The Most Beautiful Towns in Germany

There’s more to Germany than Oktoberfest and Berlin. Venture off the beaten path and you’ll find Roman ruins, medieval villages and Baroque city centres. It’s tough to know where to go first, so we’ve taken the liberty of choosing the most beautiful towns in the country for you. Take as much time as you need, and don’t forget your camera.
Interested in booking a trip to Germany? Our four-day festive Mini Trip in Bavaria is a Christmassy delight full of charming old towns, luminescent Christmas markets and plenty of mulled wine.
Heidelberg
Architectural Landmark

Heidelberg takes charm to a whole new level. Right on the banks of the river Neckar, the city has been inhabited for several millennia. By the late Middle Ages, Heidelberg had already become an important city in Europe, and it played a large role during the Reformation era. The small size and rural locale meant it wasn’t a target during World War II, so it escaped Allied bombing; as a result, the city that you see when you arrive is what grew organically over the centuries. The Baroque city centre and the castle are just two aspects that you can’t miss.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Market

Schwerin
Historical Landmark, Architectural Landmark

Nuremberg
Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark

The Nuremberg Trials are the first thing that popped into your head, right? The tribunals of Nazi war criminals shaped a crippled post-World War II Germany, but there’s more to this city than that. A good number of medieval buildings survive there to this day, making Nuremberg the perfect place for history buffs of all stripes.
Day three of our Bavarian Mini Trip will take you to this beautiful city – you’ll tour the old town with a Local Insider, check out the famous Christmas markets and visit a huge rock cellar labyrinth used to store the city’s red beer.
Weimar
Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark

Between the World Wars, Germany was called the Weimer Republic, so this is another city intrinsically linked to a dark period. However, Weimar – relatively undiscovered by tourists – is hugely worth a visit. There are several sites here listed on the Unesco World Heritage List, mainly because of their association with two major movements: Weimar Classicism, spearheaded by such literary luminaries as Goethe and Schiller, and Bauhaus, which was created in the city.
Leipzig
Architectural Landmark

The Leipzig skyline is an excellent example of how gorgeous it can be when old meets new. Once an important stop on Holy Roman Empire trade routes and now a major economic centre, Leipzig has always kept itself at the forefront of development while maintaining local history. While it did suffer significant damage during the war, many of the monuments and buildings were either rebuilt or preserved. So, you can still see things landmarks the old town square and several churches from various architectural periods.
Bonn
Historical Landmark, Architectural Landmark

Bonn was first founded as a Roman settlement, thanks to a position on the Rhine river making the area accessible (and at times quite strategic). However, probably the most notable part of local history is that Beethoven was born here in 1770. So, if you’re looking for culture and class, Bonn should be your first stop.
Trier
Architectural Landmark

Lübeck
Historical Landmark

Lübeck enjoys great status as a trading city, which began in the 14th century when it became the unofficial Queen of the Hanseatic League. Beyond that, Lübeck is listed on the Unesco World Heritage List as one of the best examples of a brick Gothic city, with the centre especially flaunting many buildings in the style.
Freiburg
Natural Feature

Freiburg has always been a hub for learning. The first university there was built in 1457, and students continue to flock to the city to this day, yearning for the vibrant cultural life. The city is also on the edge of the Black Forest, so it’s a great branching-off point for exploring some of Germany’s most scenic landscapes.
Looking for your dream European destination? As well as Germany we have culturally immersive trips in Spain, Italy, Portugal, the UK and Greece.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.