Wondering where to go for coach holidays this year? Have you considered Germany? If you think Sauerkraut, Lederhosen and beer (just to name a few stereotypes) is all that Germany is about well think again! Obviously, there is something true in terms of the beer business and as a native German I’ve got to admit that! You probably also think that the Germans wear Lederhosen all day everyday but again you would be mistaken as this happens in Bavaria only – people living in other parts of Germany simply refuse to wear them – did you know that? We also don’t eat ‘Sauerkraut with Bratwurst’ all day, either! If you want to find out for yourself, then why not head to Germany this year for your holidays? There are so many fun things to do and plenty of wonderful historic sites to explore that it’s hard to know where to begin so I’ve created a list of the top ten typically German things to do to help you out, have a look and see if something tempts you!
1. Visit the fairytale Castle of Neuschwanstein
King Ludwig II’s world-famous castle stands proudly against the magnificent backdrop of the Alps in Southern Bavaria.
The setting for the castle is almost as if it has come straight out of a picture book with its lush green meadows of the Alps and the eerily looking dark forests. Castle Neuschwanstein is the most-visited building in Germany and it was designed to resemble a medieval German knight’s castle. Think you have seen this castle before? You would be right as this is where Walt Disney found inspiration for his Magic Kingdom. At least you won’t have to travel as far as The States in order to visit though!
2. Eat a ‘Currywurst’ in the capital city of Berlin and visit ‘Check Point Charlie’
The sausage, which became the famous ‘Currywurst’ was invented in Berlin in the Fifties by a butcher called Max
Brückner. It’s a sausage without a bowel and was soon very popular with the folks in Berlin. Now add the Currysauce, which was invented by a fine lady called Herta Heuwer when she was bored, and the famous Currywurst was born! If you want to have a really good and tasty Currywurst, head to the “Dom Curry”, which is run by the chef cook of the Hotel Hilton. But if you’re running out of money and can’t afford such a fancy sausage, stop at the “Curry 36”, as they have excellent Currywurst as well! After you have satisfied your appetite, head for ‘Check Point Charlie’, a former transition point for the members of the Allied forces at the Friedrichstrasse. It has featured in quite a few thrillers and espionage novels ranging from James Bond’s ‘Octopussy’ to ‘The Spy Who Came in From the Cold’ by John le Carré. Once you are in Berlin, don’t miss the famous Brandenburger Tor, the Reichstag and the Fernsehturm on the Alexanderplatz as well!
3. Go to the baroque city of Dresden at Christmas time and wander around the Christmas market ‘Strietzelmarkt’
Visit the gorgeous city of Dresden! It boasts hundreds of baroque buildings such as the ‘Frauenkirche’ – ‘The Church of our Lady’. Many would say that this is a masterpiece of baroque architecture that was destroyed by a bomb during the Second World War and has been recently rebuilt. Other gorgeous buildings to be seen in Dresden include: the ‘Zwinger’, the ‘Hofkirche’ and the ‘Kreuzkirche’, the old market and the city hall amongst many others. You definitely
will not be bored in Dresden especially if you come in wintertime as the ‘Striezelmarkt’ is a must-see. You’ll find that local traditions come alive as you wander around this beautiful Christmas market and of course there are plenty of opportunities to purchase some unique souvenirs as gifts for family or friends – what about a typical Nutcracker, some pottery, ‘Lebkuchen’, a German Christmas pyramid or a cute little incense smoker? In the middle of the market, you’ll find an impressive Christmas pyramid that is over 14 metres high! Finish your perfect day out with a visit to one of many museums that Dresden has to offer and you cannot leave without first sampling ‘Stollen’ which is so characteristically Dresden – no words can describe how good it tastes, you’ll just have to try some to find out! After one visit, you’ll soon realise that Dresden is not just any city – Dresden is a feeling so be sure to come back! 4. Drop by Munich and head to the ‘Brauhaus’ or the ‘Oktoberfest’ for a good German beer and a ‘Bretzel’ Don’t miss Munich when you’re going on a trip to Germany – it’s quite possibly the best place to have a cool beer and to sample a ‘Bretzel’ – a yummy pretzel smothered with salt. One thing’s for certain when you visit Munich, you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice when it comes to beer! Choose from a smooth black beer, a cool blonde ‘Pils’ or perhaps a wheat beer such as ‘Weizenbier’. Head to the popular ‘Brauhaus’ for the widest choice of beers or if you holiday during October perhaps visit the world famous ‘Oktoberfest’ and try out the ‘Mass’ – a huge glass that contains a litre of beer in it! If you’re lucky, you might even spot some celebrities so mingle with the crowd and have an evening full of fun! There just aren’t enough superlatives to describe the ‘Oktoberfest’!
5. Play ‘Peek-a-boo’ with the Cuckoos in the Black Forest!
Quite possibly everywhere you look in the Black Forest you will come across the funny cuckoo clocks, or ‘Kuckucksuhr’, as it is called in Germany. The clocks are beautifully carved out of wood with flutes imitating the cuckoo’s call inside and if you’re lucky, you should see the cuckoo pop out of the clock on the hour every hour! No trip would be the same without at least sampling the Black Forest Gateau, an out-of-this-world-cake and you certainly won’t find a better one anywhere else!
6. Feel like a King or Queen at Palace Sanssouci in Potsdam
Ever dreamt of living the life of a royal? You can make this dream come true (well sort of) with a visit to the gorgeous Palace Sanssouci! Explore the palace itself, wander through the beautiful gardens, marvel at the colourful flowers and become overwhelmed by its majestic atmosphere – a visit here will certainly make you feel like a king or queen in their residence!
7. Get up close to the cows in the Bavarian Alps
Blue skies, green meadows and majestic mountains – this is the true essence of the Bavarian Alps! Head to the
mountains and spend week in a farmhouse set amongst luscious grazing lands and get close to the gentle cows. Watch the farmer milk the cow, learn how to make cheese or even try to milk a cow yourself! Go hiking for a change, enjoy the fresh air and afterwards pamper yourself with a five-course gourmet dinner or recharge your batteries with a relaxing massage.
8. Go to Hamburg and sample fish from the harbour
An impressive tangle of canals, basins, piers, wharfs and bridges is what’s on offer in Hamburg with the harbour being one of the leading trans-shipment centres of the world and by all means the greatest attraction of Hamburg. Sit down in one of the many restaurants, relax and treat yourself to a sumptuous meal beside the harbour and if you feel like it, explore the famous ‘Kiez’ in St. Pauli. Head over to ‘The ‘Reeperbahn’ where you’ll find a wide variety of theatres and bars to entertain as the evening waltzes by. If there’s enough time, pay a visit to the North Sea where (hopefully depending on the weather) the water will be warm enough to take a quick bathe – if not, simply relax on the white sandy beach, enjoy the sunshine (if it’s out) and maybe get a nice tan too!
9. Admire the Dome in Cologne
This grand gothic masterpiece just has to be seen with its gigantic dimensions, it is simply one of the finest Christian churches to be found in Germany. The Dome is the city’s landmark and definitely shouldn’t be missed when visiting
Cologne. If you’re feeling energetic, why not climb the 500+ steps to the top of the tower where you will be rewarded with out-of-this-world views of the city. But don’t be mistaken, as Cologne offers so much more than this! Enjoy a cool ‘Kölsch’ beer, shout ‘Kölle alaaf’ with the others at the famous Carnival in Cologne, take a cruise on the River Rhine or wander around the Media capital. But beware: Cologne is as addictive as Pringles – after your first visit, you just want more!
10. Enjoy a Firework spectacular in the Rhine Valley
The ‘Rhine in Flames’ is the annual highlight and one of the main attractions of the
Rhine Valley. Each year, hundreds of people descend to the banks of The Rhine to witness the awe-inspiring fireworks display that fill the night sky. It’s not just one big firework display, oh no, spectators can admire at least seven different displays that are set off from various locations along the river. A three-day programme of events usually accompanies the show so the whole family will be kept entertained.
Have I inspired you to visit Germany or have you already been? Either way, let us know what you think and share your experiences with us!