Place to visit
Camino de Santiago, Germany: what it is and when to go
A German branch of the Way of St James running down from Hüfingen, on the Baar plateau, to Freiburg and then on towards Basel. The central stretch crosses the southern Black Forest through the valley that gives the route its name, Himmelreich. You walk through forest, small villages and the occasional wayside shrine. The best time to visit is April to October. In June there are 15 h 47 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 13. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.
In a nutshell
- What it is
- Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain · Hiking
- Local name
- Himmelreich-Jakobusweg
- Where
- Germany
- Best time
- April to October.
- Nearest airport
- FRA Frankfurt am Main, 252 km as the crow flies
- Website
- himmelreich-jakobusweg.de
- Trail network
- National
- From
- Hüfingen
- To
- Basel
- Coordinates
- 47.79295, 8.00873
What you will see here
- The descent of the valley towards Freiburg between fir-clad slopes
- Freiburg Cathedral, the natural halfway stop
- The final stretch across the Rhine plain towards Basel
- The shells and yellow arrow that mark the route
You can split the route using the regional valley train, which runs alongside much of the way between the Baar and Freiburg.
What it is and where
Camino de Santiago is a Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (Himmelreich-Jakobusweg) in Germany (Freiburg im Breisgau).
Hüfingen - Freiburg - Basel
It is in Freiburg im Breisgau, where this site lists 116 more places to see, 25 km from the centre.
Its coordinates are 47.79295, 8.00873; the nearest main airport is Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA, Frankfurt am Main), 252 km as the crow flies. How to get around Germany (train, car, bus) is covered in its country guide.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
- Trail network
- National
- From
- Hüfingen
- To
- Basel
It is one of the Hiking places in Germany. In Kokai it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.
When to go
The best time to visit Camino de Santiago is April to October.
On the high Black Forest, snow and ice can linger well into spring; summer and autumn are the comfortable seasons.
- JanPossible8:37
- FebPossible9:59
- MarPossible11:35
- AprBest time13:24
- MayBest time14:56
- JunBest time15:47
- JulBest time15:26
- AugBest time14:05
- SepBest time12:20
- OctBest time10:34
- NovPossible9:00
- DecPossible8:13
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 15 h 47 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 13. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.
When to go to Germany in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Before you go to Germany
To enter Germany there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in the Germany checklist. Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112 · 110 police.
In Kokai you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.
What is nearby
- BlößlingMountain in Germany356 m
- Skigebiet Spitzenberg und KöpfleSki resort1.9 km
- Skigebiet HofeckSki resort3.3 km
- HochkopfNature · Architecture3.3 km
- Main-Neckar-Rhein-WegHiking4.1 km
Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in the Germany guide.
More in Germany: Hiking
- Camino de Santiago: Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- E3 European long distance path: walking path
- E9 European long distance path: walking path, Europe
- E1 European long distance path: walking path
- Via Alpina: hiking route across the Alps from Trieste to Monaco
- Dreisesselberg
Every Germany place under Hiking, each with its season, is on its page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Camino de Santiago?
It is a Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (Himmelreich-Jakobusweg in the local language) in Germany.
When is the best time to visit Camino de Santiago?
April to October. In June there are 15 h 47 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 13.
How do you get to Camino de Santiago?
The nearest main airport is Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA), 252 km as the crow flies. From there, directions opens the route on the map, and how to get around Germany is explained in its country guide.
How do I add it to my trip?
With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Germany map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.
What else is around here?
Nearby you have Blößling, Skigebiet Spitzenberg und Köpfle, Skigebiet Hofeck. The rest is in the Germany guide.
Keep reading
- Freiburg im Breisgau116 places to see in and around Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany: Freiburg Minster, Augustiner Museum, Zähringen Castle. Best time: April to October and December.
- Hiking4887 places for hiking in Germany, from Camino de Santiago to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: April to October. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- GermanyBefore travelling to Germany: 6 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. For Spanish citizens, entry only takes an ID card (DNI).
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, and from Wikidata, CC0. More about Camino de Santiago on Wikipedia. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.