Heidelberg (Town in Germany)

Heidelberg, a historic university town in southwest Germany, is regarded as one of Europe’s leading tourist destinations. Lying on the banks of the Neckar River, it is noted for its dreamy townscapes and universities especially, the grand Heidelberg University, which is listed among the best universities in the world. In the 18th century, Heidelberg served as a significant centre for German Romanticism. It has been a source of inspiration for many world-famous poets, playwrights, writers, painters and philosophers. The renowned American writer MarkTwain, greatly influenced by its beauty, spent enough time in the town to complete his book “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”. In order to have a look around the town and experience its pleasant atmosphere, taking the cobblestoned roads is the best idea. One of the top attractions of the city is the Old Bridge or Alte Brücke, an iconic pedestrian arch bridge and a fine example of classical stone bridge building, which links the two sides of the river Neckar. A route of nearly two kilometres starting from the neighbourhood Neunheim, crossing the Alte Brücke and ending on the other side of the river offers spectacular views of the town and its landmarks. This route is called ‘the road of the philosophers’ because of the belief that every single philosopher and professor from the University of Heidelberg have walked on it at least once in their lives. The town also has such attractions as the Heidelberg Palace, a 16th-century ruined castle on a hillside, the Church of the Holy Spirit, a protestant church with picturesque views from the tower and the Königstuhl, a peak with a funicular and some thrilling downtown views.

Freiburg (City in Germany)

Freiburg is a dynamic university city on the southern edge of the Black Forest of Germany. Unlike many other cities of the country, the city is mostly sunny with a temperate climate. But even when the sun is not shining above the city, Freiburg is not less attractive and always worth a visit. As it is one of the earliest cities in Germany, Freiburg has a historic and cultural significance. Its cobblestone squares are filled with reconstructed Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance structures. In the city centre, stands the Freiburger Münster, the majestic Gothic cathedral with a 116m high iconic tower, which offers views over the Black Forest. The Minster Square, surrounding the Freiburger Munster, is the largest square in Freiburg and has been a regular market site since the medieval period. In this bustling marketplace, the northern side belongs to the farmers while the southern side belongs to the merchants. Freiburger also offers traditional food and a variety of festivals including the Internationale Kulturbörse Freiburg, which is celebrated at the beginning of the year and the Weihnachtsmarkt Freiburg, which is observed in the end.

Hamburg (City in Germany)

The port city of Hamburg is the second-largest city after Berlin in northern Germany. It is considered to be the country’s largest and the second busiest harbour in Europe with the Port of Hamburg, its most famous harbour area. As the city is linked to the North Sea via the Elbe River, it establishes an important connection between the sea and numerous canals and islands. The story of Hamburg is as old as the Roman age and fortunately, most of its original architectures survived the devastation of World War II. The city has been rapidly developing in every area and thus, has become a centre of the world’s discussion, attracting geniuses from the naval and aerospace industry, as well as the publication and communication corporations. The Speicherstadt of Hamburg is one of the largest warehouse complexes in the world and a great example of Gothic Revival architecture, which houses a number of 19th-century brick warehouses and narrow canals. The Hamburg tour is always incomplete without a visit to the Reeperbahn, the legendary nightlife and important red-light district offering everything from nightclubs, bars and restaurants to art galleries, theatres and live music performances. Quality music also can be enjoyed at the Elbphilharmonie, a modern concert hall atop an old warehouse, which is recognised as one of the biggest and most advanced concert halls in the world.

Potsdam (City in Germany)

The capital of Brandenburg State, Potsdam is a city on the southwest border of Berlin, Germany. It is well-known for its luxurious palaces, royal parks, tranquil lakes and beautiful gardens. The city offers a sensational representation of history and culture. This is the place where the Prussian kings had their residences built and the image of the city was further widened with neoclassical structures. These palaces including the Sanssouci Palace, the iconic palace of Frederick the Great and the Cecilienhof Palace, the historic palace that hosted the Potsdam Conference during the Second World War, have been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1990. The journey to explore the city should be started at the main square, the Old Market, where an aristocratic complex is formed by the City Hall, the Lustgarten and the church of St. Nikolai. The neighbouring Luisenplatz square in central Potsdam establishes a link between the 18th century Brandenburg Gate and the tree-lined entrance of Sanssouci Park and Palace. The New Palace on the western side of the Sanssouci Park with rococo interiors, built by King Friedrich II, is considered to be a fine example of rococo architecture and the last great Prussian baroque palace.

Cologne (City in Germany)

Cologne is one of the oldest and largest cities on the river Rhine in western Germany. It is a major cultural and commercial centre of the country. The city is marked for its marvellous ancient churches, especially the great Cologne Cathedral. This grand Gothic cathedral with a massive facade and 157m high twin towers apparently reaching for the clouds can impress anyone, even if they are not religious or have never been touched by the architecture of a church. Taking over 600 years to build, the cathedral was recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1996. This Roman Catholic Church is considered to be the biggest church in northern Europe, which successfully survived the destruction of World War II, even after being hit by 14 aerial bombs and around 70 firebombs. The church houses the Shrine of the Three Kings, a reliquary supposedly containing their bones. The nearby Museum Ludwig holds an extensive collection of Picasso works, which is regarded as one of the largest Picasso collections in Europe. Last but not least, the city has the exceptional waterside Cologne Chocolate Museum, where one can learn about the entire history of chocolate from the Mayas and Aztecs to today and try some chocolate delicacies.

Kiel (City in Germany)

Kiel, the capital of Schleswig-Holstein, is a maritime city on the Baltic Sea coast in northern Germany. During the 19th century, it was an important centre for shipbuilding and navigation due to its convenient location. Even today, it is serving as a major station for the German Navy. The city is often called the ‘Capital of Sailing’ and is famous worldwide for hosting the Kieler Woche or Kiel Week, an annual sailing event that is considered to be the greatest sailing event in the world. The central character of the event is a naval training vessel of the German Navy, the ‘Gorch Fock’, which is also one of the main attractions of the city. The ‘Laboe Naval Memorial’ that stands near Kiel is a naval memorial dedicated to the sailors fallen in the World Wars. Apart from its maritime traditions, the city has a few other things to offer including the reconstructed Eggerstedtstrasse, the square of the ‘Old Market’, Holstenstrasse and Dänische Strasse streets that are stuffed with shops, and the Maritimes Viertel, the maritime quarter on the Kieler Foerde.

Munich (City in Germany)

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is a populous German city on the river Isar with the second-busiest airport in the country. The city is named after Benedictine monks who were thought to be the first inhabitants of this area. It is renowned for its annual Oktoberfest festival, the largest Volksfest in the world. Numerous beer halls around the city, including Hofbräuhaus, Paulaner Bräuhaus, Augustiner-Keller and Augustiner-Bräu, attract millions of tourists from all over the world for beer-tasting experiences. The history of Munich goes back to the 12th century and though it suffered due to wars, through reconstructions, the city has managed to preserve its historical value. The central square of Marienplatz or the “St. Mary’s Square” in the city centre contains towering St. Peter’s church, the impressive neo-gothic Neues Rathaus, New Town Hall and a toy museum. Among the city’s top attractions is an 18th-century residence for the former Bavarian rulers, the Nymphenburg Palace, which is acknowledged as one of the largest royal palaces in Europe. Similarly, the Munich Residenz, the former royal palace with original interiors and artworks is also worth exploring. The city is constantly developing in automobiles and other industries and has already turned into a multi-cultural city, and thus, counted as a ‘village of the world’.

Dresden (City in Germany)

The capital of Saxony state, the German city of Dresden in eastern Germany is loaded with green forests, gardens and parks. The sensational historic art and architecture of the city with dramatic landscapes always amaze its visitors. It is one of those cities which have been resurrected, after being destroyed in the Second World War. The city is full of ancient architectural buildings varying in style; some are Renaissance while some are either Baroque or Neoclassical. A tour around the city justifies its name, the ‘Florence of Elbe’. At the heart of Dresden is the city’s one of oldest buildings, the Dresden Castle. Once a Royal residence of the electors and kings of Saxony, it is now a museum complex with the renowned Green Vault and a huge collection of arts, drawings and photographs and the Dresden armoury. Other notable sites include the Frauenkirche Dresden, a Baroque church reconstructed after its demolition in World War II and the Zwinger, a grand Baroque building with gardens and the famous “Old Masters Picture Gallery”. Dresden is not just all about art and architecture; there is also something more and the Semperoper is the proof of that. Located near the Elbe River, it is the city’s most popular opera house that houses the Saxon State Orchestra, one of the best-known orchestras in the world. There the river landscape formulates an atmosphere that is ideal for enjoying music and other fun shows.

Bremen (City in Germany)

Bremen is an ancient German city with architectural masterpieces, historical galleries and art museums. It is a fairytale town where the world-famous fairytale of the Bremen Town Musicians by the Brothers Grimm takes place. For this reason, street musicians are often acknowledged as the trademark of the city. Compared to the other German cities, Bremen is small in size and therefore, can be explored with ease. Most of the city’s attractions are situated in the Old Town including the Bremen City Hall. Made up of two adjacent buildings such as Old Town Hall and New Town Hall, the Bremen City Hall is an elegant Gothic town hall with a marbled hallway and a grand cellar restaurant. This Town Hall along with the statue of Roland on the marketplace of Bremen has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004. The site that is not to be missed at any cost is a bronze statue of animals: a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster, depicting the Bremen Town Musicians, as in the fairytale. There is a belief that if you rub the statue, you’ll return to this city one day.

Berlin (Capital of Germany)

Berlin is the capital as well as the largest city in Germany. With a diverse population and culture, it is both a historic and modern city. The city has some notable examples of both ancient and modern architecture. The ancient landmarks of Berlin depict the history of the whole nation. The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most-visited landmarks of the city. This 18th-century neoclassical monument symbolises not only the division of Germany but also the reunification of the country. The Fernsehturm, an iconic TV tower in the centre of Alexanderplatz, is regarded as the tallest structure in Germany with a height of 368 metres. The Bundestag, the national parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany, is a mentionable site to visit in Berlin, with a beautiful roof terrace and a glass dome. Berlin is also noted for its trending lifestyle, art and music. It is home to a variety of exquisite and world-famous opera houses. Among Berlin’s modern landmarks, the most famous is a gold-coloured, tent-like concert hall known as the Berliner Philharmonie. The city can also be ideal for night-outs as there are plenty of bars, night clubs and live stage arrangements around the area.

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