The 7 Best Things To Do In Germany In Your 20s

In your twenties, you’ve hit that sweet spot – young enough to take risks and enjoy life, old enough to have a job with money for adventures. Whether your ideal adventure involves speed, beer, nature, clubs or all four, our list of seven things to try when you’re on holiday in Germany in your 20s is all you’ll need.

Find yourself in the mountains

Germany has more than 200 mountain and hill ranges that have been shredding calves and providing clarity in chaos for hundreds of years. Sure, everyone knows the Alps, but skiing, hiking and enjoying stupendous views can also be accomplished in the Harz Mountains in the north of Germany, Feldberg in the Black Forest or the Eastern Ore Mountains near the Czech border.

On top of the world – Zugspitze, Germany I

Take a beer tour

Wear a ridiculous costume at the carnival in Cologne

The carnival in Cologne happens at the same time and for the same reasons Mardi Gras in Brazil but there are far fewer bikinis. There are traditional costumes that older people tend to wear, but most younger people wear a cheap costume they bought either at a specialist carnival costume store, on Amazon or at places like Primark. The slutty Halloween-style costume isn’t really a thing here. The best costume is the one you have on, and often, the more ridiculous, the better.

A person in a fish costume on their way to the Cologne Carnival in Germany I

Go to Oktoberfest in Erlangen in June

Oktoberfest in Munich is a sight to behold, but if you’re not in possession of a bank balance that is at all times phat, then it’s better to get your lederhosen party on half an hour north of Nuremberg in June. Officially called the Erlanger Bergkirchweih, the four-day party still gets more than 1 million visitors, and you can still drink beer out of stone mugs and watch all the Mädels go by in their dirndls without getting totally overwhelmed.

Try to get into the Berghain

The Berghain in Berlin is pretty much the best club in the world. Naturally, it is almost impossible to get it in. As usual, your chances are better if you’re a woman going with other women. There are many guides online and video explainers on Youtube discussing the best strategies for gaining entrance to what will certainly be an experience you won’t forget in a hurry. Try your luck, and if that doesn’t work, try again. If that still doesn’t work, remember that Berlin is the world capital of the club scene, so there are plenty of other abandoned buildings in which to grind up on someone.

A peek inside the Berghain in Berlin, the best club in the world I

Enjoy some heavy metal thunder in Wacken

In the summer, fields all over the country are transformed into massive music festivals like Wacken, Melt! or Rock Im Park. Wacken is a legendary heavy metal festival that has been going for 28 years in a village about an hour north of Hamburg. If you really like sharing muddy weekends with long-haired dudes who look terrifying but are actually rather polite, then Wacken is for you. Bring earplugs.

Take a high-speed taxi ride

BMW, VW, Mercedes, Porsche, Audi and Trabant all have museums and workshops to visit, but seeing car inside a building isn’t quite the same as experiencing one for yourself. If you are younger than 25, you may have trouble renting a super fast car or if you’re from North America, not be able to drive stick.

There is a solution: the race taxi. Most race tracks around the country, though most famously the Nurburgring, allow passengers to ride around the track with a professional racing driver. Imagine breaking 300km/h (186 miles/h) and living to tell the tale!

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.

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