Schauinsland

Schauinsland is Freiburg's own mountain and one of the best viewpoints in the southern Black Forest. Rising to 4,213 feet (1,284 m) about six miles southeast of the old town, it is reached by Germany's longest circulating cable car. At the top you'll find open mountain meadows, a lookout tower with views as far as the Alps, and centuries of mining history, making it an easy and rewarding half-day trip from Freiburg.

How to get there

From central Freiburg, take tram line 2 to the Günterstal terminus, then bus 21 to the cable car's valley station; the trip from Bertoldsbrunnen takes about 20 minutes. Drivers can park at the valley station for €2 a day. Freiburg itself is easy to reach by ICE train from Frankfurt or Basel, and EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is the closest airport.

The cable car

Opened in 1930, the Schauinslandbahn was the world's first passenger cable car built on the circulating principle. It climbs about 2,450 feet (746 m) over 2.2 miles (3.6 km) in roughly 20 minutes.

As of October 2026, it runs daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 6 p.m. during the Baden-Württemberg summer school holidays), with the last round trip 30 minutes before closing. It closes for maintenance from November 16 to December 4, 2026, and again from February 22 to March 19, 2027, and may pause in high winds.

Round-trip tickets cost €15 for adults and €10 for children aged 6 to 14 (one-way €12/€8). Family fares, a reduced fare of €13 for holders of local guest cards, and tickets for dogs and bikes are available. Prices are in EUR.

Things to do at the top

• Climb the Eugen-Keidel Tower, reopened in 2025 after renovation; on clear days you can see the Feldberg, the Vosges and even Mont Blanc, 152 miles away.
• Tour the museum mine, part of a 62-mile network of tunnels where silver, lead and zinc were mined for more than 700 years.
• Visit the Schniederlihof, a Black Forest farmhouse from 1593.
• See the English Memorial, honoring five London schoolboys who died in a snowstorm in 1936.
• Enjoy lunch with a view at the restaurant by the summit station.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially on a clear day. Families love the gondola ride, and hikers and mountain bikers have plenty of trails. Dogs are allowed on the cable car, the stations have ramps and fully accessible restrooms, and an accessible path starts just below the summit station.

Nearby

• Freiburg Minster and the old town, easy to combine by tram.
• The Feldberg, the Black Forest's highest peak.
• Günterstal, the village-like Freiburg district at the tram terminus.