GERMANY
Germany, situated at the heart of Europe, has been the fountainhead of many ideas, people and movements throughout the ages. A trip through Germany leaves one with an overwhelming sense of history reconciled with imminent modernity. From the businesslike atmosphere of Frankfurt to the streets of Hamburg, feel the charming flamboyancy of Munich or walk through the historic treasures of Berlin, go back in time through castles of Heidelberg or go wine tasting in the vineyards of the Rhine Valley. Or simply relax in a mountainside inn in the Bavarian Alps and breathe in the crisp air and savor the scenery.
The possibilities are as variegated as the nation itself.
Capital : Berlin
Best time to Visit :
- From May to October, Germany’s weather with temperatures hovering in the 20-30 degree C range makes it a good time to visit.
- If you are keen on winter sports then do visit in the winter as the slopes of the Bavarian Alps are perfect for skiing and other winter sports.
- Germany celebrates its festivals with gusto and in early spring they celebrate the Fasching Carnival and as the summer season sets in the beer gardens are back in business.
- Just before that at the end of February the Berlin International Film Festival draws in many visitors, as does the Munich Oktoberfest held in late September and early October.
Min Days Required : 9 days
Places of Interest :
- Berlin – Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate , Berlin Zoological Garden, The Fernsehturm, The Reichstag building, Alexanderplatz
- Cologne- Cologne Cathedral, Museum Ludwig, Bleibtreusee, Cologne Opera
- Frankfurt – Frankfurt zoological garden, Main tower, The Palmengarten, Alte Oper , The Naturmuseum Senckenberg, St Paul’s Church, St. Michael’s Church
- Hamburg – Heide Park, The Reeperbahn, The Tierpark Hagenbeck,, St. Michael’s Church, The Hamburg Rathaus
- Munich – Neuschwanstein Castle, The Deutsches Museum, Hellabrunn Zoo, The Nymphenburg Palace.
- Dusseldorf – The Königsallee , The Mitsubishi Electric Halle, The Museum Kunstpalast, Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Lochbach , The Rheinturm
- The Black Forest – Home of the cuckoo clock, the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) gets its name from its dark, slightly sinister canopy of evergreens: this is where Hansel and Gretel encountered the wicked witch. The vast expanse of hills, valleys, rivers and forests stretch from the swish spa town of Baden-Baden to the Swiss border, and from the Rhine almost to Lake Constance.
Climate :
- The moderate climate of Germany, with cool winters and warm summers, make practically any time of the year a favorable one for visiting.
- Rhineland is somewhat more humid and warmer during both seasons. The tourist season runs from May to October when the weather is at it’s best.
- If you are keen on winter sports then visit the Bavarian Alps December through March. Average temperatures during the winter months vary from 2°C to –5°C, while summer swings between the reliable estimate of 13 and 23°C degrees.
Currency : Euro
Things to Carry :
- When packing for Germany make sure you pack appropriately depending on what region you’ll be visiting.
- The climate can be drastically different from place to place so ensure you’re carrying a thick jacket too. For winter months carry heavy woollens, mufflers and gloves, everything you think you’ll need to keep warm when outdoors.
- Comfortable walking shoes and rain protection gear should be enough preparation for a comfortable trip to Germany.
How to get there :
Air :
- The most important airports are Frankfurt, Munich Cologne , Hamburg , and Stuttgart , serve some international flights as well. Frankfurt is Germany’s main hub – one of Europe’s four major hubs – and the destination of most intercontinental flights. Munich is a growing secondary hub.
- Travellers can easily fly in from most places of the world and then connect with Germany’s biggest and most respected airline Lufthansa, which is a member of the Star Alliance. Germany’s second largest airline is Air Berlin, a member of the One world airline alliance, which also serves lots of destinations throughout Germany and Europe (and some worldwide) from several airports.