Freiburg im Breisgau

The basics

Freiburg is an excellent city to discover on foot, and there are lots of different tour options—including both guided and self-guided walking tours that focus on history, art, and culture. Opting for a guided tour is a great way to learn about local history and get a shortcut to the city’s most photogenic landmarks. Places that are commonly featured on walking tours include the Neues Rathaus, Freiburg Minster, Augustinerplatz, and Munsterplatz.

Things to know before you go

• Many areas of the city—such as Munsterplatz—are flat and paved, so are both wheelchair- and stroller-accessible. However, some of the city’s older buildings and narrow streets may be difficult to access. It’s worth doing research before you visit specific attractions to see if they have accessible entrances.

• Freiburg is a fantastic spot to discover the Black Forest. You can begin great hikes from marked trails that start at the Schlossbergbahn cable-car station, just outside town.

• Be careful with your spelling when researching and booking activities in Freiburg, as travelers often get the city confused with another city with a slightly different spelling Freiberg—in Saxony.

• As it’s a university city, there are lots of students, but also a lot of great food options—including a number of restaurants that are vegan- and vegetarian-friendly.

How to get there

A compact and walkable city, Freiburg also has abundant bike paths. It’s well-connected by public transportation too, with tram services, S-Bahn, and regional trains. The closest airport is Basel Airport, and Freiburg is about 1 hour by car from Basel, Switzerland; it’s also about 1 hour from Offenburg and Karlsruhe.

When to get there

The city is proud of a particular weather-related fact—as it’s the southernmost city in Germany, it usually has more sunshine hours than any other German city. The sunniest months are June through August, but to avoid the crowds, it’s best to visit in May, June, or September. If you like wine, and don’t mind summer crowds, then it’s worth checking out the Freiburger Wine Market in August, an annual food, music, and wine festival.

Traveling on the Schauinslandbahn cable car

To admire great views of Freiburg and the neighboring Black Forest, a trip up Germany’s longest loop cable car, Schauinslandbahn, is a great choice. The vehicle ascends 4,212 feet (1,202 meters), and when at the top, it’s possible to visit a mining museum, walk among the pine trees, take a break at a restaurant, or enjoy the thrillseekers’ route downhill—an off-road scooter track.