BerlinFor most of the latter part of the 20th century, Berlin has stood as a symbol of the division between East and West, split by the infamous fortified wall erected to separate the socialist sector from the democratic district. When the Berlin Wall was pulled down in 1990 the city discovered that it suddenly had two of everything, most notably two very distinct societies separated both socially and economically. The past decade has seen Berlin embracing unification and rebuilding itself as a modern European capital.
More than 100 streets have been reconnected, and signs of
the Wall's existence have all but disappeared. Years of division are still reflected in the new city's architecture, however, with a modern city of skyscrapers, retail centers and urban developments in the West contrasting with most of the pre-War city that remains in the East.
For nearly 30 years the Wall sealed off the imposing Brandenburg Gate from the West, but now traffic passes through it freely. Similarly Alexanderplatz, which was one of the main centers of 1920s Berlin, and later post-war East Germany, has once again become one of the city's focal centers. The site of the infamous Check Point Charlie with its threatening monitoring tower erected to ensure no one crossed over from East to West, is now a museum, and while the tower no longer stands, visitors can see the East Side Gallery, a surviving chunk of the real Wall, now decorated by local artists.
Berlin is once again a vibrant center for the arts, with many museums, galleries and theaters. At the Kulturforum visitors will find a number of impressive museums and concert venues from the spectacular Berliner Philharmonie concert hall to the complex's Picture Gallery, which houses a vast collection of European paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries.
Berlin still boasts a fantastic nightlife, and while tastes have changed since the height of the cabaret halls of the 1920s and 30s, there is a vast array of venues catering to all tastes. Berlin's calendar is also packed with festivals and parties from the Christopher Street Day gay and lesbian parade in June to the Jazz Fest Berlin in November.
Getting Around: The Berlin public transport system is efficient, if expensive, and the combination of buses, trams, ferries, the U-Bahn (underground) and S-Bahn (commuter rail) reaches every part of the sprawling city and its surrounds. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn are the best ways of getting around; buses cover the parts of the city that cannot be reached by train, and East Berlin has a network of modernized, pre-war trams. One type of ticket is valid on all forms of transport and fares are divided into three color-coded tariff zones. A number of passes are available, including daily, weekly or monthly tickets. The Berlin Welcome Card is valid for 48 or 72 hours and gives unlimited travel for an adult and three children over three zones, plus discounts at many museums, theaters and tourist attractions. A 48 hour ticket costs EUR18 and a 72 hour tickets costs EUR24.50. Driving in Berlin is easier than in most big cities, but in general is still not recommended, as traffic is heavy and parking difficult. Taxis are plentiful, but it is cheaper to hail one in the street than to call ahead at one of the many call stands around the city. Cycling is also recommended, especially in West Berlin, which is well-equipped with cycle paths and trains have special cars where bicycles can be carried.
Nightlife: Famed for its nightlife and close on Amsterdam's heels for the title of Europe's most liberal city, Berlin offers visitors just about everything from avant-garde and trendy to seriously sexy underground clubs, hip local hangouts and theater and everything in between!The Mitte district is a hip and happening spot and boasts some of Berlin's top clubs and bars, but it can be quite touristy. New clubs are springing up in Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain, while Kreuzberg is fast becoming a popular hangout with locals and immigrants alike and is distinguished by its edgy atmosphere. Schoneburg offers some superb cafes, clubs and saunas and is quite popular with Berlin's gay community, as is Nollendorfplatz and its 'pink village'.Berlin offers plenty of Kneipes, which is the equivalent of a Briton's local pub, where the local brews and old favorites can be sampled. Cabaret is a popular pastime in Berlin and there are many cabaret clubs dotted around this vibrant city offering satirical shows that make fun of the political and social scene. Live music clubs dominate a lot of the city where well-known and amateur acts are showcased in just about every type of atmosphere, from small and intimate clubs to downright dirty and grungy music halls. Or for a quieter option take a night stroll around the city and enjoy the romance of Savignyplatz in Charlottenburg, stopping in at one of the local pubs for a glass of wine.Public transport is cheap and easily accessible making a night out on the town a pleasure to navigate. With all this and so much more on offer, visitors in Berlin will have a tough time narrowing down how and where to spend their evenings.
Climate: Berlin enjoys pleasant, sunny summers when days are long and temperatures can sometimes exceed 86°F (30°C), particularly in July and August. However the summer months are also unpredictable, and odd days can rapidly change from sunshine to cloud. Winter weather in Berlin, by contrast, is bitterly cold and damp, with plentiful snow and frosty days when temperatures hover at or just below freezing. Rain can fall all year round, but the wettest months are June and August, and the driest on average October and February.
MunichThe Bavarian city of Munich, center of southern Germany, is one of the country's favorite tourist destinations, offering a unique combination of modern flair and traditional charm, all mixed together with a heavy helping of 'Gemutlichkeit', the special German term for hearty, happy, healthy togetherness.
Traditionally the city, famous for its breweries and beer halls, conjures up images of jolly red-cheeked, portly men in lederhosen, downing steins of beer. There is plenty of this fun to be had, but Munich and the Bavarian region has plenty more to recommend it to visitors. The city has numerous great museums, art treasures, hi-tech industries and gems of Gothic and Baroque architecture. It is also the gateway to the Bavarian Alps, drawing winter sports enthusiasts from near and far.
Munich itself was founded in 1158 on the River Isar, and acquired its name, Munchen (home of the monks) from its first monastery. It was the monks that started the beer brewing tradition for which the city is now world famous, particularly since it started celebrating an annual beer festival in 1810. Today close on six million people visit the Oktoberfest every year, and consume more than five and a half million liters of beer during its two-week run.
Getting Around: Munich's city center is a pedestrian zone, so many of its attractions can be reached on foot. The city's efficient and integrated public transport system is excellent for getting around beyond the center; it consists of buses, trams, the U-bahn (subway) and the S-bahn (suburban train) that operate from about 5am to 1am, with hourly buses and trams servicing main routes throughout the night. Tickets must be validated on entering stations or on boarding, and are transferable between all forms of transport, and valid for two hours after being stamped as long as one travels in the same direction. Fares are zone based. There are various day passes available as well as the München Welcome Card, which covers all transport within the city and includes discounts to the main attractions. Taxis are safe and convenient, but expensive.
Climate: Munich has a continental climate, strongly modified by the proximity of the Alps. In general summers are fairly warm and very wet, prone to thunderstorms, while winters are cold with light snowfalls. The Alps cause two unique aberrations in the weather in Munich. South westerly winds crossing the Alps can bring warm Föhn conditions, during any season but only on a few days a year, pushing up temperatures markedly even in winter. When north-westerly winds blow from the mountains, however, weather conditions known as Alpenstau occur, most often in spring and summer, which bring unseasonably low temperatures, rain and even snow on odd days.
FrankfurtVisitors to Germany do not find much to make them linger in the sprawling city of Frankfurt on the River Main, unless their purpose is business rather than pleasure. For most visitors to the country, however, Frankfurt's huge showpiece airport is the point of arrival and departure. The city is a major transport hub and an industrial and financial metropolis that ensures it is the economic powerhouse not only of Germany, but central Europe. Frankfurt is home to Germany's central bank, the Bundesbank and Europe's most important stock exchange, which has been trading since 1585.
For tourists Frankfurt does offer some sights, some intriguing restaurants in the Nordend, a variety of artistic and cultural events, and excellent shopping opportunities. Sightseeing opportunities are mostly confined to the historical core of the city, known as the Romerberg, where Charlemagne erected his fort in medieval times. Most of the original buildings were destroyed during World War II, but some have been reconstructed, including the home of Goethe, Frankfurt's famous son who became Germany's greatest writer. For shopping it is hard to beat the Zeil, Germany's equivalent to New York's Fifth Avenue.
With its excellent rail connections and Autobahn system, Frankfurt is the natural hub for travelers wishing to explore the surrounding towns and countryside. It is also the venue for numerous trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses, drawing about 12-million visitors a year to these events. The largest and best known is the annual International Book Fair, which is attended by thousands of publishers.
Getting Around: Public transport in the city is expensive, but efficient, consisting of an integrated network of fast, modern underground U-Bahn lines, S-Bahn city trains, trams and buses that operate from 4am to 2am. Several night bus routes also operate from 1am. Fares are standard and are based on a zone system; most tickets are valid for an hour and can be used for any amount of transfers between all modes of public transport within that time. A variety of tickets can be bought from machines at most stops including hourly and daily passes, and tickets must be bought prior to boarding; single ticket fares are more expensive during rush hours. The Frankfurt Card (available from the tourist office) is good value allowing for unlimited travel within greater Frankfurt, plus airport shuttle transport and half price admission to museums. For those attending a conference in Frankfurt, the tourist office has a one-day Congress Ticket valid for unlimited travel in the city and to the airport. Taxis are safe and plentiful, but expensive. Driving a car in the city involves rush hour congestion, expensive parking lots and confusing road systems so it's best to park and use public transport while in the city.
Climate: Frankfurt has a temperate continental climate, characterized by warm summers with occasional wet days, and cold winters. Temperatures are not extreme and never severe. Winters can bring occasional violent storms.
The Black ForestThe Black Forest (
Schwarzwaldin German) covers a range of birch and pine studded hills along 100 miles (161km) of southwest Germany's border with France. The forest is renowned as a holiday Mecca with its picturesque fairy-tale villages, spa-bath resorts, hiking trails and ski resorts. The first famous holidaymaker to enjoy rest and recuperation in the Black Forest was the Roman emperor Caracalla who stopped at the natural spring waters, at what is now the town of Baden-Baden, around 2,000 years ago. Since then the Forest has been the chosen destination of the rich and famous: everyone who is anyone from Napoleon to Mark Twain has come to take the waters and enjoy the forest's natural beauty.
In medieval times the local people developed the traditional skills of woodcarving, glass-blowing, jewelry-making and clock-making, and these are still followed today to the delight of tourists with spending money in their pockets. The Black Forest has also become known for its local delicacies like Black Forest ham and cherry cake.
The most central town in the Black Forest is Freudenstadt, which is the starting point for hundreds of miles of hiking and ski-trails through the nearby hills. Most visitors, however, prefer to find accommodation in guest lodges in the small villages sprinkled throughout the region, exploring by car, on foot or bicycle.
HamburgHamburg is a watery city, geographically, historically and atmospherically. It is Germany's second largest city and lies on the Elbe River, for centuries a major port and trading center for central Europe. The city has a network of canals that rival those of Venice (it is said to have more bridges than Venice) and is centered on two artificial lakes that take up eight percent of its total area. Probably because of all the water, Hamburg is also known as Germany's 'green city', sporting 1,400 parks and gardens. Modern buildings sit cheek by jowl with historic Baroque and Renaissance architecture, and by night the neon lights dazzle all-night revelers, particularly in the city's notorious red light district, the Reeperbahn.
Hamburg was founded in 810 by Charlemagne and earned its place in history by becoming the most strategic port in the Hanseatic League of North German cities which controlled trade in the Baltic and North Seas between the 13th and 15th centuries. A great fire destroyed much of the city in 1842, and a century later World War II bombing raids again laid it waste, but Hamburg bounced back with style, thanks to the wealth garnered from its position as a trading center. The city's tourist board claims that Hamburg is now home to more millionaires per capita than any other city in Europe.
Most of the sights of interest to tourists in the city are centered on its maritime traditions, particularly in the harbor area, where the 'Warehouse district' has been transformed into an entertaining destination offering several attractions. Further afield Hamburg is the gateway to the seaside and spa resorts of the Baltic and North Sea coastline.
Getting Around: Hamburg's extensive public transport system consists of the U-Bahn (subway), the S-Bahn (suburban train), buses and harbor ferries, and makes getting around without a car pleasurable. The U-Bahn is excellent and serves the whole city center; it connects with the S-Bahn that services the suburbs, and this train network is the fastest way to get around the city. Buses are also convenient and night buses operate in the downtown area. The Hamburg Card allows unlimited travel for a day on all public transport as well as discounted rates or free admission to museums, on city tours and lake cruises. Taxis are less expensive than other German cities and are available at all hours.
Climate: Hamburg is a fairly wet and windy city, prevailing westerly winds blowing in moist air from the North Sea. Summers are warm but rainy, with occasional brief dry, sunny spells. Winters are cold, sometimes chilling to 28°F (-2°C) or below in January, the coldest month, when the Elbe and lakes in the city center have been known to freeze enough for ice-skating. Snowfall is usually light, starting in early December, with icy sleet being the more common form of winter precipitation. Spring is very pleasant in Hamburg when the city's thousands of trees come into bloom with a new cloak of green, and days start to warm up after the dreary winter.
StuttgartSituated amongst the rolling hills of Germany's premiere wine-growing region, Stuttgart is capital of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg in southwestern Germany. Dotted with beautiful historical buildings, impressive parks and fantastic art museums, this modern city is a good stopover for its undulating wine estates, annual beer festival, mineral spa culture and acclaimed ballet, opera and philharmonic companies.
Charming olde worlde quarters like the Bohnenviertel (Bean District) with its sidewalk cafés and cobbled streets, meet the modern pedestrianized precincts of contemporary Stuttgart, boasting the latest in European mode such as Königstrasse, one of the longest shopping areas in Germany. A big city with a small-town atmosphere, visitors will find the bustling art nouveau Market Hall transports them to former countrified years. Nowadays, this is where organic fruit and vegetables, aromatic cheeses and fresh fish from the North Sea can be found. However, a must for any visitor to this city is a trip to one of Stuttgart's reputed mineral baths, be it the modern and luxurious Mineralbad Cannstatt or the Mineral Bath Berg, exuding a wistful fifties charm.
View the city from atop the Fernsehturm (Television Tower), a 712ft (217m) tower with an observation deck and restaurant at the pinnacle where on a clear day, you can see the Black Forest; head to Schlossplatz, a famous landmark and meeting place for locals and visitors, its green lawns littered with youths soaking up the summer sunshine or find your own sanctuary in the dappled shade of the 'Green U' park, a five mile (8km) natural haven in the city center.
These features all come as a surprise to the first time visitor to Stuttgart, who usually associate the city with its reputation as the 'cradle of the automobile'. The motorbike and four-wheel car were invented in Stuttgart and one of its most famous attractions is the enormous Mercedes-Benz Museum, with 160 immaculate vehicles on permanent display, including their new luxury models, racing cars and reputed antiques. If that doesn't whet your appetite, head across town to the Porsche Museum.
Getting Around: Most attractions and places of interest in Stuttgart are centered in the inner city, therefore getting around on foot is easy. The public transport system is good; trains include the Stadtbahn (U-bahn) and the S-Bahn (good for getting to the suburbs). Guests can use tickets across transportation modes from buses and trains, to trams. For tourists, all day tickets (Einzel Tages Tickets) are more cost effective. If staying longer, the special three-day ticket (3-Tage-Ticket) is a good alternative. Taxis can be expensive but if sharing and/or looking for transport late at night, they are a more convenient option.
Climate: Stuttgart's position at the center of the European continent plays a major role in its summer and winter temperature extremes. Summers are warm with an an average temperature of 70°F (20°C), the hottest days falling in July and August. Winters last from December to March, the coldest month being January, with snow lasting for several days.
HanoverLocated on the bank of the River Leine, Hanover is a small yet humble city and has become one of Germany's wealthier cities, best known for hosting the annual commercial expositions, such as the Hanover Fair as well as Oktoberfest Hanover, the second largest Oktoberfest in the world.
Although a substantial amount of the city was destroyed by Allied bombers during World War II, Hanover has retained its sense of history and charm, evident in its medieval attractions and distinctive timbered buildings. Complete with world-class shopping centers, wonderful museums and churches, and a love of all things beer related, Hanover has plenty to offer the intrepid traveller.
An integrated transport system means that visitors to the city can experience all Hanover has to offer and the 'Red Thread', a 3-mile (4km) red line painted onto the road tracing the city's most famous attractions means that tourists can explore this exciting destination at their own leisure.
Climate: Hanover is at its best in the summer months, when the city can see as much as seven hours of sunshine per day and an average temperature of 70°F (21°C). In the winter months, between May and September, the mercury drops to as little as Nevertheless, this drops to as little as one hour of sunshine in the depths of winter as 37°F (3°C).
