Germany attractions

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.

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 Bauhaus Archive Museum of Design(Bauhaus-Archiv Museum für Gestaltung) is both a museum and a research institute in Berlin. It is a non-profit organization that was established in 1960, and it is dedicated to the history and the after-effects of the most significant art school of the 20th century. The works found here represent many areas such as painting, sculpture, architecture, furniture, ceramics, metal, photography, stage and photographs from the original Bauhaus Workshop. The Bauhaus was founded as a state-run school by Walter Gropius, and the Bauhaus Workshop operated from 1919 to 1933. The aim of the Bauhaus Archive is "to collect and present all documents relating to the activities and cultural and intellectual heritage of the Bauhaus," which includes photographs, books, designs, models and artistic works, along with the organization of exhibitions and accompanying programs. Exhibitions in the museum include permanent collections as well as special temporary exhibits. Please note: The Bauhaus Archive Museum of Design is currently closed for renovation. The reopening is scheduled for 2022.

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.

The Chamäleon Theater, a former ballroom with a storied history dating to 1906, is one of Berlin’s coolest performance venues. Located in the atmospheric Hackesche Höfe in the Mitte District, the Chamäleon is known for its cutting-edge modern productions, a mix of acrobatics, music, dance, comedy, and drama.

Tierpark Berlin is Europe’s largest zoo and home to more than 9,000 animals from nearly 900 species. African penguins, polar bears, and Sumatran tigers, to name just a few, reside in the 400-acre (162-hectare) park. In addition to seeing animal feedings and shows, you can learn about the zoo’s important conservation efforts.

One of Berlin's top World War II-centric museums and landmarks, the Ethnological Museum of Berlin exhibits more than 500,000 archaeological, art-historical, and ethnological artifacts spanning Asia, Africa, and Australia. Part of Berlin's State Museums, it beckons culture and art lovers interested in premodern relics.

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.

Most visitors know about Germany’s age-old fairy tales and toymaking legacy, but one of the country's best-kept local secrets is its homegrown history of marionette puppetry. The country’s most famous puppet theater is the Augsburger Puppenkiste or Augsburg Puppet Chest, which has entertained German children with its live performances and filmed TV shows since 1948.

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.

With a history dating back to the 12th century, Greifenstein Castle (Burg Greifenstein) is one of Germany’s oldest fortresses and is protected as a national landmark. Perched on a hilltop in the Dill Valley, the castle’s dark stone facade and twin towers can be seen for miles around, keeping watch over the forested slopes below.

Discover the learning potential in play during a visit to the Kindermuseum MachMit, designed for children. This hands-on museum engages all of the senses through arts and crafts, special workshops, and interactive exhibits. It’s also a popular place for birthday parties and other events for kids.

The Berlin Gallery is dedicated to art created in the city since 1870 with a focus on photography and architecture. Since 2004, the museum has been housed in a modernist building featuring collections from the Dada Berlin, New Objectivity, and Eastern European avant-garde scenes, plus pieces from the Berlin Wall and reunification eras.

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.

Domäne Dahlem is an open-air museum and organic farm that tells the story of 800 years of agriculture in Berlin. This working farm offers interactive experiences such as animal feedings and traditional blacksmith workshops. You can also visit regular farmers' markets and a ceramics studio, and taste organic cuisine at the on-site food store and restaurant.

A rococo palace turned art and culture museum, Ephraim-Palais is as much an attraction for its striking building as for its exhibitions. Learn about the history of the palace, built in 1762 by Veitel Heine Ephraim, King Friedrich II’s court jeweler, and see one of the palace’s most striking features by climbing its grand spiral staircase.

With four seasons of horticultural displays and more than 3,100 plant species from all corners of the globe, Augsburg Botanical Garden is a serene spot to escape the crowds of the medieval center. Slip into the fragrant rose garden, stroll around the Yoshikuni Araki-designed Japanese garden, and uncover the secrets of the medicinal garden.

The decade after the fall of the Berlin Wall was a time of celebration, political reunification, and creative freedom for Berliners, and the Nineties Berlin: Multimedia Exhibition chronicles all the highlights. Immerse yourself in 90s-era Berlin, from street art and fashion to the infamous party scene at the museum.

The Bröhan Museum proudly displays a large collection of art nouveau, art deco, and functionalism from the 1890s to 1939. Named after its founder Karl H. Bröhan, who donated his entire collection to Berlin on this 60th birthday, the museum’s exhibition spaces display vases, lamps, carpets, paintings, and a rich porcelain collection.

Public transit hubs are not often tourist destinations in their own right—but Bockenheimer Warte isn’t your average station. Famous for its surrealist entrance—designed to look like a tram car crashed straight into the pavement—the 1986 station is located west of Frankfurt’s city center and is a must-visit for design and architecture fans.

The Church of St. Severin is one of the most famous landmarks on the island of Sylt. Dating back to the 13th century, this Lutheran parish church displays Romanesque and Gothic architectural features such as a baptismal font that dates back 1,000 years and a 15th-century altar. Along with coming here for worship, visitors flock for the regular organ concerts.

Considered the best-preserved medieval monastery north of the Alps, Maulbronn Monastery (Kloster Maulbronn) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Comprising a mix of architectural styles—and home to an array of buildings, exhibition areas, and artworks and artifacts—it’s a popular stop for history and architecture buffs.

Little, low-key, and lovely, the Alatsee is a gem of a Bavarian lake that offers a tranquil respite for locals and castle-weary sightseers from nearby Füssen. You can walk around it on a leisurely half-hour stroll, stop for a summer cool-down dip near the shore, and take a twirl on one of the rope swings.

The Museum of Decorative Arts is a treasure trove of fashion, furniture, and exquisite antiques. With one of Germany's oldest and most extensive collections of European decorative arts and crafts, it spans from the Middle Ages to the present day. Explore preserved 16th-century interiors and go on a fashion journey from baroque court attire to Christian Dior's haute couture.

Located within Berchtesgaden National Park, Lake Hintersee is considered one of the most picturesque highlights of southern Germany’s Bavarian Alps. Boasting crystal-clear water offset by soaring mountain peaks, this glacier-fed beauty spot is an ideal day-trip destination from Munich and Salzburg. A range of recreational opportunities are available in the area, from walking and hiking trails to seasonal boat rentals.

Housed in a striking neo-baroque building with showstopping modern neon blue lights, Berlin’s interactive Museum for Communication (Museum für Kommunikation) explores the history of all things communication. The museum honors the written, spoken, and visual word via wax seals, postcards, telephones, radios, computers, film, and more.

The Art Library is one of the largest specialized libraries for art history and cultural studies in the world. Founded in 1867, it’s home to over 400,000 works including fine-art drawings, photos, posters, advertisements, and a book design collection. It’s also a research institute which aims to gain new perspectives on important themes in art. These interdisciplinary outlooks range from the history of the art trade to the rise and evolution of international art styles and movements to the shared origins of Western and non-European art.

Plauen is located in Saxony in the eastern part of Germany, near the border of Bavaria and the Czech Republic. In the 1930s, Plauen hosted the first chapter of the Nazi Party outside of Bavaria, and about 75% of the city was destroyed during World War II. During the division of Germany, Plauen fell into East Germany. Some of the earliest and most significant peaceful demonstrations against the communist regime occurred here, leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The Berggruen Museum, named after famed art collector Heinz Berggruen, is one of Berlin’s most popular modern art galleries. Housed in a neoclassical building built by Friedrich Wilhelm IV to complement Charlottenburg Palace, the gallery features more than 200 pieces by artists such as Picasso, Klee, Cezanne, and Matisse.

The Musical Instrument Museum in Berlin (Musikinstrumenten-Museum) is a haven for those interested in the history of music. It houses the largest collection of musical instruments in Germany, with more than 3,500 pieces from the 1500s to today. The museum is also a part of the State Institute for Music Research under the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation.