Tourismus-Marketing GmbH Baden Württemberg

Summers are hot and fall is delightful – the perfect incentive for getting out and doing something active. And the scenery cannot be beaten. In summer, the meadows, valleys and low, heavily forested mountains are lush, green and warm; in fall/autumn, the blue skies and crisp evenings are perfect for that overnight stay in a country inn, with a roaring log fire. And, of course, fall is grape-harvesting time.

Southwest Germany has long been a destination for active vacationers from all over Europe. There is nothing comparable like hiking in Southwest Germany: some say it is the fresh air, others, the glorious landscapes. Choose between the harmony and ease of the Black Forest, the intense green meadows in the Swabian Mountains, the river valleys in the Hohenlohe, or the contrast of water and mountains along the shores of Lake Constance.

Southwest Germany is cycling country. With its extensive network of quiet back roads through the Swabian Mountains and the Black Forest mountains, you can pedal alone, with friends, or with family, taking it easy or really working out.

In Southwest Germany snow means fun: go ski touring in the Black Forest, cross-country skiing in the Swabian Mountains, or spend a great day out snowshoeing in the Zollernalb; stay in a cozy country inn; relax in front of a roaring log fire. What memories!

More information: Nature activities in Southwest Germany

Every city in Southwest Germany has something special to offer, from Stuttgart, Baden-Baden and Heidelberg to Karlsruhe, Tübingen, and Freiburg. Some have great shopping or buzz with student life - others are great bases for music, art and culture.

From jazz festivals and classical concerts to film festivals, exhibitions and theatre performances, you will find art and culture of the highest standard throughout this region. In the summer guests are enchanted by the famous open-air plays performed against atmospheric backdrops, on romantic natural stages and in magnificent castle courtyards. You will find museums that are already fascinating by their architecture and that exhibit an almost unlimited range of subjects, such as the State Gallery in Stuttgart, the ZKM Center of Art and Media Technology in Karlsruhe or the Burda Museum in Baden-Baden.

Not to be missed are the two spectacular automobile museums in Stuttgart with their outstanding architecture: the Mercedes-Benz Museum, which rolls back the years through automotive history across nine different floors and the Porsche Museum that presents the legendary icons of the sports manufacturer like the Porsche 911 and 917 at close quarters.

Visitors who are interested in history will find a variety of historical sites and monuments. As for castles and palaces, some of the most beautiful places are Heidelberg Castle, Hohenzollern Castle and the baroque palaces in Ludwigsburg and Schwetzingen. And SouthWest Germany boasts seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites; added in 2021 were Baden-Baden, as one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe.

Southwest Germany’s calendar is filled with festivals, though the most famous must be the Christmas Markets during Advent. In the four weeks leading up to Christmas, under a frosting of snow, the landscape looks like a Christmas card come to life: pine trees and Christmas decorations, carols and Bratwurst (hot sausages), Glühwein (mulled wine) and sugary treats.

More information: Culture in Southwest Germany

Although many towns, buildings and attractions are historic, great care is taken to make them as accessible as possible to those with special needs. That’s why SouthWest Germany offers a variety of accessible accommodations, attractions and sightseeing. These have all been checked out by seasoned travellers in wheelchairs.

Baden-Württemberg offers its guests a large selection of sustainable holiday experiences of a special kind. The variety of eco-friendly overnight accommodation offers just the right thing for every type of holiday:

From a climate-neutral hotel to an organic farm and eco-camping. The offer is complemented by culinary specialties from regional production, which you can enjoy with for example a biosphere host or purchase at a natural park market.

If you also want to experience something in nature, you have many options: There is a national park, seven nature parks and two biosphere reserves in Baden-Württemberg. All of them are great hiking regions and unique landscapes, in whose sustainability concept tourism plays a big role.

More information: Sustainabilty in Southwest Germany