Königstein: Hiking, Water and Regional Discoveries

Hiking, water and rare plants give Königstein many facets for a trip outdoors. Several trails vary in length, difficulty and starting point; there is also the natural swimming pool and a botanical educational trail that can be visited in every season. A seasonal speciality also gives the town its character: the Königstein Carnival pretzel. Which of these appeals to you most may influence your choice of accommodation and the focus of your stay.

Hiking trails of varying lengths

The moderately difficult hiking trail No. 15, “In the South of Königstein,” is 9.11 kilometres long and starts at the market square. The moderately difficult Kühberg Trail also starts there; at 3.5 kilometres, it is considerably shorter. Both routes begin at the same location, but their different lengths offer distinct options for planning a hike.

Several other moderately difficult trails start at Schulweg, the natural swimming pool and Funkenreuther Straße. They include Trail No. 16, “Over the Sutzerberg to the Ossinger,” which is 4.7 kilometres long; Trail No. 18, “Through the Steinberg,” at 6.9 kilometres; and the 13.5-kilometre Königstein Ostalb Trail. All three list these starting points. This means you can choose not only by distance, but also by the specified starting locations.

A longer option with a different difficulty rating is the challenging Königstein day hike on the Erzweg: it is 20.74 kilometres long and starts at the market square. This gives you a route explicitly described as challenging, with a greater stated distance than the moderately difficult trails. Check the route details before setting out, as trail information may change.

Spring, natural swimming pool and botanical trail

On the edge of town, the Königstein spring supplies the natural swimming pool and Kneipp pool with pure, fresh water. The natural swimming pool has untreated bathing water from a natural spring, a spacious sunbathing lawn and a water play area for children. These water attractions offer a different focus from the hiking trails: here, the emphasis is on water, a place to relax and a water play area rather than choosing a route.

Plant enthusiasts can visit the Botanical Educational Trail in Königstein in every season. It introduces visitors to rare plants, shrubs and trees. Alongside the hiking routes, your stay can therefore include a botanical look at a variety of plant species. A distinctive local tradition is the Königstein Carnival pretzel. It is made with special brewer’s yeast and a great deal of manual work, and is available for only a few weeks. Its limited season sets it apart from visits to the trail, which are possible year-round.

The wider Amberg-Sulzbach destination

The wider Amberg-Sulzbach destination adds other natural and cultural attractions to your travel plans. The East Bavarian Mining and Industry Museum at Kultur-Schloss Theuern researches and documents mining and industry in East Bavaria, keeping their history alive. The Theuern Nature Observation Platform offers another view of the landscape: it was built at the edge of the wastewater treatment plant’s polishing ponds. The adjacent wetland, with the Vils, its old river channels and ponds, is a year-round resting and breeding ground for local birds and those migrating from the north.

The region’s landscapes include imposing limestone cliffs, gentle Jura hills, extensive forests and picturesque river valleys. The 2.7-kilometre Felsenweg leads from Sackdilling through the rock labyrinth to the Bauernlöcher and across an impressive rocky landscape; the walk takes about 45 minutes. The Juniper Hiking Trail is also among the most beautiful hiking trails in the Amberg-Sulzbach region. For a different kind of activity, the Bow Vision 3D course near Wolfertsfeld in Birgland offers traditional archery along a roughly three-kilometre circular route through the farm woodland typical of the Upper Palatinate Jura.

Culture and regional customs add further highlights. Since 2023, Kirwan celebrations in the Amberg-Sulzbach region have been part of Bavaria’s intangible cultural heritage. They are held each year in their respective towns and are open to visitors and locals alike. Many restaurants regularly host traditional Schlachtschüssel meals, serving Wurschtsuppn, Kesselfleisch and blood, liver and bratwurst sausages made to their own recipes. Dates vary by restaurant. Regional brewing traditions also include original Upper Palatinate Zoigl from Erlheim and hops from the world’s smallest hop-growing area in Illschwang, used by the Sudhang private brewery in Amberg.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Hirschbach, Ammerthal, Rieden, Birgland, Vilseck, Hirschau, Weigendorf, Schmidmühlen.

Back to the wider travel overview: Amberg-Sulzbach.