With the U.S. dollar being almost at parity with the euro for the first time in 12 years, traveling overseas for Americans is the best vacation bargain this summer.
The top three European destinations based on the devaluation of the euro against the dollar are Italy, France and Germany, followed by the traditionally popular England and Ireland. Germany, however, appears to be the best value for Americans this summer, allowing U.S. citizens to travel for almost 30 percent less than this time last year.
The U.S. remains the top overseas market for this country of 16 states, with an estimated 5.1 million American visitors to Deutschland expected in 2015. This is not surprising since, according to the latest census reports, more than 42 million Americans have German heritage, making these descendants the largest ethnic group in the States.
German cities expecting the largest number of visitors (indicated here by percentage) this year are:
- Stuggart (15 percent), home of the Mercedes Benz and Porsche Museums
- Munich (11.3 percent) where travelers can get their first taste of German beer at the airport's biergarten
- Cologne (8.9 percent) home of the Chocolate Museum tempting visitors to taste the confection from a 7-meter-by-4-meter fountain
Berlin, however, remains the best value big city in Germany with the average cost of one night’s hotel hovering around $110.
Travel to this land of diversity with small towns and cosmopolitan cities, cuckoo clocks and Christmas Markets is quite doable from major U.S. airports, which have more than 450 weekly scheduled flights to Germany. Couple that with the in-country, modern high-speed rail system, 282 Michelin-rated restaurants (second only to France) and 6,250 museums, getting around Deutschland is both manageable and enjoyable.
Perhaps the ease of travel is why 70 percent of Americans visiting Germany do so on customized FIT itineraries — the tourist board alone offers over 150 itineraries to choose from to make your trip a truly personalized exploration. And, there is plenty to explore in Germany!
Bavaria, the largest state in Germany, covers one-fifth of the country and is best known for its annual Oktoberfest, but there is much more to this southern region than beer and bratwurst. Encompassing the area that includes Munich (its capital), Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Nuremberg, this part of the country is known for its lush and rolling countryside and beautiful Alps scenery and adventure.
The Romantic Road is a 261-mile-long scenic drive through Bavaria. It leads you from the Franconia wine country to Neuschwanstein Castle in the foothills of the German Alps. If you want to escape the crowds and experience the down-to-earth Gemuetlichkeit (comfort and coziness) Bavaria is famous for, make sure to spend time in some rural villages along the way.
Here is a quick look at what each city has to offer:
Munich
Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival celebrating beer held annually in Munich, running from late September to the first weekend in October.
The capital of Bavaria and the gateway to the German Alps, Munich is one of Germany's most popular travel destinations — a contrast of traditional Bavarian culture with modern living and high-tech industries. Contemporary architecture is built on grand avenues, while first-class museums and baroque palaces sit side-by-side with high-tech centers, saluting both Munich's past and future. The annual Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival, alone draws more than 6 million visitors to Munich every fall, which works well here since Munich has more five-star hotels than New York City. Nestled in the Bavarian Alps nearby is also Neuschwanstein Castle, the world's most famous castle, which was the inspiration for Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle.
Nuremberg
Nuremberg features a number of medieval buildings dating back nearly 1,000 years.
Bavaria's second-largest city is home to the Imperial Castle, former residence of Germany's Kaiser and kings, and the romantic Old Town area with original timber-framed buildings dating back 950 years to the city’s founding;
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is home to the Porsche Museum, featuring around 80 exhibits, many rare cars and a variety of historical models.
Located in the southwest corner of Germany, Stuttgart is the state capital of Baden-Wuertemberg and home to the invention of the automobile in 1886 showcased in the fascinating Mercedes and Porsche car museums located here. With its many parks and surrounding vineyards, Stuttgart is one of the greenest cities in Germany.
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven features U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer, an authentic 1944 World War II submarine.
A seaside city to the North, Bremerhaven offers award-wining attractions like the German Emigration Center, most recently voted Museum of the Year, where visitors can walk the Quay of Tears. The Climate House Bremerhaven 8° East takes tourists on a climate tour of the world, while the viewing platform at the top of the Sail Hotel gives an amazing view of boats on the local waterways. A tour of the U-Boot Wilhelm Bauer provides insights into service on an authentic 1944 World War II submarine.
Berlin
The Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of Berlin and the last remaining piece of the Berlin Wall.
The third-most visited city in Europe, Berlin continues to fascinate all age groups with its captivating history, architecture and pulsating night life. A city of utter contrast, visitors walk through The Brandenburg Gate, the city symbol and last remaining piece of the Berlin Wall, while palaces and remnants of socialist buildings occupy the same block as modern skyscrapers. The Zoological Gardens, opened in 1844, are the world's largest botanical park and are adjacent to the Berlin Aquarium, so both can be visited in one day. More than 170 museums and art galleries attract cultural aficionados, while 300-plus clubs and 7,000 bars and restaurants — most open around the clock — provide a bevy of day and night activities.
Cologne
The Cologne Cathedral is the reported burial place of the Three Wise Men.
The largest city on the Rhine, Cologne is home to the renowned Cologne Cathedral and Shrine where the Three Wise Men from Jesus' birth are in residence. It is an old city with a young heart and population, despite its history as one of the most heavily bombed cities in Germany during World War II. The rebuilding has resulted in a mixed and unique cityscape. One of Cologne's most famous attractions, the Imhoff-Stollwerck Museum, or Chocolate Museum, celebrates the city's Stollwerck Chocolate Company's roots — with 5 million visitors a year, advance tickets are recommend.
Hamburg
Hamburg has maritime charm, and more bridges than Amsterdam and Venice combined.
Hamburg is the country's second-largest city and home to one of the busiest ports in Europe. Hamburg's 800-year-old harbor was the starting point for many life-changing journeys. Between 1850 and 1939, more than 5 million people from all over Europe emigrated from Hamburg to the New World. With several waterways running through its center, lakes and canals, Hamburg has maritime charm — and more bridges than Amsterdam and Venice combined.
Potsdam
The Sanssouci Palace is the former summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, in Potsdam.
The residence of the Prussian kings and German Kaisers until 1918, Potsdam is now the site of Sanssouci Palace and Park, the largest World Heritage Site in Germany. Visit Schloss Cecilienhof while here as this historic country house hosted Truman, Churchill and Stalin for the famous Potsdam Conference following World War II.
Saxony
Tourists at the promenade of the river Elbe in Dresden, Germany. Dresden has almost 2 million visitors a year.
Located on the eastern side of Germany, Saxony is the number one cultural destination in the country, partly due to its great value for year-round travel but also because of its exotic history that spans a millennium as a medieval duchy, an electorate of the Holy Roman Empire, a kingdom and a republic. Modern-day Saxony is home to the filming of the "Grand Budapest Hotel" movie as well as host of two important celebrations next year: the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Audi.
Experiencing Germany can be done in a variety of ways: self-directed tours, guided tours, group travel, on a river cruise or a train trip. Regardless of how you come to explore Germany, one thing is certain: the diversity of history, culture, cuisine and topography are sure to enchant and excite you.
