Chill Out at SunsetUrban Sundowner Spots

The cities of Southwest Germany are home to countless experiences beginning at twilight and continuing into the night. Relax and watch the sunset from stunning serene locations before taking just a few short steps into vibrant nightlife hotspots.

Here are our sundowner tips in the cities of the south:

Teufelsbrücke, or ‘The Devil's Bridge’, was built in 1875 and is the oldest surviving bridge in Mannheim connecting the Mühlauinsel and Jungbusch districts. The movable swing bridge has been a listed building since 1972 as well as becoming a popular sundowner spot over the years. The perfect place to relax with a drink, overlooking the water, and enjoy the colours of the evening sky before diving into the nightlife of Jungbusch - a popular creative district with many pubs, bars, clubs, and restaurants, as can be discovered on the guided tour ‘Vibrant Jungbusch’.

mannheim.de/en/shaping-the-city

Scheffelterrasse, or ‘Scheffel Terrace’, can be found in the rear part of the palace gardens and is one of the most beautiful places in Heidelberg to experience the sunset thanks to its panoramic views of the palace, the Old Town, the Old Bridge, and the Neckar River - as far as the plains of the river Rhine. It owes its name to the poet Joseph Victor von Scheffel, whose poetry was inspired by the view – and he was not alone, Goethe was also a frequent visitor to this ethereal spot. Admission to both the palace gardens and Scheffelterrasse is free. And why not add to the romance of the occasion with a glass of Heidelberg wine.

heidelberg-marketing.de/en

The Turmberg near Karlsruhe is the most north-western peak of the Black Forest and borders the neighbouring Kraichgau region. It can be reached using the Turmbergbahn, the oldest funicular railway still in operation in Germany, or by climbing 528 steps via the Hexenstäffele, or ‘Witches Steps’. The terrace at the top offers spectacular views over Karlsruhe - ‘the fan-shaped city’, the Rhine Valley and, weather permitting, even the peaks of the Northern Vosges. Each evening, locals and visitors alike gather on the terrace steps to enjoy the magical sunsets. And when dusk finally falls, there’s ‘Anders auf dem Turmberg’ farm bistro to enjoy an evening meal.

www.karlsruhe-erleben.de/en

Parasols, sun loungers, palm trees, sangria - even sand beneath your feet... Sounds like a holiday? At SP6 Beach Bar it feels like one. Despite its unusual location, during the summer months on the car park in Pforzheim, you can leave the daily life behind and take a relaxing break with an unbeatable view of the sunset. En route you can take a detour and stop-by the interactive permanent exhibition ‘Gold.Money.Society.’ in the ‘TurmQuartier’, a local hub. Here you can learn interesting facts about the history of Pforzheim as a gold town - and of course about the precious metal itself.

turmquartier.de/en

Atop a hill to the south-east of Stuttgart lies a local gem dating back to 1850, when the city’s residents asked for somewhere to be built in Weissenburg Park “to serve coffee, lemonade, and other drinks in this beautiful spot”. Today, the Tea House is a popular open-air café surrounded by terraces offering fantastic views of Stuttgart – with a meadow perfect for enjoying sundowner picnics. Afterwards, it's worth making a stop just a short walk away at the Schwarz Weiss Bar that specialises in unusual cocktails and spirits.

stuttgart-tourist.de/en

The river Dreisam is Freiburg's lifeline. Providing refreshment in the hotter months, it’s clear water also feeds the famous ‘Bächle’ - small water-filled channels that connect across the city - with its gentle babble that calms the everyday hustle and bustle. There are plenty of beautiful spots for sundowners along the banks of the Dreisam, but one particularly popular spot is the 35-metre long Mariensteg - an Art Nouveau bridge that was completely renovated in 1980 and is home to a special surprise… One day a swing mysteriously appeared hanging from the bridge, enabling you to swing across the Dreisam and a little closer to the evening sun.

visit.freiburg.de/en

The Merkur mountain has the city of Baden-Baden at its feet. You can travel the ‘Merkur Bergbahn’ cable car to the top of the 668-metre-high peak in just a few minutes, or of course you can also climb it on foot or by bike. Once at the top enjoy a fascinating panoramic view over Baden-Baden, looking out across the highest mountains of the northern Black Forest and Murg Valley, right as far as the plains of the Upper Rhine and the Vosges Mountains. Why not enjoy this romantic dusk setting from the terrace of the Merkurstüble restaurant accompanied by a glass of local Riesling.

baden-baden.com/en

If you want to see Ulm in all its glory, then head to the banks of the Danube at sunset. There you will find the Uferbar, a kiosk painted forest green and offering delicious summer drinks, wine, beer, and speciality coffees, which you can take to their tables or deckchairs and enjoy the unique riverside view of the Ulm skyline: Ulm Minster with the world's tallest church tower, the old town houses, and the glass pyramid of the city library. After dark, take a stroll through the romantic Fishermen's Quarter with its picturesque lanes and quaint restaurants.

tourismus.ulm.de/en/

Imagine sitting amidst the vineyards, enjoying regional food and fine wines, and slowly watching the sky turn pink as the sun disappears from the horizon… At Martin-Heinrich-Wengerthäusle on the Wartberg in Heilbronn, this is a dreamlike reality across weekends between April and October, as 14 wineries take turns serving their wine. These days the Wengerthäusle can be reached by either sightseeing buses or the regular city buses - more convenient than the Middle Ages, when winegrowing on the Wartberg was first documented back in 1146.

heilbronn.de/tourismus