Germany attractions

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.

With a history dating back to 1804, the Halloren Chocolate Factory (Halloren Schokoladenmuseum) is the oldest in Germany and famous for its Halloren-Kugeln (chocolate balls). Today, it’s also a popular tourist attraction, offering chocolate tastings, interactive exhibits, and chocolate-making displays.

Tucked away in the forest, the Dinosaurier Museum Altmühltal brings extinct animals vividly to life with life-size statues of dinosaurs, mammoths, and other creatures arranged along a walking trail. Learn about dinosaurs, see fossils and skeletons, and try your hand at fossil hunting through family-friendly exhibits and activities.

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.

Spread out over 74 acres (30 hectares) and home to hundreds of animals, ZOOM Erlebniswelt offers a variety of educational activities. In addition, the zoo spearheads important conservation efforts such as the breeding of several protected species.

Hidden away in the western Bavarian town of Leipheim, Villa Ampere is part historic landmark, part renovation project. Dating back to 1954, this former electrical transformer tower was saved from demolition by a local family in the early 2010s. The villa underwent restoration in 2014 and has been operating as lodging, an event space, and a tourist attraction ever since.

Around 500 thought-provoking works by the late Augsburg artist Wolfgang Lettl await at this popular, not-for-profit gallery in the city’s historic center. You’ll also find pieces by his son Florian Lettl—who’s often present at the museum—plus rotating special exhibits from different countries.

Located right in the Old Town (Altstadt), the Hard Rock Cafe Cologne is the city’s local outpost of the ever-popular rock ‘n’ roll-themed international restaurant chain. Open since 2003, the venue attracts a mix of visitors and locals with its indulgent, American-inspired food and drink; live music performances; and musical memorabilia.

In Dortmund’s Rombergpark Botanical Garden, this zoo is home to about 1,500 animals who inhabit outdoor enclosures. While species from most continents are here, the zoo focuses on South American wildlife, being a noted breeder of giant otters and giant anteaters. Low entry costs and easy access from the city center make it an attractive pick for Dortmund travelers with kids in tow.

Ellenbogen—meaning “elbow” in German—is quite literally an area shaped like an elbow, located on the northernmost tip of the island of Sylt, which boasts unspoiled natural beauty. This wild landscape features grassy dunes, pristine beaches, and lighthouses. Ideal for a scenic escape from city life, you can cycle, hike, or relax on the beach, while enjoying the serene surroundings.

Berlin’s Tempelhofer Feld (Tempelhof Park) is one of the world’s largest and most extraordinary urban parks. With a history that dates to the 13th-century Knights Templar, the park was later turned into a Nazi–era airport and concentration camp, and used during the Allied Airlift following World War II. Today, it’s a vast space for relaxation and recreation.