Freiburg im Breisgau and the Black Forest

Although Freiburg is a nice destination, it is the only BF municipality where a hotel room does not come with a free train pass for the Black Forest. This can be handy for "walking/hiking home" through the forest from a nearby town. It is harder, but not impossible to see things like waterfalls without a car, but with careful planning and hiking shoes, it can be done.

I was disappointed with the slow-moving lines at some TI offices, where I went to get the hiking maps. I finally gave up and used a sketch map on a street sign. There is little danger of getting lost, it's that I wanted to find the Level/Easy/Intermediate trails in order to make a choice.

Note that when I write hiking, I don't mean rock scrambling or wilderness hiking. Many of these trails are suitable for the elderly. You want to be sure you'll get back before darkness, of course.

You'll be there earlier than I will, so I can't yet add any first hand experience, but if you are considering hikes these various blogs discuss options with public transportation descriptions:

http://easyhiker.co.uk/cuckoo-clockwork-in-the-black-forest/
http://www.frugalwanderer.com/hiking-in-the-black-forest-of-germany/
http://www.frugalwanderer.com/hiking-in-the-black-forest-of-germany/

I haven't specifically looked, but I would guess things like the farm house museum have bus service if you were looking for a cultural rather than physical way to enjoy the Black Forest.

Thank you both. I'm not looking to do any heavy-duty hikes, but more of a stroll! :) A friend recommends taking the train to Titisee, and it looks beautiful from some of the photos I've seen, so we may do that.

Well, Titisee is widely considered a Tourist Trap. I went there like one might go to Brighton or Coney Island, and because I wanted to hike back to my hotel in the next town. You can find a prettier place than Titisee. But if you want beer, waffles, souvenirs, or a boatride, it's fine. It's where I gave up on the line at the TI and walked without a map.

The Rundweg, path around Lake Titisee, is a nice fairly flat walk - takes about 1 1/2 hr. If you stay in one of the smaller villages, you'll get a KONUS card at your accommodation for transportation on regional trains/buses. It's very easy to make a day trip, taking the train to a destination, connecting with a bus, then walk or bus back to the same or another train station for your return. We like Hinterzarten which is half way between Freiburg & Titisee, ~ 15 min train ride to either, leaves each way every 30 min. Hinterzarten itself has a very good tourist info center with info regarding hikes from the village (& there are many!), bus, & train information. For instance, we took the train to Titisee, met a bus at the bahnhof for Feldberg, spent several hours walking across the mountaintop, then continued our bus ride in a loop back to Titisee & then trained "home".

"We are traveling in July from Munich to Freiburg for two nights, and would like to know the "best way" to enjoy the Black Forest."

Titisee and Hinterzarten are good for hiking, but the best part of the Black Forest to visit (not hiking, right?) with the cutest towns and most attractions is along the Black Forest Railway which stretches between Offenburg and Donaueschingen.

HERE'S A MAP of the BF Railway (dotted route.) Have a look at GENGENBACH which is a fantastic old-world town. GUTACH (near Hausach) has the very interesting VOGTSBAUERNHOF open-air museum. Haslach and Villingen are also nice towns.

Get a room in Gengenbach and you can day trip to Freiburg (1 hour each way) and the Vogtsbauernhof (30 min.) by train - as well as to the other towns along the Black Forest railway. This is one of Germany's most scenic train routes that takes you high into the Black Forest - and your day trips are free with the KONUS Card if you stay in Gengenbach (or other participating villages) but not if you stay in Freiburg.

Thank you Kim and Russ!

I'm in the process of planning a week in the Schwarzwald in July and I started out checking for places that offer the KONUS card (not all do), but quickly realised it is not a deal breaker as the day card for the entire state of Baden-Württembergis not very expensive in any case. It is about 14 Euros each for a couple and about 10 if there are for people. It also covers a much wider area than just the Schwarzwald area.

That's right, Jim. The Länder tickets are a good option no matter what part of the country you're in. If for some reason you need to stay in larger towns like Freiburg or Baden-Baden, it is still possible to use a Länder Ticket as you would anywhere else in Germany. Still, the €28 you save with the Konus card over a few days adds up - AND there are no weekday hours restrictions (after 9 am) with the KONUS card. Also, the KONUS card can be used for discounts and free admission at certain museums, spas, and attractions.