A car-free holiday in the Upper Black Forest — is it possible?

This question reaches us by email almost every week. The honest answer: yes, very much so. The Feldberg lies in the middle of the Black Forest, but it is connected to the German railway network — via the Dreiseenbahn, a small regional line that runs from Titisee up to Feldberg-Bärental station. From there, it is only a few minutes to our apartments at Brünneleweg 4.

We host many guests who deliberately travel without a car — from the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Rhine-Main area, or as far as Hamburg. In this guide we show how a train arrival actually works in practice: which routes to take, where to change, what the last mile from Bärental costs, and what advantages the Hochschwarzwald Card brings along.

Why take the train to the Feldberg at all?

Three reasons, in our experience, speak for the train:

Less stress on the B500. On sunny weekends in summer and during the ski season, the drive over the B500 from Titisee onwards can become a test of patience. On the train you sit through it relaxed.
Climate benefit. A train arrival from Hamburg or Amsterdam saves considerably more CO2 than the same trip by car. For many of our guests, that is a conscious bonus.
Mobility on site without a car. With the Hochschwarzwald Card, which we confirm automatically when overnight guests book, all buses and trains in the region are free. On top of that come numerous included services — swimming pools, museums, the Schluchsee boat trips.

There are also honest counter-arguments. Anyone arriving at the same time with ski luggage, small children, and a dog will have more comfort in a car. Anyone planning to head out to many remote trailheads will be more flexible with a car. But for many traveller types — singles, couples, families with somewhat older children, environmentally aware guests — the train arrival works very well.

The central change point: Titisee-Neustadt

No matter which direction you are coming from — the path almost always leads through Titisee-Neustadt station. This is where the Höllentalbahn from Freiburg ends and where the Dreiseenbahn begins, the small line that brings you all the way to the Feldberg.

The Dreiseenbahn runs roughly hourly from Titisee via Feldberg-Bärental to Seebrugg on Lake Schluchsee — and back again. The trip from Titisee to Feldberg-Bärental takes about 15 minutes and passes through dense upland forest and meadows. For many of our guests, that is already part of the holiday: the moment you change from a big-city ICE into a small, quiet regional train and realise you have really arrived in the Black Forest.

A quick note: please check the current status of the Dreiseenbahn on bahn.de or hochschwarzwald.de before you travel. Construction works or seasonal adjustments happen — in such cases a replacement bus sometimes runs between Titisee and Bärental.

Connection from Freiburg im Breisgau

Freiburg is the most important boarding point for many travellers. The city sits directly on the ICE line Cologne–Basel and is well connected from across Germany. From Freiburg main station, the Höllentalbahn runs directly to Titisee-Neustadt — without changes, through the famous Höllental gorge with its steep rock walls.

From Freiburg to Titisee the timetabled journey is roughly 40 to 45 minutes. In Titisee you change to the Dreiseenbahn, and after another 15 minutes you arrive in Bärental. In total, about one hour of pure travel time from Freiburg — plus the time to change trains. Please check concrete connections and frequencies on bahn.de before you travel, since timetables shift between summer and winter half-years.

If you drive to Freiburg first and change to the train there, you can leave the car at the station in one of the parking garages. For guests from the Netherlands or northern France, that is sometimes the most comfortable hybrid option.

Connection from Basel SBB / Basel Bad Bf

From Switzerland the Feldberg is equally easy to reach. From Basel SBB or Basel Bad Bf, regional and express trains run to Freiburg, where you change to the Höllentalbahn; the rest goes as described above: Freiburg → Titisee → Bärental.

If you are coming from Zurich, you have two options — either via Basel SBB (slightly longer but stress-free) or via Schaffhausen and Singen with a change in Donaueschingen. The route via Donaueschingen is scenically rewarding because it crosses the Baar region; on the other hand, it involves more changes. Most of our Swiss guests take the route via Basel.

Connection from Zurich HB

From Zurich main station, the ICE or EC will bring you to Basel in a little over an hour; from there you continue as above via Freiburg and Titisee. The total travel time is typically three to four hours — comparable to driving via the A3 and B317, but without border waits at the High Rhine and without searching for a parking space at your destination.

For Swiss guests it is worth knowing: with a Halbtax or GA you travel more cheaply on the Swiss section; from the border onwards, German tariffs apply. The Sparpreis Europa from Deutsche Bahn is often the best choice here when you book early.

Connection from Stuttgart Hbf

From the Stuttgart area, several routes lead to the Feldberg. The fastest is usually: ICE or IC to Karlsruhe Hbf, change there in the direction of Basel, get off in Freiburg and continue via the Höllentalbahn. Alternatively, a connection via Singen and Donaueschingen also works, depending on time of day and weekday.

Rule of thumb: from Stuttgart Hbf, expect roughly three to three and a half hours of train time to Bärental. Check the specific connections in advance on bahn.de, because timetables on the relatively heavily used Stuttgart–Karlsruhe line change more frequently.

Connection from Amsterdam and the Netherlands

For our Dutch guests, the train is often the most relaxed option — the motorway route is a long seven-to-nine-hour drive, and on the train you use the time better.

The standard connection works like this: ICE Amsterdam–Frankfurt or ICE Amsterdam–Basel via Cologne and Mannheim. You either change in Mannheim or in Karlsruhe in the direction of Basel and get off in Freiburg. From Freiburg, you continue like every other connection via the Höllentalbahn to Titisee and Bärental.

Planning rule of thumb: from Amsterdam Centraal you should reckon with six to seven hours of train time to Bärental — depending on the time of day and the connection you choose. That is usually faster than driving, because you avoid traffic on the A3 and A5.

A practical tip: for the Amsterdam–Frankfurt section, booking via NS International or directly via Deutsche Bahn often pays off — the Sparpreis Europa is usually substantially cheaper than the Flexpreis, but it is tied to a specific train.

Feldberg-Bärental station — what to expect

Bärental is a small stop, not a classic main station. Do not expect a large waiting hall or twelve ticket counters — the station is compact, but has everything you need: a small platform, a ticketing option via app or via the conductor on the train, and benches.

A special feature that many guests enjoy: Bärental sits at around 970 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest railway stations in Germany. Getting off here is worth it for that alone.

Restrooms are available in limited form; anyone who waited longer or is travelling with children should plan ahead before departure. There are no cafes directly at the station — the nearest places to eat are in the surrounding villages, for example in Altglashütten or at Feldberger Hof.

The last mile: from Bärental station to Brünneleweg

This is the part that matters most to many guests — how do you get from Bärental station to the accommodation? The answer depends on your luggage and your mobility.

On foot — the most direct option. From Bärental station to Brünneleweg 4 is only a few minutes’ walk through the village. With light luggage and decent weather, we are happy to recommend this, because you get an early feel for the place.
By bus — the Hochschwarzwald Card serves as your ticket, so the bus is free for our guests. The bus lines in the Feldberg area form the backbone of local mobility; current line and frequency information is available on hochschwarzwald.de or in the “RVF” app (Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg). In winter, when the ski bus runs, additional connections are available.
By taxi — a limited number of local taxi operators serve the Feldberg area. Anyone travelling with heavy luggage, a pram, or ski gear can pre-book a taxi; in winter, reservations on ski days are strongly recommended, because demand is high.
Shuttle service — we do not offer a regular shuttle from the station to the accommodation as a standard option. But if you have special needs — heavy luggage, limited mobility, late arrival — just write to us before you travel. We help with recommendations and can in many cases arrange for someone to pick you up at the station.

The Hochschwarzwald Card — the decisive added value

If you stay with us, you receive the Hochschwarzwald Card automatically — and that is the strongest argument for arriving by train. With the card, all buses and trains across the region are free: from Feldberg to Titisee, to Schluchsee, to Freiburg-Süd, and to many smaller villages.

On top of that come more than 50 included services — lifts on the Feldberg in summer (the Seebuck chairlift), swimming pools, museums, the Schluchsee boat trips, the Hochfirst observation tower, and much more. From our experience, the card pays for itself from the second day onwards if you are actively out and about.

One important limitation: the exact list of included services can change seasonally; some offerings only apply during the summer or winter half-year. The current list is on hochschwarzwald.de — please check this before you travel if you are specifically planning around a particular service.

What does the train ticket cost?

The honest answer: it depends. Deutsche Bahn works with dynamic prices — Sparpreis, Supersparpreis, and Flexpreis. Anyone who books early and is willing to travel on a specific train comes off significantly cheaper than someone booking spontaneously on the travel day.

Instead of quoting fixed numbers that change month by month, here are the practical rules of thumb:

Sparpreis and Supersparpreis are only bookable online, apply to a specific train, and are non-refundable. In return, they are often half the price of the Flexpreis. When your plans are firm, that is the cheapest option.
BahnCard 25 or 50 pays off if you travel by train more often — even a family trip to the Feldberg can recoup a BahnCard 50.
Sparpreis Europa is the variant for guests from the Netherlands, Switzerland, or Austria. Early bookers can sometimes reach Freiburg very cheaply this way.
Group tickets (Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket or Baden-Württemberg-Ticket) — if you are travelling as four or more, a day ticket is often cheaper than individual tickets. The train route to the Feldberg lies entirely within the Baden-Württemberg-Ticket zone.

Current prices and booking options are on bahn.de or in the DB Navigator app.

Tips for winter guests

In winter, the train arrival to the Feldberg is particularly relaxing — no snow chains, no icy B500, no parking search on a sunny Saturday in February. But there are a few points we want to remind you of, from experience:

Build in buffer time. In winter, the Black Forest can see delays — snowfall, switch failures, missed connections. Anyone who wants to arrive late in the evening should not take the very last connection, but allow an hour of buffer.
Ski luggage. Skis and snowboards are carried free of charge on IC and ICE trains, and on regional and S-Bahn trains as well. The right packing matters — Deutsche Bahn accepts ski bags in standard sizes. Bulky luggage such as gear for several people should be packed into proper bags beforehand; there is space on the train, but stacking is not popular.
Pet travel. Dogs travel on DB trains; small dogs in a carrier go for free, larger dogs require a reduced ticket. A muzzle requirement applies only on certain connections — the current rules are on bahn.de under “Travelling with a dog”.
Self check-in. With us, self check-in is available from 15:00 onwards — so you can still reach the key system if the train was delayed. You receive the access code by email before arrival. If anything is unclear, the hotline is staffed on your arrival day.

Our honest recommendation

If you are arriving as a single traveller, a couple, or a small family from a larger city, the train is usually the better choice over the car — cheaper in the overall picture (once you factor in fuel, tolls, and parking), more relaxed, and often competitive on travel time.

If you are coming from a rural area, plan to drive to many remote trailheads, or are travelling with a large family load, the car is sometimes more practical — even if the last mile on the B500 will test your patience.

What most of our guests end up saying: the train arrival to the Feldberg is not just a means to an end, it is part of the holiday. The Dreiseenbahn passes through landscape you do not see from the car. And stepping off at the small Bärental station, up at 970 metres, is its own moment.

Frequently asked questions about taking the train to Feldberg

Which station is the closest to the Feldberg?

Feldberg-Bärental station is the direct railway stop for the Feldberg municipality. It sits at around 970 metres above sea level and is served by the Dreiseenbahn (Titisee–Seebrugg). From there it is only a few minutes to our apartments at Brünneleweg 4.

How long does the train journey from Freiburg to Feldberg take?

The Höllentalbahn from Freiburg Hbf to Titisee takes around 40 to 45 minutes; you then change to the Dreiseenbahn to Feldberg-Bärental (about 15 minutes). In total, expect roughly one hour of pure travel time plus the change.

Can you take a holiday at the Feldberg without a car?

Yes, very comfortably. With the Hochschwarzwald Card, which overnight guests usually receive free of charge, you travel by bus and train across the entire region at no cost. That gives you access to the ski areas, Lake Schluchsee, Titisee, and many hiking trailheads without your own car.

Is the Hochschwarzwald Card accepted on the bus?

Yes, the Hochschwarzwald Card is valid as a ticket on the entire regional bus network in the Upper Black Forest. You show the card when boarding and travel without further cost. The current list of valid lines is on hochschwarzwald.de.

Is there a shuttle from Bärental station to the accommodation?

We do not offer a regular shuttle as a default, because the way from the station to Brünneleweg is very short. For special needs — heavy luggage, limited mobility, late arrival — just write to us before you travel. We help with recommendations and can in many cases organise a solution.

How much is an ICE ticket from Amsterdam to Feldberg roughly?

That depends heavily on when you book and which fare you choose. The Deutsche Bahn Sparpreis Europa is usually significantly cheaper than the Flexpreis for early bookers. Current prices are on bahn.de or at NS International. Rule of thumb: the earlier you book and the more flexible you are on travel times, the cheaper the ticket.

Stay with us

Are you planning a train arrival to the Feldberg? In our apartments you stay only a few minutes from Bärental station — self check-in, mountain views, infrared sauna, and 7% cheaper than on Booking.com.