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The Black Forest region in southwest Germany attracts thousands of visitors each year.

It might be on a tour bus, with stops to view the largest cuckoo clock in the world or sample a slice of the famous Black Forest cake.

Or visitors could be attracted by the outdoor activities: taking to the hiking trails that criss-cross the Black Forest area or sampling some of the skiing and snowshoe walking in the winter months.

It could be just the attraction of a small town in a location such as the Kinzig valley or along the Rhine valley near the Swiss border. Somewhere where local traditions can still be experienced in an authentic Black Forest lifestyle.

Black Forest Germany offers a chance to explore some of the locations and activities that might help the visitor to decide on a break in this part of southern Germany.

Destinations in the Black Forest Region

Those visitors looking to stay in the Black Forest area have a choice of larger towns and cities with plenty of to do on the edge of the region and good access to the sights and activities or the smaller towns and villages at the heart of the Black Forest at the sights themselves and with access to the outdoors from the doorstep.

Over on the western edge of the Black Forest, Freiburg im Breisgau is a good choice for those searching for somewhere livelier. It is a young city with plenty going on, but still with great access into the southern Black Forest.

Keeping on the western side, the spa town of Baden-Baden is another good option, with its proximity to the Black Forest National Park.

On the other side of the Black Forest, the town of Donaueschingen offers great rail links across the region to Freiburg on the Höllentalbahn and north on the Black Forest railway to Offenburg and Karlsruhe. It is also the start of the Danube valley rail link through to Ulm for those looking to combine exploration of the Black Forest with the upper stages of the famous river.

Those who would prefer to be close at hand to the famous sights of the region could choose from Titisee, with its scenic lake and mountain hikes and access to rail links, or maybe Triberg, where Germany’s highest waterfall attracts thousands of daily visitors in high summer.

The Kinzig valley offers a variety of small settlements each with their own attractions, like the Schwarzwälder Trachtenmuseum (‘Museum of Traditional Costumes in the Black Forest‘) in the small town of Haslach.

And those looking for an old town to wander around might like to try the timber-framed houses of Calw in the northern Black Forest, the town where famous author Herman Hesse was born and grew up.

Freudenstadt is another centrally-located back in the northern part of the region with good access to hiking routes.

Outdoor Activities in the Black Forest

Summer in the Black Forest is a perfect time for anyone who is keen on hiking. There are numerous long-distance trails through the region lasting well over a week, as well a good choice of day hikes in places such as Freudenstadt, the National Park area and further south around Titisee and the Wutach valley.

Winter offers even more of a choice when it comes to outdoor sports. Many of the shorter hiking trails are available as snowshoe walks when snow conditions permit, while there are plenty of smaller downhill and cross-country ski areas.

Travel to and in the Black Forest

Travel around the Black Forest is relatively easy no matter if it is by private car or public transport.

The region benefits from excellent links on the German Autobahn (‘motorway’) system. Basel, Freiburg, Karlsruhe and Stuttgart are all linked by the high-speed road network and another route heads south from Stuttgart just off to the east of the area linking up with access points to Lake Constance and Switzerland.

The Black Forest has five airports within easy reach – so travellers from further away should have no problem finding a flight option.

The option of arriving by train also benefits from a good rail network, not only around the outskirts of the region but through it as well. The Black Forest train routes include the Schwardwaldbahn going through the central and northern section, the Höllentalbahn linking east and west across the southern Black Forest and some scenic shorter routes.

Durmitor National Park

Durmitor National Park is located in northwestern Montenegro within the Dinaric Alps. As the largest national park in Montenegro, this UNESCO World Heritage site covers an area of 79,000 acres (32,100 ha).

The Durmitor is a mountain area, locally called a massif, featuring 48 separate peaks; Bobotov Kuk is the highest reaching a summit of 8,278 feet (2,523 m). The Durmitor massif and neighboring plateau are home to 18 different glacial lakes. The massif is comprised of limestone and surrounded by European Black Pine with other rare and endemic plant species as well.

There are three canyons that surround the Durmitor massif which include Draga Canyon, Susica Canyon, and Tara River Canyon. The Tara River Canyon is 4,265 feet (1,300 m) deep and stretches 49.7 miles (80 km) long making it the deepest gorge in Europe and possibly the second largest after the Grand Canyon.

Wildlife in the national park includes brown bear, grey wolf, and the European wild cat. The golden eagle and peregrine falcon are two of the coveted bird sightings.

Durmitor National Park is a dynamic place to experience nature. A spectacular massif in Durmitor itself along with Tara River are some of the highlights of the park. Hiking, trekking, and mountaineering are the best way to explore the park and experience these different facets of the national park.

The winter season offers visitors stunning snowcapped landscapes while providing opportunities for skiing and snowboarding.

Durmitor is the tallest mountain in the area with 48 different summits.  The highest peak is Bobotov Kuk at 8,278 feet (2,523 m). The massif is tremendous in size and home to 18 separate glacial lakes. 

The massif is dissected by the Tara River Canyon from the north, the Piva River Canyon from the west, and the Komarnica River Canyon on the south. Durmitor is almost a range of mountains itself with the various peaks.  It makes for a tremendous place to hike and explore and see the terrain from the many different viewpoints.

The top 5 peaks are all over 8,000 feet (2439 m) and include:

  • Bobotov kuk – 8,274 feet (2,522 m)
  • Bezimeni vrh – 8,159 feet (2,487 m)
  • Sljeme – 8,054 feet (2,455 m)
  • Istocni vrh Sljemena – 8,022 feet (2,445 m)
  • Soa / Devojka – 8,005 feet (2,445 m)
Tara River Canyon

The Tara River Canyon or Tara River Gorge runs 51 miles (82 km) with the last 22.3 miles (36 km) of the gorge forming the border between Montenegro and neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina.  The canyon reaches a height of 4,300 feet (1,300 m) and is recognized as one of the deepest river canyons in Europe.

The Tara River Canyon provides a variety of different engagements with nature.  It has beaches, rocky terraces, stellar cliffs, and over 80 different caves.  Of course, the wildlife of the park can be found throughout the canyon area.  The Tara River has whitewater rapids and various cascades attracting those who like exploring nature from rafts or kayaks.

Isle Of Skye

IsleofSkye.com: the ultimate guide to the Isle of Skye in the Highlands of Scotland. Helping visitors find some where to stay from our large selection of Accommodation, we have listings for Bed and BreakfastSelf-Catering CottagesCampsites and Hotels.

Our Skye Guide has an expanding collection of Activities and Attractions. If you would like a walking guide, boat trip or an arts or craft gallery you will find it here.

Skye is one of the top locations in Scotland to visit. It is famous for its scenery and landscapes that will take your breath away.

The Island of Skye is 50 miles long and the largest of the Inner Hebrides. The capital is Portree. Villages in the north of the Island include DunveganEdinbaneUig and Staffin. Notable villages in the south of Skye include BroadfordArmadaleCarbostElgol and Kyleakin.

The Island has a rich History covering many topics, such as: Dinosaur Fossils, Clan Warfare, Highland Clearances and the infamous ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ and the Jacobite Rebellion.


Both Clan MacDonald and Clan MacLeod have their Clan Castles on the Island and should be on your list of places to visit.

The Isle of Skye is also a great destination for Wildlife watching with the White Tailed Sea Eagle at the top of bird watchers lists. Otters, seals, whales, dolphins and red deer are just some of the other impressive creatures that can be seen on and around the Isle of Skye.

Skye is a world class destination for walkers and climbers. ‘The Cuillin Range’ and ‘The Trotternish Ridge’ offer challenging climbs and interesting scrambles. The Cuillin Range offers 12 Munros – peaks above 3000ft (914m). There are many great walks on Skye to be enjoyed by the less experienced, check both our Top Ten Skye Walks and Island Walks for detailed route guides.

Chamonix

Chamonix is one of the most famous European alpine ski towns, with a ski pedigree to equal any in the alpes. It sits underneath the glaciers of Europe’s highest mountain, Mont-Blanc at 4811m, and is home to five world class ski resorts. It’s the annual host of the FIS Kandahar World Cup Downhill ski race a regular feature on the BBC’s Ski Sunday, held on the slopes of Les Houches. Whilst Chamonix is renown for steep off-piste skiing, Chamonix actually has a wide range of skiing options to suit all abilities from advanced to complete beginner.

Whilst the back country seems almost infinite in its possibilities, staying close to the major runs provides access to terrain that the vast majority of ski resorts can only dream of.

Chamonix has been in existence for hundreds of years but it was only discovered as a tourist destination 250 years ago, when a two of Englishman came to Chamouny (later changed to Chamonix), and the hotels started to establish themselves from there. Today it is a mecca for alpinists and skiers who come to experience the exhilaration and beauty of this high mountain resort.

Unlike many ski towns the summer season is even more popular than the winters which means that there is usually more accommodation available than you might expect. However during the peak weeks around New Year and the French school holidays the resort does get very busy and it’s advisable to book accommodation and ski lessons early to avoid disappointment.

Chamonix is a real town unlike some of the other purpose built French resorts, it has a permanent population of about 10,000 which can swell by up to 80,000 in the peak weeks of the winter and summer seasons. It has a bustling centre with lots of bars and restaurants and a main shopping street which caters for all tastes and budgets. There’s a large sports centre and swimming pool, but unfortunately the 50m out-door pool which is overlooked by Mont Blanc is only open during the summer months. The Chamonix valley is served by a very regular bus service which quickly and efficiently whisks skiers off to the slopes so if you don’t plan to bring or hire a car its quite easy to get about.

Berlin

Keukenhof Tulip Gardens is open from March 23 till 14 May 2023. It’s the best day out among the tulips near Amsterdam! Every year, more than 7 million flower bulbs are planted by hand in the autumn to flower in spring. There is a variety of 800 different tulips. A unique and unforgettable experience for everyone. Keukenhof Gardens in Holland

The flower park has 32 hectares full of flowers. There are also spectacular flower shows, surprising inspirational gardens, unique artworks and wonderful events. Wanna know everything about the Dutch tulips? Visit the Tulpomania exhibition in the Juliana Pavilion in the park.

Keukenhof theme 2023

Every year the flower park is dedicated to a specific theme. The inspiration gardens, events and artworks are adjusted accordingly. The theme for 2023 will be announced in October. It will reflect on the fact that flowers have been part of our lives for centuries. Flowers are used as classical symbols in art, architecture and design. The rose for love and the tulip for the new spring! In Keukenhof we bring these classics together; with the tulip as the radiant centre!

Walking between the tulips

From the 10 miles (15 km) hiking trails of Keukenhof you will have a spectacular view of the flower gardens. During your walk you will see unique, weekly changing flower shows, beautiful ponds and various pavilions with various restaurants and terraces. It is your chance to make the most beautiful selfie and flowers photos.  In addition to the huge flower garden, the flower park is also the largest statue garden of the Netherlands. You can admire many statues made by national and international artist.

Visit Keukenhof with children

Keukenhof is also very nice for children. They can enjoy the treasure hunt, the petting zoo, the maze and the playground. For the little ones, there is also a Miffy playground. A visit to the flower park is a nice day out for the whole family. 

Map of the gardens

A free map of the park is available at the ticket office at the entrance of the park. You will also find signs and maps in the park.

Keukenhof Park guide book

If you want to know more about the beautiful flower park, order the park guide book when you buy your Keukenhof tickets. This beautifully designed book gives you a glimpse behind the scenes of Keukenhof and it is also a nice souvenir of your visit. You can pick up the Keukenhof park guide on the day of your visit at the entrance upon presentation of your online ticket. The park guide costs only € 5.00 and can be ordered when buying your Keukenhof tickets.

When to visit Keukenhof?

A question we get very often is when is the best time to visit the tulip park. Because the flower bulbs are planted in different layers in the park, the flower park is great every day during the season. In 2023, the season starts on Thursday 23 March and the last day is Sunday 14 May. There are three different flowering periods.

First period – From the opening the park will have lots of blooming flowers. There are some great indoor flower shows with many blooming tulips. Outside there are daffodils and crocuses in bloom.

Second period – After the daffodils and crocuses it’s time for the hyacinths and the early tulips to bloom in the outdoor gardens. The indoor flower shows are still amazing with great colors.

Third period – In the last period the tulips will bloom in the outdoor gardens. The trees will be green and the indoor flower shows are still showing amazing flowers.

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