Introducing Germany
Beer or wine? That sums up the German conundrum. One is at the heart of a pilsner-swilling culture that draws kegloads of visitors annually, is the very reason for one of the world’s great parties (Oktoberfest) and is consumed with pleasure across the land. The other is exported worldwide, is responsible for gorgeous vine-covered valleys and is enjoyed everywhere, often from cute little green-stemmed glasses.
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And the questions about Germany continue. Berlin or Munich? Castle or club? Ski or hike? East or west? BMW or Mercedes? In fact, the answers are simple: both. Why decide? The beauty of Germany is that rather than choosing, you can revel in the contrasts (except maybe with the car question…). Exploring this country and all its facets can keep visitors happy for weeks.
Berlin, edgy and vibrant, is a grand capital in a constant state of reinvention. At the other end, Munich perches atop Bavaria, the centre of national traditions. Half-timbered villages can’t help but bring smiles as you wander their cobblestoned and castle-shadowed lanes. Cities of all sizes boast some of Europe’s best clubs, as you’d expect from the home of techno. Enjoying the outdoors, from skiing Alpine peaks to hiking carefully preserved forests, is essential. And compare the ancient traditions of the east, as beautiful Dresden adjusts to the 21st century, with Cologne, where decades of prosperity burnish its grand heritage.
Ready to go?
- Download our new German Offline Translator app. Simply talk or type, and it translates. Available for iPhone, iPad and Android
- Follow the waltz of the blue Danube by bike
- Discover the dramatic scenery of the Bavarian Alps
- Find out more about underground Cold War Berlin
Last updated: Feb 13, 2012
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The 11 best street foods worth blowing your diet over
27 April 2012
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Germany dos and don’ts
19 April 2012
Social rules. Germany’s got a lot of ‘em, and ignoring etiquette yields a puckered brow, pronto. But don’t fret –...
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Hotels & Hostels
Top cities in Germany
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Germany
Things to do
- All things to do (3,316)
- Activities (314)
- Entertainment (767)
- Restaurants (733)
- Shopping (281)
- Sights (1,194)
- Tours (27)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Germany
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1 Berlin
Visit world-class museums by day and bustling bars, pubs and clubs by night
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2 Rügen Island
Explore the many faces of this fascinating island, including its rugged chalk cliffs, windswept beaches, Romantic-era spa architecture and tree-lined country roads
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3 Dresden
Explore the treasures and grand buildings of this baroque beauty bisected by the majestic Elbe River
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4 Cologne
Visit Cologne's magnificent Dom (cathedral), which dominates the city skyline
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5 Hamburg
Let your hair down on a tour of this vibrant city's eclectic bar and pub scene
Fast Facts about Germany
- Most famous civil criminal
Fritz Haarmann (allegedly killed 26 people and drank their blood, 1925)
- Capital
- Head of government
Chancellor Angela Merkel
- Area
357, 045 sq km
- Coolest museum
- Famous for
sausages, Oktoberfest, culture, cars, Kraftwerk, Friedrich Nietzsche, Love Parade, Nico
- Population
83 million
- German phrases
Guten Tag (good day); Auf Wiedersehen (goodbye); Ja/Nein (yes/no); Danke (thank you); Sprechen Sie Englisch? (Do you speak English?); Du leidest wohl unter Größenwahn (your ego is out of control)
- Year first Volkswagen Beetle manufactured
1938
- She said it
A man would prefer to come home to an unmade bed and a happy woman than to a neatly made bed and an angry woman. - Marlene Dietrich
Our favourite Germany Blogs (beta)
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The Berlin Wall – The Unheard Story
Blog: Inside the Travel Lab - 15 May 2012
The final instalment of the Iron Route Journey. East, West, Good, Bad, Win, Lose, Draw. Another look at 1989.The Berlin Wall – The Unheard Story first appeared on
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Daily Wanderlust: Berlin’s Hotel Adlon
Blog: The Adventures of D - 8 May 2012
Daily Wanderlust: Berlin’s Hotel AdlonThe palatial Hotel Adlon, originally built in the early 1900s, was resurrected in the heart of Berlin following WWII (the main portion of the building was damaged in a fire [...]d travels 'round
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Letter from a Stranger
Blog: A Traveler's Library - 4 May 2012
Destinations: Istanbul, Berlin Book: Letter from a Stranger (NEW 2012) by Barbara Taylor Bradford. (Review refers to the Macmillan Audio unabridged recorded book). Barbara Taylor Bradford has written 26 international best sellers over the past 31 years. There is no reason to believe that Letter from a Stranger will not become the 27th, no matter [...]This content is a post from: A Traveler's Library To comment on this post or search for related information, click on the link to A Traveler's Library.
