Germany Tourism
Germany is the seventh most visited country in the world and is rated as one of the safest travel destinations worldwide.
The top 10 places to visit in Germany are :
1.Berlin, the city of cool
Exciting and vibrant, Berlin is the capital of Germany and the centre for all that is hip in art, fashion, music and design, with amazing architecture, art galleries, museums and nightlife.
2. A walk in the Black Forest
Bordering the Rhine to the west and undulating farmland to the east, the Black Forest region covers 11,000 square kilometres of peaks and valleys, vineyards, nature reserves to explore on foot, bike or horseback.
3. Heidelburg castle and Old Town Bridge
Built as a fortress around 1300, it grew to symbolise power of the Electors, whose statues appear on the façade of the Freidrich building.
4. Cologne -- much more than its world-famous cathedral
The city has major museums, theatres and loads of great restaurants and bars. Check out those around Alter Markt and Heumarkt squares and brewery taverns in the old quarter, where waiters will refill your glass with kölsch beer until you put a beer mat over the top to say 'no more'. Germany's carnival capital has a 'fifth season' of celebrations lasting from November through to Lent. Sweet-toothed visitors will love the Chocolate Museum with 2000 exhibits - including a 3-metre high chocolate fountain into which you can dip a waffle -- covering 3000 years of chocolate history.
5. Neuschwanstein castle
It was built by 'Mad' King Ludwig II in the 19th century as a retreat to which he could escape after losing the throne of Bavaria. He lived as a recluse in a fantasy world of myths and legends, in his magnificent castle with its golden double height, galleried throne room, Hall of the Holy Grail, swan-shaped taps and grotto.
6. Bayreuth, its festival and opera house
Every year Bayreuth hosts the world-famous Richard Wagner Festival -- and in 2013, the festival will be bigger and better than ever, as it's the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth. There will be new productions, big screens and eight major concerts from world-class musicians.
7. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley
Lined with castles, palaces and vineyards, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage site status -- and no wonder.
8. Munich: culture and beer
Every Autumn, the world's biggest beer festival, the Oktoberfest, takes place here, with oompah bands and beer from the barrel (wearing leiderhosen is not obligatory!). The Marienplatz, where you'll find the Town Hall, and St Mary's Column, makes a great base to explore the city.
9. Lake Constance - a lake with a view
While the lake shares its borders with Switzerland and Austria, more than half of the 270m shoreline is in Germany. You can sail, windsurf, canoe, swim or paddle from one of the many sand and pebble beaches or take a boat out to one of the lake's three islands.
10. The exhilarating Mount Zugspitze
Enjoy unforgettable experiences up high on the roof of Germany. With an altitude of close to 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), Zugspitze isn't just the highest peak in Germany. It also boasts the highest ski area with 22 kilometers (15 miles) of perfectly groomed runs with reliable snow cover, plus Germany's only glacier -- guaranteed natural snow.