Germany
The best hikes and national parks in Germany
For most visitors the best hikes in Germany are the Bavarian Alps around Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Berchtesgaden, Saxon Switzerland near Dresden, and the Black Forest around Freiburg. Go June to September for high routes; April to October for lowland trails. Base yourself in a town and day-hike by train.
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Key facts
- Best for a first hiking trip
- Bavarian Alps (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Berchtesgaden), June–September
- Best near a city
- Saxon Switzerland from Dresden, 40–50 minutes by S-Bahn (check)
- Best long-distance trail
- Black Forest around Freiburg, May–October
- Best coastal walking
- Rügen chalk cliffs and the Baltic coast, June–August
- Peak season
- July–August; trails and huts busiest, book beds ahead
- Winter
- Alpine trails need snow gear and avalanche awareness, January–March
- Cost
- Most trails and national park entry are free; cable cars and park buses cost extra (2026 estimate)
Our top picks
Germany has 16 national parks and hundreds of long-distance trails, but the ones worth building a trip around cluster in four regions: the Bavarian Alps, Saxon Switzerland, the Black Forest and the Baltic coast. Each pick below is a base town or park you can reach by train, with a reason to choose it and a rough cost.
Nights are the minimum that does the area justice. Costs are 2026 estimates for one person, excluding travel to Germany.
- Bavarian Alps — Garmisch-Partenkirchen: highest trails, Zugspitze, June–September
- Berchtesgaden: Königssee and Watzmann, June–September
- Saxon Switzerland: Bastei and sandstone towers, day trips from Dresden, April–October
- Black Forest: long-distance trails and spa towns, May–October
- Bavarian Forest: quiet lowland forest, May–October
- Harz: Brocken summit and moorland, May–October
- Rügen: chalk cliffs and coastal walking, June–August
- Eifel: forest and reservoir trails near Cologne, April–October
- Müritz: lakes and canoe-hike days, May–September
| Pick | Why | Best time | Cost | Base |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bavarian Alps (Garmisch-Partenkirchen) | Highest trails in Germany, Zugspitze cable car, hut-to-hut routes | Jun–Sep | Free trails; cable car and park bus extra (2026 estimate) | Garmisch-Partenkirchen |
| Berchtesgaden National Park | Königssee lake, Watzmann views, alpine huts | Jun–Sep | Free trails; boat and bus extra (2026 estimate) | Berchtesgaden |
| Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz) | Sandstone towers, Bastei bridge, easy day hikes from Dresden | Apr–Oct | Free trails; park train extra (2026 estimate) | Dresden |
| Black Forest (Schwarzwald) | Long-distance trails, spa towns, Freiburg as a base | May–Oct | Free trails; guest card discounts (check) | Freiburg |
| Bavarian Forest (Bayerischer Wald) | Lowland forest trails, wildlife, fewer crowds | May–Oct | Free trails (2026 estimate) | Bavarian Forest |
| Harz National Park | Brocken summit, moorland trails, steam railway | May–Oct | Free trails; railway extra (2026 estimate) | Braunlage |
| Rügen and the Baltic coast | Chalk cliffs, beach and cliff walks, Jasmund National Park | Jun–Aug | Free trails (2026 estimate) | Bergen auf Rügen |
| Eifel National Park | Forest and reservoir trails near Cologne and Aachen | Apr–Oct | Free trails (2026 estimate) | Cologne |
| Müritz National Park | Lakes, canoe-and-hike combinations, flat cycling | May–Sep | Free trails; boat extra (2026 estimate) | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
How we chose
We ranked these on four things: whether the trail network is genuinely worth a trip, how easy the area is to reach without a car, how many days you need, and whether there is a town with beds, food and transport at the trailhead.
We left out areas that need a car for every hike, and we did not include trails that are closed or unsafe outside a short season. Where a park charges for entry, parking or a cable car, we say so; most German trails and national park land are free to walk.
Best time
High alpine routes in the Bavarian Alps and Berchtesgaden run June to September; snow can linger into June and return in October. Lowland parks such as the Black Forest, Eifel, Harz and Bavarian Forest are walkable April to October, with the best weather May to September.
July and August are the busiest months, especially on the Zugspitze, at the Königssee and on the Bastei. May, June and September give you the same trails with fewer people. Winter walking is possible at low altitude, but alpine trails need snow gear and avalanche awareness, so check local conditions before you set out.
Getting there
All the picks below are reachable by train. From Munich, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is about 1 h 30 and Berchtesgaden about 2 h 30 with a change at Freilassing (check). Saxon Switzerland is 40–50 minutes from Dresden by S-Bahn (check). Freiburg is about 2 h from Frankfurt and 1 h 30 from Basel (check).
Once you are in a park, use the local bus and trailhead shuttles; several parks run hiker buses in season. A car helps in the Eifel and Müritz, but it is not required for the routes above. For the wider trip, see travel to Germany and day trips in Germany.
Map
Approximate trailhead or park-centre coordinates; use them to compare locations, not for navigation.
| Pick | Approximate location |
|---|---|
| Garmisch-Partenkirchen | 47.4917, 11.0955 |
| Berchtesgaden | 47.6300, 13.0040 |
| Saxon Switzerland (Bastei) | 50.9620, 14.0730 |
| Black Forest (Freiburg) | 47.9990, 7.8421 |
| Bavarian Forest | 48.9000, 13.4000 |
| Harz (Braunlage) | 51.7270, 10.6100 |
| Rügen (Jasmund) | 54.5700, 13.6500 |
| Eifel National Park | 50.6000, 6.4000 |
| Müritz National Park | 53.4000, 12.8000 |
Questions people ask
The best hikes and national parks in Germany?
For a first trip: the Bavarian Alps around Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Berchtesgaden, Saxon Switzerland near Dresden, and the Black Forest around Freiburg. Add Rügen for coastal walking or the Harz for the Brocken. Go June to September for alpine routes, April to October for lowland parks.
When is the best time to go in Germany?
May to September for hiking, with June and September best for alpine routes and fewer crowds. July and August are busiest. April and October suit lowland parks such as the Black Forest, Eifel and Harz. Winter alpine walking needs snow gear and local condition checks.
How many days do I need in Germany?
Allow three to four nights per hiking area. A week covers one region well, such as the Bavarian Alps or Saxon Switzerland plus Dresden. Ten days lets you combine two regions by train. Two weeks covers three, for example Dresden, Saxon Switzerland and the Bavarian Alps.
Deep dive
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