Lush forests, crystal clear waters, meadows as far as the eye can see… these are all reasons we as travellers fall in love with places like Sauerland, Germany. But, how can we make the most out of these picture perfect moments?

Whether you’re hoping to follow a set itinerary like the weekend itinerary I created, or you’re hoping to create your own adventure, there are a number of ways you can get the most out of your trip to Sauerland.

1: Take Your Time Exploring the Small Towns

When you’re visiting Sauerland, there is no such thing as staying in one place. Every 5 minutes down the road you’ll hit a new and charming little town worth exploring. We stayed in Wildewiese for a weekend and had a blast exploring the small towns around the area like Allendorf, Langsheid, Lennestadt and Lenhausen.

2: Hike Until the Sun Goes Down

Sauerland is known to many as the land of 1,000 mountains. It is the perfect hiking destination in Germany and has been awarded by the German Institute of Hiking as the first “Quality hiking region” in the country. Need I say more?

PS: If you’re worried about getting lost, download the Sauerlander-App which will help orientate you and get you started on the right path.

3: Don’t Forget to Relax

It’s easy to get carried away hiking, biking and cycling through the picture perfect mountains of Sauerland, but don’t forget to wind down and relax at the end of the day. Whether that’s an hour in the sauna or an ice cold beer, relax the way you need to.

4: Get Friendly with the Local Animals

You’ll find meadows of cows, fields of horses and local dogs prancing around the farmhouses. It’s only natural that we light up at the sight of animals, so why not get friendly? Many of the guesthouses in the area have a couple horses or cows of their own you can meet and feed.

5: Go for a Swim

Sauerland might be one of the greatest spots in Germany to head out on a hike, but don’t forget that the region also has five incredible lakes that are perfect for an afternoon swim in the sun. We fell in love with the Sorpesee which was close to our hotel near Wildewiese, but you can also check out the Biggesee, Möhnesee, Diemelsee and Hennesee.

6: Cycle the Nature Trails

You can head out on a mountain bike tour, cycling tour, city tour or e-bike tour, whatever your heart desires. There are plenty of places to rent a bike, or you can bring your own. The Sauerland website offers tips and tours you can check out. We cycled around the Sorpesee and rented our mountain bikes at Mosaik Outdoorzentrum.

7: Go on a Sailing Boat

Why not? If you know how to sail, you can rent a boat or bring your own. If you don’t know how to sail yet, why not take a course? The Möhnesee and Hennesee are two very popular lakes for learners.

8: Enjoy the German Cuisine

While you might not get many international options in the small towns around Sauerland, there are plenty of delicious German restaurants worth a try. A couple of our favorites included the Steinbergs Wildewiese and the Seehof Restaurant by the Sorpesee Damm.

9: Embrace the Beautiful Sunsets

I don’t think there’s any explanation necessary as to why watching the sun set over the hills and mountains of Sauerland is the perfect way to get the most out of your trip. Sunsets are beautiful.

10: Stay in an Eco Hotel

There’s no better way to end the day than by laying your head down in a beautiful room and knowing that it’s not hurting the beautiful nature that you spent the day exploring, but embracing the opportunities to support the environment. Looking for an eco-hotel around Sauerland? Check out the Steinbergs Wildewiese.

Sauerland is well known for the numerous hiking and cycling trails in the summer, but don’t forget about their countless ski hills and saunas in the winter. If you’re keen on experiencing Sauerland in the snow, check out the Weekend Getaway Guide: Winter in Sauerland that I created on Life in Düsseldorf.

A huge thank you goes out to Sauerland Tourism for hosting us on our weekend getaway.