Luxury rail holiday to the Black Forest in Germany visiting Titisee and Baden-Baden
This 9-night luxury touring holiday begins with your arrival in Freiburg by rail from London. You spend 2 nights here, giving you time to take in the best sights the city has to offer. Freiburg Minster was built during the 1200s and has the only Gothic church tower in Germany. Its lookout tower has incredible views of the city and the interior is home to great architectural feats. The Augustiner Musuem is a must-see for art-lovers as it contains an extensive range of artwork spanning fromt he Middle Ages to the Baroque period. Perhaps also take the cable car up to Schauinsland or the railway up to the Schlossberg, both offering wonderful views of Freiburg and the surrounding area. You travel next to Titisee via the Höllentalbahn or “Hell Valley Railway”. This will take you through the dramatic river valley of Dreisam before ascending into the forest. You will have 1 full day to relax on the shores of Lake Titisee, well-known for its shopping and spas. This area offers outstanding hiking and biking opportunities, and it is possible in the warmer months to rent a boat out on the lake. Your third destination is the town of Triberg. This area is best-known for the Triberg Waterfalls, the highest waterfall in Germany. These can be easily reached from the centre of Triberg on foot and there are multiple marked trails which will allow you to enjoy the waterfalls from different angles. Other cultural attractions in Triberg include the Eble Uhren-Park (clock park), which houses a huge range of cuckoo clocks including the world’s largest, and the Schwarzwald Musuem, which details the history of the Black Forest and its inhabitants. The final stop on your rail tour is Baden-Baden, where you will spend 3 nights. One of the most popular attractions here is to indulge in the world-renowned spa centres and thermal baths for which the town is named. You will find a wide range of treatments designed to cleanse both body and mind. The most famous of these, Friedrichsbad, is worth visiting for the architecture alone – completed in 1877, this thermal spa was constructed with the aim of revitalising the town. Staying with the theme of tranquillity, you may want to take the time to explore the beautiful surroundings of Licthentaler Allee and Lake Mummelsee with their lakes and trees. Other highlights are the Festspielhaus, one of the largest opera houses in Europe, the Musuem Frieder Burda with its display of modern and contemporary art, and the marketplace, once the vibrant centre of the town and now a quiet area containing cafes, a historic church and a terraced garden. On your final day board a train to Paris via Karlsruhe. After a change of stations in Paris you take the Eurostar back to London, where you arrive in the evening.
Highlights
Freiburg • Lake Titisee • Triberg • Baden-Baden
Day by day
Begin your Black Forest by rail tour by travelling from London to Paris on the Eurostar on a morning departure. After changing stations in Paris, take the train to Freiburg, changing one more time in Karlsruhe. Arrive into Freiburg at around 6pm and check in to your hotel for two nights.
You have one whole day to explore this gateway city to the Black Forest. One of your first visits should be to the distinctive Freiburg Minster with its Gothic church tower, the only one of its kind in Germany. It is possible to climb this tower and get a wonderful view of the city from its viewing platform. The Minster is located within Münsterplatz, a pedestrianised square which contains a market from Mondays to Saturdays. Take the time to explore the stalls displaying everything from regional produce to exotic spices and homemade wares. The Augustiner Musuem is a former monastery which has been converted into an art gallery displaying works from the Middle Ages through to the Baroque period. You will find a variety of works, from original mediaeval stained glass to Baroque sculptures, paintings and altars. To gain a true panoramic view of the city, you should take the funicular railway up to the top of Schlossberg, a hill overlooking the city in the Black Forest. This modern railway will take you to the top in just three minutes, rewarding you with views of the city and vineyards. Slightly further out is the much higher mountain of Schauinsland. Reachable via the longest cable car in Germany, the mountain summit looks out onto the peaks of the Alps to the south.
You travel today from Freiburg to Titisee, a journey of roughly half an hour on the famous Hollentalbahn (Hell Valley Railway). Departing Freiburg’s main station, you travel first through the Dreisam river valley before ascending into the forested mountains. Look out for the Ravenna Bridge, rebuilt following World War II, which offers some of the most dramatic views on the journey. You shortly arrive into the town of Titisee nestled on the shores of the lake for which it is named. Check in to your hotel for the next two nights.
Titisee is known for its wonderful hiking opportunities. Venturing out around the lake will reward you with stunning views of the Black Forest. There are also thousands of kilometres of bike trails in the forest, giving you a wide variety of options whether you prefer an intense cycle or a more leisurely ride to take in the scenery. You will find multiple boat rental places along the lakeshore, ranging from rowboats to kayaks to motorboats. On a clear day a worthwhile activity is to climb the Hochfirst Mountain – in the right conditions it is possible to see the Swiss and Austrian Alps in the distance, and there is a restaurant at the top where you can replenish yourself before the return journey back to town.
Today you continue from Titisee to Triberg, with a change of trains in Donaueschingen on the eastern edge of the forest. Check in to your hotel in Triberg where you will spend the next two nights.
Your day in Triberg should certainly start with a trip to the Triberg Waterfalls. Germany’s highest waterfalls, the water plunges 163 metres and is particularly dramatic after heavy rainfall and after the snow has melted. These are easily reached from the centre of town on foot via the multiple marked trails: the “Naturweg”, the “Kulturweg” and the “Kaskadenweg”. Close by the main entrance you will find the Schwarzwald Museum, detailing the history of the Black Forest and its inhabitants. You can also visit the Eble Uhren-Park (clock park) which houses a huge range of cuckoo clocks including the largest in the world. On the opposite end of the scale, the world’s smallest cuckoo clock can be found at Hubert Herr’s souvenir store: a family business which has been designing cuckoo clocks since the 1800s. It is possible to buy one of these to take home for yourself.
The final stop on your holiday is Baden-Baden, often considered to be the gateway city into the Black Forest. Board a train mid-morning from Triberg, arriving into Baden-Baden just before lunch time. Check in to your hotel for your last three nights.
Baden-Baden is world-renowned as an outstanding spa town. You may want to take the time to relax at the end of your holiday with a trip to one of the many spa centres specialising in wellness and health treatments. You will find an extremely wide range of treatments designed to treat both the body and the mind. Perhaps the most impressive of these thermal spas is Friedrichsbad: completed in 1877, this palace was built to replenish a struggling town and now offers an exclusive experience of 17 different treatment stations. Baden-Baden also has some stunning natural locations in its vicinity. Lichtenaler Allee and Lake Mummelsee will allow you to experience the tranquil environment which one associates with the Black Forest, whilst the nearby Merkur Mountain provides a more thrilling activity. The summit can also be reached by funicular train if you prefer this method. Staying within the town, the Museum Frieder Burda offers fascinating displays of modern and contemporary art, featuring around 1000 paintings, sculptures and photographs. The Festspielhaus, one of the largest opera houses in Europe, showcases operas and ballets, as well as orchestral music and solo performances from prominent musicians. Baden-Baden’s marketplace, once the vibrant centre of the town, is now a quiet area containing cafes, a historic church and a terraced garden and is well worth the time to take a leisurely stroll around.
On the final day of your holiday take the train from Baden-Baden just before 9am. After a change of trains in Karlsruhe you will arrive into Paris, where you will have to change stations to catch the Eurostar. Arrive into London St Pancras in the early evening.
My daughter and I had a fabulous time on our holiday. The hotels were all spectacular in their different ways, the train journeys were exciting and gorgeous scenery and the organisation from the various rail networks was spot on.Mrs B, June 2022
Holiday price guide From £2,040 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including second class rail travel. First class and standard premier on Eurostar supplement of £380 per person.
Holiday Code EEBR14
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail holiday to the Black Forest in Germany visiting Titisee and Baden-Baden
Begin your Black Forest by rail tour by travelling from London to Paris on the Eurostar on a morning departure. After changing stations in Paris, take the train to Freiburg, changing one more time in Karlsruhe. Arrive into Freiburg at around 6pm and check in to your hotel for two nights.
You have one whole day to explore this gateway city to the Black Forest. One of your first visits should be to the distinctive Freiburg Minster with its Gothic church tower, the only one of its kind in Germany. It is possible to climb this tower and get a wonderful view of the city from its viewing platform. The Minster is located within Münsterplatz, a pedestrianised square which contains a market from Mondays to Saturdays. Take the time to explore the stalls displaying everything from regional produce to exotic spices and homemade wares. The Augustiner Musuem is a former monastery which has been converted into an art gallery displaying works from the Middle Ages through to the Baroque period. You will find a variety of works, from original mediaeval stained glass to Baroque sculptures, paintings and altars. To gain a true panoramic view of the city, you should take the funicular railway up to the top of Schlossberg, a hill overlooking the city in the Black Forest. This modern railway will take you to the top in just three minutes, rewarding you with views of the city and vineyards. Slightly further out is the much higher mountain of Schauinsland. Reachable via the longest cable car in Germany, the mountain summit looks out onto the peaks of the Alps to the south.
You travel today from Freiburg to Titisee, a journey of roughly half an hour on the famous Hollentalbahn (Hell Valley Railway). Departing Freiburg’s main station, you travel first through the Dreisam river valley before ascending into the forested mountains. Look out for the Ravenna Bridge, rebuilt following World War II, which offers some of the most dramatic views on the journey. You shortly arrive into the town of Titisee nestled on the shores of the lake for which it is named. Check in to your hotel for the next two nights.
Titisee is known for its wonderful hiking opportunities. Venturing out around the lake will reward you with stunning views of the Black Forest. There are also thousands of kilometres of bike trails in the forest, giving you a wide variety of options whether you prefer an intense cycle or a more leisurely ride to take in the scenery. You will find multiple boat rental places along the lakeshore, ranging from rowboats to kayaks to motorboats. On a clear day a worthwhile activity is to climb the Hochfirst Mountain – in the right conditions it is possible to see the Swiss and Austrian Alps in the distance, and there is a restaurant at the top where you can replenish yourself before the return journey back to town.
Today you continue from Titisee to Triberg, with a change of trains in Donaueschingen on the eastern edge of the forest. Check in to your hotel in Triberg where you will spend the next two nights.
Your day in Triberg should certainly start with a trip to the Triberg Waterfalls. Germany’s highest waterfalls, the water plunges 163 metres and is particularly dramatic after heavy rainfall and after the snow has melted. These are easily reached from the centre of town on foot via the multiple marked trails: the “Naturweg”, the “Kulturweg” and the “Kaskadenweg”. Close by the main entrance you will find the Schwarzwald Museum, detailing the history of the Black Forest and its inhabitants. You can also visit the Eble Uhren-Park (clock park) which houses a huge range of cuckoo clocks including the largest in the world. On the opposite end of the scale, the world’s smallest cuckoo clock can be found at Hubert Herr’s souvenir store: a family business which has been designing cuckoo clocks since the 1800s. It is possible to buy one of these to take home for yourself.
The final stop on your holiday is Baden-Baden, often considered to be the gateway city into the Black Forest. Board a train mid-morning from Triberg, arriving into Baden-Baden just before lunch time. Check in to your hotel for your last three nights.
Baden-Baden is world-renowned as an outstanding spa town. You may want to take the time to relax at the end of your holiday with a trip to one of the many spa centres specialising in wellness and health treatments. You will find an extremely wide range of treatments designed to treat both the body and the mind. Perhaps the most impressive of these thermal spas is Friedrichsbad: completed in 1877, this palace was built to replenish a struggling town and now offers an exclusive experience of 17 different treatment stations. Baden-Baden also has some stunning natural locations in its vicinity. Lichtenaler Allee and Lake Mummelsee will allow you to experience the tranquil environment which one associates with the Black Forest, whilst the nearby Merkur Mountain provides a more thrilling activity. The summit can also be reached by funicular train if you prefer this method. Staying within the town, the Museum Frieder Burda offers fascinating displays of modern and contemporary art, featuring around 1000 paintings, sculptures and photographs. The Festspielhaus, one of the largest opera houses in Europe, showcases operas and ballets, as well as orchestral music and solo performances from prominent musicians. Baden-Baden’s marketplace, once the vibrant centre of the town, is now a quiet area containing cafes, a historic church and a terraced garden and is well worth the time to take a leisurely stroll around.
On the final day of your holiday take the train from Baden-Baden just before 9am. After a change of trains in Karlsruhe you will arrive into Paris, where you will have to change stations to catch the Eurostar. Arrive into London St Pancras in the early evening.
My daughter and I had a fabulous time on our holiday. The hotels were all spectacular in their different ways, the train journeys were exciting and gorgeous scenery and the organisation from the various rail networks was spot on.Mrs B, June 2022
Holiday price guide From £2,040 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including second class rail travel. First class and standard premier on Eurostar supplement of £380 per person.
Holiday Code EEBR14
Our prices include
● Rail travel from London throughout, back to London
● Second-class travel on all trains (first class and standard premier on Eurostar can be booked at a supplement)
● 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Comfort double room at Hotel am Stadtgarten, Freiburg
● 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in an Elegance room at Boutique Hotel Alemannenhof, Titisee
● 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Superior double room at Parkhotel Wehrle, Triberg
● 3 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at Belle Epoque Hotel, Baden-Baden
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
● Transfers in any cities
Additional information This holiday can be arranged throughout the year. Timings can vary depending on the month and day of the week
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail holiday to the Black Forest in Germany visiting Titisee and Baden-Baden
My daughter and I had a fabulous time on our holiday. The hotels were all spectacular in their different ways, the train journeys were exciting and gorgeous scenery and the organisation from the various rail networks was spot on.Mrs B, June 2022
Holiday price guide From £2,040 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including second class rail travel. First class and standard premier on Eurostar supplement of £380 per person.
Holiday Code EEBR14
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail holiday to the Black Forest in Germany visiting Titisee and Baden-Baden
About Germany
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Germany enables travellers to experience a fascinating and richly varied country. Germany is replete with regional quirks and personalities - a strong feature of German life and a hangover from the days, not too long ago, when the country was once a patchwork of independent states. Today, to travel from the ancient ports of the north, across the open fields of the German plain, and down through the Ruhr and onto the forests, mountains and cosmopolitan cities of Germany’s Bavarian south, you’ll experience an intriguing variety as great – and appealing – as you’d find anywhere else in Europe. Several of Germany’s cities have the air of national capitals. Cologne, though enmeshed in one of Europe’s most intensively industrialised regions, is rich in monuments. Bavaria’s capital, Munich, is another star attraction, with great museums and galleries. Berlin, the nucleus of the turmoil of reunification, is now one of the most sophisticated, artistic and exciting cities on the planet, while Nuremberg is thrillingly ancient, with the most charming of winter markets in the 11th century square, and summer festivals when the cobbled streets come alive with street artists and musicians. Scattered between these city big-hitters, quieter, utterly charming cities and large towns abound, with medieval old towns straight out of fairy-tale picture books. Heidelberg, the oldest university town in Germany, is an absolute gem, nestling between wooded hills on the banks of the Neckar river, a setting that has seduced visitors ever since the days of the Grand Tour. But from Trier to Bamberg, Marburg to Meissen, Regensburg to Rothenburg, enchanting old towns abound. Beyond Germany’s beautiful cities and towns, the Bavarian Alps, right on Munich’s doorstep, are a spectacular playground for hikers and bikers, horse-riders and skiers. The Rhine and Mosel are both littered with castles and vineyards, offering an enchanting backdrop for the cruise boats that drift serenely along their waters. And stretching more than 100 miles north to south, and 45 miles from east to west, the Black Forest is awash with pretty spa towns and exquisite health resorts, crisscrossed with walking trails. The Black Forest also boasts some of the most spectacular rail journals on the planet. A beautiful, intriguing country vastly at odds with its stiff stereotype, Germany is a wonderful holiday destination for active outdoorsy types and city-breakers alike.
Highlights of Germany
Berlin’s world-class museums, bustling bars, galleries and monuments; Rugen Island, with its rugged chalk cliffs, windswept beaches, Romantic-era spa architecture and tree-lined country roads; Dresden, with its baroque beauty on the banks of the majestic Elbe; Cologne’s magnificent cathedral; the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg; the sandy dunes of Sylt, a North Sea island with fabulous beaches and surf; the beer halls of Munich, ideally in September during the Oktoberfest; Lubeck, a Hanseatic gem; Muritz National Park, where you can go paddling and camping in a paradise teeming with birds; Bremen, a metropolis in miniature, with lovely red-brick and Art Nouveau architecture; the Alpine resorts of Bavaria, including Berchtesgaden, with dramatic peaks, dreamy lakes and superb walking trails; drive or cruise along the Rhine or Mosel, visiting castles, medieval villages and superb vineyards along the way; the walled medieval towns of Rothenburg and Trier, both with wonderful Christmas markets; the Christmas market at Nuremberg, oldest – and still most picturesque – in the world.
Facts in brief
Capital BerlinAirport Several airports are served from the UK, including Berlin, Bremen, Cologne-Bonn, Dortmund, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Stuttgart and Munich.
Size 137,000 sq. miles
Population 82 million
