Top 20 Germany Attractions

Germany is a hospitable country that attracts tourists with its mild climate, clean rivers and lakes. On its territory there are many cities with beautiful architecture, as well as historical monuments, museums and national parks.

Who and why should come here

The Federal Republic of Germany is a developed state in Central Europe with a long history. Every city in the country keeps monuments of antiquity, and people from different parts of the globe come to admire them. Travelers here are waiting for ancient castles, palaces, museums and famous galleries.

Germany has all the conditions for outdoor activities. There are many parks and reserves with marked hiking trails and bicycle routes. It attracts young people with its bars, nightclubs and festivals. In Berlin, you can have a good time at the Matrix dance floor, Tresor and Berghain clubs.

Oktoberfest is an annual beer tasting event in Munich in September. For two weeks, festival guests can taste exclusive varieties of the drink, enjoy Bavarian treats, buy souvenirs and ride the rides.

Fans of colorful pyrotechnic shows come to the Lights of the Rhine festival in May. In the cities located on the banks of the river, large-scale fireworks are arranged in the evenings. During the day, tourists attend fairs, themed performances and concerts.

In Germany there are shops for every taste. Tourists can go to huge malls, small boutiques or flea markets. In January and mid-summer, the sales season begins. During this period, discounts in stores reach 50-70%.

Historical landmarks

Brandenburg Gate

The hallmark of Berlin is the Brandenburg Gate, located on Linden Alley. These are the only city gates of the capital that have survived to this day. The Berlin Arc de Triomphe is decorated with a bronze statue of the goddess Victoria, who proudly stands in an antique chariot drawn by 4 horses.

During the Second World War, the gate, like other buildings in Berlin, was partially destroyed. The restoration took more than 10 years. In 1961, the Berlin Wall blocked the passage through the arch. After the reunification of the country, the Brandenburg Gate regained its former grandeur.

Reichstag

The Reichstag is one of the main attractions in Germany. The building, designed in the Neo-Renaissance style and founded in 1884, was intended for parliamentary sessions. The huge house with a glass dome has witnessed turbulent historical events. At the end of the war, fierce battles were fought around him. It was on the roof of the Reichstag that the Red Banner of Victory was hoisted.

Now the parliament is again meeting in the building. You can sign up for a tour on the official website of the Bundestag. An invitation is sent to the tourist’s e-mail, according to which they are allowed inside for free.

Charlottenburg

The architectural monument is located in the Berlin district of the same name. The palace, built in the 17th century, quickly became the favorite summer residence of the royal dynasty. The exquisite structure was damaged after the war, but was completely restored according to the surviving drawings. Inside you can see antique furniture, household items, tapestries and wall paintings, bas-reliefs and an exhibition of Chinese porcelain. Around the Charlottenburg Palace there is a vast park with rare species of trees, green lawns and alleys.

Cologne Cathedral

In Cologne, there is an ancient Gothic cathedral, which ranks third in the ranking of the highest temples in the world. The architectural ensemble consists of columns, towers, pilasters. External and internal walls resemble thin openwork lace. Unique relics are stored in the cathedral: the relics of saints, the Chest of the Three Wise Men, a sculpture of the Milan Madonna, Hero’s Cross. Valuable treasures are exhibited in the basement: ancient manuscripts, swords, jewelry, a collection of church clothes, silver goblets and sculptures.

Neuschwanstein

The majestic castle, made in the style of romanticism, is the pearl of southwestern Bavaria. Graceful ivory towers topped with dark domes can be seen from afar. The building was built by order of Ludwig II in the middle of the 19th century, spending about 6 million gold marks. Arriving on an excursion to Neuschwanstein, tourists will see ballrooms, the king’s chambers, wall paintings and household items. For children, the entrance to the castle is free.

Dresden castle

The first mention of this castle dates back to the 13th century. The structure was destroyed and restored more than once, acquiring new features. The last renovation was completed a few years ago. Until the beginning of the last century, the residence of the Saxon princes was located in the Dresden Palace. Now there are exhibition halls. In them you can see knightly paraphernalia, a collection of jewelry and ancient coins. Exhibitions of paintings by contemporary and ancient artists are held within the castle.

Hohenzollern Castle

In the southwest of Germany, near Stuttgart, the Hohenzollern fortress was built on top of a mountain. Mentions of it in chronicles appeared in the 13th century, although scientists are sure that the building was built much earlier. The first fortress was destroyed during a siege in the 15th century. After some time, a second building was erected in its place, which fell into decay at the beginning of the 19th century. The third castle, which has survived to this day, was built by order of Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Now a museum has been opened in the tower, where valuable things of the Hohenzollern house are located: a collection of paintings, tapestries, royal weapons. There is a gift shop on site.

Cultural attractions

Germany is famous for its rich museums and art galleries. It will not be possible to visit all the significant places in one trip, so determine the route in advance and choose what you want to see first.

Dresden Gallery

The most famous art gallery is located in Dresden, in the halls of which about 750 paintings by old masters are exhibited. Among them are «Denarius of Caesar» by Titian, «Portrait of a Boy» by Pinturicchio, «Boar Hunting» by Rubens, «Sistine Madonna» by Raphael and many other masterpieces. The ticket price includes an audio guide — including in Russian.

Berlin Art Gallery

The exhibition halls of this gallery contain 3,500 paintings by famous artists in the 13th-18th centuries. Visitors can see German, Flemish, Italian, French painting.

Some of the most famous paintings of the museum:

• «St. John on Patmos” by I. Bosch;
• «Portrait of Simonetta Vespucci» Botticelli;
• «Portrait of Isabella Brant» by Rubens;
• «Portrait of a Woman» by Van Der Weyden.

Children can get here for free.

museum island

In Berlin, on the Spree River, there is a small island called Spreeinsel. A museum complex has been created there to store the cultural heritage of mankind, where you can see collections of ancient Greek and Roman art, study exhibits of the Byzantine era, as well as paintings, ancient coins, precious jewelry and archaeological finds.

BMW Museum Munich

An exhibition dedicated to the history of BMW opened in 1972. The collected exhibits clearly show how the production of equipment developed. The museum has 7 halls, each of which has an ultra-modern design. On the tour you can see models of cars and motorcycles, engines and conceptual installations. The museum has a shop selling books, posters, caps and T-shirts with the company logo.

Miniature Museum in Hamburg

In Hamburg there is an unusual museum with the largest railway model in the world. The design details are worked out to the smallest detail. The layout contains roads, houses, lights, parks. The railway is laid throughout the museum, and trains run along it. Also on display are miniature copies of the Scandinavian countries, Germany, Austria, and America.

natural attractions

Lake Königssee

In the southeast of Bavaria, surrounded by mountains, there is a clear and deep lake. It was formed as a result of the melting of glaciers many thousands of years ago, has an elongated shape and a coastline of 20 km. A popular attraction is the Berchtesgaden National Park. On the western shore of the lake rises a beautiful white church with red domes. In the middle there is an island with a marble statue of the Catholic saint — John of Nepomuk.

Flower Island Mainau

On the northwestern side of Lake Constance there is a small island connected to the mainland by a bridge. Tourists go there to see an old baroque palace, a church, sculptures and a huge botanical garden. Its magnificent collection includes 350,000 types of flowers. Botanical garden specialists breed new varieties of plants and are engaged in landscape design.

Kellerwald-Edersee

The Kellerwald-Edersee National Park is located in Hesse. Centuries-old oaks, beeches, hornbeams, lindens grow here. On forest meadows you can admire mountain arnica, carnation, orchis. The fauna is represented by small mammals and birds: black storks, eagle owls, crows, and stockheads. The territory is intended for observation of animals and conservation of their rare species. Hiking trails stretching up to 160 km run through the park.

Lower Oder Valley

The national park is located near the town of Schwedt. This is an attractive place for travelers who love to breathe the cleanest air and watch the behavior of birds and animals. The park has cycling paths with different levels of difficulty and hiking trails with a total length of over 200 km.

Interesting places

Europa-Park

On the land of Baden-Württemberg, near the town of Rust, there is an amazing place — Europa-Park. More than 100 attractions are installed in the picturesque area. In the «Russian zone» you can see the layout of the village and ride the roller coaster. In the «Italian» — visit the carnival and colorful palaces, in the «Spanish» — fight with swords and dance flamenco. In addition, the Viking sector, the Enchanted Forest and the Kingdom of the Invisibles are highlighted in the park.

fantasy land

The largest amusement park in Germany was built in the vicinity of Cologne. Children are waiting for a variety of carousels, costume shows, special effects and adventures in thematic sectors dedicated to Ancient Greece, China, Mexico, and the Wild West. In summer there are water rides.

labyrinth

Resting in Germany with a child, take him to the Labyrinth in Berlin. The place is intended for children from 3 to 12 years old and is a huge room in which you can play all day. Concerts, theatrical performances, exhibitions, master classes in drawing, cooking, construction and modeling are held here. There is a cafe on site.

Zollverein mine

Thrill-seekers need to go to Essen and visit the idle Zollverein mine, converted into a museum and transferred under the protection of UNESCO. Tourists are shown the building of an old factory, underground tunnels, equipment for coal mining. Visitors, being in the dungeon, often hear anomalous sounds, but the organizers do not reveal the secrets of their appearance.