Travel to Germany

If you have not considered holidays in Germany before, you should expect to be enticed and amazed by what is on offer. Germany is year-round holiday destination, with fine cities for Autumn and Winter cultural breaks, the famous German Christmas Markets, music, beer and wine festivals, spa holidays, summer river cruising plus of course alpine scenes for family summer holidays and winter skiing.

As well as its great scenery, including the breathtaking Rhine and Moselle rivers, Germany has a fascinating history and wide range of cultural events. The Italian Renaissance painters were discovered, for example, by a young Albrecht Durer, who brought their influence to Northern Europe via the fine mediaeval town of Nurnberg.. The Reformation had its toots in Germany through the revolutionary thinking of men such as Martin Luther, and of course the evolution of printing also had roots in the country. So if you are planning a European holiday with a difference, Germany's cultural history alone is well worth taking a look.

Germany is a country of diversity - beautiful sandy beaches of North Germany, the forested valleys and mountain ranges in the centre, Theme Parks and Rivers in the West and the mountains in the south which offer ideal surroundings for all kinds of sports and activities.

However, it is in Germany's revived and regenerated cities that you will find vitality and fascination. Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Dresden, for example, have big differences in terms of location and political history, but are united in offering a great welcome and perfectly organized tours and excursions for visitors.

Berlin has a little of everything, incorporating International flair and provincial charm, and is warm-hearted in its welcome and wildly uninhibited. Since the decadent 1920's, and many years as an island of western ideals cut off by the communist wall, long gone now, Berlin holds a fascination few other cities can claim. Berlin's night life is second to none. And in the past decade, the city has seen amazing new architectural developments springing up everywhere.

Hamburg is Famous as the city where the Beatles developed their style and perfected their "beat". But much more than this, Hamburg is a vibrant harbour and dockland city offering the visitor a stimulating mix of shopping, night life and green parks. Added to this, the Aster Lakes offer a surprising mellow hinterland of peace and relaxation. Hamburg's Sunday morning fish market is a great focus on any city tour.

By contrast away from the sea, Munich is in the landlocked state of Bavaria, where towering alpine mountains are a short drive away. The city has a wealth of cultural, gastronomic and architectural attractions, but is probably most famous for its festivals, in particular the annual Oktoberfest Beer Festival. However, there is plenty for culture seekers and shoppers to be more than satisfied, and Munich's museums are amongst the world's finest, including the splendid Nymphenburg Palace, which is not to be missed.

Finally Dresden, located to the east of Germany and reborn from the ashes of terrible events in World War 2, the city is an architectural jewel, along the banks of the River Elbe and the gently rolling landscape. Well worth seeing are the Dresden Frauenkirche Church, the striking baroque dome - which dominates the city centre - the superb palatial buildings surrounding the Theaterplatz and Br?Terraces as well as the many art treasures in the many museums.

Germany is situated in Europe's central western part. It is surrounded by nine European countries and has direct exit to the Baltic and North Sea. From an economic way of looking, Germany is one of the most solid and most powerful in the world. The landscape is rich, and there are all types of landscape: plateaus and mountains (the Alps, Harz system Renan, Suaba Jura, Bohemian Forest, Black Forest) and plains (North German Plain, Bavaria Plateau, Danube Valley).

Germany has a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 9° C. Temperatures in January range from -6° C to 1° C, while July temperatures alter between 16° C and 20° C. Moisture is greater in the southern part of the country. Germany is a stimulating country, with varied castles, religious communities and essential centers in Weimar, Leipzig and Dresden. It is one of the most popular traveler destinations, and although is mostly rebuilt after the war, it offers a landscape unchanged for centuries, and its reputable castles retain their medieval air.

Berlin, Germany's capital, has royal residences, parks, forests and is enclosed by canals, with the famous Brandenburg Gate with its notorious Quadriga crown, with over 170 theaters, art galleries, operas and museums, over 7000 pubs and restaurants, a restless night life, Ku'damm famous boulevard with lots of retail stores. Annualy, the International Film Festival in Berlin gathers some of the most famous actors, who come here in order to win "the Golden Bear."

Bavaria, the largest and well-known region of Germany, offers a great trial: Alpine setting and roads so beautiful that leave you panting, well-known thermal resorts, historic towns, natural attractions like Zugspitze and Passau, the place where the Inn, Danube and Ilz come across at the same point, traditional festivals and celebrations. Bavarian preparations, along with one of the best beers in the world, are enough to choose holidays in Germany.

Munich is a sought tourist goal, being called the incognito capital of Germany. Marienplatz Square (named after its renowned central column), with the new and the old City Hall, features beautiful medieval views. Peterskirche is the most aged church in the center. However Frauenkirche cathedral is the most acclaimed church in the city center, thanks to its spectacular old-fashioned construction. The peak of its towers, 99 m, limits since 2004 the new buildings of the city.

As a tourist you will find a vast assortment of hotels, from modest to pretentious. Mark Hotels is the ideal choice for everyone looking for comfort and recreation while visiting the select country of Germany.

Germany is home to thriving cities with endless beautiful natural landscapes to explore. Holidays in Germany are extremely popular especially with visitors from neighbouring European countries throughout the year. The country is home to the towering Alps as well as the Bavarian Plain famous for its gothic churches, medieval houses and bustling modern cities; it is easy to see why so many people enjoy holidays in Germany. Berlin and Munich are two of the more popular places to enjoy city breaks due to the abundance of tourist attractions including numerous World Heritage Sites, museums, international airports and world class football stadiums.

Discovering Munich

A huge part of Munch's tourist magnetism lies within its unique culture where visitors will find historic buildings dotted between contemporary skyscrapers offering an eclectic mix of old meets new. The arts scene is vibrant with world-renowned operas through to theatrical performances that can be seen here regularly. 

City breaks in Munich offer visitors the opportunity to taste local specialties such as weißwurst that are served with sweet mustard and pretzels but be warned that these should be consumed before 12:00 if you want to keep up to date with the local traditions. The largest festival in Germany, Oktoberfest, is held in Munich and attracts millions of beer guzzling visitors from around the world who come to taste various beers that are served in tents. 

The markets in Munich are another major tourist draw and the Viktualienmarkt is the oldest and most popular market that sells fresh foods every week. The local market women dress in traditional costumes and dance during the Fasching Carnival held in the square where the Viktualienmarkt is located. Christmas markets are another popular attraction in Munich. Over the festive period, thousands of visitors spend their holidays in Germany searching for the ideal Christmas gift. 

The nightlife in Munich is lively to say the very least and there are more than 6,000 establishments to enjoy in the bustling city where everyone from students to office workers can be found. On the outskirts of the city there are many natural landscapes to explore and these include the famous English Garden where a Japanese teahouse, a Chinese pagoda and a Greek temple can be seen.

Exploring Berlin

City breaks in Berlin attract millions of people every year and it lays claim to being the third most visited city in Europe. Its tourism sector is thriving and there are more than 700 hotels to choose from, boasting over 100,000 rooms to cater to the tastes and budgets of every visitor lucky enough to stay in Berlin. There are many waterways in Berlin that can be traversed by one of the 979 bridges in the city.

Berlin is famous for many of its noteworthy attractions. Here is a list of the top landmarks and must-see places:
 

With such varied tourist offerings, it is no wonder that millions of visitors flock to explore Germany's cities everyyear. The transport systems in both Munich and Berlin are of high quality allowing visitors to get around with ease. From parks and gardens through to museums and top restaurants, why not enjoy your next city break in one of these interesting cities in Germany.

For those about to embark on a car hire holiday to Germany there are a number of factors to consider ensuring your safety. The roads in Germany are widely held to be some of the best in the world but the rules of the road should be understood to get the best out of your car hire holiday.

The autobahns are seen by many as the pinnacle of the driving experience but this is not always the case. Most believe there to be constant state of speed anarchy on the roads but this is simply not true; may parts of the autobahn network do in fact have speed limits.

Still as you embark upon you car hire holiday you may be disappointed by the autobahns of Germany. Most people envisage roads of ten lane carriageways where drivers all travel at supersonic speeds. This is however is not true; the majority of the autobahn network is double or triple carriageway and the drivers predominantly drive at sensible speeds; it is only a minority who whiz along in their super cars. The autobahns of Germany are however supremely maintained and offer an efficient way to get the best from your car hire journey.

When you first embark in your hire car remember to make all members of your travelling party belt up before every trip. It is the law in Germany that all occupants in a car must wear seatbelts and the law is rigorously enforced. If travelling with children under 1.5 metres they may not sit in the front seat unless they have an approved child seat; thankfully most car hire companies can provide these on request.

Failure to meet such road going requirements can lead to on the spot fines. The police in Germany generally collect fines for motoring misdemeanours although if you cannot produce the cash your car may be impounded; try explaining that one to the car hire company. Thankfully corruption in the German police force is practically non-existent so you will know that your fine reaches the appropriate authorities.

Speed cameras are a definite consideration when undertaking a car hire holiday. Apart from Britain, Germany has the highest concentration of enforcement cameras to catch those breaking speed limits, tailgating and those jumping red lights. If driving a hire car you may think that it will be possible to avoid any fines, this sadly is not the case as the rental company will pass on any fines they receive onto you. Mobile cameras are also commonly used and are set up to catch similar offenders to those caught by stationary camera positions.

Drink driving penalties in Germany are some of the harshest in Europe; it may even include a suspension on your first offence. Penalties begin from the low level of 0.05 percent which twinned with the high alcohol content of German beverages means if you do have a drink, do not even think about climbing in your car for a journey. Driving while under the influence of drugs, whether legal or illegal is also prohibited and carries high fines.

Other laws include the prohibition of using your mobile phone whilst driving, unless utilising a hands free kit. If you do need to make a call you will not be prosecuted if you pull over and turn the engine off. One of the stranger motoring laws prohibits the revving of engines excessively, so boy racers be careful when in Germany. Also it is illegal to slam your car doors in a violent manner. Serenity is obviously evident in German motoring legislation.

Try to ignore the misconceptions that Germany is a racers paradise, this way you will avoid fines and in some cases further prosecution. Granted there are places where speed limits do not apply, but German drivers in the most part are well trained and well educated in road safety measures. Consideration and common sense are vital. If you follow this advice there is no reason why your car hire experience in Germany should not be enjoyable.