Germany Holiday Guide Berlin city breaks, Bavarian beer halls, alpine retreats, Rhine cruises, coastal fishing towns, nature trails, gothic buildings, Black Forest getaways, Germany has so much to offer the holiday maker and with current prices and exchange rates the extra good news is there are great deals to savour along the way. From the medieval history of Heidelberg, the clean grandeur of Munich and the lively cosmopolitan cities of Berlin, Frankfurt and Cologne, Germany is without a doubt one of the most charming and varied holiday destinations in Europe. Good food, legendary beers and wine and a good choice of accommodations combine with reliable public transport options and the world famous museums and cultural attractions of Germany, including classical venues, art galleries and historical sites to ensure a German holiday is a first class choice once experienced likely to be tried again.

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Germany Attractions
Leipzig - One of Germany’s most important trade centres Leipzig is the home of all things Bach. The city is famed for its fairs, outdoor classical music, cafes and architecture including the stunning railway station.

Husum – Near Hamburg and the Danish border pretty coastal town with pristine harbour and good shopping. Surrounding beautiful meadows and charming windmill countryside is perfect for nature lovers. Former home of the Frisian poet: Theodore Storm.

Dresden – Destroyed twice and rebuilt. Now a mix of old and new buildings of equal distinction - plus amazing cultural scene and nightlife.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria - Walt Disney’s basis for Sleeping Beauty's cartoon castle – this 19th Century neo medieval castle is absolutely stunning.

Spreewald – Collection of pretty rivers, streams, canals and forest about 100km South East of Berlin. Extremely enchanting.

Oktoberfest, Munich - World's biggest public festival popular with the British for obvious reasons. The beer festival begins the last few days of September and goes on for weeks with fine food, drinks and entertainments on offer.

Cologne - Cologne, an attractive cosmopolitan city known for its superb Gothic cathedral is set in a stunning location on the banks of the Rhine.

Frisian Islands - North Sea islands with sand dunes, fine beaches and spectacular scenery. Popular family holiday destinations. Lots of ferry trips available. Can be combined with a flight to Hamburg and a city break too.

Heidelberg - Medieval towers, bridges and a 14th Century castle are some of the visitor attractions. The ancient university city of Heidelberg on The River Neckar is an amazing sight.

Black Forest - The mountain forest region is a popular holiday destination and the home of some classic fairy tales. Ideal for trekkers, families, nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Hamburg - Famous for the Beatles, its vast historic dockland and lively night life, art galleries and shopping scene.

Frankfurt - Financial and commercial capital of Germany with super shopping and also an impressive collection of art galleries and museums, restaurants and entertainments.

Flights to Germany

The main flights to Germany arrive in Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf and Berlin.

Berlin is particularly accessible by air, with Berlin's most popular airport Tegel amazingly just five miles from the city centre.

Berlin's new airport will open in June 2012: Berlin Brandenburg International airport. The new airport is being built on the compound of Schoenefeld airport, South East of the German capital.

Tegel Airport, currently Berlin's busiest, will then be closed. Tempelhof airport was closed in 2008.

Getting Around

Germany has a reputation for its punctual public transport and while there are exceptions it does well compared to many other European destinations.

Domestic flights are possible between all major cities although rail travel is fast and well priced making it the best alternative to cross the country. Germany also has an excellent highway system connected to the rest of Western Europe. Bicycle touring in Germany is also very popular and there is a good network of cycling routes in the countryside and towns and cities. Ferries also sail between the Northern coast and the UK, and also Scandinavia and along the Rhine. Boat cruises are popular in cities like Cologne, Berlin and Hamburg.

Berlin

A mix of bohemian charm and sophisticated grandeur, Berlin is a rapidly evolving city which has appealed to art lovers and city enthusiasts for centuries due to its incredible plethora of museums and galleries and underground clubs and art installations. Not conventionally attractive like Rome or Paris but fascinating and fun in equal measure. The East and West of the city have distinct identities and night life but wherever you will go you will find superb shops, bars, galleries, restaurants and music clubs. Great public transport and open areas make it a delight to get around.

Berlin Visitor Attractions

The Berlin Wall - One of the best examples of what is left of the wall can be seen near Leipziger Strasse.

Checkpoint Charlie - Famous checkpoint between East and West during the cold war. There is a museum there now documenting the history of the checkpoint.

The Reichstag - Built in the 1880s the German parliament was renovated in 1999 by British architect Norman Foster. Visitors can visit its glass dome.

The Brandenburg Gate – A symbol of Berlin and unified Germany. This massive monument was built as a triumphal arch in the centre of Berlin for armies of the Prussian state.  

Museum Island - Central museum district which includes The National Gallery with its important collection of French impressionists and The Old Museum - a collection of 18th to 20th Century paintings and statues. Other museums include the Bode Museum with its Byzantine and early Christian artefacts.

Tiergarten - Originally a hunting reserve the Tiergarten was turned into a city park in 1742. Popular picnic location, this lush central park is over 412 acres.

Jewish Museum - Architect Daniel Libeskind created this stunning building housing a collection of Jewish culture and history.

East Side Gallery - A popular remaining stretch of the former Berlin wall - which divided communist East and democratic West Berlin - and is now the home of international artist murals.

Natural History Museum - This huge central museum contains dinosaur skeletons, fossils, animal and geological finds.

Berlin Radio Tower - The 138m high Berlin Radio Tower was built in 1924. Its steel spire offers up great views of the city from the observation deck. There is also a restaurant to enjoy the views from.

The Berlin Zoo - The largest zoo in the world is over 74 acres and was founded in 1841. It contains more than 13,000 animals.

The Berlin Aquarium - The Berlin Aquarium also offers one of the biggest collections of marine life in the world.

Charlottenburg Palace - The oldest Prussian palace in Germany: a 17th century masterpiece full of ornate furnishings and paintings.

Rathaus – The Berlin town hall building was built in the 1860s from red terracotta brick. Guided tours available.