Playing golf in the homeland of precious stones, on the edge of the Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park
Flying small airplanes and gliders with Aero Club Idar-Oberstein, based at the local airfield
Horseback riding with Reiterverein Idar-Oberstein
The Lake Bostalsee recreation center right on the lakefront: Boat rental, swimming, surfing, sailing and hiking
Mount Erbeskopf, the highest mountain in Rheinland-Pfalz, providing several winter-sports facilities as well as an off-season summer toboggan run
The Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park just outside of the town