Experience Waldshut-Tiengen: City, Forest and River

Historic city tours, woodland paths and excursions on the Rhine give Waldshut-Tiengen its varied character. You can explore the two districts and their historic sites, enjoy outdoor activities or plan a trip on the water. Families can choose from a range of activities, from a wildlife enclosure with a playground to longer cycling and hiking tours.

Discover the city’s history firsthand

Waldshut-Tiengen offers historic guided tours, dramatic theatrical tours and themed city walks. These routes may also lead into hidden corners and buildings that are otherwise not open to the public. If you prefer to explore history through specific places, you’ll find the Catholic parish church of the Assumption of Mary in Tiengen. The late work of Vorarlberg Baroque master builder Peter Thumb was constructed between 1753 and 1755; the lower part of the tower dates from its Gothic predecessor.

The Klettgau Museum is housed in Tiengen Castle. Its local history collection includes archaeological finds from excavations in the Klettgau; a “Jewish Room” is dedicated to the history of Judaism in Tiengen. In Waldshut, the foundations of the Upper Gate, also known as the Schaffhausen Gate, date back to the 13th century. The Old Oil Mill in Tiengen displays equipment made entirely of wood, including a press dating from 1858. The Old Metzig in Waldshut houses a local history museum that opens for special exhibitions.

Forest, wildlife and views

At the Waldshut wildlife enclosure, you can observe various species of deer, wild boar, ibex, mouflon, pygmy goats, owls, other birds and some small animals. Food for some of the animals is available from vending machines. A large playground rounds out the visit. From the city centre, you can reach the wildlife enclosure on foot via the Mittelweg in about 45 minutes.

The Eibenwald Experience Trail runs near the wildlife enclosure and around the yew forest. Since 2019, information points along its 1.7-kilometre route have provided information about local forests, tree species and forestry, as well as wood and the importance of dead trees in the cycle of life. Parking is available at the entrance; the trail is about a 45-minute walk from Waldshut’s old town. For a different perspective on the surrounding area, visit the Vitibuck Tower in Tiengen: its viewing platform is 37 metres high. On a clear day, the view stretches over Küssaburg to the Alps. There is a small hiking car park, a barbecue area and a children’s playground at the foot of the tower.

Plan cycling and hiking tours to suit you

The three Stadt.Wald.Fluss. cycling tours start at Waldshut railway station and take you around Waldshut or Tiengen and through their respective districts. The routes are 26 to 47 kilometres long, with a total of 500 to 1,000 metres of ascent and descent. They run mainly along paved roads, forest tracks and meadow paths, and are not signposted throughout. Distance, elevation gain and trail conditions are therefore important details when choosing a suitable tour for your stay.

The “Doppelpack” circular hike passes the old towns of Waldshut and Tiengen, Vitibuck Tower, and the banks of the Wutach and Rhine. You can shorten the hike by using public transport or split it into two sections. This lets you divide up the route differently without having to complete the whole hike in one go.

Tailor your stay to your interests

There are various options on the Rhine, too: on certain days, a boat runs every hour between the landing stages in Waldshut and Full in Switzerland. One- or two-hour round trips are available in the afternoon. In the evening, you can book a variety of culinary round trips on the Rhine. When choosing your holiday apartment in Waldshut-Tiengen, consider which excursions you’d like to shape your stay around and whether you’d particularly like to explore the city’s history, forests and viewpoints, cycling and hiking tours, or a trip on the Rhine.

If you’d like to discover more places as you plan your trip, you’ll find Wehr, Murg, Häusern, Albbruck, Ühlingen-Birkendorf, Grafenhausen, Weilheim and Bonndorf in the Black Forest here.

For the overall travel guide: Waldshut.