Silent Retreats in Germany

A silent retreat in Germany can be a Zen sesshin in the Allgäu mountains, a contemplative monastic week in the Eifel, a Vipassana week in Brandenburg or a silent weekend on the Baltic. 38 active programs, five to ten days as the typical duration, in small groups, with a clear daily structure, guided practice and the discipline of letting go of speaking for the length of the stay.

38 curated retreats 4.9 (147 reviews) from €190

Silent retreat with meditation and yoga

Aschau im Chiemgau, Germany

$727 / 7 Days

TIME FOR YOU: Constellations, self-awareness & coaching with horses

Wiesenburg/Mark, Germany

$727 / 2 Days

5.0

Live in harmony with your soul - 10 days of intensive individual coaching & nature

Krakow am See, Germany

$2,462 / 10 Days

Yoga, Meditation, and the Power of Silence in Chiemgau

Aschau im Chiemgau, Germany

$660 / 4 Days

An Introduction to Mindful Silence

Aschau im Chiemgau, Germany

$660 / 4 Days

5.0

RETREAT: TIME OUT WITH HORSES JUST FOR YOU

Wiesenburg/Mark, Germany

$996 / 3 Days

5.0

Inner Light Retreat – Silent Retreat – A Soul’s Journey to Yourself – Preparation for the Darkness Retreat

Ahausen, Germany

$212 / 3 Days

Silent Retreat: Setting Intentions & Finding Focus [3–4 Days Near Berlin]

Groß Kreutz (Havel), Germany

$231 / 3 Days

3-Day Vipassana Retreat Near Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Meditation Weekend

Leverkusen, Germany

$313 / 3 Days

Nonduality—A Retreat in the Light or in the Dark

Kelkheim (Taunus), Germany

$738 / 4 Days

Darkness Retreat in the Taunus Mountains – A Retreat into Total Darkness

Kelkheim (Taunus), Germany

$738 / 4 Days

New Year's Silent Retreat at Ottobeuren Abbey — Embracing the New in Silence

Ottobeuren, Germany

$380 / 4 Days

Nourish your wild spirit in the tranquility of autumn. A retreat in the Allgäu: Experience nature & turn inward

Oy-Mittelberg, Germany

$503 / 5 Days

Dark Retreat for Couples – What Emerges Between You

Kelkheim (Taunus), Germany

$1,231 / 4 Days

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does noble silence actually mean?

Noble silence, a term from the Buddhist tradition, goes beyond merely being quiet. It means not speaking, but also not seeking eye contact, not reading, not using a smartphone and in many houses not writing either. The goal is not to bind attention with language, images or interpersonal signals but to leave it with breath, sensation and present experience. In Christian monastic houses this is often called silence of attention or recollection, in Zen houses mokuyo, in Vipassana houses noble silence. The exact practice varies: some houses allow short factual exchanges with the housekeeping, others insist on complete silence except in teachings. The ground rules are explained clearly at the start.

How much does a silent retreat in Germany cost?

Across all 38 active programs, the average is €743, with a range from €190 for weekend formats to €3.379 for longer monastic stays or ten-day Vipassana retreats. A five- to seven-day monastery week or sesshin with a double room, vegetarian full board and guidance typically sits between 350 and 800 euro. Many houses, especially in the Buddhist and contemplative Christian traditions, work with donation or self-assessment models; in the Goenka line, ten-day retreats run entirely on a Dana basis without a set price. Travel and insurance are not included.

How long should my first silent retreat be?

For a first attempt, a weekend silent retreat of two to three days or a three- to five-day monastery week works well. You get a feel for sitting positions, daily structure and silence without running into the sesshin discipline that is hard to carry without experience. Five- to seven-day sesshins and monastery weeks are a good second step. Ten-day Vipassana retreats are demanding and not recommended as a first-time experience, because the full silence, long sitting blocks and strict daily order ask for prior experience. After every silent retreat, a transition day before returning to everyday life is advisable.

Which tradition fits me?

Those looking for a religiously carried frame and familiar or open to Christian language are well placed in the Benedictine or Franciscan-shaped monastic houses in the Eifel, Sauerland and Bavaria. Those wanting a clear, methodical practice with longer sittings find a sharp profile in the Zen line, especially Soto, with sesshin weeks. Vipassana fits anyone who wants to engage consistently with the observation of breath and sensation; the Goenka line is particularly strictly structured. MBSR silent weekends are the lowest-threshold, secular variant, good for those trying the format for the first time or wanting to practise without a religious frame.

What if I cannot bear the silence?

The first one to three days are often the hardest. Inner noise grows loud, thoughts circle, sometimes restlessness or sadness surfaces. That is normal and belongs to the practice. The houses are prepared for this and most programs offer an individual conversation with the teacher in which you can discuss what is coming up without breaking the silence entirely. If silence becomes truly unbearable, you can leave at any time; nobody is held back. In practice this is rare, because from day three or four a noticeable settling sets in. A small help: in the days before the retreat, reduce speaking and scale down smartphone use so the jump is not too large.

What is typically included in the price of a silent retreat?

The standard price of a German silent retreat usually covers accommodation in a double or shared room, vegetarian full board and guided practice. Teachings and one-on-one interviews with the teacher are part of most programs. What can come on top: single-room supplements; in the Buddhist and contemplative Christian traditions, a Dana offering to the teacher; in some houses, a small material fee for reading texts or sitting cushions. Travel and insurance are not included. Among the 38 programs, the range from €190 to €3.379 is wide; a detailed comparison before booking pays off.

Silent Retreats in Germany

Silent retreat with meditation and yoga

TIME FOR YOU: Constellations, self-awareness & coaching with horses

Live in harmony with your soul - 10 days of intensive individual coaching & nature

Yoga, Meditation, and the Power of Silence in Chiemgau

An Introduction to Mindful Silence

RETREAT: TIME OUT WITH HORSES JUST FOR YOU

Inner Light Retreat – Silent Retreat – A Soul’s Journey to Yourself – Preparation for the Darkness Retreat

Silent Retreat: Setting Intentions & Finding Focus [3–4 Days Near Berlin]

3-Day Vipassana Retreat Near Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Meditation Weekend

Nonduality—A Retreat in the Light or in the Dark

Darkness Retreat in the Taunus Mountains – A Retreat into Total Darkness

New Year's Silent Retreat at Ottobeuren Abbey — Embracing the New in Silence

Nourish your wild spirit in the tranquility of autumn. A retreat in the Allgäu: Experience nature & turn inward

Dark Retreat for Couples – What Emerges Between You

Frequently asked questions

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