Germany Travelers Recommend

The inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland, Neuschwanstein was built by King Ludwig II in the 19th century. Capture the grandeur of this architecture and picturesque mountain scenery on a visit to these extraordinary castles, the legacy of Bavaria's fairytale King. Hidden in the seclusion of the Bavarian mountains, King Ludwig II built two of his dream castles, Neuschwanstein and Linderhof. Elegant Linderhof, King Ludwig's favorite and the smallest of three royal castles, is built in French Rococo style with a fantastic grotto and Moorish pavilion. On approaching Castle Neuschwanstein, it quickly becomes clear why this magnificent neo-Romanesque style castle is the most famous in the world. The shimmering white towers of the castle among the clouds are instantly recognizable, evoking memories of magical fairytale lands.

The city of Munich offers travelers plenty of ways to capitalize on sunshine with numerous cultural, historical and sightseeing options. While city walking tours are always an option, travelers who are tight on time can explore the streets of Munich by bike or Segway. These two-wheel alternatives to foot exploration mean it’s possible to see more in less time. And once visitors have worked up a thirst (and an appetite), they can opt for a Bavarian beer and food tour or behind-the-scenes look at the famous Paulaner Brewery. Munich is also home to some top World War II landmarks, making it an ideal place for history lovers. Visitors can join a tour that highlights Hitler’s impact and includes a look at sites associated with the Third Reich. For travelers who want to venture further afield, Munich’s proximity to other destinations makes it an ideal starting point for day trips to Salzburg, the royal castles of Neuschwanstein and the Dachau Concentration Camp.

Day 1: Sport, spires and shopping in Munich Orientate yourself by riding the hop on hop off bus, pedaling around on a bicycle, or walking on foot. Walking is recommended to appreciate the amazing architecture. Find the Nationaltheater in Max-Joseph-Platz, check out the gargoyles and climb to the top of neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus or St. Peterskirche towers for a bird's eye view of the city. Day 2: Munich Museums and Bavarian Beer! Go behind the scenes at the BMW museum, and see the factory’s assembly line in action. The Deutsches Museum is a wonderful place to get lost with models of atoms, miniature gas refineries, and electricity-generating bikes. Day 3: Castles, Lakes and Mountains The shimmering white towers of Castle Neuschwanstein are instantly recognizable, as Bavaria's fairytale King Ludwig II built his dream castles in the mountains.

For one thing, Frankfurt sponsors the arts with more money than any other European city. You can find many of these along the Main River in the Museumsufer District. Here the exhibits range from architecture to film to the city’s Jewish history. Other attractions include the city zoo and the beautiful Palmengarten, Frankfurt’s botanical garden. After you’ve seen some art, fauna and flora, you’ll probably want some food and drink. For all the staid businessmen, the city’s bar and club scene is among the best in Europe. In particular, you’ll want to check out the King Kamehameha Club. Why a German music venue is named for a famed Hawaiian monarch is anyone’s guess, but the club is a top stop for local, national and international acts. Consider taking a day trip to Rothenberg. Through Viator, you can book a motor coach tour that takes you through the scenic Spessart Mountains to Rothenberg, Germany’s “Jewel of the Middle Ages.

Once it played host to some of Hitler’s largest Nazi rallies, Nuremberg found a significant role in proceedings throughout World War II. The modern city is littered with war monuments. Visitors can tour the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds; learn more about the city’s wartime role at the Rally Grounds Documentation Centre. While there are a number of concentration camps preserved around Germany, Dachau is one of the most visited and is now a poignant memorial and museum. Take a Day Tour from Munich to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial and explore the notorious camp, one of the first to be built and known as the blueprint for many other camps. Perched on a mountain peak in the Bavarian Alps, the towering Adlerhorst, or ‘Eagle’s Nest’, is one of the most elaborate of Hitler’s houses, designed as a gift for his 50th birthday. Serving throughout the war as the southern Nazi headquarters and a safe retreat for Hitler himself.

From its roots as a medieval salt-trading center, through the rule of the mid-19th century ‘Mad King’ King Ludwig II, to the devastation of the World Wars, Munich has a long and colorful history and there are plenty of historic sights to see. While traces of Bavaria’s earlier history are kept alive in the region’s many magnificent castles, it’s the city’s WWII history that’s under the spotlight on a historic tour of Munich. As the birthplace of the Nazi Party and home to its headquarters, Munich became the backdrop for many of the most notorious atrocities of Nazi rule. Following in the footsteps of the Nazi party offers a unique journey through history, from the early party meetings held in the city’s beer halls, through Hitler’s rise to power, to the post-war reconstruction and preservation efforts.

Salzburg from Munich The birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg is where the gifted composer wrote and premiered many of his masterpieces. In homage to the maestro, there are reminders all over the city from the cathedral where he was baptized, to his childhood home. Recognised as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town, Salzburg is also known for its appearance in the famous 1965 film The Sound of Music. Interestingly the real-life von Trapp family really did hail from Salzburg but many Austrians do not know the film. Nonetheless you can see numerous locations, including the gardens of the Mirabell Palace and the forbidding fortress. Salzburg’s main museum displays most of the city’s fascinating history, while the Residenzgalerie holds many of its great art treasures. Away from the town centre, Schloss Hellbrunn is a testament to refined aristocratic taste.

Day 1: Berlin Tours Get things rolling with a Berlin Sightseeing Cruise on the River Spree. You'll cruise right through the city, passing such famous sights as Potsdamer Platz, the Reichstag, Museum Island and Berlin Cathedral. Visit the extraordinary cultural treasures of the Pergamon Museum for ancient history and Alte Nationalgalerie for the art buffs. Day 2: History & Culture Walking Tours Immerse yourself in the days of espionage on a Nest of Spies Walking Tour which takes you into the dark side of Berlin, bring your camera along on an inspirational East Meets West Photography Walking Tour, or get on your bike on one of our cycling tours. Day 3: Day Trips from Berlin. Former residence of the Prussian kings, Potsdam is an easy day trip destination from Berlin. For a day trip with a difference, take a walking tour of Sachsenhausen, one of Nazi Germany's main concentration camps.

From the towering spires of Cologne’s UNESCO-listed cathedral to the traditional wine taverns of Mainz, the Rhine Valley has plenty of world-class sights, but the region’s most magnetic tourist attraction is its scenery. With clusters of timber-fronted houses lining the riverside medieval towns, ancient fortresses rising up from the surrounding cliff tops and vast vineyards sprawling along the foothills, it’s easy to see why the Rhine is one of Germany’s most popular cruise destinations and nearby Frankfurt makes a convenient starting point for tours. Take a half- or full-day trip to the Rhine Valley from Frankfurt and soak up the highlights with a river cruise along the UNESCO World Heritage listed Middle Rhine Valley, stopping off to sample local wines amidst the terraced vineyards of Rudesheim and admire the iconic Loreley Rock.

Starting out from either Munich or Frankfurt, 3-, 4- and 5-day tours allow plenty of time to discover the medieval gems of the Romantic Road and tour the magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle, as well as visiting nearby sights like the historic town of Heidelberg, Ludwig II’s Linderhof Castle or the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak. For the ultimate Romantic Road tour, opt for a 7-day of Romantic Germany from Frankfurt to Munich, which visits UNESCO-listed sites like the Wurzburg Residence, Heidelberg Castle and the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, as well as the nearby Black Forest. Alternatively, those short on time can take in choice highlights of the Romantic Road like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Augsburg and Donauworth, on an overnight tour between Munich and Frankfurt. It’s even possible to take in top attractions on a day tour – take a Wurzburg day tour from Frankfurt, or a guided tour of the Romantic Road, Rothenburg and Harburg Castle from either Munich or Frankfurt.

Oktoberfest is by far the largest beer festival in the world, attracting around six million visitors to Munich to enjoy the liquid gold. Every year the Wiesn ("the meadow") is turned into a sparkling temporary city of vast tents, fairground attractions, music, Gemütlichkeit, and millions of liters of specially brewed beer, served in 1litre Masskrüge. The Bavarian Purity Requirements of the 16th century guarantee the highest quality Bavarian beer. Only the major “Big Six” Munich breweries (Augustiner, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spaten, Hofbräu and Hacker-Pschorr) may serve beer at Oktoberfest, and each has its own tent.

If you're curious to know the stories below the surface of Berlin's fascinating architecture, there's nothing like walking the very same streets to bring alive everything you've ever wondered about WWII and the Third Reich. Berlin is a city that is constantly changing and reinventing itself, however the marks of history are deeply scored into the architecture and psyche of the city. Hitler married long-time mistress Eva Braun in the Führerbunker, and two days later both committed suicide in order to avoid capture by Soviet forces. Hitler's plan to make Berlin the Reich capital of Germania was abandoned as the Allies bombed the city, while the remnants of Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church stand as a grim reminder to the damages of war.

If you ever wanted to see Berlin from a different angle or wanted to get an overview of the city in a short time, a river cruise is a good option for a tour. Though the Spree River spans over 400 kilometers to the Czech Republic, it is most famous for being the river of Berlin. From the Spree river, you can see some of Berlin’s most historic sights including Reichstag and the majestic Museum Island. Many sight-seeing cruises along the Spree River are available. You’ll be able to see some of Berlin’s most famous sites and cross the former border between West and East Berlin. You can also take cruises that solely tour East Berlin or West Berlin. There are evening cruises that show the buildings lit up at night. You’ll pass many bridges as well. An interesting fact is that Berlin has more bridges than Venice! Outside of the city, you can discover the palatial Potsdam by boat as well.

Very few European cities were as hard hit by World War II as Dresden, Germany. The city was in flaming ruins from the Allied firebomb attacks of February 13, 1945, depicted in Kurt Vonnegut’s classic Slaughterhouse Five. It is estimated that between 35,000 and 135,000 people died in the attacks. Rebuilding began shortly after and some projects were completed as recently as 2005, like the Frauenkirche, one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Known as the “Church of Our Lady,” this Lutheran church was turned to rubble in the attack and stood as a monument to peace when it was carefully put back together, stone by stone, like pieces of a puzzle. Of the 8,500 stones recovered from the site, 3,800 were reused. The golden orb atop the tower was donated by the UK as an unspoken apology for the devastation. What was once known as the “pearl of the Baroque” and home to Saxon kings is now a modern reconstruction of the pre-1945 architecture.