My family and I, have been going to Germany 3 times now. Mostly because we don’t have to travel far, and it is so CHEAP to visit Germany if you stay in smaller cities or campsites.
I have done some research on, what Germany is famous for, and what is worth experiencing in Germany.
I know there is a ton of these lists online, but I actually think included some things you did not know! Check it out!
Beautiful Castles
Did you know that Germany is the home of Frankensteins Castle? I did not! I thought that it was in Romania or Bulgaria.
But according to my research, this is not true! Frankensteinscastle is the Wittgenstein Castle in Berleburg.
Frankenstein is famous, I would say! There are many other beautiful castles in Germany including:
- Neuschwanstein Castle, Neuschwanstein
- Wernigerode Castle, Saxony-Anhalt
- Zwinger, Dresden
- Schwerin Palace, Schwerin
- Schloss Nordkichen, North Rhine Westphalia
- Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin
- Heidelberg Castle, Heidelberg
- Castle of Wevelsburg
- Hohenzollern Castle, Bisingen
- Nuremberg Castle,
- Castle Frankenstein (Wittgenstein), Berleburg
Gigantic Amusement Parks
When traveling as a family, you want to do something the kids enjoy. And honestly who doesn’t enjoy a roller coaster ride?
I have been to Hansa Land, and I know a lot of people who go to Heide Park, which is why they are at the top of my list.
Hansa Land is very beautiful and the rides range from toddler-friendly to thrilling super roller coasters. I want to go again when the kids get bigger.
A list of Amusement Parks in Germany
- Heide Park, Luneburger Heide
- Hansa Land, Sieksdorf
- PhantasiaLand, Brühl
- Europa Park. The second-largest amusement park in all of Europe, next to Disneyland Paris.
- Holiday Park
- Tiger & Turtle Magic, Duisburg
Sausages All Over The Place!
I don’t think that Germany is a great foodie country in general. I have had some of my worst food-experiences in Germany actually, but sausages and wiener schnitzels are just great
Pro tip: if you want great food in Germany, then you have to spent a little more than just the cheaper touristy places. I talk more about this in my review of Súdsee camp in Germany.
Oktoberfest & Beer
As far as my research goes, there was a law in Germany about mixing beer called the Beer Purity Law, introduced in 1516, which is to protect how the beer is mixed.
As a Dane, a close neighbor to Germany, I would say that we are more famous for beer than Germany. But okay, Oktoberfest and Schnitzel is a thing.
Image Credits: Private Photos from Vacations
Car Production
I heard somebody say everybody knows someone who works in the car industry in Germany.
That might be true because, besides the production of cars, I imagine they have thousands of jobs with spare parts, service and such.
Here are some of the Car brands, produced in Germany.
- Audi
- BMW
- Mercedes
- Opel
- Volkswagen
- Ford
Germany also has the Autobahn and Nurburgring. Some parts of the Autobahn has no speed limit, yikes.
I had a BMW once. It was a great car, but it was too expensive. In Denmark we pay, at the time, a 180% percent tax on buying cars (Now its “only” 150% or something)
Image Credits: Private Photos
History & World War 2
So yeah, let’s not get too much into this, but we all know what part Germany played in the second world war. I just don’t want my blog to be about this.
If you want to know more, watch Band of Brothers on HBO. This post is going to be as little as possible, about second world war. But it is a big part of what we know Germany for.
There is a concentration camp, north of Munich called Dachau which was the prototype of all camps built later on.
Another one is near Oranienburg called Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, or Bergen-Belsen near Lohheide.
The Berlin Wall & Berlin Holocaust Memorial
The wall fell the year I was born, 1989. I went to Berlin a few years ago to see it, and I was not really impressed or struck. I think you might have had to have some personal history or heard some stories about it, to feel anything.
But! When I saw the Berlin Holocaust Memorial. The big square bricks, something was different. I was in Berlin with a group of guys and everyone went silent for a moment, you automatically think of all the people who suffered a horrible fate.
The sight is not that special, sorry, but, the feeling and what it represents is much more than just some bricks.
Image Credits: Private Photos from Vacations
Cologne Cathedral
Köln Cathedral. (Hohe Domkirche St. Peter und Maria) I don’t know why, but I thought this was in France. It might be because there is an area in France called Cologne.
I know this area in Germany as Köln and not Cologne.
QUICK FACT: Construction started in 1248 and ended in 1880 that’s 632 years of construction, you guys. Wow!
The building is 157 meters tall and was bombed by allied forces, a whopping 70 times in second world war, during the 262 bomb-attacks the city of Köln faced.
Was accepted into the UNESCO world heritage Europe in 1996. I can’t help but think it looks A LOT like the cathedral in York. Read my Review of York here, and see all the pictures.
Old Timbered Houses
One thing I noticed, especially in Luneburger Heide, near Heidepark and Camp Südsee (read my full review here). There are a lot of old, and very tall timbered houses with thatched roofs.
We have that in Denmark too, but our old houses are very tiny and if you don’t watch out, you’ll knock your head on the top of the doors.
But in Germany the timbered houses are GIGANTIC. Seriously like 3-4 floors tall.
I have been looking through my photos, but I can’t find any photos of this, sorry.
There is a garden with the history of German architecture in mini-scale called Mühlenplatz. This place should cover the history of architecture like this.
Rügen Island
I have been to Rügen once, and it was very nice. We were so lucky and blessed with nice weather. We stayed at Precise Resort, as far as I remember.
I recommend staying in the city of Binz, we visited the city and it was just as visiting the south of France. Nice beaches in a cozy small town, definitely worth visiting again.
Image Credits: Private Photos from Vacations
There is some history in Rügen too, for those who are interested. Prora, an unfinished hotel of 4.5 kilometers that Hitler was building as a “paradise” for the friends of the Third Reich.
It was put on pause, to fund the war instead, and we all know how that ended.
REMEMBER: Bring cash Rügen. They do not accept credit card anywhere.
The Eagles Nest
If you were to ask me, I thought this was in Switzerland, because I saw something like this when going to Switzerland in 2004-ish. But after some research, I am confusing Piz Gloria (used in “Her Majestys Service, James Bond”) and The Eagles Nest.
The Eagles Nest is called Kehlsteinhaus in German. When Googleing, there is much conflicting info about this place, but the official website is https://www.kehlsteinhaus.de/ for anyone who wants to learn more.
I think this is a part of Band of Brothers in HBO, but as far as I remember, they say that is in Austria.
Unbelievable Ruins & Rocks
If time is on your hands. Then go Google some of these places, they look like something you would never imagine being in Germany.
I never personally thought of Germany as being home of old rocks like the Stonehenge. This might not compare, but it is in the same category I would think.
On a personal note, the Königsstuhl in Rügen was very an underwhelming sight.
The hike up there is beautiful, but it’s not really worth seeing, unless you are in Rügen anyway.
- The Bastei, Lohmen
- Bergpark, Wilhelmshöhe (not really a ruin)
- Sanspareil Rock Garden
- Kloster Allerheilegen
- Luisenburg Rock Labyrinth
- The Devil’s Wall
- Porta Nigra
- Weissensee Abandoned Children’s Hospital
- The Abandoned Airfield of Rangsdorf
- Castle Werdenfels
- Königsstuhl, Rügen
Skeletons & Crypts
Okay, this part I did not know, but after doing some research, this kind of creeps me out. The Germans have a lot of Skeleton-related art and history buildings.
Did you know this? Leave a comment below, if you know why they have all these Skeletons in their cathedrals and churches.
- Here are some of the places you’ll find skeletons.
- Jeweled Skeletons in Saint Munditia
- Skeletons of Waldsassen Basilica
- Hohenzollern Crypt, Berlin Cathedral
- Skulls of Chammünster Ossuary, Cham
- Impaled Skull of Klaus Stortebeker
David Hasselhoff Museum
THE HOFF is an Iconic person himself, but in Berlin, there is an actual museum to David Hasselhoff! If you are American this might come as a shock to you, but David Hasselhoff is of German descent.
David Hasselhoff is very big in Germany. Both his music career, movies and television is loved by thousands. It is not unusual for him to gather a whopping 100,000 people at a concert.
Worlds Largest Cuckoo Clock
Some people think that the Largest Cuckoo Clock is in Sugarcreek, Ohio – and some say that is in fact in Germany.
If this is something that excites you, then you need to go visit the Triberg-Schonach cuckoo clock in Germany’s Eble Uhren-Park.
It is built like a traditional clock, but 60 times the size and it is big enough to walk inside and see how it works.
Zoos and Animal Parks
So if you are traveling with smaller kids. This is just a must-visit for you. I have been to 4 animal parks in Germany, and my favorite was Wild Park Luneburger Heide, and number two was Serengetti Wild Park.
The park in Luneburger Heidi has a gigantic playground when you enter. Kids could play for hours here, it was so nice.
And the Animal had lots of room to walk and run. Not all animal parks can say this.
Here are some animal parks. I bolded the ones I have visited.
- Serengeti Wild Park (Great)
- Heimat Tierpark Olderdissen, Bielefeld
- Leipzig Zoo, Leipzig
- Wildpark, Pforzheim
- Zoo Arche Noah (Okay, once you get past the entrance)
- Naturschutz Tierpark, Gorlitz
- Tierpark, Berlin
- Wildpark Luneburger Heide (ReallyGreat)
- Wolfcenter Barme
- Zoo Hannover
- Wildpark Muden (Horrible, don’t go there)
- Strassfurt Zoo
- Nadermann Zoo
- Tier Und Freizeit Park, Thüle
Honestly, I think that there are more than 100 animal parks in Germany. It’s crazy. I think that generally, it is quite inexpensive to visit an animal park in Germany, compared to Denmark, where we are from.
The Black Forest (Schwarzwald)
Called Schwarzwald in German. Considered one of the most beautiful places in German.
I did not know about this place, before researching this post, but I have put this place on my todo list. This looks very beautiful. I, personally like places like this a lot!
Go see the website about the black forest here: https://www.blackforest-tourism.com/Black-Forest
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