Hi we are flying into Frankfurt in a couple of weeks and want to stay a couple of nights in a central base to visit the black forest area or any suggestions. Looking for quaint less touristy areas. Also hotel or area of places to stay when we get to Bodensee :) Thank you in advance
Posted by
Paradise
7473 posts
We liked Sigmaringen, on the Danube River and on the way to Bodensee. Nice town with a few sights that is off the international tourist track.... tourists are mostly Germans. Not far from Hohenzollern Castle in Hechingen, Horb am Neckar (half-timbered old town, Tübingen, Wasserschloss Glatt (has a cafe, near Sulz) and more. Karl's hotel in Sigmaringen offers a stunning view of the castle across the Danube.
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1792 posts
You are losing half a day if travelling from the Rhine.
Russ has good suggestions.
Quaint usually means touristy. Haslach has pretty streets and buildings, not as touristy as some of the more famous villages, my two favourites being Gengenbach and Staufen.
Gengenbach's useful to reach Haslach, the Open Air Museum, Schiltach. Strasbourg's not far away.
Staufen and Freiburg will take up a day and a half. Pleasant, easy walk from Staufen to either Bad Krozingen or Munstertal.
Posted by
Wisconsin
583 posts
Are you going to the municipality of Bodensee or the Bodensee, aka Lake Constance?
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
2039 posts
Ettlingen is an attractive small town just south of Karlsruhe, you might give that a look.
On the north side of the lake I use the Steigenberger Inselhotel, Konstanz. On the south side I stay in Dornbirn at the Four Points.
Posted by
22 posts
If you go the eastern route, you might try Ulm (largest church bell tower in the world).
Near it would also be Blaubeuren with the famous „Blue Pot“ (Blautopf) natural pool and grotto. It is famous, but I am not sure how touristy it is outside of the pool area.
On the lake I mostly know Überlingen and Meersburg. Both are touristy, but nice - city walls or castle, and a long walkway on the Lake. At that time of the year it will be hard to find a nice but not touristy place at the lake.