Welcome to Germany

Herzlich Willkommen in Deutschland

I’m so excited that you’re interested in Germany! Whether you just want to know more about this varied country or are planning an adventure here, this is the place to start.

By Adventure

Whether by hiking, biking, or any other sport, I think visiting Germany actively is a great way to get to know this country more authentically. Below are a handful of active adventures I’ve been on and think you would love too!

Hiking Adventures in Germany

Germany has two boards which certify fantastic hiking trails. The Deutsches Wanderinstitut certifies Premium Hikes, while the Deutscher Wanderverband awards Quality Hikes. Both groups enable you to find terrific trails wherever you are and make it easy to find your way.

The Brocken

The tallest peak in the Harz mountain at 1142m, this is the highest elevation you’ll see in northern Germany, and it’s not all that far from the country’s capital. For this adventure, we camped in Schierke and made a visit to the beautiful half-timbered town of Wernigerode.

The Westweg

280 km over 12-14 days through the Black Forest on a Quality Hike. A fantastic way to see a lot of incredible nature and small villages. Bookend this trip with some of the 100 Best Things in BW.

66-Lakes-Trail

416 km divided up into 17 day hikes which can be done from Bahnhof to Bahnhof (train station to train station). Starting and ending in Potsdam, this loop takes you completely around Berlin through the state of Brandenburg.

Hiking in Brandenburg

Living in Berlin, Brandenburg is where I spend all of my free weekend time. There are thousands of kilometers of marked trail in the state, much of which is worth doing. There are 6 Quality Hikes in Brandenburg, as well as several long distance trails. All the hikes I’ve done have been accessed via public transportation.

trail markers on the havel Bredereiche — sunset in Fürstenberg

Lüneburger Heide

The Lüneburger Heide is quite famous for its beautiful purple summertime bloom. C and I went in spring, so it wasn’t as colorful, but still gorgeous. We really loved it and I’m dying to get back to see it in its complete purple glory and do more hiking. The well-known Heidschnuckenweg hiking trail travels through the Heide.

Biking Adventures in Germany

100-Schlösser-Route

If you like castles and cycling, then this is the trail for you. The 100 Castles Route passes by many amazing Wasserburgen (moat-surrounded castles) which are like fairy-tale dreams come true! 4 loops of this trail start and end roughly in Münster, which itself is worth an extended visit.

castle in Burgsteinfurt north route — Schloss Raesfeld

Berlin-Copenhagen Bike Trail

Biking from one capital to another and all the adventures in between (650 km) from Brandenburg to Mecklenburg-West Pomerania to Denmark. We sweetened this trip with a week-long visit to the Danish island of Bornholm.

Schloss Güstrow — water break along the Havel

Berlin-Usedom Bike Trail

This is one of my most popular posts on how NOT to go on a bike trip (300 km)

Berlin Wall Bike Trail

Also known as the Mauerweg, this trail follows the former Berlin Wall around West Berlin (152 km)

Climbing Adventures in Germany

Frankenjura

A region in northern Bavaria, the Frankenjura is filled with great rocks to climb. This is where climbing became a serious sport and training methods like the hangboard were developed. Check out Alex Megos’s movie Redpoint (on YouTube) to learn more about the region and its historical significance to the sport.

By Bundesland:

I’ve been to 15 of the 16 Bundesländer (states) in Germany, but have so far written about these few. I hope in the future to have some great information about adventures in each one.

Baden-Württemberg

Bavaria’s cousin to the west (and my favorite state!), Baden-Württemberg is chock full with tons of great destinations and adventures. The state is also home to Germany’s oldest long distance hiking trail, the Westweg, which travels 280 km through the Black Forest. If you want to visit a lot in a short amount of time, or even over the course of a year, look into the BW Schloss Card, which gives you ALL state-owned palaces, gardens, and historic sites for one discounted price.

Bavaria

Filled with half-timbered houses, beer, and the Alps, Bayern is what most people are thinking of when they think “Germany.” The Alps are fantastic for adventures like jaw-droppingly beautiful hiking, dramatic rock climbing in the Frankenjura, and via Ferrata ascents. It’s also where the famous Neuschwanstein is located, but find out whether or not it’s worth visiting…

Berlin

Germany’s capital and one of the 3 city-states, you can find many adventurous day trips and weekend trips from Berlin. A great outdoor activity within the city is biking the Mauerweg, or Berlin Wall Bike Trail. Berlin is also the start of many other biking excursions, like the Berlin-Usedom trail to the Baltic Sea, Berlin-Copenhagen, and many others. Check out the best hikes and great bike day trips in the city.

Brandenburg

Brandenburg – the land filled with horses and sand, this Bundesland is your best bet for a hiking or biking day trip from Berlin and where I spend most of my free time. Find out all about Hiking in Brandenburg, with routes like the 66-Lakes-Trail, Märkische Schweiz Rundweg, and the Schlaubetal.

Hesse

Home to Frankfurt, Germany’s fairy-tale road and half-timbered road, there is plenty of charm to be found in Hesse.

Lower Saxony

Germany’s second largest state is just as diverse as it is spread out. Lower Saxony spreads from the North Sea to central Germany and borders nine other states. Check out the East Friesan Islands on the North Sea for water adventures or the Lüneburger Heide for hiking excursions.

Mecklenburg-West Pomerania

The land of lakes. Or maybe just water, since Mecklenburg-West Pomerania is also Germany’s border to the Baltic Sea. With Lake Müritz, Germany’s second largest lake, and its surrounding Seenplatte (lakeland) there’s no end to boating and water adventures. Plan your own paddle adventure or spend the day in Waren an der Müritz, Barlachstadt Güstrow, or the Hansa city of Wismar. Check out the enchanting Schweriner Castle, and get a two for one deal when you also stop by Ludwigslust.

North Rhineland-Westphalia

Another large state, North Rhineland-Westphalia borders the Netherlands and Belgium and contains the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany which encompasses cities like Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Bonn, Essen, and the wonderful Münster. Around Münsterland, you can experience fantastic bike adventures like the 100-Schlösser-Route or the Werseradweg. The former passes picturesque palaces and the latter travels a peaceful river through the Münster region.

Saxony-Anhalt

Looking for great weekend trips from Berlin to “classic” Germany, then Saxony-Anhalt is the place to go! Mountains, castles, and half-timbered houses, there’s no end to the sightseeing here. Hike up northern Germany’s tallest mountain, the Brocken, or visit half-timbered towns like Quedlinburg and Wernigerode. There’s no end to the charm in Saxon-Anhalt!

Castles!

Because who doesn’t love castles? As an American, I feel I have to take advantage of all the “piles of old stones” here in Germany. Not that I really mind this obligation.

Neuschwanstein is Germany’s most famous castle. But is it really worth visiting?

The Baden-Württemberg Schloss Card is an excellent way to see a smattering of sights (many of which are CASTLES!) on a budget.

Click here to view all posts about castles

Travel Tips

Coming soon!! Trains, travel, helpful vocabulary!

You can find all posts on Germany here.