Germany attractions

Old meets new in Ulm’s Fishermen’s Quarter, the historic artisan enclave where half-timbered houses and water-mill wheels huddle by the water’s edge alongside bijous galleries and courtyard restaurants. Crooked, tilted, and hunched, these restored buildings once belonged to Ulm’s fishermen, shipbuilders, and tanners. Today, their charm draws photographers, painters, and those who enjoy a pretty place.

A submarine from the Nazi era, this piece of history has been given a permanent resting place on the Baltic Sea Coast in the resort town of Laboe. It’s part of the Laboe Naval Memorial complex, a coastal landmark paying tribute to all lives lost at sea. Visitors can board the structure, which now sits aboveground on the sandy beach.

Routinely voted one of the world’s best, most immersive theme parks, Phantasialand—near Cologne, Germany—may be small, but you’d never know it. With themed areas like Deep in Africa, Mexico, and Rookburgh, there are multiple worlds to explore (and new attractions are constantly added). From nearly record-breaking thrill rides to relaxing boat journeys, every kind of excitement lies within Phantasialand.

This historic landmark in central Augsburg may seem like an unassuming civic center from the outside, but the building is defined by its Golden Hall masterpiece. Head inside and make your way up to the second floor where the double-height ceremonial room awaits, resplendent with its coffered ceiling, murals, and golden doors that befit a grand entrance.

Rising high above Leipzig’s rooftops, the Panorama Tower stands out as a modern skyscraper in the German city’s more traditional skyline. Little about this office building will interest visitors to the city, except for two things: the extensive view from its 31st-floor observation platform and the fine dining on offer from its restaurant, Plate of Art.

The German Emigration Center Bremerhaven (Deutsches Auswanderer Haus) explores the history of German immigration and emigration. The museum, located on the harbor where German emigrants left Bremen for the New World between 1830 and 1974, also gives visitors the chance to search for their own ancestors on two international databases.

Rulantica is a themed aquapark the size of several football fields, located near Rust in the Black Forest. Set beside its sister theme park attraction Europa-Park, Rulantica offers zany water fun for families and adrenaline seekers with neon-lit slides, vertical tubes, a shipwreck splash park, swim-up cocktail bars, plus indoor and outdoor pools. Zen-seekers fear not—there’s a spa area with saunas, too.

Klimahaus Bremerhaven 8° Ost combines the best of a science center, a climate museum, and a theme park. The museum takes visitors on an interactive journey across five simulated continents to experience the world’s climate extremes, from the humidity of the tropics to the icy summits of the Swiss Alps.

Meaning “Karl’s retreat” in English, Karlsruhe was originally just that: a lavish palace retreat for the German nobleman Karl Wilhelm I. The town was later built around it in a fan shape, giving the palace status as the town’s cultural heart. Today, you can ogle its baroque-style architecture, explore its fountain-strewn gardens, or visit the on-site Baden State Museum.

On the outskirts of Leipzig, the Belantis amusement park entertains visitors with a variety of live performances and more than 60 rides and attractions. Fun seekers of all ages will find plenty to do, from toddler-sized bumper cars to topsy-turvy roller coasters.

Presenting a visual representation of Dresden’s changing cityscape from 1695 to 1760, the Panometer Dresden is one of the city’s most unique museums. The creation of Austrian artist Yadegar Asisi, the gigantic, 360-degree display measures 344 feet (105 meters) long, stretching along the walls of a former gasometer.

Pullman City Western Town (Westernstadt Pullman City), brings the spirit of the American Wild West to the wilderness of Bavaria. Fashioned to resemble a traditional 19th-century Western town, the park offers cowboys, Indians, horses, and good old-fashioned Western entertainment.

Inspired by the Paul Cézanne quote, “art is a harmony parallel to nature,” the Hombroich Museum Island (Museum Insel Hombroich) is a space where art and nature are indeed harmonious. This conceptual art museum is comprised of 52 acres (21 hectares) of idyllic parklands dotted with galleries, sculptures, and architectural monuments.

A promenade along the River Main in Frankfurt, Mainkai offers views of the city’s skyscrapers, bridges, and other sights. Locals come here to walk dogs and go for strolls and bike rides; you can also have a picnic and check out the lovely gardens. One of the top seasonal attractions here is an outdoor Christmas market that brings stalls of gifts and souvenirs to Mainkai.

A popular stop on Bavaria’s stretch of Romantic Road, Dinkelsbühl is one of Germany’s few remaining medieval walled towns. A foray into its Old Town (Altstadt) reveals an open-air museum of cobbled market squares, colorful timbered houses, and fortified walls, which haven’t changed much in centuries.

Lindau’s most unique historic building, the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) is a visual feast. Intricate murals and frescoes adorn its colorful facade, alongside an antique clock and sundial, while the stepped gable roof matches the pièce de résistance—a grand covered staircase that runs up to the main entrance. Whatever your preferred architectural style, there’s nothing quite like it.

Knoblauchhaus Museum is a museum in Berlin’s Nikolaiviertel district dedicated to the unique architecture, culture, and social life of the progressive Biedermeier era. Built in 1760, the 3-story baroque townhouse was home to the prominent Knoblauch family, and today its living quarters are true to the original house.

An idyllic town along Bavaria's Romantic Road, Nordlingen is known for its medieval center, beautiful buildings, and well-preserved city walls. It’s also notable for its distinctive terrain—the town was built inside an ancient impact crater formed when a meteorite struck the earth 15 million years ago.

One of Germany’s oldest towns, Günzburg on the Danube River traces its roots back to Roman times. Its history is best seen in its handsome old town, aka the altstadt. If you visit this pedestrian area today, you’ll stumble upon colorful medieval architecture, history-steeped streets linked to the Habsburgs, and a lively cluster of cafés and restaurants.

You don’t need to be a botanist to enjoy this little green oasis in Münster. Backing onto the city castle and historic University of Münster buildings, the themed gardens are spread around winding trails. They are dotted with greenhouses and nooks where visitors can escape to sunbathe, soak up the blooms, or read a book.

Covering over 125 acres in the southwestern part of the city, the Berlin Botanical Garden (Botanischer Garten Berlin) is the second largest in the world, with more than 22,000 species of plants including carnivorous plants, cacti, and orchids. The grounds also house greenhouses and the Berlin Botanical Museum (Botanisches Museum Berlin).

The LWL Museum Zeche Zollern—a 19th-century former colliery turned industrial history museum—shines the spotlight on Dortmund’s coal-mining past. Unexpectedly, for a former colliery, its setting is quite easy on the eye. Visitors are greeted by aristocratic-style architecture, which exists in stark contrast to the miners’ harsh working conditions, as explained in the museum.

Secluded in a basement in Regensburg Old Town is the city’s Golf Museum, a treasure trove of golfing artifacts. Among its 1,200 artifacts from the sport’s long history are the world’s oldest golf club and golf ball, both centuries old. Traditional golfing outfits and golf-themed artwork help set the mood in this cellar museum.

The Agrippabad offers a vibrant aquatic experience in the heart of Cologne, near Neumarkt. Loved by sports enthusiasts and families, it features an 82-foot (25-meter) sports pool, slides, a 33-foot (10-meter) diving tower, and a kiddie paddling pool. With indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, and a fitness area, it's a haven for water lovers of all ages and skills.

After the death of famous German sculptor Georg Kolbe, his home and studio in West Berlin were converted into a museum in 1950. Discover over 200 of the artist’s statues at the museum, plus a few crafted by Kolbe’s contemporaries. See beautiful examples of architectural modernism in the museum’s two buildings connected by a large garden with tall trees.

The Allied Museum (AlliiertenMuseum) covers the history of the American, British, and French forces who occupied West Berlin and West Germany during the Cold War, between 1945 and 1990, and beyond. Learn about the 50-year political history of the Western Allies and their presence in Germany.

Framed by the green slopes of the Taunus Mountains, Bad Nauheim has been a popular wellness center for more than 150 years, thanks to its natural mineral-rich springs. The historic spa town also boasts a place in rock ‘n’ roll music history—Elvis Presley was famously stationed there during his military service in 1958.

Big and beautiful, the mighty Ulmer Münster is one of the world’s tallest churches, with a steeple that reaches toward the heavens. It is arguably one of the world’s most interesting Gothic churches. Elegant yet simple Lutheran interiors, 15th-century wooden choir stalls, and stained-glass windows abound—it’s no wonder this church took around 500 years to build.

The Brucke Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of art by the Die Brucke group. Founded in Dresden by four university art students, the early 20th-century group is famous for kicking off the German expressionist movement. The museum features over 400 works by the founders and other artists who were close to the group.

Ernst Friedrich started the Anti-War Museum (Anti-Kriegs-Museum) during the 1920s as a response to the horrific events of World War I. On display today are photos, documents, postcards, medals, soldiers’ letters, and diaries from both World Wars, including a fully-stocked air-raid shelter from the Second World War.