I really like that Germany is a mixture of age-old traditions and forward-thinking beliefs. It’s additionally a land blessed with acres of countryside dotted with chocolate-box-pretty villages, moody forests, romantic river valleys, huge expanses of vineyards, completely preserved half-timbered cities, and the majestic Alps. From my many journeys and Berlin apart, listed here are my favorite locations I wish to share with you…
1. Rothenburg ob der Tauber and the Romantic Highway
Comply with the cobbled streets by means of the fairytale-esque gate embedded throughout the metropolis partitions and return to medieval Europe.
I actually suppose this is without doubt one of the prettiest cities situated alongside the well-known ‘Romantic Highway’ 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 advocate visiting the Market Sq., flanked by 14th-century buildings; the tall City Corridor Tower, which has 241 steps resulting in probably the most gorgeous views over town; and the fascinating Medieval Crime and Punishment Museum.
When evening falls, I’d recommend occurring the amusing Evening Watchman’s Tour!
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Greatest time to go to: summer season 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 known as 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.
Nevertheless, I personally suppose probably the most enticing a part of this space might be seen by driving or climbing alongside the Schwarzwaldhochstraße —a improbable excessive highway by means of rolling hills and valleys, thick forests of black fir timber, and mist-covered lakes.
Some of the picturesque lakes within the space is Titisee; I like to recommend making an attempt to catch the Zapfle-Bahnle practice alone on the scenic route across the lake or observe the lake highway, the place you may soak up the fantastic thing about the tranquil water.
3. Neuschwanstein Citadel
This gorgeous iconic picture of Germany is, in truth, the previous Nineteenth-century house of the late Ludwig II of Bavaria (in any other case often known as the Mad King),
The attractive Romanesque constructing is so fairytale that it impressed the well-known Disney citadel. Though it’s typically overrun with vacationers, this doesn’t detract from the awe-inspiring great thing about this citadel each inside. I’d recommend not lacking this place, it’s in style for a motive!
Probably the most picturesque view of the magnificent construction is from Mary’s Bridge, a cease midway up the hill in direction of the citadel. Be sure you additionally go to the stunning Hohenschwangau Citadel, situated close by.
Situated 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 in every of my private favourites.
It’s additionally typically 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 out of doors 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, holding 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 website, to the delight of its 150,000 residents.
Strolling by means of the streets of this stunning metropolis will convey you face-to-face with a number of the most spectacular structure on this planet!
In case 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 glorious resturants, bars and inns, the fabulous conventional markets and the beer gardens!
Greatest time to go to: summer season however the Christmas interval is particularly magical
Try our video highlights of our journey to Regensburg…
6. Sanssouci Citadel
This grand summer season 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 should 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 tremendous historic metropolis of Bamberg is situated in Bavaria, near the River Major. Its historic metropolis heart is so overflowing with necessary 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 out of doors beer gardens. In my view, 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 full of half-timber cities.
I like to recommend climbing by means of the valley path for spectacular views of mountains, castles, mineral springs, and small nation inns.
The realm from Bingen to Koblenz is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, house to forty castles and stately houses.
Bremen is a Hanseatic metropolis in northwestern Germany. It sits nestled alongside the River Weser, and the small compact metropolis is without doubt one of the oldest in Germany, courting 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’d recommend exploring the pleasant winding cobbled alleyways flanked by a collection of charming medieval homes with picket beamed facades.
I personally suppose the encompassing countryside and farmland are additionally price exploring, particularly alongside the sting of the river Wümme.
Greatest time to go to: summer season 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, in my view, 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 model, 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 stunning nature reserve situated 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 full of 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 affords botanical gardens, climbing trails, and uncommon natural world. Additionally it is blessed with many species of butterflies and small creatures distinctive to this space.
I extremely advocate visiting Brocken, the best mountain in northern Germany, which is situated within the park and taking a gauge practice to the summit to get probably the most gorgeous view of the park under.
Greatest time to go to: spring to autumn however the winter time can 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 situated on the jap shores of the lake attracts in guests 12 months after 12 months.
The lake is situated in Bavaria and boasts 177.4 hectares of pristine waters. I extremely advocate bringing your digital camera alongside, though sadly, the images won’t do justice to the brilliant blues depicted in actual life!
Historical past buffs will love Hohenschwangau Citadel, Germany, the childhood house of King Ludwig II in Bavaria, constructed by Kink Maximilian, Ludwig’s father.
Although the court docket could draw guests in, the city of Hohenschwangau makes probably the most affect.
This city options worlds of pure magnificence with parks equivalent to Poellatschlucht. Strolling by means of this Bavarian city brings guests again to a less complicated time earlier than expertise.
If you wish to get away from all of it and benefit from the pure magnificence and basic structure, in my view Hohenschwangau is the place!
Palaces worldwide have drawn guests for a glimpse into how the best of society have lived for hundreds of years and I’m an enormous fan, it’s a spectacular place!
The ultimate development of the palace was accomplished in 1744, however development had been occurring 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 basic French model 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 in the course of the winter! This park maintains its pure magnificence as park officers refused to restore the injury from a extreme 1983 storm.
Although it might sound odd at this time 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.
Other than being a wild dream, Bavarian Forest Nationwide Park additionally options some unusual animals, together with the pygmy owl and three-toed woodpecker so I’d recommend making an attempt 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 offered a superb backdrop for a number of movies, together with The Grand Budapest Resort, The Reader, The Final Command, and The Inglorious Bastards.
Additionally it is a shocking location for a lot of films, 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. At present’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 way of transportation, a fishing avenue, and a vacationer attraction. Gorlitz is a hidden gem, not close to many of the nation’s main points of interest.
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 suppose 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 an enthralling 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 great surroundings! The Rieslings made listed here are identified to be among the many greatest on this planet!
I additionally extremely advocate exploring the picturesque castles and quaint villages situated right here!
Greatest time to go to: summer season and early fall
18. Lichtenstein Citadel
I really like this attractive, fairytale like citadel situated within the Swabian Alps!
This citadel is open to the general public, however keep in mind it’s a privately owned construction. The court docket, constructed within the Gothic Revival model, was crafted between 1840 and 1842.
Restoration of the historic citadel was accomplished in 2002 by means of non-profit group assist. If you wish to stay out your fairytale fantasies, Lichtenstein Citadel is the place to do it.
Ramsau is definitely not the most important 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 will not be heading to the realm for numerous points of interest however quite for an opportunity to benefit from the nice outdoor. Other than being utterly breathtaking, the realm boasts the third-highest mountain in Germany, Waltzmann.
Lake Hintersee and the village’s native church are additionally well-known points of interest.
It’s a charming city the place you may recognize German landscapes. Websites and points of interest all through Quedlinburg are alongside the Romanesque Highway, 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 amazing 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, situated 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 gained’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 without doubt one of the most well-known points of interest based in 1930.
In case you favor to see the mural arts, a spot that may be a should is the outdated city, the place you may recognize painted buildings, beautiful church buildings, and a nice environment.
Nonetheless need extra? Then I’d recommend heading for the elegant metropolis of Munich, which is house to the well-known annual Oktoberfest, the hanging resort city of Monschau, the tremendous baroque college metropolis of Heidelberg, Lübeck town famend for its Brick Gothic structure, and the spectacular surroundings of the Rems Valley.
