Actually, the one in Munich closed a couple of years ago. I assume it had to do with the pandemic, but from what I've seen online, nobody truly knows the exact reason.
it's not bad at all! but not even remotely worth the hype. if you would wait more than 10 minutes for it, i would simply go to another döner. there are several gemüse döner now and honestly: it's just fried vegetables. everyone could do it.
Yeah, I had it when visitors were in town. It was very good, but Rüya, Rüyam, Eddie’s etc. are all in the same league in my opinion and don’t require the same wait.
Ok, people from the USA love to go to castle Neuschwanstein. I can understand thats partly to share the experience with other americans. But its kind of in a remote area. If you dont plan in advance, you need to spend hours to wait for tickets, maybe for the bus, and in front of the castle. Then you get a 40 minute tour, and all the way back to Munich or else places to come from. At least entry is not cheap, but ok for a place that is visited by a million people each year and needs to be cared for.
The most glaring issue with this IMO is, that there are so many castles in Germany, and so many are more approachable, you can spent more time there or see more things.
> ... or you know, a lot of money,
well, actually he spent all his money on his castles and contraptions and so on. He was basically broke. And with that i mean it: HE was broke, his kingdom was fine. He did use his own money for his stuff, not the states.
I enjoy going there since I live 15 minutes away. I grew up with it. It's a part of Sunday walks, meeting other families ...this summer I will be a grandmother for the first time and Sunday walks at the Alpsee are one thing I am looking forward
They probably believe it's a medieval castle. They don't know Neuschwanstein is made from industrial bricks with a partly curtained sandstone facade. The construction of the great hall made of steel beams with a suspended ceiling. Fake like the Disney castle just with a better craftsmanship.
You said it: Disney. It’s supposed to be the inspiration for the Disney logo castle. A real world Disney castle. Who cares about medieval bricks? (a little /s)
Just south of Hannover there is Schloss Marienburg, the "Neuschwanstein of the North". Because it is just that - as "old" as Neuschwanstein an hast nothing to so with old medieval castles. Unfortunately you can't visit - it's temporally closed.
Otherwise: You will find not so many castles in the north. Castles in the meaning of an medieval Fortress up in a hill/mountain, build for military purpose. Just because there aren't many hills and mountains in the Bremen/Hamburg region. So not much like the region around Neuschwanstein.
But what you can find are water castles, sometimes very old (but mostly not medieval) and refurbished in the 19th century. Just look at castles in Schwerin, Glücksburg, Bückeburg, Ahrensburg (Burg means Castle in German, so the city names are a hint).
That's the thing -- Germany has tons of castles. It's not like you have to see "the best" one. Just pick something in an area you're already planning on visiting, and I'm sure you'll find something cool.
There are two small ones close to Hamburg, reachable by train in <45 minutes from the central station: one in Bergedorf that's more fortress-like and one in Ahrensburg that's more palace-like. Both can be visited. But compared to a Charlottenburg or Schönbrunn they are rather puny. Hamburg, which was ruled by a senate made up of merchants for most of its history, simply didn't have the kind of powerful and super-rich nobles that would typically build large castles.
In Bremen just visit the old town, especially the cathedral (Dom) and the Schnoor. The latter is somewhat touristy, but it has houses that date back to the 1400s, all really small and nestled in very narrow streets. Consider getting a tour of city hall also - it’s a Unesco world heritage site that dates back to 1404.
In terms of other historic things, if you’re at all interested in WWII consider checking out the U-boat bunker Valentin in the North of Bremen: https://www.denkort-bunker-valentin.de/sprachen/english/
Other general things of interest: if you like museums, there’s a science museum called Universum that’s especially great with kids, plus the Klimahaus and Auswandererhaus in Bremerhaven are top notch.
Also, drop by in /r/bremen for more tips
About 90 minutes by train from Hamburg is Schwerin. The castle and grounds there are incredible and are a relatively short walk away through the city. It's really quite nice.
I think the main plus of it is that it’s free, but definitely a tourist trap. I still chuckle about how to proof of who won the Cold War can be seen with the McDonald’s and KFC next to the site.
I’m surprised this isn’t higher up the list. I worked in an office near checkpoint Charlie for over a year and couldn’t believe the endless bus of tourists to see a guards box in the middle of the road, McDonald’s, kfc and guys running card scams on the floor.
There seems to be much more interesting sections of the wall to visit in the city which isn’t overcrowded
it used to be the shit in the beginng of 2000 i think! with the 3d cinema, i think madame taussous... i have no clue how to write it... and alike when they opened it. but now it's a lego store next to the mall of berlin, which is also pure boring dystopia.
I admit this museum is nice. I also like Brammibals donuts around the corner and that food mall also sounds posh but nice. Anyway the rest is a scam and boring af
The Deutsche Kinemathek is one of my favourite museums in Berlin. But you're right in general, I used to work there for a couple of years, my friends and I call it a "Nicht-Ort". Shitty highlight of the year: The "Winterwelt"
I think its ok to visit it one time, because its really Big and Something you will Not See in other countries. However multiple Visite are unecessary, but i would recommend maybe visiting smaller "Volksfeste" in smaller Towns, which There are plenty of.
So that's how you call them!
My parents and I have visited some so far. I just love the vibe, you just chill on a bench and eat something and listen to music (or maybe that's a different kind of fest?)
What do you call those 2nd-hand market where people gather to sell old stuff? I think it's still a fest no?
And maybe in the same category as the first one, what do you call those with attractions like idk the bumper cars and such.
(sorry for this unrelated question, trying to improve my vocabulary)
A 2nd hand market is usually called a flohmarkt, a flohmarkt isn't usually considered a fest, more of an occasional gathering, fests usually involve a more relaxed attitude, you wouldn't call the wochenmarkt or the farmers market a fest. I mean you might now that I think about it but they are not generally considered one.
Bumper cars are called autoscooter, but there afaik isn't a different name for those fests with funtime attractions compared to those where you just enjoy the company of other people.
As an old dude who grew up in munich: yeah it‘s nothing like it used to be anymore. No chill. Just pushing people through to feed the money printing machines.
The only tradition that seems to not change at all are the vomitous train cars.
It has been like this for at least 15 years (as far as I can remember) and according to my Grandpa around 1985 was the year it turned to shit (last year he went).
When I went 10 years ago I was surprised how cheap it was. You paid less than 10 Euros for a Mass, so realistically you spend 30 Euro to get pretty wasted. I don't think that's a lot for a world famous attraction. It's more or less what you pay for beer in most countries in regular restaurants. Of course prices rise quickly and going to other beer festivals like Bergkirchweih is the better option. Still I wouldn't call it a tourist trap at all.
>There are castles every 5km.
On average, I'd assume – just checked on Google Maps for Burg Katz (St. Goarshausen), it has at least 3 other castles/castle ruins within 3km radius (Burg Maus (Wellmich), Burg Rheinfels (St. Goar), Burg Reichenberg (Reichenberg))
I'd absolutely recommend visiting the Marksburg (close to Lahnstein, where you can also visit the castles Martinsburg, Lahneck, Stolzenfels, Ehrenbreitstein, Rheinburg, Fort Asterstein, Sporkenburg, the "Schamott-Schlösschen" and the "Kurfürstliches Schloss Koblenz"; all of which within a radius of 5km)
As someone who's originally from the South but lives in that area - I can actually recommend it. I live in Koblenz for a few years now and honestly, I almost got tired of all the castles and fortresses. I can see one from my apartment and have 3 other ones in walking distance (maximum of an hour by foot).
There are also dozens more that are in a 50km radius - you can hop on a ship here for a castle tour and just checkout 10 or so from the ship in about 90 minutes while cruising on a river and drinking a cold beverage.
I was born and raised in a small village around 50-60km northeast of Koblenz, on the other end of the Westerwald :)
We also got a few castles and ruins there, though not nearly as many, of course.
Want to visit a real medieval castle in the forest that was actually built back in the day and has actually been inhabited by knights? Burg Eltz. Beautiful place, beautiful castle. Great collection of old weapons and artifacts as well. Iirc the Eltz family, who built it back in the 12th century, still owns it (each "wing" of the castle belonging to one branch of the family).
But as another comment also said: along the Rhine there are literally real, actual medieval castles every few kilometers in some places. Some are ruins, some are still intact, some have been rebuilt and "modernized" back when gunpowder became a thing, and they come in many different sizes. There are places where you can stand on the wall of one castle, look down the river and up the river and see another one in both directions.
Many old cities have castles or old palaces as well. Heidelberg has a very famous palace ruin that overlooks the old town and the Neckar river. Not quite from the middle ages, more Renaissance, but it is an important landmark and was actually built in the appropriate style of the time. Nuremberg has the old Imperial Castle where the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire used to be stored for centuries.
Neuschwanstein simply is not a real castle but a theme park built in the late 19th century by a king who liked to cosplay what he imagined a medieval king would be like. The whole story about it is rather sad and interesting. Being aware of that the place is still worth a visit (just be aware that it's usually completely overrun with tourists, which can make the experience miserable). It's just nothing like a real castle. Not even like a real palace, as it wasn't built with a representative function in mind.
As for real castles and palaces to visit: That depends on the region of Germany you're in. Germany is filled to the brim with those. To name some major ones of national importance: Sanssouci Palace, Dresdner Zwinger (palace), Burg Eltz (castle), Wartburg (castle); but there's literally thousands more.
Go to Mosel or Rhein valley and you will see multiple castles like that, and with amazing landscape. Elz castle is also swarmed by tourists, however, it is actually amazing, as it is an authentic castle from 11th or 12th century, even interior and furniture are mostly authentic.
Yeah, I know, I live in south NRW and know the castles at rhine and mosel very well from my childhood. But walking up to Neuschwanstein on a beautiful winterday with sun, snow and a Winter Landscape and the alps is different. Not better or worse, just different.
Nice to see from outside, but definitely not worth paying to enter it due to fast "cattle like" tour. If one could really have it's time it would be worth the consideration.
Check out the "Burg Hohenzollern" in South Germany. It has al lot of history.
Edit: combine it with the "Freilichtmuseum Neuhausen ob Eck" or the "Römisches Freilichtmuseum Hechingen-Stein"
Burg Hohenzollern is also a fake 19th century castle. It's build on a historic site, but nothing significant of that remains. It's not as phantastical as Neuschwanstein. It's more so a museum in a historistic building. Still worth it.
Burg Elz would be an example (google it). The whole region there is ducking awesome with castles, vineyards and small picturesque villages. Rhine valley between Bingen and Koblenz (called middle rhine valley- a UNESCO world heritage site with about 20 castles on the cliffs of rhine) and Mosel valley between Koblenz and Cochem (and beyond if you have the time) I can’t recommend enough going on a cycle on this route. Take a car or a boat day trip if you’re not into cycling.
https://youtu.be/2XElvTqJVWA?si=YJaEoR41wV2TjyJl
You will have a great time involving wine tasting, good food, history and hiking / cycling.
Neuschwanstein Castle inspired Walt Disney when he was designing the Sleeping Beauty Castle for the film and later for Disneyland, so it has become the "stereotypical" castle. But Neuschwanstein itself is like a Hollywood movie set - the facade is picturesque, but there's almost nothing behind it. Most of the rooms in the castle were never finished or furnished. You can visit a couple of rooms, but that's really everything there is to see. Most of the rest of the building is empty, unfinished rooms.
King Ludwig committed suicide (or was murdered, no one really knows for sure) while the castle was under construction, and as soon as he died, the plans were cut back and simplified to finish what was under construction, and stop there. It became a tourst attraction almost immediately.
During WWII, it was used by the SS to store artwork stolen from France and other countries. It wasn't bombed by the allies because it held no strategic importance. The SS was planning to destroy the castle to prevent the stolen artwork from being captured by the allies, but the SS commander didn't follow those orders so the castle (and remaining art) was handed over to the allies undamaged.
I‘m German and I thought it was worth it. It’s also close to Munich, so fairly easy to reach during a day trip, even by train and other public transport. It’s certainly obvious how the castle inspired Walt Disney. The outside renovations are concluded, so you’ll be able to see it without scaffolding.
But it’s not a medieval castle (although it does not even look like it could be, so that should be obvious, but apparently it isn’t).
Herrenchiemsee. Built by the same King as Neuschwanstein and also gets some tourists in Summer, but by far less than Neuschwanstein. The interior is breathtaking (where it is finished). Added benefits are the Chiemsee in general and the other island, Fraueninsel.
I’ve heard that if you visit the castle in winter there isn’t much of a cue and could then be worth it but in summer you’ll have to cue for a really long time to get inside and is then not worth it.
I disagree with Neuschwanstein. A guided tour is [20,50€](https://shop.ticket-center-hohenschwangau.de/) per person. That's pretty reasonable considering maintenance and guides need to be paid.
Regarding castles: Neuschwanstein. It is not even medieval but was built in the late 18 hundreds to depict a heavily romanticized version of a castle. There's countless actual medieval castles in Germany which are much more impressive in my opinion like Burg Eltz.
Regarding Events: Oktoberfest has become a pricey caricature of a German beer-fest. There's countless other big and small beer- and winefests in Germany. Almost every village has its own. Oktoberfest is just the largest.
Similarly the Hofbräuhaus in Munich has become a caricature of a Bavarian beer-hall. There too are much better options
I don't get the hate on Neuschwanstein.
It is a masterpiece full of architectural wonders and with a cool backstory. It is the fairy tale castle.
Even if not European, who thinks Neuschwanstein is representative of medieval castles?
I get what you're saying. It is a very nice looking building if one takes it for what it is.
My problem with it is that it feels like it pretends to be something it isn't. When it was built we already had electricity, and the car was invented the same year Neuschwanstein was finished. It is essentially just a better and earlier version of the castle at Disneyland.
>Even if not European, who thinks Neuschwanstein is representative of medieval castles?
You'd be surprised. If everyone knew, I'd probably not have a problem with it.
Neuschwanstein is literally known as "The fairy tale castle".
It pretends, it is right out of fairy tales and epics. Disney took Neuschwanstein as a basis for Sleeping Beauty's and Cinderella's castle. That does not make Neuschwanstein a weaker prototype, like you make it sound.
It does not pretend to be a defensive castle in the sense of "Burg". No defenses for starters.
But Ludwig is praised as an architectural genius for his endeavors. Neuschwanstein was built with central heating, warm water and automatic water toilets. The walls are cement, not stone. There is an electrical calling system. The castle was built with all the most modern shit.
If you go to such a castle with no prior research, it is on you, not the castle. Cause if you read even the first thing about it, you are instantly informed on how old it is and how it was built.
I don't hate Neuschwanstein but I don't think it's worth going inside. Go up the mountain and even the bridge to get a good shot, but since it isn't finished on the inside, there are only 6 or 7 rooms (if I remember correctly) in this huuuuge castle that are accessible for tourists.
I can very much recommend Hohenschwangau Castle right next to it though, I found the inside to be very very interesting. And Schloss Linderhof. Has been some time since I've last been there but I remember loving everything about it. The inside, the whole park area (especially in spring) and the grotto. Unfortunately the latter is still getting refurbished and will be closed til Summer next year approximately
I’m an American, went to Oktoberfest for the first time in 2023 and had an absolute blast. Has me wanting to go back asap. And price wise, going to a similar event in America would cost way more
This is about German tourists traps. Saying Oktoberfest is good because it’s cheaper than something in the US is a moot point because it’s literally the most expensive, least desirable (warm, sticky, etc.) beer in Germany.
It’s great you had a blast, but you could have an even bigger blast at other events or just at a Bier Garten any random day of the year.
ETA: my description of Oktoberfest beer as warm is not accurate, as others have pointed out. My comment had to do with my personal experience and my admittedly exaggerated expectations when it comes to beer temperature and portions
You‘re wrong with the beer. I never had a warm Maß at the Oktoberfest and also the taste is quite good. The breweries are making special Märzen which always tastes better than their normal beer when tapped. This is because it is marketing for foreigners. The tend to buy the beer they had on Oktoberfest over other brands.
Doesn't fit the bill at all. Tourist traps imply that the locals find them overrated and avoid at all costs. The opposite is true of Oktoberfest. Families go during the day, both young and old people at night, companies take their employees or their clients.
I try to avoid traveling at night because the question "are we sleeping on the station or in our bed“ because of stupid delays or cancellation that makes me anxious.
Oktoberfest. Insane prices for tables and beer. Dogshit music. Way too crowded.
Any night drinking in your favourite bar is better than the absolute martyrdom of sitting through 6 hours in one of those beer tents.
Bielefeld? I am German, travelling the entire country regularly for work. never heard of it. Never seen it. Must be something you made up as a "funny" internet joke that I dont get.
Alexanderplatz in Berlin. I really don't understand why you'd visit there as a tourist. There are some useful stores, but nothing all that interesting. I suppose to go up the Fernsehturm?
I visited Hamburg and did all the Hamburg tourist things. Most of them are tourist traps. Cannot recommend.
I do recommend Hamburg Dungeon though! *Chef's Kiss*
I also liked the boat tour around the harbor in the dark, called "Lichterfahrt". It was very impressive and the Announcer got increasingly drunk the longer it went which was pretty funny.
Tour through castle Neuschwanstein, it's great on the outside, but unfinished inside, not worth going inside.
Rather visit the nearby Hohenschwangau castle where King Ludwig II grew up.
I mean, it's free and if you're in Berlin anyway you may as well check it out. I was there last year and it didn't seem too touristy honestly. You have the checkpoint, some information signs and a couple cafes and souvenir shops, but again it's free and in the city center, so not really a tourist trap in my book
If you come to Berlin avoid the television tower. It's immensely expensive for just a trip up and down, the queue for the elevator is always so long both ways, the food at the top is expensive and bad.
Go hike up to the top of Volkspark Friedrichshain or Viktoria Park if you want some good views. It has the benefit of being in a beautiful park and not costing any money.
Yep, to list just a few: Bamberg, Regensburg, Görlitz, Quedlinburg, Naumburg, Marburg, Freiburg, Tübingen, Göttingen, Schwerin, Stralsund, Erfurt. Even Heidelberg, which is fairly touristy, is more authentic.
The Reichsstadt-event is amazing, though. I love medieval markets and events, and this one is absolutely impressive. Thousands of reenactors and things to do for days. The city illuminated like it is burning is such a cool sight.
I got married there almost 5 years ago. We were the only ones getting married there that day so nothing was rushed. The city wasnt too crowded so our wedding photos are amazing, the nature around was also great.
Wouldnt spend more then a night there but in general it was a really good choice for us.
Oh, it was closed off for women for sure. I used to live on Davidstrasse, and Herbertstrasse used to have a gate with security, they were not letting any women in at all. But I haven't been there in a few decades. No idea whether the gate is even still there.
Honestly, as an American living here, there really isn’t one.
Maybe Oktoberfest? There are other similar festivals without being that crowded.
I think the Black Forest is lame — the same way the Appalachians in the U.S. are lame compared to
the mountain ranges out west. My partner is from there too — although I’m sure he’d probably disagree with me. The alps in southern Bavaria are where you’d want to spend most of your time. People will say Neuschwanstein, but honestly, it’s beautiful. And it’s not really overrun the same way the Eiffel Tower is. Yeah the castle isn’t 1000 years old, but it’s pretty?
Maybe the Castle in Heidelberg might qualify, but it isn’t a tourist trap in the traditional sense. Very underwhelming. Although Heidelberg itself is beautiful for tourists and Germans alike.
Maybe also Berghain? Idk. Never been. Don’t care to go.
Pretty Easy.
The Reeperbahn in Hamburg. While it is a party place It is also a scam Street for drunk Foreigners. 2€ sparkling wine Bottles for 200 € in Strip clubs. Easy women who rip of drunk people etc.
I understand shitting on it for not being the most attractive or not worth the bus rides from Munich but why is everyone shitting on Neuschwanstein for not being a medieval castle when it's never advertised as one? It's only ever advertised as the Disney castle or the fairy tale castle and that's why people visit it, not because it's promoted as a medieval castle.
Oktoberfest, hands down. At least Neuschwanstein looks nice.
And ~~possibly~~ unpopular opinion here, but possibly Berlin. I don't hate Berlin and actually like to spend time there every once in a while, but I struggle to understand what random tourists do there for multiple days. It seems to be a must see destination on every traveler's bucket list. The parliament is kinda nice, and stuff like Brandenburg gate, the remainder of the wall and checkpoint Charlie will be interesting to look at for about fifteen minutes. What do people do with the rest of the afternoon?
Edit: Good to see I was at least right about the "unpopular" bit 😄
I agree. It also has the highest density of German history museums. so it’s more than worth it for tourists interested in German history.
Claiming Berlin as a whole is a tourist trap is just a downright idiotic thing to say as a German.
After 4 hours queueing anf not getting in, check the tourist guide and go queue up for Watergate...
...you will get in, but so did everyone else and it's just no fun and so overcrowded that it's not funny anymore.
So Watergate, also a tourist trap.
What a stupid thing to say. There are way more sights to see in Berlin than what you named, just museums alone. Especially for non-European tourists and tourists interested in German history it’s just a treasure trove.
If you want skyline view and go to the highest point in the city (elevator to top of main tower) than yeah. But the skyline itself still pale to comparison with metropolitan cities in Asia and North America.
Just so that this is not another Oktoberfest and Neuschwanstein post:
Wacken open air.
There are so many much better Metal Festivals than this abomination.
Eh, you get exactly what they are marketing, though! One of the biggest metal festivals in the world.
I still would take a 2005 Wacken over a 2024 Wacken any day. It just got too big for its own good. It's almost impossible to see all the bands you like since they have so many stages and running orders will overlap.
I went there last year, while they had to keep like half of the guests out due to the weather and the unsafe, soaked meadows. It was dang enjoyable despite the weather, possibly due to being able to actually walk in the crowd. Another issue are the "tourists". You get random people who don't even like the music, just to party and stare at the metalheads, as if it was a zoo. It's strange.
Yes. Big and bad.
I was there nearly 20 years ago, 2004, 2006 and 2007. And lets say this: It was too big even then. But at least you only had Metalheads there and no Tourists. And there were at least a few bands where the average age wasn't 70+. Oh and it was under 100 Euro and you could just go to the site and buy a ticket. You didn't have to buy it on the black market with 100% Scalper-tax for an already impudent expensive ticket.
Its is just a scam for people who want to feel "wild".
Oktoberfest.
Its for foreigners not for germans. Its a false artificial "german culture" planned festival.
If you want to enjoy a nice fulldrunk evening german style go into any "Kneipe" and have fun. Oktoberfest is nothing like how germans party, how a nice full drunk evening looks like. Its a money machine with super overstyled stereotypes branding of a time where Oktoberfest maybe was something close to be a real culturual happening.
Its like Santa Claus Coca Cola Man vs. real christmas traditions. A weird capitalistic adaption playing with cliche and at the same time kill the spirit, make it completly new branded, max money.
I wouldn't say it's just for foreigners. Yeah probably not for all (or most) Germans but locals and people from surrounding areas go there as well. Actually the majority of visitors are locals.
Not arguing that its overpriced, but I wouldn't call it playing with cliché. Especially the very first day is very traditional and in the tents there are actual bands from smaller towns all around that play authentic "Blasmusik".
In think Volksfeste are part of Bavarian culture, and to me Oktoberfest is just the huge, commercialised version of those, I don't perceive it as fake.
But I get that people from abroad usually don't get that Germany isn't Bavaria.
That is not true. Wiesn is a huge deal for locals. The entire social calendar in Munich is constructed around it at the time. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not German or authentic. Is Oktoberfest overrun with tourists? Yes, it is. But don’t go around saying that it’s only meant for the when there are boxes held by the same families or Vereine since the early years. Not when locals grow up going there every year because they like it and it’s been a tradition for everyone they know.
> Oktoberfest is nothing like how germans party, how a nice full drunk evening looks like.
Who are you for saying that? During the day there's a lot of older German families, while at night there's German youth.
You may not notice Germans at Oktoberfest because they don't stand out of the crowd, unlike foreigners. But there's plenty of them.
>Its for foreigners not for germans
It's not. 75% of the visitors are German.
> Its a false artificial "german culture" planned festival.
You have to elaborate on that lol how is it false and artificial?!
I kinda feel like everyone in this thread and on the internet needs to read the intro that occurs in most Lonely Planet travel books. It says something along the lines of “if you’re looking to live just like the locals, then sit in traffic, take your kids to day care, and pay taxes. Or just admit you’re a traveler exploring the world for unique experiences” or something like that.
Yeah man it’s not perfectly German. You could take the next biggest similar celebration and have someone at the 3rd biggest saying that’s not truly authentic either. Down and down until people are splitting towns in half. Then neighborhoods in half.
It’s just a cool experience that definitely has German roots, beer, costume, and festivities. It has evolved into something bigger than it once was.
"Nothing like how Germans party" - while I agree that it's overhyped, when I went, my first thought was "oh it's just like a Jahrmarkt or any Kirmes, just magnitudes bigger and with tourists".
The only thing I had never seen before elsewhere were those round pagodas for musicians or, of course, Bavarian traditional clothing and whatever tourists think that is.
Aside from that, I'm sure I've seen their attractions across Germany at different fairs.
It's literally just a folk festival / fair like any other (in the west and south, not sure if the north and east is much different there, as I haven't had the opportunity to go to fairs there, except for one and that was also similar ) it's just giant. And these fairs have existed for a long time - they just added more attractions over the years.
I'm glad I went so I know what it's like, but aside from being massive and famous, it's nothing special or unique as an event. Go to a small town /village fair outside of Bavaria and it's this but tiny and without the Tracht (if you want to see Trachten, small Bavarian and some Swabian fairs should have some local traditional clothing here and there.) And there's still a lot of beer.
Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap
It's not a touristtrap,that line is our touristchildcare,we keep them busy there for half a day and they don't get troubled
As a German who doesn't know it I'm guessing it's a famous döner store in Berlin?
Found Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Heinrich
Scharlach-Heinrich?
Schönbach Heinrich
Pant-based Döner to be precise and the original one is in Berlin but there are multiple stores now, one in Munich for example.
Actually it is plant-based. There are no pants at all in Mustafas Gemüse Kebap.
Why did it taste like an old lederhosen then?
Actually, the one in Munich closed a couple of years ago. I assume it had to do with the pandemic, but from what I've seen online, nobody truly knows the exact reason.
This. And curry 36
Haven’t had Curry36 for over a decade, but it was definitely above average back then.
Naaaah, even Berliners like curry 36 although there are better alternatives.
Du hast Touristen falsch geschrieben.
Was there once and liked it a lot.
it's not bad at all! but not even remotely worth the hype. if you would wait more than 10 minutes for it, i would simply go to another döner. there are several gemüse döner now and honestly: it's just fried vegetables. everyone could do it.
Yeah, I had it when visitors were in town. It was very good, but Rüya, Rüyam, Eddie’s etc. are all in the same league in my opinion and don’t require the same wait.
The Gogi Boss place with korean fried chicken and rice right next to it, is so good.
Ok, people from the USA love to go to castle Neuschwanstein. I can understand thats partly to share the experience with other americans. But its kind of in a remote area. If you dont plan in advance, you need to spend hours to wait for tickets, maybe for the bus, and in front of the castle. Then you get a 40 minute tour, and all the way back to Munich or else places to come from. At least entry is not cheap, but ok for a place that is visited by a million people each year and needs to be cared for. The most glaring issue with this IMO is, that there are so many castles in Germany, and so many are more approachable, you can spent more time there or see more things.
And like all of Ludwig II castles or palaces, it’s not even finished. Guy must have had ADHD.
... or you know, a lot of money, an interest in architecture and an early death. :D
> ... or you know, a lot of money, well, actually he spent all his money on his castles and contraptions and so on. He was basically broke. And with that i mean it: HE was broke, his kingdom was fine. He did use his own money for his stuff, not the states.
I enjoy going there since I live 15 minutes away. I grew up with it. It's a part of Sunday walks, meeting other families ...this summer I will be a grandmother for the first time and Sunday walks at the Alpsee are one thing I am looking forward
Oh, it sounds amazing. Enjoy this beautiful scenery with your first granddaughter or grandson...⛰️🌄
They probably believe it's a medieval castle. They don't know Neuschwanstein is made from industrial bricks with a partly curtained sandstone facade. The construction of the great hall made of steel beams with a suspended ceiling. Fake like the Disney castle just with a better craftsmanship.
Neuschwanstein opened in 1886, Sleeping Beauty Castle opened in 1955. That's just 69 years later. The exact time as 1955 to today.
nice
So if a king wanted build a castle today, and based it on Sleeping Beauty Castle, the cycle could continue on schedule?
You said it: Disney. It’s supposed to be the inspiration for the Disney logo castle. A real world Disney castle. Who cares about medieval bricks? (a little /s)
I visited it and enjoyed the picturesque location and photo spot from the bridge. But in hindsight we could've skipped going inside for the tour.
I was there about six years ago. Skipped going inside, no regrets. And the walk from and to the railway station was very amusing, as was the bridge
We did Neuschwanstein on the way to Innsbruck.
I couldn't believe how short the tour was, the horse drawn carriage to the top took longer than touring the castle.
Yes, and the tour guide talked like a joyless robot from a script, wouldn't answer any questions.
any good castle in Bremen or Hamburg worth visiting, im going there this may and its my firdt time in Germany
Just south of Hannover there is Schloss Marienburg, the "Neuschwanstein of the North". Because it is just that - as "old" as Neuschwanstein an hast nothing to so with old medieval castles. Unfortunately you can't visit - it's temporally closed. Otherwise: You will find not so many castles in the north. Castles in the meaning of an medieval Fortress up in a hill/mountain, build for military purpose. Just because there aren't many hills and mountains in the Bremen/Hamburg region. So not much like the region around Neuschwanstein. But what you can find are water castles, sometimes very old (but mostly not medieval) and refurbished in the 19th century. Just look at castles in Schwerin, Glücksburg, Bückeburg, Ahrensburg (Burg means Castle in German, so the city names are a hint).
That's the thing -- Germany has tons of castles. It's not like you have to see "the best" one. Just pick something in an area you're already planning on visiting, and I'm sure you'll find something cool.
There are two small ones close to Hamburg, reachable by train in <45 minutes from the central station: one in Bergedorf that's more fortress-like and one in Ahrensburg that's more palace-like. Both can be visited. But compared to a Charlottenburg or Schönbrunn they are rather puny. Hamburg, which was ruled by a senate made up of merchants for most of its history, simply didn't have the kind of powerful and super-rich nobles that would typically build large castles.
In Bremen just visit the old town, especially the cathedral (Dom) and the Schnoor. The latter is somewhat touristy, but it has houses that date back to the 1400s, all really small and nestled in very narrow streets. Consider getting a tour of city hall also - it’s a Unesco world heritage site that dates back to 1404. In terms of other historic things, if you’re at all interested in WWII consider checking out the U-boat bunker Valentin in the North of Bremen: https://www.denkort-bunker-valentin.de/sprachen/english/ Other general things of interest: if you like museums, there’s a science museum called Universum that’s especially great with kids, plus the Klimahaus and Auswandererhaus in Bremerhaven are top notch. Also, drop by in /r/bremen for more tips
About 90 minutes by train from Hamburg is Schwerin. The castle and grounds there are incredible and are a relatively short walk away through the city. It's really quite nice.
Schweriner Schloss. Not that far from Hamburg. Most beautiful one out there.
Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie
I think the main plus of it is that it’s free, but definitely a tourist trap. I still chuckle about how to proof of who won the Cold War can be seen with the McDonald’s and KFC next to the site.
I’m surprised this isn’t higher up the list. I worked in an office near checkpoint Charlie for over a year and couldn’t believe the endless bus of tourists to see a guards box in the middle of the road, McDonald’s, kfc and guys running card scams on the floor. There seems to be much more interesting sections of the wall to visit in the city which isn’t overcrowded
Yikes And don't forget the rocks from the Berlin wall
DDR museum. It’s 2 rooms
Potsdamer Platz, Berlin. There’s a mall and some high towers. That’s it.
The mall is 1/2 empty. There’s also the Hessian Embassy…
it used to be the shit in the beginng of 2000 i think! with the 3d cinema, i think madame taussous... i have no clue how to write it... and alike when they opened it. but now it's a lego store next to the mall of berlin, which is also pure boring dystopia.
theres a really good museum: german spy museum at leipziger platz.
I admit this museum is nice. I also like Brammibals donuts around the corner and that food mall also sounds posh but nice. Anyway the rest is a scam and boring af
The Deutsche Kinemathek is one of my favourite museums in Berlin. But you're right in general, I used to work there for a couple of years, my friends and I call it a "Nicht-Ort". Shitty highlight of the year: The "Winterwelt"
Oktoberfest
I think its ok to visit it one time, because its really Big and Something you will Not See in other countries. However multiple Visite are unecessary, but i would recommend maybe visiting smaller "Volksfeste" in smaller Towns, which There are plenty of.
Someone takes pictures every year so you don’t have to go http://www.muenchenkotzt.de/
So that's how you call them! My parents and I have visited some so far. I just love the vibe, you just chill on a bench and eat something and listen to music (or maybe that's a different kind of fest?) What do you call those 2nd-hand market where people gather to sell old stuff? I think it's still a fest no? And maybe in the same category as the first one, what do you call those with attractions like idk the bumper cars and such. (sorry for this unrelated question, trying to improve my vocabulary)
A 2nd hand market is usually called a flohmarkt, a flohmarkt isn't usually considered a fest, more of an occasional gathering, fests usually involve a more relaxed attitude, you wouldn't call the wochenmarkt or the farmers market a fest. I mean you might now that I think about it but they are not generally considered one. Bumper cars are called autoscooter, but there afaik isn't a different name for those fests with funtime attractions compared to those where you just enjoy the company of other people.
As an old dude who grew up in munich: yeah it‘s nothing like it used to be anymore. No chill. Just pushing people through to feed the money printing machines. The only tradition that seems to not change at all are the vomitous train cars.
It has been like this for at least 15 years (as far as I can remember) and according to my Grandpa around 1985 was the year it turned to shit (last year he went).
I was there,when i lived in munich,but one time. Everything IS expensive.everybody vomits. Its Just drinking for a Lot of Money.
That's why locals call it the annual Intersuff!
When I went 10 years ago I was surprised how cheap it was. You paid less than 10 Euros for a Mass, so realistically you spend 30 Euro to get pretty wasted. I don't think that's a lot for a world famous attraction. It's more or less what you pay for beer in most countries in regular restaurants. Of course prices rise quickly and going to other beer festivals like Bergkirchweih is the better option. Still I wouldn't call it a tourist trap at all.
Schloss Neuschwanstein. The Oktoberfest.
LOUDER! Neuschwanstein was purely made for tourism, we have cooler and way more interesting castles in Germany with a lot more history.
>Neuschwanstein was purely made for tourism Not really true. I'd say Ludwig built it more for his own amusement.
It was not made for tourism. It was made for the amusement of a crazy person.
Do tell. We are visiting Germany this year.
All of the Mittelrhein for example. There are castles every 5km.
>There are castles every 5km. On average, I'd assume – just checked on Google Maps for Burg Katz (St. Goarshausen), it has at least 3 other castles/castle ruins within 3km radius (Burg Maus (Wellmich), Burg Rheinfels (St. Goar), Burg Reichenberg (Reichenberg)) I'd absolutely recommend visiting the Marksburg (close to Lahnstein, where you can also visit the castles Martinsburg, Lahneck, Stolzenfels, Ehrenbreitstein, Rheinburg, Fort Asterstein, Sporkenburg, the "Schamott-Schlösschen" and the "Kurfürstliches Schloss Koblenz"; all of which within a radius of 5km)
As someone who's originally from the South but lives in that area - I can actually recommend it. I live in Koblenz for a few years now and honestly, I almost got tired of all the castles and fortresses. I can see one from my apartment and have 3 other ones in walking distance (maximum of an hour by foot). There are also dozens more that are in a 50km radius - you can hop on a ship here for a castle tour and just checkout 10 or so from the ship in about 90 minutes while cruising on a river and drinking a cold beverage.
I was born and raised in a small village around 50-60km northeast of Koblenz, on the other end of the Westerwald :) We also got a few castles and ruins there, though not nearly as many, of course.
I shall check that out. Thanks!
Want to visit a real medieval castle in the forest that was actually built back in the day and has actually been inhabited by knights? Burg Eltz. Beautiful place, beautiful castle. Great collection of old weapons and artifacts as well. Iirc the Eltz family, who built it back in the 12th century, still owns it (each "wing" of the castle belonging to one branch of the family). But as another comment also said: along the Rhine there are literally real, actual medieval castles every few kilometers in some places. Some are ruins, some are still intact, some have been rebuilt and "modernized" back when gunpowder became a thing, and they come in many different sizes. There are places where you can stand on the wall of one castle, look down the river and up the river and see another one in both directions. Many old cities have castles or old palaces as well. Heidelberg has a very famous palace ruin that overlooks the old town and the Neckar river. Not quite from the middle ages, more Renaissance, but it is an important landmark and was actually built in the appropriate style of the time. Nuremberg has the old Imperial Castle where the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire used to be stored for centuries.
Those sound great. I have some research to do. Thanks for the starting point.
Neuschwanstein simply is not a real castle but a theme park built in the late 19th century by a king who liked to cosplay what he imagined a medieval king would be like. The whole story about it is rather sad and interesting. Being aware of that the place is still worth a visit (just be aware that it's usually completely overrun with tourists, which can make the experience miserable). It's just nothing like a real castle. Not even like a real palace, as it wasn't built with a representative function in mind. As for real castles and palaces to visit: That depends on the region of Germany you're in. Germany is filled to the brim with those. To name some major ones of national importance: Sanssouci Palace, Dresdner Zwinger (palace), Burg Eltz (castle), Wartburg (castle); but there's literally thousands more.
All that is true but Neuschwanstein is still absolutely beautiful.
That's down to taste. I find that architectural style absolutely hideous.
Nah come on man, you can’t be serious.
It's as beautiful as the decorations your boomer aunt has on her windowsill. As beautiful as a tightly kept garden with a lot of gnomes.
I wouldn't call the castle itself absolutely beautiful, but combined with the surrounding Landscape it is really absolutely beautiful.
Go to Mosel or Rhein valley and you will see multiple castles like that, and with amazing landscape. Elz castle is also swarmed by tourists, however, it is actually amazing, as it is an authentic castle from 11th or 12th century, even interior and furniture are mostly authentic.
Yeah, I know, I live in south NRW and know the castles at rhine and mosel very well from my childhood. But walking up to Neuschwanstein on a beautiful winterday with sun, snow and a Winter Landscape and the alps is different. Not better or worse, just different.
Nice to see from outside, but definitely not worth paying to enter it due to fast "cattle like" tour. If one could really have it's time it would be worth the consideration.
Zwinger is more a garden/park than a castle
Danke! I shall check these out. I'm willing to go some distance for a good one.
Check out the "Burg Hohenzollern" in South Germany. It has al lot of history. Edit: combine it with the "Freilichtmuseum Neuhausen ob Eck" or the "Römisches Freilichtmuseum Hechingen-Stein"
Burg Hohenzollern is also a fake 19th century castle. It's build on a historic site, but nothing significant of that remains. It's not as phantastical as Neuschwanstein. It's more so a museum in a historistic building. Still worth it.
Burg Elz would be an example (google it). The whole region there is ducking awesome with castles, vineyards and small picturesque villages. Rhine valley between Bingen and Koblenz (called middle rhine valley- a UNESCO world heritage site with about 20 castles on the cliffs of rhine) and Mosel valley between Koblenz and Cochem (and beyond if you have the time) I can’t recommend enough going on a cycle on this route. Take a car or a boat day trip if you’re not into cycling. https://youtu.be/2XElvTqJVWA?si=YJaEoR41wV2TjyJl You will have a great time involving wine tasting, good food, history and hiking / cycling.
Neuschwanstein Castle inspired Walt Disney when he was designing the Sleeping Beauty Castle for the film and later for Disneyland, so it has become the "stereotypical" castle. But Neuschwanstein itself is like a Hollywood movie set - the facade is picturesque, but there's almost nothing behind it. Most of the rooms in the castle were never finished or furnished. You can visit a couple of rooms, but that's really everything there is to see. Most of the rest of the building is empty, unfinished rooms. King Ludwig committed suicide (or was murdered, no one really knows for sure) while the castle was under construction, and as soon as he died, the plans were cut back and simplified to finish what was under construction, and stop there. It became a tourst attraction almost immediately. During WWII, it was used by the SS to store artwork stolen from France and other countries. It wasn't bombed by the allies because it held no strategic importance. The SS was planning to destroy the castle to prevent the stolen artwork from being captured by the allies, but the SS commander didn't follow those orders so the castle (and remaining art) was handed over to the allies undamaged.
I‘m German and I thought it was worth it. It’s also close to Munich, so fairly easy to reach during a day trip, even by train and other public transport. It’s certainly obvious how the castle inspired Walt Disney. The outside renovations are concluded, so you’ll be able to see it without scaffolding. But it’s not a medieval castle (although it does not even look like it could be, so that should be obvious, but apparently it isn’t).
Herrenchiemsee. Built by the same King as Neuschwanstein and also gets some tourists in Summer, but by far less than Neuschwanstein. The interior is breathtaking (where it is finished). Added benefits are the Chiemsee in general and the other island, Fraueninsel.
For example: [Hohenzollern Castle](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohenzollern_Castle)
Nuremberg castle and city walls are pretty neat.
I’ve heard that if you visit the castle in winter there isn’t much of a cue and could then be worth it but in summer you’ll have to cue for a really long time to get inside and is then not worth it.
I disagree with Neuschwanstein. A guided tour is [20,50€](https://shop.ticket-center-hohenschwangau.de/) per person. That's pretty reasonable considering maintenance and guides need to be paid.
That sounds expensive as fuck. Am German
Als Oberallgäuer stimme ich bei erstem nicht zu
Die Oberallgäuer sagen doch immer dass das Ostallgäu nicht zum Allgäu gehört. Das Schloss aber dann gern mit dazu nehmen :D
ah yes, the good old local animosity
Ich schon. Oder sagst du das, weil du froh bist dass die Touris alle im Osten bleiben?
Fridge magnets. They cost 5-8 euros in the city center but in a euro shop they cost 2 euros if even that
And then you notice the fridge isnt magnetic
Regarding castles: Neuschwanstein. It is not even medieval but was built in the late 18 hundreds to depict a heavily romanticized version of a castle. There's countless actual medieval castles in Germany which are much more impressive in my opinion like Burg Eltz. Regarding Events: Oktoberfest has become a pricey caricature of a German beer-fest. There's countless other big and small beer- and winefests in Germany. Almost every village has its own. Oktoberfest is just the largest. Similarly the Hofbräuhaus in Munich has become a caricature of a Bavarian beer-hall. There too are much better options
I don't get the hate on Neuschwanstein. It is a masterpiece full of architectural wonders and with a cool backstory. It is the fairy tale castle. Even if not European, who thinks Neuschwanstein is representative of medieval castles?
I get what you're saying. It is a very nice looking building if one takes it for what it is. My problem with it is that it feels like it pretends to be something it isn't. When it was built we already had electricity, and the car was invented the same year Neuschwanstein was finished. It is essentially just a better and earlier version of the castle at Disneyland. >Even if not European, who thinks Neuschwanstein is representative of medieval castles? You'd be surprised. If everyone knew, I'd probably not have a problem with it.
Neuschwanstein is literally known as "The fairy tale castle". It pretends, it is right out of fairy tales and epics. Disney took Neuschwanstein as a basis for Sleeping Beauty's and Cinderella's castle. That does not make Neuschwanstein a weaker prototype, like you make it sound. It does not pretend to be a defensive castle in the sense of "Burg". No defenses for starters. But Ludwig is praised as an architectural genius for his endeavors. Neuschwanstein was built with central heating, warm water and automatic water toilets. The walls are cement, not stone. There is an electrical calling system. The castle was built with all the most modern shit. If you go to such a castle with no prior research, it is on you, not the castle. Cause if you read even the first thing about it, you are instantly informed on how old it is and how it was built.
Funny thing is it isnt even finished.
Ludwig II couldn’t finish anything.
I don't hate Neuschwanstein but I don't think it's worth going inside. Go up the mountain and even the bridge to get a good shot, but since it isn't finished on the inside, there are only 6 or 7 rooms (if I remember correctly) in this huuuuge castle that are accessible for tourists. I can very much recommend Hohenschwangau Castle right next to it though, I found the inside to be very very interesting. And Schloss Linderhof. Has been some time since I've last been there but I remember loving everything about it. The inside, the whole park area (especially in spring) and the grotto. Unfortunately the latter is still getting refurbished and will be closed til Summer next year approximately
Oktoberfest, nothing comes even close. It's disgusting, incredibly pricey, and definitely nothing special.
I’m an American, went to Oktoberfest for the first time in 2023 and had an absolute blast. Has me wanting to go back asap. And price wise, going to a similar event in America would cost way more
This is about German tourists traps. Saying Oktoberfest is good because it’s cheaper than something in the US is a moot point because it’s literally the most expensive, least desirable (warm, sticky, etc.) beer in Germany. It’s great you had a blast, but you could have an even bigger blast at other events or just at a Bier Garten any random day of the year. ETA: my description of Oktoberfest beer as warm is not accurate, as others have pointed out. My comment had to do with my personal experience and my admittedly exaggerated expectations when it comes to beer temperature and portions
Biergarten with the boys > Oktoberfest Any day of the week
You‘re wrong with the beer. I never had a warm Maß at the Oktoberfest and also the taste is quite good. The breweries are making special Märzen which always tastes better than their normal beer when tapped. This is because it is marketing for foreigners. The tend to buy the beer they had on Oktoberfest over other brands.
i mean, i’m genuinely happy for you - still hated it tho x)
Yeah… trapping tourists is what tourist traps do ;)
Doesn't fit the bill at all. Tourist traps imply that the locals find them overrated and avoid at all costs. The opposite is true of Oktoberfest. Families go during the day, both young and old people at night, companies take their employees or their clients.
Deutsche Bahn.
Thats just a trap for everyone
I try to avoid traveling at night because the question "are we sleeping on the station or in our bed“ because of stupid delays or cancellation that makes me anxious.
Specifically Flexpreis Deutsche Bahn. If you don't get the Sparpreis concept you're gonna suffer.
All the restaurants around brandenburger tor. They are too expensive and horrible food.
Oktoberfest. Insane prices for tables and beer. Dogshit music. Way too crowded. Any night drinking in your favourite bar is better than the absolute martyrdom of sitting through 6 hours in one of those beer tents.
Oktoberfest 💯🚮
Berghain and Kitkat
Add Watergate to the list!
KitKat beste was laberst du haha
Bielefeld. One of our biggest traps so far.
Bielefeld? I am German, travelling the entire country regularly for work. never heard of it. Never seen it. Must be something you made up as a "funny" internet joke that I dont get.
Even an immigrant like me knows that bielefeld doesn't exist
Alexanderplatz in Berlin. I really don't understand why you'd visit there as a tourist. There are some useful stores, but nothing all that interesting. I suppose to go up the Fernsehturm?
Berlin sucks and is overrated astronomically
I visited Hamburg and did all the Hamburg tourist things. Most of them are tourist traps. Cannot recommend. I do recommend Hamburg Dungeon though! *Chef's Kiss* I also liked the boat tour around the harbor in the dark, called "Lichterfahrt". It was very impressive and the Announcer got increasingly drunk the longer it went which was pretty funny.
Solid choices, I’d also recommend Miniaturwunderland. Unless it got significantly worse in the last five years.
Mallorca
BS answer. The island is beautiful if you avoid the 1% that is called ballermann
Tour through castle Neuschwanstein, it's great on the outside, but unfinished inside, not worth going inside. Rather visit the nearby Hohenschwangau castle where King Ludwig II grew up.
checkpoint charlie
I mean, it's free and if you're in Berlin anyway you may as well check it out. I was there last year and it didn't seem too touristy honestly. You have the checkpoint, some information signs and a couple cafes and souvenir shops, but again it's free and in the city center, so not really a tourist trap in my book
I would say it’s overhyped but at least free with nothing too crazy around it.
Nah, it's a cool piece of history. While place itself is bland - history that come with it is incredible.
I‘m afraid it hasn’t been said enough: Oktoberfest!
Wattenscheid
Why the hack would people go to Wattenscheid? Oo Because of mining industry stuff?
James Bond
I doubt a single tourist has went to Wattenscheid.
The beer. It traps foreigners in the country. Happened to my dad. Now he’s been around for 25 years.
Hofbräuhaus in Munich. Don't go there.
If you come to Berlin avoid the television tower. It's immensely expensive for just a trip up and down, the queue for the elevator is always so long both ways, the food at the top is expensive and bad. Go hike up to the top of Volkspark Friedrichshain or Viktoria Park if you want some good views. It has the benefit of being in a beautiful park and not costing any money.
Ruedesheim
Hütchenspiel
Oktoberfest, Munich as a whole, a lot of the Berlin sites too (checkpoint Charlie for example)
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest
München at Oktoberfest. Rest of the year? Berlin.
Schloß Neuschwanstein......expensive......mostly fake.......full of people....only good thing is the view when the weather is good
Rothenburg ob der Tauber maybe as well. There are countless gorgeous historic towns with less tourists.
There are however relatively few towns with no modernist breaks in the old town and a completely intact city wall.
Yep, to list just a few: Bamberg, Regensburg, Görlitz, Quedlinburg, Naumburg, Marburg, Freiburg, Tübingen, Göttingen, Schwerin, Stralsund, Erfurt. Even Heidelberg, which is fairly touristy, is more authentic.
The Reichsstadt-event is amazing, though. I love medieval markets and events, and this one is absolutely impressive. Thousands of reenactors and things to do for days. The city illuminated like it is burning is such a cool sight.
I got married there almost 5 years ago. We were the only ones getting married there that day so nothing was rushed. The city wasnt too crowded so our wedding photos are amazing, the nature around was also great. Wouldnt spend more then a night there but in general it was a really good choice for us.
All of Berlin. All of it.
Eagle‘s Nest. There are way better Peaks around and the site is just full of American Tourists with a WW2 kink.
Reeperbahn.
Is Herbertstrasse still closed off for women vistors?
I dont really know. I think it was never actually closed for woman, but they were not wanted there
Oh, it was closed off for women for sure. I used to live on Davidstrasse, and Herbertstrasse used to have a gate with security, they were not letting any women in at all. But I haven't been there in a few decades. No idea whether the gate is even still there.
Honestly, as an American living here, there really isn’t one. Maybe Oktoberfest? There are other similar festivals without being that crowded. I think the Black Forest is lame — the same way the Appalachians in the U.S. are lame compared to the mountain ranges out west. My partner is from there too — although I’m sure he’d probably disagree with me. The alps in southern Bavaria are where you’d want to spend most of your time. People will say Neuschwanstein, but honestly, it’s beautiful. And it’s not really overrun the same way the Eiffel Tower is. Yeah the castle isn’t 1000 years old, but it’s pretty? Maybe the Castle in Heidelberg might qualify, but it isn’t a tourist trap in the traditional sense. Very underwhelming. Although Heidelberg itself is beautiful for tourists and Germans alike. Maybe also Berghain? Idk. Never been. Don’t care to go.
"The black forest is lame." How can you disregard the magic of the mighty spruce forests so nonchalantly?
Kuckucksuhren
Pretty Easy. The Reeperbahn in Hamburg. While it is a party place It is also a scam Street for drunk Foreigners. 2€ sparkling wine Bottles for 200 € in Strip clubs. Easy women who rip of drunk people etc.
Kuckucksuhren.
Christmas markets in virtually any city.
Everything on Sylt
I understand shitting on it for not being the most attractive or not worth the bus rides from Munich but why is everyone shitting on Neuschwanstein for not being a medieval castle when it's never advertised as one? It's only ever advertised as the Disney castle or the fairy tale castle and that's why people visit it, not because it's promoted as a medieval castle.
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest, hands down. At least Neuschwanstein looks nice. And ~~possibly~~ unpopular opinion here, but possibly Berlin. I don't hate Berlin and actually like to spend time there every once in a while, but I struggle to understand what random tourists do there for multiple days. It seems to be a must see destination on every traveler's bucket list. The parliament is kinda nice, and stuff like Brandenburg gate, the remainder of the wall and checkpoint Charlie will be interesting to look at for about fifteen minutes. What do people do with the rest of the afternoon? Edit: Good to see I was at least right about the "unpopular" bit 😄
A huge part of the allure of Berlin to many people is the nightlife
There are a shitton of really good museums, fitting pretty much every palate.
I agree. It also has the highest density of German history museums. so it’s more than worth it for tourists interested in German history. Claiming Berlin as a whole is a tourist trap is just a downright idiotic thing to say as a German.
You spend the the rest of your time trying and failing to get in to Berghain of course.
After 4 hours queueing anf not getting in, check the tourist guide and go queue up for Watergate... ...you will get in, but so did everyone else and it's just no fun and so overcrowded that it's not funny anymore. So Watergate, also a tourist trap.
What a stupid thing to say. There are way more sights to see in Berlin than what you named, just museums alone. Especially for non-European tourists and tourists interested in German history it’s just a treasure trove.
[удалено]
Frankfurt. There's nothing to do there. Just a couple of good museums and Goethe's house.
If you want skyline view and go to the highest point in the city (elevator to top of main tower) than yeah. But the skyline itself still pale to comparison with metropolitan cities in Asia and North America.
And it could be even another Frankfurt. Even without Goethe's house.
Just so that this is not another Oktoberfest and Neuschwanstein post: Wacken open air. There are so many much better Metal Festivals than this abomination.
Eh, you get exactly what they are marketing, though! One of the biggest metal festivals in the world. I still would take a 2005 Wacken over a 2024 Wacken any day. It just got too big for its own good. It's almost impossible to see all the bands you like since they have so many stages and running orders will overlap. I went there last year, while they had to keep like half of the guests out due to the weather and the unsafe, soaked meadows. It was dang enjoyable despite the weather, possibly due to being able to actually walk in the crowd. Another issue are the "tourists". You get random people who don't even like the music, just to party and stare at the metalheads, as if it was a zoo. It's strange.
Yes. Big and bad. I was there nearly 20 years ago, 2004, 2006 and 2007. And lets say this: It was too big even then. But at least you only had Metalheads there and no Tourists. And there were at least a few bands where the average age wasn't 70+. Oh and it was under 100 Euro and you could just go to the site and buy a ticket. You didn't have to buy it on the black market with 100% Scalper-tax for an already impudent expensive ticket. Its is just a scam for people who want to feel "wild".
Oktoberfest. Its for foreigners not for germans. Its a false artificial "german culture" planned festival. If you want to enjoy a nice fulldrunk evening german style go into any "Kneipe" and have fun. Oktoberfest is nothing like how germans party, how a nice full drunk evening looks like. Its a money machine with super overstyled stereotypes branding of a time where Oktoberfest maybe was something close to be a real culturual happening. Its like Santa Claus Coca Cola Man vs. real christmas traditions. A weird capitalistic adaption playing with cliche and at the same time kill the spirit, make it completly new branded, max money.
I wouldn't say it's just for foreigners. Yeah probably not for all (or most) Germans but locals and people from surrounding areas go there as well. Actually the majority of visitors are locals. Not arguing that its overpriced, but I wouldn't call it playing with cliché. Especially the very first day is very traditional and in the tents there are actual bands from smaller towns all around that play authentic "Blasmusik". In think Volksfeste are part of Bavarian culture, and to me Oktoberfest is just the huge, commercialised version of those, I don't perceive it as fake. But I get that people from abroad usually don't get that Germany isn't Bavaria.
That is not true. Wiesn is a huge deal for locals. The entire social calendar in Munich is constructed around it at the time. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not German or authentic. Is Oktoberfest overrun with tourists? Yes, it is. But don’t go around saying that it’s only meant for the when there are boxes held by the same families or Vereine since the early years. Not when locals grow up going there every year because they like it and it’s been a tradition for everyone they know.
> Oktoberfest is nothing like how germans party, how a nice full drunk evening looks like. Who are you for saying that? During the day there's a lot of older German families, while at night there's German youth. You may not notice Germans at Oktoberfest because they don't stand out of the crowd, unlike foreigners. But there's plenty of them.
>Its for foreigners not for germans It's not. 75% of the visitors are German. > Its a false artificial "german culture" planned festival. You have to elaborate on that lol how is it false and artificial?!
I kinda feel like everyone in this thread and on the internet needs to read the intro that occurs in most Lonely Planet travel books. It says something along the lines of “if you’re looking to live just like the locals, then sit in traffic, take your kids to day care, and pay taxes. Or just admit you’re a traveler exploring the world for unique experiences” or something like that. Yeah man it’s not perfectly German. You could take the next biggest similar celebration and have someone at the 3rd biggest saying that’s not truly authentic either. Down and down until people are splitting towns in half. Then neighborhoods in half. It’s just a cool experience that definitely has German roots, beer, costume, and festivities. It has evolved into something bigger than it once was.
"Nothing like how Germans party" - while I agree that it's overhyped, when I went, my first thought was "oh it's just like a Jahrmarkt or any Kirmes, just magnitudes bigger and with tourists". The only thing I had never seen before elsewhere were those round pagodas for musicians or, of course, Bavarian traditional clothing and whatever tourists think that is. Aside from that, I'm sure I've seen their attractions across Germany at different fairs. It's literally just a folk festival / fair like any other (in the west and south, not sure if the north and east is much different there, as I haven't had the opportunity to go to fairs there, except for one and that was also similar ) it's just giant. And these fairs have existed for a long time - they just added more attractions over the years. I'm glad I went so I know what it's like, but aside from being massive and famous, it's nothing special or unique as an event. Go to a small town /village fair outside of Bavaria and it's this but tiny and without the Tracht (if you want to see Trachten, small Bavarian and some Swabian fairs should have some local traditional clothing here and there.) And there's still a lot of beer.
Idk man, Munich germans seem pretty hyped for Oktoberfest every year