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 eastern edge of the Kiel Canal is the vibrant university town of Kiel, the capital of the state of Schleswig-Holstein and the northernmost town in Germany. Due to its convenient placement on the Kiel Fjord and the periphery of one of the busiest artificial waterways in the world, this proud maritime city is historically significant as a base for the German Navy and a world-class commercial harbour. It is also the famous starting point of the world’s biggest sailing event, Kieler Woche. Take a stroll along the busy Kiellinie promenade and dine at the restaurants while observing the passing cruise ships and sailboats. Other highlights include the beautiful Church of Saint Nicholas, Laboe Naval Memorial, German Submarine U-995, Kiel Maritime Museum Fish Market & Museum Bridge, and the 106-metre high Rathausturm.
Resting on the Baltic Sea Coast about ten kilometres northeast of Kiel, Laboe is a historic naval base and harbour with some wonderfully attractive features. The town is best known for its Naval Memorial, a 72-metre-high tower, featuring an observation deck, which honors sailors who lost their lives at sea. The U-boat U-995 does so similarly. Thrill-seekers can take speed boat rides out on the water, while those in pursuit of more leisurely activities can watch them from the Buena Vista Club, cocktail in hand. Learn all about local marine life at the Meeresbiologische Station Laboe.
Nestled in the innermost pocket of Schleswig-Holstein’s Flensburg Fjord, in the Schleswig-Holstein state of Germany, Flensburg presents its guests with a unique and alluring variety. This port city is a wonderful place for boaters and yachters to pull in, with its colourful, historic harbour offering fantastic photographic opportunities from the sea. Heritage buildings adorn the landscape, dotted with charming old-world taverns serving up the town’s renowned rum - a tradition begun in the 1700s. The Flensburg Fjord is the perfect place to learn how to sail, windsurf, kitesurf, waterski, canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard. See breathtaking art and luxurious interiors of days gone by at the graceful Museumsberg Flensburg, or enjoy a multi-sensory science experience at the Phenomenta. Shop where the locals did hundreds of years ago along the Rote Strasse.
