If so, the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) is definitely where you should head! And you’re in luck — this area will certainly give you plenty of room to explore without depleting your bank account.

Located in Germany’s southwest area, the Black Forest stretches from Baden-Baden, Germany’s own Monte Carlo spa town, to the border to Switzerland, up along the Rhine River and almost all the way to Lake Constance.

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Exploring the Black Forest region on a budget

Although this region is a great place to visit for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, it also has lots to offer culture lovers, with plenty of castles, museums, and old churches to choose from. Follow our tips to help you save on your Black Forest adventure.

How to Get There

If you’re flying to the Black Forest region from outside of Europe, you have several options. Germany’s biggest airport, Frankfurt International (check out our Frankfurt budget guide), is about 90 minutes by train to the northern portion of the Black Forest. Zurich and Stuttgart also have international airports around two hours away or closer, depending on which part the region you would like to. Two other options to consider, especially if you are traveling from within Europe, are the airports Karlsruhe-Baden Baden and Basel-Mulhouse, which are close to Freiburg. Both of these smaller airports service discount airlines, such as Ryan Air and Easy Jet.

All cities in the Black Forest region can also be easily reached by either train or bus. If you plan on doing quite a bit of exploring, you may also want to look into renting a car.

Ways to save

Be sure to book all airplane, train, and bus tickets as far in advance as possible. Prices can go up considerably the closer you book to the actual travel time. Compare prices between train travel and discount bus lines, such as Flixbus to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Unless you have a specific destination in mind, you may also want to check and see which city is the cheapest to reach, and then go from there.

A map of the Black Forest Region.

Things to do

Although Baden has many quaint cities to enjoy, no trip to the area is complete without a jaunt out to the Black Forest itself. We’ve gathered the following guide with ideas for city trips that include lots of nature nearby.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is home to Germany’s oldest university, which was founded in 1386. But this charming city is more than just a university town. Heidelberg is popular the world over for its baroque-style old town and its romantic setting on the Neckar River. For more, check out our budget guide to Heidelberg.

Philosophen Weg

When in Freiberg, be sure to follow in the footsteps of the great philosophers and poet of the past by taking a hike up the Philosphen Weg (Philosopher’s Path). To get there, take one of the bridges across the river and hike up the switchbacks. It takes a bit of time, but the views are worth it. If you haven’t yet had your fill of hiking, the area also has lots of different hiking trails to explore.

Accommodations: Search more than 150 hotels in Heidelberg

Freiburg

Another of Baden’s famous university towns, Freiburg boasts a beautiful old town with Bächle, cobblestone gutters filled with running water. But watch out! If you fall into one of these gutters, legend has it you’ll marry a local. Just try explaining that to your significant other. For more, check out our Budget Guide to Freiburg.

Beautiful Lake Titisee in the Black Forest. Photo: KR

Schauinsland

Freiburg’s beloved Hausberg (local mountain), Schauinsland offers many hiking trails that will put you in hot pursuit of Hansel and Gretel — just don’t nibble on any gingerbread houses. On a clear day, you can even see the tips of the Swiss Alps from here.

How to get there

Schauinsland is in region 3 of the Freiburg transport network, so it can be easily reached by public transportation. Take a tram in the direction of Gunterstal to the very end, and then switch to the bus by the cable car (Schauinslandbahn). The cable car will take you on a fun trip further up the mountain, but the tickets are a bit pricey (return tickets €12.50 for adults, €9 for children), so you might want to skip it. For more information about hiking trails and transportation, check out the Schauinsland website.

Lake Titisee

Also located in region 3 of the Freiburg transport network, Lake Titisee is a beautiful alpine lake nestled high up and hills of the Black Forest. You’ll find plenty of trails around this lake, which stretches over a mile. Titisee village is a bit of a tourist trap, so no need to check it out unless you’d like to stock up on a bit of Black Forest kitsch and maybe a Cuckoo clock or two.

How to get there

To get there, take the train to Titisee-Neustadt from Freiburg. The trip takes a little under one hour.

Accommodations: Hotels and vacation apartments in Freiburg

Baden-Baden

Baden-Baden is a famous spa town whose thermal waters have offered a relaxing soak since the Roman age. In the 19th century, this town was famous for its luxury hotels, casinos, and horse races, making it a swank playground for Victorian-era celebrities.

Sunset at Schwarzwald Nationalpark. Photo: Achim

Schwarzwald Nationalpark

Baden-Baden is also close to the Schwarzwald Nationalpark (Black Forest National Park), which includes around 40 square miles of forests, glacial lakes, and spacious meadows straights out of a storybook.

How to get there

To reach this national forest by car, take the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse (Black Forest High Road). You can also get there by taking the Line 245 bus to Mummelsee and then either hike the seven miles in or sharing a taxi for €16 to €20. The trip takes a little over one hour.

Freudenstadt

Freudenstadt is located on the other side of Black Forest National Park. This quaint city has an old market square where you can see parts of the foundation of a castle that was never built. The town also boasts a Gothic-Renaissance church and plenty of sunshine year-round. Like Baden-Baden, Freudenstadt is also a wellness town, so feel free to “take to the waters” like an old-school European aristocrat when you visit.

For an affordable place to stay try Hotel Krone or Hotel Gastof Jägerstüble with free breakfast.

The Baden Wine Route

Forget cuckoo clocks — the best of what the Baden region has to offer is its wine and cuisine. If you’re a wine lover, it’s worth checking out a stretch of the Baden Wine Route. This route takes you through the vineyards near many of Baden’s cities, including Heidelberg, Freiburg, and Baden-Baden.

Tips for saving on a trip to the Black Forest

Stay outside of Baden-Baden

Although Baden-Baden is worth a visit, this upscale town is a little on the pricey side for the budget traveler. When opting for a place to stay, you’d probably be better off choosing Freiburg or Heidelberg as your base and traveling from there. If you do want to stay right in town, there are a few affordable options depending on the time of year you book. Search more than 220 hotels for your trip to Baden-Baden.

Eat at bakeries and beer gardens

Besides wine, the Baden region has great bread and regional dishes. To save on meals, why not pick up a little something at a bakery for lunch and have an inexpensive meal at a beer or wine garden for dinner? Some local specialties you should definitely check out include maultaschen (large ravioli usually served with butter and onions or in a soup), spätzle (soft egg noodles, cheese and onions — basically Southern Germany’s tastier and lighter version of mac and cheese), and, of course, the world-famous classic, Schwarzwald Torte (Black Forest cake).

Pick up a tourist card

If you spend several days in either Freiburg or Heidelberg, you may want to look into purchasing a local discount card. Freiburg offers the 3-day WelcomeKarte, which gives you free transportation on all buses, trams, and trains, and includes a free trip on the otherwise pricey Schauinsland cable car. The WelcomeKarte costs €27 for adults and €16 for children 14 and under. Heidelberg also offers the HeidelbergCARD for up to four days as well as the 2-day Family card.

If you’re planning on doing a lot of traveling on one day, the Baden-Württemberg-Ticket might save you some dough. With this ticket, you can travel in the 2nd class wagons of all train in the region for 24 hours. The more people in your party, the greater the savings. For example, tickets for one person cost €24, while a ticket covering five people costs €52. Children 14 and under ride free.

The post Germany: How to explore the Black Forest on a budget appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

A charming university town in the southwestern corner of Germany, Freiburg im Breisgau boasts a quaint Old Town and lots of outdoor activities, like cycling, hiking through the world famous Black Forest, or even skiing on one of the nearby ski slopes on Freiburg’s beloved Schauinsland mountain.

Located in one of Germany’s wine regions, Freiburg is well known for the local Baden cuisine, considered by some to be the best in the country. A city long famous for its progressive attitudes and civic engagement, Freiburg is considered one of the birthplaces in the German environmental movement and was the first larger city in the country to vote in a mayor from the Green party.

Since Freiburg is also on the border to both France and Switzerland, it’s a great base if you’d like to take excursions into either of these countries.

Budget travel guide to Freiburg, Germany

To help you get the most out of your trip to the “Jewel of the Black Forest,” as well as find great ways to save, we’ve gathered the following tips.

Getting there

By Plane

The nearest airport is the Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg EuroAirport, which is located just within the borders of Switzerland and services both Mulhouse in France and Freiburg in Germany. The trip from the airport into Freiburg takes about 40 minutes. To get there, you can either hop on the Airport Bus or use the Südbaden Bus GmbH (SBG) shuttle bus service directly to Freiburg’s Hauptbahnhof (main train station). Another option is to fly to either Frankfurt or Zürich, which have much larger airports and take the train from there to Freiburg. The trip takes about two hours in both cases.

By Train

Thanks to its location, Freiburg is easy to reach by train from basically any direction. You can book tickets to Freiburg Hauptbahnhof online with Deutsche Bahn in Germany, SNCF in France, or SBB/CFF in Switzerland.

By Bus

The SBG also provides long-distance bus service to the Central Bus Station in Freiburg. You should also check out the FlixBus to compare prices.

Getting around town

Public transport

Freiburg has an extensive public transportation system with trams, buses, and local trains. Single fare tickets in  Zone A (Freiburg city area) cost €2.30 for adults and €1.40 for children aged 6 to 14. Children 6 and under ride for free. If you plan to do a lot of sightseeing, you might want to consider buying a REGIO24 ticket. These tickets are valid for one adult and up to four children for 24 hours and cost €6.20 within Zone A. You can also purchase a REGIO24 group ticket. This ticket covers 24 hours of public transportation for five people regardless of their age and costs €12.40. You can check timetables or buy tickets online at the VAG public transportation website. No matter which ticket you opt for, make sure you stamp it before boarding. If you don’t, you could get charged €60 if you get checked by a controller, which will definitely put a dent in your travel budget!

Biking

Living up to its environmentally friendly image, Freiburg is also very bike friendly, with wide bike lanes throughout the city. Bike rental shops are located conveniently throughout the city.

Walking

However, the best way to get around Freiburg’s Old Town luckily costs nothing at all: your own two feet. But unless you’ve fallen head or heels for a local lad or lass, be careful when walking near the Freiburg Bächle, the shallow water channels you’ll see everywhere in the area. According to local legend, if you accidentally fall into the Bächle, you will marry a Freiburger!

Affordable things to do in Freiburg

Old Town and market

First things first, make sure a wander around Freiburg’s Old Town, particularly Münsterplatz. The largest square in Freiburg, Münsterplatz has been Freiburg’s marketplace since the Middle Ages. In fact, the Münsterplatz Cathedral Market is the only town square market that takes place every day but Sunday in all of Germany. Be sure to stroll through the stands of produce, crafts, souvenirs, and food, and maybe pick up a low-priced snack along the way.

The market is open from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 7:30 am to 2 pm on Saturday.

And don’t forget to check out the Freiburger Münster, (as if you could!) the exquisite Gothic cathedral that gives the square its name. A few other architectural highlights in the Old Town include the two beautiful gate towers, Schwabentor (Oberlinden 25) and Martinstor (Martinsgässle), Augustiner Platz, a nice square which is a popular hang out for both tourists and students, and the Wiwilibrucke Blaue Brucke, a 19th century steel bridge which gives you a great view over the city and is a popular gathering place for young people and students in the summer.

Museums in Freiburg

Colombischlössle (Archaeological Museum)

This museum holds archaeological treasures from the Stone Ages, Late Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and more. The museum’s building is a former 19th-century manor house in Gothic Tudor style, which is surrounded by a large park. Admission is €4 for adults and €3 for students.

Museum für Neue Kunst (Museum of contemporary art)

A small modern art museum which includes the work of many regional artists. Admission is €7 for adults and €5 for students.

Fasnetmuseum (Carnival Museum)

Located in a green, 16th-century townhouse, this museum is dedicated to the “fifth season,” as Germany’s beloved carnival season is known. Although the museum is only open on Saturdays from 10 to 2, group tours can be arranged during the week. Admission is free of charge.

Universities in Freiburg

Last but not least, no trip to Freiburg is complete without a visit to the city’s treasured scholarly heritage: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität (the University of Freiburg), which opened for the first time in 1457. To get a deeper look into the University’s history, be sure to check out Uniseum (University’s Museum) on Bertoldstraße 17. This museum’s exhibition tells the story of the University of Freiburg’ over 550-year history and entry is absolutely free. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 6 pm.

For more tips, check out the official tourism website for Freiburg.

Cheap hotels in Freiburg

There are several affordable hotels in Old Town. Hotel Rappen am Münsterplatz has competitive rates with an excellent location smack-dab in the center of the city. A free breakfast comes with your stay. City Hotel Freiburg also serves a complimentary breakfast every morning and has modern rooms with private bathrooms. You’ll also find parking, perfect if you’re taking a German road trip. A splurge-worthy stay is Hotel Oberkirch right next to the stately Gothic cathedral.

Search more than 200 hotels in Freiburg.

Eating and drinking on a budget

Although Freiburg’s restaurants can be a little bit on the pricey side, you can still luckily find plenty of cheap eats and drinks in the city. Here are a few suggestions.

Mehlwaage
Metzgerau 4

A popular restaurant with an extensive cocktail menu serving up scrumptious stone oven Flammkuchen, a thin, Baden-style pizza that is a definite must try. You can also watch soccer here when the season’s on.

Der außergewöhnliche Bruder Wolf
Niemannstrasse 6

A little slice of hipsterdom in Freiburg, this small location has great cocktails and a small menu of both American and German specialties.

Kantine West
Türkheimerstrasse 4

A German style Imbissbude (snack bar) located directly outside of Freiburg’s Eisstadion (ice skating rink), this simple shack serves up what some claim is the best currywurst (curry sausage), burgers, and fries in the city. Open from 9 to 3:30 pm.

Kastaniengarten
Schlossebergring 3

A large beer garden shaded by tall chestnut trees (Kastanien), sipping a beer here offers a great view over Freiburg’s Old Town.

Pizzeria Da Toni
Lehenerstr. 49

This small Italian restaurant has plenty of nicely priced pasta dishes and pizzas to choose from.

Hotel Oberkirch is a nice choice for a splurge in Freiburg. Photo: Booking.com

Freiburg Tourist Card

If you’re in Freiburg for several days and want to travel extensively in the surrounding area, you may want to consider picking up a 3-day WelcomeKarte. This card will get you free use of the entire RVF transportation network as well as other perks, like a ride on the Schauinsland cable car up in the mountains.

Additional ways to save

The Baden region makes great bread and pastries, so pop into a bakery for a cheap snack or tasty treat.

If you’re a classical music fan, check out the events at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg. Students at this world-renowned conservatory often perform in free concerts which are open to the public.

The post Germany: Visiting Freiburg on a Budget appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.