Top Travel Destination in Germany

Munich

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Located to the north of the Bavarian Alps, on the River Isar, MUNICH is the capital city of Bavaria, the largest federal state of Germany and one of Europe's most prosperous and expensive cities unich itself was founded in 1158 on the River Isar, and acquired its name, Munchen (home of the monks) from its first monastery. It was the monks that started the beer brewing tradition for which the city is now world famous, particularly since it started celebrating an annual beer festival in 1810. Today close on six million people visit the Oktoberfest every year, and consume more than five and a half million litres of beer during its two-week run. Munich is noted for its architecture and culture, and the annual Oktoberfest beer celebration is world famous. Munich's cultural scene is second to none in Germany, with the museums even considered by some to outrank Berlin in quality. Many travelers to Munich are absolutely stunned by the quality of the architecture. Although it was heavily damaged by allied bombing during World War II, many of its historic buildings have been rebuilt and the city center appears mostly as it did in the late 1800. Founded by Duke Henry the Lion, in 1158, within a century, the city had become the seat of the Wittelsbach dynasty, who ruled the duchy, electorate and kingdom of Bavaria until the end of World War I. Their influence is evident in the concentration of grand Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and neo-classical architecture adorning Munich's streets. Possibly most significantly, the Wittelsbach's patronage of the arts and extensive collections provided the basis for Munich's world-class museums and galleries. The city was the cradle of the Nazi movement after World War I and was the scene of Hitler's first attempt to seize power on 8 November 1923. Furthermore, in 1938, the treaty that surrendered a large portion of Czechoslovakia to the Nazis was signed by Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy in Munich, an act of conciliation that started the slide towards World War II. The city was severe bombarded at the end of the war, but in the post-war years the city was rebuilding with an intensive restoration program, and since then Munich is become in one of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany. Munich is one of Germany's cultural centers, with an amazing array of museums, a vibrant art scene and the world-famous Oktoberfest. Despite its name, events begins in late September and spills into the first week of October, dancing oompah bands and food dominate. With a strong cultural scene, abundantly endowed art collections and excellent shopping, Munich certainly has more to offer than just light entertainment.

Stuttgart

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STUTTGART is the capital of the Baden-Württemberg state and is located in the center of the populated southwestern of Germany. Stuttgart is an ideal starting point for excursions to the Black Forest, the Swabian Alb, the Lake of Constance, the Hohenloher Land as well as the neighboring countries of Austria, France and Switzerland. Stuttgart is a cosmopolitan area and it is one of the prominent and well-known German towns, particularly due to its cultural, administrative and huge economic importance. Situated amongst the rolling hills of Germany's premiere wine-growing region, Stuttgart is capital of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg in southwestern Germany. Dotted with beautiful historical buildings, impressive parks and fantastic art museums, this modern city is a good stopover for its undulating wine estates, annual beer festival, mineral spa culture and acclaimed ballet, opera and philharmonic companies. The city is the place where the motorbike and the four-wheeled automobile were invented, famous and prestigious brands as Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are produced there. One of the Stuttgart’s attractions is the Mercedes Benz museum that is one of the best visited museums. Charming olde worlde quarters like the Bohnenviertel (Bean District) with its sidewalk cafs and cobbled streets, meet the modern pedestrianised precincts of contemporary Stuttgart, boasting the latest in European mode such as Knigstrasse, one of the longest shopping areas in Germany. A big city with a small-town atmosphere, visitors will find the bustling art nouveau Market Hall transports them to former countrified years. Nowadays, this is where organic fruit and vegetables, aromatic cheeses and fresh fish from the North Sea can be found. However, a must for any visitor to this city is a trip to one of Stuttgart's reputed mineral baths, be it the modern and luxurious Mineralbad Cannstatt or the Mineral Bath Berg, exuding a wistful fifties charm. View the city from atop the Fernsehturm (Television Tower), a 712ft (217m) tower with an observation deck and restaurant at the pinnacle where on a clear day, you can see the Black Forest; head to Schlossplatz, a famous landmark and meeting place for locals and visitors, its green lawns littered with youths soaking up the summer sunshine or find your own sanctuary in the dappled shade of the 'Green U' park, a five mile (8km) natural haven in the city centre Stuttgart was chartered in the 13th cent and it became a residence of the counts of Wrttemberg, who made it their capital at the end of the 15th cent. After World War I it became famous for its numerous modern buildings with an innovative architecture. In World War II, the center of the city was almost totally destroyed although after 1945 many old buildings were restored. Stuttgart is a relaxing city, its wonderful environment including the black forest and lots of acres of vineyards which make it one of the greenest cities in Europe. The region's long wine-growing tradition is carefully documented in a museum. Even as visitors come in to land at Stuttgart International Airport, they will be impressed by a fascinating landscape consisting of mountains, woods, vineyards, gardens, meadows and fields.

Mainz

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maniz is an adorable place with all the benefits of a large city and of a small town. It's close to Frankfurt, so it's very easy to get to. On the other hand, it has beautiful, quaint Fachwerkhuser archetecture instead of ominous skyscrapers, and it feels very safe, even in the early morning or late evening. Once the episcopal seat of the influential Prince-Electors, the "civilized" origins of Mainz date back to around 38 BC, when the Romans built a citadel here. The city's location at the confluence of the Rhine and the Main is ideal for trade, something reflected by the artifacts kept in the Landesmuseum, that show there have been settlements here since 300,000 BC! The most logical starting point is the Dom, or Cathedral of St Martin and St Stephan, especially on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, when the farmers market is open. Without doubt: Mainz has an impressive past. Sometimes the Roman relics give away the fact that it has a 2 000 year heritage, sometimes the magnificent baroque buildings remind one of the times of the Electors. The best architects and the most talented sculptors created the general character of the city in the 17th century and founded unique palaces for the nobility, as well as new churches. You will miss a lot by not walking the city on foot: not only the archetecture and gorgeous statuary, but also all of the wonderful bakeries and butcher shops and the little details, like some little kid riding his tricycle over the cobblestones. The city has a wonderful, laid-back atmosphere. There are many pedestrian areas, and the street crossings are respected and popular. The streets tend to be windy, narrow, and irregular, so count on using the signs to find your way back to some sort of reference point. One thing you should watch out for are the cyclists... if you hear a little bell ringing, they probably want you to move to the side of the walkway The Printing Press was invented in Mainz, and there is a museum detailing the development of the printed word, with tons of old Asian, Middle Eastern, and European manuscripts and a dozen antique presses. This Gutenberg Museum is cheap and worth a quick visit. All of the text is in both English and German. Following this theme, there also seems to be a higher concentration of book stores in Mainz than in most cities. A lot of people here speak English, especially in restaraunts or tourist destinations, but you will probably need some German if you want to communicate well in more 'local' places such as the market or the bookstores. Another point of interest is the Cathedral. It's lovely and very interesting inside with lots of carved marble over graves. You could spend a few hours just looking at the sculptures, as they are very expressive. There are also occasional art exhibits in another wing of the cathedral. In the shadow of the Cathedral is the Market Place, which is a really charming, open square for most of the week. Some days there is an actual market abundant with fresh produce, and on the others you can just enjoy the statues. Throughout the entire city are many fountains and statues, from some modern art of a jumping man on a building near the Opera House, to a lovely fountain with fish jumping over balls, to egyptian style obelisks. There is also a beautiful well, the Marktbrunnen, which is the oldest of it's kind in Germany. Most of the Germans here seem to prefer eating foreign cuisine - apparently there is delicious Indonesian, Italian, Indian, or Chinese food to be found. The more traditional German food was incredible, though. Try delicous Pumpkin Soup.

Wiesbaden

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Wiesbaden is a historic spa city, which has catered to people from countries near and far for many centuries. Even the "old" Romans knew of the "Aquis Mattiacis". Should you have to overnight near Frankfurt Airport consider staying in Wiesbaden and visit this small, pretty city. It is much smaller than Frankfurt, but offers a lot. Wiesbaden is a city in central Germany. It is the capital of the Bundesland Hesse. Wiesbaden is situated on the right bank of the Rhine, facing the city of Mainz on the opposite side of the river. Wiesbaden has about 270,000 inhabitants. Beautifully situated between the Taunus highlands in the north and the Rhine in the south, Hesse's capital is a beautiful, elegant and vibrant city where sports and the arts are equally at home. Its 26 hot springs were already worth a mention for the writers of ancient Rome, and today Wiesbaden combines the attractions of a modern conference and trade fair venue with the old-world charm of one of the great spas of yesteryear - and a rich historical heritage including imposing ruins, castles, churches and other monuments. Thanks to its location in the heart of the Rhine-Main-area Wiesbaden has become an important economic centre and seat of many international companies. The Schlossplatz ("Palace Square") is situated in the centre of the city. There are two outstanding buildings around this square: the ducal palace and the new town hall. The palace was built by duke Wilhelm of Nassau in 1840. For the 26 remaining years of ducal authority it was the residence of the ruling family. Today the building serves as Landtag (parliament) for the federal state of Hesse. The New Town Hall replaced the old one in 1887. (The Old Town Hall, built in 1610, is the oldest preserved building of the city and is nowadays used as a civil registry office.) Engraved in the paving in front of the town hall there are the heraldic eagle of the Holy Roman Empire, the lion of Nassau and the lilies of Wiesbaden. The Protestant Marktkirche ("Market Church") was built from 1852 to 1862 in a neo-Gothic style. Its western steeple is 92 m in height, being the highest building of the city. Another building from the regency of duke Wilhelm is the Luisenplatz, a square named for the first wife of duke Wilhelm. It is surrounded by Neoclassicist buildings, and in the middle there is the Waterloo Obelisk, commemorating the Nassauers who died in the wars against Napoleon. The monumental Kurhaus ("spa house") (now containing a casino) and the Hessian state theatre are from the time of emperor Wilhelm II. Apart from the palace in the centre the ducal family had a huge palace on the banks of the Rhine, known as Schloss Biebrich. This baroque building was erected in the first half of the 18th century. North of the city there is the Neroberg. From the top of this hill it is possible to get a panorama of the city. A funicular connects the city with the hill.

Erfurt

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Erfurt is the capital of the German state of Thuringia. It was an important trading town during the Middle Ages, and has many beautiful old buildings and parks. It has a long history as a center of German religion and learning, with one of the oldest universities in Central Europe and a Catholic diocese that was founded in 742 AD. rfurt was first mentioned in 742 under the name of "Erphesfurt". It was an important trading town during the Middle Ages near a ford in the Gera river. Together with the other five Thuringian woad-towns of Gotha, Tennstedt, Arnstedt and Langensalza it was the centre of the German woad-trade. In 1392 the Erfurt University was founded, which was famous at its time but became defunct in 1816. In 1803 Erfurt became a part of Prussia. Although enclosed by Thuringian territory, the city remained Prussian until 1945. After the German reunification Erfurt became the capital of the reestablished state of Thuringia. The emblem of Erfurt is the complex of two churches, Mariendom and Severikirche, which stand directly side by side. Both churches tower above the townscape and are accessible via huge open stairs. Another remarkable site is the Krmerbrcke, a bridge crossing the narrow Gera River. The bridge is covered with buildings and is hence inhabitated. It was built in 1325 with a church on either bridgehead - one of these churches still exists. Erfurt is an attractive, lively city where you can easily linger for several days before heading for larger cities such as Dresden or Berlin. It also seems a bit cheaper than the more heavily touristed cities of Germany, with hotels and restaurants that offer solid middle-class comfort at moderate prices.

Dresden

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It was home to many Saxon princes and kings, the most famous of them being August der Starke (Augustus the Strong), whose kingdom included Poland as well. They apertained to the family of the Wettiner and were closely related to many other European royal families. Many buildings date from their reign and especially the rich art collections are testimony of their extreme wealth. The "Madonna Sixtina" was for instance bought by the son of August the Strong. The last Saxon king abdicated in 1918. Florence of the North" is how Dresden has been called. A southern city in the North, a Baroque metropolis. The city experienced its golden age in the first half of the 18th century under the rule of Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. The Zwinger, the cathedral, the Baroque Knigstrae, Pillnitz Palace and not least the countless art treasures of the museums and priceless wealth of the "Green Vault" treasure chamber all testify to this era. In the 19th century painters, sculptors, authors and musicians - representatives of the early romantics - met here. Dresden was an innovative economic location and one of the richest cities in Germany. Today one can discover the largest villa quarter in the country. The district around Martin-Luther-Platz emerged at the turn of the century with an alternative city culture, with its own theatre, modern music and pubs. The picturesque and architecturally interesting Hellerau Garden City provides a worthwhile detour. The special atmosphere in the City - characterised by the apparent contradictions of the dreamy, almost conventional lifestyle of a royal residence and a creative, cosmopolitan cultural centre - has attracted and inspired countless poets and friends of literature over the centuries. At the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries Dresden became one of the centres of German literature, especially for the Romantic movement. The salons held by Christian Gottfried Krner, and later the house of Ludwig Tieck, were popular meeting places for great poets such as Goethe, Schiller, Herder, Kleist and Novalis and important philosophers such as Humboldt and the Schlegel brothers. The fine arts as well have enjoyed a long tradition in Dresden. Even back in the Middle Ages, important artists of the time were active in Dresden with commissions from the Saxon court. The Dresden Art Academy, today's College of Fine Arts, whose roots stretch back to the 17th century, acquired considerable importance. One of its most illustrious teachers, from 1764, was Bernardo Belotto, better known as Canaletto, the painter of the world-famous townscapes of Dresden. At the beginning of the 19th century, painters such as Anton Graff and Adrian Zingg made the Dresden Academy one of the most important art schools in Europe. Dresden has about ten million tourists a year, most of them from Germany. The Zwinger was rebuilt in 1964, the Semper Opera house in 1985, and the now most famous landmark of Dresden, the Frauenkirche, in 2005. When asked what they like most about their city, Dresden citizens will reply Old Town (which is quite compact, even though it has a lot of well-known attractions and museums of worldwide meaning), Dresden-Neustadt (an alternative central quarter) and the surroundings like the wine town Radebeul, the climbing area Saxon Switzerland, lots of castles, and most of the city landscape of about 80 quarters. The number of international tourism is growing, especially with the US and China. Dresden is a stop between Prague and Berlin, and that's why just one city quarter is recommended. Architecurally, Blasewitz is the most interesting living quarter, despite it being a hilly landscape.

Dusseldorf

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Dusseldorf, capital city of the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, is located at the confluence of the D'ssel and Rhine Rivers; and it is one of the Rhineland's most dynamic cities, boasting a strong economic and cultural foundation. After Frankfurt, Dusseldorf is the largest financial center in Germany and is home to a large and wealthy elite class. Its hallmark is the upmarket nigsallee. Dusseldorf is internationally renowned for its cosmopolitan culture and is one of Europe's main fashion and fair hubs. It is big and commercial; full of banks and industrial offices and skyscrapers, but it's also refreshingly clean. Dusseldorf is also residence to the largest Japanese population in Europe and boasts a number of excellent Japanese restaurants and shops and a striking Buddhist temple. Dusseldorf is known for its many bars in the downtown (Altstadt) area. In fact, many visitors refer to the Altstadt as the "world's biggest bar," so called for the more than 500 clubs and discos that line the cobbled streets. Modern Dusseldorf, on the left of the city, is represented by the Gehry buildings in Media Harbor while in the old quarter, obviously on the right, there are quaint passageways, old churches, traditional brewpubs, bars and restaurants. The two sections are connected by five bridges, being the most impressive the Oberkassel. It is a handsome and elegant, modern city on the banks of the Rhine River. Dusseldorf is a city where everything is close together: just near the wellknown shoppingstreet K'nigsallee is the Altstadt, the old quarter of the city. With its 260 cosy pubs and home-brew taverns it is well known as "the longest bar in the world". A little further on in your trip, you can find renewed proof that the citizens of Dusseldorf love to promenade, go for walks,: the traditional has recently acquired a new companion promenade, which is even two kilometers long. Now that the new Rhine embankment tunnel has diverted the through traffic, the Altstadt has taken back its traditional place by the Rhine. While the traffic races along underground, strollers on the Rhine embankment promenade can admire the outlook over the Rhine and the art nouveau facades of Oberkassel. The view swings to the Rhine tower, which rises above the North Rhine-Westphalia government building. From a bird's-eye perspective you can see the city, the countryside, the industrialized river. You can enjoy a romantic view of the city by exploring it from one of the many white pleasure steamers´of the "Weisse Flotte" (the "white fleet"). Immediately south of Altstadt are some the most important museums and galleries, K20 is famous for its masterpieces by Klee, Picasso and Dal­. K21 is the city's newest contemporary art museum, containing works by Nam June Paik and Bill Viola, and showcasing the latest photographic, sculptural and painting talent.

Berlin

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Berlin is the capital city of Germany and one of the 16 constituent states (Lnder) of the Federal Republic of Germany. Berlin is the largest city in Germany and has a population of approximately 4.2 million within its metropolitan area (3.4 million people within the city limits). It is best known for its historical associations as the German capital, for its lively nightlife, for its many cafes, clubs, and bars, and for its numerous museums, palaces, and other sites of historic interest. Contrary to popular belief, Berlin is also home to many modern, upscale shopping areas filled with department stores and small boutiques that offer the latest in European trends and fashion. Berlin's architecture is quite varied. Although badly damaged in the final years of World War II and broken apart during the Cold War, Berlin has reconstructed itself greatly, especially with the reunification push after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. It is now possible to see representatives of many different historic periods in a short time within the city center, from a few surviving medieval buildings near Alexanderplatz, to the ultramodern glass and steel structures in Potsdamer Platz. Because of its tumultuous history, Berlin remains a city with many distinctive neighborhoods. It is now possible to see representatives of many different historic periods in a short time within the compact city center, from a few surviving medieval buildings near Alexanderplatz, to the ultramodern glass and steel structures at Potsdamer Platz. In addition, there is no city in Europe that parties harder than Berlin; the nightlife of most cities is tame in comparison. There are lots of great clubs and dance parlors. You only need to ask around to find the most popular hotspots in town. Most of the usual good places to go are in the center of Berlin (Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg), but the eastern part of the city has all the nightlife. Berlin has also played host to the "Love Parade," an outdoor rave that attracts millions of people from around the world who dance to rhythmic techno and electronic music and crowd the streets at night. Berlin is also perhaps one of the greenest cities in Europe: over 60% of its surface area is either a park or a river... it has even more bridges than Venice! Berlin has an amazing number of sights, although it is not as centralized or small as other European cities. Sometimes the best things about it have nothing to do with landmarks: simply strolling along one of hundreds of charming streets complete with caf's or sipping a "Berliner Weisse mit Schuss (shot of either raspberry juice or other)" at a beach bar along one of the city's many rivers can be pleasurable enough. The Berliners you'll meet will often be friendly and extremely helpful, although you may also encounter the famous "Berliner Schnauze," a certain brusqueness that can seem rude.

Hamburg

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HAMBURG is the second largest city in Germany, it formed with L'beck, Bremen and Rostock and other European ports the medieval Hanseatic League. Hamburg is a city-state, being as far as possible independent of other states that existed and exist in Germany. However, during the centuries, Hamburg has always been an international city, not only because of its position in international trade, but also in political dimensions. Hamburg is a watery city, geographically, historically and atmospherically. It is Germany's second largest city and lies on the Elbe River, for centuries a major port and trading centre for central Europe. The city has a network of canals that rival those of Venice (it is said to have more bridges than Venice) and is centred on two artificial lakes that take up eight percent of its total area. Probably because of all the water, Hamburg is also known as Germany's 'green city', sporting 1,400 parks and gardens. Modern buildings sit cheek by jowl with historic Baroque and Renaissance architecture, and by night the neon lights dazzle all-night revellers, particularly in the city's notorious red light district, the Reeperbahn. The city is known as one of the most important harbours in Europe and the world, and it is the greenest city in Germany: 13 % of the city are park and greenland, 23 % protected countryside and 6% nature reserves. Nevertheless, two thirds of the city are occupied by parks, lakes or tree-lined canals, giving this huge harbour city a refreshal rural feel. Hamburg has many faces and contrasts are evident wherever you look there. The finest parks and buildings are revealed around the Alster Lake in the city center while the neon-lit Reeperbahn at night revive old memories of "Sin-City Europe". And a walk along one of Hamburg's many canals explains why this city has been called the "Venice of the North". Recently, the city has become a Media center, half of the Nation's newspapers and magazines have their roots here. Unfortunately, large parts of the city were destroyed during the devastating air raids of World War II. In spite of it, Hamburg still has large quarters with expensive houses and villas, home to merchants and captains, surrounded by lots of green. Hamburg keeps its tradition of being an open, yet discreet city. Hamburgers sometimes appear to be quite reserved at first, but once they get to know who they are dealing with, they will be as warm and friendly as you would wish. Unfortunately, large parts of the city were destroyed during the devastating air raids of World War II. In spite of it, Hamburg still has large quarters with expensive houses and villas, home to merchants and captains, surrounded by lots of green. Hamburg keeps its tradition of being an open, yet discreet city.

Bremen

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Bremen is an old Hanseatic town, one of the main north German cities. It was badly damaged during the last World War. In 1949 Bremen was declared an autonomous "Land", and since then it has had a reputation for being the most politically radical part of the country, having elected the first Green MPs in 1979. Despite the vast damage from the war the town still retains a nice big harbor atmosphere and has a few sights worth visiting, not the least of which is Bremen's beautiful Rathaus. As Europe's largest economy and most populous nation, Germany remains a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. Germany moves forward into the 21st century, leaving behind a history of division and tyranny, it is a nation embracing its newfound liberalism and redefining a modern cultural identity. Yet even today, visitors to the country can't escape feeling profoundly moved by this country's past and the effects it still has on its people. Situated in the heart of Europe and bordering nine other countries, Germany provides an ideal gateway to any tour of the subcontinent. Its land is wide and varied with turreted castles nestled below snow-capped mountains, lush river valleys, dark and mysterious forests and bustling medieval villages. This is the land of fairy tales, where farmland minstrels headed to Bremen to become musicians, where Sleeping Beauty was woken and Little Red Riding Hood ventured into the woods. Germany's cities each have something unique to offer the visitor. Each year millions of litres of beer are consumed in Munich during the city's Oktoberfest, where locals and visitors discover true German revelry and 'gemutlichkeit' (a word the locals use to describe a comfortable, sociable environment). Berlin, while still recovering from some of the scars of division, contains many sights from the iconic Brandenburg Gate, to the path of the old Berlin Wall. The city's vibrant nightlife is still evocative of its height in the 1920s and 30s, as characterised by the songs of Marlene Dietrich, the theatre of Brecht and the Film Cabaret. Discover the country that gave us Beethoven and Bauhaus, Goethe and Glhwein, Lager and Lederhosen - you won't be disappointed.

Heidelberg

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Frankfurt

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Cologne

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Regensburg

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Konstanz

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