Some of the best cities in Germany for a short break
Germany is full of incredible cities to visit on a short break.
There are medieval old towns crammed with historic landmarks, impressive architecture, and first-class museums. You’ll also find plenty of beautiful open spaces and outdoor activities, including the chance to sail down rivers and ride on a unique hanging monorail train!
This guide provides information on the top attractions and best things to do in some of Germany’s best cities.
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Top cities in Germany to visit
Berlin
Berlin, the capital of Germany and the biggest city in the country, is a vibrant city with something to offer everyone. Unsurprisingly, it’s one of the best cities in Germany to visit.
Top of the sights to see when you visit is the famous Brandenburg Gate in Pariser Platz. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 at the end of the Cold War, it became a symbol of a reunified Germany.
The gate is a short walk from the River Spree and the Reichstag building, the seat of the German Parliament. You can go up to the observation deck in the Reichstag Building for panoramic views across the city.
On a fine day, take a walk around the Tiergarten, the city’s largest park. You’ll see the 18th century Presidential Palace and can pop in and see the animals in Germany’s oldest zoo.
Berlin also has an incredible number of museums to visit. There are five world-class museums dedicated to art and antiquities on ‘Museum Island’, a UNESCO World Heritage site that sits in the middle of the river, plus the Jewish Museum, and the Wall Museum near to Checkpoint Charlie.
You can also learn more about the Berlin Wall and see some street art in the East Side Gallery.
Other things to do in Germany’s capital include seeing Checkpoint Charlie, a former Berlin Wall border crossing, taking a boat trip along the River Spree, and looking out at the spectacular views across the city from the 203 metre high observation deck in the Berliner Fernsehturm (Berlin TV Tower).
See my post on the top things to do in Berlin for more information.
Hamburg
As Germany’s second-largest city after the capital Berlin, and the country’s biggest port, Hamburg is a fascinating place to explore in northern Germany. With its rich maritime history, superb art scene and museums, and its diverse neighbourhoods, Hamburg has something to offer everyone.
Water is a significant feature in the city centre. Besides two massive lakes, Hamburg is shaped by three rivers, including the mighty Elbe that flows into the North Sea. There are also canals, making boat trips a must.
The city’s central neighbourhoods include the adjoining old town (Altstadt) and new town (Neustadt), and St Georg. The Alstadt is home to Hamburg’s beautiful Rathaus (town hall) and the radically different but equally unique Chilehaus. The features an angled roof resembling an ocean liner’s prow.
This neighbourhood is also home to a rich collection of top-notch museums, including the Hamburger Kunsthalle, and the Chocolate Museum.
In the Neustadt, one of the main sights is the magnificent Baroque church St. Michela’s Church (‘Michel’ ). This provides visitors who ascend its tower with amazing views of the cityscape.
In terms of museums, given that this north German city’s history was shaped by the sea, one museum that is highly recommended is the International Maritime Museum. It is housed in the oldest remaining warehouse in the city.
For visitors looking to indulge in a bit of rock and roll history, especially where The Beatles played extensively before finding international fame, head to the St Pauli neighbourhood where you can book a Beatles tour.
St Pauli also contains attractive leafy streets showcasing great bars and cafes, as well as views of the River Elbe.
There’s so much to see on a short break in Hamburg. Because of the city’s large size, the best way to get around might be to book a Hamburg city tour, especially if your time is limited.
Cologne
Cologne, Germany’s fourth largest city, is also among the best cities in Germany for a short break. Located close to the border with Belgium and the Netherlands and along the Rhine River, it also provides an excellent base for exploring other cities nearby.
Despite significant damage during the Second World War, much of the city’s rich history has been carefully preserved, and notable buildings have been restored. You can see many of these in the old town.
They include the Old City Hall (Altes Rathaus), many of the city’s distinctive Romanesque churches, and the Fischmarkt (fish market) with its row of brightly coloured buildings dating back to the Middle Ages.
There are also lots of museums to visit. And as you’d expect, a museum dedicated to the history and invention of Eau de Cologne perfume.
However, perhaps the most significant sight to visit on a trip here is the city’s iconic twined-tower Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom).
This miraculously survived the devastation of the Second World War and is the country’s largest cathedral, the world’s third-largest Gothic cathedral, and the site of one of the country’s best Christmas markets. You can climb its South Tower to get some of the city’s best views.
After this, you should walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge to see one of the city’s most photographed cityscapes. The steel bridge is covered with love locks, and once you’ve walked across it, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of Cologne’s skyline.
Munich
The Bavarian city, Munich (Munchen), in the south east of the country, is another popular tourist destination. It is home to historic buildings, excellent museums, spacious parks and gardens, and impressive palaces.
And if you’re partial to a German beer or two, you’ll find plenty of options here in the city’s numerous beer halls (not to mention the annual Oktoberfest, which is held in the city).
Head to Marienplatz Square in the old town. This square is home to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the massive neo-gothic Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall).
The Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) is also in the square. It is smaller and more modest in design than its newer counterpart and houses a toy museum.
Near the Marienplatz Square is The Residenz. This houses a museum, Treasury, and theatre, and was once a royal palace. On the other side is the 15th century Frauenkirche Church with its two domed towers, one of which you can climb.
To get some fresh air, head to the English Garden. At over 370 hectares, this is the largest public park in Munich.
Within its borders, there is a monopteros, a neoclassical temple, and a Chinese Tower/pagoda with a beer garden next to it. The garden also has a lake and river. You can hire a boat or stop and watch some river surfing.
On the city’s outskirts, you can visit the Nymphenburg Palace, a beautiful baroque palace that was built in the 17th century. There are several museums here and extensive grounds to wander around. As you do this, you’ll see an array of pretty pavilions, lakes, and a canal where you can ride on a gondola.
The city also has a botanical garden, a zoo, and a range of museums to cater to various interests (including science and technology, toys, and BMW cars).
See my fuller post on 2 days in Munich here. It’s a great place to visit and definitely one of the top cities in Germany for your vacation.
Frankfurt
Frankfurt is Germany’s fifth-largest city. It is in the central, western half of Germany and lies along the Main River which flows through the city.
The city’s location makes it ideal for a day trip to nearby places, including the beautiful university town of Heidelberg with Heidelberg Castle on the hill, and Cologne, with its magnificent cathedral.
In Frankfurt itself, there’s lots to do, as my separate post sets out.
Among the top places to visit is the new old town. This is a reconstruction of the buildings that were destroyed as part of the extensive bombing during the Second World War. It is a small area that centres on Romerberg, a lively place with the City Hall on one side and the eye-catching Old St. Nicholas Church on another.
Nearby is Frankfurt Cathedral. This impressive Gothic church was built in the 14th century and, miraculously, largely survived the bombing that destroyed much of the city. You can climb the Cathedral Tower and look out over the area.
A top attraction in Frankfurt is the Goethe House. This is a small historic building where the German poet and writer was born in the mid 18th century and spent his youth.
You can explore the building where the rooms have been painstakingly reconstructed to represent the time when Goethe lived there. You can then go into the small art museum – the Deustches Romantik-Museum – which is included in your ticket for Goethe’s House.
For more views of the city, head to the Main Tower. This modern skyscraper with a 200-metre high observation deck bills itself as “Frankfurt’s highest vantage point”.
Also wander along the banks of the Main River and along Museum Embankment (Museumsufer), so called because of the large number of museums located here and close by. You can admire the mix of old and modern architecture, and jump on a boat and sail along the river.
Nuremberg
Nuremberg (or Nurnberg) is in Bavaria in southern Germany, just over an hour north of Munich by train.
One of the best ways to explore the city is by walking through its charming old town. Although the city was largely flattened by Allied bombing, there are still many quaint parts to explore and a river to walk along. There are narrow streets filled with well-preserved medieval half-timbered houses, historic churches, and a castle.
The main market square – the Hauptmarkt – is home to the 14th century Frauenkirche gothic church and the Schoner Brunnen fountain, a large ornate 14th-century gothic fountain. It also hosts the Christmas market during the festive season: this is said to be one of the oldest and most popular in Germany.
Near the main square is the Rathaus, the city’s town hall, as well as the St. Lorenz Church. The church has two towers that are around 80 metres high. You can climb up these for wonderful views across the city.
Other things to do in Nuremberg is to walk up to the Imperial Castle of Nuremberg, a medieval fortress that served as a residence and visiting place for emperors during the Holy Roman Empire. You can also visit the house of Albrecht Durer, who is regarded as one of the most important artists of the Renaissance. The attractive half-timbered house dates back to 1509.
Nuremberg also has numerous museums to visit. You can learn about German culture at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, view contemporary art in the Neues Museum, and learn more about the Nuremberg Trials in the Palace of Justice.
For more information, check out my post on the 19 top things to do in Nuremberg.
Dresden
This east German centre of cultural and historic significance is another must-visit destination.
This beautiful city was painstakingly reconstructed after the city was levelled in the closing stages of the Second World War. Often dubbed the ‘Florence of the north’, it has a skyline along the River Elbe that includes the majestic Frauenkirche, a domed church in the old town that you can climb for incredible city views.
The old town also houses several other impressive sights. There’s the charming Neumarkt Square, the 18th century Zwinger Palace (with the Old Masters Picture Gallery and the Museum of Mathematics and Physics), and the Royal Palace/Dresden Castle (also with some art museums within it).
The old town is also home to a fabulous opera house, the Semper Opera House, as well as the Neo-Renaisance Academy of Arts.
If you cross the river to the new town (Neustadt) on the north bank, there are more city attractions to explore. The impressive Japanese Palace is here with the Ethnological Museum, as well as the Military History museum.
For some retail therapy, you can pop into the Market Hall. And for those who prefer to chill out, the city is home to a massive green space called the Grand Garden (Gross Garten).
Dating from the 17th century, there’s a Baroque palace here, and Dresden Zoo and botanical garden. In the warmer months you can also jump on the miniature railway and ride around the park.
You should also consider boat tours on the Elbe River. This is a great way to view some of the sights in the city.
Wuppertal
One of the most unique places you should put on your list of German cities to visit is Wuppertal.
It might not appear on many lists of the best cities in Germany to visit, but train lovers, in particular, will love it here. The city is unlike anywhere else in the world because it is home to a fascinating suspension monorail service that is one of a kind (a sort of hanging train): the Schwebebahn.
The monorail network covers 13.3 kilometres and features 20 suspension railway stations. The entire journey from one end to the other takes about 30 minutes.
If you want to spend some time in central Wuppertal, there are a few notable sites and interesting things worth seeing, including the Von Der Heydt Museum. This museum has paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet.
You should also spend a little time wandering around the main market square (Laurentiusplatz) in the Elberfeld district and its two main streets, Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse and Luisenstrasse.
However, the main attraction is undoubtedly the monorail. You can have lots of fun travelling on this driverless two-carriage train suspended from the rail, and which largely follows the contours of the Wupper River.
Very close to Wuppertal Barmen train station, you can also visit philosopher Frederick Engel’s house. There are also lots of other attractions located along the monorail’s route.
Bonn
Classical music lovers and Cold War enthusiasts should consider a visit to Bonn, the capital of the former West Germany. It’s another great place for a short break.
The city is relatively small and looks like it emerged more unscathed from the Second World War than many other German cities. You’ll find some attractive period buildings in the city centre, including the beautiful university, the old town hall (Rathaus), and the stunning cathedral (Munster). You can see these on a trip around the city on its hop on hop off bus.
While here, you can explore the birthplace of renowned composer Beethoven. This is a must visit attraction in Bonn. You can also walk around the “Federal Quarter”. Here you’ll see the former seat of the West German Parliament during the Cold War years.
Bonn is located on the same side of the River Rhine as Cologne but is further south. You can therefore also book river cruises here. This tour sails for 1.5 hours down the river to the village of Konigswinter while this one goes to the pretty town of Linz.
The best cities in Germany to visit
I hope you enjoy your trip, and that this guide to some of the best cities in Germany has been useful. For more ideas for short breaks in Europe, see my website.
