Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany (national name Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is located in central Europe.  It is bordered by Denmark, the North Sea and Baltic Sea in the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Switzerland and Austria to the south, and France, Belgium and the Netherlands to the west.  The major rivers are the Danube, Oder, Weser, Rhine and Elbe.  The north of the country has the long coastlines of the North and Baltic Seas.  The south has the Alps.  The country is a treasure trove of modern cities, medieval buildings, old towns and Gothic churches.  

The capital and largest city is Berlin.  Other major cities include Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Dortmund, Essen, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Hanover and Bremen.  Currency is the Euro (formerly Deutsche Mark).  The official language is German.  The Berlin Wall was in place from 1961 until 1990 dividing East and West Germany.   Germany is a major car manufacturer, with famous makes such as Porsche, Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen.

Whatever you are looking for in a holiday or weekend break you are sure to find in Germany.  You can choose from skiing in winter, exploring the beaches, coastal resorts, lakes and rivers in summer, or hiking the national parks, hills and Alps.  There are also spas for health and fitness breaks to just get away from it all and relax.  .  

 Link:  www.germany-tourism.co.uk

Bergen

Located in northeastern Germany in the Baltic Sea, on the largest German island of Rugen, Bergen is an old hanseatic port city.  The other main city on the island is Sassnitz. The island has a road and rail bridge connecting it to the mainland.  The island also has popular coastal resorts and is popular with tourists.  The eastern side of the island is comprised of chalk cliffs.  It was home of the composer Grieg.  You can reach the mountain peaks by funicular or cable car for views over the city.  Bergen is also the place to go if you wish to visit the fjords and other spectacular scenery.    

Link:  www.bergen-guide.com

Berlin

Berlin is the largest and capital city of Germany.  Located in the northeast of the country, close to the border with Poland.   

Berlin is a lively city, with plenty of sightseeing, museums, shopping, restaurants and nightlife.  It is also scenic, with many green areas, rivers and bridges.   Some of the attractions and sights include the Brandenburg Gate, Schloss Charlottenburg - a Baroque palace, Berlin cathedral, the Egyptian Museum and many art museums.  One of the main places for people to meet is at the Alexanderplatz with its TV tower which you can access for excellent views.   Close by is the Town Hall and a reconstructed Old Town (tourist attraction).  Berlin also has many parks, perhaps the most well known being the Tiergarten, which leads to the zoo.  Berlin is probably most famously known for the fall of the Berlin Wall which separated East and West Berlin and East and West Germany from 1961 to 1989.  . 

Link:  www.berlin.de

Cologne

Cologne is another lively German city with lots of history and sights.  The city is located in the central western part of the country on the Rhine River in Westphalia.   River trips on the river Rhine are popular, where you can watch the scenery go by and admire the vineyards and castles. Cologne has everything from street musicians to opera and classical concerts.  It also has many pubs, restaurants and breweries and is home to Kolsch. Other sights include a Gothic Cathedral, Roman Dionysus mosaic, and many other historic buildings and churches. 

Link:  www.koeln.de

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a port city located in central Germany on the Main River.  Frankfurt is a major commercial and transportation centre and headquarters to many banks, including Bundesbank and the Stock Exchange.  Many international trade fairs are held in Frankfurt, including the famous annual book fair.  The city is also a lively cultural centre, with many museums, galleries and theatres.  As a large part of the city was razed during WWII it has been rebuilt in a modern style with a distinctive western skyline of skyscrapers.   Frankfurt was the birthplace of the famous writer, Goethe.  Most of the city is located on the north side of the Main river. 

Link:  www.frankfurt.de

Hamburg

Hamburg is located in northern Germany on the Alster River and river Elbe, close to the North Sea.  It is also known as the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.  It is the economic centre of the country and Germany’s second largest city.  It also has a busy port.  Despite its industrial feel, the city has many green areas, lakes, canals and bridges. The city has cultural attractions too, and was once the home of the composer Brahms.  There are many interesting and historic churches and an unusual Rathaus (Town Hall).   There are many places within reach of a day trip from Hamburg as well as spas and resorts on the Baltic and North Seas.  

Link:  www.hamburg-tourism.de

Hanover

Hanover is the capital of the Lower Saxony area of Northern Germany, located on the river Leine and the Midland Canal.  It is an important commercial centre and also transportation hub. The city was damaged badly during WWII but was rebuilt and many of the older buildings restored.  Attractions and landmarks include the Gothic city hall, 14th century church, chateaux and castles and museums.  The city has many green spaces with parks and gardens, and it was the location for the Expo 2000 and is known for its many international trade fairs.

Link:  www.germany-tourism.de

Munich

Munich (German: Munchen) is the capital city of Bavaria in southern Germany, close to Austria, located on the river Isar and close to the Bavarian Alps.  It is an important commercial and financial centre.  It is also important for book publishing and film production.  Munich is famously known for its Oktoberfest, when oompah bands, yodeling, dancing, beer and food (especially sausages) are celebrated, although the main point of it all is the beer.   Munich has plenty of cultural interests, with ballet, concerts, opera, museums and art galleries.  The city also has botanical gardens, zoo, beer gardens and Gothic city hall with a glockenspiel, and an Olympic Centre which was constructed for the Olympics in 1972.   It is a good city for shopping with many fashionable boutiques.  You will not be stuck for choice of good restaurants or nightlife either.  Don’t miss the landmark Church of Our Lady with its domes.  If you plan to ski the Bavarian Alps you will probably fly into Munich airport as it is the closest.  There are other day trips of interest, including the former Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, as well as lakes and beautiful historic castles.

Link:  www.muenchen.de

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