In a nutshell
- Looking for mystical places in Germany for your next trip? We’ve rounded up 16 destinations that will surprise you with moors, forests, castles, and mysterious legends.
- Discover legendary natural highlights from the Lüneburg Heath to the Harz Mountains to the Bavarian Forest.
- Find out what legends and myths surround each place — and how to combine them with great day trips.
- Every destination comes with practical tips on hiking trails and hotels so you can start planning right away.
Mystical Places in Germany on the Map
For a quick overview, we’ve marked all 16 mystical places in Germany on the map below.
Mystical Nature & Forests in Germany
Stroll through fairytale forests, discover hidden paths, and soak in the mysterious stillness of nature on the most magical hiking trails in Germany:
Totengrund in the Lüneburg Heath
- Combine with: Lüneburg Heath & Lüneburg
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Loop trail from Wilseder Berg (4 km)
Our hotel pick: Hotel Landhaus Höpen
In the heart of the Lüneburg Heath nature reserve lies the mysterious Totengrund — a basin-like valley surrounded by gentle hills and heathland.
Its gloomy name has nothing to do with any ghost story. It comes from a far more down-to-earth reason: the soil here was once considered so infertile that nothing could grow. People called it “dead ground.” No graves involved — whether that’s a relief or a disappointment is up to you.
Today the valley is anything but lifeless. In late summer, the heath transforms into a sea of purple blooms, and early in the morning a fine mist often hangs over the valley — perfect for a mystical hike.
Our best tips for the Lüneburg Heath:
Ghost Forest Nienhagen
- Combine with: Rostock
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Coastal trail (3 km)
Our hotel pick: Arthotel ANA Amber
The Ghost Forest Nienhagen sits right on the Baltic Sea and looks like something straight out of a fairy tale. Beech trees over 150 years old stand here, gnarled and wind-sculpted along the steep bluff, their silvery-gray trunks shimmering mysteriously even in broad daylight.
The atmosphere is especially striking in fall and winter, when fog drifts between the trees and the sea roars below.
The coastal trail winds through the forest, over dunes, and right along the water’s edge — it’s seriously one of the most varied hiking trails you’ll find anywhere in Germany.
Our best tips for the Baltic Sea:
Lipperland (Lippe District)
- Combine with: Day trips from Lemgo into the surrounding area
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Forest and meadow paths around Lemgo
Our hotel pick: Altstadt Apartment Lemgo
Lipperland in the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia has more to offer than just beautiful scenery — it’s also steeped in legends. And those legends have taken deep root in the region, making it truly special.
Stories tell of the Nachtgesicht (night apparition) in the Lippe forest, said to bewitch wanderers, and of a white lady who allegedly haunts Detmold Castle.
Around Lemgo you can hike through forests and meadows, following the stories at every turn. The region blends nature, culture, and legend so effortlessly that even a short stroll feels like an adventure.
Bastei Bridge
- Combine with: Dresden – a great day trip from Dresden
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Bastei loop trail (3 km)
Our hotel pick: Townhouse Dresden
It doesn’t get much more spectacular than this. The Bastei Bridge has spanned the dramatic rock formations of Saxon Switzerland since 1851, offering views that are guaranteed to leave you speechless.
Surrounded by sandstone pillars, deep gorges, and the Elbe valley, every step here feels like a little adventure.
The short Bastei loop trail takes you to the most stunning vantage points and across the world-famous bridge itself. It’s especially magical early in the morning, when mist drifts through the Elbe valley and the rocks look like an enchanted landscape.
Mysterious Lakes & Moors in Germany
Nothing is more mystical than a lake ringed by trees or a silent moor in the fog. These are great spots to hike and enjoy nature:
Blautopf near Blaubeuren
- Combine with: Ulm
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Blautopf loop trail (4 km)
Our hotel pick: LAGO Hotel & Restaurant am See
The Blautopf in Blaubeuren is one of the most mysterious lakes in Germany — and it completely earns that title. The brilliantly blue water looks almost unreal, especially on sunny days when it shimmers in every possible shade of turquoise.
But it’s not just the color that’s magical — the lake is surrounded by legends, too. The most famous is the story of the beautiful Lau, a water sprite. Maybe you’ll spot her.
The loop trail around the Blautopf leads you past small caves and old mills and through the charming little town of Blaubeuren — a lovely, leisurely walk.
Perfect for anyone who loves mysterious places in Germany and wants to combine nature with a touch of fairy tale.
Teufelsmoor Osterholz-Scharmbeck
- Combine with: Bremen
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Moorerlebnispfad Teufelsmoor (5 km)
Our hotel pick: MEININGER Hotel Bremen
Even the name sounds promising: the Teufelsmoor (Devil’s Moor) north of Bremen is one of the most well-known moorland landscapes in Germany and a real gem for nature enthusiasts.
Wide, open landscapes, gnarled trees, and still water create an atmosphere that feels peaceful one moment and almost eerie the next.
In the past, people feared this moor and told stories of will-o’-the-wisps and the devil himself causing mischief here. Today you can wander at a leisurely pace along boardwalk trails, spot rare birds, and soak in the special atmosphere.
Großer Arbersee in the Bavarian Forest
- Combine with: Bavarian Forest, Großer Arber & Bodenmais
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Großer Arbersee loop trail (3 km)
Our hotel pick: Limehome Bodenmais
Surrounded by dense forests, the Großer Arbersee sits like a green jewel in the Bavarian Forest. Wisps of mist over the water, steeply rising mountain slopes, and dark fir trees give the lake a fairy-tale atmosphere — especially in the early morning hours.
The lake was formed during the Ice Age and is dotted with floating bog islands that drift slowly across the surface.
The loop trail takes you past idyllic viewpoints where you can watch waterfowl and enjoy the silence.
Funtensee in the Berchtesgaden Area
- Combine with: Königssee & Schönau am Königssee
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Riemannhaus-Funtensee loop hike (8 km)
Our hotel pick: Hotel Seeblick
The Funtensee lies hidden in the Steinernes Meer area of the Berchtesgaden region and is considered one of the most legendary lakes in Germany.
It’s best known as the “cold pole of the nation” — Germany’s lowest temperatures are regularly recorded here. When ice floes form on the water in winter or fog hangs over the lake in fall, the place feels like it’s from another world.
The lake is located in Berchtesgaden National Park and is only accessible on foot. And that’s exactly what makes it so special. Well-marked hiking trails will get you there — for example, on the route starting from Königssee.
Summer or winter, the Funtensee rewards you with a breathtaking, nearly pristine natural backdrop.
Our best tips for more nature travel destinations:
Magical Places in Germany: Customs & Traditions
If you want to experience the mysterious side of Germany, you’ll find legendary and magical places where ancient customs are still very much alive:
Hexentanzplatz Thale in the Harz
- Combine with: Wernigerode, Brocken & Thale
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Bodetal panorama trail (6 km)
Our hotel pick: Boutique-Hotel Anno 1910
High above the Bode Valley in the Harz rises the Hexentanzplatz — a place steeped in legends, magic, and plenty of fun for visitors of all ages.
According to legend, witches once gathered here to dance with the devil — especially on Walpurgis Night. These days the atmosphere is a little less diabolical, but no less exciting.
Besides the legendary panoramic view over the Bode Valley, you’ll also find plenty to do here: a summer toboggan run, the Hexentanzplatz wildlife park, and the Harzbob sled ride. Hikers will love the Bodetal panorama trail, which delivers fantastic views and dramatic rock formations.
Brocken in the Harz
- Combine with: Wernigerode & Hexentanzplatz Thale
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Brockenbahn & Goetheweg (11 km from Torfhaus)
Our hotel pick: Boutique-Hotel Anno 1910
The Brocken is not only the highest peak in northern Germany — it’s also a true legend.
Dense banks of fog, sudden weather changes, and ancient tales have earned it the reputation of the Blocksberg — the traditional gathering place of witches on Walpurgis Night.
You can hike up the Brocken the active way via the Goetheweg, or ride up in comfort on the nostalgic Brockenbahn train. At the top, a sweeping panorama, sparse high-moor landscapes, and the feeling of having stepped into a piece of German legend await you.
Our best tips for the Harz:
Fraueninsel in the Chiemsee
- Combine with: A vacation on the Chiemsee
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Island loop trail (1.5 km)
Our hotel pick: Hotel Gut Ising
In the middle of the Chiemsee lies Fraueninsel — a little paradise full of history and quiet magic. The Benedictine convent dating back to the 8th century shapes the island to this day and gives it an almost timeless atmosphere.
When morning fog hangs over the lake and the monastery towers emerge from the mist, the island looks like it’s been lifted straight from a fantasy novel.
You can reach the island by ferry from several points around the Chiemsee — for example in Prien, Gstadt, and Bernau. Once there, a short but beautiful loop trail takes you around the island, past old gardens, small galleries, and rustic fish smokehouses. You can even join a monastery tour.
Our best tips for the Chiemsee:
Externsteine in the Teutoburg Forest
- Combine with: e.g. Egge Hills, Horn & Burg Horn
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Externsteine loop trail (3 km)
Our hotel pick: RaumAusbeute Design Apartment
The Externsteine are among Germany’s most impressive natural monuments — massive sandstone pillars that look as though they were pulled from the earth by a giant’s hand.
They’ve long been wrapped in myths and legends — whether as a Germanic sanctuary, a Celtic ritual site, or a Christian holy place. To this day, the exact role this site played in the past has never been definitively resolved.
You can climb the rocks via staircases and enjoy the view over the Teutoburg Forest from the top. It’s especially atmospheric in the early morning or just before sunset, when the light makes the bizarre shapes of the rocks glow.
Castles & Historic Places in Germany
Among forests and valleys, castles and ancient stonework await, packed with history. Truly mystical places in Germany that are perfect for day trips and short hikes.
Burg Frankenstein
Burg Frankenstein is being renovated through the end of 2026. After that, the castle will reopen to visitors. From late 2026 to late 2027, the on-site restaurant will also be under renovation. The castle itself can still be visited during this time.
- Combine with: Darmstadt, Frankfurt am Main
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Burgensteig Stage 10 (11 km)
Our hotel pick: Moxy Darmstadt
Burg Frankenstein sits on a hill in the Odenwald and is famous for its creepy name and its legendary Halloween festivals (which now take place at Burg Königstein in the Taunus, though).
Whether the castle truly inspired Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein” has never been conclusively proven. Either way, it ranks among the creepiest places in the world.
You can visit the ruins free of charge and look out over the Odenwald from the walls. A hike along the Burgensteig also takes you past other historic sites, such as Malchen and Nieder-Beerbach.
Hohenzollern Castle
- Combine with: Hechingen, Tübingen, road trip through southern Germany or Kloster Beuron (#16)
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Zollersteig (8 km)
Our hotel pick: Gästehaus “Unsere Stadtvilla” Hechingen
Hohenzollern Castle sits majestically atop a mountain cone in the Swabian Alb, looking as though it was lifted straight from the pages of a fairy tale.
The ancestral seat of the Prussian royal family is considered one of the most beautiful castles in Europe — especially when fall and winter fog swirls around the mountain.
Inside, opulent halls, historic exhibitions, and a grand vista over the Alb await you. If you’re feeling active, hike up via the Zollersteig and experience the castle from ever-changing perspectives along the way.
Burg Eltz
- Combine with: Day trips to nearby Moselle towns
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Traumpfad Eltzer Burgpanorama (12 km)
Our hotel pick: MV Römerlodge
Hidden deep in the Eltz Forest lies what is arguably Germany’s most unique castle: Burg Eltz. For over 850 years it has stood on a rocky outcrop above the Elzbach valley, looking at once romantic and eerie.
The castle is still inhabited today and can be explored on guided tours — including the treasury, the knights’ hall, and famous ghost stories.
The Traumpfad Eltzer Burgpanorama takes you on a varied hike through forests and meadows and along the Elzbach river directly to the castle, with fantastic photo opportunities around every corner.
Our best tips for the Moselle:
Kloster Beuron
- Combine with: Tübingen, southern Germany, Hohenzollern Castle (#14)
- Most beautiful hiking trail: Kloster-Felsenweg (5 km)
Our hotel pick: Domizil Tübingen
Framed by steep limestone cliffs, Kloster Beuron sits picturesquely on a bend of the Danube. Founded in the 11th century, it remains a spiritual center to this day — a perfect place to experience nature and stillness.
The Baroque monastery church, with its elaborate paintings, is considered one of the most beautiful sacred buildings in southern Germany.
Hiking trails wind around the monastery through the beautiful Danube valley. The Kloster-Felsenweg not only offers stunning views of the river landscape, but also plenty of rest spots where you can soak in the special atmosphere.
Frequently Asked Questions About Legendary Places in Germany
What are the most extraordinary places to visit in Germany?
Some of the most extraordinary points of interest in Germany include the Totengrund in the Lüneburg Heath, the Ghost Forest Nienhagen, the Bastei Bridge in Saxon Switzerland, and the Externsteine in the Teutoburg Forest.
What are the most off-the-beaten-path places in Germany?
Under-the-radar destinations in Germany include the tranquil Teufelsmoor, the legend-rich Lipperland, the remote Kloster Beuron, and the hard-to-reach Funtensee.
Looking for tips on city trips? Then read this article:
15 Alternative Destinations for City Trips Off the Beaten Tourist Path
Which abandoned villages are there in Germany?
Exciting lost places include the flooded deserted village of Berich at Lake Eder, the former village of Wollseifen in the Eifel, and the vanished Krahnenberg in Rhineland-Palatinate.
