Germany as a travel destination

Germany is currently becoming an increasingly interesting travel destination for many travel enthusiasts. A worldwide travel warning is currently in place and will remain in place until at least June 14, 2020. Due to entry restrictions, quarantine measures and restrictions on public life, the Federal Foreign Office is warning against non-essential tourist travel abroad. It is not yet clear how long this travel warning will last and what conditions will apply to vacation travel outside Germany. It also remains to be seen how the situation in the hotel industry will develop. This raises the question for many as to what a vacation in 2020 might look like.

Are we staying at home? Do we use the days off for a few short trips? Which type of vacation is the most flexible, should a spontaneous trip home be necessary again? What do you think of a motorhome trip through Germany?

We have set ourselves the task of planning your next trip and providing you with some inspiration. We have put together 8 fantastic travel routes for you. Germany as a travel destination has so much to offer and presents itself with many different landscapes. Just sit back and enjoy your trip through Germany with us.

Destination Germany - The North

Route 1: Experience East Frisia

 Start & Finish: Emden
 Distance: approx. 200km

This tour takes you along the beautiful North Sea coast. We will start in the birthplace of Otto Waalkes - Emden. The best way to enjoy your stay is to explore the old harbor and visit the Kunsthalle and the Landesmuseum. We then start our journey and make our 1st stop in Rysum. The classic round village is a jewel among the beautiful villages in the Nodsee region of Krummhörn. And at the lighthouse behind the Campener dike is probably the best bathing spot on this route. Here you can enjoy the North Sea to the full. Your feet in the cold water and your nose filled with fresh, clear sea air.

Now we can continue our journey in a relaxed manner. Our next destination is Greetsiel. This backdrop offers pure idyll. The interplay between the two lighthouses and the pretty houses - pure postcard idyll. The journey continues along the green coastal road to North. Here we make a short stop and visit the East Frisian tea museum (www.teemuseum.de). With Kluntjes and teapots, we learn about the rituals of the tea ceremony and can continue our journey strengthened, to North dike. Of course, a visit to the seal station (www.Seehundstation-norddeich.de) should not be missed. The hustle and bustle of the harbor and the view from the endless seawall - there is something for everyone to discover here.

Fancy a little detour? Ships depart from Norddeich to Juist and Norderney. And Norderney is not just a one-hour boat trip away, thanks to the tide-independent ferry connection, the quick and uncomplicated visit to the island is definitely worth a change to the itinerary. Alternatively, we pass the ports of Baltrum, Langeoog, Spiekeroog and Wangerooge on the way to our next stopover.

Our journey continues via Neßmersiel, Dornumersiel and Bensersiel to Neuharlingersiel. Here you will find what is probably the most picturesque harbor on our tour. And not only that. It is also home to what is probably the smallest fleet of shrimp boats. Here we take a nice long walk along the canal of the small spa town. After visiting the Sielhafen museum (www.deutsches-sielhafenmuseum.de) in Caroliensiel and the mussel museum in Hooksiel, the journey continues to Wilhelmshaven. A tour of the harbor is a special experience not to be missed.

Now we turn away from the coast and head inland to Jever. The beautiful castle and of course the Jever brewery (www.jever.de) awaits your visit. Before we reach our destination Emden, we will now stop in Aurich a highlight awaits us. The 28m high corn windmill from 1858 is the largest in East Frisia.

Route 2: The Mecklenburg Lake District

 Start & Finish: Schwerin
  Distance: approx. 430km

We start the tour, through the landscape of the Mecklenburg Lake District, in the state capital Schwerin. A castle straight out of a fairytale and one of the most beautiful parks in northern Germany is the first highlight of our trip. The tour continues via Great Raden to the 26km distant Güstrow. Outstanding sights await you here. The ducal palace and the proud cathedral are not to be missed on this tour of the city. Of course, a detour to the shores of the island lake is also a must. The journey continues in an easterly direction, into the varied hilly landscape of Mecklenburg Switzerland.

About Malchin continue to the impressive medieval gates Neubrandenburg. Further southwest we make a swimming stop in the Lake Tollensesee.

Continue to Neustrelitz. The former residence of the Dukes of Mecklenburg-Neustrelitz with its beautiful park awaits visitors here.

The highlight of this trip for nature lovers and water hikers is the Feldberg lake district to the east. The countless smaller and larger bodies of water are surrounded by forests. The tour continues to the core area of the national park, which is home to Germany's second largest inland lake - the Müritz. About Goods (beach promenade and marina) and Malchow (old town) we continue to Plau. On the last stage stop before returning to Schwerin, you can explore the Dobbertin lake district and the monastery of the same name in Goldberg.

Destination Germany - The East

Route 3: The noble residences of Brandenburg

 Start & finish: Bad Freienwalde - Gusow
  Distance: approx. 90km

The classicist castle in Bad Freienwalde is the first noble residence on our tour through Brandenburg. The viewpoint on the Galgenberg and the Bismarck Tower on the Schlossberg offer a special view over the city. Our tour now continues to Prötzel. The large castle is located in the center of the village. Another highlight is the castle in Reichenowwhich was built in the English Tudor style. One of the most beautiful creations of Mark Brandenburg manor house architecture is the castle Neuhardenberg. It is also an interesting place historically, as the conspirators around Colonel Count von Stauffenberg met here.

The castle is now a 4-star hotel in Wulkow. Its neoclassical façade is particularly beautiful. Our tour through the palace world of East Brandenburg ends in Gusow. The three-winged castle houses a tin figure museum, which is well worth a visit.

Route 4: The Ore Mountains

  Start & finish: Zwickau - Freiberg
 Distance: approx. 200km

On this tour, we get to know the Ore Mountains along the Saxon Silver Route. From the Zwickau Mulde we slowly ascend to the Ore Mountains. We now follow in the footsteps of the miners. Alongside Snow mountainwhere, in addition to silver, cobalt was also mined in the past, was Aue to the important extraction site for kaolin (porcelain raw material) for the Meissen porcelain manufactory. Our journey continues up to the viewpoint Schwarzenberg. In the surrounding area, you can visit the silver washing plant in Antonsthal or the Pöhla visitor mine. Here, visitors can enjoy a 3 km long underground train ride to the 12 m high and 45 m long vault of Europe's largest tin chamber.

On the way to Annaberg-Buchholz take a look at the natural monument of the basalt columns on the Scheibenberg. There are also interesting places to visit off the Silver Road. In Geyer a 50-meter-deep collapsing funnel impresses and in Ehrenfriedersdorf the "Zinngrube" visitor mine offers a look underground.

About Marienberg, Olbernhau and Seiffenwe arrive at Freiberg. The center of mining. The old town with its cathedral and town hall invite you to take a stroll.

Destination Germany - The West

Route 5: The Eifel National Park

 Start & Finish: Gemünd
 Distance: approx. 150km

How about an exploratory tour through the Eifel National Park? The nice thing about this route is that it crosses the Eifelsteig again and again and therefore invites you to take short hiking stages. We start this tour in the Kneip spa town of Gemünd and arrive via Heimbach to the Mariawald monastery. In Heimbach, it is also worth visiting the Art Nouveau hydroelectric power station with its historic turbine hall. The ascent and descent between Nideggen and Rollesbroich you get to Rurberg. The ships of the Rursee fleet invite you to take a tour of the Rursee. About Dedenborn you get to Hammer. The Uhusley viewpoint offers a spectacular view. From here, the cliffs drop vertically down to the river.

The route now leads through the narrow Rur valley via Imgenbroich into the Monschau hedge country. The route continues into the upland moor landscape to the hilltop village of Mützenich. Now the journey continues across the High Fens to the small cloth-making town of Monschau. In Schleiden the castle church is well worth a visit. The special feature of the building is its interior. Here you will find an ornate Gothic vault and beautiful stained glass windows. Our round trip through the Eifel ends again in Gemünd.

Route 6: Along the wine route

 Start & finish: Bockenheim - Schweigen-Rechtenbach
 Distance: approx. 90km

The Palatinate, also known as Germany's Tuscany, has a lot to offer. The pleasant climate and the hospitality of its inhabitants make this route a special experience. As every village on this route has its own special features, we recommend that you simply stop off spontaneously and explore the villages on foot, regardless of our route sections. Of course, you can also enjoy a glass of wine in one or two wine taverns. We start our route in the north at Bockenheim and drive along the wine route towards Bad Dürkheim. Here you can visit the largest wine barrel in the world and the graduation house. About the famous wine village Deidesheim we continue in the direction of Neustadt an der Weinstraße.

High above the town is Hambach Castle. In addition to the informative exhibition on the Hambach Festival of 1832, there is also a magnificent view of the valley. Continue in the direction of May chamber a short detour into the Palatinate Forest - to the Kalmit. Behind Edenkoben and the Villa Ludwigshöhe, we come to the picturesque wine village of Roth under Rietburg. It is definitely worth exploring on foot along the most beautiful street in the Palatinate (Theresienstraße).

We now follow the wine route further south to Eschbach. Madenburg Castle, one of the largest and oldest castle complexes in the Palatinate, is located here. If you would like to have a sip of beer as well as wine, you can do so at the local brewery in Göcklingen (www.goecklingerhausbraeu.de) do. More about Klingenmünster and Bad-Bergzabern we reach the destination of our route. The German Wine Gate in Schweigen-Rechtenbach.

And while you're in the region. How about a tour of our Exhibition space in Speyer. Visit us and get to know our new models.

Destination Germany - The South

Route 7: Lake Constance

 Start & Finish: Radolfzell
 Distance: approx. 70km

Lake Constance is always worth a visit. The region is one of the oldest and most beautiful cultural landscapes in Europe with attractive leisure activities.
The route starts in Radolfzell. After exploring the picturesque old town, we continue southeast. A detour to the southern shore of Lake Überlingen leads to the Marienschlucht gorge. Here lies one of the main attractions of Lake Constance - the magnificent flower island Mainau. The tour continues with a visit to the three Romanesque churches on the island Reichenau. Our next stopover is to explore Constance - the capital of the Lake Constance region. A visit to the cathedral is particularly recommended here.

If it is possible to enter Switzerland, we will now reach the old fishing village of Ermatingen. To the west of this rises Arenenberg Castle, probably the most beautiful castle on Lake Constance and once the residence of Napoleon III.

The idyllic peninsula Höri invites you to take a leisurely break. There are numerous restaurants and beer gardens here where you can simply relax and unwind. The most beautiful view over Lake Constance can be enjoyed from Schiener Berg. From here, our journey takes us back to Radolfzell.

Route 8: Franconian Forest and Franconian Switzerland

  Start & Finish: Bamberg
 Distance: approx. 240km

We start our journey in the old episcopal and imperial city of BambergContinue via the spa town Bad Staffelstein to the high-altitude pilgrimage church of Vierzehnheiligen. From here, it is also worth making a detour to the Benedictine monastery of Banz. Continuing along our route, we come to Coburgthe former ducal residence, with its fortress of the same name. About Kronach and Kulmbachtoday's beer metropolis of Franconia, the route continues to Bayreuth. This city is known worldwide for Richard Wagner and the Wagner Festival. In Pottenstein we can not only visit the imposing castle, but also the largest stalactite cave in Bavaria.

An approx. 2 km long footpath leads through the Devil's Cave. Now we come to Gößweinsteinwith its magnificent pilgrimage church and white castle. Via the Wiesenttal valley you reach WaischenfeldRabenstein Castle and the Sophienhöhle cave, the oldest documented cave in Franconia. Along the rocky and castle-rich Franconian Switzerland, we come across Forchheim back to Bamberg. Our journey ends here.

We hope that we have been able to provide you with some inspiration for your next tour of Germany as a travel destination. We wish you lots of fun on your next trip.