Germany is one jewels of world travel: it is, justifiably, one of the most popular  tourist destinations.  Germany offers  numerous world-class tourist destinations.  Its industrious culture has produced a country that mixes the old with the new, the historic with technologically innovative.  Scenic landscapes, beautiful villages, quaint castles and a sense of history pervade the country, making it a wonderful place for exploration.

Be sure to see our new road map of Germany, based on Google Maps, that shows the location of our recommendations for the Best Places to Visit in Germany,  Your can also route between locations using the map.

• Rhine Valley

  • The Rhine Valley is one of the most popular tourist areas of Germany.  The valley, hills, river, castles and scenic towns combine to produce an area that has a special ambiance and unique attractiveness.  The great wines and good food add even more magic.

    
    

  •   The Upper Middle Rhine Valley, defined as the area from Bingen/Rüdesheim to Koblenz, is an exceptional destination that combines one of Europe's most beautiful river valleys with the opportunity to explore some of the most scenic examples of the Germany's historic castle culture. Did we mention wine? 

    
    

  • Click here for our Photo Guide to the Rhine Valley

   

  • The best way to observe the beauty of this area is by boat. Yep, it's touristy but you need to hop on one of the daily tour boats and observe the Rhine Valley from its river.  The castles and towns are glorious when viewed from the Rhine and you do not have to move your feet to see the sights.

    • If you have time for a longer cruise, consider one of the many cruises targeting the "Great Rivers of Europe".  We think the prices are competitive and they best part of river cruising is that you do not have to schlep your luggage to a new hotel each day.  On the other hand, sometimes the tours might not leave you enough time to see what interests you.

     

  • Another great way to explore the Rhine Valley is by car.  Driving both sides of the River allows you to stop at the attractions and views that interest you and not be relegated to the stops the tour boats make.  Be prepared though, the roads that snake through the valley and its cities are often narrow and slow moving.  Each town you see will have something fascinating in it that will require you to stop, shop or eat.   In addition, the Rhine Valley is a popular summer vacation destination and most who visit do so for a week have and are in no hurry for tomorrow to come, so things can be slow.   While the Rhine Valley is a thoroughly enjoyable area to travel, it is easy to underestimate the amount of time it will take to explore the nooks and crannies of the valley, its towns and castles, so be sure and budget you time and prepare an itinerary. 

   

  • The Rhine Valley, extends further north and south than the area we recommend and most sections of the river have something to offer, but no other area offers quite as outstanding scenery and fascinating towns as the Upper Middle Rhine Valley.

   

        

  • Rüdeseheim

    This warm and enjoyable village is an extremely popular stop along the Rhine, perhaps because it is the region's most well known "wine town".  Rüdesheim's setting is quite scenic and the town is filled with places to eat, drink and shop (walk the Drosselgasse).  Be sure to see the Niederwald Monument (take the cable cars), a famous monument of stone and bronze commemorating  the 19th century reunification of Germany.

    • Click here for information on Rüdesheim.

     

  • The famous Lorelei Rock sits above a narrow, curved section of the Rhine, about 15 miles north of Rüdesheim.   In the past, this stage of the Rhine was difficult to navigate and many ships ran aground on the rocky outcrop. Legend has it that a young lady called Lorelei, jumped off the cliffs here in despair over an unfaithful lover, was reborn a "siren", and from the cliff lured sailors to their deaths with her "hypnotic" songs.

     

  • For more information on the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, visit this website.

• The Mosel (Moselle) River Valley 

  • Although the Rhine is the most famous of the river in Germany, the Mosel may be the most beautiful. We cover the Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz in the ThereArePlaces Guide to the Moseltal.  If you tour the Mosel Valley be sure to include  a stop at the city of Trier, Germany's oldest city.

   

  • Trier 

    • Trier is Germany's oldest city and  highlights includes Porta Nigra - the city's Roman gate dating from the 2nd century, the Trier Cathedral (reputed to be Germany's oldest church -although construction continued across several centuries), the Throne Room of the Roman Emperor Constantine, and the ruins of several Imperial Roman Baths.  We recommend a visit to Trier and consider this historic town to be one of Germany's unexpected treasures. 

    • Read our Guide to Trier, to discover its amazing Roman ruins, fantastic cathedral and enchanting Old Town.

• Berlin and Potsdam

  • Once again the capital of Germany, Berlin is both old and new.  It combines poignant views of its past through the city's historic buildings and museums, while its modern outlook shown by its culture, galleries, restaurants, and nightlife.  Berlin is the best place to examine the promise and complexity of modern Germany.

   

  • Be sure to visit the Brandenburg Gate, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, and  the Museum Island (also known as the Museum Quarters and Berlin-Mitte).

    • The Museum Island is noted for the Berliner Dom (cathedral) and, especially, the Altes Museum, which will house the world famous bust of Egypt's Queen Nefertiti until 2009, when it moves to the Nues Museum.  Also, the Bode Museum, has an outstanding Sculpture Collection and Museum of Byzantine Art, which reopened in late October 2006. 

   

  • Take time for walk between the Brandenburger Tor and the Palace Bridge of the Arsenal along Unter den Linden to see many of the glories of historic Berlin.

    
    

  • If you like world-class shopping, head for the amazing stores along both the Ku'Damm (the Kurfürstendammmstrasse) and the Friedrichstrasse.

   

  • If you are a "Cold War" buff, you might be interested in seeing the underwhelming recreation  of "Checkpoint Charlie" and the privately funded Museum at Checkpoint Charlie (also known as the  Wall Museum - both located on Friedrichstrasse at Zimmerstrasse).  Also, visit this site to find out about the Mauerguide, a GPS-integrated tour tracing the path of the Berlin Wall. You can pick up the guide (fee) at several well-known spots in Berlin and use it find out about the Berlin Wall and its path through the city.

   

        

  
  

  • Potsdam

    Potsdam, a short distance from Berlin, is the historic heart of the Prussian Empire and played a key role in the history of Europe.  Although the city suffered through the last half of the 20th century, Potsdam is beginning to reassume its leading role in Germany's cultural and historic heritage. 

    • See the official Potsdam tourism website for more information.

    
    

    • Potsdam, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is known for many things, but the most interesting attractions are its parks, palaces, historic architecture, and gardens.  Schloss Sanssouci in Potsdam was the summer residence of Frederick the Great and is considered a landmark of world architecture.  Click for our Photo Guide to Sanssouci.

    
    

    • Potsdam has several historic districts and neighborhoods that uniquely reflect this famous city's role in pan-European history.

      • If you have time, see the Neur Garten Park, the Cecilienhof House and the Babelsberg Palace and Park (which was the summer home of Emperor Wilhelm I).

Potsdam and Sanssouci Palace Half-Day Trip from Berlin   From Viator Tours

• The Castle Road - Burgenstrasse

• Although not as popular as the Romantic Road, the Castle Road, approximately 620 miles long, is a scenic route that runs from Mannheim to Prague and passes over 70 castles.  The beginning section of the Castle Road follows the valley of the Neckar River, which is densely populated with castles, many functioning as hotels.  If you are looking to drive in a scenic area that is less touristy than the Romantic Road, full of interesting towns, and one that offers a dramatic view of German history, the Burgenstrasse may be the right choice for you.  For more information, see this website.
  
  
• Heidelberg
  • Of the many stops along the Castle Road, Heidelberg is the most popular.  The city has a beautiful setting with its castle sitting on the hill overlooking the town. 
  • For detailed information on Heidelberg, Castle Heidelberg and the town's many attractions, see our new, detailed Guide to Heidelberg, or continue below for a brief introduction.
  • Heidelberg's Castle (Schloss) dates from the 14th century, but was destroyed in the late 17th century.  It is the city's most popular attraction and an image known around the world.  The Castle includes a wine cask claimed to be the world's largest.
  • The city remains a noted university center and offers a variety of attractions.
    • Heidelberg's Old Town is filled with dramatic buildings that line crooked lanes filled with interesting shops and great cafés and restaurants.  Be sure to walk this area if you visit.   While you are at it, you might be interested in shopping the Hauptstrasse, the longest pedestrian-only shopping area in Europe.
    • If you are serious about antiques, Heidelberg has numerous shops whose treasures will tempt you.
    • Many enjoy walking along the Philosopher's Way/Walk (Philospohenweg) for a spectacular view of the city and its Castle .
    • For those of you of a literary inclination, Mark Twain spent several months in Heidelberg, a fact which is commemorated in the city.

     

• Maulbronn
  • Maulbronn is famed for its Monastery, which was founded more than 860 years ago.  The Maulbronn complex of buildings is unique and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  We have included it in the section on the Castle Road, as it is a place that is convenient to see if you are on you way to Heidelberg or Mannheim.  See the ThereArePlaces Guide to Maulbronn Monastery for details and several photographs showing what you will see, if you visit.

Castles along the Rhine add to the attractiveness of a river cruise

Cochem and its spectacular Castle on the Mosel

The Porta Nigra in Trier

The recreation of "Checkpoint Charlie" in Berlin

 

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   Detailed Guide to the Romantic Road Itineraries

Next

• Click here to read the Third (and final) Page  of our recommendations for the Best Places to Visit in Germany.
• Return to  the beginning of our Guide To Germany.
• Or select a specific destination in Germany from the link table to 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 our Destination Guide Index or Googling the web.

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