The university town of Freiburg im Breisgau is the perfect destination for a sustainable weekend getaway. The neat and tidy city boasts a prime location in the Black Forest. A city of cyclists and sunshine, it is known for its warm and relaxed atmosphere. Here are some insider tips from the hotel on what to do in Freiburg over the weekend!

This is the 12th part in our series of ‘Tips for a sustainable weekend getaway’. Every three weeks there will be a new green idea on our blog!

Freiburg im Breisgau – Discover a city with flair

In recent years, the city has invested heavily in public spaces, green areas, and an exemplary network of bicycle paths. Young districts such as Vauban are prime examples of ecological urban development. There is plenty to discover on a weekend – alone, with a partner, with the family, or with your dog.

Your sustainable accommodation: Green City Hotel Vauban

The Green City Hotel Vauban is easily accessible by public transport, and you will receive a free regional ticket from the hotel for the duration of your stay! You can expect modern, bright, and open architecture with lots of greenery. Even the facade is green, which not only looks beautiful but also provides natural cooling and reduces energy consumption in the summer.

The hotel is cosmopolitan and actively promotes integration. 50 percent of its employees are people with disabilities.

👉Dogs are welcome at the hotel for an additional fee of 9 euros per night.

Trip plus complimentary regional ticket

You can get to Freiburg’s main train station from any European city (as a weekend destination, the city is particularly popular with the Swiss and French, as you may notice).

From the main train station, take line 3 to Paula-Modersohn-Platz. You will arrive right in front of the Green City Hotel Vauban. Best of all, the hotel will send you a ticket for public transportation before you arrive, so the last part of your trip is not only environmentally friendly but also free. Since the ticket is valid for the entire duration of your stay, you will always be mobile.

Bicycle rental

If you prefer, you can take your bike with you on the train to Freiburg or rent a “Frelo” on arrival. Frelo is the bike rental system of the Freiburger Verkehrs AG and you can always take one of these bikes (after registering online) and leave it wherever you want.

By the way: Freiburg has more than 400 kilometers of bike paths, and the population covers “more than a third of all trips within the city” by bike.

A sustainable weekend in Freiburg – Insider tips from the Green City Hotel Vauban

Together with the Green City Hotel Vauban, we have put together some tips for a sustainable weekend in Freiburg. There is something for everyone and whatever the weather!

Friday (Old Town and landmarks)

You can check in at the Green City Hotel Vauban from 3 p.m. After settling into your spacious room, you should first visit the historic old town. If you don’t know Freiburg, you should start with the city’s landmark – the Freiburg Minster. If you feel like it, you can climb the 335 steps of the tower and get in the mood for your weekend with the view! The tower is open on Fridays until 5pm!

Afterward, you can stroll through the historic Old Town with its charming alleys and discover small shops and delicatessens. On Convent Street you will find many antique dealers in lovingly restored medieval houses.

Affordable and sustainable food in Freiburg

There are many cafes and restaurants in Freiburg where you can stop for a bite to eat. The organic restaurant ADELHAUS is sustainable and affordable (buffet until 4 pm on Fridays, open until 5 pm). If you prefer to eat later, Cafe RUEF offers regional products, “delicatessen pizza” and many vegan and vegetarian options at a good price-quality ratio and in a relaxed “living room” atmosphere.

Saturday (excursion day)

Start your Saturday morning with an excellent breakfast buffet. The Green City Hotel Vauban sources over 90 percent of its products fresh from the region and supports ecological, sustainable, and inclusive suppliers. The coffee, for example, comes from the Black Forest coffee roaster Zollernalb, which is also an inclusive business.

As a vegan, you will find a wide selection of vegan cold cuts and non-dairy milk and yogurt alternatives for breakfast.

Well-nourished, you are ready for a trip to the Black Forest. If you are here for the first time, we recommend the highlight – the Schauinsland.

Schauinsland – the mountain on Freiburg’s doorstep

The Schauinsland is 1,284 meters high and you can see it from the 3.6 km long (barrier-free) Schauinsland gondola. The ride takes about 20 minutes each way and you can also take a short hike from here.

👉 A return ticket for adults costs 14 euros and for children up to 14 years 9.50 euros. (See the full Schauinsland cable car prices here)

The Mining Museum is also located near the summit. On Saturdays, there are 45-minute tours that give an impressive insight into the history of the former silver mine. Tours are offered at 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm.

You can eat at the summit station. This is very touristy, of course, but it also offers a sensational view!

Other excursions in Freiburg

If you already know the Schauinsland, the Green City Hotel Vauban has more tips for you:

• Black Forest Biosphere Reserve (forests, meadows, nature)
• Steinwasen Park (family park with roller coaster and wild animals)
• Kaiserstuhl (vineyards and castle ruins)
• Open-Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof! (reconstructed Black Forest farm as it was 400 years ago)

👉 Advent Tip: If you come to Freiburg during the Advent season, hotel manager Johannes Staub recommends the Freiburg Christmas Market: “It can be reached directly from the hotel by taking the number 3 tram and getting off at the Bertoldsbrunnen stop.

👉 Eco-tip: Check out the Freiburg EcoStation’s calendar of events to see if there is a fun event planned for the weekend you have in mind. The EcoStation is dedicated to environmental education and offers gardening tips, seed swaps, and other sustainable activities.

Sunday (Museums, garden hose and departure)

On Sunday morning you can enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel and then have until noon to check out. In the meantime, you can visit one of the small museums in Freiburg. A special museum is the Zinnfigurenklause, located in the Swabian Gate. You will see the medieval city gate from the inside and more than 10,000 handcrafted pewter figures. It is open on Sundays between 12 and 14 pm and admission is free.

Personally, I also recommend a visit to Eschholz Park, where you can see the large sculpture ” Gartenschlauch mit Wasserhahn ” (Garden hose with spigot). The sculpture was created by Swedish-American artist Claes Oldenburg (who died in 2022) and has been there for over 40 years. Oldenburg’s oversized everyday objects as art objects are funny and original, but they also refer to social issues – for example, the garden hose and Eschholz Park were a gift to the residents of Freiburg’s Stühlinger district, who lost 370 allotments due to urban development measures.

And how about your weekend?

As you can see, there are many interesting things to discover and experience during a weekend in Freiburg im Breisgau. The city in the Black Forest offers a mix of culture, history, modern art, nature, and culinary delights, and combined with sustainable travel and a sustainable hotel, it all comes with a very small carbon footprint.