The variety of travel destinations in Germany is impressive – cathedrals, lakes, castles and much more including 41 UNESCO sites. The country is one of the richest European countries regarding heritage. Any traveler can find here places that will satisfy his or her desires, but Tourism-review.com selected the 7 most popular destinations in the country.
The cathedral, which was the largest building in the world in 1880, is indeed a visitor magnet. It is Germany’s most visited landmark and attracts 6 million people per year, on average 20,000 per day. Among others, it is currently the tallest twin-spired church at 157m and the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. Since 1996 it is also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The gently undulating landscape around Lake Constance is a paradise for active holidaymakers and one of the top travel destinations in Germany. This excursion and relaxation region offers countless water sports opportunities, hiking and walking trails, but especially skating routes and cycling tracks. A favorite classic is the Lake Constance Cycle Path, which leads right around the lake. The lake located on the territory of three countries – Germany, Austria and Switzerland, is a widely popular holiday spot. In 2015, the Lake Constance region recorded a total of more than 19.5 million overnight stays in hotels.
The fairy-tale castle in Bavaria has positioned itself as one of the most popular holiday destinations in Germany. The Bavarian king Ludwig II built the castle in medieval style. The construction of the castle cost a whopping six million marks. The castle was opened to the public in 1886 after the king’s death. Since then, more than 61 million people have visited Neuschwanstein. Annually, more than 1.3 million people visit the castle, with as many as 6,000 per day in the summer.
Europa-Park is a theme park and the second most popular theme park resort in Europe, following Disneyland Paris. With 13 roller coasters, a 4D cinema and more than 100 other attractions and shows, Europa-Park Rust is the largest entertainment park in Germany. The park is capable to accommodate up to approx. 60,000 guests per day. In 2015, 5.5 million people visited the park, generating an estimated total revenue of 30 million euros.
The city on the banks of the Neckar is considered the epitome of German romanticism – not least because of the famous castle ruins, whose dilapidated walls are so attractive to tourists from all over the world. Every year the Heidelberg Castle itself is visited by around a million visitors from all over the world. It is in the TOP 10 most visited travel destinations in Germany. Heidelberg itself is also known for its university, founded in 14th century. It is the country’s oldest university and one of the oldest universities in the world.
The Ulm Minster is a Gothic Lutheran church. Its construction began in the 14th century but was completed in 1890. It is the tallest church in the world, and the 4th tallest structure built before the 20th century, with a steeple measuring 161.5 meters and containing 768 steps. This great work of architecture also houses important pieces of art. The 15th century choir stalls by Jörg Syrlin the Elder enjoy world-wide acclaim, in particular the carved busts which have gone down as masterpieces in the history of art.
The largest model railroad system in the world is immensely popular among visitors. Countries and continents like Scandinavia or the USA are recreated with cities and landscapes in this one of a kind place in Hamburg. In October 2016, the railway consisted of 15,400m of track in H0 scale. Of the 6,800 m2 of floor space, the model takes 1,490 m2. By 2020 it is expected to reach its final construction phase, with a model area of over 2,300 m2. The exhibition includes 1,040 trains made up of over 10,000 carriages, 385,000 lights, 130,000 trees and 260,000 human figurines. Since the opening of the Miniatur Wunderland it has received almost 15 million visitors, which amounts to around 1 million per year.
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