Hiking

Germany’s most famous hiking trail is the Rennsteig, a 100-mile walk from Eisenach on the River Werra to Blankenstein on the River Saale; it cuts along a long sweeping ridge of the Thuringia Forest National Park.

Fit cyclists will also enjoy this super-scenic ride.

One of the best areas for Alpine hiking is the Berchtesgaden National Park, bordering the Austrian province of Salzburg. From Garmisch-Partenkirchen, there are a number of high altitudes that can be accessed by a combination of cable cars and hiking. Real walkers love doing the Partnachklamm Gorge, a canyon with a roaring stream at the bottom and sheer cliff walls hedging the hiking trail.

Biking

The Danube Bikeway runs from Donaueschingen, where the Danube River originates, and continues via Ulm and Passau to Vienna.

The Elbe Bikeway starts in Spindleruv Mlyn in the Czech heights, where the Elbe River begins, and continues via Prague, Dresden and Hamburg to the North Sea.

Among the benefits of cycling about a United Europe is the ease of cross-border travel. Many of Germany’s long-distance bike paths run alongside or cross over international lines: there is a route, for instance, that links East Bavaria with the Czech Republic and Austria, and another on which cyclists pop over to Zgorzelec in Poland for the day.

Skiing

The Bavarian Alps offer Germany’s best skiing. Winter snowfalls keep the snow at six-foot depths in the ski lift areas, and on the Zugspitze (9,720 feet; Germany’s tallest mountain), ski slopes begin at 8,700 ft. Bavarian alpine favorites include Berchtesgaden with 85 miles of ski trails; Oberammergau, the leading choice among cross-country ski buffs; Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, host of the World Cup Ski Jump every New Year’s Day.

In addition, there are superb cross-country trails within the boundaries of the Bavarian Forest National Park.

More information

For more on Germany's outdoor activities visit www.cometogermany.com.