rdusseau

We are going to be traveling to Hinterzarten, near Freiburg, in the Black Forest.

I have two questions:
1. Which airport (Munich, Zurich, Basel, etc...) would be the best to fly into? Which would provide the best way to get to Freiburg?
2. Do you think renting a car is necessary or can this be done via other transportation?

Thanks!

treplow

To get to Hinterzarten, I would definitely get a car. The area around there is very pretty. SAs to where you want to fly to depends on from where you want to return to the US. You want to avoid renting the car in one country (say Switzerland) and returning it in another (say Germany). That incurs a big drop-off charge.

Thus, if you plan to fly to and and return from Zuerich, get the car there, that would be my first choice. Or fly into Frankfurt and return car there. You then could drive to Baden-Baden, pick up the Schwarzwald Hochstrasse and head for Hinterzarten, or Freiburg - Hinterzarten.

One other option is that you do an "Open Jaw": Fly into Frankfurt, visit Hinterzarten and environs, and then drop the car off in Freiburg and continue by train to Zuerich. Before you leave from there back to the US, you could take the train to Luzern, or Interlaken for more sightseeing.

Munich is the most out of-the-way airport for your itinerary.

rdusseau

Thanks treplow... great advice, much appreciated.

adeben

Basel-Mulhouse airport would provide the easiest access to Hinterzarten.
Trains run frequently from Basel and/or Mulhouse to Freiburg, taking about 40 minutes for the trip, and there are trains about every half hour from Freiburg to Hinterzarten, and that trip takes about 30 minutes. If all you want to do is to get from an airport to Hinterzarten and return, this is the way to do it.

rdusseau

adeben,

What are your thoughts on cost comparison between train (and would be taking trains to do sightseeing) and car rental?

Thanks for the advice,

adeben

If you want to see a wider expanse of the area around Hinterzarten, then a car is by far the most convenient way to do this.
In the light of this, my advice would be to fly to Basel/Mulhouse airport, which as its name suggests has a 'French' side and a 'Swiss' side. When you arrive, get your luggage and go to the 'French' exit. Just outside the exit is a stop for the Freiburger Airport Bus. The buses are very clearly marked, and have Freiburg as their final destination. The drop-off point is the central bus station right next to the main train station. Buses run every two hours or so, and cost 15€ for the trip which is paid in cash to the driver. I do not know whether cars can be hired in Hinterzarten, but certainly there are many agencies in Freiburg and they have depots near the train station. From there it is an easy drive to Hinterzarten, and you'll be free to tour the area at your convenience. You can also hire at,and return the car to, the same depot, always the cheapest proposition. I have often been near Freiburg visiting spas (of which I am most fond!) Eugen Keidel and Bad Krozingen are two favourites. I might even get there on my trip later this year!

enzian

Have you compared the air ticket prices? I have found a huge difference between airports in Switzerland and Germany, with Zürich being much more expensive, Basel in the middle, and Frankfurt the least expensive. A hour or so difference in train (or car) travel can't make up the difference in airfares.