Germany - Get Around

Speed along the Autobahn or travel on efficient, ever-punctual trains.

Europe's largest country is a richly varied affair. Find flat, moorland regions in the north, where people tend to be slightly more reserved. Germany's short coastline runs along both the rugged North Sea and the gentler Baltic. In the west, the southbound river Rhine is enveloped by the jovial Rhineland, with the more industrial Ruhr valley in the northwest. The Harz and the Erzgebirge rise in the east, while things get even more mountainous, and more passionate, the further south you go.

Germany's trains are modern, fast and punctual. Board one of Deutsche Bahn's stylish white InterCityExpress (ICE) and cross the country at nearly 300km an hour, or opt for its slightly slower sister, the IC, to travel between cities. The network is extensive, trains are frequent, and you can book your place at any train station.

Car-loving Germany has a vast network of well-maintained, toll-free roads, so you shouldn't have any trouble reaching your destination by car. The country's famed ultra-fast Autobahnen (motorways) - some without any speed limit – traverse the country in all directions, connecting cities and regions.

If you want to travel longer distances fast, and don't mind missing out on the views, flights connect many German cities. Major airports include Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne and Munich.

Hop on a bike. Germany's cities are very bike-friendly and plenty of cycling lanes make it easy and safe to get around. In rural areas dedicated paths cross forests and valleys, and defunct railway lines have been turned into cycling lanes – a perfect way to see the countryside.

Board a boat and travel between Düsseldorf, Köln, Koblenz and Mainz, passing the medieval towns and castles of the Rhine Valley. The Elbe takes you from Hamburg all the way to the Czech border, and the Danube conveniently crosses Upper Bavaria from west to east.

If your train allows, try to book a double-decker carriage for even better views during your journey. Narrow-gauge steam trains still run in Saxony and along the coast of Mecklenburg-Lower Pomerania. Cruise the Rhine in the evening, when the castles shine in bright orange tones.

Deutsche Bahn (Germam National Rail) website

Discover Roman Germany amid the arches of Trier, the country's oldest city, and experience the literary aura of cultured Weimar, where Goethe and Schiller used to roam. Grapple with recent history at the remnants of Berlin's infamous wall.