Wellness Hotel Black Forest — Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde, family-run in the Upper Black Forest

If you are looking for a wellness hotel in the Black Forest, the Sonnenhof & Sonnhalde in Ühlingen-Birkendorf is a family-run 3-star superior hotel situated at an altitude of 800 metres. The Upper Black Forest begins right on our doorstep: a 450-square-metre wellness area featuring an indoor pool, five different saunas, massages and a beauty department. Over 180 kilometres of hiking trails start directly at the hotel. 51 rooms and suites in Black Forest country house style. Over 1,100 guests have rated us on the major booking portals — in 2025 we were awarded TOP WELLNESS HOTEL status.

On this page we show what makes a stay with us special: wellness area, room amenities, restaurant, packages, arrival. With concrete prices, sauna schedules and our recommendations for the region. Those who book directly save up to 35 % compared to booking portals.

Why our spa hotel in the Black Forest is different

There are many excellent spa hotels in the High Black Forest. What sets ours apart can be summarised in three points:

Family-run for three generations. The Blatter family has run the Sonnenhof since the 1960s. Anyone checking in today hands their key to a family member, not a corporate employee. You can taste this continuity in the kitchen, see it at reception, and notice it when the owner himself pours your coffee at the breakfast table in the morning.

Location at the transition between the Southern Black Forest and the High Rhine. We are 25 minutes away from the Schluchsee, 35 minutes from the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen, 60 minutes from the Todtnau Suspension Bridge, 60 minutes from Basel and 65 minutes from Zurich. This tri-border location makes us the hub for day trips in Germany, Switzerland and the Alsace.

Evaluated substance, no marketing promise. With over 1,100 verified reviews on Booking.com, we are among the most reviewed wellness hotels in the Southern Black Forest. The TOP WELLNESS HOTEL 2025 award is based on these reviews — not on marketing efforts.

Wellness area: indoor swimming pool, sauna landscape, massages

Our 450 square metre wellness area spans two floors. Admission is included in the room rate for hotel guests. Day spa bookings for external guests are available upon request, subject to availability.

Indoor swimming pool with Black Forest view

The indoor swimming pool is 12 metres long, with the water heated to 30 °C all year round. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a view of the fir trees — a special spectacle when it snows in winter. Water temperature, lighting and acoustics are coordinated in such a way that even a long stay by the pool remains relaxing. The pool is open daily from 7 am to 9 pm.

Sauna area with five saunas

We have five different saunas, each with its own character:

• Finnish sauna (90 °C) — the classic, with daylight and wood-burning stove
• Bio-sauna (60 °C, higher humidity) — gentler on the circulation and skin
• forest sauna (75 °C, outdoors, with panoramic views of the Black Forest) — new since 2024
• steam room (45 °C, 100 % humidity) — good for the respiratory tract and skin
• infrared cabin (45 °C, deep heat) — also suitable for guests with sensitive circulation

Saunas with regional scents take place daily at 11am, 3pm and 7pm — weekly schedule featuring fir, dwarf pine, lavender, plus gingerbread scent in winter during the Advent season. Outdoors, there is a plunge tub with spring water, an ice fountain and a lawn for sunbathing beneath old apple trees.

Massages, beauty and treatments

In the beauty sector, there are classic massages (Swedish, deep tissue, hot stone massage), aromatherapy treatments, honey wraps from Black Forest apiaries and facial treatments. A couple's massage in our double room set up for this purpose lasts 90 minutes and is the most frequent request from our romance guests. Anyone arriving as a group — for example for a Wellness weekend for female friends — it is best to discuss the treatments at reception beforehand, as group appointments are scheduled depending on capacity.

We will send the beauty menu with all treatments, prices and booking information upon request. Anyone wishing to book a treatment package in advance should do so at least four weeks before arrival — popular times are often booked up quickly.

Rooms in the Black Forest wellness hotel

We have 51 rooms and suites across four categories. All are decorated in the Black Forest country house style, featuring real wood, natural stone in the bathroom and views of either the garden or the Hotzenwald range of hills. More details on the rooms and prices page.

• Economy (Sonnenhof house, 16–18 m², from €89 per person in a double room)
• Comfort (Sonnhalde house, 22–25 m², from €109 per person in a double room)
• Superior (Sonnhalde house, 28–32 m², balcony, from €129 per person in a double room)
• Family room (35–42 m², separate children's area, from €99 per person for 4 or more people)

All prices are starting prices including pampering half-board and spa access. Direct bookings via the Hotel website are up to 35 % cheaper than on booking portals.

Activities around our wellness hotel in the Black Forest

Hiking straight from the hotel

Several marked hiking trails begin right on our doorstep. The Schluchtensteig — one of Germany's most famous premium long-distance hiking trails — runs through our village. Those who want to go on a half-day hike have routes ranging from 6 to 12 kilometres to choose from. Detailed suggestions are provided by our 3-day hiking package.

Wutach Gorge — 25 minutes to the entrance

The Wutach Gorge is often referred to as the „Grand Canyon of the Black Forest“ — 33 kilometres long, rock faces up to 70 metres deep, waterfalls, quaint mills. From the hotel it is 25 minutes to the Schattenmühle, the most popular starting point. Upon request, we can provide a hiking map and a personal route recommendation.

Schluchsee, Titisee and Naturena

At 7.3 kilometres long, the Schluchsee is the largest lake in the Black Forest — a 25-minute drive away. The Titisee is 35 minutes away. Anyone holidaying with children should plan to spend half a day at the Naturena adventure park in Birkendorf — five minutes from the hotel, featuring a petting zoo, playground and trout pond. We have put together an overview of all day-trip options at Places of interest in the Black Forest compiled.

Todtnau Suspension Bridge and Rothaus Brewery

The Blackforestline suspension bridge Since 2023, Todtnau has been home to the most spectacular new hiking destination in the southern Black Forest — 450 metres long and 120 metres high. An hour’s drive from the hotel. The Rothaus Brewery is only 15 minutes away — brewery tour with Tannenzäpfle tasting, followed by lunch in the historic brewery restaurant.

Cuisine: regional, fresh, Black Forest style

In the restaurant, we offer half-board, comprising a breakfast buffet and a four-course evening meal. Our kitchen works with five regular regional suppliers: an organic farm in Bonndorf for vegetables, a cheese dairy in the Wiesental valley for hay-fed milk cheese, a trout farm in the Wutach valley, a gamekeeper from Stühlingen for game, and a small brewery in Birkendorf for our house beer. The menu changes roughly every four weeks to reflect the season.

Spring menu with wild garlic, asparagus and regionally reared rump of lamb. Summer menu with trout, fresh vegetables from the farmer's garden and berry desserts. Autumn with game, mushrooms, pumpkin. Winter with root vegetables, venison, plums. Vegetarian and vegan main courses are on the menu daily; we are happy to discuss allergies and intolerances in advance.

Packages at the Black Forest Wellness Hotel

A selection of our most popular packages — the full overview can be found on the Packages page:

• Relaxation days in the Black Forest — 3 nights’ accommodation with half-board, a massage and a beauty treatment. From €318 per person.
• „On Foot“ Hikers’ Pack — 3 nights’ accommodation, a walking map, a picnic lunch, half-board. From €264.
• Girls’ Days in the Black Forest — 2 nights’ accommodation, a champagne reception, a beauty treatment and a pampering half-board package. From €198 per person.
• „Sharp Bends“ Motorcycle Package - Half board, route tips, tool kit. From €149 per person per night.
• Romantic weekend — 2 nights’ accommodation including a couples’ massage, a 4-course meal and breakfast in your room. From €285 per person.
• New Year's Eve in the Black Forest — 4 nights including gala dinner, spa, New Year's brunch. From €595 per person.

Seasonal specials

Spring: Hiking season with lady’s slipper orchids in the Wutach Gorge. Summer: Swimming at Schluchsee. Autumn: Game dishes, quiet footpaths, golden-yellow beech trees. Winter: Snowshoe walks, sauna with a snow rub-down, Advent market in Bonndorf. We send guests detailed seasonal recommendations before their arrival.

How to get to the Black Forest Wellness Hotel

By car: Take the A5 to the Bad Krozingen exit, then follow the B31 and B500 towards Bonndorf. From Lake Constance, take the route via Donaueschingen–Friedrichshafen–A98. From the Munich area, take the A8–A81–A98. Journey time: 2 hours 30 minutes from Stuttgart, 4 hours from Munich, 1 hour from Basel, 1 hour 15 minutes from Zurich. Detailed directions on the Directions page.

By train: the nearest IC station is Waldshut; from there, it’s a 25-minute journey by bus or taxi. We can collect guests from the station on request. By plane: Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (45 mins), Zurich (75 mins), Stuttgart (2 hours).

Free parking in front of the hotel, charging point for electric cars, garage available on request.

Sustainability in the wellness hotel

Our electricity comes from 100 % renewable sources, and some of our hot water is generated using wood chips from regional forests. The kitchen sources 80 % of its fresh produce from within a 50-kilometre radius. Electric car charging points are free of charge for hotel guests. Plastic-free in the bathrooms and spa — we use dispensers containing organic toiletries from the Black Forest.

Frequently asked questions about the wellness hotel

Which wellness treatments are included in the room rate?

The indoor swimming pool, all saunas with infusions, the infrared cabin, the sunbathing area and a bathrobe are included in the room rate. Massages, beauty treatments and private sauna sessions must be booked separately.

Are dogs allowed at the spa hotel?

Yes, in most rooms. Daily fee of €15; dog bed available on request. Dogs are not permitted in the spa area or the restaurant. Dogs are welcome on the sunbathing lawn and in the garden.

Does the hotel offer a day spa for day visitors?

On selected weekdays when there is availability, from €39 per person for 4 hours. Bookings must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Weekends and public holidays are reserved exclusively for hotel guests.

Which is the quietest time to travel?

Mid-January to mid-February (outside of the carnival holidays) and November are the quietest times — at the same time the most intensive sauna season. For those who prefer hiking: May and mid-September to mid-October. In summer the region is popular, book well in advance for the weekend.

Book directly and enjoy the 35 % benefit

Bookings directly via sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de are up to 35 % cheaper than on booking portals. We reserve your preferred package, preferred room and popular treatments in advance. Enquire by phone on 07743 9201-0, by email at info@sonnenhof-sonnhalde.de or directly via the booking form.