Being the largest fort in Germany, Festung Ehrenbreitstein is a 400 feet building on the bank of river Rhine, from where it provides a picturesque beauty of the meeting point of the Mosel and the Rhine River. Considered to be one of the oldest buildings in Germany, one part of it was constructed in the 12^th century and the rest of the bulk was completed in the 16^th century. Though partially destroyed by Nepoleon Bonaparte, during the French invasion, it was restored at a latter stage. One of the most significant things to see in the Festung Ehrenbreitstein is the Vogel Grief Cannon, which was taken by the French in 1794. Following which, it was taken back by the Germans in 1940. It was finally restored to the German Government by the French President François Mitterrand in 1984. The cannon is now a part of the Landes museum that is located within the fortress premises.

History

Initially named the Burg Ehrenbreitstein, the Archbishops expanded it with a supporting castle, named ‘Burg Helferstein’ and secured the holy tunic from 1657 to 1794. The strategic location of the fortress allowed the archbishops to barter between the contending powers of France and Germany, especially during the war between the two in 1672. The archbishop refused the passage of troops from both sides during that war. The fortress, however, was conquered by the French after much difficulty. However, during the treaty of Luneville, they were forced to withdraw from the fortress, but left no chance of possible attack from their enemies by almost dismantling the entire fortress.

After Napoleon’s defeat and that of Congress of Vienna in 1815, the fortress became a Prussian province and a military property because of its close proximity to France. During the World War I, the fortress was basically used as a military headquarter and was restored following the World War I.

How to reach the Festung Ehrenbreitstein?

One could avail the Seilbahn, which is a brand new network of trains in the country launched in 2011, to reach the Ehrenbreitstein.  The fortress is located in Koblenz.

Entry Fees and Opening Hours

The museum and the fort premises are open on all days from 10 to 5. There are many packages that can be availed. Some of the options include ground tours (costing €1.10 to €2.10), while combined tickets cost €4. The best time to visit the fortress is mid-March and mid-November. One of the chief travel attractions in Germany, the Festung Ehrenbreitstein is something that should not be missed at any cost as this could be a window to the past of Germany.

Leipzig Zoo: Prime exhibits

Leipzig Zoo is known as zoo of the future because here the zoo authority has placed maximum stress on the wild animal friendly environment where the animals feel free even in the captivity and can breed peacefully. The visitors can watch the animals not only as a mere exhibit but as part of nature as they are kept at the most  best possible natural environment preferred by their free habitants in forest. The awareness for the natural surroundings of the zoo management has created some special adventure safari here like “Pongoland”, biggest zoo arrangement for anthropoids; the sloth bear gorge, “Makasi Simba the savannah of lions; Taiga of Tigers, the mystic aquarium, etc are amazing and will keep any of the visitors amazed and astounded and add a new approach to travel to Germany tour plans.

Leipzig Zoo: the giant aquarium

The aquarium in the zoo premise is one of the prime exhibits of Leipzig zoo and a major object of Germany tourism on aquamarine life. The aquarium was built in 1910, today displays landscaped exhibits and an extraordinary ring like tank for different species of sharks. The terrarium of the aquarium has just been extended. The Aquarium looks gigantic with massive view of other sea water fish swimming nearly without having any frontier for the visitors as it is seen in natural set up. The ring is so big it’s not possible to take a complete picture of the same at one stretch.

Leipzig Zoo: the unique parking lot

Apart from innumerable exhibits of the zoo, the parking area deserves special mention because it is also one of the biggest parking areas of the Germany zoo parks and great support for holiday Germany by car programs. Like the inside ambience the parking lots is also made with an eye on attractive get up and 100% utility. Matching with the wild surrounding of the zoo ambience, the parking lot is made of bamboo façade. This parking lot is wrapped with bamboo sticks and it works as an organic fencing as well as a wonderful decoration. The area has five levels and it can accommodate 527 parking provisions. The parking lot has added extended beauty and visitor’s  travel to Germany convenience to a large extent and a new dimension of eco-friendly Germany Tourism.

During Second World War, the Green Vault got completely destroyed, but it was made completely new later on. Nowadays the exhibits are categorized in two parts, one is the treasures in historic treasure chamber [of 1733 era], and the other is an individual object placed in the neutral room. The Green Vault in now a body of Dresden State Art Collections. Those who want to spend time enjoying history during a holiday in Germany, the thrill must not exclude the visit to Green Vault by any means. It will be a memory for life time for travel to Germany.

The entire collection of Green Vault is consisted of 4000 pieces. Out of the entire range almost 1,100 pieces are considered as New Green Vault items and 300 pieces are considered as original historic green vault items. The Historic green vault in situated on the first floor of the castle Dresden the new Green Vault is kept on the second floor. Both the floors are quite vast in area and comprising of around 2000 square meter.

Visitors travel to Germany to watch the splendor of the Green Vault. One has to purchase tickets for entering at Historic Green Vault for a particular time slot. Each day a limited numbers of tickets are sold in morning however, New Green Vault is a free admission zone and visitors can visit the area any time during working hours of the museum.

The exhibits of this museum deserve special mention. One of the most significant statues in the collected works is Moor with Emerald Cluster; the statue is small in height [63.8 cm] but absolutely decorated with rare jewels.

In addition to this there are Jewel Garnitures, which is one of the largest collections of priceless jewels inEurope. These jewels stand as apostle of monarchial power of contemporary kings. Saxon white is a cushion shaped white diamond, a 648 carat sapphire presented by Czar of Peter 1 of Russia.

The Green Vault museum allows 100 people in a batch to see the artifacts, however as these priceless pieces are not kept inside glass, the internal security is very strict and visitors have to comply with lot many rules and regulation for supporting safety and security of the place.

One can board the train in Grainau, Eibsee, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen and reach the Schneeferner glacier quite comfortably. If you want to reach the summit, you can take the cable car to reach it in a matter of minutes and once at the summit, you can simply enjoy the view. One can see hundreds of peaks from the summit which is almost a thousand feet above the sea level.  One can see mountain peaks of not just Germany, but of Switzerland, Italy and Australia as well. One can head towards the summit lodge and enjoy the scenery of over twenty mountain panoramas from Germany’s highest beer garden, Gipfelalm.  The four telescopes on the peak can be used to get a closer look at the mountain summits.

Many activities at Zugspitze include a glacier hiking trail but the trail is not always open. It takes one across the Zugspitze glacier and then to the viewing platform at Windloch, the hike across the glacier takes around half an hour. One can also take a short walk to the Karst cave which allows one a glimpse of the interior of Zugspitze. The Karst caves are not open always but if the weather is good then one can see panoramic view till Italy across Austria. If you are travelling with children and the elderly take SonnAlpin loop trail, it allows one to see the surrounding mountains in fifteen minutes to half an hour. One can also have their meal at the SonnAlpin Glacier restaurant, one enjoy great view along with the great mountain scenery at the restaurant.

At the Alpspitze peak base, one will find the Alpspitze viewing platform which is a piece of astounding architecture floating over an empty space of thirteen feet. It gives an amazing view of the Zugspitze peak as well as other sights. The base of the peak is easy to reach and one can get a fantastic view of the mountains from the viewing platform which almost hangs in midair.

Rural tourism is becoming an increasingly popular aspect of Germanytourism and one can experience a wonderful time in the country thanks to united associations of farms and farmhouses. The holiday and leisure time in the countryside association is a conglomeration of around four hundred farms and one can enjoy unspoilt nature at a fair price. This association makes it easy for a tourist to get experience a countryside holiday as they offer a rather comprehensive list of services. It would be fairly difficult to negotiate with farm owners on one’s own especially if one does not speak the same dialect as the farm owners which tourists rarely do.

One can opt for fairly unique accommodation during their stay in the countryside – hay hotels. Hay accommodations are offered by few farmhouses and not all but it surely provides a rather interesting experience. However, hay accommodations are not offered throughout the year but only from the month of May to October. Sleeping in the barns provides the ultimate rustic experience, especially for families with kids. Kids usually have a great time and loads of fun at a barn since it’s almost like a storybook experience for them, just make sure that they do not have hay allergy. The barns often provide toilets as well as showers.

If you want a hay accommodation, do book at least a week or two in advance, especially if you are travelling in groups. If you plan to stay in a barn do remember to carry a sleeping bag as well as other essentials like torch and weather-proof especially rain-proof clothing. After having a great night’s sleep in a barn, one can have a fresh and hearty countryside breakfast before going out to ride horses or simply walk and enjoy acres and acres of greenery.

One is most likely to have a good gastronomic experience at Niedersachsen as culinary delicacies are given great importance in the region. One can get fresh delicious asparagus as well as Bregenwurst among other local favorites. The freshest of ingredients are used for cooking a delicious meal and if you like what you eat, you can even take cooking lessons.

Choose an experience that is best for you
Whether you want to relax on a beach in Barbados or explore the romantic city of Venice, by selecting a holiday based what you want to do, you will be getting the most out of your time. If you prefer fine entertainment and sea journeys then a cruise will provide you with a rejuvenating and joyful experience. On the other hand, if you prefer to unwind and recuperate from the stresses of day-to-day life for a couple of weeks, a spa holiday is an ideal choice and will leave you fresh and active.

Decide on the best type of resort
Every type of holiday has its own unique benefits so before booking your holiday you should choose a resort that is geared towards the kind of activities you enjoy. If you choose a resort that is aimed at couples or honeymooners, their facilities will be based more on relaxing activities instead of fun things for children to do. Most high-end resorts will not only offer unique spa treatments and excellent restaurants, but a dazzling view that could capture your imagination in such a way that you may never want to leave your room.

Pick a suitable time to travel
For warmer countries, the best times to travel may be throughout the whole year, so booking during the summer periods may not be necessary. In hotter climates around the world, taking a holiday from January through to April is better because it is drier and less humid and would provide better relaxation time on the beach and whilst you’re out exploring your surroundings.

Get the best out of your budget
Obviously, the more money you put into your holiday the more you will get out from it. Some resorts allow you your own private yacht, butler and personal chef as well as top quality drinks on tap. However, if you’re on a tight budget and have some time to shop around for deals, you may search out luxury holidays with a company offering exclusive discounts. By booking in advance and taking into account the above factors, you’re a step closer to finding your ideal luxury holiday.

If a resort or holiday package doesn’t offer what you want, consider getting a tailor made holiday through The Ultimate Travel Company.

Berlin Travel Guide – Lonely Planet
If you’re going to Berlin, this app will help you make the most of your trip. It works offline, so you can avoid costly data roaming charges. It uses your GPS to track your location and give you directions to your destination. It also suggest nearby attractions and places of interest. You can find hundreds of recommendations on restaurants, nightlife, shopping, museums, hotels, and more, with traveler reviews, price range, and directions. You can filter attractions by your personal interests, and you can read historic background information, get practical information such as how to find a doctor if you need one, and read all about different neighborhoods and popular attractions. This app costs $5.99.

Lonely Planet Munich City Guide
This app from Lonely Planet has all the same great features as the Berlin Travel Guide, but for the beautiful and historic city of Munich. If you’re traveling to Munich, this app will help you locate all the best places of interest and let you find your way around with ease. It also costs $5.99.

Berlin Travel Guide – mTrip
This app is another great tool for your visit to the city of Berlin. It works completely offline, and it contains thousands of attraction reviews by other travelers and suggestions on places for you to visit. The maps feature will show you the best way to get to your destination, and the augmented reality feature will track the places you visit in real time. One of the great features of this app is the personalized trip itinerary. Before your trip, input the dates of your visit, the kinds of things you like to do, your pace preference, and more, and mTrip will provide you with a customized itinerary that you’ll enjoy. If you’re online, you can share postcards, photographs and a travel journal with your friends and family back home via email or Facecook. This app costs $5.99.

Germany Travel Guide by Triposo
If you want a great travel aide but don’t want to spend any extra cash, you can download this app for free. It collects relevant and current information from a variety of open source websites to help you explore many cities in Germany, including Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, and more. It provides you with user-generated reviews, historic background information, maps, and more. It draws on Wikipedia, Wikitravel, World66, Open Streetmaps, DMOZ, and Chefmoz so you can get complete travel information in one convenient location. This app works offline, too.

SmartGuide Germany
This offline app is a great way to augment your historic tour of Germany. It provides beautiful photographs and compelling audio narration for 13 different attractions and locations around Germany, including the Höchster Schlossplatz castle, Main Market Square, and the Dome St. Peter. If you activate the GPS feature, it will automatically inform you on the history of your current location.

Jess Brown writes about technology, travel and Social Media.  Without her trusty Grammar Checker, she’d really be lost!

Rogacki: If it’s smoked and pickled fish that you are looking for, it’s the Rogacki. Founded in 1928, this store was known for its fish preparations since then. It was very recent that they also included meat on their menu card. Some of the most sought after menus include the prawns from the Indian Ocean. Conger eel, live freshwater trouts to choose from for your own customized menu, along with perches.

Lobsters are a hot favourite among the locals as well as tourists. And the taste enhances when they make it right in front you with the spices that you prefer. Rogacki specialty, however, includes fried and brined herring, also known as Bratherings; pickled herrings rolled around gherkin, which is also known as Rollmops; white gherkins from Spreewald, which are known as Senfgurken. However, the show stopper is the miniature Kiel sprats encased in their skin. Lunch time serves Blutwurst or blood sausage with mashed sauerkraut or Schweinhaxe or roasted pork knuckle, along with potato salad.

Mitte Meer:  Dealing mostly with Italian, French and Spanish cuisines, the store is known for its expansive stock of various kinds of cheese and other ingredients that are essentially used in traditional cuisines, which include freshly extracted olive oil, frozen meats, sardines, swordfish, etc. One can also order for varieties of chorizo, ranging from sweet to spicy.  If you are looking for a variety in cheese, look nowhere else. From parmesan to grana padano, and pecorino, along with the special Mahon cheese made of cow’s milk in Minorca, one can find almost all the special kinds in this shop. Spanish ingredients like the Royal’ branded Crème Caramel powder;   powdered Pimentón de la Vera (smoked paprika). Fresh filled tortellinis, raviolis and gnocchis can also be purchased here.

If street food is not what you are looking for, go to the restaurants that line the Berlin streets. In fact, these are the best places to taste local German dishes. Some of the best restaurants include Lorenz Adlon, Maxwell Restaurant, Gugelhof Restaurant, and Borchardt Restaurant. So be there and enjoy the street food of Germany.

Young couples often have budget restraints but there are ways to enjoy a fabulous honeymoon without burning a hole in the pocket. While planning a honeymoon, pick a place where you would like to spend most of your time and instead of booking a hotel book a holiday accommodation. When booked for a long period of time holiday accommodations in Germany are cheaper as compared to hotel rooms. Also,Germany has an excellent railway system therefore travelling from one place to another should not be very difficult. Accommodations are available with amazing scenery like mountains like the Alps, the Harz or pastures and forests.

Nobody wants to spend a night alone on a bunker on their honeymoon, therefore look for hostels that rent out rooms and not just dormitory beds; rooms in hostels are a lot cheaper as compared to hotels in big cities. The money saved can be used to enjoy spas in Baden-Baden for a luxurious experience. Those who can afford it should not miss out on a romantic River Rhine cruise, it is absolutely stunning but if you do not have time for that, you can also opt for a romantic Berlin cruise. Berlin has a lot to offer and a Berlin boat tour is a wonderful way to have a look at its many attractions in a fun and organized way. While some seasons attract more tourists than other,Germany can be enjoyed irrespective of season as every season has its special offerings.

If you like to drive and visit places, a drive down the romantic route is an absolute must. Many honeymooners travel to Germany for the sheer pleasure of driving down the Romantic Road in the company of their special one and enjoy the fantastic sights on the route. There are many vacation travel deals available for those interested in the ride down Romantic Road but those who like to plan their own vacation can simply hire a car, make their own bookings and enjoy the attractions offered by the Romantic Road. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants along the road but since the romantic road is a very popular tourist attraction it would be best to book in advance.

Those travelling to Germany are sure to spend a considerable part of their time in Berlin. And Berlin provides fairly decent meal time options for vegetarians or Vegans. There are plenty of fast food options for vegetarians in Berlin like take outs which use soy instead of meat and if you don’t mind the calories, it can be pretty good meal. There are some healthy options available as well for vegetarians like delis which offer healthy vegetarian options at reasonable prices. If you want to celebrate in Berlin and would like to go to a nice fancy restaurant for a meal, do not worry there are a few restaurants in Berlin which can cater to your need. A travel guide Germany can be quite helpful in such cases, you can ask about the restaurants vegetarian options before making reservations.

Meals are incomplete without dessert and Berlin offers vegetarian some great options as well like baked goods as well as ice creams. Fika Berlin is a great option for those who want to taste homemade Vegan desserts during their stay in Berlin but it takes place only once a month, usually on the third Sunday of the month.

Vegetarians have a lot of options in Germany today as compared to before, vegetarian tourists complaining of having to live on salads is a thing of the past. It would be smart to carry a dictionary with you if you plan to buy ingredients and cook your own meal. If you plan to eat at restaurants look for the term Vegetarische Gerichte meaning vegetarian dishes on the menu even before entering, many restaurants offering a variety of vegetarian dishes advertise it on placards outside their restaurants as well so just keep your eyes open when you walk the roads. The locals are often the best travel guide to Germanyvegetarian fares. Not only can one hope to get a good meal of fares like soups, vegetarian pizzas and other vegetarian dishes but vegetarian dishes are often less expensive as well as less heavy compared to the meat dishes.

Jena is well known for two of the greatest writers in Germany, Schiller and Goethe. It is also home to the famous optics company Carl Zeiss Optics. Highlights in Jena include the theatre at Kulturhaus as well as Schiller’s garden house and exhibition. The botanic garden in Jena is definitely worth checking out. For a small city, Jena has plenty of places to shop where one can find almost anything that might be required; however one must not expect to pick up souvenirs from Jena as there aren’t many articles available which can be kept of gifted as memorabilia. However, if you have had a nice stay and want a souvenir to remember the place, head towards the hills surrounding the city. The hills give an excellent panoramic view of the city and the view is worth capturing.

There are plenty of accommodations available at Jena which a simple enquiry at the Tourist office shall reveal. One can even book their accommodation through the tourist office. As in the rest of Germany, Jena has youth hostels available for tourists on a shoestring budget or backpacking. There are budget hotels available as well, most budget hotel room rates include the cost of breakfast or one can opt for a rate without the breakfast, the option is usually available therefore it is best to enquire. One can also find some pretty good hotels at Jena as well which are quite reasonably priced considering the amenities and services provided by them.

When tourists travel to Germany, beer is usually on the top of their list and tourists should always be open and try the local beer at Jena one must try the black beer available at most pubs and restaurants. The prices in Jena are quite affordable as it has a large population of students. One can get some great Thuringian food at Jena like Thuringian roasted sausage or roasted meat which usually tops the list of most eateries. Jena has a great nightlife as well, during the popular cultural event of Jena, Kulturarena, held in summer; many international artists perform for the event.

Located in Tiergarten, the Berlin Zoological Garden is the oldest and most famous zoo in all of Germany. It first opened about 168 years ago and has grown to cover 84 acres. Over 1,500 species of animals call this zoo home and make it the most inclusive and diverse collection of animals the world has to offer. All this makes it very easy to see why the Berlin Zoological Garden is visited by three million people every year.

The Berlin Zoological Garden has an interested history. It opened in 1844 and showcased all the animals Frederick William IV, the King of Prussia at the time, had donated to the zoo. However, disaster struck the zoo during World War II. The entire zoo was destroyed and less than one hundred out of the original 3,715 animals survived. Thanks to the fact that the animals bred very quickly, it became more urgent to reconstruct the zoo in all its glory. It was at this time that steps were taken to ensure that the area each animal lived in replicated their natural habitat.

Some of the animals in the zoo have grown to be national icons. Knut, for example, was a polar bear born in the zoo and was raised by humans after he was rejected by his mother. He garnered massive support from people all over the world and even set off a phenomenon known as “Knutmania”. Toy replicas were made of Knut, a white marble statue was made in honor of his fifth birthday, and he appeared in Vanity Fair magazine, on a German postage stamp, and is the icon for a German national campaign to end global warming. Unfortunately, Knut died in 2011, but Bao Bao the Giant Panda is another star at the zoo. He is the oldest panda who lives in captivity and has been at the Berlin Zoological Garden since November of 1980.

However, just because a few of the animals have become stars doesn’t mean that the other animals are any less attractive or interesting. Due to the fact that one of the zoo’s main functions is to facilitate the breeding of endangered and rare animals, there are many species visitors would not be able to see at any other zoo in the world.

The Berlin Zoological Garden is deeply dedicated to the well-being of the animals as well as to educating the public. Needless to say, this zoo is more than worthy of at least one visit in everyone’s lifetime.

Looking for Germany vacation accommodation? Plan your Berlin accommodation and travel research all in the one place. With an online reservation system for renting your Berlin apartments visit Worldwide-Accom.

Besides being the birthplace of Albert Einstein, it’s another major attraction is its church – Ulmer Munster with its steeple which is considered the tallest in the world. The Church with its steeple is the dominant architectural feature of the city; one can access the top of the steeple for a fee and get a fabulous view of the city below. The Construction of the Cathedral began in the fourteenth century and it continued to be built till the late nineteenth century to take its present form. It is said that on a clear day one can even see the Alps from the top of the Steeple. However, very few people are lucky to see it as the region is often very foggy.

While in Ulm, one must take a walk alongside the River Danube as well as the city wall. While walking the aforementioned route, one will discover many art galleries and they are definitely worth peeking at. One can also enjoy the sight of small houses and little streets as well as the crooked house during the walk. Albert Einstein’s house will also fall on the route which is currently marked by a memorial.

The tourist office can be very helpful for those looking for accommodation as they can direct tourists towards pensions located in the old town. The owners of the house are not well versed in English and therefore prefer the office to handle their business. One can find hotels in Ulm as well but one must be prepared to shell out quite a bit for it as well, accommodation in the Old town is a cheaper option. One can get decent German food and beer in Ulm. Those interested in visiting the many museums of Ulm can purchase a Museum Pass from the Tourist Information office which provides access to multiple Museums. The pass is valid for a fairly long time so one can discover the place and the museums at his own pace.

The Erholungspark Marzahn park was opened to the public in the year 1987 and has welcomed many people who wanted a piece of peace in the bustling city. The park is quite big measuring more than a hundred hectares in area. In 1987, the park was known as Berliner Gartenschau but in 1991 the name of the park was changed to Erholungspark Marzahn. The park has undergone many changes besides its name since inception.

In the year 2000, the new millennium saw the beginning of the Gardens of the World section. It began with the opening of the Chinese styled garden in October, 2000 followed by gardens following styles of other countries. In April 2003, spread over 2500 meter square Erholungspark Marzahn saw the opening of the Japanese garden. In December 2003, the Balinese garden spread over five hundred meter square was the Balinese garden. July, 2005 saw the opening of the Oriental garden spread over 6000 meter square; it is the largest among all gardens, in the gardens of the world section. In March 2006, the Korean Garden was opened to the public and in May, 2008, the Italian garden opened its door to tourists.

The gardens of the world representing different countries are designed keeping the traditions of the countries in mind therefore they are quite authentic and unique. The Asian gardens in the gardens of the world are truly stunning; the Chinese garden for instance has a tea house where one can take part in a typical tea ceremony traditional to China or simply enjoy some green tea. However, one needs to make reservations for the tea ceremony. The Japanese garden is a Zen garden balancing different elements of nature like plants, rocks and water. The Oriental garden is for the romantic with fountains feeding pools surrounded by oleander, roses, jasmine and orange trees. These gardens are a result of collaboration between German authorities and native artisans.

Besides the wonderful exhibitions of the Pergamon Museum, one can also experience a fantastic panoramic view on the eighth floor. One can experience life in ancient Rome, it is a fantastic exhibition with sound and light effects that gives a very realistic effect. The life of the people are painted on the walls with extreme attention to details, one must spend at least five minutes in each corner to observe the surrounding events like the Colosseum, marketplace and more. The Panorama is definitely a must see at the museum.

The Pergamon Museum accommodates three different sections – the museum of Islamic Art, the collection of classical antiquities and the museum of ancient near east. The architecture of the Pergamon museum itself required monumental reconstruction after the demolition of the museum building in the early twentieth century; the museum is often partially closed for reconstruction. The main attraction at the collection of classical antiquities is the Pergamon altar built in the second century B.C. While the Pergamon altar is a masterpiece of the Hellenistic genre of art, the market gate of Miletus located in the same section is a grand example of Roman architecture. One can proceed towards the Ancient Near East exhibit next which houses treasures of the Oriental.

Fourteen rooms are dedicated to the Ancient Near East exhibitions and its exhibits can be compared to some of the best museums in the world. The reconstruction of the Babylonian monuments such as the Ishtar Gate, the Processional way and many more are extremely popular exhibits along with the model of tower of Babel. The museum of Islamic art contains works of art from the eighth to the nineteenth century and the collection stresses on the Middle Eastern Region especially Tran and Egypt. One can see applied art of the region on a wide variety of materials like glass, metal, ceramic vessels and more.

There is a lot to see in the museum including special exhibitions which change from time to time. It is best to arrive early at the museum as it takes time to explore the exhibitions. Guided tours of the museums are also available for those interested. This Germany tourism attraction can be partially accessed by those on wheelchairs.

One can reach Rothenburg via train or even bus, if you plan to opt for a train ticket be sure to get a ticket to Rothenburg ob der Tauber as there are more than one Rothenburg in Germany. Within the town of Rothenburg, walking is the best option and in most places the only way to explore the region. Since walking is often the only mode of transportation, this Germany tourism attraction is best experienced on a pleasant day. Walking tours are also conducted at reasonable prices; there are day tours as well as night tours. One also has the option of renting a bike.

Rothenburg’s unique scene has often been captured in films; the city provided the location for village scenes in the famous 1980’s movie – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows among other movies. There are plenty of sights to see in Rothenburg ob der Tauber but one should ideally start with the market square which has the town hall to its left, the city councilor’s tavern as well as the tourist information centre to its north and cafes and shops at the east and St. George’s fountain to its south. The tourist information center can be very helpful. The town hall tower provides a pretty good view of the city around it.

Those who have an interest in the eerie and macabre must pay a visit to the medieval crime and punishment museum, this museum is not recommended for those with weak hearts. The museum contains many torture equipments including shrew’s fiddles and scold’s bridle as well as guidance on witch trials. The museum may not be suitable for small children but teenagers as well as adults are most likely to find it rather interesting.

The St. James Church at Rothenburg ob der Tauber is also quite popular among tourists. The western gallery of the church has the Holy Blood Altarpiece which includes the rock crystal reliquary Cross as well as important scenes like the Lord’s Supper amongst other. This church is famous also because it is on a pilgrimage route.

There are plenty of hotels and restaurants here where one can stay. There plenty of activities like hiking and horse riding that one can indulge in Elm Lappwald. There are many one day hike tours in Elm Lappwald which gives one the opportunity to bask in the forest’s beauty and those interested in plant species can have fun discovering the many plant species including many endangered ones. There are many tour operators that offer walking tours or biking tours at Elm Lappwald but the region has plenty of sign posts therefore one can simply find their own way. If you need information you can ask the locals at one of the nearby cities. One can also visit the city of Helmstedt from the site.

The park has a fairly unique history, it had been inhabited even four thousand years ago and a visit to Schnoningen can prove it. Spears thousands of year old were found at the town of Schnoningen which makes the town not far from the main nature park a popular tourist destination as well.  It would be a pity to visit Elm Lappwald and not visit the city of Schnoningen.

Accommodation at Elm Lappwald are quite diverse, one can find two star hotels as well as five star hotels, inns as well as camping sites. A holiday Germany at Elm Lappwald for the adventurous usually means spending the night at a farm or camping. One can book their accommodations through e-mail as well as over the phone. It attracts a fair share of tourists when the weather is fine and perfect for outdoor activities therefore it would be wise to book your accommodation in advance to prevent ruining your holiday Germany.

If you plan to go on a holiday Germany at Elm Lappwald, it would be best to do so when the weather is comfortable as the fun part at Elm Lappwald lies in exploring the nature outside. It would be best to have fore knowledge of the weather before heading towards Elm Lappwald. One must carry proper attire, shoes and if you plan to hike or bike through the forests during day plenty of sunscreen as well.

There is more than one way to reach the region, while those who have the luxury of time can opt to reach Mecklenburg– Vorpommern by car and enjoy a wonderful drive on the autobahn but those who do not can opt for a flight. The most economical way to reach Mecklenburg– Vorpommern is without a doubt the railways which often offer special holiday tickets as well. The railway connects Mecklenburg– Vorpommern to many regions and is a very convenient way to travel to the Baltic beaches. The buses from Berlin to Mecklenburg– Vorpommern are an affordable option to reach the destination as well. Travellers can also reach Mecklenburg– Vorpommern via ferries or private boats or yachts.

One can always enjoy the sunshine on their skin and relax on the Baltic beach but if you want a more active vacation you shall not be disappointed at Mecklenburg– Vorpommern. Warnemünde is recognized around the world for providing amazing opportunities for sailing. The region also has sailing competitions where sailors from around the world come to compete. One can hire a boat or yacht and drive it on their own or opt to go for an organized cruise; there are a lot of options available for different budgets. Even backpack tourists can have fun with rowing or paddle boats.

If you travel to Germany for some adventure water sports, Mecklenburg– Vorpommern is the region to visit as it is the perfect destination for windsurfing. The region is so perfect for surfing that various competitions including the ‘formula Windsurfing World Championship’ are also held there.  There are many schools here which can teach tourists windsurfing. There are many other water sports that one can take part in the region including water skiing. Water skiing is fast becoming a major favorite among tourists along with parasailing. One can also jet ski across the water in the region.

Those who want to enjoy fishing should travel to Germanybetween February and May; during the aforementioned months one can enjoy angling in Mecklenburg– Vorpommern.  In the month of February one hope to catch sea trout, with the coming of March one can hope to get silver fish. Anyone who passes the fish exam can get a license and is allowed to fish.

Harz provides fantastic opportunities for outdoor sports like climbing; there are plenty of opportunities to climb both rocks as well as cliffs. Climbing opportunities are available in various parts of the Harz region and different difficulty levels of climbing are also available. Harz is promoted as an outdoor activities travel destination in German tourism and rightly so since there are many other outdoor activities available to tourists. Besides climbing, one can also try hiking and skiing in winter. If you are travelling with children do not worry as you can opt for hiking trails which are suitable for children. One can also try Nordic walking, mountain biking, motor biking, horse riding, fishing in the mountain lakes in Harz and last but not the least sky roping which really tests an individual’s fitness and is a lot of fun for both kids as well as adults.

Harz offers a lot of activities in winter as well and it is the perfect destination for winter sports. It offers skiing opportunities as well as skiing lessons. One can try Alpine skiing as well as cross country skiing in the Harz Mountains. Other sports available during winters include skating, snowboarding, snow tubing, toboggan amongst many more. One can even watch ice hockey during the winter months. There are plenty of resorts and accommodations available in the region but it would be best to book in advance as ski resorts are usually in great demand during the season and the Harz mountain range’s proximity to Berlin leads to a large number of tourists.

The Harz region is also known for water sports like diving and canoeing. Diving in the black water of Oker Reservoir is an attraction for tourists. Many tour operators carry out canoeing tours in the Harz region which are suitable for both children and adults. One can also fish in the clear reservoirs and lakes of the mountains, one has the option of fly fishing as well as coarse fishing in the region.

If you take the Hanseatic themed route then Bremen would be the first city on your route.Bremen is known for historical landmarks including the town hall and the statue of Roland, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you want to discover the old Bremen, visit the Schnoor district; the Schnoor district is spotted with old buildings which transports you into a completely different era. However, no Bremen tour is complete without paying a visit to Bremen’s famous Town Musicians. Bremen’s Schlachte Embankment is perfect for those who want to experience maritime Bremen.

The city of Hamburg has plenty to offer as well besides a great maritime experience. One can go for a boat ride or ride a bike through the city and discover it on its own. There are many planned tours of the city as well but those who want to have a little more fun can opt for a bird’s point of view of the city by taking the hot air balloon ride over the city.

The city of Lubeck with its historic old town which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site is definitely worth visiting. It is definitely one of the gems of Germany Tourism. The Gothic brick stone architecture of the city surrounded by water is very impressive to say the least.

The city of Wismar would be next on the route followed by the city of Rostock. Both cities retain much of their old day charm and are quite a popular destination. St. Mary’s church in Rostock is a must see in the city both for its clock as well as the view of the city from the tower. The cities of Wismar and Stralsund have both been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage List. Many medieval Hanseatic merchant houses has been restored. There are plenty of tourist attractions in Greifswald including the Bascule Bridge, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Hilda Monastery and more. The cities belonging to the Hanseatic League are truly gems of Germany tourism that must not be missed as they are excellent for observing maritime culture.

Schöningen is on the itinerary of tourists because of the wooden spears found at a mine near the town. The wooden spears dated back to four hundred thousand years ago which makes them the oldest weapons ever found.Germany tourism offers many archeological sites but no site offers artifacts as old as the one at Schöningen. The wooden spears are very important historical proof that even early man had special hunting tools. While some spears designed a lot like our modern javelins found on the site were probably used as projectile weapons, another seemed more like a thrusting weapon. It is supposed that they belong to the Paleolithic age. The spears are the town’s major tourist attraction and it puts the town on the map of Germany tourism.

The town of Schöningen has more to offer than the world’s oldest spears. In Germany one is rarely ever far away from a castle and Schöningen is no different, while visiting Schöningen one can also pay a visit to Scahaningi castle. Besides the castle one can also visit the local history museum, St.Lorenz Church and St.Vincent Church during sightseeing.

Though a small town there is a lot to do in Schöningen like visiting the weekly market held on Saturday mornings where one can purchase souvenirs to take back home. Schöningen is the perfect destination on a pleasant day as there are many other outdoor activities one can indulge in like golf. The lower Saxon countryside is perfect for hikes and bike rides; the gold course has a sauna and pool which can be used to relax. The St. Lawrence golf club is located amidst beautiful surroundings while on one side there is the natural countryside on the other hand there is the old monastery of St. Lawrence. The town also offers one the opportunity to try horse riding.

There are plenty of restaurants and accommodation in the town. One can find youth hostels, bed and breakfast as well as small hotels in Schöningen. The town has plenty of restaurants as well that offers nice German food, cozy atmosphere and friendly service. While German food rules the menu in most restaurants, one can also find Italian, oriental and even Greek food in the town.

The many cities that have developed around Lake Constance have their own culture which is worth noting. The city of Konstanz, which is almost split into two by the River Rhine lies on the border between Germany and Switzerland, is a very popular city around the Lake Constance. Konstanz is very popular amongst tourists; the city retains most of its old buildings and architecture owing to its proximity to Switzerland. The easiest way to reach the charming old town is through train. The town itself can be discovered on foot or bicycles, there are plenty of bicycle paths around the city and bicycles can be easily rented at the station.  However, if you do not wish to physically exert yourself, you can opt for the fast and efficient bus service.

Several islands are located on Lake Constance; the most popular one is Reichenau. The island is one and a half kilometer in width and four and a half kilometer in length but it is still the largest island on Lake Constance and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The island itself is covered with vegetation including vineyards. One can also find a large number of old churches on the island. There are guided tours of the island available to tourists but one can easily explore the island on their own on foot or bike. There are plenty of accommodations available on the island for those who want to stay overnight.

Amongst the other cities surrounding the lake, Lindau is fairly popular among tourists as well especially on a sunny day. The city is full of old buildings made of wood and is directly connected to major cities like Munich and Zurich by Eurocity rail. If you want to spend your Holiday Germany outdoor then the cities and island around Lake Constance would be a good choice as they provide one with plenty of options to walk or ride a bicycle while enjoying the beautiful scenery. One can also opt to take cruises on Lake Constance which are offered by plenty of tour operators.

The North Sea beaches attract a large number of tourists including famous personalities especially the sandy beach Sylt located on the west coast; Sylt is often referred to as the queen of the North Sea. The widest and the biggest sand pit in the world is also located on the North Sea Coast, St.Peter-Ording. St Peter-Holding is perfect for beach sports like volley ball, kite surfing, e.t.c. as well as long walks. One can find plenty of stilt constructions around the beach like timber houses on stilts which are very interesting to watch. If you want to go for horse riding and cycling on the beach, head towards the coast’s biggest beach Kniepsand.

The Halligs are a very interesting geographical feature; it is a piece of land in the middle of the North Sea which is constantly battling the forces of nature. One can find ten such Halligs off Schleswig-Holstein out of which six are inhabited by people. The number of tourists visiting the Halligs per year are more than the number of people residing these Halligs. Life on the Halligs seem quite strange and very tough for those living in cities.

Its a very different kind of  life lived on the Halligs where the ebb and flow of the sea and weather is used to set a routine instead of clocks and calendars. These Halligs are a part of Schleswig-Holstein National Park, UNESCO has declared the Halligs in North Sea as UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. One can visit a Hallig on a day trip or opt to stay overnight. The Halligs are among the top attractions of German tourism.

Besides lots to see, there is lot to eat as well. North Sea coast cuisine can boast of quite a few specialities as well like red gold which is the world’s smallest shrimp with an amazing sweet and nutty flavor, North Friesland salt marsh lamb and Dithmarschen cabbage to name a few. One must try these specialities in the local restaurants of the North sea coast.

While walking down the Kurfurstendamm one ought to make a few stops and detours to experience Berlin as a city. Breitscheidplatz is one such stop; it was the center of West Berlin and there is a quite a bit to see for instance the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The Breitscheidplatz became a very popular place for bohemian and intellectuals to meet after the First World War. Unfortunately most of the original Breitscheidplatz was destroyed during the Second World War bombing but it was reconstructed. It is popular among tourists for representing the old Berlin as well as the new.

Kurfurstendamm was built for Elector Prince Joachim in the sixteenth century so that he might be able to travel easily to the hunting lodge in Grunewald forest from his palace. In the late nineteenth century, Otto von Bismarck suggested that it should be turned into a street similar to Champs-Elysees after winning a war against the French. It was then that the street was transformed into what we see today, a large number of houses were constructed along the road and a number of trees were planted along the road. The original street was widened as well and construction of ornate villas began belonging to nobility began though today not many of the ornate villas remain.

As it became a fashionable street with prestigious addresses, many cafes and stores opened along the street and it became one of the most fashionable streets to be spotted at especially for those with an artistic reputation.  Today, the street is often referred to as the fifth avenue of Berlin for the shopping opportunities offered by it.  Orsay is an excellent place to purchase trendy clothes as well as accessories for little princesses in their tweens and teens.  Those who love bags should definitely pay a visit to Bree bags which are mostly meant for women but they have a unisex line as well. One can find a large variety of bags both in terms of purpose, fashion as well as material. Kurfurstendamm is an excellent place to do some window shopping and if you get hungry just have some yummy dessert without worrying about the calories; you’ll get rid of them by walking the street anyway.

There are many sites in the city worth seeing but Wurzberg Residenz is definitely the city’s top draw for tourists. Wurzberg Residenz is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important structure for Germany  tourism.  It is often referred to as the castles. Above all, these castles are one of the most famous baroque castles of the world. It was built by famous architect Balthassar Neumann and its stunning frescoes were designed by Tiepolo, the famous Venetian artist. It was built in the eighteenth century and its awe inspiring staircase with vault, frescos and ceiling painting was made by Johann Zick. It is open throughout the year and one can get tours in English as well as German. The admission fee includes tour fee and groups of fifteen people or more can get in at a reduced per person rate. The tour lasts around forty minutes therefore those staying in the town can spend the day visiting other attractions of the place.

Germany tourism guide of a place is incomplete without informing one of the museums of the place. Wurzberg is home to some fantastic museums as well which attracts plenty of tourists. The Main fränkisches Museum houses the largest collection of Riemenschneider’s work and is the most popular museum in Wurzberg. Contemporary art lovers will also like the Museum of concrete art in Europe. The history and architecture of the place makes the museum even more appealing to the tourists. One can find works by impressionists, expressionists as well as works of other time periods in the museum.

While in the town one must take some time out to view the town from Alte Mainbrucke an old bridge as the sight is simply breathtaking and one can see the fortress of Marienberg, the pilgrimage church as well as the famous vineyards of the region. The Marienberg castle is located on a hill which overlooks the whole town as well as its surrounding area. The fortress was home to prince-bishops for around five hundred years but today it serves as a tourist attraction with a museum. It was almost destroyed during a Swedish attack in the seventeenth century but it was reconstructed.

The Berchtesgaden National Park offers one the opportunity to hike up the high mountains but one must keep the advice of the Bergwacht or mountain rescue service in mind before going on a hike. One must keep weather conditions in mind before attempting a hike. The National Park staff is quite helpful and one should feel free to ask them questions if any. Provided one is in good physical condition and adequately attired with hiking shoes and warm clothing, one is most likely to have a great time hiking up those mountains. Hiking trails in the Berchtesgaden National Park are of different ranges, one can opt for a two hour hike or a whole day hike depending on experience and fitness. If you are travelling with children in trolleys or an infirm in wheelchair, do not worry, as there are specific trails marked out for such conditions as well.

One of  Berchtesgaden National Park’s main attractions is Lake Königssee. This eight kilometer long lake is surrounded by mountains which make it a spectacular sight. One can take a boat to St. Bartholomew church to enjoy the scenery surrounding the lake and head towards a nearby beer garden after visiting the church to enjoy a nice lunch. The journey is more often than not a fantastic experience with the boat guide playing a trumpet that echoes in the mountains. Königssee is one of the cleanest lakes in the world as one will only find electric boats, row boats or pedal boats; also, the sewage from the church and beer garden is carefully disposed into the sewage system to make sure nothing is thrown into its clean pristine water.

The park also offers environmental education which is interesting as well as informative. As it is a very popular holiday destination in Germany, there are plenty of accommodation for groups as well as individuals available around the national park; huts and Inns are available for small breaks, refreshments as well as overnight stay.

The Neuschwanstein Castle built by the mad king by history – King Ludwig II is by far the most famous castle in the world and not just in Germany. It is often the first thing on the itinerary of those who travel to Germany. It is a part of most popular tour packages but you can always plan your own visit as well. If you are the more adventurous type, you can reach the castle by hiking for about three fourth of a kilometer from the parking area of Hohenschwangau or take a bus. If you think enough energy is required for a trek then do keep in mind that you will have to climb a lot of stairs just to reach the entrance of the castle as it is truly located amongst the clouds.

The Hohenschwangau Castle is perhaps the most popular castle in Germany after the Neuschwanstein Castle. While at the Hohenschwangau Castle do take a picture of the Neuschwanstein Castle, the view of the castle is picture perfect. Mad King Ludwig spent his childhood in this castle and it was in this castle that he dreamt of making even more fantastic castles. Despite the wars waged by Germany, the castle still remains in perfect condition. Its many attractions include Hall of the Swan Knight; the hall contains elaborately painted scenes from the tale of the Swan Knight. The former bedroom of the Queen referred to as the Oriental Room was inspired by King Maxmillan’s journey to Turkey and Greece. The most famed part of the palace is the Hall of Heroes and Knights which is truly spectacular in size as well as, ceiling paintings and Gothic columns and architecture.

The Heidelberg Castle is a very popular tourist destination as well; it is the perfect example of a ruined but majestic castle. Its architecture is truly interesting with both gothic and renaissance influence. The palace gardens at the Heidelberg castle is built along the side of the mountains had also been struck by calamity and was therefore in ruins but restoration work has restored some of its lost glory. There are several restaurants on the palace grounds as well which serve local specialties. If you do not plan to stay at Heidelberg but are visiting the castle from another city you can take the Autobahn A5 or opt for Germany’s excellent public transportation system.

If you want to see one of the finest architecture of the fifteenth century, a visit to Rathaus is a must. The Rathaus has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. It is a town hall and a fine specimen of architecture of its time. One can even take tours of the town hall. The statue of Roland is also a world heritage site and of great importance to the city. The Cathedral of St. Peter is another architectural gem of the city; it is over a thousand years old and its interiors are extremely impressive. If you just want to soak in some of its history, then take a walk around the city center and pay a visit to Schnoor Viertel. Schnoor Viertel and its medieval buildings makes one feel like they have been transported back in time. Bremen is quite famous for its Town Musicians statue and one simply cannot leave Berlin with out paying it a visit.

While Bremen is known for its historical importance and heritage, there is more to Bremen than just that. Bremen is also known its technology and innovativeness. The museums and science centers are perfect for young minds. The Universum Science centre does not just attempt to showcase scientific phenomenon but it encourages understanding and knowledge. The Ethnological museum can be very educative as well. If you have had enough of history and education and want to have fun then enjoy the culture of Bremen during its many festivals. Bremen is known to have a number of events like the oldest funfair in Germany called Freimarket, Christmas markets, art exhibitions, musicals, operas, six-day cycle race and more.

One can even enjoy a nice sunny day at the Schlachte Embankment. The gardens, restaurants, terraces and cafes along the Schlachte Embankment are the perfect places to relax and just enjoy looking at the Weimar River, old boats and if you really want to peep into the old seafaring traditions of the city, then take a trip to Vegesack district to visit the Captain’s house, a busy harbor and more. One can even opt for a trip along the river.

The film park Babelsberg has a very impressive history; it has been around for over 100 years and is one of the oldest as well as largest film capitals of not just Germany but of Europe as well. A large number of movies have been made at the film park, it is estimated that more than three thousand movies were made at the Babelsberg Film Park. It is a major tourist attraction when it opens its door to the public every year from the month of March to October. It allows one to peek into the magic that gives rise to cinema. Almost everything including movie sets are a part of the attraction and are available for public viewing. There is a lot to see in the Film Park, animal stars, dangerous stunts, different types of film crafts and lots more. Children can also view 3-D shows popular German children’s books created by Janosch.

At Babelsberg, one can have a great time watching interactive XD motion. The new experience makes 3-D and 4-D experiences a thing of the past. It’s a high-tech experience which takes movies to a completely different level. The viewer is equipped with 3-D glasses, laser light, and the more. One has to target the monsters on screen, one becomes a part of the movie they are watching therefore every movie is a different experience, it is not pre-produced but with the help of the cameras one’s action is recorded in real time and that gives one a unique experience. The seats shake according to action and there are other effects in addition to it.

The legend of Prince Valiant and King Arthur sets can really stir up one’s imagination. The Knight’s hall transports one to a different era of valor and chivalry. One can see collections of armor, medieval weapons, banner and more used during the shooting in the theme restaurants today. To see all there is to see at Babelsburg, one must have enough time in hand to take the bus tour in the studio.

The Damane Dahlem is a popular destination for both local tourists as well as citizens interested in day trips from Berlin. It is an old German farm located in the suburbs of Dahlem. It is a destination which the entire family can enjoy. Kids can ride horses which they usually love. There are many other interesting activities that they can enjoy; an amateur botanist can enjoy the variety of flora by fixing his eyes to the ground while a bird watcher can have great fun spotting birds looking up at the sky. The variety of flora and fauna makes hiking quite fun and interesting in the area as well.

While visiting farms in Dahlem, one must be properly attired with hiking shoes. The Dahlem farm can be a great experience for those who love gardening as one can get some very useful tips there. Besides gardening and hiking, one can also enjoy the farm’s apiary which is also open to the public. The farm dispenses bee keeping classes as well but one need to register in advance, the course is quite reasonable priced. The gift shop offers books on bee keeping as well. One does not need previous knowledge of beekeeping to register for these classes. One can even taste fresh honey at the farm.

The farms at Dahlem are fun as well as educational therefore they are a very important part of Germany tourism. The sustainable eco friendly manner of farming and bee keeping carried out in the Dahlem farms are a great way to educate children as well as youngsters, adults can also take a tip or two from the farm. Those who have tried gardening or making their own kitchen garden can get a lot of inspiration from the farm as well as information. The farm also organizes a variety of events throughout the year and if you plan to visit the farm like decorating scarves with leaf prints, floral arrangements and many more; participation in these events usually require registering in advance.

The rooms in the palace are baroque with royal apartments. One can also find a huge collection of eighteenth century French paintings in the castle; the collection is considered one of the largest outside France. The palace has a museum with many interesting exhibits like Troy excavations found in the early nineteenth century. The castle has several wings. The palace was damaged during the Second World War but it was rebuilt during the fifties. A tour of the new wing of the palace comes with an audio tour. Tickets for the many sections worth viewing in the palace are sold separately. However, the gardens can be accessed free of charge.

The Charlottenburg Castle is surrounded by beautiful garden and is the perfect spot for relaxing, but do keep in mind that the inviting gardens are for not picnics, so one must restrain. No picnics allowed in the beautiful French styled gardens with artificial lake. However, you can have a little picnic behind the lake. There is a scenic forested area behind the lake where one can unpack small snacks, coffee and enjoy with the family members and friends.

If you visit it during the afternoon, you will find many local Berlin families enjoying afternoon snacks in the forested area. While adults enjoy themselves, children can have fun at the playgrounds. The Charlottenburg castle is definitely one of the best listings in a travel guide Germany for families. AS one can have a great day outdoor as well as visit an amazing historical monument and enjoy great pieces of art.

There are two playgrounds along with climbing structures, one of which is located within the forested area. It is the perfect way to spend a pleasant summer day in Berlin. Kids can also enjoy themselves at the Lietzensee Park. It has a play area for children, lakes and ducks. Kids usually love feeding the ducks. There is a café as well where grownups can have coffee and children can have ice cream. One can also opt to go for a boat ride from the bridge near the Castle. The boat can take you for the three-four hour round trip cruise in Germany.

It is rather interesting to walk the medieval narrow lanes of the city like the Church Lane and then reach modern boutiques that are located in old timber houses or visit a café and sip a cup of coffee. While strolling down the streets, one is most likely to come across some very interesting shops, where if they desire they can purchase souvenirs, to take back home or simply appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the things on display in the windows. One can also opt to sign up for a guided tour of the city.

One can also go for cave tours from Erfurt to the famous fairy grottoes under the mountains of Thuringia. These underground grottoes are one of the most beautiful grottoes in the world and one should not pass up the chance to visit these during a holiday Germany. A guided tour called the ‘Miner’s Journey’ enlightens one on the history of the alum state mine. These medieval mines have a fascinating history and there are many tales and folklores surrounding the caves which one is informed of during the tour. If you have four-five hours to spare then a visit to the Feengrotten-wellness centre can do you wonders. It offers many services which can help revitalize your senses and improve your general well-being.

The caves are perhaps the most popular attraction of the state of Thuringia. Their colorful stalactites make them a very popular show cave and they are also popular because they are a good example of medieval mining. Till about a century and a half ago these mines were used to mine alum. Today one can visit the Feengrotten Park after paying a visit to the caves. The Feengrotten Park has souvenir shops, eateries as well as places to rest.

The Feengrotten Park offers something special for couples as well as children. The children’s tour is very popular and it takes place daily. The children love touring the caves with miner’s lamp, dwarf cape and pointed capes. The tour lasts for a little more than an hour and is perfect for children aged ten and below, adults are usually allowed to guide the children. Those interested should make reservations in advance. The temperature inside the cave is usually quite low therefore one must wear warm clothing and proper shoes.

I must have thought of everything from a meal and bending down on one knee, to a hot air balloon ride.  Nothing seemed to match the occasion so I began looking at holidays. We had been on a couple, a trip to Spain and down to Devon a few times, and we have always had such an amazing time.

The Luxury Cruises Seemed Like the Perfect for My Plans

After looking at various sites I came across a blog all about cruises.  The way of life on a cruise sounded perfect.  They have so many things to do and to see, and the destinations are places that dreams are made of.  I made my mind up and suggested we take a cruise, my treat.  Needless to say she was delighted and spent weeks shopping for various different outfits.

Cruises expect you to be well dressed in the evening, which was the perfect guise for me.  I wanted to be suited in a Tux when I proposed.  If I had picked her up for a night out in a Tux back home I am sure she would have guessed that I was going to pop the question.  I did not even own a Tux so this was the most essential purchase for me to make when deciding on what to pack.  I usually hate shopping, but Tuxedo shopping really is unlike anything else.

Asking Her Parents’ Permission Was Nerve Wracking

Being a traditional chap I had one more important task before we set sail.  I paid a visit to her parents while my girlfriend was at work.  I think that was more nerve wracking than actually asking my girl to marry me.  I was shaking and stuttering over my words when I told them of my plan for the cruise and asked her father’s permission to marry his daughter.

Thankfully both her mum and dad were delighted and thought I was being very romantic.  After having their approval it was all systems go, and on the week before our cruise we barely had time to see each other.  Having two weeks off work meant a lot of extra work getting everything in order and training up a temp who was going to fill in for me while I was away.

Every Night Was Romantic and I Hadn’t Even Proposed Yet

Once we set sail there was just time for us to spend time with each other and explore the wonderful Caribbean islands we were due to visit on the cruise. We enjoyed white sandy beaches and quaint villages and spent hours relaxing on the deck.  On the second week I decided to propose. We dressed up and headed out for our meal at the stunning and very luxurious restaurant.

My girlfriend reminded me of Julie Roberts in Pretty Women as her dress was a mouth-watering red and hugged her figure perfectly.  I wore my suit and got down on one knee.  The whole restaurant gasped and cheered as she stood with her hand over her mouth, nodding as her eyes filled with tears.  I am not too manly to admit my eyes watered too.

We are now planning our wedding and have decided to celebrate as many of our anniversaries as possible on a cruise.  I am the proudest man alive and I am thrilled that after all the waiting and planning my girl said yes.

Cheap Caribbean cruises make the perfect setting for all your special occasions. Major Cruise offers a wide selection of the world’s best cruise liners.  Sail to exotic places and create new memories by booking your place on one of the money saving Caribbean cruise deals you can find on the Major Cruise website.

A travel guide Germany must delve into the cold war period to explore the history of the city. The bike tour takes one along the place where the Berlin wall once stood. The tour covers roughly around six miles i.e. – ten kilometers on bike. If you are worried about how comfortable the bikes are, you do not need to worry. The bikes used for the bike tours are built for comfort with nice comfy seats, handlebars to suit one’s height, fat tires and great brakes to provide you with safety. A bike tour in Germany is perfectly safe except for a really small stretch most of the tour takes place on bike paths and through parks.

While going on a bike tour, it is best to carry a light jacket that can be used against a light rain. Since weather is Germany can be unpredictable it is better to be prepared, bike tours are never cancelled for light showers. If you are travelling with family and have a small child, do not worry there are special seats available for children including infant seats.

The tour usually begins with an introduction and orientation of the Berlin Wall. The first stop is the remaining longest stretch of the Berlin Wall which is more than a kilometer located on the boulevard of erstwhile East Berlin. The wall is painted with graffiti and a bike ride along the trail where the wall once existed allows one to see the difference between life lived on both sides.

The bike tour usually includes a lunch break at a German beer hall but the cost of lunch is usually not included in the cost of tour. After the lunch one can hear stories of escapes during the cold war as well as check out the death strip towers, the Branderburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz among other sites. The professional guide of the tour is very well versed with German history which makes the tour very informative in an interesting manner. Bike tour Berlin is a great way to enjoy traveling in Germany and it is the kind of tour any family can enjoy.

If you were busy hiking in the Black Forest, Baden-Baden would be the perfect next stop to rest and rejuvenate. The springs of Baden-Baden were known to the Romans as well for their healing properties. One can bathe in its pure thermal water which is full of minerals that do wonders for the body. It is particularly effective for ailments like arthritis, nervous system disorders, and gynecological disorders amongst some others.

Besides the bath-house which is its major attraction, Baden-Baden also offers many other attractions like the Baden-Baden Casino. The casino had opened its doors in early nineteenth century and its décor is reminiscent of that time and age. The casino makes one feel like they have walked into the sets of a James Bond movie. It is located within the palatial Kurhaus.

The architecture of Kurhaus itself is very regal and it is a tourist attraction by itself. It is rumored that the casino had inspired Dostoevsky to pen The Gambler. The casino has a dress code, men must wear jacket and tie while the code is relaxed for women, one cannot walk in extremely casual clothing. If you do not wish to gamble, you can still come to the Casino to take a guided tour of the interiors.

Baden-Baden is the perfect place for culture lovers as well. One can visit the Baden-Baden theatre which is designed in the neo-baroque style. One can also visit the Festspielhaus which is one of Europe’s biggest concert halls and is famous for its acoustics.

A holiday in Baden-Baden, Germany would be incomplete for an art lover without visiting Museum Frieder Burda. This art museum houses works of many great painters both modern as well as contemporary like Picasso and Warhol. The Statdtmusum is south of Museum Frieder Burda and it contains some amazing exhibits like belle époque paintings, roulette wheels as well as Roman figurines.

Baden-Baden has some amazing restaurants as well like the Rizzi which is a great place for Italian cuisine. If you want French food in a romantic ambiance, the La Provence is the place to go. Leo’s on the other hand has played host to Bill Clinton and many other dignitaries. This renowned bistro cum wine bar is known for its creative salads, pastas and cocktails. One can have a great time in Baden-Baden visiting attractions, relaxing and enjoying great food.

One can reach Heidelberg via Inter City Express from either of the cities. Inter City Express refer to Germany’s fastest trains which travel at a speed of 180 miles per hour or 300 km per hour, it is the best and fastest way to reach Heidelberg. However if you are on a tight budget but have time in hand then slower trains are a cheaper option.

Once at Heidelberg, purchasing a tourist pass called the Heidelberg card makes good sense if you plan to visit the city’s museums and use public transportation. The Heidelberg Card can be bought at the Tourist information center outside the main station.

One can also use the lower section of the mountain railway with the Heidelberg card. One can travel between different attractions using the city’s public transportation of trams and buses which is actually quite good and offers an inexpensive option to make best use of it.

While in Heidelberg one must take some time out to enjoy the different bars of the city. There are plenty of bars in the city and one can really enjoy themselves in the bars. Heidelberg bars have no curfews and while there are touristy bars in Heidelberg with antlers on the wall, there are student bars as well, which are completely left wing in nature and often refuse police officers from entering.

Heidelberg has a lot of police on duty at any given time because of student protests therefore while you enjoy yourself at the student bars. Do not riot out here or you might just find yourself being handled by a policeman. Student bars in Heidelberg are great fun and beer in these bars is usually dirt cheap. Though a lot of good wines are produced around Heidelberg, they are usually not found at the bars and one has to go to a vineyard to collect some.

Besides a wide variety of museums, castles and pedestrian shopping lanes in Heidelberg, there are picturesque show caves around Heidelberg as well which are well worth a visit. A stalactite cave was discovered accidentally in Buchen-Eberstadt in 1971 during an explosion in a limestone quarry and it has been attracting tourists since that day.

Basically, the show caves in Heidelberg are natural monuments of breath taking beauty and usually leave tourists awestruck with its breathtaking beauty. It is 78 km away from Heidelberg and cave tours are usually available on all days except Mondays. One must enquire about timings and tours before visiting the show caves.

Bonn is a nice place to visit because of its street culture of beer gardens and cafes. Since Bonn is a small city one can visit the various attractions of the city walking but if required one can avail public transport which is easily accessible in Bonn. Almost all the attractions of the city are located in a walking distance from the city centre.

For those who need help finding their way in Bonn, do not hesitate to ask the Bonn Information Booth which is situated between Karstadt and the post office. The information centre offers any help that a tourist might require include brochures for walking tours in the city which are also available in English. Bonn hosts some good theatre and Opera and one can get information on plays and operas currently playing at the information centre as well as purchase tickets if you want to see them.

Bonn is famous for being the birth city of one of the most famous musicians of all times, Ludwig Van Beethoven.  The Beethoven house is a popular tourist attraction is often found in a travel guide Germany. Beethoven was born in the eighteenth century in the Beethoven Haus which has now turned into a museum. The house itself is quite plain but it contains many objects related to Beethoven’s life which makes a visit quite interesting.

Among the many exhibits are his last Grand Piano, a famous portrait of Beethoven as well as his huge ear trumpets which he used later in life when he was becoming deaf. Those who are fond of Beethoven’s music should try to visit Bonn during September when the city hosts a month long Beethovenfest. During the festival a large number of concerts are held across Bonn and often many international musicians showcase their talent during it.

Besides Beethoven Haus, Bonn also offers another interesting tourist attraction – Kreuzbergkirche or Cross Mountain Church located on Kreuzberg’s summit. The church serves both as a place of worship as well as education; German language and culture courses are taught at the church today.

The church is famous for its Heiliger Steige or Holy staircase. The church was built in the seventeenth century and the Heiliger Steige was donated to the Church by Elector Clemens August von Bavarian. It is believed that the holy staircase contains pieces of the original cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. One can also get a great view of the church from the top of the Church. A travel guide Germany is most likely to list Kreuzbergkirche.

The landscape of the area is beautiful and perfect for hiking. Its landscape is often described as wooded hills by Romantic poets and artists of the nineteenth century. The landscape of forests has outcrops of rocks amongst it, which stand out in the forest scenery. The mountains in the region are spectacular and the most well known mountain of the region is called Walberla. The mountain has two peaks of which one has a chapel called Walburgis Chapel. The chapel has been known to exist since the fourteenth century and though small, it is a major tourist attraction.

The mountains of the region are well known for mountain climbing, there are many routes and the area is considered as one of the best climbing areas in the world. The Trubach Valley, Walberia, Wiesent Valley and Leinleiter Valley are amongst the many climbing areas of the region. Besides experiencing the beauty of the region, one can have a great time climbing the rocks with friends or family. Little Switzerland is best visited for two or three days and one can stay at the hotels or if one wants to stay and relax in Little Switzerland for a week or so, one can stay in holiday homes or cottages of the region.

The region is also famous for show caves, the most popular one in the region being Devil’s cave. There are many more caves in the area but the Devil’s cave is by far the most popular. Since it is a show cave it is designed in a manner such that it is easily accessible though one has to pay an entrance fee to enter the cave. One usually has to walk or climb stairs inside the cave therefore one is recommended to wear proper shoes. The stalagmite formations of the caves are worth watching. Travel guide Germany is most likely to point out that the region falls under Karst topography i.e. – the geological formations are due to dissolution of soluble bedrocks.

The region is located off the castle road so one can always take a detour to visit the caves, rest in the region for a night and take off the next day. The castles and ruins of the area are another major attraction for tourists.

Visitors to this cave are never disappointed by its beauty. The stalagmites and stalactites have been well preserved inside the cave to provide an amazing view to those visiting the caves. A visit to these caves is a must for those who travel to Germany and want to visit Germany’s natural beauty. The formations of the stalagmites and stalactites create a variety of formations in the cave and leave most visitors spellbound at its beauty. While on one hand the cave exhibits the beautiful formations of stalagmites and stalactites on the other hand there is a rather creepy attraction – the skeletons of its former residents, the bears. One can also find bear skeletons inside the cave which though a little eerie is also quite interesting.

The cave tours are usually quite flexible and depend on the volume of visitors but on an average a cave tour takes place every half an hour. The tour is basically a guided walking tour so one must wear appropriate shoes and the temperature inside the cave is usually 8 or 9 degree Celsius therefore it makes sense to wear a warm jacket. The guided tour path inside the cave is roughly around 600 kilometers. During the tour one has to climb a lot of steps both up and down as well. One can purchase tickets at the gate entrance. Though prior booking is not a requirement but large groups of twenty people or more should call up and make reservations before coming. Since it is a show cave, the insides of the caves are lighted so one can view its beauty.

It is not very difficult to get to Rubeland, one can even drive to view the caves. Parking space is provided free of cost 400 kilometers from the cave. If the cave show makes you hungry, you can stop at one of the many restaurants nearby. Besides restaurants, there are some small kiosks serving snacks.

Currently, Miniatur Wunderland has many sections on display while few more are under construction but open to visitors. One of the oldest landscapes built in Miniatur Wunderland is the Harz. It was one of the first landscapes to be built along with Knuffingen and Austria. Famous attraction and models of Harz include its open-air theater, a UFO over a Harz field, a Fun Fair with functional rides, an ICE high speed train on the longest train track in Miniatur Wunderland, Cherusker Monument as well as a bungee jumper waiting standing on the edge waiting to leap.

Knuffingen is the largest city in Miniatur Wunderland. Since Knuffingen is known for its automobile industry, the car system extends into the entire model city. It has a fiddle yard which can accommodate over 250 vehicles. The car system of Knuffingen along with the roads and the highways is very interesting to watch. Other attractions include speed trap, fire department, and castle fire amongst others.

The Alps in Austria were also a part of the original construction and one can find the snowy Alps, figures of people skiing, the prison – Santa Fu, Ski lifts, impressive Schauertalbrücke  bridge, St. Wendelberg and more. It was perhaps the most difficult construction site to build but one look at it proves that the effort was worth it.

The city of Hamburg was built between 2001 and 2002 and contains most attraction of the city. It’s quite interesting to view the city in miniature with its attractions like Speicherstadt, HSH Nordbank Arena and more. The model Hamburg can act as your travel guide Germany of Hamburg. Hamburg is given more surface area than its neighboring section, America.  The American section maybe small but it is quite breathtaking. Its main attraction includes the bright city of Las Vegas, Mount Rushmore and many other landscapes.

The Scandinavian exhibition is also extremely interesting especially from a technical point of view as the interplay between light, water and snow is amazing. The model ships including a ghost ship and flying fairies are few of its many attractions. The Scandinavian section is extremely popular amongst tourists.

The Switzerland and Airport section are on display but it yet to be completed but they are still worth watching. Model sites on France and Italy are also on the cards.

There are fairytale castles as well surrounded by the Alps. You can discover this part of Germany with kids and it is real fun. In fact, you can hire a car and or board a train to get off at the different stops. This is especially good if you are traveling with your kid because the trip will be exciting. This is one of the fun things to do in Germany.

Wurzburg is the first stop of the Romantic Road. It lies in the northern end of Bavaria. Marienburg is the medieval fortress which you can climb in order to see the Old Town. The view is superb from here and kids will be able to see the historical periods nicely. Begin your trek from here and discover the entire route with your kids. Come to the Residenz Palace which is the finest example of Baroque architecture in Germany and is also a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Other sites in Wurzburg include The Cathedral of St. Kilian, Old Main River Bridge. You can be a part of the Mozart Festival if you visit during May and July. Try the Wurzburg Karrnerbraten is a preparation of beef with cheese and spices and kids will love it.

Holiday Germany is incomplete without a visit to the Romantic Road. The next stop is the Nuremburg. City of festivals and also known as the cultural center of Germany, Nuremburg is famous for the Christmas Market where you will get ornaments, toys, seasonal treats and crafts. There is the Our Lady Synagogue, the Mannleinlaufen- the clock facing the square, the Kaiserburg Castle belonging to the 12thcentury. Albrecht Durer’s House is also there and kids will love his work and the maze of illusions he created. Kids will also love to visit the host of museums narrating various incidents from the past of Nuremburg.

Rothenburg is the following stop which is a beautifully walled town surrounded by vast farmlands. Begin from the Wall which is only 1 mile followed by a visit to the Town Hall, St. Jacobs’ Church and go for horseback rides. Augusburg, Iphofen, Nordlingen and finally the last destination called Fussen. Fussen is the last stop at the southern end of Romantic Road. It is an old town where you can relax with your kids.

Germany is usually very cold during the winter months therefore one must pack a lot of winter clothing as temperature in certain places often drops below zero. The castles of Germany look particularly spectacular when covered with snow. The Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, looks out of a fairy tale book and is an absolute picturesque sight.

Very cold winters in Germany often translate into snow but not always. One can enjoy a white Christmas in Germany, if lucky but one can almost always enjoy skiing in Germany during the winter months. There are many ski resorts between the Alps and the Black Forest. One can enjoy both speedy downhill skiing as well as cross country skiing in Germany.

Garmisch and Partenkirchen, located in the foothills of the German Alps are the most famous ski resorts in the country. It is conveniently located one hour from Munich. One can enjoy skiing on Olympic slopes there. The Black Forest ski resort is one of the oldest ski resorts of Germany and is two hours away from Frankfurt. Holiday Germany in winter is incomplete without at least attempting to ski.

Holiday Germany should be planned such that one is in Germany at least a week or two before Christmas. Christmas markets in Germany are an amazing experience; one can purchase a variety of amazing and unique things that are hand carved amongst other items. The Christmas markets also sell an amazing variety of traditional German sweets along with gingerbread and marzipan. Christmas markets can be found in almost every part of Germany and some of them often have special stage shows as well.

Christmas day and the day after Christmas are holidays in Germany therefore there is little to do but to enjoy German cuisine during those two days. Unlike Christmas which Germans prefer to spend with their families, on New Year’s Eve, one can find a lot of festivities taking place. Berlin is the place to be during New Year’s Eve as it holds one of the biggest parties for all under the open sky at the Brandenburg Gate. One can welcome the New Year with fireworks, music and dance; it usually lasts till daybreak.

One can easily reach Dachau from Munich as it is located in the outskirts of the city. Entrance to the Dachau Memorial is free of cost but the various Dachau tours charge money. The Memorial also provide tour services like audio guides, brief introduction, guided tour for individuals or groups but one has to book in advance; all these services are chargeable. Tour operators often start their tour from Munich therefore transportation from and to Munich is taken care of by the tour operator. These tours usually need to be booked in advance, many tours offer online booking as well.

A trip to Dachau is not about fun and it is not fun but it gives one an idea of what living in a police state could be like. Dachau is important to Germany tourism as it gives every citizen of a free country the opportunity to understand the importance of their freedom and liberty. Dachau concentration camp was not used to exterminate Jews but to check any criticism of the Nazi policies. People of free countries openly criticize their governments often through mass media where as during the Nazi reign criticism of the government even amongst friends or families if overhear by Gestapo informers could land one in the Dachau concentration camp.

Dachau was the first concentration camp and it opened in 1933 within few months of Hitler coming to power. It was built for political prisoners. And had people from almost every community in Germany for voicing the slightest protest against the Nazi. Thousands had died at the Dachau concentration camp and the remains of the Camp remind one of a very dark era in human history. There are a lot of photographs as well as accounts of survivors of the camp available which gives people an idea of how life was lived in a German concentration camp.

The Memorial was established in 1965 on the initiative taken by those who had survived the camp and the Bavarian government gave financial support to the memorial. One can see the organization of the camp – the roll call area, the bunkers for camp prisoners as well as barracks along with some of the security installations to check escape of prisoners.

The Buchenwald concentration camp near Weimar in Germany is perhaps the most well-known concentration camp on German soil. The Buchenwald concentration camp was one of the largest as well as one of the first concentration camps built by the German Nazi. The camp housed prisoners from across Europe which included both Jews as well as Non-Jews. The Buchenwald concentration camp was not an extermination camp as such i.e. – prisoners of the camp were not meant to be killed but instead prisoners were used as labor for armament factories.

The prisoners were made to live in extremely harsh conditions and many died because of illnesses caused by the harsh environment. Inmates were almost literally made to work till death. Not only did they have to live in harsh conditions and made to work very hard but they were not given proper nourishment either. Many inmates were also used in medical trials of various vaccines and dies as a result of such medical experiments while many other were simply killed by the Nazis without any good reason. Most of the Buchenwald camp had been demolished in 1950 but some of it remains along with a monument to commemorate the dead. Those who travel to Germany often pay their tribute to those who had dies in these camps by visiting them.

Sachsenhausen Concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany is located in the Eastern part of Germany. It was used for political prisoners. As in the Buchenwald concentration camp, inmates were poorly treated, used as labor and killed often for fun by Nazi soldiers. The inmates of Sachsenhausen Concentration camp were forced to produce fake currency notes of Britain and United States of America. Today the camp is open to the general public as a memorial to those who had died there as well as a museum. Exhibits include artwork made by the inmates as well as gold teeth of the inmates collected by Nazi soldiers.

Christmas markets in Germany usually begin in the last week of November and continue till a day or two before Christmas Eve. The shops usually open at around ten in the morning and are open till eight or nine in the evening. It is open on all days except perhaps the fifth Sunday before Christmas. The fifth Sunday before Christmas is a Remembrance Day therefore many German cities observe a public holiday and the shops of Christmas markets are often closed, especially in Catholic areas.

German Christmas markets are perfect for those who are tired of big commercial shops selling mass produced things. Besides the wares, the aroma of the Christmas market is truly enticing. Germans are known for their food habits and their Christmas markets will not disappoint a hungry shopper. One can find yummy grilled sausages, hot chestnuts amongst other snacks. A special mention must be made of baked apples found in the fairs as their smell is simply intoxicating especially on a cold winter day. Besides food that one can have then and there, one can also get gingerbread biscuits, marzipan figures as well as other types of sweets. These sweets are excellent souvenirs that can be carried back to one’s country.

The Berlin Christmas Market is one of the most popular Christmas markets among tourists. The largest Christmas market takes place in Spandau Old Town. There are around 250 stalls during the week and 400 stall during weekends. One is also entertained in the Spandau Christmas Market with stage programs which also includes Christmas rock concerts held on particular days.  One of the many attractions includes a crib of live animals. The entire family can have fun at the Christmas market. Christmas markets in other parts of Berlin and Germany are also quite fabulous. Irrespective of where you are in Germany, a Christmas market in not too very away.

There are many tour operators who are aware of the fact that people travel to Germany during or before Christmas especially to experience and enjoy Christmas markets. It is possible to plan your itinerary around Christmas markets in Germany. If you plan to travel to Germany especially for the Christmas markets, make sure you have enough space in your luggage to bring back all the things that you will be tempted to buy.

One can buy Christmas pyramid, nutcrackers, Incense smokers, handmade wooden music boxes with figurines, brown glass baubles, beeswax candles and many more. All these articles are quite typical of German Christmas markets therefore they make excellent souvenirs as well.

Children usually like to get the actual feel of things therefore if you are visiting Frankfurt, Germany, it would be a good idea to take the kids to Frankfurt Children’s museum. Traveling should be an educational experience but in a fun manner and the Frankfurt children’s museum gives children the opportunity to touch and try objects of cultural and historical relevance. One can find such children’s museums in Berlin as well as other cities in Germany.

Berlin is a wonderful place for kids and the Berlin Bears, colorfully painted bears, can be found almost everywhere. Kids often like to climb these bears and adults need not worry about it as it is okay to do so. There are many parks and lakes in German cities where kids can play while you can relax and enjoy the ambience.  Older kids studying world wars and cold war in history are most likely to find a visit to Germany very interesting as there are many museums with world war two remains and tours regarding it.

Every kid has grown up reading tales by the Grimm’s brothers and the brothers Grimm belonged to Germany therefore a road trip along the Fairy tale road will be a fabulous idea for both children and adults. The many tales published by them have their setting along the road known as the fairy tale road. The road is around 600 km in length and the journey will begin at Hanau and end in Bremen. There are many attractions for children like the Brothers Grimm Memorial in Hanau, Brothers Grimm Museum in Kassel are amongst the many attractions on the road. The houses made of timber, picturesque forest and castles with outstanding landscapes makes one feel like one is in a fairytale.

The Romantic road or the 1200 km road from Mannheim to Prague in Czech Republic is also known as castle road and kids growing up on Harry Potter are absolute fans of castles. The mentioned route offers around 90 castles.  The castle road has always been popular for tourists and if your family likes outdoor activities then you can also cycle along the scenic route. Often the castles offer added attractions like ghost tours or even medieval style banquets. You can also try the delicious local cuisines along the road.

This high rope course in the middle of Berlin is perfect for children and adults who want to have fun with some action outdoors. Though the idea might initially seem childish, people enjoy it irrespective of age as long as they are fit. There are many different levels of the course to enjoy with whole family. Therefore, one can choose the level according to their ability. Choosing a course that is easy might not be a lot of fun so one should opt for one that is slightly difficult. They have six different courses with various difficult levels as well as altitudes. Their courses are perfect for those who want to attempt trekking but doubt their ability as well as novice climbers.

Climbing in these courses fills one with excitement and is a great way to bond with family, friends or even colleagues. It fills one with a sense of achievement when one moves on to more difficult levels from comparatively easier ones. MountMitte is very popular for corporate events as well as birthday parties or family get-togethers. It is an unusual but very interesting. Bookings are accepted for as many as seventy people. The MountMitte, Berlin is open on all days and one can call them for bookings.

If you think this is dangerous, it is not, as one is provided with climbing harness so that they do not fall off. There are enough safety precautions taken at the MountMitte so one can just enjoy themselves without worrying about the safety of their own self or their families. Children of all age simply adore MounMitte and children are always welcome but they must measure a minimum of 130 cm. It is best to measure your child’s height if you have doubts before bringing them to MountMitte since if they can’t go in and have fun with it after seeing it they are bound to be very disappointed.

A travel to Germany is incomplete without enjoying its fabulous outdoor weather and MountMitte offers one the opportunity to do so. So if you are in Berlin and see that it’s too fine a morning to be spent indoors in malls or museums then walk into MountMitte instead and enjoy a fun park along with fine German weather.

While it is expected that most memorials in Germany would be constructed in memory of Germans who had lost their lives in these wars, The Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park, Berlin pays tribute to the dead Soviets who had lost their lives during the World War II, in particular those who lost their lives during the Battle of Berlin.

The memorial was constructed by the Soviet Union in East Germany near the Berlin wall; the Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park exists till date and has not been demolished because one of the many clauses of German reunification was that Soviet Memorials to the dead would be maintained. The Soviet War Memorial also acts as a cemetery for the ones killed in the Battle of Berlin.

The Memorial focuses on a statue of a Red Army soldier which is 12 m tall with a German child and a sword and the soldier stands over a broken swastika. The iconic statue of the Red soldier is said to be inspired from a true incident during the Battle of Berlin in which a Soviet Sergeant risked his life to save a three year old German girl. The statue was built by famous Soviet architect Yakov Belopolsky.

A large plaza surrounds the statue and there are sixteen road blocks surrounding it which depicts military scenes as well as quotations by Joseph Stalin both in German as well as in English. At the entrance of the memorial, there is a statue of Mother Russia who is shown grieving over her lost sons. The park had been vandalized during the German reunification, but it has been restored to its former glory and is open to all. Germany bears all responsibilities to maintain the Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park.

It is easy to get to the Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park, the closest S-station is Treptower, and one just has to cross the Puschkinallee to enter the main section of the park. One can visit the park as a part of visiting historical monuments during a holiday in Germany and also have a pleasant time strolling in the park. Many go to the Soviet War Memorial to pay their respects to the 5000 who gave up their lives during the Berlin War especially on Victory Day which is celebrated on 9^th May.

The Strandbad Grünau beach is not the most popular and posh beach of Germany, beaches in West Germany are more popular but that is a blessing in disguise as while the beach in West Germany gets crowded during summer, the Strandbad Grünau beach is relatively less busy. It is located far into East Germany and tourists have to travel quite a bit to get there. But it’s worth the journey.

The grounds are well designed with nice gardens and the lawns near the old trees are extremely inviting as well. One can spend a wonderful summer day at the Strandbad Grünau. The very popular Strandbad Wannsee, the beach located in the more posh western part, does not have very deep waters therefore swimming is not possible, but it is in Strandbad Grünau. Strandbad Grünau usually features in most travel guide Germany under outdoor activities in Berlin as well as family and group activity.

Strandbad Grünau underwent major renovation in 2009 and many improvements were made. Besides improving the grounds and lawns, solid concrete staircases were built to provide a smooth entry into the water. The earlier concrete shoreline was removed and it has been replaced with sand to form a natural beach which allows access to water without restrictions. The beach has a beach bar which offers a variety of cocktails as well as music. A section of the beach is also reserved for those who wish to sunbathe naked.

Throughout the beach there are beach chairs, benches and lounges evenly distributed for the comfort of the visitors. While some people relax, others like to enjoy a game of volleyball at the volleyball court which is open to all visitors. The beach is well equipped with dressing rooms as well as showers.

A travel guide Germany often lists Strandbad Grünau under family activities and it definitely lives up to it. Both men’s and women’s toilets have changing tables for children. It has tried to take care of the needs of the physically-challenged as well by building a toilet for the disabled.

Admissions to the beach usually cost ten Euros for a family with a single child and an additional two and a half euro for every additional child. Strandbad Grünau is usually open from May to September from 10 in the morning till 6 or 7 o’clock in the evening.

The best part of an outdoor cinema is that it is something everyone can be a part of. Physically challenged or the old and infirm often find many attractions out of their bounds because it requires climbing stairs or walking a lot but an outdoor cinema can be enjoyed by everyone. Germany tourism offers a great variety of attractions; tourists generally get up really early in the morning and start visiting museums and other places of interest. If you are tired by the end of the day but do not want to call it a day, enjoy a typical Berlin summer attraction – an outdoor movie.

Outdoor movies or Freiluftkino takes place in the various parks and gardens of Berlin. Most of them usually show German movies but the Freiluftkino Kreuzberg shows movies in English. It is located in the 3 Schwestern Restaurant’s back garden in the Kunsthaus Bethanian Arts Centre. Tickets for shows usually cost six and a half Euro and tickets start selling half an hour before the show. Chairs are provided for the viewers but it might get a little chilly so it is advisable to bring a waterproof wind cheater and blanket in case you need it. It is one of the most popular outdoor cinemas because of its fantastic location therefore it is advisable to come early. There are many cafes and bars near Freiluftkino Kreuzberg therefore one can also start their evening with a movie and later visit pubs in the area.

Screenings include popular cinema, new releases, documentaries, classics as well as some fantastic world cinema. The organizers always try to show a movie in the original language therefore subtitles are provided. These shows usually take place only during the weekend and the screenings take place irrespective of weather. Freiluftkino Kreuzberg has a program listing the name of movies along with the timing to be shown during the current season. One can just visit their website and decide which movie one would like to see and plan their day accordingly.