Book a cheap weekend break to Winterberg
Do you want a cheap holiday close to home but still abroad? Then the beautiful town of Winterberg in the German Sauerland is a very nice destination. We'll take you to Winterberg and tell you what's so great about a cheap weekend away to Winterberg
Cheap holidays close to home
A short holiday or a weekend away: it doesn't always have to be expensive. Staying in your own country is nice, but a holiday abroad gives you that little bit more holiday feeling. Take, for example, the Belgian Ardennes: a region with beautiful valleys, hills, forests, castles and fortresses.
But the German Sauerland is also an ideal holiday destination: not far from home, but still a completely different environment with beautiful natural beauty, medium-high mountains, typical half-timbered houses, castles and romantic churches. In this article you will find more information about the Sauerland and especially the attractive town of Winterberg. Also read how you can spend an unforgettable holiday in Winterberg for little money.
A weekend in Winterberg in the German Sauerland
Sauerland is the name of a region in the German states of Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia. The landscape consists of a low mountain range, the highest peak of which is the Langenberg (843 meters). The summit of the Langenberg is located on the border between the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse.
The Sauerland is a very attractive area for holidaymakers in both summer and winter. In winter, the snowy slopes of the hills and medium-high mountains offer the opportunity to practice winter sports close to home. In the summer, the beautiful nature, the picturesque villages and the many sights invite holidaymakers to make unforgettable walks, bicycle and motorcycle tours.
You will not find large, busy cities in the Sauerland. You usually spend your holiday in the Sauerland in a rural environment with small towns and villages. This generally makes your stay a lot cheaper, as cities are relatively expensive compared to rural areas. Moreover, you are not forced to book an expensive hotel.
Apartments and holiday homes in Winterberg
You will find plenty of affordable holiday homes and apartments in Winterberg. You can find nice accommodations in many ways.
Find an accommodation in Winterberg:
- For example, on Airbnb you will find nice accommodations in different price ranges in the Winterberg and surroundings. That way you spend less money and still enjoy a fantastic holiday.
- You can find great deals on booking.com . On booking.com you can set many filters to find your favorite accommodation.
- You can also find very nice apartments with private owners. This is generally slightly cheaper than via booking.com and Airbnb because the owners have to pay a certain amount to booking.com and Airbnb. If you book directly, that saves the price.
- Large holiday home: if you have the opportunity to travel with a larger group (family, friends), book one large accommodation. Compared to an individual booking, you pay a lot less per person. You can also book these at Airbnb. You can google 'apartment Winterberg' or go directly to some apartments in Winterberg here .
- Home swapping is probably the cheapest way to travel: you swap your own house for another house at your holiday destination. For example, a well-known provider is Love Home Swap or GuestToGuest .
Route to Winterberg
The town of Winterberg is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the Sauerland. Officially it is a small town, but it looks much more like a large village. You don't have to drive far from the Netherlands to get there: from the Dutch-German border it takes an average of 2.5 hours. If you want to get away from it all, then a weekend in Winterberg is definitely recommended because it is nice and close. Also great for (small) children who don't have to sit in the car for so long.
Winter sports Winterberg
The town lies at an altitude of about 668 meters; the surrounding mountains are more than 800 meters high. The town is a favorite winter sports destination for many Dutch people. You don't have to drive as far as France, Austria or Switzerland, but you will still find all the necessary facilities for an active winter sports holiday.
The snow is guaranteed and if there is not enough snow, the (more than 250) snow cannons are put into operation. In this way, the winter sports season in Winterberg runs from mid-December to the end of March.
Right on the outskirts of the city are the 26 different (hypermodern) ski lifts that take you up the mountains. The ski passes are relatively cheap compared to the prices you pay in the Alps. There are many Dutch ski instructors around and the après-ski is just as exuberant as in the well-known ski areas.
Even if you don't like skiing or snowboarding, it is nice to go to Winterberg in the winter. There are plenty of other activities to undertake. How about sitting on a terrace near the slopes? Or walking in the snow? Would you like to go to the sauna?
Winterberg in summer
A weekend in Winterberg is also recommended in the summer, autumn and spring. In the pleasant car-free center you will find more than enough restaurants, cafes, nice terraces and shops. The range of dining options is very diverse. From chip shops and pizzerias to Japanese sushi places: you will find it all here. Those who like shopping will also get their money's worth. In the center you will find more than 40 different shops, especially on the streets Am Waltenberg and Poststrasse, and of course on the Marktplatz. Many shops specialize in outdoor activities, but there are also clothing, shoe and sports fashion shops. We will come back to the activities in detail later.
Overnight in Winterberg
As said, the town is more like a large village than a city. It takes little effort to spend the night there cheaply. The place has a whole series of three and four star hotels, both in the center and in the beautiful nature. It can be much cheaper if you rent an apartment or book a room in a guest house or hostel. As far as an apartment Winterberg is concerned, you have a very wide choice. In the center alone there are more than 60 providers.
In both summer and winter you can also visit various three or four-star campsites in Winterberg. The facilities are well arranged. Especially Campingparc Hoch Sauerland is great in terms of. A beautiful sanitary building was built in 2017. This is also doable in winter: everything is wonderfully heated.
The town also has a Hapimag resort with a very extensive range of wellness facilities. In addition, there are two well-known holiday parks in the area: Landal and Centerparcs.
Last Minute Winterberg
A good piece of advice: if you want to keep it extra cheap, look out for interesting last-minute offers. A stay during the week instead of during the weekend is generally even cheaper. Look for '4 = 3' offers, where you only pay for 3 nights while you are away from home for 4 nights. Bidding on holiday auctions on the web is also recommended, but you have to be careful here so that you do not get caught up in the bidding and you still pay too much. If you're lucky, you can get a very cheap holiday deal with your offer.
Activities in the summer
The weather in Winterberg is a bit like the weather in the Netherlands. Sauerland has a temperate climate with cool winters and mild summers. Extreme temperatures are not common in winter or summer. This makes the Sauerland an ideal destination for outdoor sports or activities in the summer or to participate in all kinds of attractions.
Hiking in Winterberg
The area is ideal for short or long walks. You will find a very extensive network of hiking trails around the town for both children and adults. The hiker has no less than 480 kilometers of marked and well-maintained hiking trails. There are themed and family walks that are specially designed for families with children. But advanced mountain hikers will also get their money's worth. Hikers covering long distances can make use of 10 mountain huts.
The 'Winterberger Hochtour' is a long-distance hiking trail that starts and ends on the Kahler Asten, the second highest mountain in Sauerland. The route is no less than 82 kilometers long, a route that you can of course also take in several stages. On this walk you will get to know beautiful natural and cultural sights, including the source of the Lenne and the Hoppecke source.
Another well-known walking route that runs through the town is the 'Rothaarsteig'. The Rothaarsteig is one of the most beautiful high-altitude trails in Europe. The route is 154 kilometers long, starts in Brilon and ends in Hessenburg. The path takes you over the ridge of the Rothaar Mountains, hence the name.
Mountain biking in Winterberg
Those who don't think of hiking but of mountain biking during their weekend in Winterberg will also get their money's worth. You will find the Winterberg bike park on the Erlebnisberg Kappe. This bike park has 9 descents, from easy to difficult. You can rent a mountain bike and the necessary equipment on site. In addition to mountain biking, you can also cycle very well in Winterberg. You need a good condition because of the mountainous area. But there is a possibility to rent electric bicycles in Winterberg. That makes the bike ride a lot easier.
Summer toboggan run Winterberg
A well-known Winterberg attraction is the summer toboggan run. Adults and especially children enjoy the 700-meter long toboggan run in the Erlebnispark Kappe, where you are first pulled up on your sled. Then start the 700 meter long descent in the specially shaped toboggan run while you determine your speed with a lever. Would you rather whiz from tree to tree dangling from a rope at a great height? You will find a suitable rope course for this at the Erlebnispark Kappe . In addition to these activities, there are many other activities on the Kappeberg, such as mini-golf, kiss the sky rubber bands, a playground for the little ones, a walking bridge and more.
Motorcycling in Sauerland
The Sauerland is also a paradise for motorcyclists. The undulating landscape with the many hairpin bends in the mountains is a real challenge for motorcycle enthusiasts. The Winterberg area is ideal for exploring on your motorcycle. A beautiful motorcycle route starts and ends in the town, which leads you through the natural park of the Rothaargebirge. Along the way you can enjoy a beautiful panorama on your motorcycle. From Winterberg as a base you can make many beautiful motorcycle tours throughout Sauerland
Swimming in Winterberg
When it rains, a visit to an indoor swimming pool is an excellent idea. In the town itself you will find an indoor 25 meter swimming pool with 5 lanes, ideal for swimming laps or tossing around a bit.
Nearby (15 minutes drive) is also an Aquapark Agua Mundo. This is a bit more expensive than a swimming pool, but it is an ultimate day out for children!
If the weather in Winterberg allows it, you can of course swim very cheaply in the natural water of the neighboring Hillebachsee. A little further are a number of beautiful lakes with 'real' beaches such as the Moehnesee. At the local tourist office you will get much more information about the numerous activities in the area, including free activities. If you only have a small budget, remember that things like hiking, picnicking and playing games are completely free. There are plenty of low-cost attractions to choose from, including bowling, swimming, mini golf and a visit to a playground. Save money by, for example, alternating free outings with cheap paying outings.
Cheap restaurants Winterberg
If you do not want to spend too much money on groceries and food, it is worthwhile to take a number of groceries from home with you on your trip, such as sugar, coffee, salt, pepper, etc. In addition, shopping in supermarket chains such as Lidl and Aldi very cheap in Germany. Going out for dinner is of course very nice when you are on vacation. Looking for cheap restaurants in Winterberg? Below we list a number of affordable and cozy restaurants, where you can eat well for little money.
- Dorf Alm: an attractive and affordable restaurant in the center of the city with a varied menu. The restaurant has 180 seats on two floors and 60 seats on the terrace.
- Pannenkoekenhuis De Brabander: run by Dutch owners, with pancakes made grandmother's way. With 85 specialties at a very affordable price.
- Greek restaurant Athen: Greek specialties in a pleasant Mediterranean setting. Also a specialist in Southern European wines.
- Pizzeria Colosseum: Italian restaurant with a very wide choice of pizzas, spaghetti and other pasta dishes, but also meat dishes.
- Brack's Nudelhaus: specialized in noodle dishes, with a wide choice of vegetarian options.
The Blackwater Irish Pub and Restaurant: an Irish bar and eatery, serving dishes such as fish and chips, rumpsteak and spare ribs.
- McDonald's: a McDonald's should not be missed among the restaurants in Winterberg.
- Big Mountain: The Big Mountain resort includes a hostel and restaurant. In the restaurant you will get to know a very varied menu, from burgers to pizzas and from spare ribs to schnitzels.
Transport to Winterberg
Of course you can leave for Sauerland with your car, but you can also reach your destination very comfortably by train or bus.
The Winterberg train station is not far from the center. From the station you can quickly reach your place of residence, on foot or by bus. If you travel by train, you have to change trains several times in German stations. For example, you travel with an ICE International train from Amsterdam to Oberhausen, where you change to a train to Dortmund. There you have to transfer again to get to your final destination.
In various Dutch cities you can take the Flixbus to your Winterberg holiday accommodation for a low price. This way you arrive well rested at your holiday destination, without having to worry about the right route, traffic and traffic jams. In addition, there is the company Winterbergbus that specializes in bus trips to Winterberg.
Book a cheap weekend break to Winterberg
Do you dream of an unforgettable weekend away, close to home but in a completely different environment? Do you want to go on a cheap holiday in a foreign region with beautiful natural beauty? Check out our overview with attractive packages or become a member of Club Winterberg . As a member you can book there at extra attractive rates.
This is our own website with the best price. Click here for our accommodations or ask us your question. Or read on with Tobogganing and toboggan runs in Winterberg , Poppenberg Lodge, apartment in Winterberg for 8 people or go to the overview of all articles.