These are the most beautiful small towns in southern Germany

Old half-timbered houses, lively bustle, delicious food, idyllic nature. In small towns, southern Germany shows its most beautiful side. The travel reporter presents a selection of the most beautiful places.

Munich, Freiburg or Konstanz are famous for their pretty corners. But below the Main River, there are also many other beautiful small towns in southern Germany worth seeing. The travel reporter has ten recommendations.

Along the Moselle, there are many beautiful places and towns, including Bernkastel-Kues. Located on both sides of the Moselle, this small town with around 7,100 inhabitants invites you to explore over 2,000 years of history.

The stunning half-timbered houses, the early Gothic St. Michael's Church, and the Renaissance town hall on the historic market square are just some of the highlights. The town can also be explored on four marked 'town walks' through winding alleys, past shops, and along the famous steep Riesling slopes.

High above the town towers the ruins of Landshut Castle. A barrier-free circular path with information boards leads around the castle.

Cochem in Rhineland-Palatinate is the smallest district town in Germany. Nevertheless, it has a lot to offer. In the middle of the town, the Reichsburg Cochem towers on the castle hill. Originally built around 1100, this fortress is by far the biggest attraction there.

But the old town of Cochem also offers picture-perfect motives. These include the town hall built in Baroque style in 1739 on the market square, the Martinsbrunnen, and the old half-timbered gabled houses with Moselle slate along the narrow alleys.

At the Pinnerkreuz viewpoint, at an elevation of 255 meters, travelers can enjoy a breathtaking view of the entire town from above, thanks to a chairlift.

The small town of Wadern is located in the idyllic foothills of the Hunsrück, on the edge of the Black Forest Highlands. At the castle ruins and Schloss Dagstuhl, visitors walk in the footsteps of knights and counts.

In the summer, the charming town center transforms into a lively cultural hub. Wadern is known for its large singing scene with eight music clubs and numerous choirs. A visit to the Oettinger Schlösschen is also worthwhile. This beautiful Baroque building houses the city museum, which tells of early Roman and Celtic influences.

Other witnesses of past times can be found throughout Wadern, including old parish churches, the marketplace fountain from 1770, Schloss Münchweiler, and a replica of Roman burial mounds from the second century.

With its buildings from the Renaissance and Baroque eras, Ottweiler, once a residence of the Counts of Nassau-Ottweil, is a worthwhile tourist destination with many attractions. These include the Stengel Pavilion with its Baroque rose garden and the Zibbelkapp church tower from the 15th century, the landmark of Ottweiler.

Ottweiler is located about 30 kilometers from Saarbrücken on the Blies, a tributary of the Saar River.

A stroll through the winding alleys of the picturesque old town quickly reveals the origins of Ottweiler to tourists. Visitors can delve even deeper into local history at a school museum with exhibits from 1,000 years of school history and in the city museum with a book printing workshop.

Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, southern Rhineland-Palatinate, and everything in Hesse south of the Main River is considered southern Germany - that's how it was defined in the New Brockhaus of 1960. Since Zwingenberg is located below the river, this sweet small town must also be included in this text.

The jewel on the Hessian Bergstraße is the oldest town in the region. The path leads towards the upper town, initially past the small castle to the former Burgmannen residence, which is now the town hall.

A fantastic view of the medieval cityscape with tightly packed half-timbered houses on alleys and squares is offered by the mountain church, which is accessed via a steep staircase. Once at the top of the church, the oldest building in town history, you look out over the expanse of the Hessian Rhines and into the Rhine plain.

If you want to enjoy a glass of wine, the Bergstraße is the place to be. It's not only the home of the Red Riesling: more than 600 winemakers in Germany's smallest wine-growing region produce various grape varieties, including white Müller-Thurgau and red Dornfelder. In Zwingenberg, for example, the Simon-Bürkle winery invites you to taste its wines, says 'Hessen Tourismus' about the beloved small town of Zwingenberg.

Blaubeuren is known for the Blautopf, which shines in an intense turquoise depending on the light. The 22-meter-deep lake forms the entrance to the Blautopf Cave, which houses the largest cave system in the Swabian Alb. But the small town itself is also worth seeing, especially since the area around the Blautopf is being renovated and modernized, and the work is expected to continue until December 2028.

The old town can be easily explored on a walking tour. This leads you approximately 1.5 kilometers through Blaubeuren along 13 pillars, where you can get information about your location and the next destination via QR codes. This way, you can discover the beautiful half-timbered houses, the winding alleys, and cute shops during a leisurely stroll. At a tactile model at the church square, you can also touch and feel Blaubeuren.

As the name suggests, Meersburg is located directly on the shores of Lake Constance. Surrounded by vineyards, a bike tour along the lake or a hike in the hills, followed by a wine tasting and a stroll through the town's narrow streets, is worthwhile.

In the old town, numerous cultural monuments line up. These include the Rote Haus, the Erkerhaus Zum Bären, the Obertor, and the castle paved paths. The Meersburg Castle is the emblem of the town, it is considered the oldest inhabited castle in Germany.

In the southeast of Bavaria, near the border with Austria, lies one of Germany's most popular small towns: Berchtesgaden.

Particularly well-known is the Watzmann, which, with its height of over 2,700 meters, draws all eyes. But the national park, deep valleys, and crystal-clear mountain streams are also among the most beautiful landscapes in Germany.

Around 8,000 residents live in Berchtesgaden. You can discover the traces of their ancestors in the Berchtesgaden Museum of Local History at Adelsheim Castle.

Füssen is located in Bavaria and borders Austria to the south. The city is known for the romantic Neuschwanstein Castle, built from 1869 for the Bavarian King Ludwig II on a hill.

But that's not all! Füssen boasts a beautiful old town, a well-preserved city wall, a city park, a water reservoir, and many picturesque lakes and hiking trails in the dreamlike nature.

However, the town also has other attractions. For example, tourists can explore the Baumgarten. The highlight of the city park and recreation area directly behind the High Castle is the Wasserburg, a water reservoir resembling a castle ruin. Additionally, the location is ideal for canoeing, cycling, and skiing in winter.

Located in northern Bavaria, Rothenburg ob der Tauber shines with its medieval architecture. Cobblestones and half-timbered houses transport visitors back in time. A well-preserved city wall with charming gatehouses and towers makes the cityscape unique.

The most famous photo motif of the city is the Plönlein. Translated, this means 'small square at the fountain'. It includes the yellow half-timbered house in front of the entrance to the Spitalviertel, the fountain in front of the half-timbered solitaire, and the two towers of the old city wall.

The castle garden is also beautiful. At the lookout at the castle gate, travelers can get an overview of the Tauber Valley. However, there is no castle there anymore - a display board explains where the building once stood.

Popular sights include St. Jacob's Church with its late Gothic altarpiece and the medieval town hall, from whose tower you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city.

Looking for more inspiration? Find tips for all top travel destinations at the travel reporter, and the best travel deals on our deal page.

Travel reporter