Located in the heart of Europe, and the largest national economy in Europe, Germany offers amazing opportunities for travelers. Deutschland (as called in German) is a country graced with rich history and culture recounted by the old-fashion and colorful architecture, castles, palaces, cathedrals and monuments, landscapes, mountains and forests, delicious food and beer. The country has a temperate climate zone and humid westerly winds. While packing for an excursion in Germany, waterproof gear and warm clothes are essential. From best things to do in Munich Germany to fun things to do in Frankfurt Germany, we have covered everything in this travel guide.

Fun Trivia: Black Forest cake is named after a specialty liquor distilled from tart cherries, which gives the cake its flavor and not after Germany’s the Black Forest. Kirschwasser (Cherry liquor) added to the cake is nourished in the Black Forest region.

Here we have listed the record of top things to do in Germany while traipsing through this amazing country:

• Amble by the Berlin Wall Memorial

The wall that separated East Germany and West Germany had fallen in 1991, and its remnants are proof of continuous scuffle that the natives in the east went through and lengths they went to, to escape into the west. Visiting this memorial would definitely be thought-provoking. The wall is witness to the struggles, courage and resolve of the people. Spanning over 1.4 kilometers of the Berlin Wall’s foundations, this memorial has to be added in the list while exploring the best places to visit in Germany.

Get a glimpse of the tunnels and particularly the Bernauer Strasse that Germans streamed through for decamp. The excursion proffers a variety of captivating exhibitions, especially the one in the documentation center. The former border strip encompasses of four areas, and an observation tower. The Window of Remembrance that honors the people that martyred died attempting to escape and the Chapel of Reconciliation that is reconstructed are must-visit sites. A tour to Berlin Wall Memorial is one of the unique things to do in Berlin Germany that you shouldn’t miss out.

• Traverse The Black Forest

Excursion in the forest akin to fairytale woods offers countless tumbles to divulge into. Boating and fishing through the Titisee glacial lake and star gazing at night by the Mummelsee lake would be sublime. Hiking trails carved on various mountains and Triberg waterfalls would quench the thrill fanatics. Get a peek into the history and cultural heritage of the region at the Open Air Museum. Saunter into the German Clock Museum and the cuckoo clock capital of the world to view the daunting 160-year-old collection of over 8000 watches and clocks from around the world.

Unwind at spas located in various towns, or ride through cable cars to the peak for stunning views of the towns, take a scenic ride of various quaint towns for relaxing yet daring scouts. All these reasons make the Black Forest a vital part of Germany things to do.

• Go for a Castle Crawl

From around twenty thousand castles adorning the country, experiencing Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenzollern Castle, Hohenschwangau Castle, Bruhl Castle and Schwerin Castle is imperious. Feel being transported to the fairytale settings, where castles sit atop high mountain peaks, surrounded by lakes, their towers and turrets reaching to the sky. The castles are filled with stories of knights, dukes and devastation of wars. Indulge into the marvelous architecture, artifacts, paintings, weapons belonging to their days of glory in ancient times. Some of the castles are still inhabited by the families of the founders and some are rumored to be haunted.

• Revel in the beauty of Flora and Fauna

Insel Mainau (Flower Island of Lake Constance) and Sanssouci Park are flourishing with plenty of plants and vegetation. The flower island has beautiful parks and gardens spanning across 110 acres, gatehouses and an old defensive tower to scout. The Sanssouci Park is ornamented with Baroque flower garden and numerous fruit trees and greenhouses. There are plenty of park buildings to explore and amongst them, the Picture Gallery, Chinese House and Roman Baths Complex should be traversed. Sanssouci Palace adjacent to the park is most celebrated for its Rococo style architecture.

• Cruising Through The Rhine Valley

Recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO is the Rhine George, consisting of quaint towns and cities that are rich in history, culture, geology, and nature. Totter around the river banks by walking, cycling, driving by car. Board on a river cruise, and visit Loreley Rock, trek the Drachenfels, and observe German winemaking at Rudesheim. To learn about rich and diverse heritage and medieval architecture visit the Roman-Germanic Central Museum, Museum of Ancient Seafaring, and Gutenberg Museum. The Palatinate Forest trip is imperative for nature lovers.

The Palatinate National Park is full of adventures with hiking trails for walking and biking, zip-lining, bird watching, rock climbing, and camping. If not a fan of adventure, have a relaxing stay at the spa town called Wiesbaden. As the name Rhine means raging flow, the valley too offers raging memories to live.

• Skiing in the Mountains

Germany is embellished with a myriad of staggering mountains. The chance to ski in Germany would simply be exhilarating. The well-managed slopes offer panoramic and breathtaking views and enchanting anecdotes. Ascend in the cable chairs and descend tumbling through the layers of snow will leave you thrumming with adrenaline and chill. Arber, Ochsenkopf, Nebelhorn, Alpsee-Grunten are few with the longer seasons, have strict safety measures and caters to both adults and children.

• Trip Down the Memory Lane in Museums

Germany is graced with thousands of Museums. Visiting few unique and mind-boggling museums should be requisite for the itinerary. The German National Museum is the largest in Germany and showcases a collection of scientific instruments, paintings, sculptures, weapons, and textiles. For astronomy fanatics, Deutsches Museum and those interested in natural history, Museum fur Naturkunde that holds the world’s largest dinosaur skeleton is the go-to place. For all the car nerds, Germany has both the BMW Museum and Mercedes Benz Museum. View racecars, historical car models, and aerodynamic test vehicles. Museum Island in Berlin is an ensemble of five museums and listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Old Museum exhibits the royal treasures, Bode Museum has a collection of antiques and Pergamon Museum artifacts found from excavations by German Archeologists. The island has an abundance to offer, a single day may seem quite short to devour it all.

• Descry Airports and Railways at Miniatur Wunderland

It is located in the heart of Hamburg. Miniatur Wunderland holds the world’s largest model railway that incorporates trains, lights and human figures. The track model has dedicated sections for the USA, England and Scandinavia. It has exceptionally intricate miniature airports (airplanes are actually functioned to takeoff), crowded cities, and bustling harbors. Time will fly away quickly while marveling the miniatures, booking a behind-the-scenes tour and a tour at night would be even more enjoyable. While in Hamburg, don’t forget to visit the Port of Hamburg, it is one of the world’s largest cruise ship terminal and also known as the Gateway to Germany. A boat cruise along the harbor will be delightful and you must add it in your list of top things to do in Hamburg Germany.

• Visit Renowned Cathedrals and Churches

The Cathedrals and Churches in Germany are bountiful and adorning with picturesque and intricate architecture, and history. Pilgrimage Church of Wiles, Speyer Cathedral, Trier Saint Peter’s Cathedral and Cologne Cathedral are few of the most significant and best things to do in Cologne Germany.

• Exclusive tour of Brandenburg Gate

Located in the capital of Germany, is Berlin’s most famous landmark i.e. Brandenburg Gate. The gate that once marked the division during the cold war, is now a national symbol of peace and unity. The monument is ordained with the Quadriga, a sculpture that represents the Goddess of Victory. Climb up the observation platform to get a glimpse of the world behind the iron curtain, on the other side of the barren “death-strip”. The gate depicts the tumultuous history, unity and peace Germany.

What’s next waiting for you?

Germany is blessed with a bounty of natural beauty, that has vibes of fairytale wonderland revived. The list, in terms of astonishing experiences it has to offer, is countless. Spatzle, Schnitzel, Flammkuchen, Currywurst and Rote grutze are a bunch of delectable dishes, that must be relished while in the country. A drive down the Romantic Road for an easy and relaxing day, with highly incredible scenic views, will be rejuvenating. Germany organizes the world’s largest Volksfest i.e.Oktoberfest. It usually runs from mid- or late September to first week of October. If in the country, on that occasion, tottering around in the festival is imperative.

Whether you are looking for top things to do in Stuttgart Germany or unique things to do in Dresden Germany, the above list is all-inclusive.

Germany is deluged with quaint towns, markets, national parks, amusement parks, vineyards, beaches, festivals, opera houses, castles, and cathedrals. There’s no mystery to why it remains as one of the top destinations in the world for traveling.

About Author: RUTU SHROFF