Things To Do In Germany

Germany may not be an obvious pick for traditional laid-back vacation, but the juxtaposition of its medieval spirit against cutting-edge industrialism makes it a destination to be explored according to a grand scheme. Hilly and forested, it brings to life legends of chivalry that have long dwelt in the staggering fortresses. Intellectual and refined, it glorifies the memory of Einstein, Beethoven and Goethe amidst countless museums, historic buildings, and quaint old town quarters. Fun-loving and progressive, it brims with cultural events and excels among the European capitals as far as nightlife goes. All you need to do is give it a chance.

Following some research into the preferences and opinions posted by users of various social media sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as own resources and reviews by the most popular travel sites, Open Travel has compiled a list of top 25 things to see or do on your German Vacations. It will certainly throw some light on the country that has always been one of the prime driving forces in the European history, and hence, definitely worth a while.

  1. Location: Hohenschwangau, Germany

    Neuschwanstein Castle (Schloss Neuschwanstein)

    Photo by cesargp

    Rising from the Bavarian woods like a fairytale castle behind seven mountains and seven seas, this blueprint for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle is unbelievable like the existence of seven dwarfs and enchanting like the delicate beauty of Snow White. A product of Ludwig II's distorted mind...

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  2. Location: Berchtesgaden, Germany

    Berchtesgaden National Park

    Photo by tttaaaooo

    This is beauty in its purest form. Here nature has developed freely, almost without a touch of a human hand, and produced an alpine heaven of lush forests, steep rock faces, crystal clear lakes, sleepy villages, and rolling meadows. It's just you, the chirping of birds, and cows ringing their bra...

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  3. Location: Berlin, Germany

    Berlin Wall

    Photo by M5

    Early Sunday morning, August 13, 1961 marked a dramatic moment that for long years changed the cityscape of Berlin and the minds of the whole world. The wall that was supposed to stop East Berliners escaping from the Soviet-controlled East German state from then on has always been synonymous with...

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  4. Location: Berlin, Germany

    Erholungspark Marzahn

    Photo by Dr. Minx

    The ambitious undertaking by German authorities to equip the capital with authentic samples of world's most astonishing gardens has been worked upon with full commitment, resulting in a unique combination of cosmopolitan beauty in a concrete jungle and an oasis of tranquility in the middle of a b...

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  5. Burg Eltz

    Photo by Daniel71953

    Those knowledgeable in the field call it the most beautiful German castle and the epitome of courtyard romanticism. To be sure, there's no accounting for tastes, but the fact remains that Burg Eltz makes a dazzling impression, being one of the few medieval fortresses that remained completely unsc...

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  6. 6

    Sylt

    Sylt

    Photo by rbrands

    Sylt epitomizes all that people actually tend to think Germany lacks - nail-biting surf, serenity, laid-back atmosphere, shifting dunes, picturesque lighthouses, and a lot of sunshine. Dubbed as the 'St Tropez of the North', this elongated piece of land is widely held to be a fine combination of...

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  7. Location: Würzburg, Germany

    Würzburg Residence

    Photo by Rauf Guliyev

    The archbishop Johann von Schonborn suffered from a curious, insatiable need to erect splendid constructions, and it was down to his obstinacy that this marvelous Baroque residence was completed. The most distinguished architects from Austria, France and Germany lent their ideas to finally concei...

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  8. Location: Aachen, Germany

    Aachen Cathedral

    Photo by Hühnerauge

    Completed in stages between the 8th and 19th, the Aachen Cathedral reflects all the aesthetic tendencies ever adopted throughout ages. Originally inspired by the churches of the Eastern Holy Roman Empire, it was developed in the Middle Ages, and further decorated by successive authorities to end...

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  9. Location: Germany

    Upper Middle Rhine Valley

    Photo by King

    As one of the most significant transport routes in Europe, the Middle Rhine Valley has always facilitated the transition of culture between the Mediterranean and the north. Yet what deserves special attention is Its 65 km upper stretch, whose magical charm has for two millenniums served as a lim...

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  10. Location: Herreninsel, Germany

    Schloss Herrenchiemsee

    Photo by Reiner Zenz

    In 1873 King Ludwig II of Bavaria acquired the Herreninsel with the intention of erecting his Royal Palace in the middle of Bavaria's largest lake. And one can hardly find his determination surprising as the location is truly breath-taking. Modeled on Versailles, Herrenchiemsee (New Palace) was...

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  11. Location: Cologne, Germany

    Cologne Cathedral (Dom)

    Photo by Ger1axg

    The curious thing about the Cologne Cathedral is that, although its completion took around 600 years, the outcome not for an inch departs from the original design. On the grounds of being a masterpiece testimony to this admirable endurance in faith, UNESCO has drawn the church on its World Herita...

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  12. Location: Saxony, Germany

    Dresden Elbe Valley

    Photo by DHausBT

    Historic centers, bucolic villages, towering castles, colossal bridges, and magnificent churches dot the 20 kilometer stretch of the river valley whose cultural and natural values combine into a perfect weekend road trip route. Blessed with unpretentious beauty, but also marked with dramatic even...

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  13. Location: Berlin, Germany

    Museumsinsel (Museum Island)

    Photo by ForsterFoto

    The cluster of nineteenth century neoclassic buildings - widely held to be one of world's most significant museum complexes - seems all the more exciting to visit down to its location. Settled on the tip of the island in the Spree, the museums offer splendid collections of art, history and ethnol...

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  14. Location: Regensburg, Germany

    Old Town of Regensburg

    Photo by joiseyshowaa

    Founded by the Romans in 179 A.D, Regensburg has turned into a thriving trading and cultural center, but its old town bears so many exquisite marks of prosperous history that UNESCO decided to distinguish it with World Heritage honors. And indeed, a walk through old Regensburg is a sensory exper...

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  15. Location: Bavaria, Germany

    Wies Church

    Photo by mattana

    On approaching the Wies Church, standing humbly in the middle of nowhere, incidental visitors are almost invariably on the verge of passing it by. Anyway, they certainly wonder who in their right mind would have built a church in such a solitary place. Driven by curiosity, they enter the whitewas...

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  16. Location: Weimar, Germany

    Weimar Museums

    Photo by maha-online

    What may today seem a hotbed for the intellectually-oriented part of the tourist swarm was once a stomping ground of Bach, Goethe, Nietzsche, Schiller, Liszt, and the likes. The air of inspiration whizzes through the extended parkland, and the number of exquisite museums reflects the mightiness o...

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  17. Location: Potsdam, Germany

    Sanssouci Park

    Photo by Wolfgang Staudt

    Sanssouci Park was originally a mere terraced garden for Frederick the Great to put his green fingers to some use and fight off his royal anxieties (hence the name 'sans souci' - without worries). Once the King discovered the magical ambiance of the location, he ordered a residence to be built, w...

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  18. Location: Quedlinburg, Germany

    Old Town of Quedlinburg

    Photo by Punxutawneyphil

    The beginnings of Quedlinburg date back to the 9th century and remember the times of the Carolingian Dynasty. Surrounded by a wall, the town sprang from a bunch of tiny villages that have much retained their character over ages. Today a maze of quaint cobblestoned streets takes visitors to most e...

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  19. 19

    Trier

    Location: Trier, Germany

    Trier

    Photo by H.-D.N.

    This oldest German town is well worth exploring not only by virtue of its age. In its 2000-year-old history Trier was home to six Roman emperors and has therefore inherited a number of impressive ancient remnants, some of which stun with their level of preservation. The most outstanding example i...

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  20. Location: Maulbronn, Germany

    Maulbronn Abbey (Kloster Maulbronn)

    Photo by Joachim Köhler

    One of the best preserved medieval monastic complexes north of the Alps was founded in 1137 by a few Cistercian monks. Legend has it that on their way from Alsace they paused for a while to water their mules, and being head over heels bewitched with the place, they decided to settle down (Maulbro...

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  21. Location: Rust, Germany

    Europa-Park

    Photo by ThomasPusch

    Europa Park combines great fun with unobstructed, pleasurable learning. Nested in the heart of a top-of-the-range resort, the theme park boils down to a pocket-size version of the continent, where the highs of the most beautiful European countries can be experienced hands-on. From a visit to the...

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  22. Location: Bamberg, Germany

    Schlenkerla Brewery and Tavern

    Photo by Graham Fellows

    If beer is what you're coming to Germany for, and your trip doesn't coincide with Oktoberfest, head to Bamberg and compensate for the loss at one of its best breweries. Big deal, you may say. One doesn't need to go all the way to Franconia to get a glass of decent barley pop, but if you dig the i...

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  23. Location: Berlin, Germany

    Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor)

    Photo by Der Wolf im Wald

    One may argue that it's a gate like thousand other gates in the world, and as far as the superficial aspect goes, it's certainly true. To call the Brandenburg Gate a worthwhile attraction, it takes a gist of the story behind it. Situated at the end of Unter den Linden, the 60m tall construction w...

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  24. Location: Hamburg, Germany

    Miniatur Wunderland

    Photo by Tobias Grosch

    The picture absolutely can't give it justice. If you happen to be currently recalling your old Russian railway play set, the bigger your astonishment will be if you actually decide to visit the Modelleisenbahn Miniatur Wunderland. 11 kilometers of track winding on 1,150 square meters of floor tak...

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  25. Location: Munich, Germany

    BMW Museum

    Photo by Steve.Jackson

    Integrated into the existing structural fabric of the group headquarters in Munich, with its distinctive shape of a futuristic silver bowl, the museum is something on the verge of a cutting-edge architectural undertaking, a phenomenal exhibition and a communicative medium. Once in the snakelike...

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USER RECOMMENDATIONS

  1. Alex Nov 20, 2009 6:11 PM

    Number 363 should be number 1 :)

  2. Name: Feb 9, 2010 2:44 AM

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