Hostels in Balingen, Germany

Balingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, is located approximately seventy kilometres southwest of Stuttgart near the Swabian Jura, a well-known mountain range. This mountain range is sometimes named Swabian Alps, in German “Schwäbische Alb,” and the main tourist attraction in the region. It extends around two hundred kilometres in length and forty kilometres in width. The Swabian Jura is very popular not only with hikers and bikers, but also with tourists who love traditional regional architecture and castles. Among the most famous castles in the region is the scenic Hohenzollern Castle, in German "Burg Hohenzollern," which is only fourteen kilometres from the town of Balingen. Overall, there were three castles built on the top of the eight-hundred-fifty-five-metre-high mountain Hohenzollern. The current castle was built in the nineteenth century under King Wilhelm I, who was King of Prussia and also the first head of state of a united Germany, which occurred in the late nineteenth century. Liechtenstein Castle and Sigmaringen Castle are a bit further away, roughly forty-five kilometres from Balingen, and also worth a visit. The best option to explore the mountain range with all its sights is by car. It is more flexible and you'll save a lot of time if you want to visit different castles or museums.

In the Swabian Alps, there is an extensive network of hiking paths. In particular, the so called HW1 and HW2 hiking trails cover the whole northern and southern edges along the mountain range. HW1 is three hundred sixty-five kilometres and HW2 is just under three hundred kilometres long. Both long-distance tracks start from Donauwörth and lead down to Tutlingen. Of course, you can also just walk a small part of this trail or take one of the smaller hiking paths inside the Swabian Alps to get an authentic impression of the natural landscape. The best season for hiking is from April to October. The region offers numerous possibilities for climbers as well. The limestone cliffs in Elsenburger Valley, in German "Elsenburger Tal," are among the most popular spots for climbers.

If you want to stay in Balingen, there are several hotels, guesthouses, and Balingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany hostel options available. Your Balingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany hostel is open all year round; it's more like a traditional, a bit old-fashioned youth hostel for children and teenagers and is also very suitable for families with kids. If you are a solo traveler, be prepared to encounter school classes in your Balingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany hostel during the summer.