Germany suffered immense losses during the 2 world wars but rebuilt itself to become one of the most industrialised and prosperous country in the world. Germany is among the top 10 tourist destination in the world. Not a very big country by size, it is very easy to commute within Germany given its excellent transport network. History, culture and natural beauty are the 3 reasons normally highlighted by visitors to Germany. Being a high income income country, the cost for an average tourist is also on the higher side but one can’t really crib given the excellent facilities on offer.
When I first visited Germany over 20 years ago, finding vegetarian food was a challenge, but the situation has thankfully eased over the years. Similarly, I never faced a problem not knowing German language.
So far, I have visited Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Cologne Cathedral, Rhine valley near Rüdesheim, Munich, Regensburg, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and driven through Black Forest area. Berlin still remains on my bucket list.
Frankfurt has a population of less than 1 million and is more associated with business travellers than tourists. While there is hardly any ‘must see’ sight in Frankfurt, the city is ideally placed for short trips to Heidelberg, Black forest area and Rhine valley.
Rhine Valley is must see place in Germany. Several options are available to visit this UNESCO heritage site.
Black forest area
The Black Forest is a mountainous region southwest of Germany, bordering France. Famous for its dense forests, thermal spas, cuckoo clocks(in production since ~1700 CE) and black forest cherry cake.
I only passed through Black Forest on way from Switzerland to Heidelberg but whatever I saw was impressive. Watched how cuckoo clocks are made manually and purchased one in Drubba, located on the banks of Lake Titisee and rated as one of the top places in Germany to buy Cuckoo clocks. The clocks are available in different sizes to suit every pocket.
If you are only looking for a feel of the Black Forest and maybe to buy a cuckoo clock from the shops that make it, a day trip from Frankfurt will be good enough(though the day trip will not cover Lake Titisee but take you to Lake Mummelsee). But the area perhaps deserves more than a day and it is better to stay within the forest area or close by towns such as Strasbourg or Baden Baden from where Friedburg is only an hour away.
Munich, or München as it is called locally, is famous today for the annual Oktoberfest and its numerous biergarten or beer gardens, including the famed Hofbräuhaus, founded in 1589. Like several other German cities and towns, Munich too was heavily bombed during World War II but was meticulously rebuilt thereafter.
Germany is a great destination for travellers like me looking for well preserved, beautiful but small medieval towns. Regensburg as a town is over 2000 years old. I read that some of the houses and buildings standing today are 800+ years old!
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is essentially a ski destination in winters, and a hiking destination in other seasons. Once 2 separate towns, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is like many other German towns – beautifully painted houses and tons of restaurants. The outdoor scenery is superb.