The Baden Black Forest Railway

The Baden Black Forest Railway, Schwarzwaldbahn in German, stands apart from other railway routes in Germany thanks to both its engineering and its scenery. From the moment the train leaves the Rhine Valley, the track begins a steady climb into the Schwarzwald (Black Forest), following river gorges, circling wooded slopes and threading through steep rock cuttings. Stone viaducts appear, lifting the train above valleys of spruce and fir, before the line again ducks into tunnels.

Once considered an engineering impossibility, construction of the line began in 1863. Designers faced gradients that rivalled Alpine routes and rock formations that collapsed at the slightest disturbance. Today, it serves everyday travellers and is a beloved civilian railway that gives access to mountain towns and cities, and remote hiking routes.

The line links Offenburg with Singen on the High Rhine Railway. From Singen, most travellers continue directly on to Konstanz, creating a continuous journey from river plain to the lakeshore. This route should not be confused with the Black Forest Railway (Württemberg), which runs between Stuttgart and Freudenstadt and is a separate line entirely.

Read on to find out more about the Black Forest Railway, from tickets and facilities to what you’ll see along the way on this scenic train journey. 

Good for

• Hiking, with marked routes such as the Westweg near Triberg, riverside paths along the Brigach at Villingen, and the ascent to the Hohentwiel from Singen

• Waterfall spotting, most notably at the Triberg Waterfalls on the Gutach river

• Black Forest towns, with preserved town walls, gate towers and rows of colourful half-timbered buildings

• Lake and rail combinations, finishing at Konstanz where the station opens directly onto ferries and boat routes across Lake Constance

• Railway enthusiasts, particularly those interested in historic engineering, mountain gradients and spiral tunnel construction

A.Salmon/GraphHopper/OpenStreetMap

The Black Forest Railway route.

The Black Forest Railway: the train

The route

The full journey from Offenburg to Singen, then onto Konstanz covers roughly 129 kilometres and is operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB). On the fastest Regional Express services, the trip takes about two and a half hours. Slower regional trains extend the journey to closer to three and a half hours. Most regional trains run through without requiring a transfer, making the route easy to travel in one sitting. Services operate every hour, starting at around 05:00 and finishing at around 22:00.

Facilities

Regional Express trains have modern carriages with toilets throughout. Seating is a mix of standard airline-style seating rows and small table bays, with luggage racks sitting above the seats. Power sockets feature on newer stock but not on every carriage so it is best not to rely on them. There is no café car, so bringing water and something to eat before boarding is always a good idea.

Most Regional Express trains also include a small first-class section. Seating is arranged in a 2+1 layout, offering more personal space and a quieter environment than second class. There are no additional onboard services or catering, so the upgrade focuses on comfort rather than extras.

Lars Steffens/CC BY-SA 2.0

A German Regional Express train.

Ticketing

There are several ticket options for travelling on the Black Forest Railway.

• Standard regional tickets: Starting from around €25 for the full route from Offenburg to Konstanz. First class from around €35. Valid on Regional Express and slower regional trains.

• Baden-Württemberg Ticket: From €25 -€33 for one person. Unlimited travel on regional trains for one day. Valid on the full Black Forest Railway. Best for day trips.

You can break your journey along the line with flexible regional tickets such as standard day tickets, the Baden-Württemberg Ticket, or Interrail passes. Advance long-distance tickets do not permit this.

Interrail passes

The entire Offenburg to Konstanz route is included in Interrail passes. No reservations are needed for regional trains in standard or first class, meaning they offer a higher level of flexibility to explore stops along the line. 

Should I break the journey? 

Yes, if you have time and aren't carrying too much luggage. Most stations are located near town centres or trail access points, making it easy to step off, explore briefly, and continue later the same day.

For scenery and short walks, Triberg offers direct access to the waterfalls and forest paths above the town, while Hausach connects directly to riverside walking routes along the Kinzig valley. Services run often enough that stopping off rarely disrupts the rest of the journey.

Hungry for Holiday

The Black Forest. 

The Black Forest Railway: the journey

The line begins at Offenburg, sitting on the edge of the Rhine plain and rising towards the edges of the Black Forest. Many of the surrounding hillsides are planted with vines producing Baden’s white wines, particularly Grauburgunder and Weißburgunder.

For dinner in the city, Gasthaus Brandeck serves classic regional dishes, such as Maultaschen (stuffed pasta pockets similar to ravioli) in broth, and venison with spätzle, an egg-based short noodle, alongside local wines from the Ortenau region. In the morning, Bäckerei Dreher has three branches in the city, opens early for seeded rolls and buttery croissants.

Fabio Glunk

Gifiz-See near Offenburg.

After leaving Offenburg, the train enters the Kinzig Valley. From the windows, you see vineyards give way to wooded slopes, with the Kinzig river running close to the track. The valley narrows steadily, and towns appear tightly packed between the river and the rising hills. Church spires mark each settlement before the train slips back into trees.

The first notable stop is Gengenbach. The station is a short, flat walk from the historic centre, where the baroque town hall faces a broad market square lined with colourful half-timbered buildings, and used regularly for local markets and seasonal events. Café Honig sits directly on the market square opposite the town hall and has cream-laden cakes, ice cream, and pastries.

Gargolla/CC BY-SA 3.0

Gengenbach.

Beyond Hausach, the landscape changes as the railway enters its most concentrated mountain section. The track follows the Gutach river upstream, surrounded by densely planted spruce woodland. Sitting on the right hand side when travelling towards Konstanz gives the clearest views across the valley floor and up towards the viaducts that carry the line across side valleys. To manage the climb, engineers built 39 tunnels between Hausach and St. Georgen, allowing the railway to loop gradually back on itself, including the sweeping curve across the Hornberg Viaduct.

Prolineserver/CC BY-SA 3.0,

Hornberg Viaduct.

One of the best-known stops in this stretch is Triberg. The station sits partway up the hillside above the town, and from there a marked path leads to the Triberg Waterfalls. The Gutach plunges in a series of cascades with a total drop of around 160 metres, making them among the highest waterfalls in Germany.

Amanpreet Singh

Triberg waterfalls. 

Between Triberg and Villingen-Schwenningen, the line reaches its steepest sustained gradient at just over 2 per cent. The train passes repeatedly between tunnels and short open stretches where the track briefly emerges onto embankments or viaducts before diving back into the hillside. 

The city of Villingen has a medieval centre enclosed by largely intact town walls. The station sits just outside the old town, and the walk in passes through one of the historic gates. Inside, the layout is easy to explore on foot, with the Münster Unserer Lieben Frau in the centre and small streets radiating outwards. For lunch, Zum Kuckuck serves schnitzel, burgers and even has a few vegan options.

Steffen Ruder

The spires of the Münster Villingen.

After Villingen, the railway leaves the mountain section behind and runs across upland towards Donaueschingen. The scenery opens out into pastureland, with longer straight sections of track replacing the curves and tunnels of the Black Forest climb.

Many travellers step off at Donaueschingen to see the Donauquelle, the source of the Danube. The spring is set within palace gardens and framed by a circular stone basin, with water rising visibly from below before flowing onward. Low stone walls and fixed benches surround the site, where you can see the point where the Brigach and Breg meet and are formally marked as the beginning of the Danube. From the station, the walk is clearly signposted and takes around ten minutes on foot.

Flominator/CC BY-SA 3.0

The Donaquelle (Source of the Danube), Donaueschingen.

South of Donaueschingen, the Schwarzwaldbahn reaches its official end point at Singen, where it joins the High Rhine Railway. Singen is an industrial city, defined by the dramatic presence of the Hohentwiel, an extinct volcanic cone rising above the surrounding fields. The ruined fortress at the summit is accessible on foot from the town centre and offers wide views across the Hegau landscape, with Lake Constance and the Alps visible in clear weather.

Nature act/CC BY-SA 3.0,

Hohentwiel, Singen.

From Singen, trains continue south towards Konstanz. The final stretch passes through agricultural land and small industrial towns before the first signs of Lake Constance (Bodensee in German), appear between housing estates, marinas and boatyards. Konstanz station opens straight onto the harbour, with ferries, cycle paths and lakeside promenades immediately visible. Much of the city centre is pedestrianised, and the old town begins a short walk from the platforms.

Joshua Kettle

Konstanz.

If you are staying overnight, have dinner at Brasserie Colette, run by Michelin-starred chef Tim Raue, which sits close to the waterfront and offers French fine-dining using local ingredients.  In the morning, Das voglhaus is near the old town and combines a vegan café with a small independent shop. It serves breakfast dishes, cakes and great coffee, using organic ingredients, and is a relaxed place to pause before continuing by ferry or train. Before leaving, walk along the harbour towards the Imperia statue gives a clear view across the lake towards Meersburg.

Fabian

Lake Constance. 

Onward travel

From Konstanz, it’s easy to continue deeper into southern Germany, Switzerland or Austria. Trains run hourly across the border to Zürich via Kreuzlingen, taking just under an hour. Zürich is useful if you want access to long-distance rail routes through Switzerland, including onward connections to the Bernina Line, the Glacier Express route, or the Golden Pass Line, all of which can be reached by straightforward changes via Lucerne or Chur.

Travelling east along Lake Constance brings you to Friedrichshafen and Lindau. Friedrichshafen works well for lakeside cycling and ferries, while Lindau’s island station places you directly in the historic centre, making it a strong stop for an overnight stay. From either, rail connections towards Munich are frequent and straightforward.

Journey to Lake Constance for a day trip on the Black Forest Railway, or check out our German train holidays. 

Read about the art of slow travel, why we love the local train, or about six of the most scenic train rides in Europe. 

For more slow travel inspiration, insights into overland routes and insider tips, subscribe to our newsletter.