Germany Tourism » Germany Travel

ENCHANTING : DEUTSCHLAND
Anyone who enjoys unique experiences is spoilt for choice in Germany — from its glorious scenery to its vibrant cities

Germany is a multi-faceted country with much to offer. If you want to combine travel, history, culture, shopping and golf, there’s no place like Germany. Whether it’s music, theatre, opera, art, spectacular castles, natural beauty or the exhilaration of international sports competitions in the latest hi-tech sports arenas, this central European country offers it all between the warmer south and cool north.

Germany is a mix of mountain ranges, uplands and lowland plains –the Bavarian Alps in the south, the pleasant wooded mountains of the Mittelgebirge in the centre of the country and the low country along the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts in the north. With over 3 million events, Germany is rightfully called the land of festivity. You can visit the world famous Oktoberfest in Munich or the Christopher Street Day in Cologne or the Carnival of Cultures in Berlin each attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world. To top it all, the warm welcome of the locals and excellent gastronomy ensures that your holiday is an unforgettable experience.

SHORT STOPOVERS:
Lose yourself in the grandeur and glory of past times and enjoy nature and art in perfect harmony. From breath-taking natural beauty to cities that exude German heritage, here are some delightful destinations that you might want to visit.

Frankfurt, the banking city, has a whole variety of attractions, including its Romerberg Square, Palmengarten botanical gardens, shopping districts, skyline, trade fairs and much more.

With its variety of attractions, Munich is a discovery in itself. From the Bavaria Film Studios to the infotainment at the Olympic Park to the Beer Gardens, there is something for everyone.
A true metropolis, Berlin has it all - the royal splendour of the Sanssouci Palace or the natural beauty of Brandenburg; fabulous shopping at Kurfustendamm or the awe-inspiring Reichstag.
Baden-Baden, famous for its spa and casino, provides the perfect setting to relax and unwind.
Dusseldorf is known for active vacation opportunities as well as its numerous shopping possibilities.

ARTISTIC DELIGHT:
Thousands of art and culture lovers flock to the concert halls and theatres, evening after evening, giving thunderous applause to the acclaimed musicians, out standing actors and international artistes who take the stage. Many regions in Germany attract visitors with grandiose buildings for magnificent collections. Splendidly restored and with completely new conceptions, these often award winning museum structures are masterpieces and more than just depositories of exceptional exhibits. Germany’s museums reflect an immense variety of themes. Their often unique collections deal with the whole range of art and technology as well as exciting topics such as the cinema, mankind, the sea, history and emigration. The Bode-Museum in Berlin, New BMW Museum in Munich, the Film Museum at Potsdam, and the International Maritime Museum in Hamburg are just a few of them.

Prestigious art events provide another incentive for an artistic tour of Germany. For instance, Art Cologne, Germany’s foremost art fair, or Designmai, the inter- national design festival in Berlin has been at the cutting edge of new trends since 2002. Among upcoming events, in 2009 Weimar celebrates the 90th anniversary of the start of the Bauhaus Movement 1919, a year later Meissen invites visitors to share in the 300th anniversary of its porcelam production. In the same year in western Germany the Ruhrgebiet and the city of Essen will welcome international visitors to the European Capital 0. Culture Ruhr 2010.

SHOP TILL YOU DROP: Glitzy malls, quaint shopping streets, some of the best international brands, reasonable prices and long opening hours make Germany a shopaholic’s delight. Germany has a huge range of different places to shop, from the traditional atmosphere of town centres to more than 400 shopping malls.

Lovers of exquisite Christmas decorations can splurge on the artistic little angels made by Wendt & Kuhn from the toymaker village of Seiffen in the Erzgebirge mountains. The Thuringian Forest is well known for the art of glassblowing. The ‘Glass Route’ runs through the Upper Palatinate Forest and the Bavarian Forest, linking the traditional glass-making villages. On the other hand, the Europa Passage in Hamburg claims to be the largest city centre shopping mall in Europe, offering a diverse range of international designer labels, jewellery and young-fashion stores. B5 designer outlet in Wustermark near Berlin, DOZ Designer Outlet, Zweibbrucken. Wertheim Village near Wurzburg. Metzingen near Stuttgart, Ingolstadt Village near Munich are famous for the well-known brands at discounted prices

TIP: Travellers from outside the EU should look out for shops with the ‘Tax-free’ sticker.

TEE TIME: Gorgeous golf courses are scattered over Germany, enticing one to enjoy the game amidst lovely landscapes. Between the North Sea and the Alps alone, around 800 courses beckon, many of which are well worth a visit. The oldest German golf club was founded more than a century ago in Berlin am Wannsee. From luxurious golf spas to some of the most exclusive golf clubs, Germany is a golfers’ haven.