Unfortunately, not much traveling is happening these days and I don’t have any exciting vacation plans lined up. As the lockdown restrictions have lifted slightly, I will try to visit my family in Germany and maybe plan a little road trip through the motherland. That’s where I got the idea to write down my Great Germany Bucket List because after all, that’s where I grew up. So if you are ever around Europe, be sure to stop by!
Drink a beer at Oktoberfest In Munich
Of course, Oktoberfest can't be missed on a proper Germany Bucket List! It might not be for everyone but I think you should experience it at least once. After all, it is one of the most famous festivals on earth and is widely associated with Germany. Check out my posts about Oktoberfest here and here.
Chase famous poets In Weimar
Speaking of beautiful towns - if you're in Germany, go check out Weimar, too. The city in the federal state of Thuringia is well known for its cultural heritage and importance in German history. It was the home of leading personalities of Weimar Classicism like Goethe and Schiller and also famous composers and architects. Weimar is also the place where Germany's first democratic constitution was signed after World War II. We all know that didn't turn out to be that successful, but it's a very historic place to visit.
Travel back in time in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
This city is located in the Franconia region of Bavaria. It is the perfect place for some good ol' fashioned time traveling since it has a well-preserved medieval old town. It is also part of the popular Romantic Road through southern Germany .
see the berlin wall in Berlin
Imagine living in a city that is divided by a wall. It might have run right next to someone's window. It's hard to believe not being able to enter parts of your own country. Even though it's been a while since the German reunification, you can be stunned by parts of the wall that are still standing in Germany's capital - some of it is standing just right across my office! The longest one is East Side Gallery in Friedrichshain.
Explore the shorelines of Sylt
Sylt is the second-largest island of the North Frisian Islands in Germany and famous for the distinctive shape of its shoreline. The island is home to several tourist resorts, one of the most famous ones being Westerland. I recommend planning your visit in the near future as the island is pretty exposed in the North Sea and therefore suffers an ongoing loss of land during storm tides.
See a soccer game
Soccer is for sure Germany's favorite sports you you should definitely experience a game while you're around. Even though I personally don't consider soccer as one of the most exciting sports, I surely recommend going to a stadium to experience the atmosphere. During major championships, public viewings are also very popular in Germany. If you can, go to a beer garden or pub during a game of the German national team.
See the orIginal Disney castle
Disney used this impressive castle built by Ludwig II (well, not literally I assume) as inspiration for his Disney castle. The original is called Neuschwanstein Castle and is located in Hohenschwangau, in the South of Germany. The ruler paid the castle out of his private funds rather than public ones so there's not really much to hate. Plus it comes with unexpected comfort like…you know…floor heating.
Go on a wine tour in Franconia
There might be better and more popular wine areas in the world - but Franconia is definitely one of the most charming ones. As around 80% of the wines from this area are white wines, it is perfect for wine hikes where you walk through the hills and get to try different wines from the area. I recommend visiting Würzburg for this as you get to enjoy a lovely view of Würzburg's castle a well!
The Bastei Rock Formations, Saxony
This rock formation has been a tourist attraction for over 200 years! The rocks were originally formed by water erosion over a million years ago and are situated near Dresden. They are the major landmark of the Saxon Switzerland National Park and are also part of a hiking area that tends all the way to the Czech Republic. The current stone bridge was built in 1851 and stands to this day (the first one was made out of wood and built in 1824). Many artists were inspired by the formation, and I am sure you are, too!
Hike the Partnach Gorge
The Partnachklamm is a deep gorge with mountain steam (called Partnach) just outside of Garmisch-Patenkirchen in the South of Germany. It is 702 meters (2,303 feet) long and over 80 meters (260 feet) deep! Even though it was designated a natural monument in 1912 surprisingly few people (even Germans) know it's there. I only heard of it because a friend of mine grew up in this area. It's definitely worth a visit. While you're there you should definitely check out Garmisch, too, it is such a beautiful town!
Celebrate Carnival in Cologne
Carnival is traditionally called the “fifth season” in Germany and is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of November. While we don’t celebrate it during the Christmas period, it is picked p again after January 6th. It is also best celebrated at the Cologne Carnival (“Kölner Karneval”). Carnival reaches its peak on Thursday before the beginning of lent, where you can admire colorful parades and masqueraded people. Best learn how to say “Kölle Alaaf”, a typical Kölsch Carnival phrase before you go. And don’t forget your costume!
Relax at Lake Constance
Lake Constance (“Bodensee”) is located where Germany, Switzerland, and Austria meet and can be divided into three parts: The Upper Lake Constance (“Obersee”), the Lower Lake Constance (“Untersee”), and a connecting stretch of the Rhine called Seerhein. There are many populous towns around the lake such as Constance and Friedrichshafen.
Admire Hamburg's WarehousE district
The city's official name is "Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg" as it used to be a member of the medieval Hanseatic League of the Roman Empire. On the river Elbe, there is a major port and thus there are many international and well-known companies. Its "Speicherstadt" - the warehouse district with a lot of huge brick buildings - is a UNESCO world heritage. The city is also known for its creative industry with lots of concert halls and musical shows along the Reeperbahn, one of Europe's best-known entertainment districts.
Do A Guided Tour of The Wadden Sea
The Wadden Sea (“Wattenmeer”) is an intertidal one of the North Sea between the coast of northwestern Europe and the Frisian Islands. It forms a shallow body of water with tidal flats and wetlands and was listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage. During certain times of the day. there are massive mudflats for miles. It is cool to see and can be great to explore, but definitely go a guided tour as walking the mudflats can be quite dangerous (particularly if the water comes flowing back in).
Explore Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the German state of Saxony. It has a long history as royal residency and is also well known for the American and British bombing in World War II. After the war, restoration work has helped to reconstruct parts of the historic inner city, so be aware that not all you see is as historic as you might think. The old town is still very beautiful regardless with impressive buildings such as the Semper Oper or the Frauenkirche.
Hike in the Bavarian Alps around Königssee
Königssee ("King's Lake") is a natural lake in the southeast of Bavaria, Germany within the Berchtesgardener National Park and in my opinion one of the most beautiful places in Germany. It's supposed to be the cleanest lake in Germany and offers a really picturesque setting. The surrounding mountains create an echo that is very clear and can be heard up to seven times. The lake is a popular motive for Instagram, too.
Walk-in The Fairy tale Forest Reinhardswald
The Reinhardswald (there is a difficult German word for you), is located in the Weser Uplands near Kassel in Hesse. And if the forest makes you feel like you accidentally ended up in a fairy tale - you are exactly right. The area is famously known for myths and legends such as the Grimm Fairy Tales and the Sleeping Beauty castle of Sababurg.
HIKE IN THE Black Forest
The Black Forest (“Schwarzwald”) lies in the southwest of Germany and is probably one of the biggest attractions of the country. There are tons of hiking trails in the area, which make it perfect for a nice getaway. The area is also famous for the typical German cuckoo clocks as well as Black Forest gateau - so if hiking isn’t your thing, you should still come for the cake!
Eat German FOod, Germany
Germans are the kings of bread, honestly. We have it in all types and formed and on almost every street corner. Definitely don’t miss out on some proper brown German bread, some fresh breakfast buns and of course - pretzels! If you are up for it, challenge yourself to a traditional Bavarian Weisswurstfrühstück - white sausages, traditionally eaten with sweet mustard, a pretzel and of course - beer - before noon.
Cross the many bridges of Bamberg
This is a point very close to my heart since I am not far from there. Bamberg has one of Germany’s most beautiful old towns, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Due to its 7 hills, it has been called the “Franconian Rome”. As the city is also known for its many bridges (more than Venice actually), make sure to cross some on your trip. Also, try Rauchbier, a smoked beer Bamberg is quite famous for, while you are there.
Cross the Rackotzbrücke
This one is for all your Instagrammers out there. The Ayalea and Rhododendron Park Kromlau is a landscape park in Gableny, which was built in the 19th century. The Rackotybrücke or Teufelsbrücke (”Devil’s Bridge”) is a bridge built so that when it is reflected in the water beneath, it builds a perfect circle.
Buy souvenirs at a Christmas market
No-one does Christmas like the Germans. A Christmas market (“Christkindlmarkt” or “Weihnachtsmarkt”) is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas. And Germany has a lot of them. Although you can now find them in many other countries, too, they originated in Germany and believe me - you have to visit them! Famous ones are the Nürnberger Christkindesmarkt, Dresden’s Strieyelmarkt but also the ones in Vienna and Innsbruck are worth a visit! My personal top secret tip is the Weihnachtsmarkt at Schloss Guteneck. It is located in the Bavarian countryside and a small fee is required upon entry, but I assure you it is totally worth it!
STILL THROUGH THE BERGPARK WILHELMSHÖHE IN KASSEL
I have to admit that for the longest time I did not realize how beautiful Kassel was. The Bergpark Wilhelmsöhe is a landscape park in Kassel and it is the largest European hillside park. It has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 and has beautiful waterfalls and water arts, which are lit at night.
Swim in Lake Chiemsee
Chiemsee is a freshwater lake in Bavaria near Rosenheim in a region called Chiemgau, which is a famous recreation area. My favorite thing about the lake (besides it being a great location for a weekend getaway), are its three main islands called gentlemen’s island (“Herreninsel”), ladies island (“Frauenchiemsee”), and cabbage island (“Krautinsel”). Welcome to Germany. While the gentlemen’s island has a palace built by Kind Ludwig II, ladies island has a nunnery and cabbage island well has cabbage and other vegetables.
Count the trees of Waldspirale
Okay, hands down, for the longest time I had no idea that this building existed. The Austrian architect Friedenreich Hundertwasser (who was not a fan of straight lines), built many buildings throughout Austria and Germany, including the Waldspirale in Darmstadt, Germany. Waldspirale translates to “Wooded spiral” and is an apartment building hosting as many trees as human occupants.
Surf on the Eisbach Welle in Munich
Munich is of course worth a visit in itself. “Minga” as the locals call it, is the capital and biggest city of Bavaria. Famous sights include the Marienplatz, the English Garden, the Nymphenburg Palace, Olympiapark, and the victuals market. Of course, you should also see a soccer game at Allianz Arena and experience Bavarian culture in one of the many breweries. A very unique attraction is the Eisbachwelle, where you can try surfing in the middle of the city.
Explore the Unicorn Cave, Hartz
It’s called Unicorn Care (“Einhornhöhle”) - need I say more? It’s a cave in the West Harz which was discovered during medieval times. Legend had it that unicorn artifacts were found in the cave. While sadly it was discovered that said bones actually belonged to prehistoric animals (such as mammoths, ancient lions, or bears), visitors still search the cave floor for some magic horse horn. And who knows, maybe magic does exist, and why not start your search in the country of the brothers Grimm and their fairy tales?
Let history teach you
There are many locations in Germany where you can witness the horrible history of the Nazis - such as the concentration camps in Dachau, Weimar or Sachsenhausen, or the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rallying Grounds in Nuremberg. I think Germany did a good job in acknowledging their history and so in many cities, you will find memorials, museums, and more that let you dive into history.
Chase dragons at Nibelungenhalle
The Nibelungenhalle is a building in Königswinter, a city in Northrine-Westphalia. The Nibelungenlied (“The Song of the Nibelungs”) is an epic poem in Middle High German and tells the story of a dragon-slayer called Siegfried and the revenge of his wife Kriemhild. The Nibelungenhalle is located along the way to the dragon’s rock, where Siegfried supposedly slays the dragon. True story.
This is all I can think of for now for My Great Germany Bucket List. Is there anything I forgot you think should be on there?
Kate recommends: A visit in Germany goes well with A Tramp Abroad by Mark Twain. It is one of six pieces of travel literature with autobiographical as well as fictional events. In his book, he travels through central and Southern Europe. Mark Twain and his (fictitious) friend Harris make their way through Germany, the Alps and Italy and tick off many German cities such as Heidelberg, Mannheim and the Black Forest.