Travel to Germany

One of the top destinations in Europe is Germany. Most families rent a holiday home instead of going to a hotel during their holiday vacation. Germany has a lot of beautiful and natural landscapes that most tourists go for. Its beautiful sandy beaches, stunning lake shores, magnificent lowland plains or its rolling hills and high peaks of the Alps, are just among the tourist attractions in Germany.

While some tourists are enamored to see the natural beauty of Germany, some tourists rent a holiday cottage or farmhouse and explore the castles and villages in the country. Some families also stay in a holiday chalet in the snow-capped mountains. For those who seek thrill in water sports, there are also holiday cottages on the shores of Germany's crystal-clear lakes where they can stay. Aside from those, there are also holiday villas with swimming pool wherein families can go on hiking or explore the Black Forest.

For some who wants to experience the urban life in Germany in its elegant cities, there are affordable apartments that they can rent on. Among the cities in Germany, the Swish capital city of Berlin is one of the most popular holiday destinations for tourists who like to rent holiday homes. It is a bustling yet vibrant city where you can enjoy going into some bars and restaurants.

Whatever the season or the weather is, Germany can always cater to your needs. You can rent holiday villas with swimming pools during the summer season or you can go to the country's main ski resorts during winter and enjoy some winter sports. There are available cheap holidays accommodations that you can avail of during your holiday vacations in Germany - be it during summer or winter.

Germany is called as the "green heart of Europe" for its natural attractions. There are fourteen National Parks in the country that preserve the natural heritage. You can combine your natural trip with a historical one. There are magnificent castles that you can visit. You can have a boat trip starting from the Saxon Switzerland National Park to see the beautiful historic places and castles. One notable castle you should check on your holiday is the Festung Königstein - this one has never been conquered by its enemies. One of Germany's pride also is the Elbe valley of Dresden which is a World Heritage. So this is also a must-see if you plan to spend your holiday vacation at Germany.

So from the beautiful long beaches, to skiing, castle tour, and nature tripping, Germany can cater them all to you. You have various options on what kind of holiday you want to have in Germany. Surely you can try all these by coming back to the country and try a different experience in every visit you make. Cheap holidays are always available if you just search thoroughly over the internet. There are a lot of websites that cater to cheap holiday packages. If you are going with your family or group, home, villa, cottage, or chalet rentals will be the best options.

Germany has always one of the centers of attractions on the globe. The place is as beautiful as the fantasy of an artist & the imagination of a poet. it's a rich history that is speaks through the archaic & bewitching architecture & monuments, the culture & the convivial attitude of the locals. there's royal castles, magnificent castles & handmade houses that take you to the roads of the country's glorious past. The wonderful cities of Germany like Berlin, Munich, Hamburg & Frankfurt etc. treat you with an ecstatic unity in diversity.

The best time to visit Germany is summer season. When the sun is shining above your head during the months of April to September, Germany is an ideal place with mild weather & sunshine. one time you reach Germany, it is a pleasure & delight to explore the place via a train. These trains take you from town to town providing you the best of all amenities & an opportunity not  to explore the interior but also the enthralling outskirts of each city.

A Little about the Cities- Berlin, the capital city of Germany is a city full of life & passion that never lets your spirits down. Besides the entertaining & unforgettable nightlife of Berlin there's other attractions . The Brandenburg Gate & the remains of the Berlin Wall in Berlin sing the saga of the time of Second World War when Hitler reigned over Germany, are remarkable things to watch. While you are in Berlin be sure to visit the Checkpoint Charlie Museum that throws more light on the history of Berlin Wall & has a collection of the relics related to unbeaten escape attempts across its borders. Apart from this you should also visit the Germaldegaleire or the traditional Picture Gallery that has an exotic collection of the 13th to 18th century art.

there's several good hotels to make your stay comfortable in Berlin. The archaic Adlon Hotel is  a renowned hotel in Berlin. You can ask either ask your travel agency to reserve the lodging for you or search the web. The city of Hamburg also known as the 'gateway to the world' is situated between the Lake Alster & River Elbe. The place has a horde of museums & historical buildings with a bubbling nightlife & delectable cuisine. Hotels like Kempinski Hotel Atlantic Hamburg located alongside Lake Alster can be opted to stay. If you need to take a look at old timber houses along with skyscrapers then the city of Frankfurt is the right choice. The place has loads of attractions like Palmengarten (1869) -a home to thousands of wonderful plants, events of the sort Nokia Night of the Proms, the Frankfurt zoo & so forth.

The city of Munich is bustling with all sorts of people from students to musicians, artists & the like. The place is known for its nightlife & for the love for fashion. The season to visit Munich is from June to October when you can actually enjoy & taste the fun & flora of the city. The popular tourist spots are the Englischer Garden which has a Chineese Pagoda along with beautifully trimmed landscape parks. Then there's also the Residenz palace & Klostergasthof Andechs widely known for its chilly beer. Konigshof Hotel & Stachus Plaza are recommendable places to stay.

Apart from these cities there's other celebrated cities are Cologne known for German architecture, long winding roads, restaurants & the hot favorite of children as well as kids-the Chocolate Museum, the city of Saarburg resting in the hills of Saar river valley & also the city known for giving birth  auto companies- Stuttgart. All in all Germany is a perfect location for your vacations!

Being from central California, I might be forgiven for feeling some trepidation when I flew from United States to live in Germany as my impression was of a dark and dreary land. I suspect it’s natural for one to assume that any place on the same general latitude of Winnipeg Canada was certainly bound to yield less than the balmy 110 degree summers of my erstwhile mountain home. Arriving in Frankfurt and traveling south on the autobahn at significantly higher rates of speed than I was used to, deposited me in a small town by the name of Schwetzingen. By way of landmarks, Schwetzingen is approximately ten miles west of Heidelberg and ten miles south of Mannheim in south central Germany.

Having arrived in the spring, I was pleasantly surprised at the temperate climate and lush foliage. I particularly enjoyed the intermingling of fields and cities that give a feeling of cohabitation between city dwellers and the countryside (although it’s a bit less attractive when the farmers are spreading liquid manure). It’s very different in that regard than the urban sprawl that we experience in America wherein the farmers are priced out of an area and the mini-malls and subdivisions move in.

After getting somewhat acclimated to my accommodations at the edge of town and procuring some local currency I walked into town and proceeded to get to know the place. As an amateur history buff I was really enjoying the architecture, particularly the Schloss (palace) downtown. The city seems to be a suburb of the larger towns around it and boast a mellow feeling. Not at all fluent in speaking German I decided to take a chance and ventured into a restaurant where I was warmly greeted, seated and given a menu (in German of course). 

After perusing it for a bit I decide that schweineschnitzel means something like a pork chop so I confidently indicate to the waitress that I would like a jagerschnitzel, with water and I was quite relieved to see that “beer” was pronounced pretty much the same so I ordered one of those as well. Lo and behold, the woman came out with a pork chop smothered in my nemesis the dreaded mushroom and some foul black liquid in a glass that seemed almost to be a solid, potentially requiring me to chew it. Apparently, German "Alt" beer is not unlike a Guinness stout. I gamely ate everything on the plate sans the mushrooms and with much gesticulation complimented them on a meal that was more than satisfactory.

Further exploration in Schwetzingen yielded an Italian restaurant with lasagna served still boiling from the oven that I became addicted to. And just east of town is the Bellamar swimming complex that I came to reside at as my second home. This is a family friendly swimming complex that includes indoor/outdoor temperature controlled pools, sauna, hot tubs, sun lamps, a restaurant that allows for seated as well as outdoor and poolside dining. For the summer months and there is also an adjoining Olympic sized pool and park. What’s not to love? Swimming in the steamy indoor / outdoor pool under the crisp winter night’s sky with snow falling all around is something that stays with you. As a note, with many places in Europe, the saunas are clothing optional.

This area of Germany is very foot traffic friendly so I rode my bike along paths through fields and surrounding towns to Heidelberg to explore this scenic city nestled at the foot of the mountains. This towns most prominent landmark is the Castle that was used both as a fortress and palace located on the hill overlooking the Neckar river. As you pass through town approaching the hills you will find a street that is blocked to automotive traffic called the Hauptstrasse (hoff-straus-a) that features a plethora of stores and restaurants. 

At the eastern end there is a Mecca for a homesick American, a McDonalds! And even better, they serve beer! So, after an arduous ride into town one can score some fast food and a six pack of beer for a day on the northern grassy banks of the Neckar river with the picturesque view of the town and castle directly in front. Shirts seem to be optional in the park here as well. All in all I found the German people pleasant and receptive, particularly when I made efforts to converse with them in their own language.

Munich is a city in southern Germany that truly has a lot to offer the traveler.  A must see destination of Europe, Munich is a seamless blend casual modernity with timeless history.  Ageless buildings sit inconspicuously next to modern skyscrapers, cafes scattered amongst historic squares all contribute to the feeling of comfort that Munich emits.

The best place to start your exploration of Munich is at the Marienplatz, located at the heart of historic Munich.  Exploration of the city is easy from here as all important locales are easily within reach.  Here you will find a number of cafes, restaurants and museums to entertain.  The main feature is the Mariensaule, a large column topped with a magnificent gold statute of the Virgin Mary.  You will also be impressed by the sights and sounds of the 43 bells of the 280ft tall automated glockenspiel.

From there a trip to the Frauenkirche is a must.  The Frauenkirche is Munich's Church of our Lady and also one of the more impressive sites Munich has to offer.  This church was built between the years of 1468 and 1488, but was almost completely destroyed by World War II.  The church was then rebuilt following the war in 1953.  The highlight of the Frauenkirche is the two red brick towers that rise up 1065 feet to offer one of the best views of Munich.

Munich is also home to numerous museums that offer a variety of exhibits.  Claiming to be the world's largest science museum, The Deutsches (German) Museum boasts an 8 story building packed with exhibits that range from windmills to space probes.  Seeing everything the museum has to offer would take at least a few days, but organized tours can be arranged to view the highlights of the museum in just one trip.  Children will be particularly amused with the interactive displays and exhibits that encourage active learning and fun.

Another place worth noting is the Bavarian Museum.  It is a little smaller than the German Museum, but still has 3 stories of exhibits.  The displays range from all eras of European art and culture, but have a main focus of Bavarian items and exhibits.

It's not worth talking about Munich if you don't mention Oktoberfest.  Oktoberfest has quickly grown to be the world's largest public festival, attracting more than 7 million people each year.  The festival is centered on what Munich is best known for, beer, but also offers a lot more to the visitor.  Elaborate costumed parades, dancing, concerts and as much sausage and oompah music that one can handle, plus all the beer from all over the world that is on hand to sample.  The 2010 dates of Oktoberfest is September 18 through October 4th.

If you have never been to this wonderful city, now is the time.  Book your cheap flight to Munich and experience what this Southern German city has to offer!

With its picturesque landscapes with fairy-tale castles, crystal clear lakes, rustic villages, the hip urban cities with their dynamic valour and of course the famous Oktoberfest, Germany is a place not to be missed. The cities of Berlin and Frankfurt grab you with their grandeur and majestic auras and each city has its own importance and attractions where there is something for everyone.

Deutschland hotels range in their pricing structure; you'll find inexpensive hotels to medium ranged hotel rooms, suitable for the cost-conscious traveler, to luxurious suites in the finest hotels. Both Berlin and Frankfurt have superb class hotel services. Some of the top class Berlin hotels are Kempinski Bristol Hotel, Swissotel Hotel, Adlon Hotel, Steigenberger Hotel and the Louisas Place (Suite Hotel).

Two very famous 5 star luxury hotels in Berlin are Kempinski Hotel Bristol Berlin and Steigenberger Berlin. These hotels are two of the most luxurious and grand hotels in Berlin, located in the city centre, where you will be greeted by their warm staff and given a very comfortable and memorable service. Hotel Adlon Kempinski is another 5 star hotel in Berlin, which provides a range of services and amenities to its guests. The hotel has extensive car parking facility, and also has a coffee shop and restaurant on premises.

4 star luxury hotels in Berlin include the Park Hotel Blub, Albergo Berlin, Alsterhof and the Best Western President. These hotels offer facilities and services of unmatched quality; from delicious cuisines to room services. 4 star hotels are very popular among tourists in Berlin.

Berlin also has a wide range of 3 star hotels for the economy class traveler. Some popular hotels include the Agon Frankfurter Allee, Agon Olivaer Apart Hotel, Berlin Mark Hotel and the Best Western Boulevard. These hotels provide almost all the necessities needed by the routine traveler and are more pocket friendly.

For all those who want to explore Berlin and yet have a comfortable accommodation at affordable rates, the 2 star hotels are the perfect choices. Namely 2 star hotels include the Hotel Morgenland, Ibis Berlin Fehrbelliner Platz, Hotel Pension Am Park and the Hotel Pension Berolina. These cheap and economy hotels provide a comfortable stay and relaxing environment, and meet all the basic necessities that you'll need to make yourself at home. These cheap Berlin hotels are a simple choice for the budget-conscious traveler.

Be sure to check out a good hotels website to guide you in choosing a hotel room for your visit to Berlin, Deutschland. HotelRabatt.de is an online hotel booking site which provides online booking and reservation for hotels in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and many other countries and popular destinations worldwide. Visit www.HotelRabatt.de to book a hotel room in advance for your trip to Deutschland. Secure booking for cheap and luxury hotels is available online and the website is in 5 different languages, which will make it easier for you to book a hotel room by selecting your desired language.

Are you considering a visit to Germany? Why not visit the city of Cologne. It has a history which goes back to the Roman era. Located next to river Rhine and the fourth largest city in Germany it offers good a connection to the nearby cities of Düsseldorf and Bonn. Cologne is also linked with Amsterdam, Brussels, London and Paris by Thalys, ICE and Eurostar High Speed trains. The Frankfurt airport has a direct service to Cologne and is within one hour by ICE trains.

Cologne has plenty to offer in terms of entertainment and culture. The following places are certainly worth seeing:

The Gothic Cathedral, also known as the Dom, is the city's most famous landmark and also a well known architectural monument in Germany. It is 144 metres long and 86 meters wide and has two spires that are 157 metres in height. Construction began in 1248 to house the relics of the Magi, the Dom was not completed until 1880. The completion of the cathedral was celebrated as a national event. Despite changing architectural styles through the centuries, the result is essentially Gothic. Situated in the centre of Cologne, from the top of the Dom's south tower there are panoramic views across the city and surrounding area. Open daily from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, except during religious services.

The most impressive attraction in the Roman-Germanic Museum is the 70 square metre Dionysos-Mosaik. The mosaic, once the floor of the main room of a large Roman villa dating from the third century, was discovered in 1941 during excavation work for an air-raid shelter. The Museum, which was opened in 1974 and is situated near the Kölner Dom, boasts a collection of prehistoric, ancient and medieval finds. The exhibitions give an insight into the daily life, beliefs and customs of long-forgotten cultures. An unusual feature is the collection of Roman glassware.

Cologne is the city of live music and concerts, with music from all periods from all over the world and in the most diverse stylistic schools and movements performed here every day. The powerfully pulsating heart of this Cologne music culture, is the philharmonic hall built in the cathedral mound, which seats 2000 people. Since its opening in 1986, it has become one of the leading international concert halls. The 'Philharmonie' concert hall has at least one performance scheduled for virtually every day of the year. Recitals range from chamber music to jazz, folk and pop, with a house policy of encouraging lesser-known, new and unusual music.

The city hall in Alter Markt (Old Square) dates from 1330 but has a tower from the 15th century and a Renaissance facade from the 16th century. Having been damaged during the Second World War, part of the 14th-century Renaissance building was rebuilt. Cologne artisans concentrated particularly on restoring the City Hall tower, and thanks to their donations the City Hall got restored properly. Statues of emperors, popes, poets and academics - and also of women's rights campaigners - look down from the tower on the busy square below.

The Old Market lies in the heart of the old town. Surrounded by bars and restaurants, it hosts a variety of events all year round: home to the Christmas market during the festive season and the Medienburgerfestival in the summer, the Old Market is perhaps best known for the Carnival which begins here at 11.11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month. This is when Cologne goes completely crazy. During the Middle Ages, the Old Market was Cologne's commercial centre, and the nearby butter market, fish market and hay market were some of its subsidiaries. Nowadays, it is simply a focal point for tourists who flock here to witness the comings and goings around the market fountain.

Shopping In Germany

Germany has a reputation for craftsmanship and this is reflected in the quality of locally-made goods. Traditional German buys include porcelain, handicrafts, toys, timepieces, beer steins, nutcrackers and cutlery, not to mention Mercedes and BMW cars.

Shopping In Berlin

Berlin has cast off its image as a drab center of intrigue to emerge as a shopping centre for fashion, antiques, furniture and home accessories. The most august shopping locale is Kurfurstendamm (Ku'damm). Most of the city's premier clothes shops, boutiques and department stores are located on this famous thoroughfare.

A parvenu to the upmarket Berlin shopping scene is the new Friedrichstrasse. It's a mile long thoroughfare which features a lot of design shops, car shops, coffeehouses (with the inevitable Starbucks) and the Galleries Lafayette. The nearby Unter den Linden features several boutiques, located mainly between Friedrichstrasse and the Brandenburg Gate. A must-see is a legend from the cold war days, the Kaufhof on Alexander Platz. Once the haunt of communist bigwigs from Moscow and other soviet bloc countries, nowadays it's just a big old department store. Kreuzberg with its many shops and flea market is the place to browse junk items, second-hand books, and second-hand clothes. For more offbeat items, the second-hand stores and art boutiques around Hackescher Market are the places to go.

Shopping In Munich

The shopping scene in Munich has revamped recently. Modern Munich is a place where you'll find celebrated brand names and designer goods alongside traditional Bavarian crafts such as beer steins and Tyrolean hats. Hyper modern shopping malls such as the Fünf Höfe have given the city an edgy modern glitter. However the old die hards such as Beck and delicatessen Dallmayr and Kafer still attract legions of faithful customers.

Munich downtown’s pedestrian zones are the best places for a shopping adventure. The major one is the Kaufingerstrasse, a two-kilometer pedestrian zone running from the railway station to Marienplatz and north to Odeonsplatz. All the chain stores are located here. For a more interesting shopping experience, the streets around the Marienplatz offer some small stores, while the pedestrian zone between Marienplatz and Karlsplatz offer the famous brand name clothing and shoe outlets. For international luxury items, head for Maximilianstrasse. Celebrated local fashion designer Rudolph Moshammer also showcases his creations here.

If you want to escape the Bavarian chill, head for the Olympia Shopping Center in the Northwest of Munich close to the Olympic Stadium. This is Munich’s biggest mall and it features lots of clothes stores, shoe stores, general department stores, drug stores, music shops and food courts.

Schwabing, north of the university is the place to peruse Bavarian antiques. The small shops around the Viktualienmarkt and at Türkenstrasse, Theresienstrasse, and Barerstrasse are very interesting and you may get lucky. The Sunday flea market at Kunstpark Ost is a great place for second hand bargains. Most stores in Munich are open from 08:00 – 18:30 from Monday to Friday and from 07:00 to 14:00 on Saturdays.

People who love to travel the world and enjoy discovering interesting, amazing, fun-filled and intriguing sites are often drawn to the attractions in Europe. With such a vast array of tourist attractions and diverse destinations, which are all in fairly close proximity, Europe is undoubtedly a great place to take a vacation.

Whether the traveler wants to enjoy a wonderfully romantic vacation, an engaging and activity-filled family vacation, or just a leisurely, quiet and relaxing getaway, European destinations should be on high on the list potential travel spots. With an array of attractions in every European country, there is going to be something that appeals to everyone, since there is a multitude of things to see and to do. There are many, very valid reasons why a European vacation consistently stands out as a favorite of world travelers, since it includes some of the best travel destinations in the world.

There is an amazing amount of history that one can see in diverse attractions in towns and cities all across Europe. For the traveler who is enthralled with ancient history, the venerable ruins and museums of both Greece and Rome are sites that simply must not be missed and which are always a strong draw.

In addition, Rome also holds an enormous amount of religious significance for countless people. Rome not only houses several beautiful and noteworthy Christian cathedrals, it is also the portal to the Vatican and Vatican city, which is actually a tiny country in and of itself.

There are also fabulous historical attractions in other cities and countries of Europe as well. The formidable medieval castles and spectacular cathedrals that can be found throughout Spain, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and many other countries are fascinating for travelers to explore, as most tours of castles and cathedrals are more like fabulous art history and art museum excursions.

These medieval attractions in all parts of Europe also provide the visitors with unique insights into the lives of the people who lived in the middle ages. Walking through the courtyards, halls, and sanctuaries that were built through the hard work, craftsmanship, and devotion of the people of the time provides a connection to those responsible for the creation of these spectacular monuments that are still enjoyed and marveled at today.

Ireland is host to some amazing insights into their rich and ancient culture. The emerald isle has many peaceful local attractions throughout the serene and charming towns and the beautiful coastlines and landscapes of the island, as well as many splendid cathedrals and chapels from antiquity to explore.

The countries of Germany, Poland and France provide sobering and meaningful tourist attractions, as they are a connection to the two world wars and the cold war which held so many people of Europe in control for so many decades. The history museum sites in those countries help visitors understand the tragedies of war and the triumph of freedom and democracy.

On a less somber note, the countries of Italy, Spain and Greece each have a multitude of beaches that are sun drenched most of the year and are the perfect place for a couple that is looking for a bit of romance and a respite from the more hectic attractions in the cities. There are countless resorts on every section of the Mediterranean shore that will welcome and pamper the weary travelers.