937 Best Sights in Germany

The home of the former dukes of Mecklenburg stands next to the Marienkirche. It's an early-16th-century Italian Renaissance palace with touches of late Gothic. The facade is a series of fussy friezes depicting scenes from the Trojan War, and while it's impressive, you'll have to make do with the exterior; the building, which now operates as a courthouse, is not open to the public.

In March 2012, Romanian gallery Plan B moved into an industrial space deep within the Tagesspiegel building complex. This is the place to see offbeat Eastern European art.

Bortolozzi consistently spots and cultivates the hottest young talent in the city (like Danh Vo), showing their work in a quirky, wood-paneled space.

Founded in 1841, this is the oldest artist association in Germany. Its lavish townhouse gallery spaces often highlight the work of its 120-odd artist members.

Before Hamburg's destruction in World War II, large parts of the Altstadt and Neustadt were dominated by tightly-packed mazes of half-timbered working-class homes called Gängeviertel (alley quarter). These quarters were almost completely destroyed with the exception of a small block smack in the middle of Hamburg's Neustadt. Surrounded by modern office buildings, this area has been a thorn on the side of developers for many years. In 2009, a group of creatives and artists took over the area and turned the Gängeviertel into a cultural center with cafés, workshops, art galleries, bars and venues running on a donation-based system.

The statue of Gänseliesel, the little Goose Girl of German folklore, stands in Göttingen's central market square. The girl, according to the story, was a princess who was forced to trade places with a peasant, and the statue shows her carrying her geese and smiling shyly into the waters of a fountain. The students of Göttingen gave her a ceremonial role: traditionally, graduates who earn a doctorate bestow a kiss of thanks upon Gänseliesel. Göttingen's citizens say she's the most kissed girl in the world.

Butterflies from South America, Asia, and Africa flit back and forth over your head between the branches of banana trees and palms at this glass-enclosed garden north of Koblenz. The palace houses a small museum of decorative cast-iron objects, a restaurant, and a café, and its park can be explored. To reach the castle by public transport, take Bus No. 8 from Koblenz Hauptbahnhof to the last stop, \"Schloss Sayn\" (40 minutes).

About 16 km (10 miles) east of central Dessau, the castles, parks, and architectural gems of the Gartenreich Dessau-Wörlitz, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, create a unique cultural landscape between the Elbe and Mulde rivers. Preserving the essence of the Enlightenment, this area allows visitors to experience its rich cultural and historical legacy. Built in the latter half of the 18th century, the Gartenreich is the birthplace of the landscape garden in Germany, as well as a key site for the emergence of Classicism and neo-Gothic architecture. The park itself is free and best accessed by car. Visitors can explore various sites, including the stunning Wörlitz Palace, the charming Luisium, and the intriguing Gartenhaus im Neuen Garten, each with its own unique architecture and historical significance. Opening hours and tours can vary by building, so it's best to consult the website for up-to-date information.

At the middle of the island, the Gärtnerturm contains an information center, a shop, and an exhibition space. Several films on Mainau and the Bodensee are also shown.

You can visit the ancient Gasthaus zum Löwen, where Faust lived—allegedly in room No. 5—and died. Guests can stay overnight in the room, which has been decked out in period furniture with all modern conveniences removed (including the telephone) to enhance the effect. The inn is right on the central square of Staufen, a town with a visible inclination toward modern art in ancient settings.

Founded in 1930 and set within one of the town's oldest (and prettiest) buildings, this museum highlights the history and craft of violin-making in Mittenwald, with the main emphasis is on instruments made during the Baroque period. Ask the museum curator to direct you to the nearest of several violin makers—they'll be happy to demonstrate the skills handed down to them.

A wine cellar specializing in the sparkling white wine known as Sekt in German, this 600-year-old building with an arched eave basement was used as a bomb shelter during the war and adapted for the years-long in-bottle fermentation process. Tours are held every day (except Sunday) at 2 pm; arrive 30 minutes early to watch the video introduction in English.

An artists' colony formed here during the 19th century, and the tradition lives on. Picturesque houses line Hermann-Stockmann-Strasse and part of Münchner Strasse, and many of them are still the homes of successful artists. The Gemäldegalerie displays the works of many of the town's 19th-century artists.

The world's most comprehensive collection of European glass is housed in the historic Wilder Mann complex. The proud history of glassmaking in Central Europe—centered on Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic—is captured in more than 30,000 items, half of which are on display at any one time across the 35 rooms. Opened in 1985 by (rather randomly) Neil Armstrong, the museum is home to everything from beautiful baroque creations to eye-catching art deco pieces.

This amazing collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan sculptures is among the finest exhibits in Munich. The small café that expands into the quiet courtyard is a favorite for visitors, which include budding artists practicing their drawing skills.

Evidence of a wealthy Jewish community can be found in the large art nouveau Synagogue. With 650 seats the building, completed in 1911, would have been the largest synagogue in Saxony.

During the Kristallnacht Nazis set the building on fire, but the building only suffered minor damage as the Fire Department ignored orders to let the building burn. The last service took place here in 1940. Almost none of Görlitz’s Jews survived the war and Soviet Military authorities placed the synagogue under the control of the community in Dresden. The city of Görlitz purchased the building in 1963 and it served a variety of functions until German unification.

In 2008 the city and an associated foundation began the reconstruction of the building. Although there is no large community in Görlitz, the newly refurbished synagogue is again open to the public and is primarily used as a venue for cultural events and conferences. The main building is an interesting public space that explores the history and cultural impact of Jews in Silesia. In December 2021, the remains of the Torah, thought destroyed by the Nazis, was returned to the synagogue after being hidden by a sympathetic priest.

This museum showcases 2,000 years of works from Leipzig's and eastern Germany's proud tradition of handicrafts, such as exquisite porcelain, fine tapestry art, and modern Bauhaus design.

Historical musical instruments, mostly from the Renaissance, include the world's oldest clavichord, constructed in 1543 in Italy. There are also spinets, flutes, and lutes. Recordings of the instruments can be heard at the exhibits.

Presenting arts and crafts from all continents and various eras, this museum includes a thrilling collection of Southeast Asian antique art and the world's only Kurile Ainu feather costume, in the Northeast Asia collection. This museum stands at the forefront of a growing movement to assess Germany's colonial past and repatriation of looted art.

Opened in 2015, this museum and exhibition space brings the world of the Grimm brothers to life with a combination of artifacts from their time in Kassel and interactive exhibitions devoted to furthering awareness of their important role in the development of the German language. Exhibits include video art installations focusing on language or take a playful view of the brothers' fairy tales.

A short bus ride from Bad Homburg takes you to the highest mountain in the Taunus, the 2,850-foot, eminently hikable Grosser Feldberg.

At one of the loveliest lookout points in Bavaria, Maximilian showed off this corner of his kingdom to Czar Alexander I of Russia and Emperor Franz I of Austria during their journey to the Congress of Verona in October 1821. You can follow in their footsteps on a 45-minute round-trip hike to the lookout; a plaque marks the spot from which they admired the open expanse of the Tegernsee and the mountains beyond. The 1¼-km (¾-mile) walking path starts just between 37 and 39 Seestrasse—walk to the eastern end of the Schlosspromenade, cross the road, and join the narrow path to the right of the large white building.

This mansion contains a museum devoted to wide-ranging exhibits on literature and visual arts, prominently featuring the work of one of Germany's most famous postwar writers and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature (1999), Günter Grass (1927–2015).

Opposite the east end of the cathedral (closest to the Rhine) stands this fascinating museum, which is devoted to the history of writing, printing, and books. Exhibits include historical printing presses, incunabula (books printed in Europe before 1501), and medieval manuscripts with illuminated letters, as well as two precious 42-line Gutenberg bibles printed circa 1455. A replica workshop demonstrates how Gutenberg implemented his invention of movable type.

Built in 1905–07, this series of eight connected courtyards is the finest example of art nouveau industrial architecture in Berlin. Most buildings are covered with glazed white tiles, and additional Moorish mosaic designs decorate the main courtyard off Rosenthaler Strasse. Shops, restaurants, the variety theater Chamäleon Varieté, and a movie theater populate the spaces once occupied by ballrooms, a poets' society, and a Jewish girls' club.

In an old 19th-century boiler house, this popular information center documents the HafenCity urban development project. In addition to changing photographic and architectural exhibitions, the center also has an impressive 1:500 scale model of the HafenCity. Free two-hour walking and cycling tours of the HafenCity are also available. Tours in English are offered for groups of 10 people or more and can be booked ahead of time on the center's website.

On the Wine Road, it's a brief drive to the Neustadt suburb of Hambach. The sturdy block of Hambacher Schloss is considered the cradle of German democracy. It was here, on May 27, 1832, that 30,000 patriots demonstrated for German unity, raising the German colors for the first time. Inside there are exhibits and interactive displays about the uprising and the history of the castle. The French destroyed the 11th-century imperial fortress in 1688. Reconstruction finally began after World War II, in neo-Gothic style, and the castle is now an impressive setting for theater and concerts. On a clear day, you can see the spire of Strasbourg Cathedral and the northern fringe of the Black Forest from the terrace restaurant.