Even though many of the pages written here on MyGermanCity.com are humorous and lighthearted, we Germans take a few things very seriously in which we’re quite proud of: beer, wine, cars, and the roughly 100 scenic tourist routes that crisscross across the country, with funny sounding names like the German Avenues Route (Deutsche Alleenstraße) and Deutsche Alpenstraße (German Alpine Road). These can be enjoyed by car, bicycle, and even your own two feet.
But, each of these scenic routes in Germany has a specific purpose — to give you the absolute crème de la crème of what you came to see. For example, many of Germany’s lesser known and smaller towns have a real fairytale feel about them, with places visited by the famous Brothers Grimm. Sounds interesting? Then the German Fairy Tale Road (Deutsche Märchenstraße) is perfect for you.
You know that majestic or foreboding castle in every little girl’s dreams of where she wants to live when she marries her Prince Charming? Well, if this is the Germany you want to see, what about following along the world famous Romantic Road (Romantische Straße) or the picture-perfect German Framework Road (Deutsche Fachwerkstraße)?
You’re more after the quintessential storybook castle? Well, we’ve got you covered, too. Head on over to the Castle Road (Burgenstraße). :-)
Some of Germany’s other scenic routes are a bit more whimsical, like the Deutsche Uhrenstrasse, or German Clock Route in English. The Black Forest (called the Schwarzwald) is known for its clock making tradition and seeing the largest cuckoo clock in the world is just plain breathtaking!
Of course, since Germany is genuinely proud of its beers and wines, there are tourist routes that will give you all that and more.
Bier lovers are the ones who’ll appreciate the German Hops Road (Deutsche Hopfenstraße), because it’s one of the few ingredients allowed to make that German beer we love so much (Danke Schön to a Bavarian Duke for this — you know who you were)!
If wine whets your whistle, then you couldn’t do any better than the glorious German Wine Route (Deutsche Weinstraße) through the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Thankfully, Germany has a few other wine routes in other states, as well. Somewhere there’s as Riesling with your name on it, but I hope you don’t mind — I prefer the sweet ones. ;-)
After imbibing on a few glasses of vino, driving is out of the question (sorry, no Bertha Benz Memorial Route for you now). So, why not bicycle your way around the German Volcanoes Route or Deutsche Vulkanstraße (yes, on top of everything Germany’s got volcanoes, too) where some of the most beautiful countryside in the country was created from these once living, breathing, lava spewing beauties.
Don’t worry about getting lost as just about every one of Germany’s Scenic Routes is well-marked, taking you to many tiny out-of-the-way towns and villages that you might never know existed (no worries, I’ll fill you in on all of them). Then again, if you accidentally turn off of one route, there’s another to take its place.
One last thing, thank you Germany, for showing us there’s MUCH more to you than just your big cities and airports!
More Scenic Routes In Germany
There are many more scenic routes in Germany, many of which are list here below…
- Baden Asparagus Route (Badische Spargelstraße) — A 136km route through northern Baden celebrating the King’s Vegetable on numerous festivals.
- Baden Wine Route (Badische Weinstraße) — Discover the best of the Baden region and its wine on this 200km 124mi) along the Rhine and the Black Forest.
- Bavarian Iron Route (Bayerische Eisenstraße) — A 120km scenic route in the Upper Palatinate that highlights the mining industry in the region.
- Benedict Trail (Benediktweg) — A 248km circular route in Upper Bavaria where Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) lived, played, and prayed as a child and young man.
- Bergstrasse — A 68km route in Hesse and Baden-Württemberg along the foothills of the Odenwald highlighting mountains, castles, and wine.
- Black Forest High Road (Schwarzwaldhochstraße) — It’s just 60km, but this is one of the top scenic routes in Germany, with breathtaking views and a very healthy air. :-)
- Black Forest Spa Route (Schwarzwald-Bäderstraße) — 270km long and established in honor of the best of northern Black Forest spa towns; history, culture, food, and everything in-between included.
- Classics Road (Klassikerstraße) — This one’s classic! ;-) 300km through Thuringian history and the epoch of classics and classical music.
- Dollard Route — A 204km bicycle tour around the Dollart in East Frisia and the northern Netherlands, with museums, ports, castles, and windmills.
- European Celtic Route (Europäische Keltenroute) — Celts also belong to Germany History, and this route (through Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany), France, and Luxembourg) is dedicated to them.
- European Route Of Brick Gothic (Europäische Straße der Backsteingotik) — God bless the Hanseatic League! Discover fine gothic brick architecture along the Baltic Coast and gain unforgettable impressions for a lifetime.
- European Route Of Historic Theaters (Europastraße Historische Theater) — A grand international tour that’ll take you to the very best of Germany’s Arts, running from Rügen to Koblenz.
- Fantastic Road (Fantastische Straße) — On 400km/248mi, explore the most fantastic of what Baden-Württemberg has to offer.
- German Cabbage Route (Deutsche Kohlstraße) — Explore 130 km of cabbages, farms, and open fields along the North Sea in western Schleswig-Holstein covering the largest cabbage-growing area in all of Europe.
- German Ceramics Route (Deutsche Tonstraße) — Enjoy 215km of clay, pottery, brick and ceramics factories, studios and craftsmanship throughout northern Brandenburg.
- German Fen Route (Deutsche Fehnroute) — A 163km circular cycle trail in East Frisia leading you along countless moorlands and windmills.
- German Ferries Route (Deutsche Fährstraße) — 250km through Schleswig-Holstein (& northern Lower Saxony) highlighting historical bridges and ferries along the Kiel Canal and Oste River.
- German Football Route (Deutsche Fußballroute) — Discover the heart of the German football scene and a beer drinking nation by visiting 15 cities in North Rhine-Westphalia and their top sights.
- German Gemstone Route (Deutsche Edelsteinstraße) — A 70km two-ring trail in and around Idar-Oberstein and the Birkenfeld District showcasing jewel and gemstone craftsmanship.
- German Limes Road (Deutsche Limes-Straße) — This massive 550km/342mi roman road (818km/508mi by bike) follows through 83 towns along what was once the border of the Roman Empire.
- German Shoe Route (Deutsche Schuhstraße) — This 310km/193mi route highlights how shoe making used to be big business here in the Wasgau region.
- German Sluice Route (Deutsche Sielroute) — A 200km route guiding you along dykes and waterways through the Wesermarsch and along the North Sea.
- German Stork Route (Deutsche Storchenstraße) — A 450km route through the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Elbe River Landscape along countless of stork nests!
- German Toy Road (Deutsche Spielzeugstraße) — This 300km route follows through Thuringia & Bavaria looking at toy making, doll doctors, and lots of history, culture, toys, toys, and toys. :-)
- German Wild Game Route (Deutsche Wildstraße) — This 146km circular route through the Volcanic Eifel highlights a variety of wild animals, amusement park rides included.
- Glass Route (Glasstraße) — Winding its 250km through East Bavaria showcasing the Bavarian and Bohemian glass craftsmanship tradition.
- Green Route / Route Verte (Grüne Straße) — Unforgettable! 250km from Contrexeville, France through the Black Forest to Donaueschingen.
- Hohenzollern Route (Hohenzollernstraße) — A 300km circular “royal” route between the Swabian Alb and Lake Constance with numerous castles!
- Idyllic Route (Idyllische Straße) — Take it easy on this 130km short route through the Swabian-Franconian Forest in northern Baden-Württemberg, experiencing the lovely and, um, idyllic countryside & trails. ;-)
- Luther Trail (Lutherweg) — A 410km spiritual and historical route through Saxony-Anhalt that takes you through the life and works of Martin Luther, father of the Protestant Reformation.
- Moselle Slate Route (Moselschiefer-Straße) — 110km/68mi through the Eifel region illustrating the slate mining industry.
- Moselle Wine Route (Moselweinstraße) — A 311km long route (242km within Germany) that’s winding its way through Rhineland-Palatinate, from Trier to Koblenz.
- Nahe Wine Route (Naheweinstraße) — A short 135km route in Rhineland-Palatinate through many small towns and villages highlighting the best of their wine and vineyards.
- Neckar-Alb-Aare Roman Route (Römerstraße Neckar-Alb-Aare) — Following in the footsteps of the Romans through Baden-Württemberg and the gorgeous region around Lake Constance.
- Nibelungen Route — Not sure how long exactly, but this route goes through Germany, Austria, and Hungary, bringing the Nibelungenlied to live.
- Nibelung-Siegfried Route (Nibelungen-Siegfriedstraße) — A 310km long two-part route through the Odenwald forest following the footpaths of Siegfried and the saga and Song of the Nibelungs.
- Northern Black Forest Monasteries Route (Klosterroute Nordschwarzwald) — This one goes for 104km highlighting three of the most magnificent monasteries.
- Old Salt Road (Alte Salzstraße) — An old salt route, only about 110km, from Lüneburg to Lübeck with salt sites, festivals, and history.
- Oranier Route — 2,400km through the Netherlands and Germany following in the footsteps of the mighty House of Orange-Nassau.
- Oxen Trail (Ochsenweg) — This is a biking and hiking route through Schleswig-Holstein and Danmark following along a former Viking and cattle drive region.
- Princes Of Reuss Route (Reußische Fürstenstraße) — Discover the Thuringian Vogtland, a region which the Princes of Reuss used to rule for 800 years (110km).
- Romanesque Route (Straße der Romanik) — A 1200km long route through Saxony-Anhalt filled with ancient buildings from around 950-1250 A.D.
- Saar-Palatinate Baroque Route (Barockstraße Saarpfalz) — A short 100km route in the Saarland (with one stop in Rhineland-Palatinate) highlighting the best of Baroque castles, churches, and gardens.
- Saale-Unstrut Wine Route (Weinstraße Saale-Unstrut) — A quick 55km route through the Burgenlandkreis in Saxony-Anhalt highlighting wine, wine, and wine (oh, and the obligatory like castles and stuff).
- Saxon Wine Route (Sächsische Weinstraße) — A short 55km route through the one and only vineyard in Saxony, lovely highlighting grand sights of this piece of country.
- Schleswig-Holstein Cheese Route (Käsestraße Schleswig-Holstein) — Let’s eat great and healthy on this 500km/311mi long route through Schleswig-Holstein, showcasing the best cheese making farms!
- Sisi’s Road (Sisi Straße) — Following the footsteps of one of the most beautiful women of her time, Elisabeth (Bavarian girl, Austrian Empress, and Queen of Hungary), leading for 2,000 km through Bavaria, Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Switzerland.
- Sky Paths (Himmelswege) — A new, short 90km route in southern Saxony-Anhalt letting you travel thousands of years back in time, and to other planets.
- Swabian Spa Route (Schwäbische Bäderstraße) — Time to pamper yourself on this 180km (112mi) route covering the best spa towns in Swabia with all sorts of healthy treatments.
- Thuringian Castle Road (Burgenstraße Thüringen) — 900km to discover mighty castles and palaces in Thuringia, giving you a glimpse of influencing epochs of German history.
- Upper Swabian Baroque Route (Oberschwäbische Barockstraße) — 500km through Upper Swabia showcasing stunning Baroque religious architecture and arts.
- Via Claudia Augusta — Follow the road to Rhaetia, from southern Germany to Austria and northern Italy. 500km (143km within Germany) of scenic Roman education and remembrance.
- VIA REGIA (King’s Road / Königsstraße) — 4,500km through Europe and 600km through Germany, this royal route is filled with stunning European history and sights.
- Via Sacra (Holy Route / Heilige Straße) — Through Upper Lusatia in Germany and on to the Czech Repuplic and Poland, this scenic route lets you calm down, reflect and contemplate upon what’s really important in life.
- Way Of St. James (Jakobsweg) — A pilgrimage route with trails leading through all German states up until Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
- Weser Renaissance Route (Straße der Weserrenaissance) — 400km/256mi through Central Germany to show off the best of Renaissance architecture.
- Westphalian Mills Route (Westfälische Mühlenstraße) — A nostalgic 320km circular route through North Rhine-Westphalia with 43 historical mills.