Roadtrip in Baden-Württemberg

Far too often in the past, I have been drawn to distant cities and countries. I have long planned to explore more of Germany, and particularly Baden-Württemberg, because this is my home and I love being here.

Therefore, I was thrilled when Susi (Black Dots White Spots) and my "road trip partner in crime" asked me if I would like to join her and a vintage Porsche 911 Carrera Type 964 Cabriolet from 1992, taken from the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, to explore our state of Baden-Württemberg. More specifically, on a road trip from the Black Forest along the scenic Black Forest High Road to Lake Constance.

I quickly checked my calendar: I'm home. From the South African wilderness, I type a quick message: I'm in!

It is truly a privilege to have grown up in this beautiful state. Economically we are doing great; we have enough big cities and, above all, breathtaking landscapes with many cultural and culinary highlights. If you want to vacation here, it's really hard to settle on just one place.

So here's my tip: Take a road trip!

Driving a car in Germany is rarely enjoyable, as the highways are crowded. Therefore, we avoided them and drove along the winding Black Forest High Road towards Lake Constance. We returned via the Swabian Jura and the Upper Danube Valley. The trip started at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart.

I have summarized our highlights and places to see along the way to the south here! Enjoy!

The route from Stuttgart takes us into the Black Forest. As a child, I was often here, as we spent every summer and sometimes winter in the nearby Tennenbronn. Trips to the waterfalls in Triberg were common.

Triberg is particularly well-known among tourists for the famous Black Forest cherry cake (which I do not like at all), cuckoo clocks (as a child, we all had one hanging at home), and the iconic Black Forest Bollenhüte (ball hats).

What would the Black Forest be without these famous red Bollenhüte? These hats are actually found in just three valleys, particularly in Gutach. Their distinctive appearance makes this hat a symbol of the Black Forest. You can find these as well as cuckoo clocks in many souvenir shops.

However, we are mainly interested in the waterfalls. With seven cascades and a drop height of 163 meters, they are among the tallest waterfalls in Germany. You can reach several viewpoints with views of the rushing waters of the Gutach via paths and bridges.

Information boards along the path inform us about plants, animals, and nature's peculiarities. Squirrels repeatedly dart along the paths. I am not sure if they are attracted by tourists feeding them... Please do not feed the animals.

We leave Triberg and enjoy the drive along the winding Black Forest roads. Our destination: Hornberg in the Gutach Valley, just 30 minutes from Triberg. We spend the night at the Hotel Schloss Hornberg, which is situated on the castle hill above the small village.

It is too chilly for the nearby beer garden (the weather isn't being too kind to us), but we dine inside on delicious Swabian specialties. Here, however, we are not in Swabia anymore but in Baden. It may not matter to outsiders, but it's a significant distinction for locals (smile).

The next morning, we visit the remains of the historic castle ruins, of which only the powder tower and keep remain. We can climb the tower, which we naturally do.

From up here, we enjoy a fantastic view of the surrounding Black Forest valleys, like the famous Gutach Valley and Hornberg. In the distance, we see the viaduct through which the Black Forest Railway is currently passing. Unfortunately, it's a bit foggy, and it's drizzling.

Did you know that Hornberg is the cradle of the Hornberger Schießen (Hornberg Shooting) and the Bollenhüte?

If you have more time, you can visit the world's largest toilet at the Duravit Design Center in Hornberg or the Hornberg clock games. There are also some great hiking trails here (such as the mill trail) and mountain biking trails.

We drive along more winding Black Forest roads, passing fields, forests, and Black Forest farms. It is idyllic, and driving the Porsche Cabriolet is simply fun! We have the attention of others on our side, even though several cars of a similar "age" as our museum piece are on the road.

We quickly pass through the somewhat crowded and touristy village of Titisee. There are much prettier views and opportunities for lunch at the northern shore.

In the gloomy weather, swimming in Lake Titisee unfortunately doesn't make sense. Nevertheless, I recommend visiting the beach area in good weather. Are you looking for a hotel? Then we recommend the Alemannenhof. Not only is it a great place to stay in this beautifully located boutique hotel, but the restaurant is excellent too-offering a direct view of Lake Titisee.

We decide to keep going and look for a small restaurant outside. Windgfällweiher is lovely. Here we enjoy a classic Swabian snack with Black Forest ham, cheese, and fresh baguette. Take a break here if Lake Titisee is too crowded.

The next stop is also the largest lake in the Black Forest: Lake Schluchsee. Here you can relax on the shore with sandy beaches, rent SUPs or boats, and paddle around on the lake. It's a pity that the weather isn't cooperating here either.

We find a small peninsula with the peaceful pavilion, where we sit on the rocks and simply stare at the lake. I get a little tingle in my fingers as a larger group comes by on SUPs. Next time!

As we leave Lake Schluchsee, we decide to make another stop. The Wutachschlucht is one of the most beautiful places in Baden-Württemberg. I was here as a child, but the memories have faded.

Here, you can choose from numerous hiking trails. We choose the wrong and probably the longest loop. It gets late, and an hour and a half later, we decide: turn back. We still have to drive an hour and a half to Lake Constance.

Konstanz is beautifully situated on Lake Constance. For us, it has always been: Short trips to Lake Constance feel like a mini-vacation in Italy. You feel Mediterranean; strolling through the alleys of the old town and small shops is fun.

We enjoy our time and shop, wander, and eat our way through Konstanz. Of course, we walk along the lakeside promenade past the Imperia in the harbor, enjoying the view of the lake. Oh Konstanz, I simply like you!

See interesting places in Konstanz with tips here

More tips for Konstanz will be coming soon in a separate article.

The probably most touristy place is the picturesque Meersburg. Massive crowds of tour buses flood the old town, which we reach from Konstanz by ferry.

Here too, we stroll through the alleys of the lower and upper town, enjoying the view of Lake Constance along with the vineyards from the New Castle, falling in love with Meersburg over and over again.

The next morning, we enjoy the Meersburg Therme right on the lakeshore (great sauna landscape, worth a visit not just in bad weather) and slowly bid farewell to this beautiful little place. But not without jumping into the chilly Lake Constance early in the morning.

See the most beautiful places in Meersburg with tips here

Slowly, we make our way back to Stuttgart. But not without having visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the pile dwellings in Unteruhldingen. I was here before, but I have forgotten many memories.

The view of the pile dwellings is, as always, magnificent and fascinating. We walk over the wooden walkways and take glimpses inside the reconstruction of the pile dwellings.

Tips: Come here early in the morning; it fills up quickly afterward, especially on nice days from May to October.

After leaving the pile dwellings, our Porsche road trip through the beautiful Baden-Württemberg comes to an end. Unfortunately. We make our way back to the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, but not directly.

We decide to drive over the Swabian Jura and make a stop at the Upper Danube Valley, enjoying the wonderful view at Knopfmacherfelsen and also visiting the Beuron Monastery.

The most striking castle in Baden-Württemberg is also on our route: Hohenzollern Castle. Therefore, we can't help but stop here too with the fantastic Porsche 911 Cabriolet. Here too, all eyes are on the car. "I know this car from the Porsche Museum," says an English tourist. Correct, but unfortunately, no one can simply rent this beauty.

We drive the last meters down into the parking garage of the Porsche Museum Stuttgart, where our vintage Porsche 911 Carrera Type 964 Cabriolet from 1992 can join others of its kind.

Many thanks, dear Porsche Museum and Visit Baden-Württemberg, for the opportunity to "rediscover" our state with this incredible car! It's a shame we had to return it.

Unfortunately, there are no current guidebooks specifically for Baden-Württemberg. Therefore, I recommend Marco Polo Black Forest and Marco Polo Lake Constance. For Lake Constance, I also like the Baedecker Guide and the 111 Places at Lake Constance You Must See.

Would you like to always receive the best travel and insider tips? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads or subscribe to my Newsletter to get regular updates and exclusive tips.

♥ Do you enjoy using my tips? Say thank you with a coffee ☕️

My articles are a result of intense research, personal experiences, and honest recommendations - completely AI-free. I write them so you can plan your travels stress-free with real, tried-and-true tips.

If you like my work and simply want to say thank you, I appreciate any small tip in my virtual Travel Fund. Every contribution helps me continue creating high-quality content for you with independence and passion. Thank you!

Trust is important: In some of my articles, you will find referral links (affiliate links). When you book or purchase something through one of these links, it costs you nothing extra - but I receive a small commission. That way, you can support me without any extra effort and help me keep this blog alive. Thank you for being part of my community and sharing my passion for authentic travel!

Disclaimer: This article was created as part of the #Porscheheimat campaign by Tourism Baden-Württemberg and the Porsche Museum. All opinions and tips in this article are, as always, my own.