Country characteristics
Berlin
Since 1991, Berlin is again Germany's capital and in every place of this ever-changing metropolis you find signs and traces of German history of the past, present and the future. No other city in Germany is that diversified and rich of monuments and museums. The surroundings of Berlin are inviting to relax at beautiful lakes or passing by boat on canals through virgin woods (Spreewald).
Munich
Munich (München) - capital of Bavaria - offers you the most of Southern German culture and customs and people from all over the world meet every year at the famous Beer festival at the end of September (Oktoberfest). Not far away from the capital, Oberammergau where the famous Passion Plays take place every 10 years, is worth a visit.
Hamburg
Hamburg is Germany's major harbour city and the gateway for all overseas goods traffic by boat. You experience the international flair of this place at once. The North German plains, e.g. the Lüneburger Heide, are known for their unique and colourful vegetation.
Cologne
Cologne (Köln) is especially famous for the ancient gothic cathedral (next to the main train station!). The yearly Carnival reflects the people's friendliness and heartful hospitality.
Dresden
Dresden, the ‘Florence on the Elbe’ is known for its baroque city. It can be visited from Berlin within one day.
Rhein-Ruhr region
Down to South the Rhein-Ruhr region is one of Germany's most dynamic and powerful regions with a long tradition of industrial culture but at the same time you find there peaceful and romantic woods or lakes. Cities like Düsseldorf, Essen, Dortmund are the highlights of this region.
Rhine, Moselle and Neckar
In the Western part the famous valleys of Rhine, Moselle and Neckar are a must for the traveller as they make you feel the medieval charm of Germany at best. Enjoy the ride on a boat and taste the excellent wine of these regions. Getting off at Heidelberg the majestic castle and the very attractive historic city speak for themselves.
Central part of Germany
The same goes for a lot of other small and bigger towns in the Central part of Germany which have preserved for you their enchanting medieval character not only from the architectural point of view. Besides Heidelberg, Rothenburg od der Tauber, Dinkelsbühl, Würzburg, Nürnberg, Quedlinburg or Wernigerode are only some names to be mentioned here.
Black Forest
Southern Germany spots highlights such as the Black Forest with a magnificent picture postcard landscape of lakes and deep woods, the Lake of Constance where Germany meets Austria and Switzerland.
Alpine region
Very famous and scenic are the Bavarian Alps with inviting places like Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the Zugspitze as Germany´s highest peak or Berchtesgaden, not to forget the fairy tale castles of King Ludwig II (Neuschwanstein, Linderhof).
