Things to do in Freiburg in one day

Last week Frankfurt, this week Freiburg. Again, we – my husband and I – only had two nights in Freiburg. It’s a much smaller place than Frankfurt, so it’s possible to see all of the highlights in a day. I’ve put them all on the map below: things to do in Freiburg, Germany:

Disclosure: Our visit to Freiburg was sponsored by @Visit.Freiburg, Alte Wache and Schauinslandbahn. Nevertheless, all opinions are my own.

And another disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This will not affect your price.

Pinnable image.

We saw most of these sights on a very entertaining walking tour by a company called Timewalking. Our tour was private, part of @Visit.Freiburg’s sponsorship. The guide called herself “Black Forest girl Bärbele” and wore a traditional costume from the Black Forest.

The photo shows her from the waist up. She wears a white blouse with puffy sleeves to her elbows and clutches a small basket in front of her. On top of the blouse is a vest, the top of her dress, which is black with small embroidered flowers and a wide purple-edged collar. She smiles at the camera, wearing a had with a white brim and a bunch of very large bright red pompoms on top of the hat. — *Our tour guide.*

Her regular guided tours are only in German, but her English is excellent and you can hire her for a private tour as well.

Here are some other guided tours available in Freiburg.

See the cathedral and the Münsterplatz

As I added sights to the map above, I realized that most of them were in a neat circle covering the Altstadt, the old town. Below, I’ve list them in counter-clockwise order: all the things we were able to see in Freiburg in one day. After that, I’ve added some more things to do in Freiburg for in case you have more time.

The place to start your sightseeing is at the Freiburg Cathedral on the Münsterplatz.

Freiburg Cathedral

Known as Freiburg Münster, Freiburg Cathedral is the clear centerpiece of the city, and if you only see one thing, this should be it! Even compared to some of the world’s best-known cathedrals, this is a remarkable place. In particular, the 116-meter (381-foot) spire is beautifully lacy. It’s hard to believe a) that medieval builders achieved something this delicate-looking and b) that it’s survived the centuries, including the World War II bombing that destroyed many of the buildings on the plaza around it.

In the middle is the spire of the cathedral, all lacy gothic arches. Around it are much lower buildings around an open space - the Munsterplatz. In the background, low green hills.

Built between 1200 and 1513, Freiburg Cathedral is partly Romanesque and partly Gothic. The stained glass windows inside are exquisite. The medieval guilds gave them to the church, and you can see at the bottom of each one a symbol of the donating guild. They survived the war because they were taken down and stored safely outside the city inside a mine until the war was over. (But I understand the current ones are replicas while the originals are in a museum.)

A vertical stained glass window with many many panels. At the top, 3 circular panels, below: 3 vertical panels with arched tops. The pictures visible in the glass show events in Jesus's life: the crucifixion is in the center top of the middle vertical panel. The bottom of the center panel has a cress with a sledgehammer and tongs on either side of a snake.

The cathedral has some wonderful gargoyles, some of which are newer replacements of ones that are too eroded to be recognizable anymore. Many are human figures rather than the more common animals.

The gargoyle shown is a human figure. It is essentially folded in half, with its head, hands and feet attached to the building and its butt straight out. The drainpipe is in its butt. Its face is turned outward and it seems to be smiling. — *My favorite of the gargoyles.*

Münsterplatz

The square around the cathedral is called Münsterplatz. It was once the cemetery for the church, but is now a pretty, cobbled square (which is why you should wear flat, supportive shoes if you visit Freiburg!). On a sunny day, the café tables, shaded by umbrellas, are teeming with people.

In the center, an ornate fountain with a vertical pole in the center, and walls around the bottom to hold the water. Left, a row of buildings in light pastel colors and outdoor cafes in front. Ahead, the plaza is mostly empty. On the right, the gothic and Romanesque side of the cathedral. — *Münsterplatz, with the side of the cathedral on the right.*

Münsterplatz also hosts the market on weekday mornings, or rather two. On the north side is the food market, while on the south side, stalls sell all sorts of interesting crafts and other items.

While the whole Münsterplatz is lovely just to stroll around and shop, I’d like to point out two buildings in particular:

Kaufhaus: This is the bright red building with the arched portico. Dating to the 16th century, it was originally a merchants’ hall built by Lienhart Müller, the Cathedral’s master builder. Look for the carved figures holding up the ends of the balcony. According to “Bärbele,” our tour guide, they represent, on the right, a merchant entering the hall and, on the left, a merchant leaving the hall after paying his tax bill.

The building is painted red. It has a steep roof and step gables on either side. The ground floor has a row of pillars with arches between them, making a portico along the front of the building. The floor above that has 5 large arched windows with a narrow balcony in front of them, and at either corner of the building is a round turret with a pointed roof.

Alte Wache: On the same side as the Kaufhaus, but standing a bit apart right next to the cathedral, is a small yellow-painted building housing a café called Alte Wache. They serve a very special wine called Kalte Sofie. The best way I can explain it is that it’s a wine slushy. We tasted both the red and the white versions. The white one was particularly refreshing on a hot, sunny day. If you’re following this list in order, it might be better to wait until you return to Münsterplatz before you enjoy this!

Two glasses of Kalte Sofie in wine glasses with straws. In front, the white wine version looks like a lemon slushy. Behind, the red wine version looks like a cherry slushy and says "Wein Eiskalt Erleben" which I think means "Experience ice cold wine".

Take a stroll to see the architecture and history of Freiburg

Walking in counter-clockwise order starting in Münsterplatz, here are the architectural sights to see in Freiburg. But first, here are a couple of things to watch for as you walk:

Bächle

As you walk, notice the Bächle: the little channels of water along the streets. Originally these flowed down the center of the streets. Built in the Middle Ages to provide household water and for fire prevention, they were likely filthy in those days, taking all sorts of waste away. In the 19th century, the city moved them to the sides of the streets and of course the city waste goes into a modern sewer system now. So the Bächle, fed from the Dreisam River, are now clean, and you might see children (and adults) wading in them in hot weather or sailing toy boats. They also help keep the air in the city cool.

Rheinkiesel mosaics

Made from river stones, the cobbling in the center of Freiburg is particularly pretty. The stones are cut in half and set with the flat edge upwards. As you walk, keep your eyes open for the Rheinkiesel mosaics along the shopping streets in the pavement. They depict something to do with the shop in front of them. So, for example, the mosaic might show a pair of scissors in front of a barbershop. Some of them don’t match anymore because businesses have left and been replaced by different ones.

The stones of the mosaic are smaller than the stone of the pavement around it, and they are arranged in concentric circles, except the white stones that form the outline of a cat.

Haus zum Walfisch (Whale House)

This house has an ornate late Gothic bay window, complete with gargoyles. What it’s known for, though, is that Erasmus, the Dutch philosopher, lived here for two years 1529-1531. Franziskanerstraße 5.

A reddish-pink color, the house is three stories tall. The middle story has a square bay window sticking out right in the center of the building. It formes an ornate arch over the door on the ground floor and has decorative stonework around its windows. Gargoyles protrude above it. The rest of the building is quite plain. — *Haus zum Walfisch.*

St. Martin’s Church

This 13th century Franciscan monastery is supposedly where a monk invented gunpowder in the 14th century. While he may have indeed stumbled on it, he didn’t really invent it; that happened centuries earlier in China. Anyway, it’s a pretty church. Rathausgasse 3.

Rathausplatz

Next door on the Rathausplatz, you’ll find a fountain with a statue on top. It depicts Berthold Schwarz, the Franciscan monk who “invented” gunpowder.

Martinstor

Freiburg has two surviving towers from the original fortifications that surrounded the city. Martinstor dates to the 13th century, though the top 2/3 of the tower were added in the 19th century in 15th-century style. Kaiser-Joseph Straße.

The tower has an archway through it at the bottom, and the smaller building next to it also has a large archway under it. The tower is white ut has brick at the corners. A clock toward the top, a turret on each corner and a steep green roof on top. — *Martinstor.*

Zum Roten Bären

This hotel called “To the Red Bear” is purported to be the oldest hotel in Germany. Its foundations date to the 12th century, though at that time the street level was lower. The basements, once the ground floor and basement, have been restored, but aren’t open to the public. Guests at the hotel can see it, or you can schedule an appointment. Oberlinden 12. You can book a room there through this link.

The building is flat-fronted, covered with painted plaster. The paint is pale red and light blues and is geometric patterns between the rows of windows. Between the 2 floors that are visible in this photo are images which seem to be coats of arms. Under very window - 5 above and 5 below - is a window box with bright red geraniums. — *Zum Roten Bären.*

Schwabentor

This city gate was, like Martinstor, built in the 13th century, but it’s slightly younger. And like Martinstor, it was made taller – about double its height – much later, in the early 20th century. So the gables at the top and the painting of St. George on the side are not original. Oberlinden.

There’s a funny story attached to the Schwabentor of a man from Swabia – hence the name – who made so much money he decided he would buy Freiburg. His wife, understandably, was not thrilled at him spending all their money. Nevertheless, off he went to Freiburg with his barrels of gold. Arriving there, he announced to the citizens that he intended to buy their town. When he opened the barrels to show what he was offering, they turned out to be full of sand because the wife had switched the contents in the middle of the night while he slept. The story ends with the townspeople laughing him out of town.

The tower is square and white, with brick on the corners. There's a big clock just under the rather plain roof. Lower down is a large painting of a person and some horses - the painting spans the width of the tower. Next to the tower is a half-timbered building with a pointed roof. Both buildings have large archways on the ground floor, big enough to let cars through. — *Schwabentor.*

Zur Schwarzen Katz

The House of the Black Cat is where the executioner lived in the Middle Ages. The Konviktstraße in general is a very pretty cobbled street lined with charming shops. Konviktstraße 39.

Archdiocese of Freiburg building

Even office buildings can be beautiful, and this is a great example. Built in 1903-1906 for the administration of the Catholic archdiocese, it’s an art nouveau masterpiece. While the exterior is certainly interesting, looking mostly Romanesque with touches of art nouveau, make sure to take a look inside. You won’t be able to get past the reception, but take a look around you inside the entrance. The paintings are wonderful and show influences from a range of styles.

Intricate patterns painted on the arched ceiling and the pillars holding it up. To the left of the picture a bit of a painted wall is visible over a painted railing of stairway up. Hart to describe because it's all so intricate and complex in this view. — *Looking up in the entrance hall of the Archdiocese building.*

This is the end of the more-or-less circular tour of the architecture of Freiburg, though you could see lots more just by strolling the streets randomly. Now is the time to return to Münsterplatz and reward yourself with a wine slushy!

Take a hike

Schlossbergbahn and Schlossberg

If you still have some energy to walk, make your way to the Stadtgarten. It’s a pretty and green park, but the reason for going there is to take the Schlossbergbahn. This is a short funicular railway up to Schlossberg, the wooded hill above the town. The trip takes three minutes to carry you up about 80 meters.

Schlossbergbahn: Schlossberg-Bahn Talstation. Monday-Tuesday 10:00-18:00 (but closed on Tuesday November-February), Wednesday-Sunday 9:00-22:00. Fare: Adults €3.30 one-way €5.50 round-trip; children 6-14 €2.20 one-way, €3.50 round-trip. Wheelchair accessible, as are some of the trails at the top. Website.

Alternatively, you can, of course, just climb the hill, as we did. Start at Schwabentor, cross the pedestrian bridge over the ring road, then follow the path up.

Schloss means “castle”, and this is where a castle used to stand. Only ruins remain, but the hill is covered with forest and laced with walking paths, opening up to viewpoints here and there. You can sit in a beer garden and watch the sun go down over Freiburg. Or climb up to the peak of the mountain and then take the additional steps to the top of the Schlossberg Tower for a magnificent view over Freiburg and the Black Forest.

the cathedral seen from about the level of the surrounding rooftops, which are visible in the foreground. The cathedral is seen from the side, with the spire on the left and two smaller spires toward the middle. The spire is latticed so that the sky can be see through lots of holes. — *Freiburg Cathedral as seen from the path up Schlossberg.*

What I’ve listed so far is all the things we managed to see and do on our one full day in Freiburg. It would be pleasant, though, to have more time there to really enjoy, for example, lots of the charming outdoor cafes and to explore the Schlossberg more completely. We also didn’t get to visit any of the museums, so at least a day or two more would have been great.

Visit a museum

So here’s a list of the local museums, in case you have more than one day in Freiburg:

Augustinermuseum

Art from the Middle Ages to the 19th century in what used to be a monastery’s church.

Augustinermuseum: Augustinerplatz. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00; Fridays open until 19:00. Admission: €7, but free to those under 27. Website.

Museum Natur und Mensch

The Museum of Nature and Humans combines a natural history focus with an ethnological focus. Kid-friendly.

Museum Natur und Mensch: Gerberau 32. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00. Tuesday open until 19:00. Admission: €5, but free for under 27s. Website.

Here are some other articles about places in southern Germany:

What to see in Frankfurt in 1-2 days
Taking the waters at European hot springs
Nuremberg Documentation Center

Museum für Neue Kunst

Contemporary art.

Museum für Neue Kunst: Marienstraße 10a. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00 and until 19:00 on Thursdays. Admission: €7. Website.

Museum fur Stadtgeschichte

The Museum of Municipal History is housed in the late baroque Wentzingerhaus, built in 1761. Painter/sculptor Christian Wentzinger designed and built it to live and work in. Besides exhibiting his studio, his residence and some of his works, the museum focuses on the history of Freiburg itself.

Museum fur Stadtgeschichte: Münsterplatz 30. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00. Admission: €3. Website.

Uniseum Freiburg

The name of this museum comes from the fact that it is the museum of Albert Ludwig University. It focuses on centuries of university and scientific history.

Uniseum Freiburg: Bertoldstraße 17. Open Thursday-Saturday 14:00-18:00. Free admission. Website.

Where to stay in Freiburg

I already mentioned Zum Roten Bären as a possible place to stay. We stayed at Stadthotel Freiburg, a 3-star boutique hotel a short walk from the city center. It was clean and comfortable with a good breakfast. It wasn’t particularly remarkable but it was quiet and well-located so we liked it. If you want to see what other accommodations you could book, use the map below:

Freiburg Tourism also has a listing of accommodations here.

A day trip from Freiburg

There are lots of things to see and do in the surrounding Black Forest, but one in particular is a great short trip outside of Freiburg: Schauinslandbahn. We did this the morning after our day in Freiburg.

Schauinslandbahn

Schauinslandbahn is a cable car, the kind with square gondolas hanging from a long cable. What’s remarkable about it is its length: it takes 20 minutes to travel 3.6 kilometers (2.2 miles) and rise 747 meters (2451 feet) up Schauinsland Mountain, elevation 1284 meters (4213 feet). That makes it the longest gondola lift in Germany.

To be honest, I was pretty terrified for the 20-minute trip up, though the trip down went somewhat better. In places, the slope of the ride is over 40%, and the way it clunked and rattled as it passed each of the supports unnerved me. Nevertheless, the views are breathtaking.

Foreground: the tops of tree-covered hillls, the left one has 2 large windmills on top. Beyond that, hilly terrain with a mix of green farmland, small villages and wooded areas. In the background, more of the same mix, but less distinct because of the distance. — *This was a somewhat hazy day. It must be even more breathtaking on a clear day!*

We didn’t have a lot of time, since we had an appointment to get to in Basel, so we just admired the view, both from the top of the mountain and from the tower perched on the top. That added another 50 meters to the elevation.

You could easily spend the whole day on the mountain: hiking is popular and must be beautiful. There’s a restaurant where you can sit and enjoy the view, and also a mine museum. In the winter you can go sledding, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing.

Schauinslandbahn: Bohrerstraße 11 in Horben. Via public transportation, take tram line 2 from the main train station in the direction of Günterstal for about 15 minutes. Get off at Dorfstraße, then transfer to bus 21 in the direction of Horben. After about 8 minutes, get off at Shauinslandbahn-Tal. Open January-June and October-December 9:00-17:00 and July-September 9:00-18:00. They’re closed for maintenance for 2 weeks in early spring and 2 more in late autumn. Check their website for dates. Admission: Adults €13, children 6-14 €8.50. Fully accessible.

Have you been to Freiburg? What was your favorite thing to do in Freiburg?

Pin this!