A Complete Guide To Triberg, Germany

Welcome to Triberg, a charming town nestled in the heart of the Black Forest in Germany. Known for its picturesque landscapes, world-renowned cuckoo clocks, and stunning waterfalls, Triberg is on the radar of almost any traveller planning a trip to the region.

In this complete guide to Triberg, I’ll take you on a journey through its history, natural wonders, and cultural attractions, as well as provide tips on where to stay, what to eat, and if this much-Instagrammed destination is really worth a visit. So, pack your bags and join us as we discover the charms Triberg, Germany.

This post was updated in April 2023

Where is Triberg?

Triberg is a small town in the Black Forest, Germany, located in the Schwarzwald-Baar district. If you were to look on a map, it’s around the middle of the forest, sitting between 500 and 1038 metres above sea level. Thanks to its central location, it’s fairly easily visited not only from west Germany, but also from Switzerland and the Alsace region of France.

Getting to Triberg, Germany

By Car

A drive to Triberg from any direction is a real treat as you approach, with winding, tree-lined roads that are typical of the Black Forest. Here are some driving times from some larger cities nearby in southern Germany and France.

Starting Location	Driving Time
Freiburg	1 hr 2 m
Stuttgart	1 hr 40 m
Zurich	1 hr 52 m
Basel	1 hr 55 m
Strasbourg	1 hr 22 m

By Train

If you’d rather use public transportation, the good news is the town of Triberg has its own train station and is on the Black Forest railway line. Most trains run from around 6 in the morning to just after 10 at night, with plenty of departures throughout the day to nearby and major stations. Here are the details for some of the more commonly used routes to Triberg train station.

Starting Location	Journey Time	No. Of Trains Per Day
Stuttgart	2h 34m	53
Munich	4h 28m	20
Paris	4h 20m	15
Strasbourg	1h 46m	16
Freiburg	1h 24m	19
Baden Baden	1h 12m	19

For exact train times, prices and to book directly download the Deutsche Bahn app DB Navigator

Parking in Triberg

There are numerous car parks in Triberg as well as on-street parking. The car parks are all very well signposted, so you definitely shouldn’t have any trouble finding them. I parked in a parking garage just off the main street by the Volksbank which is probably your best bet on busier days as there were plenty of spaces. When I arrived on a rainy Friday morning, there were only 3 other cars there, and only a few more when I left several hours later.

There is also parking near the entrance to the waterfall, which seems to be a popular choice, though I imagine on weekends during peak season it probably gets quite packed. Either way, you won’t have any issue finding somewhere to park, as for such a small town there is a rather large number of options. Pricewise, parking seems to be fairly reasonable all over town at around €1 an hour.

Attractions In Triberg, Germany

Triberg Waterfalls

Billed as the highest waterfall in Germany, this is a popular place for most visitors to Triberg, and for good reason. While it’s not technically the highest (that honour goes to the Röthbachfall), at 162 metres it’s certainly one of the tallest accessible waterfalls, with water cascading down 7 steps into the valley below.

Despite being a paid attraction, the waterfall has retained much of its natural beauty and is an ideal place to while away some time.

The main entrance to the waterfall is easily reached on foot from the main high street and is also clearly signposted (if in doubt, just follow the river!)

At the time of writing, the entrance fee to Germany’s tallest waterfall was €6 each for an adult ticket in the winter season, with discounted rates for children and also a family ticket available. In summer you’ll have to cough up an extra 2 euros.

There are three clearly marked trails covering the park where the waterfalls are, all of varying lengths and difficulties, the longest being around 2 hours.

However, reaching the waterfalls themselves is incredibly easy. Once you enter you go up the path on a slight hill and you will be at the bottom of the falls in minutes. As the waterfall does not come straight down, you will need to walk higher to see the top, but the path is well-maintained and a low difficulty level (even for children).

At the entrance, you can also buy bags of peanuts for 1 that you can feed to the waterfall’s friendly resident squirrels. I only saw one during my visit, who didn’t quite brave taking the nut from my hand, but it was still a real treat to see one so close up.

Plus, the leftover peanuts made for a nice little snack as I made my way around the trail. Bird-lovers will also revel in the chance to see the numerous nutcrackers that roost in the surrounding trees, a rare sight in most other parts of the country.

Triberg Land

A good option for families, entrance to Triberg Land is included with your admission to the waterfalls. Described as an interactive model attraction, visitors are invited to trigger and watch the models of vehicles, trains and cable cars covering its 300 sqm space.

Included amongst the models is a replica of Triberg railway station and a miniature ‘Wasserfall Express’ train. There are also models of various other sites in the Black Forest along with other regions, including a beach scene of Lake Constance.

As it’s not really geared towards me I didn’t pay Triberg Land a visit myself. However, if you’re travelling with small children and you already have a ticket to the waterfalls, it seems like a good way to keep them entertained for another hour or so.

The House of 1000 Clocks

Another one of Triberg’s most well-known attractions, you can’t miss this eccentric cuckoo clock shop with a giant cuckoo clock and moving, oversized bears adorning its exterior. While, in essence, it’s a glorified souvenir shop, the House of 1000 Clocks is still worth a visit.

No matter what your thoughts on the famous cuckoo clock, you can’t help but be impressed by the craftsmanship as you walk along its jam-packed walls. There are also little faux ‘workshop’ areas where you can see videos of the wood carvers in action and look at carved wood in the earlier stages of production.

The shop stocks cuckoo clocks in every size and style, from gargantuan specimens with entire farm scenes carved into their front to more contemporary, simple clocks painted entirely white. Keep your eyes peeled for the rather garish pink and bejewelled number which, if memory serves me right, was selling for around €22,000. I think I’ll save that for my next visit.

Triberg Gallows

For the more morbid among us, a stop off at the Triberg Gallows should definitely be on the cards. About a 5 minute drive from the town center, they can only be reached by car.

In a rather unassuming spot on the side of the road (free parking!), you’ll find sandstone gallows that were built in 1721, along with an information board written in German and English.

There’s nothing else to do in the immediate vicinity and you’ll probably only be there for 10 minutes max, but it’s an interesting place visit if you’re into in that kind of thing.

The Best Black Forest Gateau in Triberg, Germany

With rain pelting down on my arrival, I quickly ducked into the nearest cafe where I couldn’t resist a slice of Black Forest Gateau. Hotel Café Adler tempted me inside with its classic tea room interior and display of tantalising treats.

To be honest, the service needed a bit of work, with a rather disgruntled waitress barking at patrons to put on their masks (I visited during corona times). The tea and cake were delicious, although there are better black forest gateaus out there. Sadly, I only got to try the one in Triberg, but my research tells me that if you’re looking for the best, you should head over to Café Schäfer.

Café Schäfer

This cafe might not look special from the outside, but it is often cited as having the best Black Forest Gateau in town. Café Schäfer has been operating since 1867, with head chef Claus Schaefer currently at the helm.

The story goes that Claus’s father August served as an apprentice to Josef Keller, the inventor of the famous cake, from 1924 to 1927. After many years of working together, Josef gave August his own recipe book which contained the exact steps and ingredients for the original Black Forest Gateau. Claus eventually inherited the book from his father, and continues to make Josef’s recipe to this day,

Though I didn’t get to try it, a quick glance on Google promises triple-layered decadence, piled high with cream and chocolate flakes and topped with a shiny glace cherry. Be warned though, it sounds like they don’t scrimp on the liquer, so the faint of heart or those with little ones might prefer to try the cake elsewhere.

UPDATE: I had the opportunity to try Café Schäfer’s famous Black Forest Gateau in October 2020. I can confirm that it is definitely not kid-friendly! The booze in this cake is definitely pungent, with the delicious layers of sponge absolutely soaked in the stuff. Though I found the cake to be delightful I can see why it wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste. Even so, if you’re visiting Triberg you shouldn’t miss the chance to try the OG edition of this classic German cake – just look out for ‘Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte’ on the menu.

Where to Eat in Triberg

There isn’t a huge selection of places to eat in the town centre, but rest assured you won’t go hungry. There isn’t a huge amount of choice in terms of cuisine, with mostly German restaurants and a couple of Italian options. A quick warning here, lots of places will only accept cash, so be sure to get some euros out before you set off for your meal.

German Food

Restaurant & Café Bergseestüble

Around an 8 minute walk uphill from the Triberg waterfalls, this family-owned restaurant serves modern German food in a bright and pleasant setting. Prices are reasonable and there is a fairly good selection (with a couple of token vegetarian options), and a rather extensive steak menu. A good choice to get away from the bustle of the high street, particularly in high season.

Wirtshaus Alt-Tryberg

This casual restaurant is right on the main street in Triberg and serves up all the German classics. The portions are big and the prices are very reasonable, with a traditional style interior that has a cosy, charming feel. I’d recommend trying the spatzle, a speciality for the region. However, if you just wanted to stop off for a beer, this would also be a great option. Closed on a Tuesday.

Tresor

Another local restaurant along the main street, and another with typical German food. A good choice for when the weather is warm as they do have outdoor seating. While there’s no menu available online, it reportedly has some vegetarian options. Please note that Tresor is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and also closes for a couple of hours between lunch and dinner.

Landgasthof zur Lilie

This little gem has a great location right by the Triberg Waterfalls and also has a beautiful outdoor terrace. The interior has a real old-school German feel. Photos from online reviews promise hearty portions and whopping great slices of Black Forest Gateau. If I were to visit again I would probably eat here.

Italian Food

La Cascata

An honourable mention goes to this Italian for offering something a bit different to the rest. The menu has a good range of pizza, pasta, meat dishes and salads for very good prices (a margarita pizza will only set you back €6.50). If the kids are getting tired of eating chips, they’re sure to find something they like here. Also, unlike most other restaurants in Triberg, it’s open every single day from 10 am to 10 pm.

Where to Stay in Triberg

If you would like to extend your stay there is a small selection of hotels along the high street with something to suit every taste and budget. All the hotels listed below include breakfast in their rates.

Parkhotel Wehrle

Parkhotel Wehrle is easily the most eye-catching of the bunch, with a beautiful exterior coated in ivy and a distinctive old-school charm. Though I didn’t stop for lunch, I was very tempted by the menu hung up outside, and a look on their website also reveals elegant rooms and a modern pool and spa. Though it’s a more expensive option in Triberg it’s by no means unreasonably priced, with rooms from around €135 night.

Hotel Pfaff

For those on a budget who still want to be in amongst the action, I’d recommend Hotel Pfaff. The building really caught my eye as I drove through the town, as did the staff dressed up in their traditional German garb. As you would expect, the rooms are fairly basic, but it has a great location right by the waterfalls and a lovely outdoor terrace. Plus, prices start from just €80 a night. You can’t go too far wrong with that.

Hotel Garni Central

Definitely one for the penny pinchers, this hotel is located right on the main street with rooms from €70 a night. It might not be much to look at, but the Hotel Garni Central is very well reviewed, promising an ample continental breakfast and clean, comfortable rooms. Some of them even have their own balcony!

For more accommodation, prices and to book online, head over to Booking.com .

Shopping in Triberg

Unfortunately, Triberg has more than its fair share of tourist tat for such a small town, with numerous souvenir shops lining its streets. There are a few gems to be found inside some of them, but for the most part it’s the usual junk.

Standing out among the rest, however, is Samuel Kammerer’s Wood-Carvings Shop. Samuel is a master wood carver and creates everything in his shop by hand, including traditional carnival masks, figurines and of course, cuckoo clocks. Definitely pop in if you can, it really is quite something. Plus, if you don’t mind travelling a little further afield for your accommodation, the owner also has two beautiful rental apartments.

Aside from the souvenir shops, you will find Germany’s standard high street fare. There’s budget clothing chain NKD, a Rossman chemist and a medium-sized Edeka supermarket among others.

Is Triberg worth visiting?

Yes and no. Depending on your interests, Triberg has enough to keep you entertained for anything from a few hours to a whole day trip. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find enough activities to fill an entire weekend, let alone any longer.

For me, it was a good place to stop off en-route to another part of the Black Forest of Germany. If you are on your way to somewhere like Freiburg, Titisee or Strasbourg, it’s well worth a short visit to help break up your journey. However, if Triberg was my final destination, in all honesty I would have been a little disappointed.

But that’s not to say that Triberg isn’t a wonderful town. I had a lovely afternoon there and really enjoyed my visit to the waterfall, which is worth visiting by itself even if you don’t explore the rest of Triberg. For some, it may well be a little too touristy. However, if you were staying there purely as a base to explore the rest of the Black Forest, you could certainly do a lot worse.

Pin It: A Complete Guide To Triberg, Germany