The Best Places to Visit in Germany When Travelling from USA

Germany is the economic powerhouse of the European Union. It also doubles as one of the continent's best and most exciting vacation spots. Germany comprises towns of varying sizes interconnected by railways and highway networks called Autobahn. Every turn within the country has nice things to offer, from the magnificent capital city - to the historic city of Munich and everything in between.

Germany is full of good beer, culture, and lively locals and appeals to various visitors. American citizens think, accessibility, sights, culture, food, and value have been used to rate these German locations, and here are the best places to visit in Germany. Whatever you seek, be it an exciting outdoor experience, culture, art, or partying at Oktoberfest, Germany has covered you.

London is the capital city of England; New York is to the US, and so is Berlin to Germany. Berlin is a large city and the center of tourist attractions in Germany. It offers beautiful green spaces, art expositions, and nightlife. It also pays attention to its rich cultural history. The Great Berlin Wall fell in 1989, uniting West and Eastern Berlin. It has led to beautiful memorials like the Berlin Wall Memorial, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and Checkpoint Charlie Museum reminding Germans and their visitors of their history.

To enjoy leisurely strolling in the city, cafe sitting, or days at the park, visiting Berlin between May and September is best. The temperature during this period is usually optimal for outdoor activities. Winter is generally cold and inappropriate for outdoor activities, but hotel rates and airfares are generally cheaper, making it ideal for budget travelers.

Munich has multiple museums scattered across the city that are worth exploring. It is the most expensive German city to visit and the largest. It is home to the famous Oktoberfest, a two-week-long festival, and features the best of Germany's beer. Stunning church buildings and breath-taking gardens are also present in the town and attract tourists year on year. Aside from Oktoberfest, Munich is also home to technology and publishing; many shiny BMWs are easily sighted on the streets.

Unless you are a fan of the Oktoberfest fest that occurs in fall and brings millions of people together in Munich, the best time to visit Munich remains from March to May. The period has optimum temperature and weather conditions for outdoor activities. At this time, the peak of the summer season has not arrived, and the crowd from fall has receded.

Hamburg is a great city to visit via boats, as multiple canals and the Elbe River seamlessly flow through the city center. Hamburg is home to the largest cruise port in Germany due to its numerous water bodies. The city is clustered around its center and can be explored on foot. Visitors who come by boat can easily stroll out to the city center to explore the beauty.

Music lovers find Hamburg a haven as it is home to the Elbphilharmonie complex. The complex has two concert halls that give a great view of the city. The city enjoys its best weather conditions between May and September, which is the best time to visit Hamburg as a tourist.

Its proximity to water bodies makes it an excellent place for seafood delicacies. Hamburg is a green town, and they treat their visitors to exquisite delicacies with green foods and seafood, not leaving out great German beer.

Although the thought of traveling to Germany during winter can be tough and somewhat gruesome, Nuremberg offers one of the best Christmas experiences in Germany. One of the most visited locations is Christkindlesmarkt, Germany's biggest Christmas market.

Medieval structures like the Nuremberg Castle and other remains from WWII, safely tucked away in museums, cause tourists to visit every year. Many tourist attractions are safely stored and protected from the elements of nature so that they can be preserved.

The city of Neuschwanstein is popularly known for the King's castle present therein. Although the castle was initially built and commissioned by King Ludwig II to be a safe place against public life, and was prohibited for outsiders, today, the castle welcomes thousands of visitors yearly. The castle gives a grand view of the surrounding mountains, Bavarian alps, and Alpine lakes.

The castle in Neuschwanstein is typical of the make-believe in bedtime stories. There have been rumors that it inspired the castle in Walt Disney. The road leading up to the castle sets a romantic tone and welcomes a myriad of visitors yearly.

The Black Forest has villages scattered along long valleys. Lakes, forests, and hills are characteristic of the Black Forest. The Black Forest and Baden are known for their exotic spas that help you relax. Tourists travel from far and wide to enjoy Spa sessions in the city. A trip to the Black Forest cannot be complete without a soothing spa session.

Mainz is the wine capital of Germany and is a sight to visit, especially for wine lovers. It is located to the left of the Rhine River, where Main joins the Rhine. The Rheinhessen area, together with Mainz, forms the largest wine-producing region in Germany. Apart from wine, Markt and the Kirschgarten also have great architecture to acquire while taking long strolls along the city center.

Sights to see in Mainz include The Gutenberg Museum, The Mainz Old Town, Romano-Germanic Central Museum, the Mainz Cathedral of St. Martin, which is over 1000 years old, The Deutschhaus, the House of Parliament of Rhineland-Palatinate, and Christ Church which was built between 1898 and 1903.

Frankfurt is the financial capital of the Eurozone and has the European Central Bank in it. It is also home to the Städel Museum, Frankfurt Museum Embankment, and a beautiful botanical garden. Frankfurt serves as a great base from which you can explore the countryside.

Although Frankfurt has its rich supply of medieval architectural masterpieces, it is also home to modern architectural designs, packed full of skyscrapers, and hosts trade shows like the Frankfurt book fair. The Museum of Ancient Sculpture and the Museum of World Cultures is also present in Frankfurt.

Leipzig is known for its markets and traditional fairs and has a wholesome Christmas market. Culture, art, and education are highlights of the city. Leipzig is only about an hour away from Berlin.

It is the hub of learning and literature and houses the German National Library. The Museum of Fine Arts houses thousands of years old paintings on display for visitors and citizens to enjoy. Botanical gardens, green spaces, and parks are scattered all around the city, giving visitors an excellent opportunity to have some outdoor time. To commemorate the defeat of Napoleon, the Battle of the Nations Monument was built in 1913.

Heidelberg is located along the Neckar River and has the country's oldest university. It is a small historic town with a lot of beauty to offer. A brisk walk along the city center and across its Old Bridge reveals the beauty hidden in plain sight.

Heidelberg University - the oldest university founded in 1386, is a scientific hub of Europe. It also influenced the existence of research facilities like four Max Planck Institutes and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, located just adjacent to the university. Other tourist attractions include the Heidelberg Palace, Students' Prison at Heidelberg University, and Heidelberg Zoo.

Bonn exists in the southern part of the Rhine-Ruhr region, is the largest metropolitan area in Germany, and was once Germany's capital city. It is an excellent location for music lovers, as there is always enough good music.

Like other parts of Germany, museums play a significant role in the city's history. Bonn Museum of Modern Art, Museum of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Kunstmuseum are significant museums in the city. Leisure parks and protected natural reserves are also present in Bonn, attracting several tourists yearly.

Saxon Switzerland National Park has unique rock formations in varying shapes and sizes. They are scattered around the park, with the most prominent being the Bastei Bridge, which has unique formations around it. It has an outdoor theater integrated into the park's rocks. Other spots in the park include the Elbe Cycle Route, Painter's Way, and Felsenbühne Rathen.

The National Park was established in 1990 and covers a landmass of 93.5 km². Rules are put in place to preserve its nature as a natural park. Such rules include no climbing when the rock is wet, forbidding metal safety equipment and other chemical aids.

Lübeck is in the Northern part of Germany and is a maritime commerce center, as it is located on the Baltic Sea and is a hub for maritime commerce. Between the 12th and 16th centuries, it was one of the highest trading ports in Europe. It has lots of historic architecture and significance and was tagged as a World Heritage Site in 1987 by UNESCO. The city can be seen in its beauty by boat tours on its numerous waterways.

Some of the fancy tourist sites in Lübeck include the City hall, St. Mary's Church, Salzspeicher, and Hospital of the Holy Spirit, which is one of the city's oldest establishments in Lübeck in 1260. The hospital is a nursing home and is one of the most important buildings in the town.

In the Northern part of Germany, Hannover is known for its numerous gardens, parks, and serene relaxation facilities. It is the third-largest city in the Northern part of Germany after Hamburg and Bremen.

Autobahnen or motorways and rail lines connecting Berlin, the Ruhr area, Düsseldorf, and Cologne of east-western Germany to Hamburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Munich in the North-Southern part all have their crossing point in Hannover.

The Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover Medical School, and its university hospital are some of the great educational institutions in Hannover. It is home to the world's leading transport, logistics, and mobility trade show that comes up biannually - the IAA Commercial Vehicles show. It also hosts the largest sharpshooters' festival in the world.

Stuttgart is home to a myriad of museums present in it; some of the most spectacular being the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum, giving it the title - the cradle of automobiles. It has high-tech industries and is home to companies like Mercedes, Porsche, and Bosch. It also has the highest standard of prosperity of any German city. It is famous as a transport junction and has the second-largest stock exchange in Germany.

It is one of the most congested European cities and filled with many immigrants. Reports say that one in every three individuals in the city is an immigrant. Stuttgart's most iconic architectural landmarks include the Solitude Palace, Alte Kanzlei, the Collegiate Church, the Old Chancellery, and the King's Building, constructed in 1850.

After its destruction in February 1945, Dresden saw a total buildup in a comeback that was not short of a miracle. It is beautifully littered with art and masterpieces in the right places. A great example of the rebuild was Frauenkirche, the famous cathedral built in 1743. It was destroyed in WWII in 1945 but was restored in 2005.

Neumarkt is the city's main square and is a great place to visit. Other sights include the Dresden Castle, Zwinger Palace, Brühl's Terrace, museums, and art galleries.

Trier was founded in 15 BC by the Romans, making it the first German city. The town has a Roman touch to it, some of which include the Imperial Baths, Porta Nigra, St. Peter's Cathedral, and the Basilica of Constantine. The University of Trier, the Trier-Saarburg district, and the Academy of European Law are central places to visit in Trier.

Like other parts of Germany, museums play a central role in retaining the city's history. Some of the most iconic museums include Rheinisches Landes museum, Domschatzkammer - Treasury of Trier Cathedral, Karl Marx House, Toy Museum of Trier, and Fell Exhibition Slate Mine.

Potsdam is located only about 22 miles off the Southwest of Berlin. Thanks to its preserved landmarks and parks scattered strategically around the city, it offers a great time to sync with nature. The Sanssouci Palace, built by King Frederick the Great, is the central attraction point of the city and gives its visitors breath-taking experiences.

On your visit to Berlin, ensure to take time off to visit Potsdam. UNESCO recognized it in the 18th century as a cultural and artistic cultural site. It offers a calmer and nature-oriented experience of Germany.

Bamberg stands as one of Germany's most attractive towns but is often overlooked. It majestically sits between two waterways, the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal and the River Regnitz. The town is famous for Rauchbier, or smoked beer, which tastes like bacon. Major sights include the Old Town Hall, the Bamberg Cathedral, and the dreamy rose garden sitting in the New Residence palace.

Berchtesgaden is beautiful, with mountains, peaks, deep valleys, forests, alpine lakes, and rivers scattered around the city. Jenner mountain is covered with snow in winter and is a go-to place for ski enthusiasts. The Eagle's Nest - a beer garden on the mountaintop- was once owned by Adolf Hitler and sits comfortably in Berchtesgaden. It is a great vacation space in the Bavarian Alps.

The Rhine River flows from Rüdesheim to Koblenz. The valley comprises a mix of wild, agricultural, medieval, and modern structures. Panoramic viewpoints, stone fortresses, and beautiful forests are highlights of the valley. After a long day of touring, ensure to relax with locally sourced wine.

Cologne is famous for its twin-towered cathedral and its numerous artworks in museums. It speaks volumes about history and architecture. History enthusiasts and lovers of chocolate and sports often find their way down here.

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