Best Tourist Cities in Germany: Top Attractions & Places in 2024

Germany has so much to offer the world! If you’re looking for a place to visit, take a look at our list of the best tourist cities in Germany. Germany is home to some of the world’s most beautiful and historic cities, but which ones really stand out?

If you’re looking for a place to visit this summer, here are our top picks:

• Koblenz, Germany is home to the Rhine River and its castles. The city is known for its annual flower festival, held in the springtime.
• Munich, Germany is a great choice if you want to see architecture from the Romanesque period. The city also has its own Oktoberfest beer festival every September.
• Stuttgart, Germany is one of the biggest cities in southern Germany and has many museums and art galleries. It’s also home to some of Germany’s best restaurants!

Here are the top best tourist cities in Germany

We’ve got everything from castles to beer gardens and even some places that are perfect for families. There’s no shortage of things to do when you’re in Germany, so take your pick of the best tourist cities in Germany and make sure you don’t miss out on any of these amazing places!

Schwerin

Schwerin is a city in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region of Germany. It is located on the river Wakenitz, which flows from the Baltic Sea through the city and into the Baltic Sea. It has a population of about 40,000 people and is a popular destination for tourists looking to explore this part of Germany. There are plenty of places to stay in Schwerin including hotels and hostels that are perfect for budget travelers as well as those who want something more luxurious.

Top Attractions in Schwerin, Germany

• Schwerin Castle (19th-century island castle & art museum)
• Zoo Schwerin (Guided tours, feeding & 100+ species)
• St.-Marien-Dom zu Schwerin – Ev.-Luth. Domgemeinde Schwerin (Brick Gothic structure completed in 1426)
• Open Air Museum of Ethnography Schwerin Mueß (Open-air museum and museum)
• Staatliches Museum Schwerin (Art gallery in a 19th-century castle)
• Mecklenburg State Theatre (Renowned and historic theatre in the north part of Germany)
• Lake Schwerin (Lake with boating & small islands)
• Museum Holstentor (Museum in an iconic Gothic city gate)
• Flippermuseum Schwerin (Pinball & arcade-game history museum)
• Marienkirche (13th-century symbol of the city)
• Ludwigslust Palace (18th-century stately home & garden)
• Schweriner Schloßgarten (Garden and park)
• Reppiner Burg (Lake and history)
• Hospital of the Holy Spirit (Restored landmark built in 1286)
• Mecklenburg Eisenbahnfreunde Schwerin E.V. (Unfussy railway exhibits & locomotives)
• Paulskirche Schwerin – Ev.-Luth. Kirchengemeinde St. Paul Schwerin (Church, music, and history)

Berlin

The city that never sleeps! Berlin is a major cultural center and has a lot to offer visitors from around the world. It’s known for its exciting nightlife as well as museums, gardens, and great restaurants.

Berlin is the largest city in Germany. The city was founded in 1348 and has grown to be the capital of Germany. Berlin is also known for its cultural scene, which includes world-renowned art museums, opera houses, and music halls.

Top Attractions in Berlin, Germany

• Brandenburg Gate (Grand classical archway & city divide)
• Reichstag Building (Historic, glass-domed home of parliament)
• Museum Island (Small river island with 5 museums)
• Berliner Fernsehturm (1960s architecture & a viewing platform)
• Berlin Cathedral (Elaborate 19th-century cathedral)
• Berlin Wall Memorial (Conserved part of city wall & exhibition)
• Humboldt Forum (Grand, historic palace with tours)
• Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (2,711 columns commemorating the Holocaust)
• Gendarmenmarkt (18th-century square & events space)
• German Historical Museum (Exhibitions tracing German history)
• Kurfürstendamm (Leafy boulevard lined with businesses)
• East Side Gallery (Section of Berlin Wall for street art)
• Checkpoint Charlie (Cold war & east-west border landmark)
• Charlottenburg Palace (Riverside 17th century castle & gardens)
• Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (Modern rebuild of 19th-century church)
• Jewish Museum Berlin (German-Jewish history & culture)
• Berlin Zoological Garden (Huge, leafy zoo with a modern aviary)
• Berlin Wall Memorial (Conserved part of city wall & exhibition)
• Potsdamer Platz (Square at the heart of the city’s history)
• German Museum of Technology (Museum of vehicles, science & technology)
• Großer Tiergarten (Public park on an old hunting reserve)
• Pergamon museum (Antiquities & ancient art collections)
• Topography of Terror (Center documenting Nazi atrocities)

Berlin has an extensive public transportation system that includes buses, trams and subways. There is also a subway called U-Bahn that connects most parts of the city. There are also several S-Bahn (subway) lines that connect Berlin with other cities such as Hamburg and Dresden.

Munich

A traditional German city with an ancient atmosphere. There are lots of things to do in Munich—from relaxing at parks and lakeside paths to taking part in concerts or other cultural events.

Munich is the capital of Bavaria, Germany. It’s known as the “City of Art” and has a rich history going back to Roman times. The city center is known as “Altstadt.”

Munich’s famous landmarks include the Hofbräuhaus, where you can get a good beer before heading out to see the sights, and The Residenz, which houses some of Munich’s most important museums and galleries.

Top Attractions in Munich, Germany

• Marienplatz (Central square & landmark buildings)
• English Garden (Huge urban park with a beer garden)
• Theatine Church (Stucco interiors in baroque 1660s church)
• Nymphenburg Palace (Regal 18th-century palace & coach museum)
• Hofbräuhaus München (Legendary state-owned beer hall)
• Eisbachwelle (Continuous wave for year-round surfing)
• Munich Residenz (Museum complex in an old royal residence)
• Glyptothek (Museum of Greek & Roman sculpture)
• Olympiapark München (Olympic stadium with tours & attractions)
• Frauenkirche (Gothic church with iconic domed towers)
• Westpark (Large urban green space with lakes)
• BMW Museum (Space-age steel venue with cars & bikes)
• Deutsches Museum (Exhibitions on science & technology)
• Bavaria Statue (1800s bronze representation of Bavaria)
• Hellabrunn Zoo (Established nature reserve–style zoo)
• Alte Pinakothek (Museum displaying major European art)
• St. Peter’s Church (Gothic church with a gem-studded relic)

Hamburg

Famous for its harbor and riverfront area, Hamburg offers a wide variety of activities including shopping and dining experiences. There are also several museums here that are well-known throughout Germany.

Hamburg is another popular German city known for its food scene, which includes delicious hamburgers at Ingrid’s Burgerhaus! If you love burgers but aren’t into crowds like Berlin or Munich tends to have, then Hamburg is definitely worth checking out! The city also has some great luxury hotels that will make your stay even nicer

There are many museums in Germany that have exhibits on Hamburg’s history, including one at the harbor museum where you can learn about maritime history. There are also several other museums featuring works by contemporary artists such as Anselm Kiefer, who’s known for his paintings depicting scenes from Hamburg’s history.

Top Attractions in Hamburg, Germany

• Townhall (Grand civic building with guided tours)
• Miniatur Wunderland (Vast model railway with guided tours)
• HafenCity (Hip waterside cafes & modern music hall)
• Elbphilharmonie Hamburg (Modern concert hall atop old warehouse)
• Hamburger Kunsthalle (Museum covering 7 centuries of world art)
• Planten un Blomen (City park with lake & botanical gardens)
• Jenischpark (Park with a historical villa & a cafe)
• St. Michael’s Church (Lutheran church with a landmark tower)
• International Maritime Museum (40,000-item private maritime museum)
• Hamburger Kunsthalle (Museum covering 7 centuries of world art)
• Rickmer Rickmers (19th-century sailing ship & art museum)
• Jungfernstieg (Lakeshore boulevard with shopping)
• Alster Lakes (Lake with boat rentals & walking paths)
• Tierpark Hagenbeck (Elephants, penguins, camels & giraffes)
• Reeperbahn (Energetic street with bars & nightclubs)
• Ohlsdorf Cemetery (Huge, historic rural cemetery with tours)

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a city of contrasts. It’s got the size and scale of a major metropolis, but it’s also got the vibe of a small town. It’s one of Germany’s most historic cities, but it’s also one of its most modern.

Frankfurt is an excellent destination for travelers who want to experience both traditional German culture and modern day living without leaving Germany altogether! The city has plenty going on year-round with concerts, festivals, sporting events and exhibitions throughout the year which attract thousands from all around the world each year.

Top Attractions in Frankfurt, Germany

• Palm Gardens (Botanical garden with huge greenhouses)
• Frankfurt Cathedral (Soaring Gothic structure with city views)
• Städel Museum (European art from 14th century to today)
• Kleinmarkthalle (Market hall with diverse foods to buy)
• Alte Oper (Grand 19th-century concert hall)
• Goethe House (Goethe’s birthplace & exhibition room)
• Naturmuseum Senckenberg (Established natural history museum)
• Römerberg (Picturesque timber houses on town square)
• Frankfurter Römer (Iconic town hall since 1405 with balcony)
• Iron Footbridge (Pedestrian bridge with love locks)
• St. Paul’s Church (Redbrick church with political history)
• Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt (Gallery for major modern art exhibitions)
• Historisches Museum Frankfurt (Museum of city’s culture, art & history)
• Black Forest (Baden-Baden spas, skiing & cuckoo clocks)
• Günthersburgpark (Serene park with a splash pad & fountain)
• Lohr Park (Massive park with views & a vineyard)
• Rebstock Park (Hiking, sports facilities & a waterpark)

Frankfurt is a great place to visit if you’re looking for a European vacation. It’s home to some of the most famous sights in Germany, including the city center, the old town and the main train station. There are also plenty of hotels and restaurants that can accommodate your group.

Cologne

Cologne is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Rhine-Ruhr. Cologne’s famous Cathedral, Dom, was built in 1181. Its twin spires are one of the city’s landmarks. The city has a population of over 1 million people and is known for its beautiful architecture, its bridges, its museums and art galleries, and its annual festival.

Cologne is a city in Germany that’s also known for its lively nightlife, but it’s also home to some of the world’s oldest churches and museums. Its residents have a reputation for being friendly and easygoing, and most of the city’s residents are German or Polish.

Top Attractions in Cologne, Germany

• Cologne Cathedral (Grand Gothic cathedral with twin spires)
• Museum Ludwig (Extensive collection of Picasso works)
• Cologne Chocolate Museum (Waterside museum devoted to chocolate)
• Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln (Unique plants from all over the world)
• Cologne Zoological Garden (Zoo with elephant park & jungle house)
• Duftmuseum im Farina Haus (Perfume museum with artworks since 1685)
• Hohenzollern Bridge (Gothic architecture, river, and architecture)
• Great St. Martin Church (Romanesque church with iconic tower)
• Rheinpark (Landscaped park with cable car & tours)
• Cologne Triangle (Office tower with dining & a scenic view)
• Phantasialand (Theme park with thrill rides & hotels)
• Cologne Fair (Huge exhibition center with concessions)
• Brühl Castle (18th-century rococo palace guided tours)
• Rhine Garden (Park with cycling & walking paths)
• Königsforst (Nature reserve with forest & streams)
• Volksgarten Köln (Scenic historic park with ancient ruins)
• Stadtwald (Forest park with ponds & a petting zoo)

Leipzig

Leipzig is located in the center of Germany, between Dresden and Frankfurt. It’s about an hour away from both cities by train and about two hours by car.

The city has a long history and many important buildings, including its own cathedral. It also has a lot of green space and lots of museums and other attractions (like a zoo).

If you’re looking for something more active than sightseeing, Leipzig is home to some great hiking trails close by. The city is also known for its street art scene, which includes murals on buildings as well as public art installations throughout the city.

Top Attractions in Leipzig, Germany

• Monument to the Battle of the Nations (City views from a vast military memorial)
• Zoo Leipzig (Established zoo with conservation focus)
• St. Thomas Church (Choral concerts in a grand Gothic church)
• Marktplatz Leipzig (Iconic plaza fringed by medieval arcades)
• Leipzig Riverside Forest (Natural area with hiking & horse trails)
• St. Nicholas Church (12th-century church in various styles)
• Wildpark Leipzig (Wild deer, boars, bison, lynx & moose)
• Leipzig Panometer (Huge, 360-degree cinematic experience)
• Museum of fine arts (Major collection in a fine art museum)
• Grassi Museum of Applied Arts (Museum for decorative arts & design)
• Johanna Park (Large city park left to the city in 1881)
• Lene-Voigt Park (Meadows on former railway land)
• Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Leipzig, Altes Rathaus (Museum exploring city history & culture)
• Forum of Contemporary History Leipzig (Museum of post-war German life & history)
• Botanical Garden Leipzig (Botanical garden focused on research)
• New Town Hall (Monumental town hall with city views)
• Belantis (Amusement park with rides for all ages)
• Clara-Zetkin Park (Tree-lined park with a large lake & cafe)
• Oper Leipzig (Live events in a striking opera house)

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