High Eifel scenic drive: around the Hohe Acht and Nürburg
An 81 km loop through the High Eifel, around the Hohe Acht (at 747 metres the highest peak of the Eifel), from the half-timbered town of Adenau past Nürburg castle and the legendary Nürburgring, the village gem of Monreal and the ruin of Virneburg. Winding country and federal roads, loved by drivers. For convertibles, ordinary cars, motorbikes and campervans.
For Garmin, Komoot or TomTom: download the GPX.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Virneburg by Thomas Hummel (CC BY-SA 4.0), Nürburg by Superbass (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Around the highest peak of the Eifel
The High Eifel is the elevated, volcanic heart of the Eifel, around the Hohe Acht that rises above everything at 747 metres. It has been driving country for generations: winding country and federal roads that snake over the ridges, with the legendary Nürburgring as its beating heart. This loop strings the highlights together: the half-timbered town of Adenau, Nürburg castle that gave the Nürburgring its name, the village gem of Monreal with its two castle ruins in the Elz valley, the mighty ruin of Virneburg, and the Kaiser-Wilhelm tower on the summit of the Hohe Acht. About 81 kilometres in all, a full day through forest, over the heights and past the castles, without a single metre of motorway.
What makes the High Eifel special is the combination: the pure pleasure of the twisting roads and a region full of history. Every few kilometres a castle, a half-timbered core or a wide panorama appears. And it is close: the Nürburgring has been a classic destination for Dutch and Belgian drivers for decades, about two hours from the border.
The route on the map
A schematic overview by Touren.app, not a navigation map. The exact route opens under “Drive this route” or in Google Maps. Map orientation: north is up.
Plan your own route
The places along the route
1. Adenau
Adenau is a well-preserved half-timbered town on the edge of the High Eifel and for centuries the gateway to the hills. Around the Buttermarkt and the church of John the Baptist stand leaning timber-framed houses; it is one of the oldest cores in the region. Since the Nürburgring was built in 1927, Adenau has also been home to racers and motorcyclists, with workshops and cafés full of racing history.
Practical: park on the edge of the old town; explore the centre on foot.
2. Nürburg (Burg + Nürburgring)
On a volcanic cone above the village stands the Nürburg, a medieval castle from the twelfth century and one of the highest-lying castles in the Eifel. It gave its name to the Nürburgring, the legendary circuit built around the castle in 1927 and still called the "Green Hell". We drive the public roads around the ring, with ever-changing glimpses of the track and the castle; the tower of the Nürburg offers a wide view over the High Eifel.
Practical: park at the Nürburg or by the ring area; the castle can be visited, you do not drive on the track.
3. Kelberg
Kelberg lies high in the volcanic heart of the High Eifel, on the plateau between the old volcanoes. It is a quiet regional town with a Volcanic Eifel geopark information point and the start of many walks. Here the driving is the point: the country and federal roads around Kelberg are quiet, broad and gloriously winding, exactly what drivers come to the Eifel for.
Practical: park in the centre; a good halfway break on the loop.
4. Monreal
Monreal is considered one of the finest villages in the Eifel, the "pearl of the Elz valley". Red-and-white half-timbered houses crowd along the Elzbach, with an old stone bridge and a wayside cross in the middle. Above the village two castle ruins keep watch: the larger Löwenburg and the smaller Philippsburg. A view worth getting out of the car for.
Practical: park on the edge; explore the old core and the climb to the Löwenburg on foot.
5. Virneburg
Above the village of Virneburg, high on a rock in the valley of the Nette, stands the ruin of what was once one of the mightiest castles in the Eifel. The counts of Virneburg were for centuries among the leading families of the Rhineland. Impressive walls and a tower remain, with a wide view over the hills. One of the finest vistas of the route.
Practical: park in the village; the ruin is reached on foot by a short path.
6. Hohe Acht (Kaiser-Wilhelm-Turm)
The Hohe Acht is, at 747 metres, the highest peak of the Eifel, an old volcano rising above the forest. On the summit stands the Kaiser-Wilhelm tower, a stone lookout tower from the early twentieth century. Climb the steps and, on a clear day, you look out over the whole Eifel, as far as the Siebengebirge and the Rhine valley. From here you descend on the country road back to Adenau.
Practical: park at Kaltenborn or at the foot of the summit; a short climb on foot to the tower.
Practical: for convertible, motorbike and camper
From the Netherlands and Belgium: the High Eifel and the Nürburgring are a classic destination for drivers. From the border at Aachen you reach Adenau in about two hours. To start the loop from your holiday base, type your start town into the planner and Touren.app rebuilds the same route from Nürburg, Kelberg, Mayen or wherever you are.
The Nürburgring, honestly: this route drives the public country and federal roads around the ring, not the track itself. The race circuit is a separate, toll-based track; if you want to drive it, you arrange that separately with the Nürburgring. Our route lets you experience the atmosphere, the castle and the finest roads around it.
Which vehicle: the winding country and federal roads are ideal for convertible and motorbike. It works well in a campervan too; mind the narrow half-timbered centres of Monreal and Adenau and park on the edge.
The rest of the Eifel: this loop is one of a trio. For the crater lakes, choose the Volcanic Eifel scenic drive; for the National Park and the water, the Eifel National Park drive is your route. Together they cover the finest corners of the Eifel.
How we keep it honest: we have measured this loop and curated the stops; the label is 'measured and checked'; driving it comes next. The distance was set via Google Maps with motorways avoided.
Reviews from drivers
Reviews appear here with vehicle, experience and month of the drive. A score cannot be bought here, and this stays empty until someone has really driven it.
Share this route or save it
Share this drive with whoever should drive it
Or email it to yourself, for the road
Email this route to yourselfFrequently asked questions
Where is the High Eifel and how far is it from the Netherlands?
The High Eifel is the elevated, volcanic heart of the Eifel around the Hohe Acht and the Nürburgring, in Rhineland-Palatinate. From the border at Aachen you reach Adenau, the start, in about two hours. The Nürburgring has been a firm favourite with Dutch and Belgian drivers for decades.
How long is the High Eifel scenic drive?
About 81 kilometres, with around 1 hour and 30 minutes of pure driving, measured via Google Maps with motorways avoided. With Nürburg, the Nürburgring, Monreal and the climb up the Hohe Acht it is a full day.
Can you drive on the Nürburgring with this route?
No. This route follows the public country and federal roads around the Nürburgring, with fine glimpses of the track and the castle. The race circuit is a separate, toll-based track; you arrange that separately with the Nürburgring itself.
What is the Hohe Acht?
The Hohe Acht is, at 747 metres, the highest peak of the Eifel, an old volcano. On the summit stands the Kaiser-Wilhelm tower, a stone lookout; on a clear day you look out over the whole Eifel as far as the Rhine valley. A short climb on foot from the car park.
Is the route suitable for convertible, motorbike and camper?
Yes. The winding country and federal roads of the High Eifel are ideal for convertible and motorbike; this is one of the best-known driving regions in Germany. The route works well in a campervan too; mind the narrow half-timbered centres of Monreal and Adenau and park on the edge.
Are the exports really free?
Yes, free with a Touren.app credit on them. You never pay us for exports; those who want to drive without ads and offline choose Plus.
Keep exploring
Fancy this drive, but from your own holiday base?
Touren.app rebuilds the same High Eifel loop from any starting point in the region, within the time you have. Choose your vehicle, set your time, and drive.
Generate your version of this route