//
State in southwest Germany
Photo: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Baden-Württemberg is a federal state (Bundesland) in Germany. Covering an area of 35,751 km² with a population of approximately 11.2 million, it is home to the world-famous Black Forest and the celebrated, romantic city of Heidelberg, both of which are top tourist destinations within Germany and Central Europe.
Lake Constance, on the border with both Switzerland and Austria, is Germany's largest lake, a source of drinking water for millions and a haven for hikers, cyclists and sailors. Around its banks, you can discover Stone Age settlements, the "Flower Island" Mainau. Further inland, the region boasts many cities with history reaching deep into the Middle Ages, like Ravensburg, famous worldwide for jigsaw puzzles.
The northern part of the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) became Baden-Württemberg's first national park in 2014. The wider region is famous for its Kurorte - traditional health resort towns like Baden-Baden that are state-recognized for their curative springs and climate. This area also boasts a rich history, featuring the medieval university city of Freiburg.
The Schwäbische Alb in the south is a rough landscape with limestone geology, featuring huge caves, deep blue lakes (e.g. the Blautopf) and long walking trails.
The dense yet very green metropolitan area around the Land's capital on the river Neckar can surprise with the beauty of its vineyard-adorned landscape and wealth of cultural attractions.
The northern part of the Land is quite densely urban, especially in its west, with important and famed cities like Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Heilbronn and Heidelberg.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The green capital with its world-class opera house the Staatstheater, city castle and famous gallery of modern art.
The "Squared City" is almost unique in Germany in being a planned, rectilinear city and has one of the most important theatres (the National Theatre) besides being the first city in the world to have cars powered by an internal combustion engine driving on its streets.
The romantic student city with its famed castle, Germany's oldest University and scenic setting at the opening of the Neckar valley into the Rhine valley is an absolute must.
In the southeast, where citizens built the world's tallest church.
The world famous Black Forest to the east of the Rhine Valley has been declared national heritage and will gradually return into a wild state over the next century.
The Schwäbische Alb in the south is a rough landscape with limestone geology, featuring huge caves, deep blue lakes (e.g. the Blautopf) and long walking trails.
The Lake Constance (Bodensee) at the border to Switzerland and Austria is Germany's largest lake, source of drinking water for millions and a haven for hikers, cyclists and sailors. Around its banks, you can discover Stone Age settlements, the "Flower Island" Mainau and the medieval peninsula of Lindau where the living Nobel Laureates of the world meet once a year.
Like much of Germany, Baden-Württemberg is sprinkled with beautiful castles. From the ancient home of the Hohenzollerns (the house Kaiser Wilhelm II was a member of) to the homes of the Württemberg Dukes and Kings.
Pfahlbau Museum Unteruhldingen
Open air museum with reconstruction of stone age and bronze age stilt settlement in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen.
Keltenmuseum
Reconstruction of burial mound and farmstead. This museum was opened where a Celtic burial mound was found in 1950s.
The route follows the tracks of the world's first long-distance journey by automobile in the year 1888, performed by Bertha Benz, the wife of Dr Karl Benz, the inventor of the automobile. It starts and ends in Mannheim.
The route follows the western edge of the Odenwald mountain range. Along the route are vineyards and several attractive towns.
Once abandoned and now restored by enthusiasts, this metre-gauge railway operates steam trains and diesel motor cars through rustic areas. It operates on the first Sunday of each month from May to October, plus on other scheduled event days.
The "national dish" of Württemberg is Spätzle, a freshly prepared pasta made from eggs, flour, salt and water (and nothing else). It is typically served topped with cheese (Kässpätzle) or lentils and sausage (Spätzle mit Linsen und Saitenwürschdle).
Similar to ravioli, Maultaschen consists of an outer-layer of pasta dough, which encloses a filling traditionally consisting of minced meat, smoked meat, spinach, bread crumbs and onions and flavoured with various herbs and spices. Mostly served in a soup (in der Brühe) or as cut slices and fried in a pan with onions and scrambled eggs (geröstet).
onion-topped roast beef with gravy
It is the traditional Sunday dinner dish of the Swabian cuisine and served in every better restaurant. The meat used for Zwiebelrostbraten is traditionally a standing rib roast cut, which is called "Rostbraten" in German. The fried roast beef is topped with roasted onions (German: Zwiebeln) and served with spaetzle and mostly a mixed salad.
Kartoffelsalat
Mostly eaten as a side-dish, the Swabian potato salad (Kartoffelsalat) which, in contrast to the northern German variety is prepared with broth instead of mayonnaise, creating in effect a completely different dish.
With 185 different breweries Baden-Württemberg is on the second rank after Baveria. There are some breweries of note in the region, of which the state-owned Rothaus or Welde are two beers which enjoys cult status.
Baden-Württemberg contains some of Germany's most significant wine-growing regions. Much of the wine economy is in the hands of local co-operatives and the locals enjoy the wine in old-fashioned wine cellars. The best wine grows in an area called the Kaiserstuhl in Baden.
Fruit brandies, e.g. Obstler (distilled from apples and pears) and Zwetschgenwasser (plums) are just two of the most common spirits. The queen of Schnapps is without any doubt the Kirschwasser (also sometimes referred to as Kirschwaesserle) made out of Morello cherries from the black forest area. These are commonly drunk after a meal in a restaurant.
By train
All major cities are well connected through the Deutsche Bahn (DB) rail system.
By bus
The long-distance bus market is exploding in Germany, since a new law was passed in 2013. There are dozens of daily services from most major cities, which are often significantly cheaper than trains.
By car
Of course you can always use your car. If you are travelling in the Black Forest or the Swabian Alb during winter, bring snow chains as some smaller roads may not see snow ploughs frequently enough.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Stuttgart · International · STR
Loading places around the airport…
the state capital is known for its extensive green spaces, the Staatstheater opera house, the city palace, and the Staatsgalerie, which houses a significant collection of modern art
renowned for its castle ruins and Germany's oldest university, the city is situated where the Neckar valley opens into the Rhine valley. It serves as a central hub for academic and historical tourism
located on the edge of the Black Forest, this university city is known for its medieval minster and one of the warmest climates in Germany. Its historic center features traditional water-filled conduits called "Bächle"
situated directly on the border with Switzerland at Lake Constance, the city features a well-preserved historic center and functions as a major transport hub for ferry traffic across the lake
this town, established on thermal springs at the edge of the Black Forest, has a long history as a destination for spa and wellness tourism, featuring historic bathhouses and grand 19th-century architecture
designed in a distinctive fan-shaped layout, the city centres on the 18th-century Karlsruhe Palace. It serves as a seat for high-level judicial institutions and features extensive parklands
known for its historic center along the Danube, the city is home to the Ulm Minster, which features the tallest church steeple in the world. It is the birthplace of physicist Albert Einstein
designed on a rectilinear grid plan, this "Squared City" is located at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers. It is home to the National Theatre and a large 18th-century Baroque palace
this university town is characterized by its historic center filled with timber-framed houses along the Neckar river. It is a traditional center for education and research in the region
a route with vineyards and several attractive towns between Darmstadt and Heidelberg
The Allgäu is the south-eastern part of Bavarian Swabia at the northside of the Alps. The biggest part of it is located in Bavaria, a smaller one in Baden-Württemberg, but also on the borderland of Austria with the Kleinwalsertal belongs to Allgäu.
Articles and travel topics about Baden-Württemberg and Germany.
Travel tipsUnderstand travel insurance for a Schengen visa in 2026. Learn mandatory €30,000 medical coverage, zero deductible rules, and embassy-approved policies.
7 min read
Travel tipsEstimate your Europe trip cost for 2 weeks in 2026. Compare realistic budgets for lodging, Eurail trains, dining, and sightseeing across three styles.
8 min read
Travel tipsPlan your trip with our Oktoberfest 2027 guide. Learn how to reserve beer tent tables, understand Munich hotel booking windows, and budget daily costs.
8 min read
InspirationExplore the best castle and gothic hotel stays in Europe. Discover historic fortresses, medieval estates, luxury châteaux, and Spanish parador hotels.
6 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.