One of the nice things about studying abroad is getting to show your family the place you've been calling home. My parents came to visit me in Freiburg for five days, as part of a longer trip through Europe that also included Italy. My mom had never been to Germany, and neither of them had been to Freiburg, so we spent the week exploring the old town, visiting the Black Forest, trying local food, and wandering around the city. They got to see some of Freiburg's best-known sights, but they also got a look at my everyday life here, which ended up being their favorite part.

They wanted to see the old town, the Münstermarkt, the Bächle, and some of the surrounding nature. We managed all of that, along with a few other things. It was also nice to have a reason to get out and explore places I hadn't made time for yet. They stayed at V7 in Vauban, near where I live.

Exploring Freiburg

My parents arrived Monday evening, so I took them to their hotel and then brought them to my WG for dinner. I cooked, and we had a quiet evening before a busy few days of sightseeing.

The next day I had class until three, so they went exploring on their own. They visited the Münstermarkt, walked up the Schlossberg to the Schlossbergturm, went to the Museum of Modern Art, and wandered around the old town. The market was a good place to start, with its food stalls and views of the Münster. They also got a chance to see the city without having to follow me around, and they had fun exploring together.

That afternoon we took the train to Breisach. We visited St. Stephansmünster, walked along the Rhine, and met up with a friend of my dad's who lives there. It was a nice change from the busy streets of Freiburg, and we got to see a smaller town along the river. When we got back, we went to Feierling for dinner. We all liked the food and the atmosphere, and it ended up being one of our favorite meals of the week.

A Day on Schauinsland

On Wednesday we took the Schauinslandbahn up the mountain. We walked around at the top and stopped for food, including Kaiserschmarrn, a shredded pancake popular in Austria and southern Germany. It was a good way to spend a few hours outside the city without having to plan a long hike.

I'd recommend the cable car to anyone visiting Freiburg, even if they aren't keen on hiking. You can get up into the Black Forest, see the views, and walk around a little without committing to a full day on the trails. It's also a nice change from spending most of your time in the old town.

We came home in the afternoon and rested before going out to dinner. Having some downtime was useful, especially since we had been walking around quite a bit. I think it's easy to pack too much into a family visit, but some of the best parts of the week were the quieter hours between activities.

Getting Around Like a Local

Thursday was rainy, but we still went out. We walked around the university, had brunch, and explored more of the old town. We also rode the trams and rented Frelo bikes during the week. My parents really liked both, especially cycling along the Dreisamweg.

I think the trams and Frelo bikes are two of the best ways to see Freiburg. The trams make it easy to get around without a car, while the bikes let you take the longer way along the river or through the neighborhoods. My parents enjoyed seeing how much of the city people can reach by bike. It was also fun to spot the older trams, which have a different look from the newer ones.

My dad bought one of the little boats sold for the Bächle. The small channels run through the streets of the old town, and people float little boats in them. It's a small, slightly silly souvenir, but it gave us something to do as we walked around. The Bächle are one of those things that make Freiburg distinct, and they're easy to appreciate even when you've seen the main sights.

Eating Our Way Through Freiburg

We tried quite a bit of local food during the week. At the Münstermarkt and Markthalle, my parents had bratwurst, Lange Rote, and Spätzle. The market is a good place to try a few things without committing to a full restaurant meal, and there is plenty to look at while you eat. Since it was pumpkin season, we also tried some pumpkin dishes and treats, which seemed to be everywhere.

They especially liked Feierling, and I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a relaxed meal out in Freiburg. We also ate on Schauinsland and tried Kaiserschmarrn, which was a nice treat after walking around the mountain. Not every meal was a hit, though. We weren't especially impressed with the restaurant on Schlossberg. The walk and the views were worth it, but I'd probably choose somewhere else to eat next time.

On our last evening, we went out for Döner and got crêpes for dessert. Neither meal needed much planning, which was welcome after several days of sightseeing. We finished with a walk past the Münster, which looked particularly nice lit up in the rain.

One practical thing we learned is that popular restaurants can fill up quickly at peak hours. We had trouble getting into a few places without a reservation. If there's somewhere you particularly want to try, it's worth booking ahead or going a little earlier or later. Otherwise, you may end up wandering around hungry while trying to find somewhere with a free table.

Our Last Evening

On Thursday night we saw the Münster lit up in the rain. It was a nice way to finish the visit, and the next morning I took my parents to the train station.

During the week, my dad kept trying to speak German with people. He has a very friendly American way of starting conversations, combined with the Austrian German he remembers from living in Vienna thirty years ago. It made for some funny exchanges. Still, he was happy to have the chance to use his German, and it was fun to see.

My parents said their favorite part was seeing my everyday life here. They liked visiting the university, riding the tram, cycling along the river, and seeing the places I go during a normal week. They came to see Freiburg, but they also got a better sense of what living here as a student looks like.

I enjoyed having them here, too. It gave me an excuse to explore more of Freiburg, try restaurants I hadn't visited, and spend time in places I usually pass on my way somewhere else. Showing someone around makes you look at your own surroundings a little differently. Even though I've been living here for a while, there are still plenty of places I haven't seen.

Five days was a good amount of time. We saw the main sights, got out into the mountains, visited Breisach, and still had time to wander around without much of a plan. If your family is thinking about visiting while you're studying abroad, I'd recommend setting aside a few days for Freiburg. The city has plenty to see, but you don't need to spend every hour sightseeing. Some of the best parts of the visit were simply riding bikes along the river, stopping for food, and showing my parents the places that have become part of my routine.