3 A’s – Airports, Airlines and Accommodations
There are a wide variety of airlines that depart from India to Germany. Some of the well-known ones include AirAsia India.Virgin Atlantic Airways, Air Arabia, SpiceJet, FLYUIA, LOT Polish Airlines, Air France, KLM etc. There are a total of 36 international airports in Germany which facilitate over 100 airlines that fly to many countries from all over the world.
The major airports in Germany include BerlinTegel (soon to be replaced by Berlin Brandenburg Airport), Cologne / Bonn; North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf International; North Rhine-Westphalia, Frankfurt; Hesse, Frankfurt-Hahn; Rhineland-Palatinate
Hamburg, Munich; Bavaria and Stuttgart; Baden-Württemberg. Frankfurt airport and Munich airport are statistically the busiest airports in Germany and facilitate over 100 million people, combined.
The Charles Hotel, Rocco Forte Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, Munich, Hotel de Rome, Hotel Adlon Kempinski, The Regent; Berlin, Das Stue; Berlin etc are some of the most luxurious hotels of Germany where you can enjoy from exquisite cuisines to eye flattering views.
On average, a trip to Germany from India, of 6 nights and 7 days, would cost around INR 1,00,000 to INR 1,25,000, for one person. Though there are great deals and discounts out there for couples and family combos. Search more, find more!
Exploring Germany
There are endless cities and places to explore in Germany. It is well known for beer, bratwurst and castles but there is so much more to it. Just when you think you know, Germany will never fail to surprise you at any given step of your travel. From the outside, it is a straightforward country known for what it’s known but as you start digging deeper the small towns, unique communities, unexpected events and endless opportunities will leave you speechless.
The Country Capital – Berlin
Berlin has a lot to offer, from sightseeing to local travel, a walking tour through Berlin to a road trip, something is always waiting to be explored.
Visiting Berlin and not visiting the most famous neoclassical monument, i.e, Brandenburg Gate, may feel like a sin. The gate is the symbol of representation between the east and the west and is one of the most significant landmarks of the city. Next comes, seeing the sunset from the top of the TV Tower Berlin. It’s also known as Fernsehturm Berlin, which gives the best 360 degrees view of the whole city and sunset is just the icing on the cake!
The Reichstag building, a place where the Parliament sits, is another one of the well known historical sites to visit in Berlin. The entrance is free of any charges but you need to be sure to book your visit well in advance and do not forget to bring your valid ID!
Berlin Cathedral is a Neo-Renaissance style building built in 1905, and it should be on your ‘top 10 places to visit in Berlin’ list! Eastside Gallery, Holocaust Memorial and Check Point Charlie and some of the other destinations that you shall not miss!
It’s a city that holds a lot of historical significance to Germany, the stories of east and west, past and present, and a lot more. There is a great chance that this city might leave a very strong and larger than life impact on you.
Hamburg – One of the biggest harbours in the world
Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany. It is well known for being one of the biggest harbours in the world and has more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined!
It is the city where The Beatles got their start and is a hun of music, bars, stripper boots and clubs
HafenCity- The Port of Hamburg, encompasses 100 square kilometres of the tidal harbour and is known as the Gateway to Germany. You will find many tourist attractions here and on summer weekends you can encounter inhabitants chilling and enjoying. A lovely pedestrian trail takes in the old 19th-century Warehouse District, the Speicherstadt, with its continuous lines of tall brick buildings once used to store tobacco, coffee, dried fruit, and spices. Built-up from 1883 to 1927, it’s reputedly the world’s largest such warehouse district and was in 2015 designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Another important landmark of Port Hamburg is Köhlbrandbrücke, a 3.9-kilometre bridge that spans the harbour. A great way to explore Port Hamburg is by boat so that you can explore all its major landmarks.
Miniatur Wunderland is one of the best places to visit in the city’s historic Speicherstadt warehouse district, especially if you’re with children, and it is the world’s largest model railway. Elbphilharmonie Hall is the crown Jewel of The Port of Hamburg. This has become one of the major landmarks of the city and the hall is considered to be one of the largest and most acoustically pleasing halls in the world. As a tourist, and especially as a music enthusiast, you wouldn’t want to miss this!
The International Maritime Museum, St. Michael’s Church, Hamburger Rathaus (City Hall), Mönckebergstraße and Hamburger Kunsthalle are some of the other extremely significant landmarks in the city of Hamburg that should be on your exploration list.
Frankfurt – The financial Hub
Frankfurt is best known for its airport, that’s the busiest airport in Germany, but it offers a lot more than just departure and arrival. The central business district, Bankenviertel, captures your attention right away and has all ten of the tallest skyscrapers in the country. Opposite Bankenviertel, there’s a city, Museumsufer. The city is full of museums and can keep you entertained for days. Stadel Museum is considered to be the finest art museum in the city and while visiting Frankfurt you wouldn’t want to miss it!
Frankfurt has an ever-growing forest of skyscrapers but one of them is open to public viewing. It provides the tourists with a mesmerizing and never to forget kind of view. Frankfurt Cathedral is another historically important destination due to its relevance to the Holy Roman Empire. Ten kings were crowned at this very place from 1562 to 1792, and even before then, the imperial elections were held in the church from 1356.
Römerberg, another destination to explore, is the quaintest square in the city and is walled by photogenic medieval houses, a church and a historic administrative building. On Paulsplatz, St Paul’s Church is a building of great significance, not just for Frankfurt but Germany as a nation.
If you know you’ve got a trip to Frankfurt coming up, one of the first things to do is check what’s on at the Schirn Kunsthalle. It is in an international network and collaborates with the Pompidou Centre, the Guggenheim Museum, New York’s MoMa, Moscow’s Hermitage and Britain’s Tate Gallery.
The German film museum, Frankfurt zoo, Grüneburgpark and Eschenheimer Turm are some other places to explore and relax while touring Frankfurt
A cultural trip in Germany
Apart from the already mentioned cities, many others will leave you in cultural awe.
Heidelberg, a city that inspired Mark Twain, is considered to be one of the most magical destinations in Europe. A source of inspiration for some of the most famous poets, painters, philosophers and writers, Heidelberg was an important centre for German Romanticism in the 18th century. Walking around its cobblestoned roads is the best way to experience the idyllic atmosphere. Mark Twain spent part of his life in the city, where he finished writing the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The internationally known University of Heidelberg was the first to be built in Germany and today is ranked among the top universities in the world.
Freiburg is one of the most wonderful places to visit in Germany. There’s a riddle spoken about Freiburg and it goes like this: “Are the citizens of Freiburg so content because the sun shines above their city more than in any other place in Germany; or have they been granted the gift of abundant sunlight because of their kindness?” Who knows?
Freiburg is one of the country’s oldest cities, too, and has a rich culture, filled with cafes, breweries and restaurants where you can enjoy the traditional cuisine.
Potsdam, also considered as the kingdom of palaces and gardens, is the capital of the state of Brandenburg and is most famous as the historical seat of the Prussian government. The cultural treasure of Potsdam, including the palaces of Sanssouci, Neuer Garten, Babelsberg, Glienicke and Pfaueninsel island, along with their palaces, have been recognized as Unesco World Heritage sites.
Munich is the Bavarian capital built on the shores of Isar, the biggest tributary river of the Danube. It is one of the best cities to visit in Germany and is generally quiet, with a history that goes back to the 12th century. Since then, it has managed to develop a multicultural personality and become a “village of the world”. It has wonderful parks and gardens, great museums and a big selection of cuisines and markets, varying from massive department stores to tiny flea markets.
Bremen, the town of musicians, is relatively small and easily explored, with the majority of the tourist attractions located in it.
Islands in Germany
Germany features many islands too that can provide you with a typical vacation experience. Some of the islands include Poel Island, Pellworm Island, Juist Island, Fehmarn Island, Borkum Island etc. They provide an ambience of pure bliss along with nature’s wonders and a haven for a family vacation.
Where German wines are made!
Germany is extremely famous for its vineyards. It has 13 wine growing regions including the very famous Franconia, Palatinate, Ahr and Baden. Each one of them serves the world with ecstatic wines. All these regions offer one of a kind experience and you won’t regret bringing back home a bottle or two of these classic German wines!
German Gourmet Cuisine
You will find all kinds of diners in Germany from sophisticated ones to the ones full of rush. More than 300 Restaurants in Germany serve Michelin- starred cuisine. It is a delicious cuisine to be enjoyed, especially in Berlin which has acquired 3 Michelin star restaurants.
There are some must-try dishes in Germany which are not to be missed in any case! Spätzle, the German version of pasta, is made from a simple yet exquisite combination of eggs, flour, salt and a splash of sparkling water that will always leave you wanting for more!
Schnitzel; a breaded meat dish, Flammkuchen; a thinly-rolled, rectangular-shaped bread; traditionally topped with crème fraîche, Sauerkraut; fermented cabbage, Bratwurst; Germany’s humble sausage, Currywurst; one of Germany’s most famous sausage-based street-food snacks, Rouladen; a delicious blend of bacon; onions; mustard and pickles wrapped together in sliced beef or veal and beer (technically not a dish but a must-try!), are some of the food items that are not to be missed while travelling in Germany.
Summary
Exploring this beautiful country leaves you perplexed by the cultural richness, vineyards, its history and mouth-watering cuisines. The wanderer in you never wants you to stop exploring the depths of Germany. The best time to visit Germany is from May to September, the peak of summers, elicited experiences, festivals and carnivals, favourable weather and whatnot, making your trip as enjoyable as it can get.
It’s a wholesome experience for both, the wanderers looking to explore and the families looking to enjoy. There is very little that this country can’t offer!
