets.
The Vogtsbauernhof (Black Forest Open Air Museum) is located a short train trip away, which is an open air museum that is definitely worth a visit, and it's easily walkable. I think your parents would really enjoy it. Gengenbach is also on the scenic Black Forest Railway line (which you can ride for free with the KONUS card). This takes you through the scenic Black Forest and through some very charming small villages like Schiltach and Haslach.
Posted by
Paradise
8092 posts
BIKING: The Black Forest town of Donaueschingen is where the Danube River springs from the earth and begins it's March to the Black Sea. It is also the place where one of Germany's most scenic and popular bike paths begins.
https://www.komoot.com/collection/359/the-danube-cycle-path-from-donaueschingen-to-budapest
You might have a look at doing Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the many stages. Stage 2 ends in Sigmaringen, a place we included on our most recent trip to the area. In Sigmaringen, Karl's Hotel offers stunning views across the river to Sigmaringen Castle. Our stay there was perfect.
https://cdn.gastroguide.de/betrieb/281414/galerie/album/userphotos/65a8027c9b210.jpg
Gengenbach is a good base town at the west end of the Black Forest Railway. Donaueschingen is at the Eastern edge of the Black Forest, and it might be an alright place to stay for visiting other parts of the Black Forest (I've never stayed there myself.) But for a base town, look also into Villingen (walled town) and Löffingen - which just happens to be near a popular hiking option known as the Schluchtensteig:
https://www.komoot.com/tour/1384943117
Map showing Gengenbach, Villingen and Donaueschingen on the Black Forest Railway:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Verlaufskarte_Schwarzwaldbahn_%28Baden%29.png
Löffingen is on the slim, curvy railway that connects Donaueschingen with Titisee, Hinterzarten, and Freiburg. This railway is known and "Hell's Railway" (Höllentalbahn.) You can see this railway in greater detail HERE:
There's a nice trail that runs between Neustadt station and Titisee (lake and town) over the Hochfirst mountain (which has a viewing tower at the top you can climb.) You'll be hiking for a couple of hours before reaching the lake.
https://schwarzwaldverein-neustadt.de/hochfirstturm/
The view of Titisee town and lake is quite nice: