10 best places to visit in Germany
Thursday, 24 July 2014
The home of bratwurst and the Black Forest, feast your eyes on these 10 German hotspots.
Germany is a great choice for a holiday; with medieval towns, picturesque mountain resorts and metropolitan cities, there's something to cater for every taste. They've won the World Cup and you'll certainly be on to a winner if you plan a trip to any of these 10 places to visit in Germany.
1) Quedlinburg
You'll feel like you're stepping back in time if you visit
Quedlinburg. This quaint medieval renaissance town, situated to the
north of the Harz Mountains, is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. There
are over 1300 half-timbered colourful houses and cobblestone streets.
It even has the oldest house in Germany, which was built around 1300. Be
sure to check out The Burgberg ('castle mountain') area.
2) Munich
The home of Oktoberfest; Bavaria's capital promises alpine
views as well as bustling beer halls. It's more than just bratwursts,
beers and lederhosen though – this sophisticated city has previously
topped polls for the world's most liveable city. With it's great
shopping, cultural attractions and impressive lakes and mountains, it's a
place that strikes the perfect balance between city life and natural
beauty.
3) Cologne
We've all heard of Eau de Cologne - and this was the
birthplace of the renowned perfume in 1709. The city even has its own
fragrance museum. It's not all about smelling good here though - the
city sits on the River Rhine and the focal point of Cologne is the
famous Cathedral with its towering twin spires. There's also a great
chocolate museum and the 'love locks', which, like Paris' infamous Pont
Neuf, are a collection of padlocks that couples attach to the
Hohenzollern Bridge railings then throw the key in the river below to
wish for everlasting love.
4) Berlin
Germany's capital has got it all; great restaurants,
nightlife, museums, art galleries and beautiful architecture such as the
Brandenburg Gate, Charlottenburg Palace and Berlin Cathedral (pictured
below). You'll never be short of things to see and do, from historical
walking tours to markets, jazz bars and galleries. The East Side Gallery
is the largest open air gallery in the world, and has over 1km of art
work on a section of the Berlin Wall.
More: 10 best free things to do in Berlin
5) Mittenwald
If you're after a hidden alpine gem with clean air and
perfect views at the foot of the Bavarian Alps, look no further than
Mittenwald. It's famous for producing violins, violas and cellos and has
concerts and lectures in the summer time. In the winter, it makes a
beautiful ski resort, so look outside the usual tourist hotspots and
pick somewhere that's off the beaten path like Mittenwald.
Mittenwald is a scenic two hour drive from Munich, you can check out car hire options here
6) Hamburg
Hamburg is home to the third largest port in the world (after London and New York) and this magnificent harbour city offers exquisite seafood (be sure to check out Hamburg Fischmarkt on a Sunday). There's a great shopping area called Alsterarkaden and for those who want to step away from city life, go to Planten un Blomen which has the largest Japanese garden in Europe and hosts free concerts in the summer months. Often referred to as 'The Gateway to the World', you'll find everything you could want in Hamburg - from opera houses to theatres to the largest model railroad in the world (Miniatur Wunderland).
7) Heidelberg
If you're after somewhere that's romantic and full of
natural beauty, Heidelberg is the place. It's home to the oldest
university in Germany and is a place that inspired famous artists,
composers and authors such as Goethe, Mark Twain and William Turner. The
baroque old town has cobbled streets and the castle that overlooks the
town is the main tourist attraction.
8) Bremen
This historic city in Northern Germany is the home of
Beck's beer, and you can even get a guided brewery tour which includes a
tasting session! If you want to soak up some history, check out the
Schnoor District – it's the oldest quarter of the city and has idyllic
alleyways, shops and restaurants that have been in families for
generations. Dom St Petri (Cathedral of St Peter) is a highlight of the
main square and over 1200 years old. The Rathaus (town hall) is another
must-see building which has made it on to the UNESCO World Heritage
List. Be sure to spend an evening in the 'Ratskeller' – a wine cellar
and restaurant with a collection of some of the oldest wines in Germany.
9) Stuttgart
This metropolitan city is associated with automotive
prowess and is known for being the HQs of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. You
can visit both museums while you're there. As well as this, you'll find
vineyards in the Karlshöhe area, so spend an afternoon wine tasting and
admiring the panoramic views of the city. Architecture ranges from the
ultra-modern Fernsehturm (television tower) to the Altes Schloss (Old
Castle) which was originally a water fortress in the 10th century.
10) Baden-Baden
This city is so good, they named it twice! Baden-Baden is
the place to come for wellness and relaxation and the name itself means
'bathing' or 'baths'. A luxurious and exclusive spa town situated in
the northern foothills of the Black Forest. With it's wooded valley
location, and healing waters - it's the perfect place to pamper
yourself. There are two thermal baths (Caracalla Spa and Friedrichsbad)
as well as many spa hotels. When you fancy a break from the bubbles, be
sure to check out 'Festspielhaus' - Europe's second largest opera and
concert hall. Baden-Baden is also famous for Das Kurhaus Casino - known
to many as the most beautiful casino in the world.
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