Hike: Traufgang Zollernburg-Panorama

Are you ready to put on your hiking boots and discover the edge of the Swabian Alps? You can reach the starting point – Nägeleshaus Albstadt/Onstmettingen – either by car or by bus (naldo). From the Tübingen main station you could take the bus 766 and change at Hechingen ZOB to bus line 44/305, which runs five times a day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. From Nägeleshaus start walking north-west following one of the many paths leading to the Zeller-Horn hilltop.  After you have enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the Hohenzollern Castle, you turn and walk south-east so that you catch the path along the Albtrauf passing by Backofenfelsen and the breathtaking viewpoint Hangender Stein. Then walk back towards Nägeleshaus Höhengasthof where you can get some refreshments or finally climb the Raichenbergturm. Check the bus timetable for your return trip. 

Round trip distance and time:  5 km / ~ 1,5-2h (depending on how many photos you take)

Info: You can find the complete route via following https://www.komoot.de/tour/r102360400?ref=atd

Bike: Weiler Burg

If you are looking for stunning views close to Tübingen you could grab your bike and pedal to Weiler Burg. A nice bike path passes the Hirschauer Baggersee along the Neckar through Rottenburg to Bad Niedernau. Here you traverse the calm Kurpark which is a perfect spot for a quick break and a picnic. Cross the park and follow the street to the Römerquelle where you continue to follow the Katzenbach to the Sieben-Täler-Cave. Then take the path to Weiler. Pass through the little town and climb the hill to finally reach the Weiler Burg with a nice barbecue space and a tower you can climb. There are many ways to go back to Tübingen, choose the one you like best.

Round trip distance and time:  ~40 km / 2,5 -3h (approximately)

Info: Google Maps biking: Tübingen Hauptbahnhof – Bad Niedernau – Weiler Burg – Tübingen    

Train: Bodensee (Lake Constance) – Konstanz

Lake Constance is a perfect hideaway that you can reach within 2,5-3 hours by train. Take the train from Tübingen to Konstanz via Horb and Singen. You might either want to enjoy the medieval city center, the romantic lake promenade, have a swim at one of the city beaches. Alternatively, you can use Constance as a starting point for exploring the surroundings of Lake Constance. There are more than enough options: you could take the boat to the flower island Mainau or to Meersburg to check out the castle and visit the archeologic Pfahlbaumuseum in Uhldingen or the Affenberg in Salem. You could also take public transport to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site island Reichenau where you can buy fresh regional vegetables and fruits and explore three idyllic churches that once belonged to the Reichenau monastery. After an exciting day or weekend you might want to take a few hours to relax in the thermal bath Constance with views on the lake. 

Trip distance and cost: 150 km one way, 40 € round trip with the Deutsche Bahn. There are also good Flixbus offers

Info: In August there is the yearly “Seenachtsfest” with fireworks, in the winter Konstanz is very foggy

Plane: Amsterdam, Netherlands

KLM is flying regularly from Stuttgart to Schipol Airport. You can find stunning, typical Dutch flats on Airbnb, maybe even a night on a houseboat. Accommodation is quite expensive, so book in advance and consider accommodation on the outskirts of the city, which are not a problem thanks to good public transport. Amsterdam has much more to offer than the typical tourist hotspots: eat the best apple cake in Café Winkel 43, take a stroll through the “nine streets” with many individuals small shops and cafes, and enjoy the spirit of the Jordaan Quarter. If you get hungry you might want to eat the best fries at Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx in Voetboogstraat or take a walk to Albert Cuyp Straat to visit the oriental restaurant de Bazar and get some poffertjes at the Albert Cuypmarket. The rooftop bar of the Amsterdam Public Library, close to the central station, offers exceptional views for free. Alternatively, you can take the ferry from the central station to the NDSM-wharf, a cultural hotspot which has grown in the recent years with a vibrant artist community, bars and restaurants.

Round trip cost of flights: around 100 € (via KLM)

Selina Reich is a Project Coordinator and Research Assistant in the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research in the Systems Neurodegeneration lab of Prof. Dr. Matthis Synofzik in Tübingen, Germany.