Germany Guide
Look beyond the Sauerkraut and Lederhosen and discover Germany's refreshing diversity. Explore Berlin's explosive art scene, Hamburg's restless harbour life, Dresden's golden opera and Düsseldorf's chic boutiques. Germany's romantic river valleys and deep forests take you to fairytale castles, baroque cathedrals and charming beer gardens. Prost!
From ever-changing Berlin, stay east for the architectural mix of up-and-coming Leipzig or the classical cityscape of cultured Weimar. Go west for gothic-heavy Cologne and Frank Gehry-graced Düsseldorf. Further south, find the romantic centre of medieval Heidelberg, the modern skyscrapers of Frankfurt and the domed churches of Munich.
Cruise the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine Valley, where lush countryside is covered in vines. Wander wide meadows in the north or hike the deep Black Forest in the south-west. Explore the hilly, unspoilt countryside of the Hunsrück. In the south, Upper Bavaria's fairytale castles and picture-book villages give way to the mountainous beauty of the Alps.
Go traditional with cuckoo clocks from the Black Forest. Munich's boutiques have hip designer wear; posh hand bags await on Düsseldorf's Kö promenade. Buy home-bottled wine from a Mosel town, sweet marzipan in Lübeck and full-flavoured beer from a Franconian brewery. In the summer, pick up freshly-picked asparagus from roadside stalls.
Sample the inescapable Sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) and Berlin's beloved Currywurst (curry sausage), then indulge in the rich variety of Germany's regional cooking. Try Semmelknödel (dumplings) and Maultaschen (stuffed pasta pasties) in the south, sea-fresh shrimp and herring-type Rollmops in the north. Don't miss Germany's famed beer – from the golden Pilsener to the dark Altbier.
Once you've done the notorious Oktoberfest, enjoy yourself at one of Germany's smaller, more welcoming, folk festivals. Party with friendly locals at Hanover's traditional Marksmen jamboree or Bremen's Freimarkt funfair. During the summer, hundreds of cheerful wine feasts spring up in towns and villages all over the country.
