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Guide:
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Germany Attractions
Germany remains one of the worlds leading sightseeing destinations by virtue of its unique and important historical attractions, charming medieval buildings, varied, beautiful landscape, and legendary cultural events. The country has played a leading role in world history and many of its attractions, varying from celebrated to infamous, are connected to this colourful legacy.
The major cities such Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt are attractions unto themselves, each jam-packed with historical treasures and sites of interest. Dachau and Checkpoint Charlie point to more troubled periods, while the magnificent Rhineland and Garmisch-Partenkirchen region offer natural splendour to please the most demanding outdoors enthusiast. Munich is home to one of the worlds biggest parties, the legendary Oktoberfest, while the Romantic Road between Berlin and Frankfurt is a self-drive tourist classic that never fails to disappoint with its perfectly preserved towns and villages.
Germany is certainly a year-round destination, although be warned the European winters (December to February) can get very cold. The best way to travel around the country is by train as the network is comprehensive, very reliable and safe, and decent value for money. Another good option is to rent a car and drive between attractions as fast as you like on the Autobahn.
The impressive and symbolic Brandenburg Gate that lay forlorn for so long in the no man's land behind the Berlin Wall, is now once again renovated and accessible, along with the newly reconstructed Pariser Platz that links the gate to the beautiful Unter den... see full details
The infamous border crossing point in the wall dividing West and East Berlin has now become a shrine to the wall's memory with the addition of a museum, Haus am Checkpoint Charlie. For nearly three decades between 1961 and 1990, Checkpoint Charlie in... see full details
The Marienplatz is the heart of Munich and the site of its most important historic buildings. The square is dominated by the Neo-Gothic Town Hall featuring its famous Glockenspiel, both built in the 19th century. The Glockenspiel delights visitors when it chimes the hours... see full details
The fairytale castle built by King Ludwig II (known as 'Mad King Ludwig' until his death in 1886) has become the trademark of the German state of Bavaria, with its Gothic wedding-cake tiers and towers. Day tours to the castle are available from... see full details
About 10 miles (16km) to the northwest of Munich on the Stuttgart Autobahn is the town of Dachau, once a quiet artists' community that became the site of the first notorious Nazi 'death camp', where thousands of perceived enemies of the Third Reich... see full details
To experience the best of medieval Germany, hundreds of visitors drive, bus or cycle their way along the Romantic Road, a 180-mile (290km) route between Munich and Frankfurt that links together a string of quaint, well-preserved walled towns dating back a thousand years or... see full details
This quaint town on the steep Elbe hillside was once a fishing village favoured by retired ship captains. Today it has become popular with locals as a weekend excursion from Hamburg, and visitors also throng the narrow alleys and stairways between picturesque houses packed... see full details
Hamburg's notorious red light district to the east of the city centre in the St Pauli zone has become its second-greatest tourist attraction, according to the city management. The Reeperbahn (Rope Street) is where rope used to be produced for the ships in... see full details
Schloss Charlottenburg is the largest and oldest palace in Berlin, an 18th-century Baroque structure that was originally constructed as the summer home for Sophie Charlotte, the wife of Elector Frederick III who became the first Prussian king. The splendid interiors are festooned with art... see full details
The symbolic heart of Stuttgart, the Schlossplatz or Palace Square, is a popular meeting point for locals and travellers alike, the beautifully baroque New Palace providing a majestic backdrop. The former residence of kings, the New Palace was built between 1746 and 1806 and... see full details
Opened shortly before the start of the Football World Cup in Germany, the impressive Mercedes-Benz Museum is housed in a slick, contemporary building, an icon of modern architecture. With an exhibition space of almost 182,986 square feet (17,000 m/sq) filling seven levels, the museum... see full details
Europe's only combined zoological and botanical garden, the Wilhelma Zoo never fails to leave a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of all who explore her confines. Initially built as a Moorish garden for King Wilhelm I in the 19th century, the beautiful... see full details
Just like their cars, the 'small but good' Porsche Museum in Stuttgart is a retrospective of more than 75 years of Porsche engineering and memorabilia. The 20 or so exhibits from the first Porsche-branded car to series cars and the Formula 1 champions... see full details
The capital of the Rhineland, Mainz is a bustling city with a curious mixture of medieval architecture and gleaming office blocks. The Dom und Diözesanmuseum dominates the skyline in the centre of town, and St Stephen's Church, with its original Chagall stained-glass windows, is... see full details
Cologne (or Köln) is one of the largest cities in Germany, and a bustling hub of media and business on the Rhine. The dramatic Kölner Dom can be seen from miles away, and a number of other beautiful Gothic and Romanesque churches dot... see full details
Düsseldorf is one of Germany's economic hubs, with a densely populated city centre housing over 10 million people. The city is lively, with a love of music and culture that is hard to resist. Streets like Bolkerstraße, Ratinger Straße and Kurze Straße are alive... see full details
The Reichstag is one of Berlin's most famous buildings. The seat of Germany's parliament since 1894, the building has had a volatile history, being damaged in World War II, wrapped in a sheet by conceptual artist Christo in 1995, and being massively reconstructed in... see full details
The Fairy Tale Road follows a meandering 370-mile (595km) route that traces the path of famous storytellers the Brothers Grimm. Many people don't realise that the Brothers Grimm didn't simply invent their famous stories, but recorded and collected local legends and folk tales from... see full details
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