This small Black Forest town has Germany's highest waterfall at 163 meters, a cuckoo clock museum, and traditional cake shops along its steep main street.
Triberg sits in Germany’s Black Forest, known for waterfalls you can hear before you see them, shops selling wooden clocks with chirping birds, and thick forests that stay green year-round. Explore shops displaying cuckoo clocks of all sizes, hike trails leading to waterfalls split into seven drops, and try slices of cake layered with cherries and cream. Use the town as a starting point to visit nearby castles, lakes, and railway routes through the mountains.
Hiking the Triberg Waterfalls
The Triberg Waterfalls drop 163 meters through seven rocky steps, with water from the Gutach River pushing hardest during spring snowmelt or storms. Choose from three marked paths: a 15-minute walk to the lowest cascade, a 40-minute route past the middle sections, or a steep hour-long climb to the top. Pay around €8 for entry, which includes access to trails lit by lamps from November to January. At the base, pick up trail maps from the visitor center or buy a combined ticket for the falls and the Black Forest Museum. Wear sturdy shoes—some paths have uneven steps and slippery spots after rain.
Cuckoo Clock Workshops and Shops
Watch clockmakers carve wooden gears and pinecone weights in Triberg’s workshops, like the House of 1000 Clocks where mechanical birds emerge every hour. The town claims the world’s largest functional cuckoo clock, built into a house facade with a life-sized dancing figure that spins when the bell rings. For €2, step inside to see its pendulum and chains. Compare it to the smallest working cuckoo clock in a shop window, barely taller than a coffee mug. Most shops let you test different bird calls and explain how to adjust weights for accurate timekeeping.
Black Forest Museum Exhibits
The Schwarzwaldmuseum, a five-minute walk from the waterfall entrance, fills three floors with tools, clothing, and furniture from the region’s past. One exhibit shows a full-scale replica of a 19th-century farmhouse kitchen, complete with iron stoves and hand-painted plates. Press buttons to activate miniature scenes of villagers sawing wood or baking bread. Descriptions here are mostly in German, but the visuals make it clear how people lived. Buy the €12 combo ticket with the waterfalls to save money if you plan to visit both.
Maria in der Tanne Church and Nearby Hikes
Maria in der Tanne, a white church with gold trim built in 1697, once drew pilgrims who drank from its spring believing it healed illnesses. Climb the wooden stairs of the 23-meter-high observation tower next to the church for views over Triberg’s red rooftops and the forested hills. If you have time, follow the Schwarzwaldbahn Erlebnispfad trail past old railway tunnels and stone bridges used by the Black Forest Railway. The path takes about two hours and has signs explaining the line’s engineering challenges.
Where to Eat Black Forest Cake
Café Schäfer, open since the 1860s, bakes Black Forest cake using a recipe that balances kirsch liqueur, chocolate layers, and fresh cherries. Order it with a pot of black tea to cut the sweetness. For lunch, try Gasthaus Löwen for smoked ham platters or käsespätzle topped with crispy onions. Skip the eateries near the waterfall entrance—head to bakeries along Hauptstraße for cheaper sandwiches and pretzels. Most restaurants close by 9 PM, so plan dinner early if arriving late.
Reaching Triberg by Train or Car
Triberg’s train station connects to Karlsruhe (two hours northwest) and Konstanz (90 minutes south) via the Black Forest Railway. From the station, either walk uphill for 20 minutes or wait for the shuttle bus that meets each train. Drivers can take the B500 road from Freiburg, known for sharp curves and lookout points, or the B33 from Villingen-Schwenningen. Parking near the waterfalls costs €4 per day and fills by noon—arrive before 10 AM to secure a spot. Camper vans can park overnight at a lot with electricity and water hookups for €15.
Best Time to Visit and Day Trips
December brings Christmas markets to Triberg, with light displays along the waterfall paths and stalls serving spiced wine. Drive an hour northeast to Hohenzollern Castle, perched on a hilltop with guided tours of its throne room. Lake Titisee, 90 minutes south, has boat rentals and a shoreline promenade lined with ice cream shops. Ask your hotel for the KONUS card, which covers free bus and train rides across the Black Forest. Gin drinkers can tour the Monkey 47 distillery 55 km north, where juniper berries and local herbs flavor small-batch bottles.
