Germany Travel Guide:

    Best Places to Visit in Germany - I

Germany Travel		Top of Page
We rate Germany   A Destination of a Lifetime   When a is shown, click it to see  a photograph of the attraction.	We think that Germany is one of the crown jewels of travel and our opinion seems to be in favor, as Germany is one of the leading tourist destinations worldwide.   Scenic landscapes, beautiful villages, quaint castles and a profound sense of history are just a few of the reasons travelers are attracted to this delightful country.  Germany's industrious culture mixes the old with the new, the common with the technologically innovative and, in the process, manages to create a country that is both unique and impressive. Be sure to see our new road map of Germany, based on Google Maps.  Our map shows the location of our recommendations for the Best Places to Visit in Germany,  Your can also route between locations using the map or view a satellite image of the country.	Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen, Germany
Best Places to Visit in Germany - Page 1		Top of Page
Places in Bold are unusually attractive destinations. Place names shown in plain text are of significant interest to many travelers. Underlined places are clickable for additional information.     Advice on driving, info on rules of the road,  facts about health care in Germany and other Tourist Tips for traveling in Germany can be found in our article Germany: Travel Information. If you are interested in  Germany, its people, history, economy and geography,  visit our section      Germany: Country Facts	Bavaria With  mountainside castles that appear as if they must be from fairy tales,  Bavaria has a storybook atmosphere.  In many ways, this is the image that many of us carry in our heads of the German Alps.  Bavaria is a part of Germany that visitors should see and explore. Munich       München, although a large and sophisticated business center, is a city that carries a warmth and charm unlike many of Germany's major urban areas.  It appears that the Prussian formalism ingrained in much of country missed Munich.  The city's inhabitants genuinely like to party (e.g. Oktoberfest) and it is infectious. You should expect great food and lots of nightlife during your visit. In addition, München offers galleries, museums, opera and world class symphony orchestras, as balances to its more earthy side.  The city is a delight: compact and park-like, it offers much to see and do. In combination with the surrounding area, Munich offers some of the best castles in Germany. You can visit the Neuschwanstein Castle  on a day trip from Munich (several companies run tours of southern Bavaria) or as part of exploring the Romantic Road described below. Click here to view our Munich City Guide.   Romantic Road Crossing idyllic appearing countryside and winding its way through quintessential "tourist Germany", the Romantic Road,  wanders from Würzburg to Füssen. The Road provides an atmosphere of times long past and in some towns reflects some pretty slick marketing by tourist bureaus rather than meaningful attractions.  Regardless, this is one of Germany's most popular sightseeing areas. The towns on or nearby the Romantic Road cross several of Germany's scenic regions.  We have included descriptions of them here rather than in their regions, as they are usually visited as part of a trip touring the Romantic Road.   There a numerous towns vying for your attention during a tour of the Romantic Road.  We have highlighted several of the most popular, but there are many other towns of interest to travelers.  For more detailed information on the Romantic Road, visit this website.   Augsburg    Offering fine churches, good food, and a pleasant location, Augsburg should be considered  as a base for touring the Romantic Road and surrounding countryside.  As one of Bavaria's larger cities, it provides a range of lodging opportunities. Founded in the in 15 B.C. as an outpost of the Roman Empire and named in honor of the emperor Augustus, Augsburg is the oldest city in Bavaria.  It offers many interesting museums (including the Roman Museum and the Maximillian Museum), and attractive historical buildings. Augsburg was an important city during the Renaissance. The Old Town  offers outstanding historic buildings and several magnificent fountains. Be sure the see the Rathaus (City Hall). Although severely damaged in World War II, this beautiful building has now been restored to its former glory and its Golden Hall is worth seeing. Rothenburg      Considered by many to be the most desirable and authentic  medieval town on the "Romantik Strasse" (the Romantic Road), Rothenburg is the prototypical walled town with dramatic architecture, good food, and great trinket shopping.  Many complain that Rothenburg is too touristy, but it is universally acclaimed as the best example of a medieval town in Germany.  The town is, also, known for its "Christmas Market" but you will find Christmas decorations for sale here year round. Be sure to visit the Spitalbastei Gate, The Old Town (Old Quarter),  St. James church (a Gothic masterpiece) and the Romantic Road.   Würzburg    Once an important medieval center and a historic university town, Würzburg is located in a noted wine growing region and offers a pleasant, short stop for tourists.  See the Princebishops Palace (the Residence (Residenz)) and the Court Garden.  The Fortress (Festung) Marienberg is worth a stop.  Finally, the city has an amazing collection of historic churches that  exhibit dramatic architectures. Füssen   Located at the southern end of the Romantic Road, Füssen sits at the base of the Alps (the Bayerische Alpen) and enjoys fantastic scenery. Its Old Town rests on an earlier Roman area and is a pleasure to walk and explore.  The highlight of the town is the spectacular Hohes Schloss Castle, one of the most noteworthy of the late gothic castles in Germany.  Füssen should be considered as a base for exploring the Castles built by the famous although erratic King Ludwig II. Ludwig's most endearing edifice is the Schloss Neuschwanstein, the "fairy tale" castle which is famous around the world.  Click here for our Photo Guide to the Neuschwanstein Castle.   Ludwig was removed from power before the castle was completed and shortly before he bankrupted the state's treasury.  Visit this official Neuschwanstein Castle website for more information. Ludwig spent most of his life in the nearby Hohenschwangau Castle that was renovated by his father, Maximilian, the Crown Prince of Bavaria in the early 19th century.  For more information, visit this official site . Schwangau Schwangau, another of the Romantic Road's towns, is a delightful resort about a mile from the two castles mentioned above, if you want to be closer than Füssen.  Schwangau's official website provides detailed information.  Hohenschwangau  If you want to be even closer, stay in the village of Hohenschwangau.  The website for the village of Hohenschwangau can be found here. If you want to see more of Ludwig and his whimsies, Linderhof Castle is about 30 miles to the northeast.     Linderhof was Ludwig's attempt to bring the grandeur of Versailles to the German countryside.  For more information, visit Linderhof Castle's official website. Click here for our Photo Guide to Linderhoff Castle.   Finally,  each of the castles described above are very popular with tourists, although Neuschwanstein is the most visited site in Germany.  The lines at Neuschwanstein can be several hours long in summer.  So arrive early  or  be prepared for quite a wait. (You might want to read our article on strategies for avoiding crowds while touring.) Continue to Page 2 of our Germany Guide  Or select a destination from the Jump Table at the right.   If you are interested in reading about another country, click for our Destination Guide Homepage.     If you need information about another travel destination, try Googling our site or the Web Enter your search terms Submit search form   Web www.ThereArePlaces.com	Germany's Best Places to Visit The Regions The Romantic Road Bavaria Rhine Valley Mosel Valley The Castle Road The Black Forest Major Cities Berlin and Potsdam Munich Dresden Hamburg Frankfurt Itineraries   Munich's Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) and its musical clock  are outstanding                                                   The Rathausplatz in Augsburg is home to the town's amous Rathaus (City Hall)         View of Rothenburg from a tower on the city wall.                   The Residenz Palace and gardens in Wurzburg                       Germany's Best Places to Visit The Regions The Romantic Road Bavaria Rhine Valley Mosel Valley The Castle Road The Black Forest Major Cities Berlin and Potsdam Munich Dresden Hamburg Frankfurt Itineraries
Itineraries		Top of Page
	Germany provides a wide range of destinations some of which are best seen while cruising Germany's scenic waterways.  If you have the time (and the budget) consider taking a river cruise on one of the many tour lines that ply the Rhine. The country offers an incomparable travel experience laced with good food, exciting festivals, and hidden treasures along most every road.  Much of Germany is best seen by automobile: set out on a relaxed schedule that lets you experience the wonders of the countryside. Many of the attractions in Germany's cities were seriously damaged towards the end of Word War II. Most historic building have suffered through extensive renovation or complete rebuilding.  The effort has produced amazing results and the historic glories of Germany once again look like new. Read our sections on Germany Travel Information and Germany Facts to prepare for vacationing in Germany. If you are planning your first trip to Germany, we suggest you head for Munich and focus your touring  the Romantic Road (Bavaria)and exploring the Rhine Valley. A week to ten days  will allow you to sample the delights of these best places to visit in Germany
Second Trip		Top of Page
	If you are planning a second trip to Germany, consider visiting Berlin Dresden The Rhine Valley If you have seen these areas before, consider driving the Castle Road.
Editor's Choice		Top of Page
	Our editor's list of favorite places in Germany includes: München Rothenburg Bavaria
Overview Map		Top of Page
	Map of the Best Places to Visit in Germany                                             Top of Page