The 19 best things to do in Germany

In Germany, grand castles lie not far from gritty industrial architecture. People let loose in half-timbered taverns and edgy techno nightclubs. Outdoor pursuits abound, as do world-class museums and fabulous dining.

Visitors will love exploring culture-rich cities like Berlin or Hamburg; savoring epic mountains and national parks; setting out on a road trip across its varied landscapes; or taking a closer look at modern history and reminders of a divided past.

These are a few of very best things to do all over Germany.

1. Skate down the runway at Berlin’s abandoned airport

Complete with runway markings, grounded planes and old hangars, Tempelhofer Feld in the south of Berlin is a much-loved spot in the city. The airport ceased operations in 2008 and was converted into a park 2 years later.

Today, it is roller skaters and cyclists who accelerate down the tarmac, while the grass once blasted by jet engines is used for picnics and community gardens, or just to hang out. Look out for the information boards that relate the story of the site, including its vital role during the Berlin Airlift of 1948–49.

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Local tip: In summer, the airport is a good spot for a barbecue – just make sure you stick to the designated areas.

2. Tap into Germany’s industrial past

The Ruhrgebiet in western Germany was once a global hub for coal mining and metal production. Since these industries have declined in the region, it has undergone a major makeover – with repurposed industrial infrastructure at the forefront.

Highlights include the Zeche Zollverein, a former coal-mining complex now home to museums, cultural spaces and an outdoor swimming pool. Another is Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, a decommissioned ironworks with a diving center in the gasometer and climbing walls in the old ore-storage bunkers.

Planning tip: For a full list of locations to visit, check out the Route der Industriekultur (Industrial Heritage Trail).

3. Scale Germany’s highest mountain

The Bavarian Alps have fantastic hiking and climbing routes, as well as cable cars that help you gain altitude a bit faster. The most inspiring of these is the modern cable car on Germany’s highest mountain, Zugspitze.

In operation since 2017, this state-of-the-art installation has the world’s longest unsupported rope span and an epic top station perched on the rocky summit. While the journey doesn’t come cheap, the views are simply spectacular – and worth every cent.

Planning tip: If possible, leave time to walk around Eibsee, a lake at the base of the mountain. In warmer weather, you can also go for a dip in the strikingly blue water.

4. Drive the German Wine Route

The Deutsche Weinstrasse connects vineyards, villages and a number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the attractive Palatinate (Pfalz) region. The 85km route can be done as a road trip and provides a great introduction to the country’s wine culture.

Renowned for rieslings, this area also produces several other whites as well as an increasing volume of reds. Thanks to a moderate climate, you’ll even spy figs, kiwis and lemons growing here.

Also along the route lies Hambacher Schloss, a hilltop location known for massive 1832 protests for democracy and German unification. An exhibition explains the events, with English-language guided tours available every 45 minutes.

Detour: For a lesser-known wine region, head up to Rheinhessen, where locally based company BottleStops offers excellent tours in English.

5. Sip smoked beer in Bamberg

You’ll find good beer everywhere Germany – but for something a little different, visit the beautiful Franconian town of Bamberg. Here, the local tipple, Rauchbier (smoked beer), is best enjoyed in a cozy, half-timbered tavern.

According to legend, Rauchbier was invented by accident following a fire in a brewery. Today, while the beer is served in many places, only two breweries still stick to tradition and kiln-malt over an open wood fire: Schlenkerla and Brauerei Spezial.

Local tip: Keep an eye out for the beer in dishes such as pork-filled roasted onion served with mashed potato and Rauchbier sauce.

6. Cross the mighty Rhine in Cologne

One of the best ways to approach Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) is to walk across Hohenzollern Bridge. Take in the city skyline and watch large barges glide along the Rhine below as the famous Gothic towers loom ever closer.

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In 2008, people started attaching “love locks” to the bridge’s railings. Most are engraved with couples’ names or initials, with the key thrown into the water as a sign of eternal love.

7. Reflect on Nazi history in Nuremberg

The former Nazi Party Rally Grounds are located on the edge of Nuremberg. With many of the imposing structures still standing, such as the Zeppelinfeld Grandstand and the unfinished Congress Hall, the large site is an unsettling place to walk around today.

Elsewhere, the Memorium Nuremberg Trials examines the process that saw leading Nazi figures answer for their crimes, shaping the future of international criminal law in the process. If it’s not in use, you can even visit the courtroom where the trials were held.

8. Visit Bavaria’s lavish castles and palaces

Germany’s royal history is reflected in the castles and palaces that cover every corner of the country – and those in Bavaria are especially enchanting. The most striking one is the 19th-century Schloss Neuschwanstein, built as a retreat for “mad” King Ludwig II and believed to have inspired Walt Disney. You have to lay eyes on the castle, set against a breathtaking mountain backdrop, to believe it’s not an image from a fairy tale.

Elsewhere, the dazzling Würzburg Residenz is a vast 18th-century palace famed for its grand staircase and ceiling frescoes by Tiepolo. Forty of the palace’s majestic rooms have been restored to their original splendor and are now open to the public.

In Munich, Schloss Nymphenburg was once the summer residence of Bavarian rulers. Its luxurious halls, vast gardens and carriage museum make it one of the city’s top attractions, offering a peek into court life at its most ornate.

Planning tip: As at any major tourist attraction, avoid the castle crowds by arriving early or visiting outside of peak season.

9. Hit the spa in Baden-Baden

The mineral waters in the Black Forest have long attracted wellness enthusiasts, particularly to Baden-Baden. Home to 12 thermal springs, this celebrated spa town is perfect for a bit of pampering and luxury.

Get started at Friedrichsbad, a grand Renaissance-style building with domed ceilings, elaborate frescoes and a multi-station bathing circuit. Submerge yourself in thermal whirlpools, hot-air baths and cold water before heading to a relaxation room with a handy wake-up service.

10. Try water sports on Sylt, Germany’s glitziest island

Sylt is the biggest of the North Frisian Islands (near the border with Denmark) and a top staycation destination for Germans. A sort of North Sea version of St-Tropez or the Hamptons, the island has grassy dunes and sandy beaches, as well as upmarket restaurants and hotels that cater to a wealthier crowd.

It is also a water sports hot spot. Thanks to choppy surf off the western coast and calmer waters in the Wadden Sea, the island accommodates kitesurfers and windsurfers both just starting out and with more experience.

Planning tip: Sylt is no secret and can get very busy during the summer months. Book ahead if you plan to visit then.

11. Cycle to cheese producers in the Allgäu

Known for its fabulous cheese, the Allgäu region is home to Alpine dairies, cow-filled meadows and wooden farmhouses. In an area best explored by bike, you’ll find several routes that pass different producers.

Staples include Bergkäse and Allgäuer Emmentaler cheeses. Don’t worry if the shops are closed; it won’t be long before you stumble upon a cheese-filled vending machine.

Local tip: Be sure to visit the soft cheese experts at Hoimat in Eschach. The young team behind this small business have created a stylish shop and cafe in a gorgeously restored barn.

12. Take in the murals on the Berlin Wall

There are several locations in the German capital where you can see remaining parts of the Berlin Wall, and the East Side Gallery stands out. The 1.3km stretch running parallel to the river Spree is covered in murals created by international artists following the fall of the wall, including Birgit Kind's iconic image of a car.

Surrounded by many new apartment blocks and office complexes – some complete, some still under construction – this part of town demonstrates the vast scale of redevelopment that has shaped the city since reunification in 1990.

Local tip: For a more sober look at the impact of the divide, head to Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer at Bernauer Straße. This outdoor memorial includes another original piece of wall.

13. Behold Aachener Dom

Aachener Dom is a major monument of European history. The cathedral has been a pilgrimage site since the 12th century, saw the crowning of more than 30 German kings and is the burial place of the medieval European emperor Charlemagne. The soaring architecture and spiritual gravity here inspire, as does the of collection of reliquaries and sacred objects, among them garments associated with Jesus Christ himself.

Planning tip: You'll need to join a guided tour in order to see Charlemagne’s marble throne in the upper gallery.

14. Catch a concert at Hamburg’s most impressive venue

Rising proudly on a peninsula in Hamburg, the Elbphilharmonie is an architectural masterpiece. Opened in 2017, the concert hall consists of a new, shimmering glass structure perched atop an old red-brick warehouse.

Check out the program of events or simply head up to the Elbphilharmonie Plaza for panoramic views across the city and along the river. The open-air platform is free of charge and wraps around the entire building.

Local tip: Some harbor boat tours go past the outside of the building, allowing you to see it from a different angle.

15. Pay your respects at the Dachau Memorial Site

Located on the outskirts of Munich, Dachau was one of the first concentration camps to be built by the Nazis, and later became the first memorial of its kind in Germany. Today, a visit to KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau – including the tree-lined camp road and the roll call area, all looked over by watchtowers – is harrowing indeed.

Permanent exhibitions provide extensive information about the camp and its prisoners, as well as what happened after liberation. Entrance is free and all texts are provided in English and German.

Planning tip: The memorial is easy to reach using public transport from Munich. Take the S-Bahn (S2) to Dachau station and pick up the 726 bus from there. It will drop you right outside the entrance.

16. Feel Leipzig’s creative buzz

Fans of Berlin’s edginess should also visit Leipzig. The former Constantly evolving, this eastern German city appeals to artists and designers, many of whom make use of empty industrial spaces.

Discover alternative neighborhoods, cool projects and edgy installations, before exploring connections to creative masterminds of the past. Especially composers: Leipzig is where Richard Wagner was born and was home to Felix Mendelssohn and Johann Sebastian Bach.

17. Go hiking in Saxon Switzerland National Park

Sandstone pinnacles and tabletop mountains create this unusual landscape in the east of the country. Germany’s only non-alpine rock national park, Sächsische Schweiz is a haven for sporty types. The best-known spot is the Basteibrücke, a magnificent stone bridge between two towers of rock.

Detour: Easy to reach by car or public transport, the nearby city of Dresden is where you’ll find landmarks such as the Zwinger Palace and the reconstructed Frauenkirche.

18. Spend an afternoon in a Munich beer garden

Beer gardens are central to Munich life. And as soon as the good weather hits, locals head to their favorite one for a half-liter and a chin-wag with friends. You’ll also often see groups celebrating birthdays and other events at the long tables.

Go to Seehaus in Englischer Garten for drinks by a lake, Paulaner am Nockherberg for a modern in-house brewery or laid-back Biergarten Muffatwerk for organic fare.

19. Visit Beethoven’s birthplace

Classical music echoes throughout Germany, from Leipzig’s association with Bach, Mendelssohn and Wagner to Berlin’s esteemed Philharmonic. For a more intimate experience, visit Bonn and the Beethoven-Haus. The composer’s birthplace preserves his childhood rooms and displays original manuscripts and instruments. Regular concerts add another layer of resonance to the experience.