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Table of Contents:
How to get to Freiburg from Stuttgart
How to get to Freiburg from Frankfurt
University of Freiburg, Botanical Garden, Gunterstal Arboretum
Mountain peaks of Schlossberg, Roskopf, Schaunisland and cable car and funicular services
I have been to the Baden-Wurttemberg region, when Freiburg is located, and I can say it is a magnificent region for travelling. The region combines architectural, historical and natural attractions. It has a wonderful countryside and a lot of hiking trails along with picturesque wine roads and the one and only Black Forest National Park. Its cities and towns are also great places to visit because of their unique architecture and history. Plus, you can conveniently and safely move around the region as the railway and road connections are developed absolutely excellent.
When to travel to Freiburg
Freiburg is considered to be the southernmost city in Germany and has about 300 sunny days a year. In this regard, Freiburg can be called a climatic resort. Located in the foothills of the Black Forest, Freiburg with its clean air, favorable climate and preserved ancient architecture is one of the most attractive small towns in Germany.
I did some research and found out that the local climate is mild and sunny here so you can choose any season of the year to travel to Freiburg. The winters here are snowless and warm; the springs are full of blossoming; the summers are sunny and cloudless; the autumns are colorful and windless.
You can travel here all year around to enjoy local architecture, take excursions, see beautiful nature and taste traditional German food. Local Christmas fair is also one of the famous attractions, where you can admire holiday illumination and taste traditional mulled wine.
How to get to Freiburg
Where do you fly into to get to Freiburg? Freiburg is located in Baden-Württemberg, on the border with France and Switzerland. The most convenient way to get here is to fly to Stuttgart or Frankfurt – the nearest cities with international airports. Check the current timetable from your city at Aviasales booking service. I usually use Aviasales when planning my trips, because it can compare a great variety of available flight options.
How to get to Freiburg from Stuttgart
Of all the cities in Baden-Wurttemberg, Freiburg is the farthest from Stuttgart, being the most southerly located. The distance between Stuttgart and Freiburg is about 200 km. You can get from one city to another by train or bus, you can also use a taxi if you arrive in Stuttgart late at night, when there is no train or bus services. You also can rent a car for travelling on your own.
By train: To get from Stuttgart to Freiburg by train, you first need to get from Stuttgart Airport to the main railway station. You can do this by train S2 or S3 (running from 5 am). From Stuttgart train station you can get to Freiburg by train with a short change in Karlsruhe (no direct trains possible).
⇒Trains start running at 2.30 am and depart from Stuttgart every hour. Travel time, including a change in Karlsruhe, varies from 2 to 3 hours. High-speed trains of the IC and ICE types run along the route on both sections of the route (Stuttgart-Karlsruhe and Karlsruhe-Freiburg). Train timetables can be checked at the Raileurope booking service. Tickets to Freiburg can be purchased online or at the ticket office of the Stuttgart railway station. I tried both variants and as a rule when booking online I have more options available.
By bus: You can also get to Freiburg from Stuttgart (from the airport, train station or bus station) by regular bus. Buses start running at 5 am and run on the route until late in the evening. Bus companies operating on this route are Flixbus, Berlinienbus and DeinBus. Travel time is about 3 hours. The big advantage of buses is that there is no need to make a change in Karlsruhe. You can check the bus timetable, for example, at the Flixbus online service.
By taxi: Another way to get to Freiburg from Stuttgart is to use the transfer (taxi) service. Travel time by taxi takes about 2 hours 10 minutes. You can order a taxi at the information desk at Stuttgart Airport, or in advance via the Internet on the transfer booking services such as Kiwitaxi service, Intui.Travel service and others. Based on my research, these online services have a lot of positive reviews that is why I can recommend them. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
By renting a car: One more advisable way to travel between cities in Germany is to rent a car. You can rent a car right at the airport upon arrival, or at any other rental offices in Stuttgart. You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc.
◊A useful tip: Compare a few of booking services to choose the best price. Roads in Germany are high-speed (the so-called autobahns), so you can move along quickly and comfortably. Stuttgart is connected with Freiburg by highways № A8 and A5 (see on the map).
How to get to Freiburg from Frankfurt
The distance between Frankfurt and Freiburg is even longer – about 270 km. You can overcome the distance by train, bus, taxi or rented car.
By train: Direct trains to Freiburg run from Frankfurt Main Station. The travel time is ranging from 2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes, depending on the type of train. Trains run once per hour. There are also options with a change in Mannheim (a short change does not significantly affect the total travel time).
⇒If you plan to get to Freiburg directly from Frankfurt Airport, you can use the Fernbahnhof railway station, which is located right in the airport building (ground floor). Direct and interchange trains to Freiburg also run from there with approximately the same frequency – once in hour. Train timetables can be checked at the Raileurope booking service. Tickets for Freiburg can be purchased in advance online, or upon arrival at the ticket office of the Frankfurt railway station.
By bus: You can also get to the city from Frankfurt on a direct bus, while the travel time will increase to a little over 4 hours. The routes are operated by bus carriers Flixbus and Berlinienbus from 04.30 am until late in the evening. When buying a bus ticket, you must specify the departure station – it can be Frankfurt Airport, its railway station or the central bus station. You can check the bus timetable, for example, at the Flixbus online service.
By taxi: The travel time by taxi from Frankfurt to Freiburg will take approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. A taxi can be a convenient way to get to the city if you have a lot of luggage with you, or you arrive at night when neither trains nor buses run on the route. You can order a taxi at the information desk at Frankfurt Airport, or in advance via the Internet on the transfer booking services such as Kiwitaxi service, Intui.Travel service and others.
By renting a car: Another popular way to travel between cities in Germany is to rent a car. You can rent a car right at the airport upon arrival, or at any other rental offices in Frankfurt. You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. I read the reviews and most of them are positive, as the region is definitely suitable for road trips.
◊A useful tip: Compare a few of booking services to choose the best price. Roads in Germany are high-speed (the so-called autobahns), so you can move along quickly and comfortably. Frankfurt and Freiburg are connected by highway № A5 (see on the map).
Where to stay in Freiburg
After some research, I decided to take a note, that parking spaces are not always available in Freiburg, as not every hotel can afford underground parking. There is almost no street parking, as Freiburg is an old city with narrow streets, so if you rent a car, you should find out in advance about the availability of parking areas at the hotel.
Dorint An den Thermen Freiburg 4* – The hotel is located 7 km from the City Centre, in quiet surroundings with a bus stop nearby. On the other hand, the hotel is situated close to the Keidel thermal spa. The hotel features 2 on-site restaurants, free parking, and a spa and fitness center. The front desk is open 24/7. The hotel rooms are divided into classic, superior, deluxe and junior suites. Standard rooms have free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, minibar, hairdryer, bathrobe. Breakfasts are available at an additional cost. The hotel received the best ratings from guests for the cleanliness of the rooms, the professionalism of the staff and the good location. Check-in at the hotel is from 15.00, check-out is until 12.00.
The Mercure Hotel Panorama Freiburg is located on the Waltersberg hill, surrounded by green park. The hotel is situated at some distance from the center. There is a bus stop next to the hotel, which takes you to the city center in 10 minutes. The railway station is 4 km from the hotel. The hotel is a part of the Mercure hotel chain and has a standard set of services for 4-star hotels: sauna, indoor pool, tennis court and free parking. It is also possible to rent a bike and explore the area. All hotel rooms are divided into standard and superior. The rooms have a balcony or terrace overlooking the city, air conditioning, telephone, Wi-Fi, satellite TV, safe, hair dryer. Breakfasts are offered at an additional cost. Guests give the highest ratings to the hotel for the professionalism of the staff and its quiet location. Check-in at the hotel is from 15.00, check-out is until 12.00.
City Hotel Freiburg 3* – The hotel is ideally located close to the main attractions of the city, as it is situated in the very center of Freiburg. The hotel has a small private car park where you can leave your car (limited area). Reservations are required to rent a place for a car. The rental price is 10 euros per day. The hotel rooms have everything you need: TV, work desk, telephone, free Wi-Fi, hair dryer. Breakfasts are included in the room rate. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out must be before 11.00. The guests of the hotel highly appreciated the location, the professionalism of the staff and the cleanliness of the rooms.
Hotel Rappen am Munsterplatz 3* – The hotel is located in the center of Freiburg, close to the Cathedral Square. The cathedral is visible from the windows of the hotel. The hotel does not have its own parking, but public parking is available at an additional cost. The hotel has single and double rooms, as well as family suites. The rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, telephone, hair dryer, towels. Breakfasts are included in the room rate. Free Wi-Fi is available. In addition, the hotel has its own terrace and a restaurant. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 11.00. Guests gave the hotel the highest ratings for its location and cleanliness of the rooms.
What to see & do in Freiburg
Like me, you may also be interested in architecture, so the starting point for exploring Freiburg should definitely be the Munsterplatz square, where the main historical attractions are concentrated. The main attraction here is the Cathedral of Our Lady, the most pompous building in the city, with a height of 116 meters and 16 bells inside. The Freiburg Cathedral, as it is also called, was built in a Gothic style with the elements of Romanesque architecture.
After some research, I found out that the construction of the Cathedral dates back to the Middle Ages (1330); in addition, the Cathedral managed to survive during the bombing of the Second World War, so the building is an authentic and one-of-a-kind monument of history and architecture.
There are several other interesting buildings on the Munsterplatz square, such as the Old and New Town Halls (built in 1559 and 1901, respectively) and the Market House (1532). On the neighboring square – Augustinerplatz – you can find a historical building of the Augustinian Museum, which contains a wonderful collection of sculptures, icons and stained-glass windows. Narrow streets of the old town stretch from both squares; walking along you can meet another local attraction – the Towers of Freiburg. There are three Towers – Martins Tor, Breisacher Tor and Schwaben Tor.
University of Freiburg, Botanical Garden, Gunterstal Arboretum
The University of Freiburg, along with the University of Heidelberg, is considered to be one of the oldest higher education universities in Germany. You can be interested in seeing some of the university attractions, for instance, the university library, which is located in an early 20th-century Neo-Gothic building, or the Institute of Linguistics and the Department of History, which are located in a 19th-century mansion in the Herdern district.
The University Botanical Garden, founded in the early 17th century, is also curious. The garden contains a giant collection of plants, shrubs and flowers from different parts of the world, which is why it is interesting to visit the Freiburg Botanical Garden at any time of the year.
The Freiburg Arboretum is also the property of the university. Here you will find a great botanical diversity, rare species of trees that were brought from all over the world. Inside the arboretum there are special walking routes that allow you to explore the place in the best possible way. Take a note! The entrance to the Gunterstal Arboretum is free, and I can recommend visiting it all year round.
Freiburg, like many southern German cities, being surrounded by the Black Forest mountains, has picturesque natural views. You can admire the city from a bird’s eye view from numerous observation decks. Funiculars and cable cars are available. I have been to the Black Forest National Park and I can confirm that the area is incredibly picturesque and it is definitely worth seeing.
Another good idea would be to visit the local amusement park near Freiburg. It is called Europa-Park, which is considered to be one of the largest amusement parks in Europe and is second after Disneyland Paris.
Mountain peaks of Schlossberg, Roskopf, Schaunisland and cable car and funicular services
The mountain peaks of Schlossberg, Roskopf, Schaunisland are located close to Freiburg. The picturesque natural landscapes are available from the local observation decks. You can lift the Schlossberg Mountain on a special funicular; Roskopf and Schaunisland Mountains can be reached by the longest cable car in Germany. Take a note! Cable cars are very common in the Black Forest region, as they are the most convenient way to view the mountain peaks and scenic surroundings, and you can find funicular routes at almost all large towns in the region.
Europa-Park in Germany is the most famous amusement park, which seeks to get not only tourists from Germany, but also tourists from all over Europe. Thematically, the park is divided into several sectors: the land of adventure, the kingdom of Arthur and the Invisibles, the Grimm fairy forest, as well as country-by-country division – Germany, France, England, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Spain. I collected some practical information for visiting and here it is:
- The park is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm in summer and from 11 am to 7 pm in winter.
- The cost of an adult ticket is from 55 euros, for children – from 47.
- Tickets are purchased one-time and are valid throughout the day, i.e. there is no need to buy a ticket for each attraction separately.
- Tickets can be purchased at the box office at the entrance (there may be a queue), or online in advance on the official website of Europa-Park.
The most convenient way to get to Europa-Park from Freiburg is to use a bus, since the distance between the town and the amusement park is only 40 km. The first option to get to Europa-Park is to take the train to Ringsheim station and from there you can take a special shuttle # 7231, which takes visitors directly to the main entrance of Europa-Park.
- Regional trains Freiburg-Ringsheim run every half hour from Freiburg main station.
- Travel time is 30 minutes.
- You can check the current train schedule on the Raileurope ticket service.
The second option is to take the bus. Flixbus buses run from the Freiburg bus station to the Europa-Park Rust stop 4 times a day. Travel time is 30 minutes. This method is cheaper, while the advantage of the train is that it runs more often. The bus timetable can be checked at the Flixbus online service. As I know Flixbus is a pretty popular bus service in Europe and designed for cheaper trips with affordable prices, so it can be a good alternative.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Germany, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Jorge Franganillo
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…