Germany - Highlights
See the ever-changing face of eclectic Berlin, and wander Heidelberg's medieval streets. Discover mysterious North Sea lighthouses and Munich's smooth blend of modern and classical art.
See contemporary European art and design at Munich's Neue Pinakothek, then pop next door for works from the Middle Ages to Rococo, at Alte Pinakothek. Frankfurt's intimate Shirn Kunsthalle has an exciting revolving display of predominantly 20th century art. The fluorescent-lit Hamburger Bahnhof, a former railway station in Berlin, is home to the likes of Lichtenstein, Warhol and Beuys.
See Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate and Norman Foster-crowned Reichstag before heading to Cologne's gothic cathedral. Stroll Heidelberg's medieval streets, gaze up at Frankfurt's high-rise skyline, and cruise through Hamburg's redbrick harbour by boat. The grand Semper Opera awaits in Dresden. Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria really is a fairytale palace fit for Snow White.
Take the family to the sun-filled islands of Fehmarn and Rügen, just off the Baltic coast, where sandy beaches, wide tidelands and lighthouses await. Southern Lake Constance is great for surfing, while the northern plains are a cyclist's paradise. Spoil the children at Rust's country-themed Europa-Park or Brühl's rollercoaster-crazy Phantasialand theme park.
Trace German romanticism along the Romantic Road, 350 well-marked kilometers that take you along the River Main, through the Tauber Valley and the monk-populated Franconia, to the timbered villages of the Alps.
Listen to Bach's Goldberg Variations in the parks of his native Leipzig, get into overdrive with Kraftwerk's electro-pioneering Autobahn, and hum along to U2's Zoo Station in front of the song's inspiration, Berlin's Bahnhof Zoo train station.
