I really like that Germany is a mixture of age-old traditions and forward-thinking beliefs. It’s additionally blessed with miles of countryside dotted with chocolate-box-pretty villages, darkish moody forests, romantic river valleys, big expanses of vineyards, completely preserved half-timbered cities, and the majestic Alps. From my many journeys and Berlin apart, listed below are my all time favorite locations I’d liked to share with you…
1. Rothenburg ob der Tauber and the Romantic Street
Comply with the cobbled streets by means of the fairytale-esque gate embedded throughout the metropolis partitions and return to medieval Europe.
I actually assume this is among the prettiest cities positioned alongside the well-known ‘Romantic Street’ in Bavaria, an attraction that additionally deserves a spot on this listing. The highway is a picturesque 350km route by means of the forests and mountains of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
Rothenburg, though small, is filled with thrilling websites I extremely suggest visiting the Market Sq., flanked by 14th-century buildings; the tall City Corridor Tower, which has 241 steps resulting in one of the crucial gorgeous views over town; and the fascinating Medieval Crime and Punishment Museum.
When evening falls, I might counsel happening the amusing Night time Watchman’s Tour!
Ebook A Journey!
We are able to e-book your journey hopping round Germany’s stunning locations by means of our free, top-rated journey planning service!
Greatest time to go to: summer time however Christmas particularly magical
2. The Black Forest
A land of cuckoo clocks and cherry gâteaux, this place is so magical it even impressed a number of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales.
It covers a big space inside which you’ll discover the spa city of Baden-Baden (in any other case often called the “Jewel of the Black Forest”), Freiburg (a vibrant college metropolis), and Offenburg (the capital of the wine area) in addition to many different fairly quaint German villages.
Nonetheless, I personally assume probably the most enticing a part of this space might be seen by driving or mountaineering alongside the Schwarzwaldhochstraße —a incredible excessive highway by means of rolling hills and valleys, thick forests of black fir bushes, and mist-covered lakes.
One of the picturesque lakes within the space is Titisee; I like to recommend attempting to catch the Zapfle-Bahnle prepare alone on the scenic route across the lake or observe the lake highway, the place you possibly can soak up the great thing about the tranquil water.
3. Neuschwanstein Fort
This gorgeous iconic picture of Germany is, in reality, the previous Nineteenth-century house of the late Ludwig II of Bavaria (in any other case often called the Mad King),
The attractive Romanesque constructing is so fairytale that it impressed the well-known Disney citadel. Though it’s usually overrun with vacationers, this doesn’t detract from the awe-inspiring great thing about this citadel each inside. I might counsel not lacking this place, it’s widespread for a motive!
Essentially the most picturesque view of the magnificent construction is from Mary’s Bridge, a cease midway up the hill in the direction of the citadel. Be sure to additionally go to the beautiful Hohenschwangau Fort, positioned close by.
Positioned within the southeastern portion of Germany and on the border of Austria is the gorgeous Lake Königssee —Germany’s most profound and cleanest lake and one among my private favourites.
It’s additionally usually hailed as Germany’s most stunning Alpine Lake, which, given the competitors, is sort of an accolade!
Bavaria is a very scenic space. This nook of the area has been used for outside recreation for hundreds of years – each Bavarian royalty and the native rulers of Berchtesgaden and Salzburg as soon as hunted right here.
Since 1909, solely electric-powered passenger ships, rowing, and pedal boats have been permitted on the lake, preserving with its pure and pure environment.
UNESCO World Heritage websites are scarce, but Regensburg, Germany, has gained the group’s consideration! In 2006, Regensburg turned a UNESCO World Heritage web site, to the delight of its 150,000 residents.
Strolling by means of the streets of this stunning metropolis will deliver you face-to-face with a number of the most spectacular structure on the earth!
When you love water, then Regensburg would be the metropolis for you as town is perched alongside the Danube, Regen, and Naab rivers.
My favorite metropolis highlights embody the attractive structure, the various wonderful resturants, bars and inns, the fabulous conventional markets and the beer gardens!
Greatest time to go to: summer time however the Christmas interval is particularly magical
Try our video highlights of our journey to Regensburg…
6. Sanssouci Fort
This grand summer time palace sits on a big hill close to Potsdam in East Germany.
Created for Fredrick the Nice of Prussia, it resembles the Palace of Versailles primarily due to the beautiful terraced gardens planted and actually, I believe it’s a rare place which is price exploring particularly in the event you’re a historical past fan.
Secluded temples and pavilions are throughout the gardens, and the palace itself is embellished with golden Rococo element and 18th-century furnishings.
The effective historic metropolis of Bamberg is positioned in Bavaria, near the River Fundamental. Its historic metropolis heart is so overflowing with essential structure that it has earned itself UNESCO World Heritage Web site standing.
On a bridge over the Regnitz, discover the slender cobbled lanes of the Previous City, the elegant Thirteenth-century cathedral, and the city corridor.
Wander alongside the meandering streams after which cease for a glass of the native beer in one of many many outside beer gardens. For my part, this metropolis is significantly chocolate-box fairly and is properly price exploring!
The gorgeous River Rhine cuts by means of the Rhenish slate mountains, meandering between hillside castles, sloping fields of wine-producing grapes, Gothic church buildings, forested hillsides, craggy cliffs, and idyllic villages crammed with half-timber cities.
I like to recommend mountaineering by means of the valley path for spectacular views of mountains, castles, mineral springs, and small nation inns.
The world from Bingen to Koblenz is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, house to forty castles and stately properties.
Bremen is a Hanseatic metropolis in northwestern Germany. It sits nestled alongside the River Weser, and the small compact metropolis is among the oldest in Germany, relationship again 1200 years.
In addition to the gorgeous historic structure, it’s well-known for uplifting bnthe Grimms’ folklore story of the Musicians of Bremen.
Within the older a part of town (the Schnoor-Viertel space), I might counsel exploring the pleasant winding cobbled alleyways flanked by a collection of charming medieval homes with picket beamed facades.
I personally assume the encircling countryside and farmland are additionally price exploring, particularly alongside the sting of the river Wümme.
Greatest time to go to: summer time or Christmas for the markets
10. Sylt
Typically forgotten by international vacationers, the Island of Sylt (a part of the German Frisian Islands) is linked to the mainland by the Hindenburgdamm causeway and I really like this underrated gem!
With a number of beautiful resorts, 40km of sandy seashores, an uncommon shoreline, and loads of breathtaking nature, for my part, Sylt is properly price a go to; as a result of it’s separated from the mainland, it has remained comparatively untouched.
The homes on the island are constructed within the pleasant Fristian type, and the cliffs lining the coast are slowly eroding, creating an uncommon and distinctive sample.
Fields of flowers, colourful lighthouses, and sparsely populated villages have made this an unique hidden gem and playground for the wealthy and well-known.
Location: Frisian Islands, Northern a part of the nation
Greatest time to go to: late spring to early autumn
11. The Harz Nationwide Park
The Harz Nationwide Park is a beautiful nature reserve positioned within the German federal states of Decrease Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.
It’s a mountainous area shrouded in mist (or brightly lit by the solar) and crammed with lakes, woodland, tales of folklore, and loads of alternatives to be one with nature.
I really like this park for its strolling and snowboarding and provides botanical gardens, mountaineering trails, and uncommon wildlife. It’s also blessed with many species of butterflies and small creatures distinctive to this space.
I extremely suggest visiting Brocken, the very best mountain in northern Germany, which is positioned within the park and taking a gauge prepare to the summit to get probably the most gorgeous view of the park beneath.
Greatest time to go to: spring to autumn however the winter time can also be magical
12. Eibsee
Eibsee is a world away from the hustle and bustle of metropolis life, and it’s a tranquil and extremely photogenic magnificence spot.
Summers right here enable guests to take pleasure in kayaking or swimming within the crystal clear waters of Eibsee Lake, and the quaint city positioned on the japanese shores of the lake attracts in guests 12 months after 12 months.
The lake is positioned in Bavaria and boasts 177.4 hectares of pristine waters. I extremely suggest bringing your digicam alongside, though sadly, the photographs is not going to do justice to the intense blues depicted in actual life!
Historical past buffs will love Hohenschwangau Fort, Germany, the childhood house of King Ludwig II in Bavaria, constructed by Kink Maximilian, Ludwig’s father.
Regardless that the courtroom could draw guests in, the city of Hohenschwangau makes probably the most affect.
This city options worlds of pure magnificence with parks reminiscent of Poellatschlucht. Strolling by means of this Bavarian city brings guests again to a less complicated time earlier than know-how.
If you wish to get away from all of it and benefit from the pure magnificence and traditional structure, for my part Hohenschwangau is the place!
Palaces worldwide have drawn guests for a glimpse into how the very best of society have lived for hundreds of years and I’m an enormous fan, it’s a spectacular place!
The ultimate building of the palace was accomplished in 1744, however building had been happening since 1720.
Prince Bishof of Wurzburg, Johann Phillip Franz Von Schonborn, and Friedrich Carl Von Schonbron, his brother, commissioned the work.
I really like that the structure depicts the traditional French type with over-the-top grandeur at each flip!
Location: Würzburg, Bavaria, southern a part of the nation
I really like this Instagram-worthy gem particularly throughout the winter! This park maintains its pure magnificence as park officers refused to restore the injury from a extreme 1983 storm.
Regardless that it might sound odd as we speak for officers to make such a choice, it paid off for the park, making it among the many extra rugged and naturally wild parks on Earth.
Aside from being a wild dream, Bavarian Forest Nationwide Park additionally options some unusual animals, together with the pygmy owl and three-toed woodpecker so I might counsel attempting to identify them!
Wildlife enclosures are discovered all through the park to provide the animals a way of security whereas offering people with an up-close view of the animals of their pure habitat.
The surroundings right here is significantly gorgeous and within the winter the thick forest is adorned with heavy snow!
Location: Bavaria, southeast
Customer centre handle: Hans-Eisenmann-Haus 1, 94556 Neuschönau, Bavaria
Greatest time to go to: all 12 months spherical (the winter is particulary magical)
16. Gorlitz
Gorlitz has supplied a superb backdrop for a number of movies, together with The Grand Budapest Resort, The Reader, The Final Command, and The Inglorious Bastards.
It’s also a shocking location for a lot of motion pictures, however few locations, even in such a historic nation as Germany, maintain as a lot historical past as Gorlitz.
Though modernized, the city’s roots return to 1071, when it was initially a slave settlement. As we speak’s Gorlitz nonetheless maintains the markings of the previous in wealthy historic buildings and structure, however most guests go to the Neisse River.
The river flows by means of town, offering a method of transportation, a fishing avenue, and a vacationer attraction. Gorlitz is a hidden gem, not close to a lot of the nation’s main sights.
Nonetheless, folks flock to this a part of the nation for its serene setting and calm environment. If you wish to get away from all of it and see a number of acquainted buildings, I personally assume Gorlitz is the place to do it!
Greatest time to go to: late spring to early winter
17. The Moselle Valley
I liked the Moselle Valley! I believed it was a captivating and picturesque place which even matches the class and romance of Prague and Rome!
This space has been house to varied cultures for over 2000 years and has a number of cultural influences. The Moselle Valley homes many vineyards, which provides to the fantastic surroundings! The Rieslings made listed below are identified to be among the many greatest on the earth!
I additionally extremely suggest exploring the picturesque castles and quaint villages positioned right here!
Greatest time to go to: summer time and early fall
18. Lichtenstein Fort
I really like this attractive, fairytale like citadel positioned within the Swabian Alps!
This citadel is open to the general public, however bear in mind it’s a privately owned construction. The courtroom, constructed within the Gothic Revival type, was crafted between 1840 and 1842.
Restoration of the historic citadel was accomplished in 2002 by means of non-profit group help. If you wish to stay out your fairytale fantasies, Lichtenstein Fort is the place to do it.
Ramsau is actually not the biggest city in Germany, with a inhabitants of round 1,800, however it’s identified to be among the many most stunning for its quaint, picturesque setting.
These venturing to Ramsau usually are not heading to the world for numerous sights however somewhat for an opportunity to benefit from the nice open air. Aside from being fully breathtaking, the world boasts the third-highest mountain in Germany, Waltzmann.
Lake Hintersee and the village’s native church are additionally well-known sights.
It’s a charming city the place you possibly can recognize German landscapes. Websites and sights all through Quedlinburg are alongside the Romanesque Street, and this space is one other place identified for being a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.
With a inhabitants of simply 24,000, I really like that the city maintains a lot of its small-town really feel with out being an awesome metropolis. Guests take pleasure in strolling by means of Quedlinburg and taking within the wealthy historical past.
The town was named the primary capital of Germany in 919 AD and has an illustrious historical past to boast about.
Location: Saxony-Anhalt, central a part of the nation
Mittenwald is in the midst of the Bavarian alpine peaks, positioned within the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen alongside the Austrian border.
This enticing city has enchanting homes with mural artwork (Lüftlmalerei) and beautiful cobbled stone lanes. I do know you received’t be dissatisfied with the views that mix picturesque mountains and a serene vista, it’s significantly gorgeous!
That is the right place to go to in Germany in case you are an artwork and violin fan, because it’s identified for manufacturing violins and cellos. Mittenwald Violin Crafting Museum is among the most well-known sights based in 1930.
When you want to see the mural arts, a spot that could be a should is the outdated city, the place you possibly can recognize painted buildings, beautiful church buildings, and a pleasing environment.
Nonetheless need extra? Then I might counsel heading for the elegant metropolis of Munich, which is house to the well-known annual Oktoberfest, the putting resort city of Monschau, the effective baroque college metropolis of Heidelberg, Lübeck town famend for its Brick Gothic structure, and the spectacular surroundings of the Rems Valley.
