Germany

The 2000-year old imperial city of Aachen is a cosmopolitan town with historical flair. Located at the heart of the border triangle between Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium, Aachen sits right in the middle of a region worth exploring. The town itself is known, among other things, for being the imperial capital under Charles the Great (who was laid to rest here), and for the Aachener Printen, a variety of gingerbread originating from here.

If you fancy a hand of cards, Altenburg is the place for you: playing cards has been practised here for over 500 years, and the national card game ’skat’ was first played here. The town has a history of 1000 years, and boasts an impressive castle set on a rocky outcrop. Buy collapsible top hats on Rossplan Square, and baptise your cards at the Skat fountain: it brings good luck!

Welcome to Berlin - the capital of Germany, which has changed drastically since the Wall came down, commanding global interest as a destination. Walking through Berlin you will see evidence of different historic periods in a short time, from medieval buildings to the famous sightseeing landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag and East Side Gallery. Today Berlin is a young, dynamic metropolis open to the world right in the heart of Europe, setting new trends in architecture, art and fashion. Discover its diversity – enjoy Berlin!

Bremen is a picturesque city which is happily situated along both sides of the river Weser. With over 1200 years of history to explore, amble through the twisting lanes filled with quaint shops and cafes, making sure to stop at the Dom St Petri and the UNESCO World Heritage listed Rathaus, or Town Hall, hailed as the finest in Europe. The world famous Beck's Beer is brewed here, and guided tours are offered to visitors year round. With so much to do, see, eat and drink, explore this guide to make the most of your trip to Bremen..

It is said that natives of Cologne who are living elsewhere always feel homesick, and visitors to this beautiful city will soon understand why. Germany’s oldest metropolis, which, of course, gave its name to the Eau de Cologne, offers a mix of magnificent and romantic churches, cutting-edge modern architecture, busy shopping streets and world-famous museums. There is much to do and see in Cologne, and with all the frequent flights and transportation options, getting here has never been easier.

Located in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of the country, modern Dortmund is vibrant and cultural, known for its good shopping, beer and football. But there is another, altogether gentler, side to this former industrial powerhouse. Dortmund has great theatres and cultural centres, a range of fascinating museums and, with half the city given over to parks and gardens, enough green areas to sooth the senses.

Dresden was known as both the 'Florence of the North' and the 'Venice of the River Elbe' before World War II destroyed most of this once-magnificent Baroque city. But Dresden has managed to restore much of its former glory. The views from the banks of the Elbe and plentiful architectural delights, such as the rebuilt Frauenkirche or the famous Semper Opera, provide glimpses of what today’s vibrant Dresden once looked like. With 63 percent of its area devoted to woods and green spaces, Dresden is also one of the greenest cities in Europe.

Düsseldorf houses “the longest bar in the world,” Germany’s finest shopping boulevard Königsallee, and countless museums, theatres and attractions underscoring the city as a major arts centre. It offers the legendary cheer of the Rhineland with all its quaint traditions in perfect harmony with all the luxuries of a truly cosmopolitan city. You are invited to discover this great city.

Frankfurt is conveniently situated in the heart of both Germany and Europe. Its international airport, which is directly accessible from all across the globe, is only a few minutes from Frankfurt's main train station, one of the largest in Germany. Frankfurt is a great walking city, and the vast majority of its downtown destinations may be reached on foot. There is also a well-developed public transport system, which connects Frankfurt with the surrounding Rhine-Main Region both quickly and easily.

Like a sparkling jewel, Friedrichshafen lies on the shores of beautiful Lake Constance surrounded by magnificent mountains. The untouched nature all around helps lean back and relax while explorers appreciate Friedrichshafen’s undisputed position as the birthplace of the Zeppelin. Come and discover a variety of leisure facilities, the wealth of cultural attractions and the exciting aviation history. Enjoy the Swabian cosiness associated with urban flair, plus the chance to hop over the border to Switzerland in less than an hour.

“Discover your true nature“: This motto is the central philosophy encompassing the tourist attractions offered at the renowned holiday destination of Garmisch-Partenkirchen all year round. In the midst of beautiful mountain views, the most famous town of the Bavarian Alps offers a wide variety of topnotch holidays. At the foot of Mount Zugspitze, nature is aImpressive, historic facades and lovingly painted houses are splendid and the charming inhabitants give the town its atmosphere.

Elbe and Alster Lake, the historic Town Hall, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus, the nightlife on the famous Reeperbahn and the traditional Hamburg fish market shape the image of Hamburg, Germany’s green city on the waterfront. The HafenCity offers modern architecture and the new landmark, the concert hall Elphilharmonie Hamburg. In Hamburg prestige, elegance and modernity are combined to a globally unique atmosphere.

Hannover is a modern metropolis set among countless idyllic little towns and cute villages – with its programme of major events and open-air concerts, the baroque Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen and its top-notch artistic and cultural offerings, this city boasts a range of absorbing leisure activities that scarcely any other city can rival. Among the tourist highlights of the area, surrounding its federal state capital, are Lake Steinhude, the ridge of the Deister Hills and the Marienburg Castle.

"The city in its setting and entire surroundings may be said to have something ideal." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1797). Scarcely any other European city has had its praises so often sung as Heidelberg. The mysterious Heidelberg Castle, the picturesque Old Town, and as Goethe himself stated, the perfection of its setting – in the nineteenth century, all of this attracted the German romanticists, who immortalized Heidelberg in poetry, music, and art. Today the charm of Old Heidelberg is combined with a future-oriented and international focus.

Apart from being the hometown of Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn, Leipzig is also one of Germany’s tourism hot spots, and a centre for commerce and culture. With its rich history, beautiful architecture, a vibrant cultural scene, great shopping opportunities and a lively nightlife, Leipzig heartily bids you welcome!

Lübeck, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, was one of the great mercantile cities in the Middle Ages. The Old Town island, surrounded by the river Trave and the canal, today still communicates the charm of a port. Travemünde is one of the most beautiful sea resorts of Europe which already in 1802 transformed the former fishing- and sailor village into a top address for bathers from near and far. The fascinating sailing Old-timer “Passat”, chugging deep-sea fishing boats and gigantic ferryboats can be admired on the Baltic Sea.

In Munich there is so much more than just the Oktoberfest or Lederhosen. The beautiful bavarian capital has much more to offer. A mixture of exclusive shopping, art, culture, indulgence and tradition makes this city unmistakable. Moreover, Germany’s most cheerful residents live here.

Here, in the heart of Europe, you will find a world of excitement. There's a lot to explore in the Northern Black Forest region: magnificent countryside, art museums, impressive palaces, hiking and cycling trails, picturesque vineyards, as well as wonderful culinary delights.

Once you’ve experienced the city’s enchanting historical ambience and seen the mighty Kaiserburg, you’ll never forget them. The beautiful Old Town, which is the epitome of medieval charm, is nestled at the foot of the castle. It’s home to historical buildings, spectacular churches, one of Germany’s largest pedestrian areas and the traditional Hauptmarkt. But Nuremberg is more than just a melting pot of cultural highlights.

Saarbrücken, Germany's small jewel lying on the French border, is Saarland's charming and amicable capital that has some truly intriguing stories to tell: a plethora of Roman and Baroque landmarks, all scattered along the Saar river, speak of the region's eventful past.

Magnificent panorama and splendid architecture, cultural diversity and traditional festivals - Stuttgart, the state capital of Baden-Württemberg, delights its visitors. Due to the numerous green strips, parks, woods and historic buildings, some people take Stuttgart for the "paradise of Swabia". Highlights include the famous State Theatre, the large State Gallery, the Museum of Natural History and the Weißenhof estate.

Sylt has long been a playground for Germany’s rich and famous, and is called the "German Hamptons" for good reason. Pronounced "Zoolt," Sylt is a surreally beautiful, 25-mile long island on Germany’s North Sea coast, that has one of the longest unbroken stretches of immaculate sandy beach in all of Europe. Sylt is famous for its invigorating sea air and sense of space. This summer enjoy magnificent vistas of the sparkling sea, huge sand dunes and endless fields of bright-yellow flowering rape!