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Germany, a popular summer destination, is high on the travel charts this year with the commencement of the European Football Championship or the Euro Cup 2024, which is being played across 10 cities. The tournament kicked off on June 15 and the final match will be played in Berlin on July 15. Here is a lowdown on the many wonderful sights and experiences that lie in store for you in this beautiful and fascinating country, which can be part of your itinerary along with match viewing.
Although much has changed from the Cold War days of the late 70s, one thing about Berlin has remained constant its cultural energy and vitality. These days, Berlin often tops lists like 'The Most Fun City in the World', and with good reason too. With a fabulous mix of museums, bars, restaurants, activities, nightlife and shopping, Berlin can be visited round the year. To start with, there are the evocative historical sites, from the brilliant 19th century Brandenburg Gate, and the pleasure gardens of the Berlin Cathedral, to the Museum Island in the middle of the Spree River. A veritable storehouse of western art and culture, including works from Egypt, Greece, Rome, Byzantium, the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then there are the Holocaust and Cold War museums, as well as the graffiti-laden remains of the historic Berlin Wall.
To enjoy Berlin's spirit of creativity and multiculturalism, visit the Turkish district of Kreuzbergor the stretch from Oberbaum Bridge to the Ostbanhof Station called the East Side Gallery, the very centre of the street art movement. Check out the grand boulevard of Unter den Linden, catch a concert at the Berlin Philharmonic, home to one of the most famous orchestras in the world, gaze at dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History, have a drink at the Modernist marvel Potsdammer Platz, shop at Ka-De-We department store or at the fashion mecca of Kurfürsten Damm, and dance the night away at any of the vibrant nightclubs.
What David Bowie is to Berlin, The Beatles is to Hamburg. The Fab Four, in their pre-fame days, spent a few years honing their rock & roll chops in the Reeperbahn in Hamburg, the great maritime city of Germany, a twin to their own hometown of Liverpool. Today, the city on the mouth of the Elbe, is a mix of the historic and the modern, home to both Europe's second largest port and also to the largest inner-city construction in Europe, the HafenCity. Take a boat from the Landungsbrücken jetty for a ride down the Elbe for a feel of the North Sea port, with the many ocean liners. Visit the old town and admire the old houses of the famous Hanseatic traders of the city. Definitely visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Speicherstadt and admire the traditional brick warehouses. You may also watch the fish auctions at the Altona fish market. Jungfernsteig is a popular shopping centre. The riverside promenade here is great for a leisurely walk. Head over to Perlenkette where the high-end restaurants are, or climb the viewing platform at the Dockland office for great views of the city.
Situated in eastern Germany, on the eastern bank of the Rhine, Dusseldorf'a over 800 showrooms make it the fashion capital of the country. If you want to go shopping, look no further than the Königsallee, the street fondly referred to as Kö, where the fashionistas gather for some Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein, Prada and Gucci. It is also a great place for dining out. A hidden gem is Carlstadt, with its antique shops and galleries, and Schadowstrasse, just off Königsallee, is another great shopping street. If all this shopping leaves you thirsty, head over to the old town, which has so many bars and pubs. Düsseldorfer Altstadt is said to be the longest bar in the world. And it isn't just about shopping here. There is the Kunstpalast Museum, which houses the collection of the passionate art collector, the Elector Palatine John Wilhelm II, who created this gallery in 1710. The old town is also home to beautiful old buildings, lovely squares and a riverside promenade that plays host to jazz festivals and book fairs. If you are interested in cutting-edge modern architecture, don't miss the Media Harbour, home to impressive buildings made by the renowned architect Frank Gehry.
Home to both Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn, and a regular host to Gustav Mahler, Franz Liszt and many others, Leipzig is not just the music capital of Germany, but also a key city in the history of Western Classical Music. And at the root of it all is the St. Thomas Church. Originally erected in 1212 CE over an older religious site, the present Gothic Church was built in stages over the 14th and the 15th centuries. However, its traditional boy choir can be traced back to 1254 CE. Many great musicians served as the cantor of the St. Thomas Choir, but none more famous than Bach, who worked at the church until his death in 1750. Visit this stunning church (you might even catch the choir if you are lucky), before heading over to the multimedia Bach Museum for an immersive experience. Mendelssohn was a 19th century prodigy who became a hugely popular composer and conductor during his brief life. His house is now the Mendelssohn Museum, with most of his belongings arranged as they were when he died. The music room in the house is the venue for weekly concerts. The war memorial 'Monument to the Battle of Nations' to commemorate the Napoleanic Wars, is a Leipzig landmark, as is the Baumwollspinnerei, a former cotton mill that houses artists and art studios, a choreography and dance centre and many galleries and workshops. For some exciting pub experience, head over to Auerbachs Keller, which opened in 1525. If you want to take a break from the city, take a coach tour of the scenic Leipzig New Lakeland region or go for boat and canoe rides as you get to know the beautiful rivers and lakes around the city.
Munich is known the world over for being home to one of the world's most iconic football club Byern Munich. Allianz Arena, the club's home stadium is now a big draw for tourists, so go check out the jaw-dropping trophy room, and even watch a match if you can. Away from the stadium, this beautiful and happy city has much to offer. Walk over to the Marienplatz Square in the centre of town and enjoy the beautiful 15th-century The Cathedral of Our Dear Lady, and the Devil's Footstep near its entrance. Climb the south tower of the church for fantastic views of Munich and the distant Alps. See the St. Mary's Column in the square and the neo-Gothic New Town Hall. Nearby are the main shopping streets and one of the largest inner city parks in Europe, the English Garden. With its Chinese Pagoda, and Beer Garden, it is certainly worth exploring. Close to Marienplatz is Hofbräuhaus beer hall. For an offbeat museum experience, you may visit the BMW Welt with its fantastic collection of cars. You could spend a whole day admiring the Nymphenburg Palace complex, built in 1664 by the Bavarian Elector as a gift for his wife. Finally, drop in at the Viktualienmarkt near Marienplatz, Munich's largest fresh produce market, and treat yourself to beer and Bavarian cuisine. Munich is home to some great old breweries, including the Löwenbräu, which was serving beer as early as 1324. Treat yourself to some of the finest beers here especially during the legendary Oktoberfest.
Munich is a great base to explore the Bavarian countryside. Like the nearby Lake Constance, which form the border between Germany and Switzerland. Explore the historical town of Constance, unchanged since the Medieval Ages. Today, a beautiful, laid back university town, it perfect for exploring on foot. Lake Constance is the largest freshwater lake in Germany and a great way to explore it is by taking excursion ships that ply all over the lake, and the Rhine visiting the different shores of the lake for breathtaking views of the German, Swiss and Austrian Alpine countryside.
Frankfurt, by the river Main, or Frankfurt am Main, is the main financial hub in Germany. But do not think that this makes it a boring city. Far from it. The hometown of Goethe can very easily be called the 'Museum City of Germany', primarily due to the museum embankment by the Main. This includes one of the best art galleries in Germany, the Städel Museum. This gallery is home to over six centuries of European art, including 3,000 paintings, 600 sculptures, thousands of photographs and more than 100,000 drawings and graphic art. The museum embankment itself lies on the southern bank of Main in Sachsenhausen, and contains 13 different museums, including the Museum of Arts and Crafts, the Museum of Ethnology, the Museum of World Cultures and the Film Museum. An important museum here is the Liebieghaus, with a collection of sculptures spanning some 5,000 years of human civilization. There is even a museum of maths and computing called Experiminta. While you are in Sachsenhausen, go for a sightseeing tour on the historical tram Ebbelwei Express, and check out any of the over a 100 bars to enjoy some local cider. Across the river, on the north bank in the old quarter is the Schirn Kunsthalle which is famous for organising themed, temporary exhibitions. Take a break from the museums and head to MyZeil shopping centre. This futuristic building has eight floors of stores, a delicatessen, restaurants and Europe's longest escalator. For some pretty historical buildings, head for the centre of the city's old quarter. Finally, do not forget to check out Goethe's house, which is now a museum, and Frankfurt Zoo
Often voted the most liberal city in Germany, and unofficially noted as one of the most exuberant ones, Cologne, is certainly one of the most vibrant cities of the country. There is much to see and do in this city by the Rhine, and much to eat and drink as well, primarily chocolates and the city;s signature beer, Kölsch. But more of that later. The landmark of Cologne is its great Cathedral, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Dramatically looming over the city's skyline, this masterpiece of Gothic architecture has been around since 1248 CE, making it one of Germany's oldest as well. Designed after the Nortre Dame of Paris, the Cologne Cathedral is larger and grander, its mammoth twin towers said to be the tallest twin spires in the world. The Cathedral houses the relics of the Three Kings, St. Peter's reliquary and chain, as well as the oldest life-sized cross in Europe. Its stained glass windows are a marvel as well. You can go up the South Tower for fanatastic views of the city and its surroundings. Cologne also has 12 stunning Romanesque churches, some of which, like the St. Maria im Kapitol church, date back to a thousand years. These churches are the setting for the Romanesque Summer, a lovely music festival. Cologne's greatest festival is the carnival season, which lasts for 11 days from November 11 to Ash Wednesday. During these 11 days, normal life comes to a standstill as a giant, city-wide party gets underway. Presided by the mad trio of the virgin, the prince and the farmer, the street carnival, kicks off at the Alter Markt. For the rest of the year, you can get a taste of Cologne's bonhomie at any of the bars around Alter Markt and Heumarkt square. Full of large brewery-taverns, you can savour the different varieties of Cologne's signature beer.
Cologne's chocolate museum is a one-of-a-kind, unique space. Lying next to the Rheinau harbor, in front of the old town and near the Cologne Cathedral, the museum's 2,000 exhibits tell a story of chocolates, spanning some 3,000 years. A highlight here is the chocolate production area which also houses the confectionary and the Chocolate Studio where you can watch chocolatiers preparing some of the best chocolates in the world. You can also enroll for a chocolate workshop. You just cannot miss the chocolate fountain at the entrance You should also check out the Ludwig Museum nearby for some contemporary and modern art masterpieces. Finally, if you want to relax, head for the huge Rhine Park in the heart of the city, often voted as Germany's beautiful park.
The capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in south-west Germany, visiting Stuttgart is something of a Holy Grail for car enthusiasts. Dating back to the 10th century, Stuttgart is certainly a very old city, but it is primarily known for its automotive industry, as both Porsche and Mercedes-Benz are from here. So, the first thing that you should do is to hop over to the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Museums. The former is 9 floors of automotive fantasy. No less than 1,500 of Diamler-Benz most iconic cars are displayed here. Divided into the Legend rooms and the Collection rooms, the exhibits trace the history of over 125 years of the carmaker, the two-hour tour begins at the top floor, from where you wind your way down the levels, absorbing the history, and more fascinatingly, viewing some legendary cars in the Collection Rooms. The Porsche Museum is housed in a futuristic-looking building, and the exhibits are themed around the central tenets of the brand. The tours take you deep into the heart of the cutting-edge engineering and beautiful designs that have always been a hallmark of Porsche, apart from a crash-course on the life of founder Ferdinand Porsche. Every year, in March, the city plays host to the internationally famous Retro-Classics, a motor show.
The city is in the centre of Germany's largest wine-growing region, and you will find plenty of culinary delights and excellent wines on offer at the restaurants. You can also go for a wine tour outside the city, especially the Neckar Valley. The Stuttgart Wine Festival promotes the local Swabian lifestyle and culture, along with generous amounts of wine and local delicacies like the ravioli, cheese noodles, and sweet bread puddings. It is held from end-August to early-September. Check out the New Palace at the Schlossplatz square, and get an in-depth view of history at the museum in the beautiful Old Palace. Catch a musical performance at the SI-Centrum Entertainment Complex, do some world-class shopping at Konigstrasse and Calwerstrasse and drop in at the huge botanical garden and zoo at the Wilhelma Gardens.
Known for its football culture apart from art, leisure and industry, this city in west Germany is also called the City of Thousand Fires, reminiscent of the mines and blast furnaces that dotted the region. Post 1960s, when the industrial landscape began to change, the city turned its mines into recretional zones or cultural sites while the old railway tracks were developed into cycling routes. Some of the popular attractions of the city include the music theatre Musiktheater im Revier, the Church of the Holy Cross, and the ZOOM Erlebniswelt, a modern zoological garden.
Located in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia, this essentially industrial city is also big on football craze. It is said that the south stand of the Signal Iduna Park, locally called the Yellow Wall, with its 35,000 seats is the largest standing-room stand in Europe. If you are a football enthusiast, a visit to the German Football Museum is a must. Another must see here is the Dortmunder U, with its iconic signage. Once a fermentation and storage cellar, it has now been developed into a center of art and creativity. Other interesting sites include the LWL Industrial Museum, the Hansa Coking Plant with its adventure trail, the Skywalk Phoenix West, etc. Visit the rainbow bridge on the A40 motorway in Dortmund-Dorstfeld at night when the stucture is lit up in myriad colours - photo op you cannot miss.
