Stretching from the Alps to the Baltic and North Seas, Germany makes for inspiring, fascinating and invigorating travel. Spend one day exploring half-timbered medieval towns and spectacular baroque palaces in Bavaria, and the next immersing yourself in fast-paced cosmopolitan cities. Metropolises such as Berlin provide a world of variety, with renowned historic attractions Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin wall right next to the top techno clubs on earth. Art and design explode in continual evolution, with Weimar providing the mecca for fans of Goethe, Schiller, and the Bauhaus Movement, and forward-thinking galleries dotted all over the country. Nature lovers have a paradise to explore, including pristine Alpine pistes, huge glimmering lakes, and thousands of miles of dense forest dotted with curative thermal springs. Culinary enthusiasts will delight in Germany's world-famous beer, sausage, and 'stollen'.
Resting on the southern point of the Jutland Peninsula, the historic port city of Hamburg certainly lives up to its reputation as Germany's 'gateway to the world'. It is both the country's largest port and the second-busiest in Europe, despite being located astride the River Elbe, some 100 kilometres from the North Sea. Hamburg's maritime spirit infuses the entire city; from architecture to menus to the cry of gulls, travellers always know they're near the water. Spend the day sampling some delicious local food served in a diverse range of fine restaurants, party all night at one of the trendy upmarket nightclubs, or enjoy a relaxing picnic on the banks of the lovely inner-city lakes. With its abundance of renowned museums and art galleries, its astonishing variety of luxurious theatres, excellent music venues and a world-class ballet company, Hamburg has more than enough cultural interest to keep even the most avid culture enthusiast blissfully engaged.
