The way we all portray Germany could have been so very different had the World Wars turned out differently but fortunately we can all now appreciate what a beautiful country the Germans live in!
Whether you are associating the many German brews that originate out of the Bavarian regions or the infamous schnitzels that you can buy on those idyllic Christmas markets, there is so much to do, see and experience in the stereotypical heart of Europe.
Here are just a few of the top attractions and regions worth visiting, and certainly at the top of my bucket list whenever I am able to visit the German homeland.
Berlin
There are so many amazing attractions in Berlin that you literally could spend weeks here and not have enough time to see everything a tourist would want to check out! The Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Building and Museum Island are just a few examples of the myriad of attractions in the German capital.
Munich
Head to the heart of Munich to sample Oktoberfest if you have any interest in experiencing Beerfest in action. Another popular attraction if you are looking to relax is The Englischer Garten which is a large, public park that of course hosts two public beer gardens. Come on, it wouldn’t be Germany without such attractions on every street or park corner that you pass!
Neuschwanstein Castle
Possibly one of the most famous castles around the world, purely for the beautiful infrastructure and its location, Neuschwanstein Castle renowned as a symbol of idealised romantic architecture. Of course, this castle is also recognized for the tragic story of it’s owner King Ludwig II.
The Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. Dubbed by visitors as the ultimate relaxation spot, this patch of forest offers a variety of hikes passing through tranquil settings of rivers and waterfalls, making this a great romantic spot to take a loved one for a weekend getaway.
Frankfurt
Another amazing German city that sometimes gets left behind Munich and Berlin is Frankfurt. With an abundance of historic architecture here, you can see sights such as the Goethe House, Cider Taverns in Sachsenhausen and the Römerberg. It is also renowned as the New York City of Germany with the plethora of high-rises and financial district hub.
***This post is part of the 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge (#DreamDestinations #AtoZChallenge)***
Neuschwanstein Castle and the Black Forest are what’s calling my name! I also really want to doa WWII themed trip and obviously, Germany plays a huge part in that. Great choice for G! 🙂
If I were to move to Europe Germany is where I’d settle down. I absolutely love this country. From the food and people to the history, culture, architecture, efficiency, public transport, it all works for me. Unfortunately I’ve only had a chance to visit a small section of the country but hopefully one day I will see more. Great post 🙂
There are so many things to do in Germany. I would take a boat on the Rhine or Mosel River as my number one thing to do. Good list, Chris!
Love Germany – my current home! Great list of sights to see. I’m hoping to make it to Neuschwanstein for the first time this summer. I can’t wait.
I recently spent two days in Berlin. What a nice city. To the right of that Brandenburg gate that you have pictured, is a silent room. It’s built to just be a way to escape all the noise outside and reflect. It’s really cool and different.
Berlin is possibly my second favourite European city. There is so much to do there, and I respect the way the past is confronted head on. This can make it a place which wrings your emotions to visit though.
Love Germany! I would love to explore more of it, especially Berlin!
For some reason, Germany was never high on my travel wish list. I would love to see that castle though! A sleepover there would be quite cool!
I would love to spend a few days in Germany, in particular to explore Munich and Berlin. I am always intrigued to visit historic attractions and the Berlin Wall, Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate would all be really cool to see. But at the same time I can certainly appreciate why Germany wouldn’t be top of many folks’ bucket lists!
We were in Berlin only weeks ago and I would definitely recommend a trip there to anyone. If you do go, book your Reichstag tickets online ahead of time, they are free and you don’t have to queue! We are heading off to explore Germany further for a week at the end of May and cant wait – castles are on the list along with hiking and some traditional Beer drinking will probably be called for at the end of all of that! 🙂 Great G!
Great tips there Tam in particular the advanced booking for the Reichstag. I think if attractions allow for advanced booking it is generally recommended to do this but even doing this generally doesn’t stop you from having to line up to get through security etc. It’s great to hear that you were able to bypass the queuing 🙂
Of course traditional beer drinking just has to be done in Germany and neighboring Belgium – it just wouldn’t be the same without it right 🙂
I must be honest and say that Germany is not one of my favourite countries but I am hoping that when I finally visit the Black Forest is will change my mind.
It’s interesting because I kind of felt the same way Jenny about Germany until recently! It’s probably because the Germans always beat the English in football but that’s a completely different topic 🙂 But when you actually do some research and see how many cool things there are in Germany, it certainly makes it intriguing and worthwhile exploring.
I would love to visit Germany one day and you’ve intrigued me again with another castle! Neuschwanstein Castle looks incredibly beautiful, I have got to visit but before I go I better read up on King Ludwig II…. sounds interesting.
I so love Germany 🙂
It was somewhere that I didn’t think I would enjoy, but when I first went to Berlin I fell in love, and have since been to Munich and Stuttgart and am returning to Berlin next month.
Great post guys! I love Germany and have been to 3 of the 5 you have mentioned. Would love to visit the Romantic Road and Cologne one day.
I’ve lived in Berlin for a short while many years ago and it still is one of my all time favourite cities in the world. There are so many things to see, enjoy and discover. Also the contrast between the East and the West side makes this city so attractive.
As a neighbour of Belgium, Germany is well known and visited a lot by Belgians.
PS: if you want visit Germany by car, make sure to do it asap… The German government has agreed to establish a toll for driving on the country’s highways.
Driving on the German Autobahn would be a cool experience I am sure. I am not sure that I would want Heather behind the wheel there, LOL she won’t even drive in England so I can only imagine what she would be like on the German roads. I like how you mentioned the contrast between the East and West because I think as you indicated it emphasizes the pure attraction of the whole city.
Just realized you’re not blogging about places you’ve been, and thus the pictures aren’t yours…I was so pea green with envy. So then, that brings up a question………where are you finding these awesome photo’s? Germany, on my list. You’re the 2nd or maybe 3rd person today I’ve hit that’s blogged about Germany. I’m 5th generation removed on my Dad’s side and have always wanted to go there.
Sandy, the images are just Creative Commons pictures available for reuse. You can either visit the Creative Commons site or use sites such as Flickr/Google Images but make sure that you select only those that are available for reuse.
Germany has so much to offer and you would be crazy if you didn’t want to explore there. Add the fact that you have some long distant family connections and I am sure that you will have a great time exploring your heritage whenever you make it to Deutschland!
Berlin is my favourite city in Germany and one of the favourites in the whole world! Good choice guys!
Cheers Marysia, we are excited about experiencing all of the history in Berlin plus of course sampling some of that stereotypical German brew and cuisine options.
We’re hoping for a Germany trip in 2015 after we do Ireland and England this year. I was born on a military base in Heidelberg but haven’t been back as an adult and would love to visit many of the places my parents took me when I was a child!
Neuschwanstein Castle is at the top of my MUST see list!!!
I have pictures of it everywhere – would love to see it one day soon.
Its a pity you arent allowed to take photos of the inside ;(
I am a Germanophile (or Teutonophile). There … I said it. As a wae lad, I cheered for England (I still have a big warm spot for the Premier League). After having lived in and visited Germany many times, I cheer for the D-land, and I’m a fan of 1. FC Köln as well : they have standing room terraces in the stadium! There is a wide and diverse array of things to see, sample, nosh and guzzle, and do throughout the nation. Thank you for highlighting my “adopted” country!
I still wish I could say that the Premier League is the best in the world, maybe its the most entertaining but with the likes of Bayern and Dortmund now coming to the forefront especially in the Champions League, I fear the Premier League is slipping a little.