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Keep clear of these parking areas at all costs.

Proceed beyond these roadside stops for relaxation and rest.

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Germany's Rest Stations: Top-Rated Ones (and the Subpar Ones)
Germany's Rest Stations: Top-Rated Ones (and the Subpar Ones)

Take a Break? Think Again: The Notorious German Rest Areas You Should Steer Clear From

  • by Christian Hensen
      • 2 Min

Rest areas should not be abandoned mid-way - Keep clear of these parking areas at all costs.

Catch the Video: Germany's Worst Rest Stops - A Road Trip Nightmare RTL

Hitting the road for a long trip? Prepare to dread those breaks, especially if you're traveling across Germany. Compared to the delectable Autogrill stops in Italy, German rest areas don't exactly have a sparkling reputation. But fear not, as the current ADAC rest area test proves there's more to Germany than those grimy, overpriced roadside pit stops.

ADAC examined a whopping 40 rest areas across the nation, evaluating them based on service, cleanliness, price, and amenities. Sadly, no rest stop could earn an "excellent" rating, yet there were no absolute flops either - phews! The verdict's a mixed bag, with eight rest areas getting a "good" ranking, another six deemed "poor," and the rest falling somewhere in the middle.

Modern Toilets, But at a Premium

When it comes to the restrooms, larger rest areas—usually operated by Sanifair— tend to be a better bet. Testers describe them as "modern, well-equipped, and functional." However, cleanliness levels varied: even some facilities with a Euro entry fee didn't live up to expectations.

Regarding food options, the findings may seem surprising. Testers reported being "usually satisfied" with the offerings at these rest areas. The catch? Only three out of 40 facilities offer fair prices. The rest were deemed too pricey, with shops being particularly overpriced compared to highway exits.

Germany's Top and Flop Rest Areas

So, where should you plan your pit stops? The following three rest areas led the pack in the ADAC test:

  1. Fürholzen West in Bavaria on the A9
  2. Demminer Land in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the A20
  3. Sindelfinger Wald Süd in Baden-Württemberg on the A8

On the other hand, steer clear of these bottom- ranked rest areas:

  1. Fuchsberg Süd in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the A20
  2. Münsterland West in North Rhine-Westphalia on the A1
  3. Eisenach Nord in Thuringia along the A4

ADAC advises against filling up at rest areas. A previous test revealed that motorists could pay up to 54 cents more per liter of gas along the highway compared to exits[3].

The test also exposed significant shortcomings related to child-friendliness, accessibility, and the lack of fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. Oddly enough, the test fails to mention that very few charging stations are covered from the elements—a major issue during inclement weather.

[1] ADAC. (2020). Rest areas in Germany: This is how clean they are. Retrieved from https://www.adac.de/reise/STRASSEN/Raststattenvergleich_379881

[2] ADAC. (2020). Surprisingly clean - these rest stops in Germany have the best sanitary facilities. Retrieved from https://www.adac.de/reise/STRASSEN/Raststattenvergleich_164138

[3] ADAC. (2018). Rest area or exits? Gas prices compared. Retrieved from https://www.adac.de/reise/STRASSEN/Tankstellen/Raststatten-oder-Ausfahrten-Gaspreise-vergleichen_704806

  1. Christian Hensen advises travelers to be wary of German rest areas that have a reputation for being grimy and overpriced.
  2. The ADAC rest area test evaluated 40 areas nationwide, finding no "excellent" rated rest stops, but also no absolute flops.
  3. Testers noted that larger rest areas, often operated by Sanifair, tend to be more modern and well-equipped, although cleanliness levels varied.
  4. Regarding food options, testers were usually satisfied, but only three out of 40 facilities offered fair prices, with the rest considered too expensive.
  5. The top-ranked rest areas in the ADAC test are Fürholzen West in Bavaria, Demminer Land in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Sindelfinger Wald Süd in Baden-Württemberg.
  6. Travelers should avoid the bottom-ranked rest areas such as Fuchsberg Süd in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Münsterland West in North Rhine-Westphalia, and Eisenach Nord in Thuringia. Additionally, ADAC advises against filling up at rest areas due to potentially higher gas prices compared to highway exits, and severe shortcomings related to child-friendliness, accessibility, and fast-charging stations for electric vehicles.

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