List of The 10 Best Places to Visit in Germany
The great heart of Central Europe, Germany, flows from the icy waves of the North Sea to the foothills of the Alps and the lakes of Switzerland. Within its borders, travelers will discover city throbs throbbing with history, mythical forests, wineries, glorious Baroque neighborhoods, and some of the most incredible castles in the world. Check out the travel site, OThingstodo, to discover more places to see.
Just check this list of the top 10 destinations in Germany:
1. Berlin
Fresh, sophisticated, cutting-edge and packed to the tip of its iconic TV tower with culture, history and character, Berlin is one of the undisputed capitals on the bucket list. At its heart, the famous Museum Island oozes with everything from classical antiquities snatched from Babylon to Troy, while the darkest tales of the 20th century can be discovered in places like Checkpoint Charlie, the crumbling remains of the Berlin Wall and the stunning Memorial Hebrew by Peter Eisenman. Then there’s the boho center of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, awash with cafes and fine jazz tales, ad hoc craft studios and art galleries, all perfectly balanced with the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate and summer picnics at the Tiergarten.
2. Neuschwanstein Castle
The great romantic legacy of the Bavarian king Ludwig II still stands on the rugged peaks of the German Alps; a testimony of the fairytale-like and ethereal nature of the frozen craggy landscape in which it is located. Hailed by many as the most unique breathtaking castle structure on the planet, Neuschwanstein can be found perched above the charming little town of Hohenschwangau. Its countless turrets and keep, flying buttresses and smooth bridges make it easy to see why the complex inspired both Walt Disney and JK Rowling, while inside, you can discover a glimpse of the opulence and extravagance enjoyed by the famed Bavarian monarch. .
3. Munich
Leather-lover beer Munich, shrouded in mountains, Munich is a fast-paced metropolis in the German deep south. The regional capital of the state of Bavaria, the character and the people here are fiercely independent of the rest of Germany. In these climates it is bubbly weissbier made with old Bavarian recipes, smoked sausage and balancing an often troubled environment (it was here that Hitler attempted the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923) and otherwise rich (Munich enjoyed a golden age during the height of Bavaria king) history. The city itself is a medley of the medieval, the magnificent Baroque and green park, headed by the beautiful Englischer Garten, the sprawling Marienplatz, and the bobsled domes of the Frauenkirche. Fantastic to say the least!
4. Dresden
Razed from oblivion during World War II, Dresden is Germany’s great phoenix city – but you wouldn’t believe it. No, sir, not with that resplendent profile of the Frauenkirche, the flawless neoclassicism of the Zwinger Palace and the pristine faces of the great Operation Semper adorning the city center here, all clustered neatly along the meanders of the Elbe as if they had been intact for centuries. In fact, Europe’s most elaborate postwar urban reconstruction project (sorry Warsaw!) Can be said to have been kind to Dresden, helping to restore this ancient Saxon fortress to the East German jewel it once was.
5. Weimar
Weimar literally bursts with the ghosts of geniuses, such is the persistent intellectual prowess of this city in the central state of Thuringia. Travelers who come soon will find themselves lost among the glorious statues of Goethe, effigies of the great philosopher Schiller, rooms where Liszt, Hummel and Bach would have practiced. Places like Wiemar’s Market Square showcase the city’s so-called Golden Age boom that came with so many great minds; rows of 16th and 17th century palaces and gloriously adorned facades. There are also parks (perfect for flipping through the pages of German philosophers), along with commercials relevant to the founding of the Weimar Republic in 1918.
6. The Rhineland
A mythical place that clings to the meandering canals of the River Rhine as it makes its way through the West German hills north of Lake Constance, this stunning swath of deep valleys is home to some of the most overtime in the country. Along its course, travelers can spot historic towns such as Boppard, the legendary Loreley rocks, two millennia-old Koblenz and the fairytale peaks of Eltz Castle. However, there is one thing that the Rhineland has definitely surpassed the rest of Germany: wine. Yes sir, the cascading vineyards of Riesling and Spatburgunder that descend from the hills to the banks of the Moselle and Rhine rivers represent here some of the best whites and sweeter reds in Europe – or so they say!
7. Berchtesgaden
Nestled beautifully in the high plateaus of the Bavarian mountains, a stone’s throw from the Austrian border, the tranquil alpine enclave of Berchtesgaden is a true beauty – even if the invariably irresistible hill towns of these parts go! Carved wooden balconies blooming with bougainvillea cascading over half-timbered houses in the city center, frescoed facades adorn the central square, and the reflecting waters of Konigssee glisten and sparkle in the distance. Above the gingerbread-type town is where travelers can spy on Berchtesgaden’s somewhat darker past, amidst the rugged corridors of the so-called Eagle’s Nest – Hitler’s once mountain retreat that has sweeping views of the Watzmann and over pine-covered southern Bavaria.
8. Heidelberg
Clustering around the beautiful Neckar River valley as it traverses forested hills in the heart of Baden-Württemberg, Heidelberg is a town’s chocolate box that’s crowned by the crumbling remains of a glorious medieval castle. The citadel rises above the red-tiled roofs and potholed streets of the city of Altstadt (Old Town), a romantic neighborhood of lively student bars and lively music potholes, and is served by the Heidelberger Bergbahn funicular. The occasional honorary statue of Goethe and other German poets dot the center, while a charming bell tower and arched bridges make this forest-shrouded city simply not to be missed!
9. Leipzig
Half a million strong and growing people, Leipzig is hailed as Germany’s most famous city. It confronts Berlin in terms of art and history, with places like the vast Renaissance town hall (the largest in the country), countless hot spots showing the great German masters Goethe and Schiller, and a vibrant underground scene led by artists, types who they fled the inflated prices of the capital. This means that studios and galleries abound between the elegant Baroque opera houses and Bach’s revered tomb in the Thomaskirche, while Saxon clubs, pubs and old taverns dot the fringes of insomnia Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse: the place to come for a beer!
10. Cologne
Dominated on all sides by the imposing Gothicism of the mighty Kolner Dom (a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right!), The Liberal Colony is undoubtedly one of Germany’s must-see metropolises. It is located on the northern edge of the German Rhineland, where the post-industrial cities of Aachen and Bonn meet on the Rhine-Ruhr. The history of the city dates back to the Romans, while its historic center is dotted with splendid Romanesque churches. But the cobblestone streets and historic half-timbered buildings of the Old Town are only half the story. Venture across the Rhine to neighborhoods like Früh em Veedel to discover locals while sipping their Kolsch beers, or head to Agnesviertel for ubiquitous German hipster bars and bohemian drinking dives.