The best campsites in Germany
Autumn in Germany is a magical time of year. Germany has a very interesting historical and cultural heritage, which includes monuments and architecture. Of course, not forgetting the scenic assets of Germany and the possible outdoor activities associated with them, such as hiking, camping, mountain biking and much more. The range of places you can visit in Germany is vast and varied, from fairytale castles and music clubs to cruise ships and tours through forests that turn yellow and gold in the months of October to December.
Here we present 8 beautiful destinations in Germany to enjoy a wonderful autumn camping:
- Kellerwald-Edersee National Park
The Kellerwald-Edersee National Park is the best-kept secret for autumn camping in Germany. The main feature is a beech forest that has survived since the Ice Age. The national park is located in northern Hesse and invites you to discover Germany in autumn with its golden beech foliage. Meandering streams, deep gorges as well as very old oak trees provide an incredible panorama. If you are an adventurous traveller who likes to explore national parks, you will have the opportunity to get close to different species of wild horses, bats and wolves.
- Rügen
Rügen is the largest island in Germany and lies in the Baltic Sea. It is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Germany, especially for autumn camping, as this is when the first leaves on the trees around Rügen start to turn yellow. Something beautiful to visit at this time of year in this coloured landscape, and one of Rügen's main attractions, are the famous chalk cliffs that stretch for 15 kilometres off the coast.
- Lake Constance
The German part of Lake Constance is located in Baden-Württemberg. This lake shares a border with Switzerland and Austria. It too is more than worthy of a visit and a holiday for autumn camping. What makes it special is that it is one of the sunniest areas in Germany and is also famous for producing the region's characteristic wine with reddish and purple grapes. The neighbouring monastery vineyard is the favourite of all visitors. Lake Constance attracts thousands of travellers and campers every year.
Travellers lucky enough to visit in autumn can do a lot, from cycling around the harbour to relaxing by the lake. The region has far fewer tourists than in summer, which makes it especially attractive for camping in autumn. If you are very active, you can climb Pfander Mountain instead of taking the cable car and enjoy an extraordinary panoramic view over the lake. On clear days you can even see the Swiss Alps to the south.
- Rakotz Bridge (Devil's Bridge)
The Rakotz Bridge, also known as the "Devil's Bridge", is a mystical place that you should definitely visit in autumn. The half-moon shape of the bridge, together with its reflection in the lake, offer an incomparable experience during the cool days of autumn in Germany. The bridge is located in the Rhododendron Park in Kromlau in Saxony. It was built in the mid-19th century specifically for artistic reasons. The stones for its arch came from distant quarries. The Rakotz Bridge is a beautiful place to camp in autumn. The park does not charge an entrance fee and its beautiful nature is worth every photo in the autumn season.
- Lüneberg Heath
The Lüneberg Heath is named after Lüneberg, the nearby town in Lower Saxony. It is a large nature park with heathland and forests in northern Germany. It is also one of the best places in Germany to see the golden autumn leaves and feel a connection with nature. The large number of trees makes the park one of the largest protected forest areas in the country. In autumn, the mixed forests begin to glow golden yellow, casting shadows and shapes with a unique light on the landscape.
The Lüneburg Heath is a recommended place for travellers who enjoy a relaxing hike, as the entire nature reserve is car-free. During your excursion, you will hear nothing but the rustling of crunchy autumn leaves along with the chirping of birds. The purple colour of the heather bushes in autumn often attracts many tourists. It also adds to the visual appeal of the area.
- Adventure Camp Schnitzmühle
If the Black Forest is Germany's dark secret, a place of goblins and ghosts and the occasional slice of devilish pie, its eastern cousin is the Bavarian Forest. But with easygoing charm and woodland innocence. The Bavarian Forest, the cumulative fantasy of every forest lover, consists of a seamless landscape of rolling hills, charming spas and dense forests, criss-crossed with leisurely trails for bikers, hikers and cyclists.
- Müllerwiese
Alchemists and ghosts, spirits and goblins, nefarious kings and needy water nymphs - these are just some of the characters who have roamed the Black Forest over the centuries. Granted, they are not the usual tourists, but Germany's source of myths and legends is also not the kind of forest that lends itself to forest bathing and recreation sAt least it wasn't a few hundred years ago.
The Müllerwiese in the Black Forest, however, resembles a pretty - and rather extensive - garden. The Enz River gurgles by here and fir trees provide shelter and a wonderfully mythical backdrop. Although the site is not huge, it is large enough to accommodate about 30 tents (pitches are between 60 and 80 square metres) without feeling like Glastonbury or The Big Chill on a Sunday morning.
- Hirzberg Camping
As you enter Hirzberg, surrounded by an endless trail of campervans and eager campers trying to find their perfect pitch, you have this anxious, pessimistic notion that you will never find a secluded spot. You struggle on, only to be greeted by the sight of an ugly barrier up ahead. Like an oversized index finger rising and falling, these white and red boundaries seem to bite at the end of all freedom and limit your outward fun and freedom. This is certainly not the most beautiful of first impressions. But after a while, everyone would like to camp here. No!
- Camping Zellersee
As the name suggests, Zellersee is all about the lake. It's not a huge lake, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in cosiness. You can literally slip out of your sleeping bag, roll forward through the tent flaps and slide right into the fresh embrace of the lake: the perfect way to start the day. This tranquil watering hole is located in the stunning Chiemgau region in the Geigelstein nature reserve, right next to the Alps. This is also a very nature-friendly camping site.
- Uhlenköper
The Uhlenköper are aliiiv with...the sight of heather?' Yes, from August to September the Lüneburg Heath experiences its purple flowering season. The heath landscape then turns into a sea of purple so vast that Prince could write songs about it. There are heather festivals and annual coronations of heather queens, and tourists flood the local towns and villages.
In the midst of this purple fury lies Uhlenköper, a tranquil eco-site in the tiny village of Westerweyhe near Uelzen. Run by Gertrud and Thomas Körding, the three-hectare site is divided into areas for permanent campers, caravans and larger tents, campers and cyclists. In between flow the site's public areas: a solar-powered reception (with shower house, restaurant and organic food shop), a modest playground and - pièce de résistance - a brand new swimming pool with sections for swimmers and paddlers.
These were some of the best campsites in Germany.