Trailside schnapps and a fine-dining theme park: Germany’s unique travel experiences

From the beautiful Gothic streets of Cologne to the vibrant nightlife of Berlin, Germany has long been a popular destination for tourists, but their offerings don’t end there. Now, Deutschland is offering up two of the most unique travel experiences we’ve seen in a while. Here’s what’s new in Germany.

Eatrenalin: One part fine dining, one part amusement park

Usually, when I think of combining food and amusement park rides, I think of hurling in the nearest garbage bin, but Eatrenalin is changing that. With a name that combines the words “eat” and “adrenalin,” you’re in for an adventure like no other at this gourmet dining experience located on the border between France and Germany in Europa-Park. 

At Eatrenalin, diners enjoy an eight-course meal while riding a “floating chair” through 11 themed rooms. It’s a full-on sensory experience for both your palette and eyes to devour. Some of the room themes include ocean waters, the rice fields of Asia, and even outer space. 

The experience is spearheaded by Pablo Montoro, a well-known Spanish chef. Eatrenalin also offers two menu options: a standard “Red Dimensions” menu and a vegan-friendly plant-based “Green Dimensions” menu. They have been open since November 4, 2022, but they are changing their menu for the first time on May 1. The two-hour, 8-course meal with cost you about 195 euros and you can buy tickets here.

A hiking trail with schnapps along the way 

Germans are known for their beer but their schnapps are not to be forgotten either and now you can experience them in Germany’s Black Forest. Oberkircher Brennersteig is a nine-mile trail that loops together several family-run schnapps distilleries. 

Along the trail, hikers can find bottles of schnapps in cool water basins, left out for anyone to try. The basins are unsupervised, usually left out with a tray of clean glasses and another for dispensing dirty ones. It’s good practice to leave a few bucks in the honesty boxes as well. 

According to AllTrails, the loop takes about four hours so make sure you pace yourself and pack more water than usual so you don’t find yourself drunk in a forest and trying to locate North while seven schnapps deep.