Germany is perfect for a road trip: well-maintained roads, a variety of landscapes, exciting cities and plenty of culture and culinary delights along the way. I have prepared the travel routes in this article so that you can start planning straight away.
Each route is clearly divided into sections:
- Route at a Glance with stages, travel duration and best travel time
- Highlights with the most beautiful sights along the way
- Culture and Events: that you can experience along the route
Whether you prefer driving through the Black Forest, discovering historic towns or touring the whole of Bavaria - you are guaranteed to find a route that suits your interests here. And best of all, each tour is ideal for individual travel planning and can be shortened if you have less time or want to focus on a specific area.
Let yourself be inspired and find the road trip that suits you best.
Tours for 3 to 4 Weeks
Best of Deutschland
(with Map) - the Most Beautiful Highlights in 4 Weeks
You won't be able to experience all the country's sights on this route. Germany is just too big for that. But I promise you that this tour will give you an overview of Germany's scenic diversity and incredible cultural richness. You may also realize that "the Germans" cannot be lumped together. The difference between a person from Bremen and a person from Munich is about as big as the difference between a Swede and a Greek - in terms of mentality, temperament and language or dialect. You will be surprised!
If you come from abroad, then the best start and end point for this round trip is an international airport, such as Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt or Munich, where you will be able to take over your rental car. You bring your own car from a place within Germany or from a neighboring country? Then simply start at the point on the route that is closest to your hometown.
The more time you can take for this tour, the better! In my opinion, 4 weeks is the minimum for this itinerary.

Or would you prefer a short trip?
To help you decide, you can find an overview of the most beautiful cities and most important sights in Germany in my article Destination Germany - The Ultimate List of the 100+ Most Beautiful Places.
Route:
Round trip - start at any point!
Frankfurt - Heidelberg (89 km) - Baden-Baden (87 km) - Constance (208 km) - Füssen (146 km) - Schönau/Berchtesgadener Land (226 km) - Munich (119 km) - Regensburg (124 km) - Nuremberg (112 km - detour via Rothenburg ob der Tauber!) - Bamberg (172 km) - Eisenach (177 km) - Weimar (86 km) - Leipzig (130 km) - Dresden (118 km) - Berlin (193 km) - Rügen (315 km) - Lübeck (258 km) - Hamburg (69 km) - Bremen (126 km) - Detmold (165 km) - Cologne (210 km) - Koblenz (106 km) - Frankfurt (121 km)
Time needed:
At least 4 weeks
Total distance:
3,357 km. In addition, there are day trips from the overnight location (e.g. trip from Bremen to the North Sea coast)
Best for:
Travelers who want to get to know Germany's landscapes, cities and culture in all its facets.
Best time to visit:
May to October. In winter I would rather not do the tour (snowfall and road closures in the Alps, rainy weather in northern Germany).
The Route to Follow
Download this map to your phone for easy navigation to the next stop. In my guide How to Plan a Route with Google Maps I'll show you how step by step.
- Frankfurt: Old town and Römer, Goethe House, Paulskirche, skyline
- Heidelberg: Heidelberg Castle, Old Town, Philosophenweg
- Baden-Baden (UNESCO World Heritage "The important spa towns of Europe"): Trinkhalle, Casino, State Art Gallery, Old Town; Black Forest High Road (!)
- Lake Constance: Constance, Mainau Island, Reichenau Monastery Island (UNESCO World Heritage), Unteruhldingen Pile Dwelling Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Allgäu and Ammergau Alps: Royal castles (Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof Castle), Pöllat Gorge, Wies Church, Alpine panorama
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Wetterstein Mountains with Zugspitze, Eibsee, Partnachklamm gorge
- Berchtesgadener Land: Königssee with pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomä, Hintersee with enchanted forest, Obersalzberg, Jenner, Berchtesgaden, Watzmann
- Munich: Old Town, English Garden, Nymphenburg Palace, Residence, German Museum, Alte Pinakothek
- Regensburg: : Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage), Valhalla, Danube Breakthrough and Liberation Hall at Kelheim, Weltenburg Monastery
- Nuremberg: Historic Old Town (Main Market Square, Church of Our Lady, City Hall), Imperial Castle, Albrecht Dürer House, former Nazi Party Rally Grounds
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber: : Medieval townscape with city wall, town hall, castle garden, St. Jacob's church, Christmas museum
- Bamberg: : Old town ensemble (UNESCO World Heritage), imperial cathedral, town hall, former fishermen's quarter ("Little Venice")
- Eisenach: Wartburg Castle (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Bach House, Dragon Gorge, Thuringian Forest with Hainich National Park (part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Beech Forests)
- Weimar: UNESCO World Heritage Site "Classical Weimar" with Goethe's home, Schiller's home, Duchess Anna Amalia Library, Park on the Ilm River, Belvedere Palace, Bauhaus sites (UNESCO World Heritage Site); Buchenwald Memorial Site
- Erfurt: St. Mary's Cathedral, St. Severi Church, Fish Market, Krämer Bridge, Erfurt City Hall, Augustinian Monastery (Luther site), Petersberg Citadel
- Leipzig: St. Nicholas Church, St. Thomas Church, Monument to the Battle of the Nations, Market Square and Old Town Hall, Mädler Passage (with Auerbach's Cellar), Leipzig Zoo
- Dresden: Zwinger, Semper Opera House, Frauenkirche, New Town Hall, Saxon Switzerland (Elbe Sandstone Mountains)
- Brandenburg: Brandenburg: Spreewald, Uckermark, Potsdam (Sanssouci Castle), Potsdam (Sanssouci Palace - UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Berlin: Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island (UNESCO World Heritage), Kurfürstendamm, TV Tower, Gendarmenmarkt, Topography of Terror
- Rügen: Jasmund National Park (Königsstuhl)Cape Arkona, Ostseebad Binz
- Lübeck: : Holsten Gate, City Hall, Cathedral, Buddenbrook House (UNESCO World Heritage "Hanseatic City of Lübeck")
- Hamburg: Speicherstadt and Kontorhausviertel with Chilehaus (UNESCO World Heritage Site), HafenCity with Elbphilharmonie, Binnenalster with Jungfernstieg, Michel, St. Pauli, harbor, Kunsthalle
- Bremen: Marketplace with Roland (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Town Hall and Schütting, St. Peter's Cathedral, Schnoorviertel, Böttchergasse, Kunsthalle, Übersee-Museum, excursions to the North Sea (Wadden Sea National Park - UNESCO World Heritage Site) and to the Teufelsmoor/Artists' Village Worpswede
- Detmold: Teutoburg Forest (Externsteine, Hermannsdenkmal)
- Cologne: Cologne Cathedral, Altenberg Cathedral (in Altenberg – approx. 15 km from Cologne), Augustusburg and Falkenlust Palaces (UNESCO World Heritage Site – near Brühl)
- Koblenz: Deutsches Eck, Loreley, Upper Middle Rhine Valley (UNESCO World Heritage Site), day trip to the Moselle valley (Eltz Castle and Cochem Imperial Castle)

- Frankfurt am Main: Christopher Street Day (July), Museumsuferfest (August), Apfelweinfestival (August), Rheingauer Weinmarkt (September), Frankfurt Book Fair (October), Frankfurt Christmas Market (December)
- Heidelberg: Heidelberg Spring (March/April), Castle Festival (June/July), Heidelberg Christmas Market (end of November until Christmas)
- Baden-Baden: Easter, Whitsun, Summer and Autumn Festivals at the Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden Christmas Market (December)
- Constance: Alemannic Fasnet with a big parade on Sunday, Seenachtsfest (August)
- Meersburg: Lake Constance Wine Festival (September)
- Füssen: Allgäu cattle drive (Viehscheid/Almabtrieb) in many towns in the region, e.g. Wertach and Nesselwang (September), Romantic Advent market in the monastery courtyard of St. Mang (two weekends in December).
- Munich: City Birthday in mid-June, Tollwood Summer Festival 3 weeks in June/July, Opera Festival July/August, Oktoberfest mid-September to early October, Munich's Christkindlmarkt End of November until 24.12.
- Regensburg: The Dult (folk festival in May and August), Early Music Days (June), Medieval Spectacle at the Stone Bridge (July), four Old Town Christmas Markets (December)
- Nuremberg: Rock im Park (May/June), Burggrabenfest with medieval market (September), Christkindlesmarkt, one of the world's most famous Christmas markets (December)
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Historical Shepherd's Dance (Easter and Whitsun), Imperial Town Days (September), Rotenburg Reiterlesmarkt (December)
- Bamberg: Sandkirchweih (Bamberg Sandkerwa) with Fischerstechen (August), Bamberg Christmas Market (December)
- Thuringian Bach Weeks: Thuringia's largest music festival - 3 weeks in April/May (at authentic Bach sites in Eisenach, Erfurt, Weimar, among others)
- Weimar: Goethe Wine Festival at Frauenplan (around August 28, Goethe's birthday), Onion Market in October, Weimar Christmas 1st weekend of Advent until early January.
- Erfurt: Krämerbrücken Festival (June), DomStufen Festival (August/September), St. Martin's Festival on Cathedral Square (November 10), Erfurt Christmas Market (December)
- Leipzig: Leipzig Book Fair (March), Bach Festival Leipzig (June), Leipzig Christmas Market (December)
- Dresden: International Dixieland Festival (May), Dresden Music Festival (May/June), Film Nights on the banks of the Elbe (August), Striezelmarkt (December)
- Berlin: Berlinale (February), Carnival of Cultures (May/June), Christopher Street Day (July), Berlin Art Week (September), Berlin Marathon (September), over 100 Christmas markets throughout the city (e.g. the WinterMagic at the Gendarmenmarkt, the markets at Potsdamer Platz, Alexanderplatz and Charlottenburg Palace - 1st Advent weekend until 22.12., some until 31.12.), New Year's Eve party at the Brandenburg Gate (31.12.)
- Rügen: Störtebeker Festival (June to September)
- Lübeck: Travemünder Woche with sailing regattas (end of July), Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (July/August), Lübeck Christmas Market (December)
- Hamburg: Spring Dome (March/April), Harbor Birthday (May), Summer Dome (July/August), Alstervergnügen (August), Winter Dome (November), Hamburg Christmas markets (December)
- Bremen: Easter Fair (from one week before Good Friday for 2 weeks), Breminale (July), Bremen Free Market (October), Christmas market and Schlachte magic (from 1st Advent weekend until 23.12.)
- Cologne: Cologne Lights (July), Cologne Carnival (February), Cologne Christmas Market (December)
- Koblenz: Rhine in Flames (5 dates between May and September - several locations on the Middle Rhine), Wine Festival (April to July), Christmas Market (mid-November to early January)

Top Tour Bavaria (with Map)
This road trip full of highlights takes you from Würzburg across several UNESCO-Welterbe-Stätten bis zu den Bayerischen Alpen. You will be amazed by the variety of charming old towns, historical monuments and charming landscapes you will experience on this tour.
In Würzburg, Nürnberg and Regensburg, you will dive deeply into German history. Rothenburg ob der Tauber will enchant you with its medieval charme. Experience a Three Rivers Cruise in Passau at the confluence of Donau, Inn und Ilz, and take a trip to the Baumwipfel-Pfad Bayerischer Wald. Follow the tracks of Fairytale King Ludwig II. and explore his most beautiful castles on the Chiemsee and around Füssen. Finish your tour in one of the most interesting German cities, the Bavarian state capital Munich. From there, you can easily get back home by plain, train or car.

€0 e-book tip
My e-book Old Town Magic in Germany includes five historic old town walks with maps and concise information.

Route:
(Frankfurt - Heidelberg - ) Würzburg (120 km) - Rothenburg ob der Tauber (62 km) - Nuremberg (84 km) - Regensburg (108 km) - Passau (123 km) - Berchtesgaden (142 km) - Prien am Chiemsee (79 km) - Garmisch-Partenkirchen (127 km) - Füssen (60 km) - Munich (131 km)
Time needed:
3 to 4 weeks
Total distance:
916 km (1035 km from Frankfurt)
Best for:
Culture enthusiasts, gourmets (wine and Bavarian cuisine!), fans of spectacular landscapes
Best time to visit:
May to October. In winter I would not do this tour either because of the danger of impassable roads in the Alps.
The Route to Follow
Download this map to your phone for easy navigation to the next stop. In my guide How to Plan a Route with Google Maps I'll show you how step by step.
Tip: Extra Days Frankfurt and Heidelberg
Are you traveling by plane and want to start and end your tour of Germany at an international airport? Then add two more days to your trip, land in Frankfurt and spend the first two days after arrival exploring the cities of Frankfurt and Heidelberg
👉 Everything you need for an uncomplicated Start your road trip at Hamburg Airport you need to know in my comprehensive guide.
- Würzburg. and Mainfranken: Baroque Würzburg Residence (UNESCO World Heritage), Marienberg Fortress, Romanesque St. Kilian's Cathedral, Old Main Bridge, Veitshöchheim Palace and Court Garden, Franconian wine villages in the surrounding area (e.g. Volkach with pilgrimage church Maria im Weingarten, terroir f Volkach, Vogelsburg)
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber: : Well preserved medieval town center with Plönlein and town wall, medieval crime museum, Christmas museum
- Nuremberg: Historic Old Town (Main Market Square, Church of Our Lady, City Hall), Imperial Castle, Albrecht Dürer House, former Nazi Party Rally Grounds, Memorium Nuremberg Trials
- Bamberg: : Old Town Ensemble (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Danube Valley and Altmühl Valley: near Kelheim: Danube Narrows, Weltenburg Monastery, Liberation Hall
- Regensburg: : Old town with Stadtamhof (UNESCO World Heritage), Valhalla (Donaustauf)
- Passau: Veste Oberhaus (Europe's largest castle complex), Three Rivers Corner (confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers)
- Berchtesgadener Land: Documentation Obersalzberg and Kehlsteinhaus ('Eagle's Nest' ), Lake Königssee with Sankt Bartholomä pilgrimage church, magic forest at Hintersee, Almbachklamm, Wimbachklamm, Jenner, Watzmann
- Chiemsee: Chiemgau Alps and Herrenchiemsee Islands (with the UNESCO World Heritage Herrenchiemsee Palace by Ludwig II), Frauenchiemsee
- Allgäu and Ammergau Alps: UNESCO World Heritage castles Neuschwanstein and Linderhof by Ludwig II, Oberammergau with Ettal Monastery, Wieskirche (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Wetterstein Mountains: Zugspitze, Eibsee, Partnachklamm gorge, Mittenwald, Alpspitze, Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- Munich: Old Town, English Garden, Nymphenburg Palace, Residence, German Museum, Alte Pinakothek
- Extra day Heidelberg (at the beginning of the tour): Old town and castle ruins, philosopher's path
- Extra day Frankfurt (at the beginning of the tour): Old Town and Römer, Goethe House, Paulskirche, Skyline

- Würzburg.: Würzburg Wine Village (May/June), Africa Festival May/June, Hofgarten Wine Festival (July), Würzburg Harbor Summer (July/August), Würzburg Bach Days (October/November), Würzburg Christmas Market (December)
- Franconian wine villages around Würzburg: Wine and vintner festivals e.g. in Volkach, Prichsenstadt, Iphofen and Sommerach.
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Imperial City Days (September), Rotenburg Reiterlesmarkt (December)
- Nuremberg: Rock im Park (May/June), Burggrabenfest with medieval market (September), Christkindlesmarkt, one of the world's most famous Christmas markets (December)
- Regensburg: The Dult (folk festival in May and August)Days of Early Music (June), Medieval Spectacle at the Stone Bridge (July), four Old Town Christmas Markets (December)
- Passau: Passau Christmas Market at the Cathedral (annually from the 1st Advent weekend up to and including 23.12.)
- Berchtesgaden: Berchtesgaden Advent (annually from the 1st Advent weekend up to and including 31.12.)
- Chiemsee: Cattle drive (Viehscheid) in Sachrang (end of September), Herrenchiemsee Festival (June), Christmas Market on Fraueninsel (two weekends in December)
- Füssen: Allgäu cattle drive (Almabtrieb) in many places in the region, e.g. Wertach and Nesselwang (September), romantic Advent market in the St. Mang monastery courtyard (two weekends in December)
- Munich: City Birthday in mid-June, Tollwood Summer Festival 3 weeks in June/July, Opera Festival July/August, Oktoberfest mid-September to early October, Munich's Christkindlmarkt End of November until 24.12.
- Extra day Heidelberg (at the beginning of the tour): Heidelberg Spring (March/April), Castle Festival (June/July), Christmas Market (end of November until Christmas)
- Extra day Frankfurt (at the beginning of the tour): Christopher Street Day (July), Museumsuferfest (August), Apfelweinfestival (August), Rheingau Wine Market (September), Frankfurt Book Fair (October), Christmas Market (December)
Further Reading
In the article Viehscheid in the Allgäu: A Traditional Alpine Festival, my blogger colleague Petra from Travel Buddies Lifestyle tells you everything about the traditional Allgäu Viehscheid (Almabtrieb = cattle drive), including the best places to experience this spectacle.
If you enjoy hiking, you will find the Travel blog VeganNomads great tours in the Allgäu region, for example to the picturesque Schreck Lake.
Tours for 1 to 2 weeks
Road trip East Germany - cultural route from Eisenach to Berlin (with map)
As a friend of German art and culture, you are guaranteed to go into raptures on this tour! The first highlight is Wartburg Castle near Eisenach, according to Goethe "the most German of all castles". Here Martin Luther translated the New Testament from ancient Greek into German language in the winter of 1521/1522 in a sensational 11 weeks .. Eisenach is also the perfect location for exploring the Thuringian Forest - one of the most beautiful vacation regions in Germany - including the Hainich National Parkwhich is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe heard.
The route leads you further to Weimar,, the city of German classicism, which is inseparable from Goethe and Schiller. At the beginning of the 20th century, Weimar was the cradle of the Bauhaus.. From Weimar it is only a short drive to both Thuringia's beautiful capital Erfurt and to the light city of Jena. On the way from Weimar to Leipzig you can visit Naumburg Cathedral which - like the Bauhaus sites and 16 objects from the heyday of classical Weimar - is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We continue to the historical Leipzig, the most populous city in Saxony. Johann Sebastian Bach directed the St. Thomas Boys Choir from 1723 until his death in 1750. The second important church in the city, St. Nicholas Church, is known as the starting point of the peaceful revolution, which led to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and finally to the German reunification in 1990.
In Dessau completely different examples of great architecture are waiting for you. At Bauhaus Museum, Bauhaus Dessau and in the Master Houses you can follow the footsteps of Gropius, Kandinsky, Klee & Co. Do not miss visiting the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz, which was laid out in the 18th century as the first English landscape garden on the European mainland. Both Wörlitz Park and Bauhaus and Master Houses are listed as UNESCO World Heritage.
On the way from Dessau to Berlin, you can easily make a detour to Lutherstadt Wittenberg. Here Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses against the sale of indulgences to the Castle Church on October 31, 1517. Luther is buried in the Castle Church of Wittenberg.
Finish your tour in our capital Berlin - Germany's most exciting city - and plan enough time for it (at least three days). Because of the history, there is an infinite amount to see and discover here -. Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, the UNESCO World Heritage Museum Island and the old center of West Berlin around Kurfürstendamm are just some of the highlights.
Route:
(Frankfurt -) Eisenach (191 km) - Weimar (86 km) - Leipzig (131 km) - Dessau-Rosslau (69 km) - Berlin (126 km)
Time needed:
approx. 2 weeks
Total distance:
598 km (687 km from Frankfurt)
Best for:
Anyone interested in beautiful German cities and German history; fans of German art, literature and intellectual history.
Best time to visit:
May to October, December (Christmas Markets!)

The Route to Follow
Download this map to your phone for easy navigation to the next stop. In my guide How to Plan a Route with Google Maps I'll show you how step by step.
Tip: Extra Days Frankfurt and Heidelberg
Traveling by plane and want to start and end your tour of Germany at an international airport? Then add two more travel days, start in Frankfurt and see the cities of Frankfurt and Heidelberg in the first two days after your arrival. You can also do this tour in reverse order - from Berlin to Frankfurt.
👉 Everything you need for an uncomplicated Start your road trip at Hamburg Airport you need to know in my comprehensive guide.
- Eisenach: Wartburg Castle (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Bach House, Dragon Gorge, Thuringian Forest, Hainich National Park (part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe)
- Weimar: UNESCO World Heritage Site Classical Weimar (Goethe's residence, Schiller's residence, the rococo hall of the Duchess Anna Amalia Library, Park an der Ilm, Belvedere Palace, etc.), Bauhaus Museum and Bauhaus sites, Buchenwald Concentration Camp Memorial
- Erfurt: St. Mary's Cathedral, St. Severi Church, Fish Market, Krämer Bridge, Erfurt City Hall, Augustinian Monastery (Luther site), Petersberg Citadel
- Leipzig: St. Nicholas Church, St. Thomas Church, Monument to the Battle of the Nations, Market Square and Old Town Hall, Mädler Passage (with Auerbach's Cellar), Leipzig Zoo
- Naumburg: Naumburg Cathedral
- Wittenberg: Castle Church, St. Mary's City Church, Melanchthon House, Luther House
- Dessau: Bauhaus Museum, Bauhaus Dessaumaster houses, Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm, Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve
- Berlin: Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, Kurfürstendamm, TV Tower, Gendarmenmarkt, Castles and parks, Topography of Terror
- Extra day Heidelberg (at the beginning of the tour): Old town and castle ruins, philosopher's path
- Extra day Frankfurt (at the beginning of the tour): Old Town and Römer, Goethe House, Paulskirche, Skyline

- Thuringian Bach Weeks: Thuringia's largest music festival - 3 weeks in April/May (at authentic Bach sites in Eisenach, Erfurt, Weimar, among others)
- Eisenach: Historical Luther Festival (August)
- Weimar: Goethe Wine Festival at Frauenplan (around August 28, Goethe's birthday), Onion Market in October, Weimar Christmas 1st weekend of Advent until early January.
- Erfurt: Krämerbrücken Festival (June), DomStufen Festival (August/September), St. Martin's Festival on Cathedral Square (November 10), Erfurt Christmas Market (December)
- Leipzig: Leipzig Book Fair (March), Bach Festival Leipzig (June), Leipzig Christmas Market (December)
- Wittenberg: May flower festival (May), historical festival "Luther's wedding" (June)
- Dessau-Rosslau: Kurt Weill Festival (February/March)
- BerlinBerlinale (February), Carnival of Cultures (May/June), Christopher Street Day (July), Berlin Art Week (September), Berlin Marathon (September), over 100 Christmas markets throughout the city (e.g. GendarmenmarktPotsdamer Platz, Charlottenburg Palace - 1st Advent weekend until 22.12., some until 31.12.), New Year's Eve party at the Brandenburg Gate (31.12.)
Road trip Black Forest & Lake Constance - 2-week route for connoisseurs (with map)
This route takes you from the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden via the scenic Black Forest High Road to the shores of Lake Constance.
You can expect winding panoramic roads, quiet valleys, short hikes with far-reaching views from the Feldberg, regional cuisine in the Black Forest and a southern lifestyle in Freiburg im Breisgau. On the lake, Constance, the flower island of Mainau and the UNESCO-protected monastery island of Reichenau form an atmospheric conclusion between history and Mediterranean flair.
With a total distance of around 320 kilometers, this route is ideal for around two weeks. Instead of moving on every day, you work with fixed locations and explore the regions in a relaxed manner as day trips - perfect for those who prefer to enjoy themselves rather than rush.
👉 You’ll find the complete itinerary with a route overview, recommended overnight bases, arrival tips, accommodation suggestions, highlights, events along the route, and an interactive map here:
Road trip Black Forest & Lake Constance - 2 weeks route for connoisseurs
Ideal for you if you ...
- Want to combine nature and culture
- have about 2 weeks
- want to travel with fixed locations
- value culinary delights and comfort
- Prefer savoring over rushing


Inspiration for your road trip *
Caro and Martin from WE TRAVEL THE WORLD present in their book Roadtrips Europa* 20 fantastic round trips in the most diverse regions of Europe. Two exciting routes in Germany are also included: one leads through eastern Saxony, the other through northern Baden-Württemberg.
What I like so much about this book is that the routes include many destinations off the beaten track. Only available in German language.
Swabian Alb Road Trip – From Tübingen to Ulm with Castles, Caves, and Ice Age Art (with Map)
This route takes you from the university town of Tübingen across the Swabian Alb to Ulm - with half-timbered towns, castles perched along the Alb escarpment, Baroque churches, mysterious caves, and traces of some of the oldest known works of art created by humankind.
Along the way, you’ll experience some of the best-known highlights of the Swabian Alb: Bebenhausen Monastery, Bad Urach with its waterfall and castle ruins, Schloss Lichtenstein, Hohenzollern Castle, the Baroque church in Zwiefalten, Wimsen Cave, Blaubeuren with the Blautopf spring and monastery, and Ulm with the tallest church tower in the world. The UNESCO connection is especially fascinating: important works of Ice Age art were discovered in the Caves of the Swabian Alb .
With a total distance of around 230 kilometers, the main route is ideal for around 9 to 10 days.If you’d like to turn it into a round trip, you can return via Kirchheim unter Teck, Burg Teck, and Hohenneuffen Fortress – or extend the route with a larger loop through Sigmaringen, the Danube Valley, the Heuneburg, and Lake Federsee.
👉 You’ll find the complete itinerary with a route overview, recommended overnight bases, arrival tips, accommodation suggestions, highlights, events along the route, and an interactive map here:
Swabian Alb Road Trip – From Tübingen to Ulm with Castles, Caves, and Ice Age Art
Ideal for you if you ...
- Love castles, palaces and historic towns
- are interested in UNESCO World Heritage and Ice Age art
- Want to combine nature and culture on short driving stages
- have about 9 to 12 days
- prefer to travel with fixed locations instead of changing hotels every day
- want the flexibility to turn the route into a round trip
👉 In my article 52 Highlights of the Swabian Alb (Swabian Jura) - The Ultimate Guide you can find out all about this often underestimated region, which is a true paradise for explorers, hikers, connoisseurs and culture lovers.




Further Reading
The scenic and cultural Highlights of the Swabian Alb in a separate, comprehensive blog post. Essential if you want to take this road trip!
I have also put together a separate article with travel tips for The Most Beautiful Cities in Germany .
To help you plan your road trip, you can find all the information you need in my comprehensive 52 most beautiful regions in Germany lots of inspiration for the country's most beautiful vacation regions.
If you are particularly interested in Germany's cultural heritage, you can find out more in my article on Germany's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a comprehensive overview, sorted by federal state and with overview maps.
👉 Everything you need for an uncomplicated Start your road trip at Frankfurt Airport you need to know in my comprehensive guide.



Friends of mine went on a trip to Germany and took a souvenir from each place. At the time, I was already thinking what a great idea that was. Apart from my home town, I'd only been to the big cities and skiing. I never even visited the Baltic Sea. Your article has really put me in the mood to travel. Let's see, maybe I'll grab my husband and dog soon and we'll drive through Germany in a camper van.
Dear Hannah,
I'm delighted that I was able to inspire you. You will definitely have a lot of fun on a road trip through Germany. There are so many interesting regions with varied landscapes and great cities. The better I get to know Germany, the more fascinating I find our country. I've never traveled in a motorhome myself, but with a dog it's certainly the ideal way to travel (my daughter does the same 😃).
Warm regards,
Angelika
Your choice of subject for the photos makes you want more - the tips encourage very much to travel along with the background information you provide. For all those who have never been eager to travel, like me, an aha experience. Thank you Angelika.
Dear Silvana, thank you for your lovely comment. I'm glad that you feel inspired. And I know that you have already discovered some beautiful corners of the world and enjoyed it😉. By the way, at the end of May I'm going to Weimar again on the trail of our mutual friend Goethe, and right after that on that of Thomas Mann and Günter Grass in Lübeck😃. Best regards, Angelika
Dear Angelika, very interesting tours through Germany, also beautiful pictures.
Hello Johannes,
I am very happy that you like my route suggestions and the photos. There will be more routes and posts about destinations in Germany here soon!
Cheers, Angelika