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Best Long-Distance Hikes in Germany

There are 1,012 hikes in Germany in our database that fit. They average 107 km and 2,347 m (7,700 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 581 km.

That is 4 percent of the 24,726 routes we map in Germany. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 107 km against 10.9 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 2,347 m (7,700 ft) on average versus 240 m (787 ft) across the wider area.

Multi-day paths, normally walked in stages, with the accommodation and waymarking to support them. The mix is broad: 35 are rated easy and 950 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

Expert

DichterMusikerMaler-Weg (DE)

Saxon Switzerland National Park · Saxony

Distance
74.9 km
/ 46.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,648 m
Typical duration
19 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Goldsteig Alternative Nr.19

Bavarian Forest National Park · Bavaria

Distance
62.3 km
/ 38.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,371 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Müritz-Nationalpark-Wanderweg

Müritz-Nationalpark · Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Distance
173 km
/ 107 mi
Elevation gain
3,805 m
Typical duration
46 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Wildnis-Trail

Nationalpark Eifel · North Rhine-Westphalia

Distance
83.9 km
/ 52.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,846 m
Typical duration
22 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Jakobsweg Hegau

Baden-Württemberg · Germany

Distance
68.2 km
/ 42.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,500 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Forest
  • Castle and ruins
  • Pilgrimage route
Expert

Eifel-Camino

Rhineland-Palatinate · Germany

Distance
148 km
/ 92.2 mi
Elevation gain
3,266 m
Typical duration
39 hr
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Jakobsweg Via Regia 2

Saxony · Germany

Distance
79.7 km
/ 49.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,753 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Jakobsweg Via Regia 3

Saxony · Germany

Distance
96.3 km
/ 59.9 mi
Elevation gain
2,119 m
Typical duration
25 hr
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Jakobsweg Via Regia 4

Saxony-Anhalt · Germany

Distance
70.2 km
/ 43.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,545 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Jakobsweg Via Regia 5

Saxony-Anhalt · Germany

Distance
71.8 km
/ 44.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,579 m
Typical duration
19 hr
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Jakobsweg Via Regia 6

Hesse · Germany

Distance
97.5 km
/ 60.6 mi
Elevation gain
2,145 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Jakobsweg: Mainz - Bingen - Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate · Germany

Distance
162 km
/ 100 mi
Elevation gain
3,555 m
Typical duration
43 hr
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Mosel-Camino

Rhineland-Palatinate · Germany

Distance
157 km
/ 97.5 mi
Elevation gain
3,454 m
Typical duration
42 hr
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Via Romea - Deutschland - Bayern

Bavaria · Germany

Distance
508 km
/ 316 mi
Elevation gain
11,181 m
Typical duration
137 hr
  • Pilgrimage route
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
European long distance path E6, Germany, Alternative Bavarian ForestBavarian Forest National Park40.6 km894 m10 hrExpertApril to October
North South Trail, Section Forbach - HarkNationalpark Schwarzwald64.5 km1,419 m17 hrExpertApril to October
Fernwanderweg Zittau – Wernigerode (Sachsen Ost)Saxon Switzerland National Park263 km5,775 m70 hrExpertApril to October
Hessenweg 8 (Teilstück Korbach - Bad Wildungen)Nationalpark Kellerwald-Edersee64.9 km1,428 m17 hrExpertApril to October
Hugenotten- und Waldenserpfad (Hauptweg - Teilstrecke Frankenberg - Naumburg (Hessen))Nationalpark Kellerwald-Edersee68.5 km1,507 m18 hrExpertApril to October
Lausitzer Schlange 2: Rathen – ValtenbergSaxon Switzerland National Park92.9 km2,043 m24 hrExpertApril to October
DichterMusikerMaler-Weg (DE)Saxon Switzerland National Park74.9 km1,648 m19 hrExpertApril to October
Goldsteig Alternative Nr.19Bavarian Forest National Park62.3 km1,371 m16 hrExpertApril to October
Harzer Grenzweg (Grenzturm Rhoden - Grenzlandmuseum Tettenborn)Nationalpark Harz90.6 km1,993 m24 hrExpertApril to October
Kellerwaldsteig, Nordschleife (mit Alternative A1)Nationalpark Kellerwald-Edersee83.0 km5,945 m28 hrExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with European long distance path E6, Germany, Alternative Bavarian Forest, North South Trail, Section Forbach - Hark, Lausitzer Schlange 2: Rathen – Valtenberg. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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