Besides Berlin, Munchen, and Frankfurt, what are some German cities that would be great for a tourist?

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t_maia2000

If you are in Berlin or Munich, there are two concentration camps nearby. Dachau and Sachsenhausen. Both are easily reached by public transport. Some agencies offer guided tours including pick-up from the hostel/hotel.

However if you are into another German city to see, check out Weimar. While small and sleepy today, this city has played an important role in German history. The first German republic from 1918 to 1933 is called "Weimarer Republik" after this city. Goethe the great german writer and renaissance man used to live in Weimar and the local Duke was a man to reckon with when it came to European politics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimar

Near Weimar is the concentration camp Buchenwald - and this closeness is what makes the horror of the Nazi regime clear. In a way Weimar is the quintessence of Germany - lots of art and culture mixed in with the trauma of the Nazi rule.

Weimar is about halfway between Berlin and Munich, if you travel by train between the above cities Weimar will make for an interesting break.

Also if you want to see the modern and efficient side of Germany you'll have plenty of opportunities elsewhere than Frankfurt. Apart from the old town (which can be covered in half a day) there is not much to see in Frankfurt for a tourist. When I was in highschool we did a trip to the city which I really enjoyed - but then we were given tours of the stock exchange and the German federal bank including lectures on the banking system. This is not an option for the normal tourist. The best thing about Frankfurt is not the city itself, but the surrounding area. It is a wine-growing region and truly marvelous to visit, especially in fall when you can taste the first wines from last year, see the leaves turn and relax in the wineyard under the last warm rays of sunshine. Heading down from Frankfurt to Munich Rothenburg ob der Tauber would be a nice stop, especially in fall.

BTW, the Black Forest is a bit of a tourist trap. It is popular with English-speaking tourists mainly for the reason that American G.I.'s took their families on holiday there (same with Heidelberg and the so-called "Romantic Road"). It is nice there, but Germany has plenty of other interesting places apart from it.

You did not say when you intend to go, but I suggest you check out the islands on the North Sea coast. It is very nice there in late spring and summer. You could do a mudflat hike, walking from one island to another.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadlopen

Fenris Troll Ripper JPA RT ATL Â®

Lets see Hamburg, Dresden, Stuttgart, Hanover, Bonn, Leipzig, Weimar, Jena, Erfurt are just a few to name.

pynk_tringl

Cologne! You must go to Cologne. This city is the fourth largest in the country and is has many wonderful things to do and see. There are tons of museums including the Chocolate Museum and the Sports Museum but also wonderful new and old architecture to see. A must is spending time at the Dom cathedral. It was started back in the 1200's and wasn't fully completed until the 1800's. The remains of the three Magi are kept there under a gold sarcophagus. The people are fantastic...open, friendly, helpful. Also, if you have time, take a day cruise down the Rhine river on one of K-D's ships. I took a ship to Rudesheim and stayed in a quaint hotel overnight then the next day did some hiking in the hills above the vineyards and returned on a ship to Cologne. (you can find them at www.k-d.de and the site is available in English). Enjoy your time there.

LPett

Wurzberg- there is the fortress that has 2 museums, both worth the look, one having a model of the twon after the bombing during WWII. Very interesting. Also great art. There is also The Residence with hall of mirrors, and a vaulted ceiling that has a great history...and withstood the bombing. And an awesome chruch with a lot of history in the center of town. As a whole i would say more history to see than in Heidleberg which has been more modernized.

Also just down the road is Rothenberg O.d.T- Also having great history with the original town wall still intact in some parts....date stamped 1215. The Kathje Wolfort main store and museum are here as well.....if you go you have to try a "sneeballen"

Oh and you have to see the castles in the alps. Neuschwanstein, and Hohenschwengau. There is a little town not far away that has a great hotel with very resonable prices, and a good restaurant. Cant remember the name, but it is on the main road, very bavarian looking with blue trimmed shutters.

Hope this helps.

Alwin E

What about Regensburg (Ratisbon)? Not a holocaust site, but a city built by the ancient Romans, and there are still lots of their remnants to see. And I'm sure you want to see the river Danube, too.

No, I'm not especially catholic, but it happens to be the city where the Pope comes from. Can't help it; I lived and worked there before I even thought that a German could ever become Pope.

And it's just about an hour by train from Munich.

journeeymann

Most cities for that fact are great for tourism. Frieburg is a good choice if you are looking for somewhere in the black forest. Plus it is close to France and Switzerland. So if you stay for more than a day you can just drive over the boarder into other countries. Dusseldorf is also a beautiful city. Make sure you go to the Altstadt (old city). In my opinion that is where you find the most charm. In any of the cities you choose.

MEW

Rothenburg o.d. Tauber, Oberammergau, Nuermberg, Heidelberg

BLT

hamburg

Carolyn H

I live in Heidelberg and it is a beautiful old city and nice to visit, however there isn't a lot to do here, just stuff to look at. Mannhiem is close by and it's modern and has a lot of things to do. (museums, planetarium, shopping).

You can also do a river cruise and get to see a lot of different areas.

Staffie1

Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Bavaria) which is at the foot of the Alps. Beautiful, quaint city. Take a Cog wheel train up into the Alps for about 15 Euros. From there you are able to see Austria & Switzerland! The view is like no other in the world. We were there in the summer and the glaciers had just gotten snow! There are lots of restaurants and shopping in the town. We plan to go back in 2009.

ratzfatzhosenlatz

Full of history, the cathedral (Dom) is one of the must-see places, plus Cologne is called the cultural capital of Germany.
the city center between the Rhine river and the "Ringe" is one of my favorite areas in the world.
Oh, and they have a great beer, too, called KĂ¶lsch
Prost!

Second choice (besides Berlin) would be Hamburg. Very multi-cultural and charming!

The baby penguin

Dresden is a must-see!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dresden

Katzenhai

If you're into picturesque old towns, you should see Esslingen am Neckar. It has some of the most beautiful half-timbered houses in Southern Germany, one of the very few bridges with shops built along it (among the oldest in Europe) and a very nice part of its old town fortifications (including towers and all) are still intact. Another highlight is the channel system which leads a part of the river Neckar through the old town (which is also called 'little Venice' - for a reason) - and of course Germany's oldest champagne and sparkling wine cellars.
One of the best times to go there is the late summer when the so-called 'Zwiebelfest' is taking place on the historical marketplace...loads of New Wine from the surrounding vineyards, and fantastic onion pie!

Esslingen am Neckar is located in Baden-WĂĽrttemberg, very close to its main town Stuttgart (20 minutes by urban train, about just as long by car) and therefore very easy to reach from there.

http://www.esslingen.de/servlet/PB/menu/-1_l2/index.html
http://www.esslingen-tourist.de/english/Aktuell.htm
http://www.esslingen-burg.city-map.de/city/db/160302010301.html

CWV-Bavaria

Ulm, Germany: Birth place of Albert Einstein and location of world tallest Church Spiral.

lee l

Look these up on enternet-to much for me to write-
all in Germany--Ettal -monastary town-have to drink the ETTAL liquor................
Oberammergau-passion play every ten years, outside-woodcarving..............
Garmisch-partenkirchen-Zugspitz mtn. (must see)
If you like castles...
Neuschwanstein Castle-(disney) linderhof ..
These two castles are in one tour.........
Look under castles germany then neuschwanstein .......................
They also have an all castle tour-
We all had good times in Germany.....
If you want a really relaxed place go to Augsburg.
Have a good trip -- Lee

Tino T.

Stuttgart, Hamburg, Dussledorf, Koln, Dresden, Bavaria, Cologne,Baden-Wuerttemburg
Baltic Sea
Bavaria
Berlin
Black Forest
Brandenburg
Bremen
Cologne
Eifel
Frankfurt
Hamburg
Harz
Hesse
Lower Saxony
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Munich
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Sea
Rhineland-Palatinate
Ruegen
Saarland
Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt
Schleswig-Holstein
Thuringia

slrlus

Don't miss the western part of germany - check http://www.ruhrgebiettouristik.de/daten/staedte.php?LA=en&ZIEL_ID=10 for details! Great area to combine culture and pleasure!

Cheers,
Siri

Shaitlin

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, WĂĽrzburg, NĂĽrnberg, Dresden, Leipzig. I would also discover the Caslte "Neuschwanstein" or "Linderhof"... http://www.germanplaces.com/

chanel

i'm from nurnberg so i say go there it has lots of history to it and castles and such. its a really nice town and lots of people visit it and its kinda touristy. i think you'd like it

Mag R

Cologne is the oldest german town, it was founded by the romans more than 2000 years ago and has a very unique blend of history, multiethnic mix of people for centuries, a wonderful landscape with the river rhine insinde the town and medium green hillside around the town, a great culture of very cosy corner pubs, at summertime all of them with outside tables under shady trees,big open air beergardens,you will really love the relaxed style of living and taking yourself around.
There is really the charm of cologne with the motto: Do what you want and let others do the same a very tolerant athmosphere/
Not to forget cologne cathedral which is the biggest christian church in the world.

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