The best of Germany’s natural beauty

To the north of Germany, you’ll find lagoons, lakes and white sand dunes, while to the south, explore the meadows and valleys of the Black Forest.

Witness the best of the country’s natural beauty by visiting one of the most highly rated German destinations for nature, according to global travellers.

Korswandt

The little town of Korswandt sits on the shores of Lake Gothensee, on the island of Usedom. Floating in the Baltic Sea, this island is a nature reserve known for its lagoons, lakes, beaches and flora-filled bogland. Expect white sand dunes, wildflower meadows and whimsical forests as you explore this serene region, formed during the last ice age and now home to various endangered animal and plant species. Hire a bike and follow the island’s many cycling trails, or set off on a hike through the sea bird sanctuaries of Wotig, Böhmke und Werder and Görmitz. Check into the lakeside rural haven that is Idyll Am Wolgastsee.

Vetschau

Just south of Berlin, the cobbled streets of Vetschau form the perfect base for visiting Spreewald, a Biosphere Reserve covering 47,500 hectares and filled with enchanting forests, peaceful lakes and sparklingly-clear rivers. Take a boat trip through the reserve’s vast network of waterways, with sun trickling through the trees, birds singing and otters splashing through the streams. Located within the nature reserve, Gasthof zum Slawen offers guests canoe and bicycle hire.

Kiefersfelden

Right on the border with Austria, in the foothills of the Alps, Kiefersfelden is a launchpad for various sensational hikes through wild landscapes. There are round trips to visit the Gießenbachklamm gorge, where you’ll find ethereal and romantic small lakes, waterfalls, and streams. Or – if you’re feeling more adventurous – take a canyoning tour, hike high up through the Inn River Valley or climb up one of many beautiful Bavarian peaks. Stay in an apartment in an eccentric, old Bavarian farmhouse at Ferienwohnung ALPENRAUSCH.

Kleinzerlang

Deep within the Müritz National Park, the village of Kleinzerlang feels blissfully remote and immersed in nature. Here, you’ll find 660km of trails taking you through ancient beech groves, pine forests, marshes and around mystical lakes (of which the park has over 130). The biggest and most impressive of these bodies of water is Lake Müritz; hire a canoe or take a cruise across its glassy, navy surface, before hiring a bike and cycling around the shoreline (most boats and buses in the park let you take bikes on board, so you won’t be stranded if you decide you’ve had enough). Stay at Lindengarten, an accommodation just a short walk from the lakes and surrounded by forest and meadows.

Ühlingen-Birkendorf

Ühlingen-Birkendorf is a German town that provides access to the Regionaler Naturpark Schaffhausen, a natural wonderland straddling the Swiss-German border. A landscape of rolling hills, vineyards, timber-framed towns, and with the Rhine river flowing through it, fairy-tale scenes abound here. Hike the narrow paths of the Randen hills to find views of sloping valleys, meadows and forests filled with magnificent rare orchids. Situated on the southern slopes of the Black Forest, Haus Hilda Fechtig is a delightful wooden chalet with a garden.