German Cities – 10 Best Cities To Visit in Germany 2023

Here is our guide to the best cities in Germany for outdoor festivals, listening to street music, or simply trying some local beer. Destinations include the Berlin Wall, Cologne Cathedral, Oktoberfest, sailing regattas, and more.

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Germany is a beautiful country with a long history, notable cities, and stunning landscapes, including enormous forests and alpine lakes. It is the seventh most visited country in the world and is known for both its fairytale castles and its wild nightlife. Travel Pixy directs you to the highlights in this area.

German Cities #1 Heidelberg – The city of Mark Twain

The southwest German city of Heidelberg is regarded as one of Europe’s most magical locations. Heidelberg was a significant hub for German Romanticism in the 18th century, serving as an inspiration for some of the most well-known poets, painters, philosophers, and writers. The idealized setting that Mark Twain was inspired by can best be experienced by strolling along its cobblestoned streets. The author lived in the city for a significant portion of his life, finishing The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn there. The first university to be built in Germany, the well-known University of Heidelberg, is now considered to be one of the best in the world. The historic Alte Brücke bridge, which once served as the city’s main entrance, spans the Neckar River, which flows through Heidelberg. An old-town path in Neuenheim extends for two kilometers (1.3 miles), crosses Alte Brücke, and ends on the other side of the river. You can take in a stunning view of the city from here. Every single philosopher and professor from the University of Heidelberg is said to have traveled this path, known as “the road of the philosophers,” at least once.

German Cities - 10 Best Cities To Visit in Germany 2023 Travel Pixy — View over Heidelberg old town, the castle, church and bridge. | © Anna Stowe Travel / Alamy Stock Photo

German Cities #2 Freiburg – A sunlit porch in the south of Germany

The following riddle is often used to describe Freiburg: “Are the people of Freiburg so happy because the sun shines above their city more than it does in any other place in Germany, or have they been given the gift of abundant sunlight because of their kindness?” The future? Even on those rare occasions when the sun doesn’t shine, Freiburg is undoubtedly one of the most wonderful places to visit in Germany. Freiburg is one of the oldest cities in the nation as well. It has a vibrant culture and is home to many cafes, breweries, and restaurants where you can savor regional cuisine. The cathedral’s 116-meter (380-foot) gothic tower helps the thriving, historic city center stand out. The weekly market is held in the cathedral’s square, which is also the biggest in the city. The northern side is lined with farmer’s stands, and the southern side is lined with merchant’s stalls. Last but not least, the city offers a wide range of festivals that take place all year long, from the extravagant Christmas market in December to the Internationalen Kulturbörse (the international culture exchange) in January.

German Cities #3 Hamburg – Gateway to the world

The second-largest city in Germany and the third-largest port in Europe are both called Hamburg. Its history began with the Romans, and fortunately, much of that original architecture is still standing thanks to the city’s successful preservation of its past despite World War II bombing raids. Attracting the titans of the naval and aerospace industries as well as publishing and communication companies, it is now a rapidly growing hub. The only palace in the city is the City Hall (Rathaus), a neoclassical structure whose interior decoration displays the pride of the city’s middle classes in the 19th century. You will reach the Binnenalster, the sizable lake in the middle of the city that connects the port with the sea, by strolling through the outdoor market and the opulent alleyways surrounding the City Hall. One of the most intriguing and inventive museums in Hamburg is Miniatur Wunderland, which also houses the most impressive model figure exhibition in all of Europe. The renowned fish market at the port, which opens its doors in the early hours of Sunday, should be the final stop on a night out in Hamburg. There, local bands play for the crowd, allowing you to end your night with a freshly prepared breakfast and live music.

German Cities #4 Potsdam – A kingdom of palaces and gardens

The state of Brandenburg’s capital, Potsdam, is best known as the former location of the Prussian government. The baroque dream was built by the Prussian kings, and neoclassical monuments were later added. Since 1990, the palaces of Sanssouci, Neuer Garten, Babelsberg, Glienicke, and Pfaueninsel island have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites, along with their palaces, as part of Potsdam’s cultural treasure. You could start your exploration of central Potsdam at the Old Market, the city’s main square, where the City Hall, Lustgarten, and St. Nikolai Church form an aristocratic complex. The baroque Brandenburger Strasse is connected to the Sanssouci park and palace’s tree-lined entrance by the nearby Luisenplatz square. The summer home of Friedrich the Great was his own creation, and it stands today as the epitome of rococo design. Because he would retreat there to get away from his worries, the palace was given the name sans souci (without worry).

German Cities #5 Cologne – The imposing beauty

Even if you are not religious and regardless of how many pictures you have seen of it, you cannot help but be in awe when you first see the cathedral of Cologne with its 157m (515ft) towers reaching for the clouds. It contributes to the fact that Cologne is among the best German cities to visit. The church’s construction took more than 600 years, and strolling around its perimeter can seem to take that long as well. It survived 14 different bombings during World War II, making it the largest gothic church in northern Europe. The remains of the three kings, who brought presents for the newborn Jesus Christ, are kept here. Around the cathedral, the old town extends to the Rhine’s western shores. It is ideal for endless strolls through the winding, cobblestoned lanes, the tiny squares, the magnificent, vividly colored 19th-century homes, and the bustling bars and eateries that serve the fresh, regional kölsch beer.

German Cities #6 Kiel – The capital of sailing

The state of Schleswig-capital Holstein’s and primary waterway connecting Germany to the Baltic is Kiel. During the 19th century, it was able to develop into the hub of shipbuilding and navigation thanks to its advantageous location on the Bay of Kiel. The Kiel Regatta, the biggest sailing competition in the world and the biggest summer festival in northern Europe, is proudly held in the city that is now known as the Capital of Sailing. The Gorch Fock, a renowned training ship and a popular destination in Kiel, is the focal point of the events. The magnificent memorial to sailors who served in the two World Wars is located between Kiel and the nearby town of Laboe. Given how flat Kiel’s landscape is, the view from the top is worthwhile. The city has a lot more to offer, despite the fact that maritime tradition seems to rule the scene. This includes the historically significant Eggerstedtstrasse, which has undergone extensive reconstruction since the war, the Old Market Square, the upscale “Danish” shopping district, and the lovely Marinenviertel neighborhood next to the port. There, you can sample kieler sprotte, a smoked fish dish that should be consumed whole, down to the last bone.

German Cities #7 Munich – The village of the world

The largest Danube tributary river, the Isar, borders Munich, the capital of Bavaria. The city’s name is derived from the Benedictine monks who were its first occupants. Although the Oktoberfest celebrations and the enormous brezels may come to mind first, for some people this is the least appealing aspect of the city due to the skyrocketing prices and the over three million tourists who throng the streets in search of beer-tasting opportunities. With a history dating back to the 12th century, Munich is one of the best cities in Germany to visit. It is also one of the quietest cities in the country. Since then, it has succeeded in becoming a “village of the world” and acquiring a multicultural personality. Wonderful parks and gardens, excellent museums, a wide variety of restaurants, and markets that range in size from enormous department stores to tiny flea markets are all found there. The historical center was unfortunately severely damaged during the war, but it was rebuilt and is remarkably similar to the original. The Frauenkirche and the City Hall, which features the renowned Glockenspiel, a clock with statues that come to life every hour, are representative examples.

German Cities #8 Dresden – The treasure chest of Germany

The distribution of artistic treasures among Germany’s cities was not particularly equitable; the majority of them appear to have been gathered in Dresden. The free state of Saxony’s capital enchants visitors with a blend of history and beautiful scenery. The beauty of Dresden, frequently referred to as the Florence of the Elbe, is revealed by a stroll through the idyllic city center, which was formerly the residence of the rulers and kings of Saxony. Renaissance, baroque, and neoclassical are just a few of the various architectural styles. Only a few of the attractions merit special mention: the pink-and-white Frauenkirche, the Zwinger Palace, the Semperoper opera, and Hellerau, the city of gardens. Dresden is one of the best places to visit in Germany because of the open-air breweries, historical steamboats with Dixieland jazz music, picnics on the grass with a view of the palace and cathedral, and castles that overlook the city. Numerous outdoor activities, including movie nights on the river bank, the outdoor Elbhangfest, and concerts in the enchanting parks of the river castles, find the ideal setting in the river landscape.

German Cities #9 Bremen – A Grimm tale

The donkey announced, “I tell you what, I’m going to Bremen and I’ll be the town musician there. Come along with me and start playing music as well. You will play the kettle drum, and I will play the lute. The Town Musicians of Bremen is a Brothers Grimm fairytale that features street musicians and is set in a city. The majority of Bremen’s tourist attractions are concentrated in the Old Town, making Bremen a manageably small and accessible city. The Liebfrauen Kirche, the town’s oldest church, is marked by about 2,000 steel and copper nails, as is the main square and Bottcherstrasse, formerly the street of craftsmen. The magnificent City Hall, built in the Renaissance style, is still the most recognizable structure in the area and serves as a memorial to Roland, the city’s first founder and guardian of commerce. Additionally, this is where the statue of the creatures from the Bremen fairytale, Town Musicians, is located (a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster).

German Cities #10 Berlin – The laid-back metropolis

Berlin serves as Germany’s capital. Visitors must set aside their preconceived notions of what a typical German city is like when they arrive. Berlin is a city with a rich history and many different cultural influences. It is also a modern city. Additionally, it has some of the best examples of modern architecture in the nation. From the imposing Brandenburg Gate to the 368m (1,200ft) TV tower at Alexanderplatz, which offers one of the best views in the city, Berlin’s landmarks tell the tale of an entire nation. The magnificent Reichstag, the German parliament with its glass dome, is also noteworthy and is free to the public to visit. The largest independent music and theater scene in Europe is found in Berlin, which also sets the newest trends in fashion, music, and art. Berlin also draws creatives from all over the world. A night out in Berlin is a must because the city has a huge selection of cozy bars, clubs, and live stages, especially in the neighborhoods of Kreuzberg and Neukölln. The city’s nights are long throughout the week. Don’t miss taking a stroll around the East Side Gallery, the longest section of the inner Berlin Wall still in tact and covered in both modern and vintage graffiti.

Topic: German Cities – 10 Best Cities To Visit in Germany 2023

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