Travel to Germany

When it comes to Brits going abroad - Germany isn't the first place to spring to mind as a top holiday destination. Those looking for hot sun and sandy beaches tend to head for more southerly European countries, such as Spain, Portugal or Italy and those who are after Alpine environments tend to prefer the famed ski resorts of France, Switzerland or Austria. However, this large European nation does have a prospering tourism industry, and there are plenty of visitors from the UK who have fallen in love with Germany's medieval towns, vast forests and vibrant cities.

The Black Forest is one of the most well known regions of Germany; a wooded mountain range in Baden-Wuttemberg, its highest peak stands at 1493m high. The forest is largely made up of pines and firs, and is criss-crossed with numerous long distance walking trails which make it a haven for walkers and hikers. Along the way, visitors will find impressive lakes such as Titisee, which has its own sand beach (and plenty of opportunity for water sports), and animal lovers can observe a range of fauna such as the Hinterwälder Black forest cows, the giant earthworm - Lumbricus badensis (which is only found in the Black Forest region), as well as eagles and owls.

When it comes to accommodation, travellers are spoilt for choice; at the budget end of the scale, Germany's numerous campsites provide a cheap and cheerful place to pitch a tent; for a slightly more comfortable stay, renting a self catered holiday villa or cottage is ideal, and if you've feeling flush, a stay in one of Germany's castles will allow you to experience what it would be like to be a Count or Countess for a night or two.

Germany is also famed for its river scenery and has a wide variety of different riverscapes to experience, from the mountain streams of Bavaria, to the Rhine Valley which forms part of a UNESCO world heritage site. The Danube and its tributaries is another mighty river which has moved people and cultures for centuries, from Stone Age hunters, to Roman Emperors. River trips on Danube are a popular way of seeing Germany, where visitors can go at their own pace and stop at the many beautiful riverside settlements which host numerous festivals throughout the year.

And finally, for beer lovers, Munich's Oktoberfest is compulsory; this sixteen day celebration attracts some six million people every year during late September and early October. The festival is touted as the world's largest fair, and beer plays a central role in the celebrations with special varieties brewed just for the festival. With a wide range of outdoor activities, pulsating cities and plenty of history on offer, maybe it's time you gave Germany a try?

Germany is one of those countries which you can only discover if you spend lots of time exploring its landscape, its culture, its cuisine and its people. There are so many things to be done and seen in this great country that you will need moths or maybe even years to cover all the touristic attractions from Germany. However, there are very few people who can afford the luxury of spending more than a week or two in vacation. If you have only a limited time to see Germany you should definitely make some time in your schedule for its castles. Situated in some of the most beautiful areas in Germany and built with so much style and elegance, these castles will leave you breathless the moment you will see them.

Burg Eltz Castle

Burg Eltz Castle is one of Germany's best preserved castles. Built in the medieval period, the first written attestation of Burg Eltz dates back from 1157 and from then on the only family in whose administration this castle was is the Eltz family. Even nowadays, a third of the castle is not opened to public as it is the residence of the Eltz family. Only two thirds of the castle can be visited, yet they really worth the effort. You will see here wonderful frescoes, old furniture, paintings and art, beautifully decorated rooms in a style that has passed the proof of time.

Schloss Neuschwanstein

Another great and extremely famous castle, even not that old is Schloss Neuschwanstein. This castle's construction began in 1869, under the reign of King Ludwig II. He wanted an elegant, almost extravagant castle which will fully have its signature on it. It is said that there were no less than 14 carpenters who have worked on the king's bedroom and it took them about 4 years and a half to complete it. Unfortunately, many rooms were left unfinished when King Ludwig II was removed from the throne. However, what has been done is a work of art that deserves all our admiration and appreciation.

This castle is not only famous for its great tapestry, its works of art or its design, but also for the fact that it has served as model for the famous Disney castle from Disneyland. Thus, if you want to see the original, you should not miss this castle!

Frankenstein Castle

If you loved the famous story of Frankenstein, then you may also want to see where it all began. The Frankenstein castle, situated in Damstedt not far from Frankfurt, this castle served as inspiration for Mary Shelly's novel. There are all kinds of legends circulating about this castle and it would be quite interesting to hear what things have taken place inside the now ruined castle.

There are plenty other castles which will require your attention while in Germany. Yet, if your time is quite limited, try to see at least these ones. You will definitely return for more whenever you have the chance.

Germany is indeed one of the most diverse tourist destinations in the world, and this is evident from the fact that the number of people visiting it has been increasing for many years now, at an exponential pace. The most popular thing about the country is, of course, its beer, since the German culture inculcates drinking on practically every occasion, or for that matter, even without any occasion. 

Nevertheless, tourists who enjoy alcohol don't mind indulging even for a little bit. Further, the food is also a great accompaniment of sorts to the alcoholic beverage, resulting in even more reasons for one to consume this heady concoction on a regular basis. Visiting around October would land one in the middle of Oktoberfest, which is a mass celebration full of fun and frolic.

Besides this, Germany also is home to the Berlin wall, a structure that is renowned the world over for its historical significance as the barrier between east and west Germany. Although only the ruins of the same remain as of now, it is still an enlightening experience for many to witness the structure from where it all began. There are also many other destinations in the ocuntry, each having its own significance:

Frankfurt is one of Germany's important cities, being the biggest international financial and trade center of Europe. It's famous for it's skyline - a line of towering skyscrapers which is mostly consisting of banks and other financial institutions. Frankfurt is better known in the country as Frankfurt am Main, since there are 2 cities which are named the same. Main is the river which flows through the city thus the source for the city skyline's nickname Mainhattan.

The metropolis of Frankfurt is not that big. You can easily tour the main attractions in 1 day. But as most cities in Germany, it's normally divided into 2 attractions, the old and the new city. Unfortunately, due to the fact that Frankfurt was heavily bombed during WW2, there's not much left of the old city, but still something worth seeing.

The Roemer - Frankfurt's city hall
One of the most important historical old buildings, housing the election of the former German kings and emperors during the early times. Since 1405, it has been used as the city hall. The area where the Roemer is, the Roemerberg, offers a surrounding of beautiful old houses, used nowadays as stores and restaurants.

The Kaiserdom - Emperor's Cathedral
As the name says, the Emperor's Cathedral. This church was used as the venue of the coronation of the new emperor or king. In front of this church is an archaeological finding of an ancient sauna used by the Romans when they were colonizing the area.

Paulskirche - Paul's Church
This church was built during the end of the 18th century. From damages during the war, it was rebuilt in the mid 20th century and considered one important attraction of the old city.

Goethe's House
Frankfurt is the home of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of the world's most famous poets. The house of Goethe is located in the inner city and is open for public viewing. The Goethe Museum is just right next to it, housing a very rich Goethe collection.

A Walk Crossing the River Main
From the old city, you can walk down to the river then cross a pedestrian bridge called Eiserner Steg (iron bridge). From the other side of the bridge, you can properly see the skyline. The road parallel to the river is called Museumufer - Museums on the river bank - lining up a variety of museums. You can walk more until you arrive at another pedestrian bridge called Holbeinsteg. After crossing that bridge, look for the Nizza Garden. This garden is unique because it contains tropical plants and palms in an open German climate.

The NEW CITY
This won't be that difficult to find, just follow the new buildings. Towering banks and offices is a sight you won't miss in Frankfurt. Some bank buildings are combining both new and old architecture. You would see for example Dresdner Bank having an old building and two skyscrapers next to it. Around the new city, you can see modern arts like the hammering man and the inverted necktie, representing the city's trademarks, banking and trading.

Shopping in Frankfurt
There are several good shopping opportunities in Frankfurt but probably the most famous area to shop is the Zeil. If you're going for posh shopping then Goethestrasse is the right one for you. This street is lined up with boutiques from Chanel to Tifanny & Co.

Enjoy your stay in Frankfurt!

Germany is a Federal Republic made if up of sixteen states. These German states are:


- Schelswig - Holstein

- Mecklenburg - Vorpommern

- Hamburg

- Bremen

- Brandenburg

- Berlin

- Lower Saxony

- Saxony - Anhalt

- North Rhine - estphalia

- Thuringia

- Saxony

- Hesse

- Rhineland Palatinate

- Saarland

- Bavaria

- Baden - Wuttemberg


Each of these states have a wealth of potential in the number of attractions for tourists in addition to some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

The city of Berlin, which is a state on its own, is usually the first place tourists want to visit when they come to Germany. The German Parliament and the Brandenburg Gate are both national symbols of unity. The path of the Berlin Wall is clearly marked and there are few small segments of the wall still standing so you can gain some essence of what it used to be like. The Berlin Wall Museum will give you information about the people that often risked their lives to cross over this wall.

In Schleswig-Holstein you will truly experience the culture of the northern part of Germany. There are many whole villages that have been designated as museums. Lubeck is a city that has been designated as a World Heritage Site and contains a Museum Harbour of Baltic ships. There is a total of 260 museums in this state and there are numerous jazz and music festivals throughout the year.

Every city of Saxony has something new to offer visitors. Visit the Baroque Village Church in Seiffen and spend some time Erzgebirge Toy Museum. See the Pinge in Altenberg, which is a large crater formed by the collapse of mining shafts in 1620. In Oberweissenthal, you can visit Martin Luther Church. This church is the setting for a large Nativity scene at Christmas time.

Hamburg has so many sites to see and things to do that you will have to devote an entire vacation to this city alone. It is an easy city to navigate and from which you can take a tour of the Alster Lake. Make sure you visit the Sunday Fish Market, which is a city legend. The noon three-organ concert at St. Michael Church is sure to thrill you to the core.

Relax in a resort on the shores of the Baltic Sea when you visit Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. See the stone giant in Altentreplow, a town that dates back to the 13th century. If you want to take a bicycle trip into the mountains, there is no better place to start than the town of Hagenow.

Follow the trail of castles, walk the storybook trail of the Brothers Grimm and take a cruise on the Rhine or one of the other rivers of Germany.  The rail system connects all parts of the country and the highways are very modern if you wish to drive your own car. There are many types of accommodations, ranging from five star hotels to camp grounds. Experience authentic German cuisine or stay with your normal food in the many different restaurants offering food from all over the world.

Travel in Germany is freedom. But sometimes, having complete freedom of choice, it's hard to choose by yourself the most interesting and convenient route. In these cases ready tourist roads may help. They cover more than 200 different themes of rest and ensure a holiday, full of priceless impressions! You may go with children on the Road of Tales or with a Lady, on the Romantic Road, or with friends on the football way of Northen Reihn-Westfalen in Germany. 

The choice here is wide and sometimes very difficult. Today there are about 200 specialized tourist routes in Germany, each of them includes the most interesting places and sightseeing attractions that reflect a particular theme in the most convenient format for travelers. 

Why do you need to search in the Internet city restaurants, if you can make a leisurely bike ride along the river on "Moselle wine road" and admiring the fabulous scenery, try the best wine directly at private wineries? Or you can rent a car and drive through the Deutsche road of castles, stopping at hotels of Sightsleeping format, located in the real castles and fortresses. The diversity of these thematic routes in Germany is really impressive ... You just have to make your choice!

Berlin is the ancient capital of Germany. The first mentioning of the city dates back to 13th century when the city was the capital of Prussia. Over the past centuries, Berlin has grown into one of the largest urban areas in Europe. The city is known for its beautiful architecture and rich cultural traditions. Below we only discuss one monument that attracts thousands of visitors every day, the Brandenburg Gate.

The Brandenburg Gate ('Brandenburger Tor' in German) is a triumphal arch located in the center of Berlin. It is considered as one of the city's symbols. The building proudly sits at the Paris Square as a reminder of the time when travelers were entering Berlin through it. The gate was commissioned by Friedrich Wilhelm II as a symbol of peace. It was designed and built by Carl Gotthard Langhans from 1788 to 1791. The Brandenburg Gate is 26 meters in height, 65.5 meters in length and the thickness of walls is 11 meters. The Gate consists of twelve Greek Doric columns, six on each side. Their creation was inspired by the ancient Greek Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the famous Parthenon in Athens.

Above the gate you can see the famous and often photographed Quadriga by Gottfried Schadow, built in 1793. It depicts a statue of the goddess of Peace riding a chariot with four horses. Napoleon liked this quadriga so much that he had ordered to dismount and take it to Paris. When in 1814 Quadriga was returned to Berlin, the statue replaced its olive wreath with an Iron Cross and became the goddess of Victory.

The northern part of the gate is adjacent to the Reichstag, which is a monument ending the Unter den Linden street, a famous boulevard with lime trees leading directly to the Royal residence.

When the Nazis came to power in 1933, they used the gate as a symbol of their power. In 1945, the gate was the only high building among the ruins of the Pariser Platz. In the Hall of Silence, built in one of the rooms of security guards in the northern part of the Gate, visitors are invited to remember and reflect on the past of Germany. After the World War II, the Gate was restored by the governments of the Eastern and Western Berlin. 

However, in 1961, it was cut in two by the newly built Berlin Wall that divided the eastern and western parts of the city, and the monument was closed to the public. It was re-opened only on 22nd December 1989, when the Berlin Wall was finally demolished and the West Germany Chancellor Helmut Kohl entered the Gate to welcome the East Germany Prime Minister Hans Modrow. Since then, the Brandenburg Gate has become a symbol of peace and unity of Berlin.

There are few places on earth that are as beautiful and welcoming as Germany. There are plenty of places here that happen to charm every tourist coming to this gorgeous country. This is precisely the reason why it is a popular tourist destination. Bremen is one such city which has numerous places worth visiting. Every individual traveling to Bremen ought to read and make most use of this Germany travel advice.

Bremen has an interesting location with River Weser passing through it. This is a historic place and has got numerous tourist attractions. Bottcherstrasse, Viertel, Schnoor, Bremen's Marktplatz, Beck's Brewery and St Petri-Dom are some of the most popular places worth visiting.

Owing to its historic importance, the State Monument Authority of Germany has declared Schnoor as a historic district. One may still find houses built in medieval architecture style here. The oldest houses present here are over six hundred years old! It was known for the flourishing ship trade and has even got its name from the same industry.

Another place which has immense historic importance is Viertel. Like Schnoor, one may find quite a lot of buildings here that were built over hundreds of years ago. Apart from historic buildings, this area is famous for the delicious food served at numerous restaurants. Both vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes are popular among locals and visitors alike.

Bottcherstrasse is another popular tourist attraction of the region. This pedestrian street is over a hundred meters long, starts from Marktplatz and goes up to River Weser. This street is essentially an architectural marvel and has got plenty of places for tourists to visit. The prominent ones among them include St Martini-kirch Church and two museums.

St Petri-Dom or Bremen Cathedral is a cathedral which is over a thousand years old. It is dedicated to Saint Peter and located in the market square in the city. Twin towers which are 99 meters high grace this imposing structure. Visit this church and get enthralled by the splendid interior of this immensely beautiful cathedral.

The heart of city is Marktplatz which is spread across a large area. Numerous events, including regular markets, festivities and other celebrations are organized here on regular basis. The town hall, Rathaus, is an imposing building located here and covers a big portion of the place. There are a couple of huge statues as well, which attract numerous tourists.

Its beer is renowned around the globe. Guided tours to renowned breweries are available as well. Beck's Brewery happens to be most popular one here. By paying few bucks for guided tours tourists can enjoy the beer and watch how it is brewed. Reaching Bremen is as easy as it could be. Numerous prominent airlines operate from here. Apart from these, it can be reached with the help of train service. Eurolines connects it with major European cities. It enjoys a good domestic connectivity as well, mainly courtesy the great road network.

Being connected with other cultures means for me not only ready about foreign cultures but also living in them. Reports or stories alone can never give someone the same deep impression of how an other culture is than if someone lived in the culture. I am form Russian and the German culture, the way the people live there and the customs was always something which has attracted my attention I decided to try to get a study place in Germany. Because I thought traveling is also not enough to learn to understand a society. If one image stairs, reports are at the lowest stairs when it comes to understand a socienty, at the next step there would be travel experiences but I think at the uppermost step there is the life in the respective society which enables one to learn the most about the people.

And at this point I must refer to a company in Germany. This is not advertisement. But this company for is an important bridge regarding the connection of people from different countries. Because without their help I think I would never get the chance to study in Germany. Because between a study place and the chance to live in Germany at least for the time of my studies there is the application process and the procedure with authorities. Which is pitty because it is really difficult and I am sure that mean like me who want to study in Germany give up without help and cannot realize their dreams. Because I am getting closer to my dream to study in Germany I think it is fair and appropriate to thank this special people form HeSA Germany. People like them help to connect people.Thank you very much.

Berlin: city of a new era
Today Berlin is a creative, dynamic place to visit with museums, theatres, many bars, cubs and restaurants. A city which was at the grim heart of 20th century European history, the Berlin of today has a tendency not to take itself too seriously.

Transport: how to get there and around
To reach Berlin by air, you will probably have to make a connection through Amsterdam or Frankfurt. Not many direct flights arrive in the city. The Train service in Germany is extremely efficient, you can get to Berlin from other European countries this way. The bus is also an option. The city itself has an underground system to help you get around, it is also cycle and pedestrian friendly. The East part of the city is served by a tram.

Weather
Berlin winter is between November and March and can be cold below zero. Throughout the rest of the year, rain is often a possibility.

Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays
The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Berlin.

Attractions & Events

Munich: Sophisticated capital of Bavaria
Munich creates images of ledehosen and beer, but this is a very incomplete picture. The city is sophisticated and has many cultural attractions including art galleries and museums.

Transport: how to get there and around
European flights are served by the Franz-Josef-Strauss Flughafen in Munich. From further a field you need to make a connection with Frankfurt airport. The train also serves many European cities. The city is served by buses and underground trains, which make is easy to get around. Munich is also a cycle friendly city.

Weather
You can catch some Munich sunshine during months April - May and also September - October. The coldest time of year is between November and March.

Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays
The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Munich.

Attractions & Events

Frankfurt: with a heart for art

Frankfurt is not as formal and business like as you might imagine. The city loves art and has many attractions at its museums. And its spectacular skyline is a work of art in itself. What's more, Frankfurt is Germany's most cosmopolitan city which adds to its pizzazz.

Transport: how to get there and around Frankfurt can easily be reached from all over Europe and beyond with it’s major airport and train station. The bus is also an option as Frankfurt links with many major cities. Like most other German cities, Frankfurt has excellent public transport, you are spoilt for choice, which is fortunate as walking is not really an option in the city.

However there are plenty of bicycle lanes for the cyclist.

Weather
Winter here is very cold and often has storms. For the best months come to Frankfurt between June and August.

Accommodation: Luxury to budget stays
The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of hotels in Frankfurt.

Attractions & Events