As mentioned before, it wasn’t easy for Jan to convince me to travel other parts of Germany. Especially the north or the east. The north is too cold and the eastern parts are full of Nazis.
I’m still convinced about the last thing; but maybe it’s just my migrational backround activating my survival instincts.
Fact is indeed, the north is awesome. The architecture of the houses and the old towns differ pretty much from the south or the west. The bread rolls with fish are so delicious. People here are totally relaxed. We’ve been to Northern Germany twice – both times in August. Sorry, but concerning temperature and rain, I have to say my assumptions were right. But the sun was at least shining from time to time.
Another fact: What we saw in the eastern parts of Germany was awesome as well. Especially, because it made me less biased towards this region.
As in the posts before, the following is written without priority.
1. Sylt
The Germans’ most favorite island in Germany. It’s an expensive island and its reputation is divided: On the one hand, it’s said to be the island of the rich, on the other hand normal people love spending their vaction here as well.
We’ve been here in August 2014 and we understand why snobs and the crowd both love this beautiful place. It’s landscape is breath taking and the air is fresh and clean like nowhere else in Germany. Some parts of the island seem to be unreal. Bread rolls with fish and a glas of white wine made the trip complete.
2. North Frisia
North Frisia is great. Grab some warm clothes with you and protect your ears from the cold wind, and you’re going to be very happy here. We immediately fell in love with the red brick thatched houses. We stayed in Niebüll, ate bread rolls with fish in Dagebüll and also enjoyed the crisp air. We did the same in Husum, but without sun. We already mentioned the region’s great archtitecture.
3. Rügen
And here is another beautiful island. Just like in Sylt, the question pops up wether this place was real or not. We made an awesome boat trip to Königstuhl. You definitely have to see the Colossus of Prora, a massive building complex, which the Nazis wanted to use for toursim. Read more here. Today, it’s just a ruin. Standing in front of it and knowing who built it, gives you the creeps.
4. Stralsund
From Rügen, we came back to the mainland to stay in Stralsund. The Old Town of the Hanseatic City is beautiful. Since 2002, it belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage. The old tradesman’s houses and the town hall are just too perfect to be true.
But those houses don’t stay in perfect condition without care. The city made huge efforts for preservations and renovations.
Furthermore, we saw the Gorch Fock.
What attracted our attention: on a beautiful day in August only few tourists were there. The whole Old Town seemed to be lost. This city deserves more than that, so come and visit this peaceful place on earth as long as it is peaceful. Stralsund is surprisingly beautiful.
5. Lübeck
Brick stone gothic buildings everywhere. Lübeck is the city, where you can experience pure Hanseatic romance. We had the best Pastramis in the world here (right, not in NYC). Unfortunately, we forgot the place’s name.
The city’s landmark is the Holstentor. The Town Hall is beautiful and strange at the same time. It consists of different architecural styles, as there was more and more added over the centuries. Furthermore, Lübeck is the city of Buddenbrooks and the beautiful house – just in case you’re fan of the book.
6. Hamburg
Everybody wants to go to Berlin – we wanted to go to Hamburg. Berlin is a great city, but it can’t keep up with Hamburg. The Hanseatic City is a bit wealthier than Germany’s capital.
Besides Munich in the south and Frankfurt in the middle, Hamburg is the place in Germany for the rich people in the north. The architecture and diversity in general are really impressive. The city is surrounded by water and has more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined. But the city is really expensive. Especially the rents for appartements are exploding.
Town Hall, Speicherstadt, the never to be finished Elbphilharmonie, Blankenese,…just to mention some of the beautiful places of the city. You should plan to spend a few days here.
7. Berlin
Unfortunately, we’re making enemies with the following. The kind of religious hype about this city will stay a mystery to us. We’re convinced, one can spend a very good time here. And: Berlin is quite cheap. At least for now and compared to other cities.
Maybe we change our minds when we return in summer. We came here in February 2013; quite cold days back then. Why February? We visited a friend but we didn’t stay for long. We definitely have to return in summer.
8. Potsdam
Potsdam is not far from Berlin and it is quiet. As a former Prussian residency it is of huge historical importance. On our way back from Berlin, we visited Castle Sanssoucis.
9. Sächsische Schweiz (Saxon Switzerland?)
It’s Saxony’s Elbsandsteingebirge (Elbe Sandstone Mountains?). The region has its name from two Swiss painters, who came here in the 18th century. Despite enjoying the beautiful landscape, hiking is an option here. You can come here by car (what we did) or make a boat trip from Dresden. (Which we would do on sunny days.)
Most famous point is the Bastei with the old stone bridge – the most photographed point here. Up here, you’ll enjoy an amazing view over the Elbe and the whole valley. The restaurant here was stunningly cheap.
10. Dresden
Well, baroque is everywhere here. At night, the whole city, but especially the Semperoper and the Frauenkirche are perfectly illuminated. After World War II, most of the city was destroyed and rebuilt very late. The Frauenkirche for example was not rebuilt until after the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
Outside of the Old Town there is not much to see, also most of the buildings there aren’t renovated. The Neustadt, part of Dresden, is developing or is already some kind of hipster area. From time to time the city appears in the press because of its Nazis. We feel sorry for this city, as it is really beautiful and doesn’t deserve those people. By the way, the city is great for shopping!
11. Weimar
Birth place to the Weimar Republic and the Weimar Classic (most famous for Goethe and Schiller). The historic meaning of the city is huge, though it looks unspectacular.
12. Wartburg bei Eisenach
The refugee Martin Luther was hiding in this Castle and translating the Bible into German. From up here, you’ll have an amazing view of the surroundings. But the view outside the Castle to the Castle is fantastic as well.