The Nürburgring is one of the most legendary motorsport venues in the world, built in 1925–27 near the small village of Nürburg in the Eifel region of western Germany. The original 22-km Nordschleife circuit — the "Green Hell" — remains largely intact and is open for public driving on most weekdays: you can pay a lap fee and take your own car or motorcycle around what is widely considered the most challenging road circuit ever built.
The track's history is extraordinary. Niki Lauda's near-fatal crash here in 1976 led to the original circuit being dropped from the Formula One calendar; a new shorter circuit was built alongside it, which hosted F1 races in the 1980s and 1990s. The Nordschleife itself has been immortalized by everything from endurance races to video games — it is a rite of passage for serious driving enthusiasts.
Besides the driving experience, the complex includes a kart track (both indoor and outdoor), a recreation park with rollercoasters, and a museum. The surrounding Eifel landscape is beautiful — hilly, forested, and dotted with castle ruins and volcanic lakes. The village of Nürburg with its medieval castle is worth a short walk. Accommodation in the immediate area is limited; many visitors base themselves in Koblenz or Trier and drive out for the day.
To get there from Frankfurt, take the A3 to the A48 toward Koblenz or Trier, exit at Ulmen/Kelberg (highway 259), and head north following signs to Nürburg — under two hours from Frankfurt in normal traffic.