CountriesGermany

Germany

Germany offers unusually varied driving terrain, from Alpine foothills and mountain roads in Bavaria to the forested ridges of the Black Forest, Harz and Eifel. River valleys such as the Moselle and Rhine add winding vineyard roads, while an extensive network of Bundesstraßen and rural secondary roads connects these landscapes.

Driving Roads in Germany

Explore scenic and exciting driving roads across Germany.

Black Forest High Road (B500)

Germany

69 /100

57 kmDE

German Alpine Road (Deutsche Alpenstraße)

Germany

75 /100

477 kmDE

Kesselberg Road (B11)

Romantic Road (Romantische Straße)

Germany

58 /100

396 kmDE

Rossfeld Panoramastrasse

Germany

87 /100

13 kmDE

Schauinsland Road (L124)

Germany

88 /100

29 kmDE

Driving in Germany

Germany’s most distinctive driving roads are concentrated in its uplands, river valleys and southern mountain regions rather than on the Autobahn network. In Bavaria, the German Alpine Road runs through the foothills of the Bavarian Alps between Lake Constance and the Berchtesgaden area, linking lakes, valleys and mountain scenery. The Black Forest combines sweeping forest roads, high plateaus and tighter routes through deep valleys, while the Eifel offers rolling volcanic terrain and roads connecting the Moselle and Rhine regions. Farther north and east, the Harz, Thuringian Forest and Ore Mountains provide wooded hill roads with frequent elevation changes. Along the Moselle, Rhine and other major river valleys, roads often follow steep vineyard slopes, river bends and historic settlements. Germany also has numerous designated scenic and holiday routes, but many of the most rewarding drives are ordinary federal and regional roads chosen for their geography rather than formal route status.

Season & conditions

Most German scenic roads remain usable year-round, but winter conditions can significantly affect higher roads in the Bavarian Alps and upland areas such as the Black Forest, Harz and Ore Mountains. Snow, ice and temporary weather-related closures are possible, and Germany requires suitable winter tyres when wintry road conditions are present. Some individual mountain, forest or access roads may close seasonally or during severe weather, while others, including certain maintained panoramic roads, operate through winter. Current local road status should be checked before driving higher or more remote routes.

Tolls & access

Germany has no general motorway vignette or nationwide road toll for ordinary passenger cars. Most Autobahnen, federal roads and rural roads can therefore be used without a road charge. Separate fees can apply to a small number of individual tunnels, privately financed roads and special scenic routes; the Rossfeld Panoramastraße near Berchtesgaden is one example of a tolled panoramic road. Germany also retains low-emission zones in some cities, where qualifying cars generally need a green environmental sticker, so urban access requirements should be checked when a route passes through affected areas.