Germany Guide
Introduction to Germany
Though it remains far less well known or understood by outsiders than some of its neighbours, since reunification Germany has gained a higher profile as a travel destination, thanks in no small part to the remarkable resurgence of Berlin, one of the most fascinating and exciting cities in Europe. But the appeal of the reunified Germany is by no means limited to the capital. When legions of football fans descended on the country for the 2006 World Cup, they discovered a friendly, multi-ethnic and multicultural nation that was at ease with itself, happy to fly its own flag in a harmless display of national pride.
One of the delights of Germany for the independent traveller is that – a few hotspots aside – the summer visitor crush is rarely oppressive. Though Germany is highly urbanized, you're never far from a woodland footpath, a pristine lake or a challenging bike trail. That said, for many visitors one of Germany's cities will be their first taste of the country. The capital, Berlin, is a genuinely exciting place, a metropolis on fast-forward as it grows into its rediscovered role as the nation's capital while preserving evidence of its decisive – and not always happy – role in European history. Many of Germany's other major cities have proud histories as independent city states or as capitals of kingdoms in their own right, and thus there's nothing remotely "provincial" about the ancient yet liberal city of Cologne, the restored Baroque splendour of Dresden or the proud Bavarian metropolis of Munich, a sophisticated place with far more to offer than just beer and the Oktoberfest. The nation's financial capital, Frankfurt, impresses with its dynamic modernism and international spirit, while placid Bonn, the former capital of West Germany, charms with its scenic setting and excellent museums. Elsewhere, designer-label Düsseldorf and laid-back Stuttgart embody different aspects of the German economic miracle, while the eastern city of Leipzig fizzes with new-found dynamism. Cool, mercantile Hamburg looks askance at the antics of the rest of the country, maintaining a port city's familiarity with the wider world, while Nuremberg evokes the triumphs and tragedies of the nation's past.