The 22 most beautiful natural wonders of Germany for a breathtaking trip

Squirting geysers, rushing waterfalls, deep canyons, gigantic rock formations: nature in Germany is so spectacularly beautiful!

Anyone who thinks only distant lands and tropical islands offer breathtaking places is seriously mistaken. Here are Germany's most beautiful natural wonders at a glance – all landscapes created by nature in our homeland.

Even more beautiful and mystical at night than during the day.

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Numerous myths and legends surround the Devil's Wall: The devil is said to dance here, and three elves are said to live there. The rock formation stretches over 20 kilometers from Ballenstedt via Rieder and Weddersleben to Blankenburg in the Harz Mountains. The Königstein near Weddersleben is particularly striking.

Some of the sandstone cliffs rise into the sky like crooked teeth – they were formed as early as the Cretaceous period. The most famous formations are the Königstein, the Adlerfelsen, the Caesarfelsen, and the Hamburg coat of arms.

Hikers can best explore these bizarre rock formations on the 35-kilometer-long Teufelsmauerstieg (Devil's Wall Trail). The Teufelsmauer near Weddersleben has been designated as the Teufelsmauer and Bode Nature Reserve northeast of Thale since 1935, making it one of the oldest nature reserves in Germany.

The Andernach Geyser.

Source: imago images / Design Pics

Many people think of Icelandic landscapes or the colorful Yellowstone National Park when they hear the word geyser. Germany, however, can compete with this, as the Vulkanland Eifel Geopark is home to a genuine geyser. And not just any geyser, but the largest cold-water geyser in the world, reaching a height of approximately 60 meters. Anyone who wants to experience this natural spectacle for themselves can take a boat from the adventure center in Andernach to the geyser. It's a true testament to just how powerful Mother Nature can be!

Carbon dioxide gas causes the geyser in Andernach, Rhineland-Palatinate, to eject jets of water up to 60 meters high. It does this for eight minutes approximately every two hours.

Could be in Arizona, but it's the Devil's Table in the Palatinate Forest.

Source: imago images/Chromorange

It may look like it, but no human hand was involved in the Devil's Table: The 14-meter-high rock sculpture near Hinterweidenthal in the Palatinate Forest was created by nature, specifically by erosion. This process removed softer parts of the rock, creating a so-called "pils rock" with a narrow base and a wide top.

Incidentally, there are more than 20 such mushroom rocks in the Palatinate Forest, especially in the Dahner Felsenland. Well-known examples include the Devil's Table in Salzwoog, just five kilometers further southwest, and the Devil's Table in Eppenbrunn, 16 kilometers southwest. However, the Devil's Table in Hinterweidenthal is considerably larger than the others. Incidentally, a lone pine tree sits enthroned on top of the table.

A wide swath through forested terrain on the border of Thuringia and Hesse – this was once the inner-German border. Today it is the Green Belt Germany nature conservation project.

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Formerly a death strip, now a Green Belt: Since the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, a unique biotope has been accessible. The strip of land runs along the former inner-German border for more than 1,400 kilometers, from Travemünde to the border triangle near Hof.

The most famous section of the Green Border is the so-called Kolonnenweg (Colonial Trail). It runs through the Harz and Altmark regions of Saxony-Anhalt. There, tourists hike through numerous nature reserves with rare animal and plant species, retracing the history of the region. The 75-kilometer-long trail connects numerous relics of the former division – border stones and watchtowers still stand as reminders.

A popular tourist destination and landmark of Heligoland: Lange Anna.

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It is 47 meters high, weighs approximately 25,000 tons, is made of red sandstone, and has a base area of 180 square meters: Lange Anna is the landmark of the island of Heligoland. The surf cliff in the far northwest of the German North Sea island attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year.

Lange Anna has endured a lot in the past, even surviving bombing raids. But there's one thing that will eventually bring it down: the weather. The rock is slowly but surely crumbling away.

The Triberg Waterfalls in the Black Forest plunge 163 meters into the depths.

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They are among the greatest natural spectacles in our country: The Triberg Waterfalls in the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg plunge 163 meters into the depths. This makes them Germany's highest waterfall outside the Alps. Visitors can explore the cascading water along several paths and across two wooden bridges. You can reach them via a hiking trail from the town of Triberg.

The Blautopf in Blaubeuren in the state of Baden-Württemberg.

Source: imago images/Jürgen Ritter

The Blautopf in Blaubeuren owes its name to its distinctive color: The water of Germany's second-largest single spring (after the Aachtopf) glows an intense turquoise. This is due to the light scattering in the Blautopf's 22-meter-deep funnel. Depending on the incidence of light, the color is more or less intense.

The lake floor forms the entrance to the Blautopf Cave – and it still holds many secrets. Divers have so far explored a length of eleven kilometers, making it the largest cave system in the Swabian Alb. However, it is actually believed to be considerably larger. One spectacular example is the air-filled Mörikedom cave hall, which is 25 meters wide, 30 meters high, and 125 meters long. Despite ongoing construction work, the Blautopf is accessible via bridges until 2028 .

Kniepsand from the air: The approximately 15-kilometer-long and 1.5-kilometer-wide sandbank is located off the coast of Amrum.

Source: imago images / blickwinkel

The Kniepsand is a sandbank off the coast of Amrum, approximately 15 kilometers long and 1.5 kilometers wide. And there's something else special about it: The Kniepsand is migrating, by an average of 50 meters every year!

The sandbank was first mentioned in the 16th century. At that time, it was still perpendicular to the North Sea island, but it gradually moved closer to it. Today, beautiful dune landscapes are forming. The area is a popular destination for joggers and beach lovers because the entry into the North Sea is very shallow here.

Externsteine, that sounds like a fantasy name, and they look like something out of a fairytale book.

Source: imago images/blickwinkel

Several approximately 40-meter-high rocks stand in the Teutoburg Forest, carved into various grottos, altar niches, staircases, passageways, and figures. Who created these remains unclear, and so the Externsteine remain a mystery to this day. What is certain is that archaeological finds dating back to the Paleolithic period have been made in the area.

Even today, it is believed that the Externsteine were an important sanctuary in Celtic or Germanic times, but there is no archaeological evidence for this.

The Danube Gorge near Weltenburg is a narrow section of the Danube Valley in the Lower Bavarian district of Kelheim, which is recognized as a nature reserve and geotope.

Source: imago images/Manfred Segerer

The Weltenburger Enge Nature Reserve, designated "Bavaria's First National Monument" in 2020, is a spectacular sight. There, the Danube flows through high limestone cliffs full of gorges and rocky outcrops. Visitors to the Danube Gorge are best explored by boat for a close-up view of the dramatic landscape. A boat trip to Weltenburg Abbey is the destination.

Tourists can also explore the nature reserve in their own dinghy, kayak, or canoe. Guided nature tours through the Weltenburger Enge are also available.

At low tide, you can walk for hours through the North Sea.

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The North Sea Wadden Sea is arguably one of the most extraordinary phenomena in Germany. It is a true paradise for animals and plants. Mudflats, salt marshes, dunes, beaches, and geest cliffs: the Wadden Sea ecosystem consists of many different habitats, which, like a mosaic, create a unique diversity.

There are three national parks in Germany surrounding the Wadden Sea: the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea, the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea, and the Hamburg Wadden Sea. They were recognized as national parks between 1985 and 1990. In all of them, travelers can experience the phenomenon of ebb and flow in close proximity, and they can observe seals and lugworms. Furthermore, numerous bird species and even porpoises are native to the national parks.

Chalk cliffs with beech forest on Rügen.

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The chalk cliffs with their Königsstuhl (King's Chair) are THE photo opportunity on Rügen and arguably one of Germany's most famous natural wonders. The Königsstuhl towers an impressive 118 meters high. Since 2011, the approximately 50-million-year-old chalk cliffs, along with part of the beech forest on Rügen, have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Due to erosion, the appearance of the impressive coastline is constantly changing.

When hiking, visitors should keep their eyes open: Swallows nest in the cliffs of the chalk cliffs – and the cream-colored moth, the Chalk Owl, has its only occurrence in Germany on Jasmund.

View from the Zwingsteg into the Breitachklamm near Oberstdorf.

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You think only the USA can boast spectacular gorges like the Grand Canyon? Far from it! The Breitachklamm, one of the most spectacular and deepest gorges in Central Europe, is located in Bavaria .

The gorge is a great destination whatever the weather: In spring and summer, visitors can cool off there. In autumn, the gorge, with its cascading water, is almost even more impressive. And in winter, the Breitachklamm transforms into an enchanting landscape of ice, with giant icicles hanging from the walls.

One of Germany’s most impressive natural spectacles: the Partnach Gorge in Bavaria.

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Equally impressive is the somewhat smaller Partnach Gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen . Here, too, enormous masses of water have eroded the rocks over millennia.

The Partnach Gorge is 80 meters high and approximately 700 meters long. An iron bridge, on which visitors can cross the river, was built in 1914.

View from a rock in the Saxon Switzerland National Park region to the Bastei, with the Lilienstein rising in the background.

Source: imago/Thomas Eisenhuth

Saxon Switzerland, the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, is definitely one of the most impressive places in Germany! Its unique rock formations alternate with gorges, caves, and verdant forests. The most famous formation is the Bastei Bridge near Rathen. Equally worth seeing are the Barbarine, the Lilienstein, and the so-called Hell's Throat.

Whether you like hiking or not, you should definitely take a trip to get to know your country from a completely new perspective.

The Röthbachfall is a hidden gem in the Berchtesgadener Land.

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Anyone traveling around Königssee in Berchtesgadener Land will be able to marvel at this natural wonder: The Röthbachfall is the highest waterfall in Germany and plunges south of the Obersee over the Röthwand in two main stages, a total of about 470 meters, almost vertically downwards.

Those who want to reach it can do so via the Fischunkelalm pasture on Lake Obersee. This involves taking a boat across Lake Königssee to the Saletalm pasture, followed by a roughly three-kilometer hike around Lake Obersee. Beyond the pasture, you have to cross a small forest, then you'll have a clear view of the waters of the Röthbach tumble into the valley.

Like something from another world – the ice chapel at Königssee.

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Not only Iceland and Norway, but also Germany boasts a spectacular glacier cave. The Ice Chapel is located at Königssee in Bavaria, within the lowest permanent ice field in the German Alps. The entrance resembles a glacier gate, with winding shafts and passages inside that can be more than 30 meters wide and 15 meters high in summer.

The ice field exists year-round. This is due to the enormous amounts of snow that melt in winter and spring, primarily in the form of avalanches.

Both the field and the cave are constantly changing their shape – in winter, snow blocks the entrances, and in summer, melting creates new hollows.

Important: You can hike to the Ice Chapel , but you should never enter it. The cave is in danger of collapsing, and it's life-threatening.

There is actually a sea of rocks in the Odenwald. According to legend, it was formed when two giants threw stones at each other during a dispute.

Source: imago images/Westend61

It looks as if a huge stream of large stones were rolling down the hills: there really is a sea of rocks in the Odenwald.

According to legend, two giants created this natural wonder in a dispute, throwing boulders at each other. The reality is less mystical—the sea of rocks was formed by weathering. But that doesn't detract from the special atmosphere of the place.

Even the Romans used the sea to extract stone. At the upper end of the Felsenmeer (Sea of Rocks) is a small spring, whose trickle flows between the rocks down into the valley and eventually empties into the Graulbach stream. You can discover the Odenwald, which is steeped in many more legends, on a hike along the Nibelungensteig trail .

A highlight in the Altmühltal Nature Park is the rock group “Twelve Apostles”.

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Twelve dolomite rocks rise from the river landscape between Solnhofen and Esslingen: The "Twelve Apostles" are a scenic highlight in the Altmühltal Nature Park, located north of Ingolstadt. The area covers 15.2 hectares and has been a nature reserve since 1984.

The rock formation consists of dolomitic sponge limestone. Towards the river, they rise up to 25 meters high from the sloping slopes, in shades ranging from ivory, light gray, gray-yellow, and green-gray.

You can experience the "Twelve Apostles" from above, for example, on a hike along the Altmühl Valley Panorama Trail. A bike tour on the Altmühl Valley Cycle Path or a boat trip on the Altmühl River will also take you past this natural wonder.

With the largest contiguous heathland areas, the Lüneburg Heath forms a natural landscape that is unique in Central Europe.

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The Lüneburg Heath, located between Hamburg, Hanover, and Bremen, forms a natural landscape with the largest contiguous heathland areas, unique in Central Europe. Between August and September, the Lüneburg Heath transforms into a sea of purple blossoms as millions of buds bloom.

Because the region is very flat, visitors can enjoy magnificent views even from small elevations. The carpet of color is interrupted here and there by the lush green of juniper and pine trees, as well as the silvery white of birch trees. The view of the heather blossoming at sunset on Wilseder Berg is particularly romantic.

Until the beginning of the 19th century, heathland covered large parts of northern Germany, but outside of the Lüneburg Heath, they have now almost completely disappeared. Here, the Heidschnucken sheep are primarily responsible for their preservation. The sheep graze on the shoots and small plants as they migrate across the heath, giving the heather plants enough air to develop. The Heidschnucken also crush the spider nests among the plants. This allows the heather bees to pollinate the flowers without any problems.

Pure romance: View of the Saar Loop from the treetop path.

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Near Mettlach, the Saar River makes a U-turn – creating THE postcard image of Saarland . The Saar Loop begins just beyond the Merzig district of Besseringen and ends in Mettlach. Over several million years, the river has carved its way through the hard rock here. The result is a 180-degree curve through a deep gorge, which is best viewed from above. The Cloef viewpoint in the small village of Orscholz and the Saar Loop treetop walkway are ideal spots for this.

But a hike through the countryside is also worthwhile. The approximately 16-kilometer Saar Loop Table Tour from Mettlach is particularly popular. From there, it leads past the Cloef lookout point and Montclaire Castle. A highlight is crossing the Saar by ferry. The 410-kilometer Saar-Hunsrück-Steig long-distance hiking trail also passes through the Saar Loop.

Lake Laach is located in the crater of a volcano that is said to have last erupted about 13,000 years ago.

Source: imago images/Westend61

Not only mountains and geysers bear witness to the power of the volcano, but also some lakes. One example is Lake Laach – near the Andernach Geyser (see point 2). It is located in the crater of the dormant Laach Volcano and is surrounded by a 125-meter-high ring. The volcano last erupted about 13,000 years ago, and the hollow gradually filled with water. At its deepest point, Lake Laach drops more than 50 meters.

Particularly exciting: On the eastern shore, you can see small CO₂ bubbles rising to the surface. This is caused by rising carbon dioxide, a clue to the lake's volcanic history.

Hiking enthusiasts will find the 16-kilometer-long Pellenzer Seepfad (Pellenzer Lake Trail), a dream trail. The lake is also ideal for swimming, sailing, surfing, and camping. Access to the water is located on the northern shore. There you'll also find the Laacher See campsite and a miniature golf course.

Looking for more inspiration? You can find tips for all the top travel destinations at reisereporter .