The tripto catalogue lists 12 nature parks, biosphere reserves and natural landscapes – river landscapes, forests, orchard country and long-distance trails. Entry is usually free.
The Spreewald is a UNESCO biosphere reserve with more than 970 km of waterways; the best way to explore it is by punt from Lübbenau, an hour from Berlin. The Altes Land on the Elbe is northern Europe's largest fruit-growing region, with half-timbered houses and a fruit route – especially popular during the spring blossom. The Bode Gorge between Thale and Treseburg is a deep granite gorge in the Harz and a classic hike, free to access. The Ivenack Oaks near Stavenhagen were Germany's first National Natural Monument, with a treetop walk and fallow deer in the wood pasture. Dresden Heath offers about 50 km² of forest right on the edge of the city, and the Harz Witches' Trail runs about 100 km from Osterode over the Brocken to Thale.
The catalogue's places are spread across many states: three in Lower Saxony, two in Saxony, and the rest one each in Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and other states.
In practice: allow half a day to a full day, and several stages for long-distance trails such as the Eifelsteig or the Witches' Trail. Costs usually only apply to punt trips, treetop walks and parking – €3 a day at the Bode Gorge. The best time is spring to autumn: blossom in the Altes Land in April and May, punt trips in the Spreewald mainly in summer.
Nature parks
Lübbenau/Spreewald
The Spreewald (Spree Forest) in Brandenburg is a magical wetland where the Spree River splits into more than 970 km (600 miles) of narrow channels winding through alder forests and meadows. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1991, it is famo…
Nature parks
Jork
The Altes Land (Old Land), just south of the Elbe River, is the largest contiguous fruit-growing region in Northern Europe and one of the best day trips from Hamburg. In spring the orchards turn white and pink with blossom, in autumn there…
Nature parks
Thale
The Bode Gorge (Bodetal) near Thale is the most dramatic canyon in Germany's Harz Mountains and one of the country's classic hikes. Over roughly 6 miles (10 km) between Thale and Treseburg, the Bode River has carved deep into granite, leav…
Nature parks
Ivenack
The Ivenack Oaks near Stavenhagen in Mecklenburg are among the mightiest oak trees in Europe and stand in Germany's first National Natural Monument. In the Ivenack deer park, an open wood-pasture landscape in the rolling Mecklenburg Switze…
Nature parks
Dresden
The Dresdner Heide (Dresden Heath) is the large forest northeast of central Dresden: roughly 50 square kilometers of pine and mixed woodland with streams, meadows and a dense network of hiking trails. Despite its English nickname it is a f…
Nature parks
Osterode am Harz
The Harzer-Hexen-Stieg (Harz Witches' Trail) is a long-distance hiking trail of about 100 km (62 miles) through the Harz mountains. It runs from Osterode am Harz in Lower Saxony over the Brocken to Thale in Saxony-Anhalt, linking half-timb…
Nature parks
Lübbenau/Spreewald
The Spreewald (Spree Forest) in Brandenburg is a magical wetland where the Spree River splits into more than 970 km (600 miles) of narrow channels winding through alder forests and meadows. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1991, it is famo…
Nature parks
Jork
The Altes Land (Old Land), just south of the Elbe River, is the largest contiguous fruit-growing region in Northern Europe and one of the best day trips from Hamburg. In spring the orchards turn white and pink with blossom, in autumn there…
Nature parks
Thale
The Bode Gorge (Bodetal) near Thale is the most dramatic canyon in Germany's Harz Mountains and one of the country's classic hikes. Over roughly 6 miles (10 km) between Thale and Treseburg, the Bode River has carved deep into granite, leav…
Nature parks
Dresden
The Dresdner Heide (Dresden Heath) is the large forest northeast of central Dresden: roughly 50 square kilometers of pine and mixed woodland with streams, meadows and a dense network of hiking trails. Despite its English nickname it is a f…
Nature parks
Aachen
The Eifelsteig is a 313 km (194 mile) long-distance hiking trail through the Eifel region in western Germany. In 15 stages it runs from Aachen-Kornelimünster to Trier, crossing North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. Its motto is…
Nature parks
Osterode am Harz
The Harzer-Hexen-Stieg (Harz Witches' Trail) is a long-distance hiking trail of about 100 km (62 miles) through the Harz mountains. It runs from Osterode am Harz in Lower Saxony over the Brocken to Thale in Saxony-Anhalt, linking half-timb…
Nature parks
Ivenack
The Ivenack Oaks near Stavenhagen in Mecklenburg are among the mightiest oak trees in Europe and stand in Germany's first National Natural Monument. In the Ivenack deer park, an open wood-pasture landscape in the rolling Mecklenburg Switze…
Nature parks
Undeloh
Lüneburg Heath (Lüneburger Heide) is Germany's best-known heathland, a landscape of purple heather, juniper, birch trees and grazing Heidschnucken sheep south of Hamburg. At its heart lies a car-free nature reserve around the village of Wi…
Nature parks
Pirna
The Malerweg ("Painters' Way") is a long-distance hiking trail through Saxon Switzerland and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, southeast of Dresden. In eight stages and about 112 to 116 km (70 to 72 miles), it leads from Liebethal near Pirna t…
Nature parks
Eisenach
The Rennsteig is Germany's oldest and most-walked ridge trail. Roughly 170 km (105 miles) long, it runs from Hörschel near Eisenach, on the Werra river, along the crest of the Thuringian Forest and the Thuringian Slate Mountains to Blanken…
Nature parks
Bonn
The Rheinsteig is a roughly 320 km (200 mile) long-distance hiking trail on the right bank of the Rhine, running from Bonn to Wiesbaden. It links the Siebengebirge hills, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley and the Rheingau wine region, and it i…
Nature parks
Pforzheim
The Westweg (West Way) is a classic long-distance hiking trail in the Black Forest, in existence since 1900. It runs for about 285 km (177 miles) from Pforzheim at the northern edge of the mountains to Basel, where Germany, France and Swit…
Nature parks and biosphere reserves are cultural landscapes where people live and work; protection is lighter than in national parks. Entry is usually free.
By punt from Lübbenau or Lehde, plus on foot or by bike along the waterways. The open-air museum in Lehde shows traditional Spreewald life.
The Spreewald with a punt trip, the Bode Gorge, the Ivenack Oaks with their treetop walk, Dresden Heath and the Altes Land.
Updated: · Opening hours and prices can change — check the attraction page before you go.