Fairy-tale castles
Neuschwanstein, Eltz, Heidelberg and more, with honest tips on tickets and winter visits.
Germany by Interest: Where to Go for History, Nature, Food, Art and Family Fun
Some people come to Germany for castles, some for beer gardens, some for Bach. Pick what you love most and we’ll point you to the places that do it best, with the tips we’ve picked up traveling around the country with our boys.
Find your kind of trip
Short answer: History lovers should head to Berlin, Nuremberg and the castles. Nature lovers to the Alps and the Black Forest. Music and art fans to Leipzig, Dresden and Berlin. Foodies to Bavaria and Franconia. Families to Hamburg and Munich.
Most of our trips mix two or three of these. A typical day for us is a museum or castle in the morning, lunch somewhere local, and something outdoors in the afternoon so the boys can run.
Every card below links to a full guide where we have one. Tap ＋ Save to build your own list as you go.
History
Berlin, Nuremberg, castles
Nature
Alps, Black Forest, coasts
Art and music
Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden
Food and drink
Bavaria, Franconia, Cologne
Wellness
Baden-Baden, Alpine lakes
Families
Hamburg, Munich, Leipzig
History and heritage
From Roman walls to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
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The Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße shows how the border really worked. The East Side Gallery is the longest surviving stretch.
Nuremberg and WWII history
The Documentation Center at the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the courtroom of the Nuremberg trials. Sobering and important.
Medieval towns
Walk the town walls of Rothenburg, or explore Bamberg and Regensburg, where whole old towns are UNESCO sites.
Nature and the outdoors
Mountains, forests, rivers and two seas.
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Mountains and lakes
Germany’s highest peak, the Zugspitze, plus Alpine lakes and easy family hikes.
Forests and waterfalls
The Triberg waterfalls, farmhouse inns and long forest walks.
Saxon Switzerland
Sandstone towers and the Bastei Bridge above the Elbe, close to Dresden.
Coasts and islands
Mudflat walks, lighthouses and island beaches on the North Sea and Baltic.
Art, music and culture
World-class museums and concert halls, and the hometowns of the great composers.
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Museum Island
Five museums on an island in the Spree. Note that the Pergamon Museum is closed and reopens in stages from 2027.
Bach in Leipzig
St. Thomas Church, where Bach was cantor and is buried, and the Bach Museum across the square.
Opera and treasures
The Semperoper, the Zwinger’s old masters and the Green Vault’s baroque treasures.
The Elbphilharmonie
Hamburg’s concert hall on the harbor. Even without a concert ticket, the Plaza is worth it (€5 since 5 October 2026).
Food and drink
Every region has its own beer, bread, sausage and sweets.
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Beer gardens
In Munich you’re allowed to bring your own food to the traditional beer gardens. Just buy the drinks there.
Smoked beer
Bamberg’s Rauchbier tastes like a campfire. Try it at Schlenkerla, then decide if you’re a fan.
Nuremberg sausages
Small grilled Nürnberger Rostbratwürste, three in a roll (“Drei im Weggla”) or six to twelve on a plate with sauerkraut.
Kölsch in Cologne
Small glasses of Kölsch keep coming until you put your coaster on top. Find a brewery tavern in the old town.
Wellness and relaxation
Spa towns, thermal baths and quiet lakes.
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Baden-Baden
Germany’s most famous spa town, with thermal baths, the Kurhaus and a park along the river Oos.
Alpine lakes
Lake Chiemsee, the Tegernsee and the lakes around Garmisch for slow days by the water.
Lake Constance
Island towns, boat trips between three countries and the Alps across the water.
Family fun
What our boys would vote for.
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Miniatur Wunderland
The world’s largest model railway. Book a time slot.
Leipzig Zoo
Gondwanaland is a whole tropical rainforest under one roof, perfect on a cold day.
Chocolate Museum
See how chocolate is made and taste it from the fountain.
Tips for planning around your interests
🗓️
Check the season
Castles and boat trips have shorter hours in winter, and some close. Christmas markets run from mid-November.
🎟️
Book the big ones
Neuschwanstein, Miniatur Wunderland and many museums sell timed tickets. Book online when you can.
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Mix it up
A museum in the morning and something outdoors in the afternoon keeps everyone happy.
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Use day trips
Most of these places are a day trip from Munich, Nuremberg, Berlin, Dresden or Cologne.
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Look for family tickets
Many sights have family tickets, and kids are often free. Castles in Bavaria are free for under-18s.
Interest questions
Where should history lovers go in Germany?
Berlin for the 20th century, Nuremberg for the Nazi era and the trials, and the castles and medieval towns for older history.
Where is the best nature in Germany?
The Bavarian Alps, the Black Forest, Saxon Switzerland and the North Sea coast. See our regions guide.
What’s the best city in Germany for families?
Hamburg (Miniatur Wunderland, harbor ferries) and Munich (the Deutsches Museum, beer gardens with playgrounds, the Alps close by).
Can you bring your own food to a Munich beer garden?
Yes, in the traditional beer gardens you can bring your own food. You buy the drinks there.
Still have a question? Ask me and I’ll answer it.
More guides for your trip
Castles in Germany
Our favorite castles and palaces, and how to visit them.
Best places to visit in Germany
Our city guides and a state-by-state tour.
German Christmas markets 2026
The best markets across Germany, with checked dates for every one.
Get my free Germany packing list
What to wear to the Christmas markets, what to pack for the Alps, and everything else you'll forget. Plus one short email from me once a month: which markets and festivals are coming up, what's worth the trip, and one money-saving train tip.
Instant download.
Not sure where to start? Pick a season with festivals month by month, compare the top regions of Germany, or check the Christmas market calendar if you’re coming in Advent.
Pfiat di (take care), Brian 👋
Updated October 2026. Opening hours, prices and dates were checked on each official website in October 2026 and can change, so check before you go.
Photo credits: Eibsee and Zugspitze: Dguendel, CC BY 4.0; Zugspitze: Dguendel, CC BY 4.0; Neuschwanstein: C.Stadler/Bwag (talk / email), CC BY-SA 4.0; Berlin Wall Memorial: Ansgar Koreng, CC BY-SA 4.0; Congress Hall: Fred Romero from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0; Rothenburg walls: Johannes Robalotoff, CC BY-SA 4.0; Triberg: Uoaei1, CC BY-SA 4.0; Bastei: Andraszy, CC BY-SA 4.0; North Sea: Marco Leiter, CC BY-SA 4.0; Museum Island: abbilder, CC BY 2.0; Thomaskirche: Flocci Nivis, CC BY 4.0; Semperoper: Robert von Oliva (naruciakk), CC0; Elbphilharmonie: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0; Schlenkerla: Ermell, CC BY-SA 4.0; Hauptmarkt: Hubertl, CC BY-SA 4.0; Cologne old town: Pedelecs, CC BY-SA 3.0; Baden-Baden: Franzfoto, CC BY-SA 3.0; Lindau: Julian Herzog (Website), CC BY 4.0; Miniatur Wunderland: Steven Lek, CC BY-SA 4.0; Gondwanaland: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0; Chocolate Museum: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0; Lindau harbor: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0.