If you want to discover the best sights and activities in Germany, your first job is to draw up a list of cities to visit. I’ll do it for you in this article.
Here are the top 27 German cities to visit.
Berlin
The Land: Berlin
The best things to do in Berlin :
- The Brandenburg Gate, symbol of the city.
- The Berlin Wall and the East Side Gallery.
- The Reichstag, the seat of the German Parliament.
- Museum Island, a complex of five major museums.
- The Holocaust Memorial.
- Tiergarten, a large park in the heart of the city.
- Potsdamer Platz, with its modern architecture.
- The Kreuzberg district, for its art and nightlife scene.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Moderate temperatures, abundant flowering.
- Summer: Pleasant warmth, long sunny days.
- Autumn: Fresh, with brightly colored foliage.
- Winter: Cold, with enchanting Christmas markets.
Typical dish to eat: Currywurst, a spicy sausage with curry ketchup.
Munich
The Land: Bavaria
The best things to do in Munich :
- Marienplatz and the town hall (Neues Rathaus).
- The Hofbräuhaus, a famous traditional brasserie.
- Englischer Garten, one of Europe’s largest city parks.
- Deutsches Museum, museum of science and technology.
- Nymphenburg Palace, summer residence of the Bavarian kings.
- Viktualienmarkt, open-air market.
- A visit to BMW Welt and the BMW Museum.
- The Alte Pinakothek, a collection of three art museums.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Gentle, with nature awakening.
- Summer: Comfortable temperatures, ideal for festivals.
- Autumn: Freshness, with the famous Oktoberfest.
- Winter: Cold.
Typical dish to eat: Weisswurst, traditional Bavarian white sausages.
Hamburg
The Land: Hamburg
The best things to do in Hamburg:
- The port of Hamburg and its cruises on the Elbe.
- Speicherstadt, the historic warehouse district.
- A tour of the new Elbphilharmonie.
- The Reeperbahn district, famous for its nightlife.
- The Planten un Blomen Park with its Japanese garden.
- Altona fish market.
- A visit to the Hamburger Kunsthalle art museum.
- Miniatur Wunderland, the world’s largest model railroad.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Rising temperatures, clear weather.
- Summer: Temperate, with sunny days.
- Autumn: Cool, often wet weather.
- Winter: Cold, with short days.
Typical dish to eat: Fischbrötchen, a fish sandwich typical of the port.
Cologne
The Land: North Rhine-Westphalia
The best things to do in Cologne :
- Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom).
- A walk along the Rhine, especially at Rheinauhafen.
- Ludwig Museum.
- The Altstadt, the historic old town.
- The Musée du Parfum, retracing the history of eau de Cologne.
- Phantasialand amusement park, close to the town.
- A visit to the chocolate museum.
- Cruise on the Rhine for a different view of the city.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Gentle, with the awakening of nature.
- Summer: Moderate heat, often sunny weather.
- Autumn: Cool, with often clear days.
- Winter: Cold.
Typical dish to eat: Kölsch, a local beer, often accompanied by Rhineland dishes such as Himmel un Ääd (mashed potatoes and applesauce).
Frankfurt
The Land: Hesse
The best things to do in Frankfurt:
- The Main Tower for a panoramic view of the city.
- A visit to the historic Römerberg district.
- The Städel Museum, for European art.
- The walk along the Main River.
- The Palmengarten, a large botanical garden.
- Senckenberg Natural History Museum.
- The Sachsenhausen district, famous for its cider factories.
- Kleinmarkthalle market.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Pleasant temperatures, clear skies.
- Summer: Warm, ideal for outdoor walks.
- Autumn: Cool, with often mild weather.
- Winter: Cold.
Typical dish to eat: Frankfurter Würstchen, a smoked sausage typical of Frankfurt.
Dresden
The Land: Saxony
The best things to do in Dresden :
- A visit to the Frauenkirche, the city’s landmark.
- The Zwinger, a baroque palace with museums.
- A walk along the banks of the Elbe.
- The Semperoper, Dresden’s opera house.
- The Old Town (Altstadt) and its historic buildings.
- The Gallery of Old Masters (Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister).
- The bohemian Neustadt district.
- Pillnitz Castle, on the banks of the Elbe.
Weather by season :
- Spring: mild temperatures, flowering gardens.
- Summer: Pleasantly warm, ideal for cultural visits.
- Autumn: Cool, with sunny days.
- Winter: Cold, with winter charm and Christmas markets.
The typical dish to eat: Sächsische Sauerbraten, a marinated and braised roast.
Stuttgart
The Land: Baden-Württemberg
The best things to do in Stuttgart:
- The Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum.
- Stuttgart Palace (Schlossplatz).
- Killesberg Park.
- The Wilhelma, a zoological and botanical garden.
- The historic district of Bad Cannstatt.
- Tastings at local vineyards.
- The Staatsgalerie art museum.
- Walks in Rosenstein Park.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Gentle, with gardens in bloom.
- Summer: Warm, perfect for outdoor activities.
- Autumn: Cool, with autumn colors in the vineyards.
- Winter: Cold.
Typical dish to eat: Spätzle, traditional pasta from the region.
Nuremberg
The Land: Bavaria
The best things to do in Nuremberg:
- Nuremberg’s imperial castle (Kaiserburg), overlooking the old town.
- The German National Museum, the largest museum of German culture.
- The Nuremberg Trial Memorial.
- Hauptmarkt, especially for the Christkindlesmarkt.
- The town’s medieval ramparts.
- The Nuremberg Toy Museum.
- A visit to Albrecht Dürer’s house.
- Discover local specialties at the Handwerkerhof craft market.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Rising temperatures, cities in bloom.
- Summer: Warm, with cultural events.
- Autumn: Fresh, with an autumnal charm.
- Winter: Cold.
The typical dish to eat: Nürnberger Rostbratwürste, small typical grilled sausages.
Heidelberg
The Land: Baden-Württemberg
The best things to do in Heidelberg:
- Heidelberg Castle.
- Stroll along the old main street (Hauptstraße).
- Discover the University of Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university.
- Philosopher’s Walk (Philosophenweg) for its view of the city.
- A visit to the Church of the Holy Spirit.
- A walk along the Neckar.
- Discover the university’s botanical garden.
- Explore the old town and its charming alleyways.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Mild temperatures, cherry blossoms.
- Summer: Warm, with a pleasant summer atmosphere.
- Autumn: Cool, with often sunny days.
- Winter: Cold, with a wintry charm.
Typical dish to eat: Käsespätzle, a local variant of cheese pasta.
Leipzig
The Land: Saxony
The best things to do in Leipzig:
- The Völkerschlachtdenkmal (Monument to the Battle of the Nations).
- The Gewandhaus and the Leipzig Opera for classical music lovers.
- Leipzig Zoo, one of Europe’s most modern zoos.
- Leipzig Museum of Fine Arts.
- The historic district and its covered passageways.
- The Leipziger Marktplatz.
- The Panometer Leipzig, a unique artistic panorama.
- Walks in Clara-Zetkin Park.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Gentle, with a city in bloom.
- Summer: Pleasant temperatures, ideal for music festivals.
- Autumn: Cool, with often clear days.
- Winter: Cold.
The typical dish to eat: Leipziger Allerlei, a mixture of vegetables and sometimes seafood.
Düsseldorf
The Land: North Rhine-Westphalia
The best things to do in Düsseldorf:
- Stroll along Königsallee, famous for its luxury boutiques.
- The old town (Altstadt).
- The Kunstpalast museum for art and exhibitions.
- A walk along the Rhine.
- The modern MedienHafen district.
- Japanese gardens in Nord Park.
- The Rhine Tower (Rheinturm).
- Exploring the contemporary art scene in the Flingern district.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Moderate temperatures, clear weather.
- Summer: Warm, ideal for walks along the Rhine.
- Autumn: Cool, with colorful foliage.
- Winter: Cold.
Typical food: Altbier, a traditional beer served with Rhineland dishes.
Bonn
The Land: North Rhine-Westphalia
The best things to do in Bonn :
- Beethoven’s house, the composer’s birthplace.
- A stroll through the botanical gardens of the University of Bonn.
- Discover the Museum of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany (Haus der Geschichte).
- Poppelsdorf Palace.
- A stroll along the Rhine promenade.
- The old cemetery (Alter Friedhof) for its history.
- The Arithmeum, museum of mathematics.
- A stroll through the government district and its modern buildings.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Rising temperatures, cherry blossoms.
- Summer: Moderate heat, ideal for cultural activities.
- Autumn: A fresh, autumn-colored landscape.
- Winter: Cold.
The typical dish to eat: Rheinische Sauerbraten, a roast marinated in a sweet and sour sauce.
Aachen
The Land: North Rhine-Westphalia
The best things to do in Aachen :
- Aachen Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The cathedral treasury, with its religious works of art.
- Carolus Thermen hot springs for relaxation.
- Aachen Rathaus (town hall).
- The Centre Charlemagne, the city’s history museum.
- The Ludwig Forum sculpture trail.
Weather by season :
- Spring: mild temperatures, flowering trees.
- Summer: Warm, with sunny days.
- Autumn: Cool, with often clear skies.
- Winter: Cold.
Typical dish to eat: Printen, a type of local gingerbread.
Rostock
The Land: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
The best things to do in Rostock:
- The port of Warnemünde.
- Rostock’s historic center, with its Gothic brick buildings.
- St. Mary’s Church in Rostock, with its astronomical clock.
- Rostock Zoo.
- The Neuer Markt market, the heart of the old town.
- The walk along the Warnow River.
- The Cultural and Historical Museum (Kulturhistorisches Museum).
Weather by season :
- Spring: Fresh, with nature awakening.
- Summer: Temperate, ideal for beach excursions.
- Autumn: Cool, with often clear days.
- Winter: Cold.
Typical dish to eat: Fish and seafood from the Baltic Sea, especially herring.
Freiburg
The Land: Baden-Württemberg
The best things to do in Freiburg:
- Freiburg Cathedral (Freiburger Münster).
- The Bächle, small water channels running through the streets of the old town.
- The Schlossberg, for views over the town and the Black Forest.
- The market around the cathedral for local produce.
- The botanical garden of the University of Freiburg.
- The Schwabentor gate, one of two remaining medieval gates.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Pleasant temperatures.
- Summer: Warm and sunny, perfect for hiking.
- Autumn: Cool, with autumn-colored scenery.
- Winter: Cold.
Typical dish to eat: Flammkuchen, an Alsatian tarte flambée popular in the region.
Mainz
The Land: Rhineland-Palatinate
The best things to do in Mainz:
- The Gutenberg Museum, dedicated to the invention of printing.
- Mainz’s St. Martin’s Cathedral (Mainzer Dom).
- The market on Marktplatz.
- The Rhineland-Palatinate State Museum (Landesmuseum).
- A walk along the Rhine.
- Discover the historic Old Town (Altstadt).
- A visit to the Mainz Citadel.
- Local wine tasting in traditional taverns (Weinstuben).
Weather by season :
- Spring: Gentle, with vineyards in bloom.
- Summer: Warm, perfect for wine tasting.
- Autumn: Cool, with a harvest of grapes.
- Winter: Cold, with a festive atmosphere at Christmas markets.
Typical dish to eat: Spundekäs, a spicy cheese spread, often served with pretzels.
Tübingen
The Land: Baden-Württemberg
The best things to do in Tübingen :
- The Old Town (Altstadt) with its cobbled streets and half-timbered buildings.
- A trip on a traditional Stocherkahn boat on the Neckar.
- Hohentübingen Castle, home to several museums.
- The botanical garden of the University of Tübingen.
- A visit to the Stiftskirche.
- A walk along the Neckar river.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Pleasant temperatures, nature on the move.
- Summer: Warm, ideal for boat trips.
- Autumn: Fresh, with colorful foliage.
- Winter: Cold, charming under the snow.
Typical dish to eat: Maultaschen, Swabian ravioli stuffed with meat and spinach.
Potsdam
The Land: Brandenburg
The best things to do in Potsdam:
- The park and castle of Sanssouci, summer residence of Frederick the Great.
- The Dutch Quarter (Holländisches Viertel) with its red-brick houses.
- Visit the Neuer Garten and Cecilienhof Palace.
- A stroll through Babelsberg Park.
- The marble palace (Marmorpalais) on Lake Heiliger See.
- The Potsdam Film Museum.
- The Biosphäre Potsdam, tropical greenhouse.
- The Russian district of Alexandrowka, with its traditional wooden houses.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Moderate temperatures, parks in bloom.
- Summer: Warm, perfect for visiting palaces and gardens.
- Autumn: Cool, with a romantic atmosphere in the parks.
- Winter: Cold, with an enchanting winter landscape.
Typical dish to eat: Kartoffelsuppe, a traditional potato soup.
Weimar
The Land: Thuringia
The best things to do in Weimar :
- Goethe House and National Goethe Museum.
- The Bauhaus-Museum Weimar, dedicated to the art movement.
- Duchess Anna Amalia’s library.
- The park on the Ilm, with the Goethe pavilion.
- Buchenwald concentration camp memorial, nearby.
- Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar.
- The home of Schiller, another great German writer.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Invigorating climate, with budding trees.
- Summer: Comfortable temperatures, ideal for cultural visits.
- Autumn: Cool air, with a carpet of colorful leaves.
- Winter: Cold seasons dotted with snow, creating a picturesque backdrop.
Typical dish to eat: Thüringer Klöße, potato dumplings.
Bamberg
The Land: Bavaria
The best things to do in Bamberg:
- The Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) on Regnitz Island.
- Bamberg Cathedral (Bamberger Dom) with the statue of the Bamberg horseman.
- The Neue Residenz with its rose gardens.
- The former imperial abbey of Michaelsberg.
- Little Venice, a picturesque waterside district.
- Tasting of Rauchbier, a local smoked beer.
- A stroll through the medieval streets of the town.
- Bamberg Historical Museum.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Rising temperatures, fragrant flowers.
- Summer: Pleasant warmth, sunny days.
- Autumn: Mild climate, palette of autumn colors.
- Winter: Winter temperatures, with traditional charm.
Typical dish to eat: Schäuferla, roast pork shoulder.
Lübeck
The Land: Schleswig-Holstein
The best things to do in Lübeck:
- Holsten’s door.
- The old town with its brick buildings and narrow streets.
- The Hansemuseum, dedicated to the history of the Hanseatic League.
- A visit to St. Mary’s Church in Lübeck.
- The home of Thomas Mann, author of “The Buddenbrooks.”
- The Heiligen-Geist-Hospital market, especially at Christmas.
- A walk along the banks of the Trave.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Refreshing climate, city awakening.
- Summer: Temperate, soft light ideal for walks.
- Autumn: Cool, with golden leaves.
- Winter: Cold, with a festive air for Christmas markets.
Typical dish to eat: Lübeck marzipan, renowned for its quality.
Würzburg
The Land: Bavaria
The best things to do in Würzburg:
- The Würzburg residence.
- Marienberg fortress.
- The Old Main Bridge (Alte Mainbrücke) for its view of the river and the fortress.
- St. Kilian’s Cathedral, Würzburg.
- Julius Spital’s house with its hospital and vineyards.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Incipient mildness, budding vineyards.
- Summer: Warm, bright, perfect for terrace tastings.
- Autumn: Crisp air, shimmering colors of the vines.
- Winter: Cold, traditional Christmas market and mulled wine.
Typical dish to eat: Frankenwein, a local Franconian wine.
Koblenz
The Land: Rhineland-Palatinate
The best things to do in Koblenz:
- Deutsches Eck, where the Moselle meets the Rhine.
- Ehrenbreitstein fortress, accessible by cableway.
- A stroll along the banks of the Rhine and Moselle rivers.
- A visit to the old town (Altstadt) with its charming alleyways.
- The Schängelbrunnen, one of the city’s most emblematic fountains.
- Cruises on the Rhine.
- A visit to the Ludwig Museum.
- Discover the surrounding castles, such as Stolzenfels.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Cheerful climate, green valleys.
- Summer: Temperate, pleasant for river cruises.
- Autumn: Gentle, golden hues of the vineyards.
- Winter: Cool, festive atmosphere of Christmas markets.
Typical dish to eat: Spätzle, accompanied by typical Rhineland dishes.
Münster
The Land: North Rhine-Westphalia
The best things to do in Münster :
- Lake Aasee for walking and water sports.
- St. Paul’s Cathedral, Münster.
- The weekly market in the Place du Dom.
- Münster Castle, seat of the university.
- The Prinzipalmarkt district.
- The LWL art museum for Westphalian art and culture.
- Münster Botanical Gardens.
Weather by season :
- Spring: mild temperatures, nature awakens.
- Summer: Sunny, ideal for cycling.
- Autumn: Fresh air, with a melancholy charm.
- Winter: A harsh winter, illuminated by Christmas lights.
Typical dish to eat: Westfälischer Pfefferpotthast, a spicy beef stew.
Erfurt
The Land: Thuringia
The best things to do in Erfurt :
- The Krämerbrücke merchant bridge, unique in Europe with its houses and stores.
- Marienkirche and St Severus church on the Domplatz.
- The medieval old town with its charming cobbled streets.
- The Baroque Egidian Garden (Egapark).
- The German gardening museum.
- Visit the Petersberg Citadel, an impressive Baroque fortress.
- Discover the old Jewish quarter.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Invigorating climate, lively city.
- Summer: mild temperatures, ideal for walks.
- Autumn: Cool air, golden foliage.
- Winter: Traditional winter, with a picturesque Christmas market.
Typical dish to eat: Thüringer Rostbratwurst, grilled sausages from Thuringia.
Augsburg
The Land: Bavaria
The best things to do in Augsburg:
- Augsburg town hall (Augsburger Rathaus) and its golden tower (Goldener Saal).
- The Fuggerei, the oldest social housing complex in the world.
- Augsburg Cathedral.
- Augsburg Natural History Museum (Naturmuseum Augsburg).
- Botanical Park (Botanischer Garten Augsburg).
- The Schaezlerpalais, a baroque palace with an art gallery.
- Walks along the Augsburg Canal.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Rising temperatures, awakening of the parks.
- Summer: Warm, perfect for historical visits.
- Autumn: Gentle, with a palette of autumnal colors.
- Winter: Cold, magical atmosphere of Christmas markets.
The typical dish to eat: Käsespätzle, a cheese pasta typical of the region.
Ulm
The Land: Baden-Württemberg
The best things to do in Ulm :
- Ulm Cathedral (Ulmer Münster) with the world’s tallest church spire.
- The fishermen’s and tanners’ quarter (Fischerviertel) for its picturesque charm.
- The Ulm Museum.
- Gingerbread Museum (Museum der Brotkultur).
- Discover Ulm’s zoo and botanical garden.
- A visit to Albert Einstein’s birthplace.
Weather by season :
- Spring: Invigorating climate, gardens in bloom.
- Summer: Comfortable temperatures, ideal for urban exploration.
- Autumn: Fresh, with nature’s glowing hues.
- Winter: Cold, with an enchanting snowy landscape.
A typical dish to eat: Spätzle, a traditional pasta often served with stews.

As a professional blogger, I take advantage of my flexible schedule to travel a lot. I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list!