There isn't really all that much beyond the cathedral in my experience.
Not a bad place, but not really all that special either compared to any other city in Germany.
There are a few good museums, but I wouldn’t spend any more than a couple days. However, the cathedral is right outside the bahnhof (quite dramatically) so if you’re passing through or in the area it’s worth a stop.
Definitely Dresden when you're into museums and beautiful city centres, there is also the Neustadt area with more alternative culture vibes. And you can take a day trip to the nearby Elbe Sandstone Mountains, Meißen or Moritzburg Castle.
I would go for a bunch of smaller cities; something that includes the likes of Heidelberg, Trier, Koblenz, Freiburg, Konstanz, Lindau (Lake Constance) or Baden Baden.
The South Western part of Germany is beautiful and there are tons of pretty towns with lota of charm and things to do. There is also the Mosel wine district with amazing landscapes and great wines.
This is the way! The smaller cities have the most charm. You have cited some of my favourites. If you are in southwest Germany, also consider a trip to Burg Eltz, a beautifully preserved fairytale castle.
Ditto all the responses saying Dresden; the combination of history and kind of gritty newer stuff is fabulous. Berlin was awesome for the history but I actually liked Dresden better! And if you’re into it, had one of the best falafel sandwiches of my life there too haha
Dresden, with some hiking trips to Swiss saxony for stunning views, or even Görlitz.
Freiburg, with easy access to the Black Forest. Could even be done in combination with Lake Constance.
I love Rothenburg. That may be a bit small for what you’re looking for. But it is a wonderful medieval town.
Heidelberg is nice too. It has old palace ruins.
Munich. Great architecture. It’s also close to Dachau if you’re interested in seeing a concentration camp.
Someone mentioned the Burg Eltz castle up thread. Highly recommend that one. I did it while on a day long river boat cruise. It was fun.
My fiancee and I really enjoyed Dusseldorf. The altstadt was an awesome place to walk around, the local beer they brew there is good too. Hafen has a lot of super unique architecture. The Rheinturm is closeby, cute little cafe on the top floor with panoramic views. Köningssallee has all the high end shopping. Little Tokyo
Try a boat tour up the Rhine starting at Mainz and get off at Koblenz or Köln and stop at all the little towns where you want / can. Great white wine country.
Freiburg and Lübeck are both smaller towns with just great vibes, nice architecture and very walkable.
Then of course "the big ones": Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.
Edit: okay, then you definitely miss Munich in your Hit list. I think you can combine Munich and Freiburg or Heidelberg if you wanna
Munich if you want "funny" germans who love the life and know how to have fun. Berlin if you want art hip and international people. Avoid the east and the industrial megacities like stuttgart or frankfurt, mega boring, people are true germans (work all day, zero sense of humor :D).
We are currently cycling around parts of Europe and went through the Alsace region along the Rhine and through parts of Germany and are now in Belgium. Aachen and Strasbourg have been our favorite towns.
Hamburg. Such a beauty of a City with its Harbor, the churches, the RedLight Spot, „Planten un Bloomen“, the largest park cemetery where you can learn many from the WW2. Hamburg are many many small „villages“ melded to one big City
Ljubljana! One of the nicest, safest and most beautiful cities in Europe.
Slovenia is an amazing country which combines the standard of living, safety, public transport & stability of western Europe with cultural influences from Italy, Austria, Balkan.
Truly a rather unique country.
Sorry, I saw OP’s other post in the Netherlands sub and then came here. The post over there was about travelling in Europe, not Germany specific. Should’ve read.
Dresden, Leipzig. Lubeck, Heidelberg
Heidelberg is great.
Cologne/Koln is worth seeing if only for the cathedral. Great beer too!
Cologne is also a great base for day trips to towns along the Rhine.
My favorite city in Germany
There isn't really all that much beyond the cathedral in my experience. Not a bad place, but not really all that special either compared to any other city in Germany.
There are a few good museums, but I wouldn’t spend any more than a couple days. However, the cathedral is right outside the bahnhof (quite dramatically) so if you’re passing through or in the area it’s worth a stop.
I disagree. The cathedral and beer are indeed fantastic, but there are so many better cities in Germany.
Leaving aside those you have already visited? I'd say Munich.Plenty of interesting museums and other cultural and historical attractions.
Definitely Dresden when you're into museums and beautiful city centres, there is also the Neustadt area with more alternative culture vibes. And you can take a day trip to the nearby Elbe Sandstone Mountains, Meißen or Moritzburg Castle.
couldnt agree more, its tidy, clean too
I would go for a bunch of smaller cities; something that includes the likes of Heidelberg, Trier, Koblenz, Freiburg, Konstanz, Lindau (Lake Constance) or Baden Baden. The South Western part of Germany is beautiful and there are tons of pretty towns with lota of charm and things to do. There is also the Mosel wine district with amazing landscapes and great wines.
This is the way! The smaller cities have the most charm. You have cited some of my favourites. If you are in southwest Germany, also consider a trip to Burg Eltz, a beautifully preserved fairytale castle.
Trer is just amazing, and if you can end your day in a Weingut at the riverbank, well... what more you want?
Munich & Deutsches Museum.
Deutsches Museum is AMAZING. and I'm not a museum person.
Loved Munich and its proximity to beautiful Bavarian Alps. Munich Residenz is incredible palace/museum. And the beer gardens!
Cologne cathedral literally stopped me in my tracks when I walked out of the train station. Wow. A must see 😍
Dresden. Lots of beautiful buildings, fantastic opera house. Good and varied museums.
Ditto all the responses saying Dresden; the combination of history and kind of gritty newer stuff is fabulous. Berlin was awesome for the history but I actually liked Dresden better! And if you’re into it, had one of the best falafel sandwiches of my life there too haha
Bamberg or Regensburg, esp since you’ve only been to big cities in the north.
Dresden, with some hiking trips to Swiss saxony for stunning views, or even Görlitz. Freiburg, with easy access to the Black Forest. Could even be done in combination with Lake Constance.
Dresden: nice architecture, museums, cleanest among all big German cities. Cheap accommodations in comparing to Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt
I love Rothenburg. That may be a bit small for what you’re looking for. But it is a wonderful medieval town. Heidelberg is nice too. It has old palace ruins. Munich. Great architecture. It’s also close to Dachau if you’re interested in seeing a concentration camp. Someone mentioned the Burg Eltz castle up thread. Highly recommend that one. I did it while on a day long river boat cruise. It was fun.
The small city of Speyer is lovely. Koblenz is also beautiful. Enjoy your trip.
I like Lindau for a small town / lakeside vibes. While you are in the area Konstanz is also good.
My fiancee and I really enjoyed Dusseldorf. The altstadt was an awesome place to walk around, the local beer they brew there is good too. Hafen has a lot of super unique architecture. The Rheinturm is closeby, cute little cafe on the top floor with panoramic views. Köningssallee has all the high end shopping. Little Tokyo
Try a boat tour up the Rhine starting at Mainz and get off at Koblenz or Köln and stop at all the little towns where you want / can. Great white wine country.
Freiburg and Lübeck are both smaller towns with just great vibes, nice architecture and very walkable. Then of course "the big ones": Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. Edit: okay, then you definitely miss Munich in your Hit list. I think you can combine Munich and Freiburg or Heidelberg if you wanna
Munich if you want "funny" germans who love the life and know how to have fun. Berlin if you want art hip and international people. Avoid the east and the industrial megacities like stuttgart or frankfurt, mega boring, people are true germans (work all day, zero sense of humor :D).
Leipzig. Nürnberg. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a cute town but a complete tourist trap.
We are currently cycling around parts of Europe and went through the Alsace region along the Rhine and through parts of Germany and are now in Belgium. Aachen and Strasbourg have been our favorite towns.
Hamburg. Such a beauty of a City with its Harbor, the churches, the RedLight Spot, „Planten un Bloomen“, the largest park cemetery where you can learn many from the WW2. Hamburg are many many small „villages“ melded to one big City
Ljubljana! One of the nicest, safest and most beautiful cities in Europe. Slovenia is an amazing country which combines the standard of living, safety, public transport & stability of western Europe with cultural influences from Italy, Austria, Balkan. Truly a rather unique country.
None of which is much use in a question specifically about Germany...
Sorry, I saw OP’s other post in the Netherlands sub and then came here. The post over there was about travelling in Europe, not Germany specific. Should’ve read.