It’s far from perfect, anywhere in the world with cars, but drivers are on average much more used to cyclists on the road and have more respect for their presence. Given Oktoberfest the time, it would be smart to plan a multi-day bike tour through part of the country. I have visited the region on two different occasions, both times in Bad Schandau.

Because the city suffered minimal damage during the World Wars, it is one of the few destinations in Germany that retains its picturesque and historic style. In addition to traditional residences, Quedlinburg is home to a German Romanesque cathedral known as the Dom and a variety of museums that explore local architecture, history, and art. Even after horrific events like World War II, Berlin’s rise in the 21st century is worth exploring via Berlin’s river-on hop-off bus. With the advent of many carefully planned building programs, Berlin is praised for its intricate architectural architecture. Explore the beautiful city of Berlin at your own pace by riding a hop-on hop-off Berlin hop-on hop-off bus.

It is also the headquarters of many European companies and global companies. For a curious fact, the airport is also known as the busiest airport in the world. The perfect mix of modern and medieval districts enhances the charm of Frankfurt’s skyline.

The Munich Residenz is the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs and the largest urban palace in Germany with its ten courtyards and 130 rooms. One of the greatest pleasures in Munich is walking along the four great royal avenues of the 19th century with its magnificent official buildings. The Englischer Garten, one of the largest urban public parks in the world, contains jogging trails, bridle paths and several Biergartens.

Neumarkt is the most famous square in the city and one of the places restored to its former self with its gabled houses built in baroque style. On the square stands the Frauenkirche, completely destroyed during the war and now completely rebuilt. The Semperoper opera house, largely destroyed during the war, is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Dresden’s Neustadt district is a mix of bourgeois and bohemian with its alternative scene of eccentric cafes and pubs, art galleries, small theatres and small shops.

This means lots of great elevated views of the towns along the river as you walk along the trail. Two things Germany does better than most other countries are castles and hiking. Why not combine the two with a walk along the Neckarsteig and the Kasteelweg?

Here, this often dramatic 65-kilometer stretch of river has more than 40 castles and some 60 quaint medieval towns, all of which are waiting to be explored by river cruise or car. After taking a detour along the Philosophensweg, I took the beginning of the Neckarsteig next to the gardens of Heidelberg Castle. As you travel through castles, you don’t want to miss this mix of ruins and renewed grandeur. Then you can start hiking towards Neckargemünd, which in turn starts with a challenging and steep hike to a series of kilometre-long stone steps that cut through the forest to the Königstuhl viewpoint. Dresden is a popular destination for World War II history, Christmas markets (the oldest in Europe, they say), and to see the reconstructed Old Town.

Visitors can walk outside for free and admire the beautiful exterior, but the interior is only accessible via a guided tour at specific times, which must be reserved in advance. Although the palace is 6,000 square meters in size, only 14 of those rooms were ready. The finished rooms were equipped with very modern technology for the time, such as central heating, hot and cold running water, automatic toilets and telephones.