Road trip through Germany's Black Forest with your dog

Below, we explain in detail the cities we visited, our impressions, and tourist recommendations.  We left from Barcelona and on the way there, we spent the night in Lyon before arriving at our first stop in Germany. We stayed at the Ibis Budget Lyon, paying a supplement of €5 per dog.

Day 1 - Freiburg

 Freiburg is a city that has been awarded the prize for Germany's most eco-friendly city. And there's no doubt about it! We were struck by the large number of bicycles circulating in the city: young people, adults, and seniors, everyone riding bicycles. We were even more surprised by the bicycle station. Yes, a bicycle station located just behind the central train station with capacity for 1,000 bicycles!

They say that to really "feel" Freiburg, you have to ride a bike. I confess that this was not the case for me. With two dogs, I preferred to discover the city on foot. But if your family is used to cycling, it's definitely a good option.

Freiburg is the city of "streams" and narrow streets, a historical gem in the middle of the Black Forest. It is also said to be the sunniest city in Germany. We recommend losing yourself in the city's streets: its old town next to the cathedral with the famous Bächle, which are small water channels that run through the city. If you visit the city in summer, these small canals will also serve to cool dogs down during their walk.

If, after strolling around the city, you want to enjoy nature or a beautiful sunset with views of the city, we recommend taking the Schlossbergbahn funicular that takes you from the center to the Palace Hill.

You can find fares, schedules, and more information at www.schlossberg-bahn.de

Day 2 - Baden-Baden

 The city of Baden-Baden is probably the most important city in the Black Forest along with Freiburg. Known as a spa town, this beautiful German city is the favorite vacation spot for many wealthy people. Its luxurious casino and famous spas are Baden-Baden's main attractions.

If you are traveling with a dog, visiting Baden-Baden to enjoy its luxurious spas may not be the best option. Even so, losing yourself in its luxurious, picture-perfect streets and strolling through its gardens make it well worth a visit.

To get a good look at Baden Baden's aesthetics, we recommend strolling down Lange Strasse, the main street. There you can see typical classical-style buildings and shop at the most elite stores in the area (or at least take a look).

But without a doubt, the best part of the city for us, and where the kids had the most fun, was walking along Lichtentaler Allee. This is a historic park that stretches along a nearly 3 km long promenade following the west bank of the Oos River. We took a walk along the stream, cool and happy, running around in the water.

German churches are striking for their architecture, which is very different from the styles found in southern and western Europe. Among the best-known churches in Baden-Baden is the Stiftskirche, built in the late Gothic style of the 15th century. The tower is Baroque (18th century).

What to see and do near Baden-Baden?

A visit to the Black Forest National Park is one of the main excursions you can take from Baden-Baden. With forests and small waterfalls just 36 kilometers from Baden-Baden, a visit is almost mandatory, especially if you are traveling with your dog. You will find mountains up to 1,000 meters high overlooking the Rhine Valley and the Rhine Valley. Rivers, streams, and waterfalls run through some of Germany's oldest forests. Some areas have been preserved for 100 years, allowing hikers and travelers to enjoy almost untouched nature.

Day 3 - Constance and Lake Constance 

The sea of Germany, as the great Lake Constance is known. The lake belongs to three different countries: Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, and the Rhine is its most important source.

Every day, the waters of this lake are plowed by boats and ferries of all kinds, which take you to beautiful Swiss and Austrian cities located on the shores of the lake.

If you are traveling by car, you can drive around Lake Constance on the road that circles it. You can cross the lake on the ferry that leaves from Constance (it costs €9, including passengers) to Meersburg. The trip takes about 20 minutes and offers spectacular views.

The city of Constance is a German city on the border with Switzerland. However, the most important and touristic part of the city belongs to the German side.

Day 4 - Heidelberg

 One of the most beautiful cities is Heidelberg, located in the Neckar River Valley and historically renowned for being the site of Germany's first university, founded in 1386.

In Heidelberg, you will have the opportunity to stroll along Germany's longest pedestrian street, the Haupstrasse. An avenue where most shops offer water for dogs at the entrance. The beautiful and colorful Baroque-style buildings make this walk the best way to get in touch with the city.

The street leads to the market square with the Church of the Holy Spirit, the oldest in Heidelberg. As you can see, at the entrance to the church, there is a sign indicating that dogs are welcome.

Very close to the Market Square is the historic Carlos Teodoro Bridge, one of the city's landmarks. 

On either side of the river, and just below the bridge, you can access a walkway that runs along the Neckar River. This is a good place to stop and let the dogs take a dip and take some postcard-worthy photos of them swimming.

One of the best experiences for us in the city was taking the funicular up to Heidelberg Castle. Dogs ride for free and do not need to wear a muzzle.

There are two funiculars with two sections. The first section of the funicular takes you to Heidelberg Castle, where you can visit the central courtyard and some interior rooms with beautiful panoramic views of Heidelberg.

The second section is covered by a historic funicular railway that climbs to the highest point of the mountain.It is the oldest electric funicular in the world, traveling one kilometer to reach the aforementioned Silla del Rey, a place from which several hiking trails also begin.

From this spot, you can take the best photos of the city.

A round-trip ticket for the first funicular costs €9 and includes a visit to the castle and its gardens. It costs €12 if you take the second funicular.

You can also walk up or down to the castle (the first section) along a path that starts in the center of the historic city. We took the funicular up and walked down.

Finally, we recommend visiting the curious old student prison. This prison operated from 1823 for almost a hundred years, and students who committed minor offenses were held there, punished by the university authorities themselves.

Day 5 - Stuttgart

Stuttgart is Germany's sixth largest city and is considered the gateway to the Black Forest. Stuttgart is a city surrounded by green areas, vineyards, and dense forests and mountains, and is bathed by the Neckar River. 

We recommend strolling along Königstrasse, its longest shopping street, and visiting Schlossplatz, its historic "Castle Square"; a huge esplanade that was once used as a training ground for horses and infantry parades and has been one of Stuttgart's most beautiful spots since the 19th century. In the center of the square stands the Jubiläumsäule, a column erected between 1842 and 1846 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of William I's reign.

If you are passionate about cars, you can visit Mercedes Benz, where the car manufacturer chose Stuttgart as its headquarters. Located in the Obertürkheim district, it has many other interesting exhibits, such as the limousine handcrafted in 1930 for the Emperor of Japan and the first Popemobile, which was made for Pope Paul VI. You will leave there knowing everything there is to know about the car.

*Note if traveling by car: In Germany, highways are free and have no speed limit.