Germany: All destinations, advice & information for your holidays!
Germany has a great variety of landscapes: In the south, the rugged peaks and lush meadows of the Berchtesgaden Alps and the Wetterstein Mountains present themselves as a paradise for mountain bikers and hikers. To the north, you can experience untouched nature in the Lüneburg Heath. Perhaps you also feel like a beach holiday on the North Sea or the Baltic Sea?
Table of contents
Germany - 8 most beautiful natural sights
Chalk Cliffs Rügen
The landmark of Rügen is the impressive, 118-meter high Königsstuhl in the so-called Stubbenkammer of the Jasmund National Park. Follow the approximately 11-kilometer long cliff path from the town of Sassnitz. The view from the observation platform over the chalk cliffs and the deep blue Baltic Sea is spectacular. In the adjoining national park center, an exciting adventure exhibition awaits the whole family. Since Rügen is also one of the places with the most hours of sunshine, you can leisurely linger on the soft sandy beach, swim or stroll, or surf in the sea. For relaxation, you should treat yourself to a pack of Rügen healing chalk.
Eibsee
In the face of the Zugspitze massif, Lake Eibsee in southern Germany exudes pure idyll. Around 3,000 years ago, the body of water was formed by a landslide and has long since become a recreational paradise for the whole family with its islets. Refreshing in summer and enchanting in its frozen winter slumber, Lake Eibsee is a gem of Upper Bavaria. Surrounded by tall fir trees, the mountain lake invites water sports activities such as boating, fishing, and stand-up paddling. The cool water is wonderful for a summer swim. The surrounding landscape forms a varied hiking and mountain biking area. On a ride in the glass cable car Zugspitze, its sparkling water can be admired from a bird's eye view.
Wadden Sea
Tides determine life in the Wadden Sea. The vast mudflats, as well as the adjacent dunes and blooming salt marshes, form a globally unique ecosystem that is so worth discovering and at the same time so sensitive that it is under special protection in Germany's three Wadden Sea National Parks of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, and Hamburg. With a fresh breeze on your face and mud under your feet, a mudflat safari, preferably as a guided walk, is incomparable. You see birds passing by, discover shells and lugworms. In some places, seals and gray seals frolic on the sandbanks. You gain deep insights into the peculiarities of the mudflats at the national park centers.
Lüneburg Heath
Particularly appealing in the Lüneburg Heath are hikes and bike tours during the heather bloom in late summer. Then a pink sea of flames sweeps across the land. Visit the small village of Wilsede with its interesting open-air museum. Picturesque old towns in Lüneburg and Celle invite you to exciting and historical explorations. You can walk on a boardwalk through the Pietzmoor, which is already 8,000 years old, and admire the cotton grass blooming here in May. The Lüßwald, a primeval forest in the South Heath, is also interesting. Art lovers should not miss the Hundertwasser Station in Uelzen. From the observation tower in the Postmoor, cranes can be observed.
Triberg Waterfalls
The Triberg Waterfalls are among the highest waterfalls in Germany. You can discover the unique natural spectacle on three different paths, including the Cascade Path. Information boards inform you about the rich animal and plant life. After the snow melts or after heavy rainfalls, the sight of the rushing masses of water is particularly impressive. A walkway with a platform allows you to get impressively close to the falls. The waterfalls are even illuminated until late in the evening, creating a unique atmosphere. Even in winter, a visit is worthwhile, as the cascades can freeze into bizarre ice sculptures in cold temperatures.
Bastion
The view into the Elbe Valley and over the Elbe Sandstone Mountains with its bizarre rocks, plateaus, and table mountains is famous. You need a bit of stamina to tackle the 900 steps from Rathen to the Bastei Bridge, which is 190 meters high. Driving there by car is also possible. Many exciting hiking trails with breathtaking viewpoints lead you through the fauna- and flora-rich Bastei region. Discover rare plants and, with a bit of luck, observe shy kingfishers and black storks. Excursions to the medieval ruins of Neurathen Rock Castle, the castle ruins of Stadt Wehlen, and the Schwedenlöcher are also worthwhile.
Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes
Over three centuries, nature has created an underground wonderland of shimmering stalactites in the former alum shale mine Jeremias Glück in Saalfeld, Thuringia. The iron- and mineral-rich rock enchants with bizarre formations and extraordinary colors. In the hollow of the Fairy Grotto, one might believe to discover the fairy that gives the grotto its name. The Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes not only offer a spectacular show mine. In the cinema of the interactive experience exhibition Grottoneum, you can learn all about the formation history of the stalactite cave. In the healing gallery, you can draw well-being from the depths of the mountain. A fun experience for children is the visit to the adventure forest Feenweltchen, including sound rocks, a nature playground, and a magical garden.
Externsteine Teutoburg Forest
The Externsteine rise 40 meters high. They presumably formed 80 million years ago. Admire the striking sandstones, which you can climb daily in summer and on weekends in winter with some fitness. Those who conquer the 124 steps are rewarded with a breathtaking view over the Teutoburg Forest. The 127-hectare nature reserve around the Externsteine is great for hiking. On the 6-kilometer Blueberry Route, for example, you will find delicious ripe berries in late summer. The shorter Bärentstein Route takes you through the picturesque forest heath with oaks and beeches.
Germany - Climate
The climate in Germany varies quite a bit from north to south: On the coast, the influence of the Atlantic shapes the weather. The best time to travel for a beach holiday is July and August. Then the water temperature of the North and Baltic Seas reaches up to 20 degrees Celsius, even more in shallow water. In the low mountain ranges, it remains pleasantly cool even in summer. From December to February, precipitation there often falls in the form of snow. On the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in the country, snow depths can reach up to one meter. From June to August, temperatures average 17 to 19 degrees Celsius.
The following graph shows the average weather conditions for the country. Historical weather conditions may vary by region.