Hiking holidays and walking in Germany: Discover the amazing Winterberg in Sauerland is written by The editorial staff, RejsRejsRejs in cooperation with Sauerland Tourism.
Your perfect hiking holiday in Germany
Imagine waking up in a small mountain village, with the mountain air gently blowing into your face as soon as you step outside. The view is wonderful. Wooded hills with hiking trails winding through the trees.
Welcome to Sauerland – a true mecca for hiking in Germany.
The Sauerland area is home to several hiking villages, which offer an authentic experience, where everything is arranged for you, who are going to have a fantastic hiking holiday in Germany.
The editors at RejsRejsRejs In this article, we take you on a journey through Sauerland and the hiking villages, so you are 100 percent prepared for your next hiking holiday in Germany.
Winterberg – the perfect center for your hiking holiday in Germany
When talking about a hiking holiday in Sauerland and Germany, you can't miss the town of Winterberg.
In winter, the town is a popular destination for skiers, but in spring, the town transforms into a fantastic hub for hikes of all levels of difficulty. With lots of small, cozy hiking towns located around Winterberg, the area offers hikes that can last up to five days.
For example, take a five-stage hike of 86 kilometers with a starting and ending destination in Winterberg. Here you will pass through the cozy towns of Niedersfeld, Elkeringhausen, Züschen and Langewiese, where you will spend the night in traditional German inns – called Gasthaus in German.
If you're not up for the big five-day hike, there are routes that take two, three and four days with different distances and levels of difficulty. It's also possible to go on day hikes in the unique surroundings around Winterberg.
Every year, the Winterberg Wanderwoche hiking festival is held with guided tours and lively events in the Sauerland hiking capital.
Willingen – walking holiday through cozy villages in Germany
While Winterberg is a well-established center for hiking with routes of all lengths and levels of difficulty, Willingen offers a slightly different, but equally charming, experience for hiking in Germany.
Not far from Winterberg, the landscape opens up with gentler hills, lush, open valleys straight out of Lord of the Rings, and an atmosphere of peace and hospitality. Here, new adventures await on the trails, where the silence of nature is combined with cozy inns and impressive views.
Willingen also offers a lively atmosphere with small shops, cafés and local markets where you can sample local specialities. In the nearby villages of Usseln and Schwalefeld you will find charming 'Gasthäuser' and peaceful hiking trails that lead you through wooded hills and open meadows - perfect for a leisurely day trip.
Willingen is also known for its 'Biergarten' culture, and there are countless cozy inns where you, as a hiker, can rest your legs with a large mug of German beer.
Medebach – the sunny garden in the Sauerland
If you hike from Winterberg east, you will come to Medebach, which is also located just south of Willingen, which offers hikers an experience of both nature and history.
The area is called the 'Tuscany of Sauerland', and Medebach lies like a green island in a sea of dark green forests in the sunny Medebach Bay. The area is known for its mild microclimate, which makes it the warmest and driest place in Sauerland.
With Medebach as your starting point, you can set out on several hikes that go through the smaller hiking villages of Medelon, Berge and Dreislar. The Orketal Rundweg route takes you through the three villages and gives you the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent view from Opolt. A viewpoint where the sunlight often creates dramatic lights and colors in the landscape.
On some of the hiking trails in Medebach, you may also be lucky enough to come across an old waffle stand, where locals serve freshly baked waffles made in an old wood-fired waffle iron to hikers who need some fuel for their legs on the hike through the hills.
Schmallenberg and Eslohe – German charm and incredible nature
From Willingen, the trails lead you further southwest, where the landscape gradually changes character.
Here the open valleys turn into denser forest areas again, and small idyllic villages begin to appear along the routes. In the heart of Sauerland lie Schmallenberg and Eslohe – two gems that combine nature experiences with genuine German charm and make your hiking holiday in Germany memorable.
Schmallenberg is one of the most popular hiking towns in Sauerland and is a good starting point for both short and long distances for all levels.
Especially the Sauerland-Höhenflug, which is a long-distance hiking route that stretches over 240 km and offers breathtaking views, forests, cozy hiking villages and open landscapes.
A little further west is Eslohe, where the popular Hennesee Rundweg hiking trail starts. It is a wonderful walk around the picturesque Hennesee lake.
Eslohe is home to several traditional German inns and small cafes, where hikers can take a well-deserved break and sample local specialties like Sauerländer sausages and freshly brewed beer.
If you're in your artistic corner, the city also has several art galleries that are worth a visit.
Lennestadt and Kirchhundem – Culinary experiences and well-being
From Schmallenberg, the trip continues towards Lennestadt and Kirchhundem, where the Sauerland landscape opens up in a new way, and you are greeted by breathtaking views and a completely different tranquility.
Both Lennestadt and Kirchhundem offer a fantastic opportunity to experience how forests, rivers and villages merge into a vibrant landscape that is still closely linked to its historical roots with traditional village life adding spice to your hiking holiday in Germany.
In Lennestadt lies the picturesque town of Saalhausen, home to TalVITAL – a spa and recreation area that has been completely transformed in the typical Sauerland style with local materials and a creative integration into nature.
Both areas have an entrance to one of the most popular hiking trails in Sauerland; the Rothaarsteig, which winds 155 kilometers through Sauerland.
In addition, both Lennestadt and Kirchhundem are excellent places to taste the local specialties, with everything from traditional German inns to modern restaurants offering everything from schnitzel and bratwurst to delicate venison.
Diemelsee – pure lakeside fun in Sauerland
Hidden between the soft and green hills of Sauerland lies one of Saulerland's many beautiful lakes, Diemelsee.
The lake's calm surface invites both relaxation and adventure, while the surrounding forests and trails provide fantastic opportunities for the perfect hiking holiday in one of the most beautiful parts of Germany.
The main town of Heringhausen, located right on the lake, has it all. The town is located north of Winterberg and is a perfect stop between hiking stages, but also as a base for several days.
Among many other routes, Heringhausen is the starting and finishing destination for the incredibly beautiful Diemelsteig hiking route of just under 13 kilometers.
If you need a break from the hike, you can take a trip on the water in Heringhausen. Here you can rent kayaks and paddle boards and go on boat trips on Diemelsee.
In the area you will also find charming villages such as Flechtdorf, known for its old Benedictine monastery, and Eisenberg, where the view from the St. Muffert rock is magical, especially at sunset.
Brilon and Olsberg – healing springs and wild views
Right next to Diemelsee lies one of Germany's oldest towns, Brilon, whose town center is characterized by beautiful and charming half-timbered houses and an impressive town hall, which is also one of the oldest in Germany.
The idyllic town is a fantastic starting point for hiking in Germany. The 155-kilometer Rothaarsteig hiking trail passes through the town, while there is also access to the Briloner Kammweg, a beautiful 50-kilometer route that takes you through dense forests, open meadows and ridges with wild views.
Brilon's neighboring town is called Olsberg, and it is known for its healing springs and its status as a spa town.
With several wellness hotels, the city is the perfect place to relax after a long day on a hiking holiday in Germany.
The popular Kneippweg hiking trail starts in Olsberg and combines nature experiences with Kneipp therapy; cold water that strengthens the circulation and provides energy.
Both towns are connected by a vast network of hiking trails that take you through wooded hills, small river valleys and open countryside. From mountain peaks like the Bruchhauser Steine you get panoramic views of the characteristic hilly landscape of Sauerland.
Good hiking in the Sauerland in Germany
When it comes to hiking in Germany, there aren't many better places than Sauerland and the hiking villages around Winterberg.
Hele RejsRejsRejs-the editorial team wishes you a great hiking holiday in the beautiful surroundings of Sauerland in Germany.
These hiking towns you must visit in Sauerland
- Winterberg
- willingen
- Medebach
- Schmallenberg
- Eslohe
- Lennestadt
- Kirchhundem
- Diemelsee
- Brilon
- Olsberg
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