Which German city should we visit?

Question

My boyfriend and I are starting to plan a trip to Germany. We were thinking of visiting three or four cities, do you have suggestions? We were thinking of Hamburg, Berlin, Munich and Cologne. Are we missing a major one, or maybe these aren't that good choices?

Answer 1

What to you want to see and what are your interests? My brother visited Hamburg and Berlin because each city has a huge model train museum. Most tourists fly into Frankfurt and head south, Heidelberg and Munich for example. Also as mentioned in other answers depending on what time of year you visit, it can get very cold in Germany. So Hamburg being in North Germany you will need warm clothing by October until possibly end of April(judging by this year's weather). While the big cities are nice, going thru the country is very beautiful and every little town has its claim to fame so there is always something to see. All of this depends on your time frame - how many weeks? Will you be using a rental car or the train system(very good connections to all cities you mentioned)? Not easy to decide I know!

Answer 2

Take your time and try to get in contact with as many germans as possible; because that is what Germany is really made of: it's citizens. Also visit the country side, it is beautiful there! And don't forget the north, as many others do!

Have fun!

Answer 3

I think you've already decided to visit the major cities in Germany.These cities are good for tourists but Berlin and Munich are little extraordinary in terms of Historical Museums and monuments. You have lot to see especially the Hitler's historical museums where you'll find his clothes, shoes and other accessories that he used to wear at his time and also the World War artilleries etc.The whole city is very clean and good restaurants around. Very unique, indeed.Generally, people are good but they prefer their language first. I've been there coz one my aunts is married to a german in Berlin. So, have a nice trip.

Answer 4

Munich (Meunchen). Mattheuser Beer Hall seats 5,000.

Answer 5

I guess it depends on how long you will stay...

Your choices are o.k., but there is soooooooooooo much more to see...

- Harz around the ancient cities Werningerode

and Quedlinburg

- Dresden (definatly !!!)

- The Rhine Valley around St. Goar

- the seashore arond the island Ruegen

- Eifel around the city Monschau

- the ancient cities Aachen, Muenster in Wetphalia, Heidelberg, Fulda,Bautzen, Goerlitz, Potsdam, Bingen, ...

- the great baroque chateaus around Wuerzburg, in Ludwigsburg, Schwetzingen, Bruehl near Cologne, Potsdam, Moritzburg, ...

So, you see: Our country is worth to visit... have a nice trip !!!

Answer 6

I would stick to the smaller places.  Cities are just cities.  Germany is all about the small towns.  I lived in the south of Germany and thought Constance was a beautiful town.  I have heard Freiburg is very pretty.  Munich is cute downtown but there are many smaller cities near by that are prettier.  My favorate is actually Strassbourg, which is in France but used to be part of Germany.  It is so pretty.

Answer 7

Hi there, I`d say KASSEL is a good place to visit. It got a lot of sightseeing spots, like different castles and the "herkules". check out the website @ www.kassel.de

they should have an English version.

Kassel is located 1.5 hrs north of Frankfurt and is in the middle of Germany.

Have fun on your trip :-)

Answer 8

Other people have given you lots of ideas but what about Trier on the river Mosel?  It has wonderful Roman remains, Karl Marx was born there.  They claim it the oldest city in Germany.  As an itinerary I would spend two days in Berlin, a day in Dresden, two days in Munich, two days in Koblenz (use it as a base to do the Rhine and Mosel) leaving Germany from Frankfurt/A  If you are planning to be in Germany during the last two weeks of September/first week in October - forget Munich - its Oktoberfest and it is far too late to book a hotel room.  Instead stay at Augsburg, Landshut or Regensburg.  Nürnburg is a little too far away I think.  From any of those places you can get a train to Munich and visit the festival.

Answer 9

I think you should travel the former DDR (East Germany), there see the German culture at it's best, seeing it is the oldest part of Germany). I find the the former West Germany is to americanized because of the american influence after WWII and everything in the West revolves around money. In the East you should definitely check out Dresden, Magdeburg, Halle, The Harz (area), and Gosek (which has the oldest sun stones in the world - older than Stonehenge).

Answer 10

I would recommend Munich. It is close to many places. The New Schwanstein castle is there. The same castle that Walt Disney used for the Cinderella castle. I recommend the horse ride up to it. Plus its close to Austria, and the German alps. If your into history the Dachau Concentration Camp is there. That has free admission. There is so much to do around there. It also has the Burgstgarten. (Hitlers Eagls Nest). Near by Plus King Ludwigs Summer home. There is so much to do in Munich. So thats what I recommend. Yes, hit the small towns also. You dont experiance Germany unless you hit the small towns.

Answer 11

Trier is awesome.  I could send you pics.  Also, try to make it to Worms if you can.

It's the smaller towns that are better though.  Once you've seen one larger German town...

Kaiserslautern and Idar-Oberstein are worth checking out too.  And Kusel.  I have pictures of two of those three.

Answer 12

it all depends on what you want to do and see.  if you are interested in a night life or not.  germany is full of hidden gems, you can i would rent a car to get between places, its a great way to see the country, but be carefull of the autobahn.

Answer 13

You already have 3 big cities so I would delete Hamburg and spend more time in the smaller cities in the Rhine/ Koln/ area...definitely keep Berlin and Munich...but there are a million things to do, Germany is the cleanest place I have ever seen and the smaller towns are very quaint....At lot may depend what time of year you go...FYI---It gets colder there earlier than we are used to in the U.S.--You can freeze your butt off by the end of October....