Do you live in Germany or planning a visit and want to explore the country? Then this blog post is for you! I compiled a list of the best places that you must visit and create the perfect Germany bucket list.
Did you just move to Germany and 
you’re itching to go and explore but you don’t know where to start?
Don’t worry my friend, Yours Truly’s got your back!
If you’re new here, Hi. My name is Rebecca. A couple of months ago, I left my home country of Malta and moved to Germany for love.
Ever since moving here, my passion for travel GREW IMMENSELY which is one of the reasons why I started this blog.
I scoured the interwebs for some of the best destinations in Germany that you must visit at least once!
I made a promise to myself to see as much of Germany as possible. So I sat down, did some research and came up with these bucket-list destinations to visit in Germany.
Don’t get it twisted. These aren’t the only places I’d like to visit. I have a list of over 100 so keep your eyes peeled for another blog post 👀
Rothenburg is on every Instagram influencer’s dream list. I’m no influencer (yet 😉) but you can still find it on my list!
What makes Rothenburg so popular amongst tourists is its unique charm and that cute colourful houses dotted all over the quaint, small town.
Rothenburg is one of Germany’s best-preserved towns. However, in the middle ages, it was one of the country’s biggest towns.
Pro Tip: Rothenburg is even more magical during the Christmas season! Make sure to visit the Christmas Market which happens every year. Christmas markets in Germany usually start from November and stop a couple of days after Christmas.
How to get to Rothenburg:
1. By Car: You can pretty much drive to the town from all over Germany. Click here for the full list of parking spaces/garages in Rothenburg.
2. By train: Rothenburg is off the mainline meaning you’d have to switch a couple of trains to get to it. Here are the estimated travel times from a couple of major cities:
- Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof – 2h30 to 3h00
- Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) – 2h45 to 3h15
- Würzburg – 1h10
- Nuremberg (Nürnberg) – 1h10 to 1h50
- Munich (München) – 2h30 to 3h30
- Heidelberg – 4h00
To check how long it takes you from your town or village, visit Germany’s official website for trains.
PRO TIP: Deutsche Bahn has seasonal offers on train tickets. Check the website regularly for any offers.
3. By plane: You have a couple of options when it comes to airports. The closest one is in Nurnberg but you can also fly into Munich and Stuttgart. Frankfurt International is also another international airport but it is slightly further away.
FUN FACT: Rothenburg also forms part of the Romantic Road in Germany which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Rhine Valley also forms part of the Romantic Road. I mean, why wouldn’t it?!
FUN FACT: The Rhine Valley starts in Switzerland, stretches all the way to Germany, the Netherlands and emptying in the North Sea.
This valley ranks as one of the most stunning locations here in Germany. There are a number of cute towns dotted all over the valley as well as castles.
You might also be interested in: One of the most iconic cities on the Rhine is Cologne
Other destinations popular amongst tourists include Strasbourg, Rotterdam, Basel, Koblenz (mentioned below) and Mannheim.
Rhine River cruises are a must-do and I highly recommend them. You can find cruises pretty much all over the Rhine and some of them even offer wine! Grab some of your girlfriends, drive to your nearest city along the Rhine River and take in the stunning views with a glass of wine in hand. Now that’s what I call a perfect girls trip!
Bamber is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just like Rothenburg, Bamberg is located in the region of Bavaria!
Spend your time in Bamberg wondering around the Old Town, visiting the 11th-century Cathedral and the infamous Altes Rathaus (pictured above). Don’t forget to snap your perfect picture of the Rathaus!
Click here on more information on what to do in Bamberg.
Even though Bamberg is relatively small in size, it is very well connected by public transportation.
1 By car: Getting to Bamberg is pretty easy from all over Germany. Click here for a list of parking garages/spaces in Bamberg.
PRO TIP: Download the app Parkopedia to find the best parking garages last minute from your phone!
2. By trains: The nearest major city is Nuremberg. You can catch a number of regional trains from Nuremberg HbF to Bamberg HbF which is about a 15-minute walk from the Old Town (the pretty part!)
3. By plane: As mentioned above, the nearest major airport is Nuremberg. Simply get on a train from the airport and you’re in Bamberg! For more information and tickets, visit Deutsche Bahn’s official website.
I found about this valley from Facebook. While I was mindlessly scrolling through my feed, I stumbled upon a video showing a valley covered in snow and it looked absolutely stunning. I immediately clicked on the video’s description and it said this video was filmed in the Moselle Valley!
This valley quickly made it on my Germany bucket list.
Just like a blue ribbon, Moselle twists and turns its way through Koblenz and Trier and just like the Rhine, you can find pretty picturesque towns and castles dotted all over it.
Two of the most popular castles are:
Cochem Castle & Burg Eltz.
And just like the Rhine, you can enjoy a river tour with a glass of wine in hand!
Koblenz is a German situated located between the Moselle and Rhine Valleys. It is one of those places where you can take a day trip with your girlfriends or Germany and lazily walk around the city taking in its stunning views.
One of the most popular sights is the Deutsches Eck, a bow-shaped platform marking the point where the two rivers meet.
Another must-do is the Lahneck Castle and the infamous Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Click here for more information on what to do in Koblenz.
You can also take a cable car to get some stunning panoramic views of the city and (another!) river cruise.
You might also be interested in: P.S. this picture reminds me so much of Mdina back in Malta!
Getting to Koblenz:
1. By car: Koblenz is located very close to Frankfurt so it is very easily accessible by car. Click here for more information on parking in Koblenz.
2. By train: Get on a train from Frankfurt Am Main, Mainz, Cologne or Trier and stop at Koblenz HbF. And just like that, you’re in Koblenz!
3. By plane: Fly into one of the above-mentioned airports (Frankfurt or Cologne), get a train from the airport and stop at Koblenz HbF
PRO TIP: If you want a cheaper option, check out Flix Bus! Prices are way cheaper than Deutsche Bahn but it sometimes takes longer than the trains.
Another cute town in Germany .. nothing new here! But seriously, give Speyer a chance! Oh, and it lies on the left bank of the Rhine Valley 😏
FUN FACT: SPEYER WAS FOUNDED BY THE ROMANS AND IT IS ONE OF GERMANY’S OLDEST CITIES.
Perhaps one of the most popular things to do in Speyer is the Technik Museum Speyerwhich as the name suggests, it is a museum dedicated to technology.
Just like any other German town, there is a Cathedral that is worth checking out!
Getting to Speyer:
1. By car: Speyer is located in the Rheinland-Pfalz region of Germany and is easily accessible by car from pretty much anywhere! As usual, click here for information on parking in Speyer.
2. By train: You can hop on a train from Saarbrucken, Kaiserlautern and Frankfurt to get to Speyer quicky and easy.
3. By plane: The nearest international airport is Frankfurt International. From the airport, hop on a train to Frankfurt HbF and stop at Speyer HbF.
City’s official website for more information and events.
Mainz is both the capital and the largest city of Rheinland-Palatine. It is a quick easy trip from Frankfurt or Wiesbaden!
Spend your day in Mainz walking around admiring the pretty, colourful German houses, walking around Old Town and going to visit the Cathedral! For more information on what to do in Mainz, click here.
Getting to Mainz:
1. By car: Mainz is located in the Rheinland-Palatine region of Germany and is easily accessible by car from pretty much anywhere! As usual, click here for information on parking in Speyer.
2. By train: You can hop on a train from Saarbrucken, Kaiserlautern and Frankfurt to get to Mainz quicky and easy.
3. By plane: The nearest international airport is Frankfurt International. From the airport, hop on a train to Frankfurt HbF and stop at Mainz HbF.
In my Burg Eltz post, I mentioned how much I love castles. Neuschwanstein Castle, also known as the Winter Castle, is every castle lover’s dream. I mean look at it! It literally looks like a fairytale especially when it is surrounded by snow.
You might also be interested in: Check out my blog post on my day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle!
Cologne is a beautiful city 3 hours away from where we live. It has been on my wishlist forever.
In the meantime, check out some of the top activities and tours available in Cologne:
The capital city of Germany. I mean now that I live here, I have to visit the capital city at least once right? I am a huge history nerd and Berlin has a lot of history! The city was divided between 4 powers during the Cold War. The Americans, British and French controlled the Western part of the city whereas the Soviets (now Russians) controlled the Eastern part of the city. You can also go and see the infamous Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie. And as a graduate of European Studies, I’d love to visit all the EU institutions there!
You might also be interested in: Check out my blog post on what to do in Berlin!
Nuremberg is a must for all the history buffs out there. It is the place where the Nuremberg trials were held after World War 2 ended to bring justice to the victims of the Holocaust.
Some of the top attractions include the Deutsche Bahn Museum, Memorium Nuremberg Trials and the city’s Cathedral. Click here for more information on what to do in Nuremberg.
PS: Don’t forget to visit the city of Bamberg while you’re in Nuremberg. Scroll up for more info 😉
How to get to Nuremberg:
1. By car: Nuremberg is located in the Bavaria region of Germany and therefore is easily accessible from places like Munich or Stuttgart. You can drive to it from pretty much anywhere in Germany. From the Frankfurt area, the drive is approx. 4 hours
2. By train: Munich is the easiest train station to get to Nuremberg. You can also catch the ICE train from Frankfurt which will take around 4 hours to get to Nuremberg.
3. By plane: There is an airport in Nuremberg which is pretty convenient if you’re wanting to stay in that city for the duration of your trip or use Nuremberg as your starting point to explore the rest of Bavaria!
Ah, the city of Frankfurt. Frankfurt is the airport which is closest to us (we mainly use Luxembourg due to the fact that flights out of Luxembourg are usually cheaper. That’s a pro tip for you!)
Although the city is very modern and always busy, I still recommend visiting at least once. The old town of Frankfurt still retains the traditional colourful German houses.
Foodie tip: There is a Chipotle in Frankfurt! So if you’re in the mood for some American-Mexican food that is quick and easy, Frankfurt is the place for you.
Getting to Frankfurt is really easy and requires no special explanation. Train stations all over Germany are connected to Germany. If you’re driving to the city, you can find a parking garage almost everywhere and if you’re flying, one of Europe’s busiest and biggest airports is actually located in Frankfurt!
The beautiful city of Dresden known for it’s Dome and stunning architectural beauty.
Dresden is the capital city of the Saxony state in Germany. The city’s origins date back to 1208 when German Saxon Kings settled down in the city.
Fast forward to WW2, a large portion of the city was destroyed due to bombings. The bombings are still remembered each year and processions and ceremonies are held each year.
Dresden is dotted with amazing things to do. My top four recommendations are the Zwinger, Frauenkirche, Semperoper and Dresden Castle. Click here for more information on what to do in Dresden.
Getting to Dresden:
1. By train: Dresden has two main train stations. Dresden HbF and Dresden-Neustadt. The former is located very close to the shopping street in Dresden and the Old Town. The city is connected to almost all of Germany and is accessible from every major town in Germany.
2. By car: Dresden can be easily reached by car from the rest of Germany. It is well connected with the German highway system and a new Autobahn to Prague has opened. The A 9 Autobahn (Berlin-Nuremberg-Munich) is – like many Autobahns- especially prone to congestion during holidays.
3. By plane: Dresden has its own airport called Dresden airport. Although it is not an international airport, you can easily fly to it from any other city in Germany (domestic flights).
Bavaria is a state here in Germany and not a town. However, it is stunning.
I had the opportunity to visit Bavaria last week while I was at the Neuschwanstein castle (scroll up) and it did not disappoint. If you like more information on Bavaria, scroll up to where I talked about Neuschwanstein and subscribe to my blog!
Fussen is a quaint little town on the Austrian border. An American friend of mine recommended this place to me. She described the Gothic architecture of the city and the stunning views. She also told me there are a number of museums and castles surrounding the town (the winter castle is one of them!)
Click here to get more information about Fussen.
Moving to Germany has been the best decision of my life. I am very grateful for the opportunity and I am super excited to explore more of this country. I have another blog post coming on some more Germany travel inspiration. Subscribe to my newsletter to get the latest updates!
What is your favourite place in Germany and which place are you dying to visit? Let me know in the comments below!
Yours Truly,
Rebecca
Can’t wait till I visit Germany! 😍
Can’t wait to have you over <3
Beautiful places! Very interesting to feel the place!
Thank you!
Great list! Some spots in here I need to check out!
Thank you! I’m going to be posting part three soon 🙂
Great Blog Rebecca! I can second your opinion that Bamberg is a “must see”, a true hidden gem. A bit of the beaten path, but lovely Bavarian architecture, over 8 small breweries with some of the best beer in the world, a vibrant vibe due to all the students living there, really one of my favorites!
Thank you for your comment! I can’t wait to go there 🙂
This is really useful, thanks.