Oberallgäu: Nature, Trails and Regional Discoveries
Accommodation in Oberallgäu
In Oberallgäu, ideas for day trips range from hiking trails and gorges to nature exhibitions, mining history and regional specialities. This lets you plan your holiday around a variety of interests: spend time outdoors, learn more about nature or include a cultural visit. When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to first consider which experiences you want to shape your stay and which places you would like to visit in particular.
Hiking trails, gorges and getting active
Oberstdorf has 200 kilometres of hiking trails and nature trails. This offers a range of ways to spend time on foot and make nature the focus of the day. If you like to explore different themes while hiking, you can choose trails to suit your interests instead of making every trip the same.
Gorges are also among the experiences described in the region. Visitors explore Breitachklamm along well-maintained, secure paths; there is also an information exhibition at the entrance. Starzlachklamm, between Burgberg and Sonthofen, is a starting point for hiking and canyoning. These two places therefore offer different ways to experience a gorge.
Oberallgäu also offers cycling opportunities, from leisurely to sporty. If you like to include a variety of activities in your holiday plans, you can consider cycling as a focus in its own right alongside hiking. The options range from relaxed to more demanding, without implying any particular route.
Nature at Alpsee and in the protected area
The Nagelfluhkette Nature Park Centre is in Immenstadt-Bühl, right on Alpsee. Its free-to-visit interactive exhibition explores animals, plants, their habitats and the special features of the protected area.
There is a specific way to reach the Nature Park Centre on foot: from Immenstadt station, the “Achis Wasserweg” themed trail leads there in 30 minutes. In bad weather, bus routes 39, 11 and 81 go to the centre. This information can be useful when planning a visit if you are deciding between a walk and taking the bus.
Culture and insights into work in the past
In Oberstdorf, you can visit the Heini-Klopfer ski flying hill. The tower lift takes visitors to the viewing platform on the jump tower. If you are interested in sports venues, you can plan this as a separate activity, distinct from hiking or nature experiences.
In Immenstadt-Diepolz, the interactive Allgäu Mountain Farmers’ Museum documents the lives of Allgäu mountain farmers in historic buildings. The Erzgruben Erlebniswelt at Grünten offers a different perspective on the region’s past: a guided hike leads to old mine tunnels. Visitors gain insight into the work of miners in earlier times. The museum and the mine experience offer different focuses—one on the lives of mountain farmers, the other on historic mining work.
Cross-country ski trails and regional specialities
The WM cross-country ski trail network at the Nordic Centre Oberstdorf/Allgäu includes more than 30 different route variations. These include a 6.25-kilometre loop with the steep Burgstall climb. If you are including cross-country skiing in your travel plans, you will find both a wide choice of options and a specific example whose distance and climb you can take into account in advance.
Regional specialities are served in rustic mountain huts. This adds a culinary dimension of Oberallgäu to the choice of activities.
More places in Oberallgäu: Bad Hindelang, Obermaiselstein, Oberstaufen, Oberstdorf, Rettenberg, Sonthofen, Waltenhofen, Weitnau, Oy-Mittelberg, Burgberg Im Allgäu, Sulzberg, Wertach, Wiggensbach, Wildpoldsried, Betzigau, Haldenwang, Kempten, Balderschwang, Bolsterlang, Buchenberg, Dietmannsried, Fischen Im Allgäu, Blaichach, Lauben, Hörnergruppe, Immenstadt Im Allgäu, Durach and Altusried.
For the main travel overview: Bavaria.
