After a bit of back and forth (and not much convincing needed), we’ve officially booked a 4-night trip to Baden-Baden for May half term – and we’re headed straight into the heart of the Black Forest.
In keeping with our recent adventures, this trip is a little less big-city exploring, more hiking boots, fresh air and slowing things down (with the possible exception of a spa town or two – it is Baden-Baden after all).
We’ll be using the town as our base to explore the Black Forest, with plenty of hiking, good food, and hopefully a few hidden gems along the way.
As always, we’ll be sharing everything once we’re back – from our full itinerary to our favourite trails – but for now, here’s what we’re planning and why Baden-Baden made the cut.
Why Baden-Baden?
This trip is a little bit special – we’ll be travelling on Meg’s Birthday, and the Black Forest has been on her list for a long time.
We’d looked at a few different options for May half term, but Baden-Baden kept coming back as the perfect base. It’s right on the edge of the Black Forest, easy to get to, and offers that ideal mix of outdoor adventure and relaxed, spa-town charm.
The plan is simple: hike as much as we can, eat well, and slow things down a little.
We’ve already got a few highlights in mind. The Triberg Waterfall are high on the list – some of the highest in Germany and set right in the heart of the forest. Ravenna Gorge looks like something our of a fairytale, with dramatic scenery and that iconic railway viaduct cutting through the valley. And a trip up Merkur Mountain should give us some incredible views back over Baden-Baden and the surrounding forest.
Beyond that, we’re keeping things fairly open. The Black Forest feels like the kind of place where you don’t want to over-plan – just pick a trail, see where it leads, and stop when you find somewhere worth staying a while.
And of course…it wouldn’t be a trip to Baden-Baden without at least considering a spa. It is a birthday trip after all.
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