My husband, son age 16, and I will be using public transportation for our trip, seeing some things in northern Germany before heading to the Black Forest area and then flying home from Zürich in early August. My biggest need is recommendations for where and how to best see the Alps: Switzerland? Germany? Which town or which train route / tour / chair lift place, and so on. Also recommendations for an overnight in Zürich would be helpful, your top 1-2 things to see in Zürich if we have time, and top recommendations for the Black Forest, although I have found some of that on here already. Thank you!
Posted by
363 posts
northern Germany is a big area, location needs to be narrowed down. Trains to the south are frequent enough but it would be too complicated to lay out all the possible options here. Use www.bahn.com to find German trains and most regional/local bus schedules.
The thing to know about visiting the Black Forest region is the Konus Card which gives inclusive use of all regional and local trains and buses. You get it from your accomodation provider but that has to be in a community that levies the small visitor tax. The main location that DOESN'T do that is Freiburg, but the card is still valid on the local transport within Freiburg. So to start your planning go to this page and scroll down to the map with pins in it.
https://www.schwarzwald-tourismus.info/planen-buchen/konus-gaestekarte
Black numbers will zoom in tighter and burst more red pins. Clicking on a red pin gives a link to more info about the place. I would suggest Titisee for range of train and bus routes and a good amount of places to stay. If you want to mingle with other Rick Steves followers it will be Gengenbach.
Page 2 of this flyer will show the region covered by the card - note that travel by train to Basel SBB station is included. But long distance trains in categories ICE, IC, EC, ECE are not included.
Zurich is not near the Alps and requests for advice on staying there usually get the same reply - don't! If you have a really early flight out then you may need to stay at an airport hotel for one night but the standard replies start with Luzern. Easy to reach from Basel, easy to get to Zurich airport and starting to get into the alps. Use www.sbb.ch for all swiss public tranport schedules
Posted by
Duluth, MN🌲
12582 posts
My favorite place to stay in the Black Forest is Gengenbach, which is a charming town with beautiful half-timbered houses that is frequently referred to as a "chocolate-box village." It's very convenient because it is on the main train line, and with the use of the KONUS card (that me.crewe mentioned above), you can travel by train to many places in the Black Forest for free. It has a beautiful Altstadt, with quite a few restaurants and cafes to choose from. There are lots of things to do there and it's a very quick (and easy) 40 minute train ride from Strasbourg and other towns in the Alsace.
There is plenty of lodging there as well. It's popular among Germans but many 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. There were little signs of inspiration scattered around, and some children from a nearby kindergarten playing on one side. 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. Gengenbach is also on the scenic Black Forest Railway line (another way to 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
Greeley, co, usa
3099 posts
In the Black Forest I stay in Gengenbach but have also stayed in Titisee-Neustadt. Any number of towns would be fine.
For alps - Switzerland. The area around Interlaken has great alp areas. Top choice is Zermatt with the Matterhorn, but that’s quite a way from Zurich !
Instead of Zurich, I would stay in Luzern. Take the round trip tpur to Mt. Pilatus