Eifel holiday region

Crater lakes, extinct volcanoes and Germany’s darkest night sky: the Eifel between Aachen, Trier and Koblenz is wilder than you’d think – and wonderfully uncrowded.

At a glance: Year-round destination · Highlights: volcanic maar lakes, Eifel National Park (dark sky park), Eltz Castle, Nürburgring · Quiet and affordable · Quick to reach from NRW, Rhineland-Palatinate and the Benelux countries.

Why the Eifel?

The Eifel is Germany’s volcano country: around 70 maars – perfectly circular crater lakes – shape the landscape, and you can even swim in three of them. Eifel National Park is an internationally recognised dark sky reserve; on clear nights you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye. Add classics like fairy-tale Eltz Castle, the Rursee lake and, for motorsport fans, the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Best of all: the Eifel is far cheaper and emptier than the Black Forest or the Allgäu.

Best time to visit

PeriodRecommendation
May – SeptemberHiking on the Eifelsteig, swimming in the maar lakes
August – SeptemberHeather in bloom in the High Eifel, shooting-star nights
October – NovemberGolden autumn over the crater lakes, game weeks in the inns
December – MarchVery quiet; clear winter nights for stargazing

The most beautiful spots

Volcanic Eifel & the Daun maars

The Gemündener, Weinfelder and Schalkenmehrener maars – the “eyes of the Eifel”. The Gemündener Maar has a natural lido; walking around the maars makes for easy, scenic hikes.

Eifel National Park & Rursee

A primeval forest in the making, wildcats and red deer. The Rursee is one of western Germany’s biggest watersports areas – sailing, SUP and lake cruises.

Eltz Castle & the Elzbach valley

The never-destroyed knight’s castle in the woods is one of Germany’s most photographed sights. Come early in the morning or on weekdays – weekends get crowded.

Monschau

Half-timbered town on the river Rur with narrow lanes – especially atmospheric during the Christmas market.

Where to stay

Typical are holiday homes and country inns at prices long gone from the Alps. Popular bases: Daun and Manderscheid (Volcanic Eifel), Monschau and Einruhr (national park), and Cochem on the Moselle as a base for Eltz Castle.

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Activities & tours

Highlights: guided stargazing walks in the national park, Eltz Castle tickets, tourist drives on the Nürburgring Nordschleife (your own car or a co-pilot ride) and the treetop walk near Nettersheim. Stargazing tours sell out fast – book ahead.

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