Germany, being one of the bigger countries in Europe, has so much to offer to any traveler. From world-class cities like Berlin, Munich and Hamburg, to the mountain peaks of the Alps and medieval villages that look straight out of a fairy tale, such as Quedlinburg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
As I live in neighboring Netherlands, it was only a quick drive over to Germany to start my road trip. As the country is so big, it’s hard to cover it all, but I think I managed to already see a good chunk of it. In the west of Germany, the mountains start forming and you can drive along the Rhein river, which is dotted with charming villages such as Cochem, and impressive medieval castles like the Eltz castle. If it’s authentic half-timbered villages you’re after, you should stop at Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This village inspired numerous Disney movies and features a completely intact medieval city center with cobble stone streets and colorful houses. From there it’s only a short drive over to Germany’s most iconic castle, Neuschwanstein. This relatively young castle, built in the 1900’s, is set on top of a hill in the middle of the woods and has impressive views all around, looking out over the Alps and is the picture perfect castle.
As I continued my trip further into Germany, I decided to spend some time around the Eibsee and Zugspitze, Germany’s tallest mountain for some hiking in the area, before continuing to the lakes of Berchtesgarden, the Königsee and Obersee. These lakes are set in a beautiful valley and felt like I was somewhere in Norway, surrounded by fjords.
In the east of Germany, the landscape is very different, with the highlight of the area being the Bastion bridge and the sandstone mountain formations of Saxon Switzerland National Park.
The vibe in Germany is good, and you can tell Germans enjoy life with good food and drinks. It’s no wonder so many people flock to Germany every year for their holidays. I hope you like the photos and get inspired to visit this beautiful country one day, you won’t be disappointed!
Travel Photography Germany | Bavaria | Saxon Switzerland National Park | Germany’s most beautiful villages | Castles in Germany