Black Forest - best town/city to use as a 'base'?
 

We're finally getting a handle on our summer trip to Germany and I had a question for anyone who knows the area well.

Specifically, what is the best sity or town in the Black Forest to use as a 'base'. Somewhere we can return a rental car (doing a 1-way rental to drive around southern Germany, ending up in the Black Forest) that has good rail connections back to Dusseldorf (to catch our flight home). From looking at map, Freiburg appears to be a good candidate for everything, even side trips to Switzerland or France if we so choose.

Are there better spots? Baden-Baden seemed skewed to the north, just as Lorrach seemed skewed to the south.

Thanks in advance!

I think Freiburg is probably the best, although it is formally not in the black forest but the Rhine valley. Access to the black forest is easy, though, via the Hoellental. However, it might even be better to stay directly in the black forest and then return the rental car either in Freiburg or in Stuttgart, and then take the train back to Dusseldorf. This is true if you want to mainly hike in the Black Forest and visit, e.g., the Schwarzwaldhoefe and things like that. Accommodation will be cheaper (but also a little bit more rustic). Note that for virtually anything to do in the Black Forest you want to use a car since public transport in the black forest is not the best. Don't underestimate the times to travel from A to B within the black forest, it is very hilly and the roads are mainly small and curvy.

If you also want to do side trips (e.g., 1d in Strasbourg and visit the romanesque churches in the Voges) or a 1d trip to Basel, Freiburg is much better.

Your rail connections will be good anywhere in Germany. You will have no problem getting back to Dusseldorf. Make sure you reserve seats and pay for first class. it's actually worth it and you can get Sparpreiss's right now if you book.

Freiburg is a great place to be. Magnificent weather in the summer, lots of nooks and crannies, and driving around the region is very easy. You can't do better than Freiburg to jump into France and Switzerland. Be careful driving in Switzerland. It's not Germany, any exceeding the speed limit is met with severe fines up to imprisonment as of January (although you have to go 200mph to go into the clink). But even a 5 mph push will get you a speeding ticket.

Also, there is lots of great wines in the region and you can do some really good dining too. Lots of hotel options - but try not to do the big chains. Do some smaller German hotels and you'll have better breakfasts, and better prices.

Enjoy your trip. It's the best weather in Germany so you'll probably get a tan and never get rained out (liked in Berlin)

My wife introduced me to B&Bs on our honeymoon to Europe a couple of years ago and I'm absolutely sold on those versus the big chains.

We're already driving the Romantic Road and will have a car for that and the Black Forest.

I'm curious, though. From what I've seen, DB 2nd class is as roomy as an airline's 1st class. What makes 1st class worth the extra price? As I understand it, if you have a twinpass (which is what we're getting for some long-distance legs), even the 1st class twinpass doesn't have access to the lounges at the train stations.

...and thanks! This is really helping solidify our plans.

Definitely Freiburg. Plenty to see and do in the town and great train links. You can even get a train and bus (guaranteed connection) to Colmar in France, which will provide a beautiful moment of contrast and plenty of other delights for the eye and the tastebuds.

It is definitely Freiburg. 30 min to the "Feldberg" by car. 45 min by car to Basel . You can connect with "meinfernbus" from Freiburg to Zurich, Stuttgart, Berlin, Friedrichshafen etc.

Speeding in Switzerland is not encouraged. e.g. 1 km/h to fast and you get a 40 CHF Fine .

30 km/h too fast and you might get sued in court...

Another vote for Freiburg with great rail & bus connections over the area.
Great scenery and cultural activities as well as thermal pools a short train ride away in Bad Kronzingen or some picturesque towns such as Staufen and Freiburg itself.
Love the area and i'm sure you'll have a great trip whatever the weather.

Can anyone recommend a B&B in Freiburg that is at least on a tram line and has WiFi in the rooms?

any must sees in freiburg for 1 day,as we plan to take a train trip from basel to freiburg.

Freiburg: - the Munster (cathedral) the Bechle (little streams along the sides of the road) the Rote Baren pub - oldest in the town, Augustiner Museum, the market around the cathedral, a typical sausage from the stalls in the market, a beer from a microbrewery in the town Martinsbrau, Kaiser- Joseph- Str. 237, 79098 Freiburg. http://www.mbfr.de or from Ganter (just outside the centre), a Starbucks for those who feel homesick, many different countries have meal stands in the market hall, and just strolling around the streets and, dare I suggest, a bit of shopping. A coffee or snack from the extensive restaurant on the top floor of the Kaufhof department store provides a great view of the city. Enjoy! It's a university town with trams, cycles and plenty of folk so do watch your step!