Germany attractions

SEA LIFE® Königswinter takes visitors on an undersea odyssey filled with close encounters with an astonishing variety of sea creatures. The aquarium’s 36 pools are home to more than 2,000 sea creatures of more than 120 species, from exotic fish such as surgeonfish, paddlefish, and clown fish to turtles, rays, octopus, and moray eels.

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.

Three islands sit in Chiemsee, the largest lake in Germany’s Bavaria: Herreninsel, Krautinsel, and Frauenchiemsee. The latter, the second-largest, is home to a Benedictine church and convent with roots that go back 1300 years. Today, the island is a popular spot thanks to its views, rich history, and community of artists and craftspeople.

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.

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.

One of many highlights along the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine Valley, the small town of St. Goar (Sankt Goar) sits on the banks of the Rhine river. Along with its picturesque medieval buildings, St. Goar is most famous for its 13th-century Rheinfels Castle (Burg Rheinfels) and the landmark Loreley Rock, which stands opposite.

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.

Trier's Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) is one of Germany’s oldest Gothic churches, and it shares UNESCO World Heritage status with the adjoining Trier Cathedral. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it dates back to the 13th century and boasts magnificent French Gothic interiors, with a distinctive floor plan resembling a 12-petaled rose.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

For centuries, Rheinfels Castle was the region's largest, most important fortress. Now the imposing castle—one of many along the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley—is in ruins. The castle, located on a hill along the river’s left bank, dates back to the 13th century. Roam the grounds and learn its history at the on-site museum.

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.

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.

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.

With nearly 25 miles (40 kilometers) of runs across four valleys, the Garmisch-Classic Ski Area offers incredible access to the Bavarian Alps. Skiers and boarders of all skill levels will find themselves careening on the slopes of three peaks, stopping for drinks at various mountain stations, and taking in some of Germany’s highest views.

A top pick for a family day out, Mundenhof near Freiburg offers a winning combination of well-cared-for creatures, ample space for both animals and kids, and free admission. With large enclosures for mostly domestic and farm animals, the site feels more like a wildlife park than a zoo, though meerkats, monkeys, and a large aquarium add excitement to the atmosphere.

Built in the 18th century, this famous cemetery originally served as a burial place for those with fewer means. Today it's known as the final resting place for many well-known artists and intellectuals, including Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Heinrich Mann.

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.

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.

What served as officer barracks during the Prussian era is now an art gallery housing the Scharf-Gerstenberg Collection (Sammlung Scharf-Gerstenberg). The collection includes over 250 surrealist works by such artists as Max Ernst, René Magritte, and Salvador Dalí, as well as works by artists that influenced them, such as Francisco de Goya and Giovanni Battista Piranesi.