Baden-Württemberg attractions

The third-largest lake in Central Europe, Lake Constance (Bodensee) enjoys a unique setting that borders three countries: Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The strikingly beautiful landscapes surrounding the lake take in some of the best of each, including Alpine foothills, meadows, and orchards.

Situated in the hometown of Hugo Boss, Outletcity Metzingen offers shoppers an array of discounts at more than 70 international designer brand outlet stores, with luxury brands such as Prada, Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry, Armani, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, and Nike represented. Original retail prices are discounted as much as 70 percent.

Come to the 11th-century Hohentubingen Castle for the hilltop views, but stay for what's inside the castle: The University of Tübingen houses the largest number of scientific collections of any German university. Explore ancient art, culture, and traditions through the university’s unique treasures on display.

Sitting beneath the hilltop Heidelberg Castle along the southern bank of the Neckar River, Heidelberg Altstadt (Old Town) is a large and atmospheric cluster of narrow streets, beautiful architecture, and historic buildings. It’s the focal point of most travelers’ visits to Heidelberg and a charming place to stroll around before or after a visit to the castle.

Palace Square is the lively heart of Stuttgart and the largest square in the city’s Mitte district. Once a military parade ground in the 18th century, it’s now a vibrant space filled with lawns, flower beds, and fountains. A popular meeting spot for locals and tourists alike, the square also draws visitors for open-air concerts, fairs, screenings, and cultural events, including the renowned Christmas markets.

The centuries-old Freiburg Cathedral is a dominating Gothic presence in the altstadt (old town) of Freiburg im Breisgau. A place of worship that was spared the worst of the World War II bombs, despite its unmissable 370-feet (113-meter) steeple, visitors today can climb the 335 steps up it, or admire the cathedral’s gargoyles, stained-glass windows, and Renaissance altarpiece from the ground.

When over 3 million visitors attend a Christmas market, you know it’s good. The Stuttgart Christmas Market (Stuttgarter Weihnachtsmarkt) is one of Germany’s best—which is saying something—and visitors will delight in traditional crafts and toys, warm drinks and cookies, plus plenty of twinkling lights and singing choirs. Get ready: This one’s a spectacle as much as a shopping spree.

Conveniently located between Frankfurt and Stuttgart, the family-friendly Holiday Park offers high-octane thrill rides and amusements aimed at younger children. The rides are in a woodland setting, and the German theme park also hosts live shows throughout the day.

Rulantica is a themed aquapark the size of several football fields, located near Rust in the Black Forest. Set beside its sister theme park attraction Europa-Park, Rulantica offers zany water fun for families and adrenaline seekers with neon-lit slides, vertical tubes, a shipwreck splash park, swim-up cocktail bars, plus indoor and outdoor pools. Zen-seekers fear not—there’s a spa area with saunas, too.

Meaning “Karl’s retreat” in English, Karlsruhe was originally just that: a lavish palace retreat for the German nobleman Karl Wilhelm I. The town was later built around it in a fan shape, giving the palace status as the town’s cultural heart. Today, you can ogle its baroque-style architecture, explore its fountain-strewn gardens, or visit the on-site Baden State Museum.

A former ammunition factory turned contemporary art museum, the ZKM Karlsruhe is the place to go in Karlsruhe for cool art and digital media. Its huge, open-plan space is dedicated to galleries and exhibitions that offer something curious for a wide spectrum of interests. The revolving exhibitions cover overlapping themes around visual art, robotics, coding, and interactive games.

Old meets new in Ulm’s Fishermen’s Quarter, the historic artisan enclave where half-timbered houses and water-mill wheels huddle by the water’s edge alongside bijous galleries and courtyard restaurants. Crooked, tilted, and hunched, these restored buildings once belonged to Ulm’s fishermen, shipbuilders, and tanners. Today, their charm draws photographers, painters, and those who enjoy a pretty place.

Big and beautiful, the mighty Ulmer Münster is one of the world’s tallest churches, with a steeple that reaches toward the heavens. It is arguably one of the world’s most interesting Gothic churches. Elegant yet simple Lutheran interiors, 15th-century wooden choir stalls, and stained-glass windows abound—it’s no wonder this church took around 500 years to build.

A top pick for a family day out, Mundenhof near Freiburg offers a winning combination of well-cared-for creatures, ample space for both animals and kids, and free admission. With large enclosures for mostly domestic and farm animals, the site feels more like a wildlife park than a zoo, though meerkats, monkeys, and a large aquarium add excitement to the atmosphere.