Things not to miss in Germany

#01 Schloss Neuschwanstein

Mad King Ludwig’s maddest creation combines Wagnerian inspiration with a superbly dramatic alpine site to create a romantic fantasy from the age of chivalry.

#02 Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich

This iconic white building is a temple to modernism, from the classics of modern art to masterpieces of furniture and automotive design.

#03 Visiting a spa

Soak, sweat and rejuvenate in one of Germany’s many saunas and spas

#04 Long-distance cycling

Almost every major German river – including the Mosel – has a long-distance cycle path alongside.

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#05 Christmas markets

Christmas cheer the way it’s been for centuries.

#06 The Romantic Rhine

Rhine-side castles and vineyards in the Germany of tourist brochures.

#07 Oktoberfest, Munich

The world’s biggest excuse for a beer – and it comes in big measures, too.

#08 Ostalgie

Revel in the Eastern Bloc nostalgia fondly known as Ostalgie.

#09 The Zwinger, Dresden

The most extravagant alfresco ballroom Germany ever built.

#10 Fairytale villages on the Romantic Road

A Disney-like Bavarian road-trip where the steep roofs and ancient towers are real.

#11 Kaffee und Kuchen

This elegant mid-afternoon sugar-rush is another national obsession.

#12 Cologne

A liberal, cosmopolitan metropolis with two thousand years of art and history.

#13 Wurst

Germany’s most iconic sausage, from pale, lemony Weisswurst to Currywurst with ketchup and curry powder.

#14 Clubbing

Electronic dance music rules in Germany, but there’s plenty of room for quirkier sounds too.

#15 The Ruhr’s Industrial Heritage Trail

The Ruhr’s reinvented industrial heritage offers some of Europe’s most original travel experiences.

#16 Bavarian Baroque

Bavaria’s heavenly church interiors pair élan with excess. For more information, see The Wieskirche.

#17 The Rathaus, Bamberg

Trompe l’oeil trickery in the town hall that launched a thousand flashbulbs.

#18 Rügen’s Cliffs

Edged by white cliffs, Germany’s largest island remains a gentle, pastoral place where it’s easy to escape the crowds.

#19 German wine

High local demand means that many German tipples barely leave the valleys where they are grown.

#20 Skiing, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Soak up the views from high-altitude pistes, or brave the fearsome Kandahar World Cup Run.

#21 Aachen’s cathedral

Aachen’s ancient cathedral is a taste of Byzantium in the heart of the city.

#22 Christopher Street Day

Berlin’s and Cologne’s massive lesbian and gay communities know how to throw a party.

#23 North Sea islands

Idle in escapist Strandkörbe seats or skim across the sea on a kite-surf.

#24 Hiking in the Allgäu, Bavaria

Alpine scenery, clean air and challenging hikes in Bavaria’s beautiful south.