Freiburg Summer Guide: the best summer tips, restaurants, and hotspots

Celebrate summer in the charming student city of Freiburg im Breisgau. A city that has existed since the Middle Ages, yet has a very youthful vibe that will truly surprise you. It is one of the sunniest cities in Germany , and you notice this immediately upon arrival. The famous Bächle flow through the historic city center, and in good weather, you see everyone enjoying a drink with their feet in the water. Throughout the city, you will find cozy squares with shady terraces, and the colorful narrow streets full of concept stores and restaurants are a real surprise.

Add to that its location on the edge of the Black Forest , and you have a city where you can easily entertain yourself for a few days. In this new Freiburg Summer Guide, I share my favorite summer tips, restaurants, shops, cafes, and hotels for a city trip to one of the nicest cities in Southern Germany.

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| TIP: Freiburg is also fun to combine with Baden-Baden. Discover here why you should take a city trip to Baden-Baden >>

These are the 13 best tips for a summer city trip in Freiburg

Start your day at the Münstermarkt

A visit to Freiburg is really not complete without a stroll around the Münstermarkt. Around the imposing Freiburg Minster, dozens of market stalls selling regional products set up almost every morning. In the summer, you will find cherries, strawberries, apricots, flowers, cheeses, bread, and other local specialties here.

Be sure to take the time to wander around the market. Pick up some fresh fruit for the road or take something tasty with you for a picnic later in the day. The specialty shops nearby are also fun, such as Honig-Galerie Heldt for local honey and Confiserie Gmeiner for something sweet. Wine lovers can already pick out a regional wine at Weinhandlung Drexler.

Coffee, matcha, and a treat in between

Freiburg has a surprising number of nice coffee bars where you can get delicious iced lattes in the summer. My favorite during this trip was Der Krokodil, where I settled down for an iced coffee in the courtyard. Where does this place get its name from? In the stream in front of the shop stands a statue of a crocodile that has become one of the symbols of Freiburg.

Looking for more great spots for a coffee? My list also includes Günther Coffee, Kohi Café, bächle Specialty Coffee, Café Marcel, and La Casa Latina. If you're crazy about matcha like me, be sure to pop into Matcheria.

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Wander through the beautiful Old Town

My favorite time to discover Freiburg? Early in the morning, before the terraces fill up and the city slowly awakens. Stroll through the beautiful Old Town and let yourself be surprised by narrow alleys, colorful facades, and the characteristic streams flowing through almost every street. Something that is truly unique to Freiburg!

Be sure to walk along Konviktstraße, perhaps the most beautiful street in Freiburg, with historic houses, wisteria, and small boutiques. The Gerberau, Herrenstraße, and Fischeraustraße are also lovely to stroll through. This part of the city is also known as the Schneckenvorstadt and is full of creative shops, small cafes, and many beautiful facades.

Along the way, you will naturally come across all sorts of nice places. For interior design and gifts, COLLAGE, sinneswerk, and LUST AUF GUT Concept Store are highly recommended. Looking for a unique outfit? Then take a look inside DJANA Concept Store, Filotimo Boutique, or SiRiPiRi. Fab Store and Kleine Bande are also nice places to pop into.

Paddling in the famous Bächle

Perhaps the ultimate summer image in Freiburg is the Bächle: the narrow waterways that flow through virtually the entire historic city center. Once used for water supply and extinguishing fires, nowadays they primarily provide cooling during hot summer days.

On hot days, you see children playing through it with their little boats, locals cooling their feet, and visitors like us enjoying a drink at one of the waterside cafes. Truly unique and so cozy in the city!

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Try a Kalte Sofie at Alte Wache

A summer afternoon in Freiburg is not complete without a glass of Kalte Sofie at Alte Wache, the Baden region's winery. This wine specialty has grown into a true summer classic in Freiburg and is a kind of slush puppy made from sweet white or red wine. It might sound crazy, but you really have to try it! Also fun: at the Alte Wache, you can do a wine tasting in the tasting room upstairs featuring wines from the region.

Discover the green Wiehre district and eat an ice cream at Förster Max

Cross the Dreisam and walk towards Wiehre, one of Freiburg's most beautiful residential areas. Here you won't find busy shopping streets, but wide avenues with stately Art Nouveau houses, plenty of greenery, and a relaxed atmosphere. Along the way, you will come across various charming cafes and small specialty shops, making Wiehre a truly different side of Freiburg from the historic city center.

A stop at Förster Max is practically a must. This beloved ice cream parlor is known for its homemade ice cream made with ingredients from their own vegetable garden and orchards. Depending on the season, you can taste flavors here that you won't easily find anywhere else. On a warm summer day, this is undoubtedly one of the tastiest ways to cool down before walking back towards the city center. A flavor you definitely must try if they have it? The lemon ice cream with dill. Order the tasting platter, and you'll get various flavors on a board.

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Take a morning walk over the Schlossberg

Anyone who wants to see Freiburg from above should go to the Schlossberg. My tip is to do this early in the day, when the paths are still in the shade. You can hike up or take the Schlossbergbahn if you want to make it a bit easier for yourself. Before you go up, Café Marcel is a nice place to have a coffee.

At the top, you are rewarded with a beautiful view over the red roofs of Freiburg, the Münster, and the green hills of the Black Forest. Walk a little further to Kanonenplatz, one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city. Along the way, you will come across various benches where you can quietly enjoy the view before descending back towards the center. Are you going up in the late afternoon? Further on in this guide, I share another tip for a nice beer garden.

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Cool off at the Dreisam at the Wasserterrassen

As temperatures approach thirty degrees, many residents of Freiburg flock to the Dreisam, resulting in such lovely summer scenes. This river flows along the edge of the city center and is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a while. At the Wasserterrassen, you see students with books, groups of friends picnicking, and families cooling off in the water.

Pick up something tasty from the market or grab a to-go coffee and find a spot along the river. You can cool off wonderfully in the water, and chances are you'll be the only tourist.

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Visit the Augustinian Museum

Another nice place to cool down is the beautiful and relatively new Augustinermuseum. The museum is housed in a former monastery and combines historical architecture with an impressive collection of medieval art. They have an audio tour that is fun to do, and although I personally prefer modern art, I think you shouldn't miss this.

After a tour of the museum, a drink in the museum café is highly recommended. They make delicious iced coffee, and be sure to order a homemade schokohupf with it.

Lunch or dinner on the terrace at Lichtblick

One of the most beautiful terraces for lunch or dinner is Lichtblick, where you can enjoy sitting outside on sunny days. Order a good glass of wine with one of the seasonal dishes and be sure to take your time. After all, it is also wonderful to people-watch from the terrace.

Other nice restaurants in Freiburg you want to know? Restaurant Jacobi has a Michelin star and is high on my list for a future visit. Furthermore, the wine bars Kurz & Kork Weinbar and Trotte Weinbar are also highly recommended.

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Discover flavors from around the world in the Markthalle

When the afternoon sun is at its hottest, the Markthalle is a lovely place to catch some coolness. In this historic market hall, you will find various cuisines from all corners of the world under one roof. From Asian dishes and Mediterranean classics to local specialties, you will find a bit of everything. My tip for a hot summer day? The sushi place and the nems!

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End the day in the Chestnut Garden

In the mood for a drink with a beautiful view? In Freiburg, you will find the Kastaniengarten on the Schlossberg, where you can enjoy the sunset under the chestnut trees with a local beer in your hand. From here, you have perhaps the most beautiful view of the city as the sun slowly disappears behind the hills of the Black Forest. 

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The best hotels for a summer city trip to Freiburg

Since you can easily do everything on foot in Freiburg, a hotel in the city center is practically always a good choice. Depending on your budget, Colombi, Designhotel am Rathaus, or Boutique Hotel am Rathaus, for example, are good options.

For a stay with wellness, Hotel Hirschen, Nouri, and Schloss Reinach are three great options just outside the city center. Especially if you want to combine Freiburg with the nature of the Black Forest or the wine region surrounding the city.

Just a quick overview of the YLBB shortlist for Freiburg

Nicest neighborhood: Schneckenvorstadt & Wiehre
Most beautiful street: Konviktstraße
Don't miss: Münstermarkt, Schlossberg & Kanonenplatz
Best place to cool off: Bächle & Wasserterrassen on the Dreisam
Best coffee: Der Krokodil
Best matcha: Matcheria
Best ice cream: Förster Max
Nicest lunch or dinner on the terrace: Lichtblick 
Unique wine experience: Kalte Sofie at Alte Wache
Best wine bars: Kurz & Kork Weinbar & Trotte Weinbar
Restaurant for fine dining: Restaurant Jacobi
Beer garden with a view: Kastaniengarten
Best stores: LUST AUF GUT Concept Store, DJANA Concept Store, Filotimo Boutique, SiRiPiRi, COLLAGE & sinneswerk
Fine hotels: Boutique Hotel am Rathaus, Designhotel am Rathaus, Colombi, Hotel Hirschen, Nouri & Schloss Reinach

More inspiration for the Black Forest?

Do you have time left after your city trip? Then Freiburg is the perfect base to discover more of the Black Forest. For example, combine the city with a few days in Baden-Baden (also great for a girls' trip ), a route along the vineyards of the Kaiserstuhl, or my extensive road trip through the Black Forest.

Have fun! 

With love,

Anne

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In cooperation with Baden-Württemberg