There’s no way around it: Germany has firmly established itself as a first rate travel destination, not just for the well-informed few but for the happy-go-lucky crowds of tourists from all over the world too. Germany’s multitude of regional identities offers a cornucopia of distinct experiences to meet all kinds of expectations and suit all possible tastes (even the most discriminating ones) – whatever it is you fancy: beautiful scenery, great architecture, lively festivals, glamorous events, exciting nightlife, delicious food and the best beer ever – Germany has it all and more…Still, at the risk of appearing presumptuous, here’s a selection of just a few good reasons:
1. River cruises on the Rhine and Maine
One only need kick back and take in the mesmerizing beauty of the German countryside, with its captivating landscapes, elegant old castles perched on the nearby hilltops, and vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see; the main waterways of Germany allow one to see the country from a unique perspective and gain an insight into how important a role some of the main rivers have played historically in the development of important urban centers (Frankfurt, Mainz, Koblenz, Cologne, Dusseldorf, etc) and thus the country as a whole.
2. The Carnival Season
A wonderful opportunity to relax and allow yourself to get swept away by tides of carnival celebrations, simultaneously taking place in a number of cities and regions in Germany (especially its western and southwestern parts) during the weekend and through Rose Monday (also on Mardi Gras in larger centers) just before Ash Wednesday. ‘Fifth Season,’ as it is also called, brings with it an explosion of colors: decorated floats, all kinds of flamboyant costumes, bizarre setups ridiculing politicians, street dancers and marching bands. For a truly awesome carnival party go to Cologne – you will experience first hand the warmth of this city, have one good time, and see the stereo-typically ‘reserved’ Germans in their ‘party animal’ edition.
3. Oktoberfest
Everyone (beer aficionados in particular) should, at least once in their lifetime, attend this great festival IMO, and join in the fun of downing consecutive Maßkrüge, to the sounds of lederhosen-clad ‘Oompah Bands’ while feasting on ‘wurst,’ ‘hendl’ and ‘schweinebraten,’ and generally, celebrating all things Bavarian.
Little wonder people from all over the world travel to Munich in droves to be a part of this festival – the atmosphere in and around “die Wiesn” (the epicenter of the festival) and the tents is cheerful in the extreme.
4. City of Munich
The capital city of Bavaria, situated near the foothills of the Alps, with its characteristic ornate architecture, beautiful parks, world-class museums, nearby castles, and its trademark ‘beer gardens’ is a great place to visit year-round and not just during Oktoberfest.
Munich is a charming city and it offers a ton of attractions of all kinds within a relatively small area. Munich’s whole culture of beer gardens greatly adds to its friendly character.
5. German Food
One of the great things about Germany is the delicious food one gets to eat while over there; yes, you heard me right: German food is great!
With all its ‘wurst’ this and ‘wurst’ that (1500 different types of sausages) served with sauerkraut and potato salad, exquisite soups and stews, ‘sauerbraten,’ ‘schweinebraten,’ ‘schwenkbraten,’ (and other ‘bratens’), hundreds of different types of bread (Brötchen my favorite), all washed down with the best beer in the world, Germany is a true gastronomic wonderland.
On top of that, almost everywhere you go out to eat, you get served a huge plate full of food, instead of some stylishly decorated little morsel.
6. City of Hamburg
If it weren’t for the overcast skies, I’d move to this great city and never look back! Hamburg, like few other cities in the world, has it all and more: incredible energy, cosmopolitan flair, thrilling nightlife, tons to see and do, and the list goes on …
Due to its phenomenal geographical position on the river Elbe (close to where it flows into the North Sea) with many canals and lake Alster not far from the city center, Hamburg allows for an incredible variety of outdoor activities (even beech sports, believe it or not). Countless attractions to vist during the day (e.g. ‘Speicherstadt,’ promenade by the ‘Landungsbrücken,’ ‘Kunsthalle,’ the futuristic ‘HafenCity’ etc) and the exciting “Reeperbahn” nightlife hub to explore in the evening. No matter what your thing is, you’ll love this city.
7. Frankfurt Book Fair
Not only one of the most important events in the global book-publication calendar but also a media event of notable relevance, the ‘Frankfurter Buchmesse’ is the largest book fair in the world (with nearly 7500 participating exhibitors representing 110 countries). The fair dates back to 1476 – shortly after the mechanical movable type got invented by Gutenberg in the nearby Mainz.
The Frankfurt Book Fair with its incredible array of colors is a veritable spectacle for the eyes and a real treat for book lovers from the world over. It is also an important venue for negotiating book-related business deals such as licensing fees and international publishing rights.
8. Erfurt
Although situated in the center of the country, Erfurt the capital city of Thuringia lies completely off the beaten track of mass-tourist itineraries. This forgotten gem of Germany with its astonishingly preserved medieval nucleus, and an exquisite mixture of medieval, baroque and classical architecture, comes as a breath of fresh air to an unsuspecting visitor. Erfurt boasts one of the oldest universities in Germany (Martin Luther was a student there in the early sixteenth century). Erfurt is conveniently close to Weimar and Jena, a couple of towns very much worth visiting.
9. Festival Mediaval
Granted it’s a bit unusual, to put it mildly, but if you’re a history buff with a penchant for all things medieval, you are going to love the kind of re-enactment of scenes from life in the middle ages they stage every September in the Bavarian town of Selb.
All kinds of medieval paraphernalia on display with the obligato fire shows, dungeons, archery tournaments, medieval music, bizarre looking characters like beggars and witches, and what not; an entertaining time-travel into a past shrouded in mysteries and myths.
10. Germans
Last but not least, a good reason to go to Germany is to meet and befriend Germans. While some of the stereotypes about them ring true, they only conveniently cover one half of the truth (the one readily visible at first sight) while filtering out the other half of the equation; namely, while it is true that they are reserved and don’t exactly take to small talk like ducklings to water, once you earn their friendship and trust, you gain a friend who is a hell lot more solid and real than many a super-sociable flake with whom you quickly take off, only to realize they’re a ‘potemkin village.’
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