Discover wild forests, fairytale castles, and gothic towns on a magical road trip in Germany.
Germany road trip: Our top five driving routes
Embark on an unforgettable journey through charming historic towns and breathtaking natural landscapes with these epic German driving itineraries. Discover the best of what the country has to offer with the top 5 German road trips, recommended by Skyscanner.
1. Follow the fairytale trail
A northbound route through castle-strewn Lower Saxony and Hesse – 373 miles
- Best time to go: Springtime to see cherry blossoms along the way.
- Highlights: Trendelburg and Hamelin.
Follow the breadcrumbs through Lower Saxony and Hesse on the route that tells the story of the Brothers Grimm. Along this fairytale trail you’ll pass 50 towns and cities, castles, grottos and meaningful places for Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.
The magic starts in Hanau, where the Grimm brothers were born in the 1780s. Begin heading north and stop at Steinau where you can walk around the town that the brothers grew up in. After here, disappear into the dark forest where Little Red Riding Hood met a sly wolf in the Schwalm Region. Next, stop to ponder the higgledy-piggledy houses in Alsfeld before searching for Snow White in the forests of Kellerwald-Edersee National Park.
Treat yourself with a deep dive into the story at Kassel’s Grimmwelt Museum. Afterwards, visit the castle of Trendelburg – which may or may not have a long rope of hair hanging from a tower. Another helpless princess is believed to have slept for 100 years in Castle Sababurg, which is surrounded by forest and wildlife. Dance past the sandstone and timber-framed buildings of Hamelin, which date back to the Renaissance period. While you’re here you can also visit the rat catchers house. The final chapter of this fairytale German road trip ends in the cobblestone streets of Bremen, said to be home of the Bremen town musicians.
2. Take the alpine route
A scenic point-to-point trail from Lindau through the Bavarian Alps – 280 miles
- Best time to go: April to June for great weather and blooming wildflowers.
- Highlights: Neuschwanstein Castle and Lake Konigssee.
Travel from Landau and traverse the Bavarian Alps, passing historic castles, charming villages and pristine lakes. Set off from Lindau – but first, cross the bridge to the city’s island surrounded by the emerald waters of Lake Constance. Here you can visit the lighthouse and wander around the gothic buildings of the old town. Hit the road through the majestic green hills and meadows of the Allgau region.
Surrounded by mountain peaks overlooking Lake Alpsee are two magnificent castles. The hilltop fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle is known for its Romanesque and Gothic-style features. Hohenschwangau Castle was the former home of King Ludwig and has a more traditional historic look. Continue to the whimsical town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen where you can explore the cobblestone streets in its old town. Beyond here, pass the Benedictine Ettal Abbey to the historic spa town, Bad Tolz, where you can learn about its salt mining past.
Keep driving east to Tegernsee and rent a boat on the lake before hiking to the waterfalls from Rottach-Egern. Next stop is the hiker’s paradise, Oberstdorf, where you’ll explore the Breitachklamm Gorge or summit Nebelhorn. Keep close to the Austrian border and enter the rugged peaks and deep valleys of Berchtesgaden National Park. Watch out for rare wildlife like Ibex and Golden eagles as you hike through the unspoiled nature. Disappear into the Wimbach Gorge, where waterfalls slide down the steep rock faces. Afterwards, see the historic centre and royal castle of Berchtesgaden. End this epic Germany road trip with a dip in the crystalline waters of Lake Konigssee,
3. Head along the Black Forest high road
A scenic route through the natural beauty of the Black Forest – 70 miles
- Best time to go: April and May to see nature in full bloom.
- Highlights: Baden-Baden and Schwarzwald National Park.
This German road trip goes from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt through the untouched nature of the Black Forest. Pack your hiking boots for this scenic, family-friendly drive.
Before you get going, spend a while enjoying the historic spa town of Baden-Baden. Sink into the thermal mineral water in Caracalla Spa before walking around the oak trees and lakes of Michaelsberg Park. A short distance away sits the modest but magical Geroldsau Waterfall. Keep driving south until you reach the dinky glacial Mummelsee Lake. According to legend, deep beneath the floating white lilies lives a water spirit and the underwater king of the Mummelsee. From here you can hike through the forest to the summit of Hornisgrinde for sweeping views of the moorland.
Continue to Ruhestein for the best access to the walking and biking trails around Schwarzwald National Park. Wind through the evergreens and stop at the ruins of Allerheiligen monastery. Follow the trail over small bridges through the forest to the cascading All Saints Waterfalls. Pause in the mountain village of Kniebis and then hit the historic Kniebis Heimatpfad trail. This will take you around the wildflower meadows to the elevated wooden Ellbachseeblick viewing platform. The final stretch leads to Freudenstadt – a friendly town with plenty of shops around the largest market square in Germany.
4. Cruise around the romantic route
A historic drive from Wurzburg to Fussen – 220 miles
Best time to go: Christmas can add some extra magic with snow-dusted mountains and decorations on your romantic German road trip.
Highlights: Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Neuschwanstein Castle.
Make your way through Bavaria to see picturesque historic towns, elegant buildings, and a dash of tranquil countryside.
Explore the baroque town of Wurzburg and look around the Wurzburg Residence. Hop in the car and drive south until you reach the fairytale village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Marvel at the charming pastel houses while walking along the narrow cobblestone streets. More mediaeval magnificence can be found a short drive away in Nordlingen. If you climb St George’s Tower, you might be able to see the circular shape of the town as it sits inside a 25km-wide meteorite crater.
Next you’ll arrive at one of the oldest cities in Germany. Here you’ll find majestic fountains and plenty of museums to look around. Pause at the riverside Schongau, which is surrounded by rural scenery, historic churches, and monasteries. Cruise through the meadows until you find the Rococo church, Wieskirche, with magnificent detailed interiors from floor to ceiling. Steer around the idyllic Forggensee Lake and gaze up at the magical Neuschwanstein Castle. This beauty was said to be the inspiration behind Disney’s Cinderella Castle. And the neighbouring Hohenschwangau castle, former home of King Ludwig, is just as elegant and has a more traditional appearance.
5. Drive the Baltic Sea coastal stretch
Wind through medieval towns, UNESCO sites and soft sandy beaches – 247 miles
- Best time to go: September for sunshine and fewer tourists.
- Highlights: Lubeck and the Jasmund National Park.
Stay close to the coastline from Kiel to Rugen Island. Delve into Germany’s nautical past, enjoy traditional seaside town delights, and discover secluded sandy beaches.
Hugging an inlet of the Baltic Sea is the busy port town of Kiel. The impressive ships will catch your eye as you wander along the waterfront promenade, Kiellinie. This pretty part of town is a great place to explore for its cafes, aquarium, and restaurants. Hit the road and cruise along the 76, passing a cluster of lakes around Plon, before reaching Lubeck. While you’re there, make sure you see the Holsten Gate Museum.
Keep heading east to the mediaeval town of Wismar to admire the old town’s timber buildings. Next you can stroll around the market square and beach in Rostock. But the best stretch of sand can be found further along the coast in Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park. Before crossing the sea to Rugen Island, take some time to visit the Brewery and Alter Market in the UNESCO town, Stralsund. Hop to the nostalgic seaside town of Binz before finishing this German road trip by walking the white cliffs of Jasmund National Park.
Tips for a successful drive around Germany
Advice for a Germany road trip
- Remember that Germany has the autobahn, so make sure you understand the rules before driving on it.
- Keep updated with the weather forecast – especially around the mountains as it can rapidly change.
- Make sure you’ve got an emissions sticker before entering environmental zones.
- Have a physical or downloaded copy of your route in case phone signal drops out in rural areas.
- Make sure you have a high-visibility jacket and a warning triangle in the car – they are a legal requirement.
Cultural fact file
Germany is home to around 20,000 castles
Nearly 80 million people live in Germany
Close to one-third of the country is covered in forest
Thinking of a Germany road trip? Use the same magic that powers our flight search to find cheap car rental in Germany.
