Best places in Germany you've got to visit

Best places in Germany you've got to visit

When I say, “Germany,” what’s the first thing that pops into your mind?
Sausage? Lederhosen?

Yeah, yeah. That’s what I thought you’d say.

Not only is Germany the economic powerhouse of the European Union, it just so happens to be one of the best places to visit for those seeking an authentic, exciting vacation on the "continent." Thanks to the superb network of highways (autobahns) and railways that crisscross this central European country, Germany's cities, and towns, big and small, are easy to access.

So if you are planning a trip to Germany, there are tons of diverse, must-see sites to add to your itinerary!

I promise that while visiting these travel destinations you will have plenty of chances to enjoy finely-brewed ales and huge plates of meat.

When you’re learning German in-country or learning it reception, regional vocabulary can assist you study the culture of German whereas you study language. You’ll encounter some wonderful opportunities to find out new vocabulary that you just may not see in your normal textbook. whether or not you’re designing a visit to at least one of Deutschland’s largest cities, or simply learning concerning the country’s culture and history, this list of city-specific vocab can introduce you to some exciting German words.

First, we’re getting to begin with all that Berlin needs to provide.

1. 
   

   die Hauptstadt – Berlin

   
   

Not only is Berlin Germany’s largest city (almost 3.5 million people), and its own state, it’s also the nation’s capital. Berlin is located in the north-east of Germany, relatively close to Polen (Poland).

2. 
   

   der Bundestag – German parliament

   
   

As the capital, Berlin is that the seat of the German parliament. Tourists in Berlin are allowed to go to the Bundestag. It’s currently situated within the historic Reichstag building, that accustomed house the German Empire’s Imperial Diet (an earlier parliament, called Reichstag in German). The new restored Reichstag building options an enormous dome searching over the complete town.

3. 
   

   die Berliner Mauer – the Berlin Wall

   
   

The Berliner Mauer is also sometimes referred to simply as die Mauer, which means “wall” in German. The Berlin Wall still remains preserved in a one-kilometer stretch, known as the East Side Gallery, alongside Berlin’s River Spree. A 160-kilometer path for cyclists and walkers, known as der Mauerweg (the Berlin Wall Trail), still runs along the former borders of West Berlin.

4. 
   

   das Brandenburger Tor – the Brandenburg Gate

   
   

This known arch within the central city overlooks the bifoliate street called Unter den Linden (literally: beneath the Lindens). A magnet for tourists, you’ll usually realize this space jam-packed with individuals fotografieren (taking photos).

5. 
   

   der Tiergarten – Zoo / Literally: Animal Garden

   
   

In German, das Tier is an animal. So this large, tree-filled park in Berlin-Mitte (central Berlin; Mitte means “middle”) is named “Animal Garden.” Ein Tiergarten might refer to a zoo or a zoological garden. However, the name of this Berlin park is derived from the fact that it used to a hunting ground!
You won’t find a zoo in the Tiergarten, but the nearby Zoologischer Garten (Zoological Garden) houses one.

 

6. 
   

   Schloss Charlottenburg – Charlottenburg Palace

   
   

As you’ll learn if you travel around Germany, where these buildings are abundant, das Schloss indicates a castle, palace, or mansion. The 17th-century Schloss Charlottenburg is located in the affluent west-side Bezirk (borough) of Charlottenburg, and features a large and beautiful Garten which visitors can wander, free of charge.

7. 
   

   der Fernsehturm – the TV Tower

   
   

Built in 1969 in Alexanderplatz by the East German government, the Fernsehturm still towers over the rest of Berlin. Fernseh refers to television (a TV = das Fernsehen), while der Turm is a tower. For a fee, you can ride to the top of the Fernsehturm’s globe to look out over the rest of the city.

8. 
   

   der Plattenbau – industrialized, pre-fabricated apartment block

   
   

This word does not translate into English because it refers to a specifically German (and Eastern Bloc) style of building. In fact, you may hear people using the word Plattenbau in English to talk about this type of architecture. Platte refers to a slab, while Bau refers to construction. Popular especially in East Germany, Plattenbauten were built frequently from the 1960’s onward. Made of large, pre-fab concrete slabs, Plattenbauten were easy and cost-effective to construct, and were designed to combat Germany’s housing crisis after wartime bombing destroyed many homes. Plattenbauten can still be seen in some East Berlin areas.

Now, we’re going to make another stop on the tour and view München, which you may know as Munich.

9. 
   

   Bayern – Bavaria

   
   

Just like München itself, the name of Munich’s province isn’t the same in English as it is in German. You’ve probably heard of Bavaria, a large southern province bordering on die Schweiz (Switzerland), die Tschechische Republik (the Czech Republic), and Österreich (Austria). Bayern is the German name for this area. It’s typically a more conservative part of Germany, with different Traditionen (traditions) from the north.

10. 
    

     das Rathaus-Glockenspiel – the Town Hall Chimes

    
    

Das Rathaus is a town hall (der Rat is advice), while das Glockenspiel refers to chimes. (Not exactly the same as English, where a glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of keys.) Munich’s Rathaus-Glockenspiel is a well-known tourist attraction located at the city’s Marienplatz. At certain times daily, it chimes, and small figurines re-enact historical scenes from the 16th century.

best places in Germany you've got to visit

11. 
    

    die Frauenkirche (Full name: Dom zu Unserer Lieben Frau) – Cathedral of Our Dear Lady

    
    

In German, eine Kirche is a church or chapel. Die Frauenkirche is considered to be a symbol of Munich. It features a tall tower offering excellent views of the city and die Alpen (the Alps). This church is also known for its mysterious Teufelstritt, or “Devil’s Footstep” (der Teufel is the devil;

 

ein Tritt is a footstep). A black mark near the entrance, resembling a footprint, is said to be the mark of where the devil stood looking at the church. Various legends surround this footprint—supposedly, the angry devil caused a harsh wind to blow around the church, which continues even to this day.

12. 
    

    Englischer Garten – English Garden

    
    

Munich’s Englischer Garten is one of the largest urban parks in the world—it’s even bigger than Central Park! It contains various Biergärten (Beer gardens), and even a nudist area. In German, a nudist can be referred to as ein Nudist, or ein FKKler—FFK stands for Freikörperkultur, which means “free body culture.” May be useful to know if you ever find yourself trying to strike up a conversation with ein FKKler in the Englischer Garten.

Now that we’ve been to Belin and Munich, let’s turn to Hamburg.

best places in Germany you've got to visit

 

13. 
    

    Fischmarkt – Fish Market

    
    

Every Sunday morning, since as far back as 1703, this large market has been selling far more than just fish! Various foods, Antiquitäten (antiques), and more can be bought at Hamburg’s Fischmarkt, which is usually full of both tourists and Schnäppchenjäger (das Schnäppchen is a bargain, while der Jäger is a hunter—this scary-sounding word refers simply to bargain hunters).

14. 
    

    Hauptkirche Sankt Michaelis – Saint Michael’s Church

    
    

Generally referred to simply as Michel, this Lutheran church with its tall bronze spire is known as ein Wahrzeichen (landmark) of Hamburg. It offers an excellent view out over the city, as well as der Hafen (the port) and even die Landschaft (the countryside).

best places in Germany you've got to visit

15. 
    

    der Speicherstadt – Warehouse City

    
    

Hamburg’s Speicherstadt is truly a unique landmark. Built in the late 19^th century, it’s the world’s largest integrated complex of warehouses (die Speicher). It can be toured by water, via the network of small canals that connect the so-called Stadt. At night, Lichtkunst (light art) illuminates the brick walls of the Speicherstadt.

best places in Germany you've got to visit

16. 
    

    Reeperbahn – the most famous street in Hamburg

    
    

This street gets its name from the old German word for ship’s rope, which was Reep, as the nearby area used to be produce ropes for Hamburg’s harbor. Today, the Reeperbahn is a vibrant nightlife street, offering a variety of clubs and entertainment, and bordering Hamburg’s red light district. The Beatles played an early show at the Reeperbahn’s Club Indra, and a Beatles Museum is now located in the area. If you’re looking for a night out in Hamburg, this is definitely the place to go.

One more place you simply can’t leave Germany without visiting is Frankfurt Am Main (Frankfurt On the River Main).

17. 
    

    der Römerberg – Roman Mountain

    
    

The historic center of Frankfurt’s Altstadt (old city) has existed since the Middle Ages. It’s home to many fairs, festivals, and also the famous Römer, Frankfurt’s government building since the 15th century. City councilors still meet here. The area was partially destroyed in the Second World War, but careful restoration has allowed Frankfurt’s Römerberg to remain a beautiful historic site, and well worth a visit.

18. 
    

    Goethe Haus und Goethe Museum – Geothe’s House and Museum

    
    

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (pronounced roughly like “

gurh-tuh”) was an important German writer. In Frankfurt, the house where he was born still stands. For any fans of Goethe, or of literature in general, this is a cool opportunity to see the place where a famous writer came into the world—and in any case, it’s an interesting historical house. The Goethe Museum (Museum is the same word in German and English!) exhibits a collection of relevant Kunst (art) from Goethe’s time, and should interest even those who aren’t Goethe readers.

19. 
    

    Alte Oper – Old Opera

    
    

Frankfurt’s Alte Oper is worth seeing simply because of its story. The historic building, financed by Frankfurt citizens in the late 19th century, was almost completely destroyed in the Second World War. The Alte Oper stood in ruins for some time until eine Burgerinitiative (citizen’s initiative—ein Burger is a citizen) raised money to restore it in the 1980s. Today, Frankfurt’s opera has a modern, new building, but the Alte Oper still offers a program of various concerts.

So, what do you think? Getting excited about traveling to Germany? Well, this was just a jumping-off point! Note down your favorite sites to visit and do some more background research on regional vocabulary, traditions, festivals, and food before taking off. While making friends in Germany, you’ll be surprised how happy people are when foreigners take a serious interest in their hometown. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to dig deeper into German language and culture!