Things to do in Germany

Berlin, the capital, is a creative city of landmarks from a turbulent past, from the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag to surviving stretches of the Berlin Wall, along with Museum Island, green parks and legendary nightlife. The palaces of Potsdam lie just outside the city.

Elsewhere, Munich is the Bavarian capital of beer halls and the Oktoberfest, close to the Alps and Neuschwanstein Castle. The Rhine and Moselle valleys are lined with vineyards and castles, Cologne has its towering cathedral, Hamburg its harbour and canals, and Dresden its rebuilt baroque skyline. The Romantic Road links medieval towns such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and the Black Forest offers woodland trails.

Every region has its own sausages, breads and cakes, with pretzels and schnitzel found everywhere and beer and Riesling to drink. Summer is warm and full of festivals, autumn brings the wine harvest and the Oktoberfest, and winter is cold, with Christmas markets in almost every town. Fast trains connect the major cities.