Germany is a country with a powerful, tumultuous and interesting history. Currently consisting of sixteen separate states, Germany is once again a unified republic.
Berlin is the capital and largest city in the country and boasts the most unique history and architecture due to the separation of the city between East and West Germany after WWII. Today, Berlin is a thriving, unified city rebuilt from the devastation of the war. A visit to the Memorial Church on the Kurfürstendamm tells much of the story of the city. This church has a spire that was badly damaged in a bombing attack during the war and the Germans have opted to leave its remains as a memorial, while rebuilding another spire next to it. Remembering its history while moving forward is what this city does so well. The Kurfürstendamm is the main shopping avenue in Berlin, akin to the Champs Elysees in Paris. The Berlin Wall is still visible in certain portions of the city, as is Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate. Museum Island hosts some of the most significant cultural and art collections in the country and getting around the city is simple and inexpensive with the extensive use of the UBahn (subway), SBahn (above ground train) and bus systems.
Munich, the capital of Bavaria and gateway to the Alps, is one of the most beautiful and green cities in Germany. It offers first class museums and traditional German architecture, a salute to Bavaria’s royal past. A highlight is visiting Munich in the fall during Oktoberfest. This is the world’s largest fair and a celebration of German culture and beer. Munich is also a great city to use as a home base with day trips to visit Neuschwanstein castle, Dachau Concentration Camp, the Romantic Road and the Bavarian Alps.
Frankfurt has the largest international airport in Germany and is often a stopping place for numerous international flights. It is a strong financial and economic center that was badly damaged during WWII and rebuilt afterwards. Visit St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral and St. Paul’s Church as well as Whertheim House, the only timber structure to have survived the bombings of WWII.
Hamburg is the country’s second largest city and located in the North of Germany. It boasts one of the biggest harbors in the world and is famous for its legendary nightlife hub “Reeperbahn”, which is also home to the city’s red light district. With several waterways running through its center, Hamburg has maritime charm – with more bridges than Amsterdam and Venice combined.
With its many rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, Moselle and Main, Germany is a very popular river cruise destination. It is also well known for its breweries and beer gardens, wine production and music. You can take a countrywide tour centered on those breweries, the country’s churches or its castles, or you can choose one or two cities to concentrate your visit on.
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