The Best National & Natural Parks in Germany

Introduction

Germany boasts 16 diverse national parks, spanning from the coastal Wadden Sea parks in the north to the alpine Berchtesgaden National Park in the south. These protected areas showcase Germany's varied landscapes, including ancient beech forests, chalk cliffs, mountain wilderness, extensive woodlands, and numerous lakes. The largest is the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, while others like Jasmund National Park feature UNESCO World Heritage Site ancient forests and dramatic 117-metre chalk cliffs.

Beyond the national parks, Germany's commitment to nature conservation extends to 14 Biosphere Reserves and 98 nature parks, with protected areas covering approximately 25% of the country's total land area. Visitors can explore well-marked hiking trails, wildlife enclosures featuring native species such as lynx, wolf and bear, and informative visitor centres that offer exhibitions on natural history and cultural topics. Each park has its own unique attractions, from the 130 lakes of Müritz National Park to the rock formations of Saxon Switzerland National Park, making Germany's protected natural areas a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Northern Germany

Wadden Sea National Park ※

The Wadden Sea National Park offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the world's largest tidal flats system, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014 for its globally significant geological and ecological values. This dynamic landscape, shaped by the ebb and flow of tides, features salt marshes, dunes, and vast mudflats where visitors can enjoy extraordinary activities like walking on the seabed during low tide or hand-picking oysters with expert guides. The area serves as a crucial stopover for 10-12 million migratory birds annually, making it comparable to an international airport for birds, and houses Denmark's largest population of common seals. Beyond its natural wonders, the Wadden Sea boasts a rich cultural history including land reclamation and dyke construction, while offering unique experiences such as "Black Sun" starling murmurations and Dark Sky stargazing on Mandø island, where it becomes pitch black at night.

Müritz National Park

Müritz National Park, the largest forest national park in Germany, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and historical significance. Covering 320 square kilometres, the park features a diverse landscape of ancient beech forests, mysterious moors, and more than 130 lakes, earning it the nickname "the land of a thousand lakes." The park serves as an important breeding ground for endangered large birds, including white-tailed eagles, ospreys and cranes, making it ideal for birdwatching. Visitors can explore the park through approximately 400 kilometres of bike trails, 47 hiking paths, and canoe routes that wind past lakes, villages, meadows and romantic forests. The park's beech forests have been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Established in 1990 after citizens demonstrated against state hunting grounds, the park has a rich history dating back to the Ice Age, with evidence of Slavic settlements and dramatic forest changes throughout the centuries. The information centre in Boek features an exhibition and a game park housing numerous native animal species, whilst the village of Speck offers the highest viewing tower in the park.

Harz National Park

Harz National Park, established in 2006 as the first national park in Germany to span two federal states, offers visitors a legendary mountain wilderness with diverse ecological systems. The park features the impressive Brocken peak (1,142m), unique microclimates that create distinct vegetation zones, and a comprehensive network of well-maintained trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. History enthusiasts will appreciate the area's rich mining heritage, which has shaped the landscape for centuries and led to parts of the region being declared UNESCO World Heritage. The park provides excellent visitor facilities, including several National Park Visitor Centres with interactive exhibitions on natural history and cultural topics, where rangers offer guided tours through the forest wilderness. Beyond nature, visitors can experience thrilling attractions such as Germany's longest swing bridge over the Rappbodetalsperre and a kilometre-long Mega Zipline, making Harz a perfect destination for both nature lovers and adventure seekers.

Western Pomerania Lagoon Area

The Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park, Germany's third largest national park, offers visitors a unique landscape of cliffs, lagoons, dunes and spits. This remarkable Baltic coastal reserve is renowned as Europe's largest roosting spot for cranes, with up to 60,000 arriving each autumn. Nature enthusiasts can explore the park's diverse ecosystems—80% of which is water—by boat, kayak or along well-signposted hiking trails through alder forests and sand dunes. The area boasts exceptional marine biodiversity, including endangered species like the common harbour porpoise and grey seal, alongside nearly 50 species of fish and more than 160 species of birds. Visitors can enjoy fishing, spectacular sunset views from observation decks at Pramort or Höhe Dune (the largest unforested dune field on the Baltic coast), and discover the region's rich history that transformed from a pagan Slavic area to a Christian German territory during the 12th and 13th centuries.

Jasmund National Park

Jasmund National Park, Germany's smallest national park, offers visitors a remarkable blend of natural beauty and historical significance. The park's most striking feature is its impressive white chalk cliffs, including the famous Königsstuhl (King's Chair) which rises 118 metres above the Baltic Sea and has inspired painters, poets and musicians for centuries. Beyond the dramatic coastline, visitors can explore UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient beech forests dating back over 700 years, which were added to the UNESCO list in 2011 for their undisturbed nature and testimony to Europe's ecological history since the last Ice Age. The park boasts well-marked trails winding through diverse ecosystems including wild grassland and moors, making it perfect for walkers, hikers and cyclists throughout all four seasons. From the Victoria Viewpoint, visitors can enjoy spectacular vistas of the iconic cliffs, while the Königsstuhl National Park Centre offers fascinating exhibitions about the park's history, geology and ecology, along with a suspended skywalk providing breathtaking views of the landscape.

Lower Oder Valley National Park

The Lower Oder Valley National Park offers visitors a unique experience as Germany's only wetland national park, featuring remarkable riverside meadow scenery. This biodiverse habitat is home to an impressive array of wildlife, including 50 species of mammals, 11 species of amphibians, 6 species of reptiles, and 49 species of fish. Bird enthusiasts will be particularly delighted, as the park serves as a crucial breeding and resting ground for birds, with up to 35,000 white-fronted geese, 30,000 bean geese, and 15,000 cranes visiting during migration seasons. The park's historical significance dates back to the Middle Ages, with landmarks such as the Medieval Stolpe Castle and historical tobacco barns near Friedrichsthal adding cultural interest. Visitors can explore over 120 kilometres of embankment paths by bicycle, enjoy guided canoe tours between mid-July and mid-November, or participate in guided walks to experience the calm, expanse and solitude of this unique landscape that has been protected since 1995 to preserve its natural processes.

In Central Germany

Eifel National Park

The Eifel National Park offers a captivating wilderness experience where nature is being allowed to reclaim former commercial forests and military training areas. Established in 2004, this 110 square kilometre protected area features majestic beech forests, crystal-clear lakes, bubbling streams and rolling hills that provide habitat for over 7,100 animal and plant species, including rare wildcats, black storks and beavers. Visitors can explore the 85-kilometre Wilderness Trail, observe the night sky in Germany's first International Dark Sky Park, or join ranger-led tours to learn about the park's rich biodiversity. The park's landscape has been dramatically shaped by volcanic activity over centuries, and history enthusiasts will appreciate how the area is transforming from its past uses, including charcoal production in the 19th century and NATO military training until 2005. With numerous hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, and attractions like Vogelsang Castle, Monschau Castle and seasonal daffodil meadows, the Eifel National Park offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Saxon Switzerland National Park

Saxon Switzerland National Park offers visitors a unique experience as Germany's only rock national park, featuring spectacular sandstone formations that have inspired artists for centuries. The park boasts iconic attractions such as the 305-metre-high Bastei Bridge, which dates back to the 16th century and provides breathtaking panoramic views of the Elbe River and surrounding valleys. Beyond its natural wonders, the area is rich in cultural heritage with medieval castles including Hohnstein, Königstein and Neurathen, some of which have been preserved since the 13th century. Established on 1st October 1990, just before German reunification, the park protects 93 square kilometres of distinctive landscapes, offering numerous hiking trails that range from leisurely walks to adventurous routes with via-ferrata sections. Visitors can explore unique geological features like the Kuhstall stone arch, enjoy performances at the Rathen Open Air Stage nestled amongst rock formations, or follow the historic Painters' Way that captivated Romantic-era artists like Caspar David Friedrich.

In Southern Germany

Black Forest National Park

The Black Forest National Park offers visitors a glimpse into authentic, wild nature across its 10,000 hectares of untamed beauty. This remarkable reserve features mountains exceeding 1,000 metres in height and areas that have developed without human intervention for over a century, providing habitats for unique wildlife such as the peregrine falcon and the pygmy owl. The park has a rich history, with the original dense jungle of beeches and oaks being almost completely cleared by the 1800s due to human settlement, charcoal production, and agriculture, before reforestation began about 250 years ago. Today, visitors can enjoy spectacular views, guided tours, educational events about the forest ecosystem, and numerous outdoor activities including hiking, cycling and rafting. The Triberg Waterfalls, one of the most popular attractions in the Black Forest region, can be explored via well-marked trails that offer scenic lookout points along the cascading falls.

Altmühltal Nature Park

The Altmühltal Nature Park offers a captivating blend of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Covering over 3,000 square kilometres, it features idyllic riverside scenery with towering limestone cliffs, juniper heathlands, and the gently meandering Altmühl River. Visitors can explore this diverse landscape via the 166-kilometre Altmühl Valley Cycle Route, the panoramic hiking trail, or by canoe. The park is world-famous as the homeland of the Archaeopteryx, with fossils dating back 140 million years to the Jurassic period when the area was a subtropical lagoon. Beyond its geological significance, the park boasts impressive cultural treasures including Roman Limes (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), medieval towns, feudal castles, magnificent churches and monasteries such as Weltenburg Abbey with its gorgeous Asam Church and the world's oldest monastery brewery. Whether seeking outdoor adventures, fossil hunting opportunities, or historical exploration, the Altmühltal Nature Park provides a remarkable journey through both natural and human history.

Bavarian Forest National Park

The Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany's first and largest national park established in 1970, offers visitors a rare glimpse of Central Europe's largest continuous area of woodland where nature is allowed to flourish without human interference. This wilderness paradise features majestic peaks including Großer Falkenstein, Lusen, and Großer Rachel, mysterious moors, crystal-clear streams, and the glacial Rachelsee Lake steeped in local myths. Visitors can explore over 350 kilometres of marked hiking trails, 200 kilometres of cycling routes, and cross-country skiing paths in winter. The park boasts rich biodiversity with native animals such as eagle owls, Ural owls, otters, and wood grouse, while the Tierfreigelände animal enclosure allows visitors to observe European bisons, wolves, wild boars, lynxes, and bears in their natural habitat. Educational facilities include the Hans-Eisenmann-Haus visitor centre, the spectacular 44-metre-high treetop walk (Baumwipfelbad), and the Forest History Museum, making it both a natural treasure and an important economic contributor to the region with over 700,000 annual visitors.

Berchtesgaden National Park

Berchtesgaden National Park offers visitors a stunning natural landscape with crystal-clear lakes, impressive mountain ranges and diverse wildlife. Established in 1978 after a long history of protected areas dating back to 1910, the park spans approximately 210 square kilometres and has been recognised by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve since 1991. The park features remarkable attractions including the pristine Königssee lake with its famous boat rides and echo demonstrations, the picturesque Church of St. Bartholomä, and the Watzmann—the central mountain massif of the Berchtesgaden Alps. Beyond natural wonders, the area boasts rich historical significance, from its early days as a hunting ground in the 11th century to its salt mining heritage, connections to Bavarian royalty, and its complex role during World War II. Visitors can enjoy numerous activities including hiking along well-maintained trails, wildlife observation (including bearded vultures), guided winter walks, and educational exhibits at the Haus der Berge visitor centre.