The 10 Most Beautiful National Parks In Germany

Situated in the far eastern corner of Germany, the Saxon Switzerland National Park covers more than 36,000 hectares of the Elbe Sandstone Massif, bizarre eroded rock formations dating back to the Cretaceous period. The park is characterized by a unique landscape of sandstone cliffs, deeply carved valleys, table mountains and gorges. Rock climbing is undoubtedly an excellent way to explore the park, but there are also other ways to enjoy the breathtaking scenery, such as a trip to the Bastei rocks which provide stunning panoramic views across the Elbe. It is also possible to hire a rowing boat or take a boat excursion to admire the scenery from the river.

Jasmund National Park is situated in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in the far north-east of Germany. Its most spectacular feature is the Königsstuhl chalk cliffs, depicted and immortalized by the painter Caspar David Friedrich. A variety of walks, cycle routes, excursions and seminars are available to explore the region’s beautiful woodlands. The park rangers also run regular tours based on characters from myth and legend where visitors can learn about the Germanic goddess Hertha and the famous pirate Klaus Störtebecker, who, according to the legend, buried his treasure on the island.

Lower Oder Valley National Park

The Lower Oder Valley National Park is Germany’s first riverside meadow national park. It covers 60 kilometres of meadowland on both the German and the Polish banks of the river Oder, offering visitors a very picturesque scenery. Due to its significance as a resting and wintering ground for many bird species, the national park attracts hordes of wildlife enthusiasts every year. The sight of more than 13,000 cranes descending to their migration roosts in the Oder Valley is an unforgettable experience. Apart from the stunning nature and wildlife, the national park offers visitors a wide range of other attractions, including the medieval tower of Stolpe Castle, the historical tobacco barns near Friedrichsthal, the castle near Zitzen, the medieval town fortifications and St. Stephen’s Church in Grats and the late-Gothic church in Criewen.

Schwedt, Germany, +49 3332 26770

View from Krajnik Dolny | © Benutzer:Deltongo/WikiCommons

Western-Pomeranian Boddenlandschaft National Park

Situated in the far north-east of Germany, The Western-Pomeranian Boddenlandschaft National Park is the largest nature reserve on the Baltic coast. It provides a wonderful landscape of cliffs and dunes, spits and lagoons, making it a perfect destination for anyone who loves beaches or woodland. A variety of guided and independent walks are available in the park which also include some great view points, such as Pramort and Hohe Düne. Other attractions of the region include the Ahrenshoop artists’ colony, the lighthouse and Natureum on Darsser Ort, the national park center on Hiddensee which is the largest island in the park and the Stralsund Museum.

Im Forst 5, Born, Germany, +49 3823 45020

Western-Pomeranian Boddenlandschaft National Park | © Thomas Kohler/Flickr

Hainich National Park

Formerly a military exclusion zone, the Hainich forest in western Thuringia has become a national park. It is Europe’s largest unbroken area of mixed deciduous forest. During forest walks and guided tours organized for the visitors some rare animals can be witnessed, such as wildcats, black storks and protected bat species. The Wildcat Children’s Forest is an attraction aimed at younger guests: a several hundred meters long treetop trail takes visitors across the ‘roof’ of the forest at a height of 44 meters. Some other attractions of the park include medieval houses and a town wall that you can walk along in Mühlhausen, a rose garden and the Friederike Villa in Bad Langensalza, Anrode convent near Bickenriede and the monastery village of Volkenroda.

Bad Langensalza, Germany, +49 3603 39070