Best Places to Visit in Germany

Germany's capital city has experienced a renaissance as of late, with new hotels and restaurants opening amid the historic museums and landmarks. Berlin pays homage to its more ominous past with powerful and humbling attractions like the Murdered Jews Memorial and Topography of Terror museum. But beautiful sites like the 630-acre Tiergarten and vibrant festivals like the Carnival of Cultures and the Festival of Lights are sure to impress travelers.

Visitors flock to Munich every fall to take part in Oktoberfest, a two-week-long festival featuring Germany's best beers and bratwurst. But Munich is so much more than just this festival. The city offers beautiful gardens, exquisite churches and engaging museums to explore. Wander around Munich's charming neighborhoods and spend some time in the Marienplatz plaza, the central square that's filled with shops and hosts a popular Christmas market.

Set on the Rhine River, Cologne is characterized by art, culture and history. The gothic Cologne Cathedral, the colorful botanical gardens and the several museums attract travelers to this German city. While much of Cologne was destroyed during World War II, the city has tirelessly rebuilt and restored important cultural sites, but still maintains its character in the historic Old Town, a can't-miss stop.

Hamburg is home to one of the biggest ports in Europe, and the Elbe River and hundreds of canals flow through the city center. Hamburg is easy to explore on foot – many of its top attractions are clustered in the center – and travelers should be sure to check out the Old Elbe Tunnel and Platen un Blomen park. Music lovers will want to catch a show at the new Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, which features two concert halls and a plaza that provides sweeping city views.

Another popular German destination situated along the Rhine, Dusseldorf welcomes visitors to stroll along its waterfront walkway (Rheinuferpromenade) and soak up the culture in its Old Town (Aldstadt). The city brims with various green spaces for recreation and upscale stores and boutiques for the shopaholics. Head to the Rhine Tower (Rheinturm) for incredible 360-degree views of Dusseldorf from the structure's observation deck.