Germany Travel Guide

Berlin

If Paris is a fluffy Karan Johar film, Berlin is an Anurag Kashyap noir. Equal parts artsy and gritty, Berlin is a tourist’s dream. Its turbulent past lends itself beautifully to its present with most of the top attractions in Berlin dating to the last century. Some of the best places to see in Berlin include the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, the Museumsinsel and the Reichstag, the German parliament building that offers great views of the city skyline. Like all Germany travel guides we would definitely recommend walking along the Berlin Wall, stretches of which were kept intact as reminder of the horrors of communism.

Munich

"You do not even go somewhere else, I tell you there's nothing like Munich. Everything else is a waste of time in Germany" — Ernest Hemingway Known for art, culture and Oktoberfest, Munich is one of Germany’s biggest tourist draws. It’s the perfect place to spot gothic architecture and experience unparalleled Bavarian hospitality. On you visit to Berlin we suggest making a visit to the BMW Museum and the Deutsches Museum as well as the city’s largest church, Frauenkirche, a part of your Germany travel planning. Another addition to your top places to see in Germany is Neues Rathaus, Munich’s city hall.

Frankfurt

The financial heart of Germany, Frankfurt is home to glitzy skyscrapers and the German Stock Exchange. It is also where you will find medieval squares and cobbled stones streets straight out of a Grimm fairy tale. Some of the best attractions in Frankfurt are the iron bridge, the stock exchange and St Paul’s Church. We also recommend making a visit to the Opera House at Frankfurt a part of your Germany travel planning. Also deserving a visit is the old centre of town called Römerberg. The area has charming buildings that date back to the 14th century and several little cafes and boutiques that are begging to be discovered.

Cologne

Cologne is the most multicultural of German cities with Turkish, Polish, Japanese and even Russian influence on the city’s ethos. On your visit to Cologne, be sure to pay your visit to the best attractions in the city like the Cologne Cathedral, the harbour with its futuristic buildings, and the many museums and galleries that you’d fine in the pages of Germany travel guides. We particularly love the Museum Schnütgen that houses exquisite pieces from the Middle Ages. Make sure to add it to your Germany travel planning.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is where you would imagine Snow White lived or Sleeping Beauty or Shrek. Built in the 19th century by the king of Bavaria, the castle looks like it belongs in a fairy tale. One of the top attractions in Germany, the palace sees over a million visitors who come down to see it from across the world. Build atop a clip in the foothills of the Alps, near the Bavarian village of Hohenschwangau, the palace has beautiful, gilded ceilings, tapestry, murals and furniture. If a trip to Neuschwanstein is part of your Germany travel planning, don’t leave without a trip to the Throne Hall. Two stories high, the throne room is the most beautiful of all the rooms in the castle, a room that the king never lived to see.

Brandenburg Gate

Brandenburg Gate is an iconic Berlin attraction, almost synonymous with the city itself. The Gate was built in the 18th century in the neoclassical style and marks the beginning of a boulevard that leads up to the City Palace of Berlin. Considered a symbol of German unity and peace, the gate has stood witness to some of the biggest events in history such as the rise of the Nazis, Soviet Occupation, the Fall of the Berlin Wall and Bruce Springsteen live in concert. Today, you will find the spot rife with peddlers selling souvenirs and celebrity impersonators, but don’t make that stop you from paying a visit to this Germany travel guide favourite.

Cologne Cathedral

Germany’s most visited landmark, Cologne Cathedral sees 20,000 visitors sit at its pews every single day. The reason for its popularity, besides its sheer size, is its beauty. Built in the Gothic style, its spires are some of the tallest in the world. The cathedral’s stained-glass windows, shrine and organ are some of the finest in the world. Keep an eye out for the Crucifix of Bishop Gero on your trip to the cathedral. Dating to the 10th century, the crucifix is the oldest in the world and one of the top things to see in Cologne.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

One of the most sombre sights in Germany, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is located near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The memorial is spread across 200,000 square feet and consist of concrete slabs organised in a grid. Dedicated to the 3 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is a must visit on your Germany holiday.