Holidays in Germany? No way! So I thought 10 years ago when I didn´t know much about Germany beyond Munich, Berlin and Frankfurt and I genuinly had no clue here are so many interesting things to see and wonderful places to explore. But then, life happened and I moved to Germany. In the flat, for me slightly boring, northern part. But my always adventurous spirit didn´t let me give up straight away so I spent the last 9 years spending most of my (longer) weekends hopping around the country and getting to know it really good. I can´t deny there are some really nice corners here, despite the fact I really want to move out for years now. But before I change my address I feel like posting a couple of more posts on the blog about Germany, you know, for the memories. So here I am presenting you the lesser-known parts of the country. I´m sure you have not heard about many of these and I bet you didn´t think Germany can be so nice, or did you? Let´s have a look.

HELGOLAND ISLAND | the smallest nature reserve in the country

This island is just wow! Some 40km away from the northern German coast it is the only piece of land far around. With just 1km² of land it is also the smallest nature reserve in Germany. There are actually 2 islands. The main one, which is also a duty free zone btw, is where you land and the one you can explore on a 3km round hike trail in order to see its magnificent red cliffs, nesting birds, meadows with sheep running around freely and colourful little wooden fishermen houses. It reminded us more of Ireland, Scotland or Norway than Germany to be honest. There are around 1000 people living here today, but the island has always been a popular spot for poets and other artists. The smaller one, called Düne, is famous for its sandy beach banks with seal colonies and it can be visited with just a short boat ride from the main island. The day trip is not cheap but in my opinion well worth every euro.

It is possible to reach Helgoland with boats from Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven or Büsum, but you can also fly there on a small plane if you wish. It took us 2hrs each way from Cuxhaven and we did it as a day trip – enough time to see it all, as the island is small, but you can also sleep over there if you want an extra dose of peace and quiet. Read more about our day trip to Helgoland in a full post by clicking the button below.

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SCHWERIN | northern German charm with a wonderful castle

Schwerin is definitely one of those German towns which totally surprised me while I was not expecting much. It is just the right size to explore it on foot, there are lots of galleries, museums and more, tucked between city squares surrounded by nice buildings, reflecting that typical northern German architectural style. The star of the city has to be its castle, with beautiful gardens, situated on the lake. The castle serves as the seat of Mecklenrbug – Vorpommern parliament at the moment, but parts of it are opened to the public.

From Hamburg you can reach Schwerin in 1hr driving which makes it a nice day trip as well. You can stop by in Wismar on the way or continue to Rostock, Lübeck or the German Baltic coast. Read more about our longer weekend in Schwerin and the coast in a full post by clicking the button below.

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SÄCHSISCHE SCHWEIZ NP | paradise for hikers and climbers with a gorgeous bridge, Basteibrücke

An area stretching around 90km between Pirna town and national border with Czech Republic, rich with amazing rock formations and narrow gorges, forests and rivers. There are numerous cycling and hiking trails, it is also excellent for rock climbing. You can also take a boat trip on Elbe river. During our visit we´ve done lots of hikes on the famous “Malerweg” trail, but the highlight of this trip had to be seeing and walking over this amazing bridge, Basteibrücke in the so-called Elbsandsteingebirge mountains. Built in 1824 as a wooden bridge, it is a much more solid today and also one of the best attractions in this part of the country.

This national park is situated just at the Czech border, in fact it stretches over and is called Češke Švycarsko NP on the Czech side. It is a nice stop if you are on a road trip through former East Germany, or are coming from Prague (it is just an hour and a half away) and want to continue towards Dresden, which is just 45min away. Read more about our longer weekend in this national park in a full post by clicking the button below.

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GOSLAR | historical Rammelsberg mines and amazing architecture

This beautiful historical town with its Rammelsberg mines is also on Unesco´s heritage list and one of my favourite towns in the area we are living at here in Germany. We usually visit it in the summer months and in December – it has a very special forest Christmas market. It´s full of history, wonderful timber wood houses, lovely town squares and cafes and pristine nature all around – we love it.

You can combine your visit to Goslar with exploring Harz national park which is really nice and not very known interntionally and other towns like Wernigerode, Quedlinburg, Bad Harzburg & others. Goslar can be reached in 1hr drive fmr Hanover or 3 from Frankfurt or Berlin. It also has good train conenctions. More about Goslar & Harz NP coming up on the blog soon.

PREROW | white sandy beaches at the German Baltic coast

The seaside town of Prerow on the German Baltic coast in Mecklenburg – Vorpommern lies just at the edge of a wonderful national park called Voropmmersche Boddenlandschaft, (Fischland – Darß – Zingst). I know I know lots of strange names but don´t let that confuse you. The places over here are stunning. We loved our time in Regenbogen camp site because we could pitch our tent up on the sand dunes close to the beach – this is not allowed usually, so it´s so much more special. The beach here is phenomenal and perfect for water sports like surfing, kite, swimming etc. I simply love the Baltic coast and keep coming back whenever I have the chance – not many people over here as well.

You reach Prerow in 3hrs drive from Hamburg or Berlin. Rostock and Stralsund are an hour away. Sure, it is not really close to any bigger cities but that´s what it makes it less visited by international tourists and that´s why we love it even more. Read more about our camping trip to Prerow in a full post by clicking the button below.

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RÜDESHEIM AM RHEIN | romance between the vineyards

Rüdesheim am Rhein is one of the most romantic and photogenic German smaller towns. Surrounded by vineyards on one side and the Ren river on the other, this area plays an important role in German wine-making industry. It´s the most perfect place for every wine lover, myself included. Compared to some other places I´ve mentioned I this post, it might be quite a known place, but I´m sure not all of you have heard about it, so I´m happy to mention it as well. The main attraction here is a gondola ride over the vineyards, to Niedderwaldenkmal memorial an over to Assmannshausen town and of course a visit to some of the wine cellars in the famous Drosselstrasse street and around.

The town is less than an hour drive from Frankfurt and 2 from Cologne. There is plenty to see around here too, check out the wonderful spa town Wiesbaden, Mainz, Koblenz, Cochem and more. Read more about our visit to Rüdesheim am Rhein in a full post by clicking the button below.

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EXTERNSTEINE | mysterious rock formations

These interesting, over 100 million years old, 40 metres high rock formations with their caves have been the subject of discussions, theories, legends and speculations over anti-semitism and nationalism throughout history. We´ve successfully distanced ourselves from these connections and simply enjoyed the views and the beautiful nature around us.

I can say this are quite remote parts of the country, somewhere between Hanover and Dortmund with the closest towns being Paderborn and Bielefeld. There is a bit more infrastructure for tourists in the little towns of Lippe and Horn-Bad Meinberg close by. Read more about our visit to the Externsteine in a full post by clicking the button below.

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ERFURT | Thüringen´s capital city and the longest, continuously inhabited bridge in Europe

Erfurt is the capital city of Thüringen and also its largest town, mostly known for its mighty cathedral, old city centre and the longest continuously inhabited bridge in Europe. The buildings on the bridge over Gera river are spectacular, most of them have shops in the ground floor and residential flats above. You might heard about Dresden, Leipzig, Jena and Weimar – now add Erfurt to that list of former East German towns, it is really worth visiting.

Erfurt can be reached within 3 hrs of driving from Frankfurt, 2 from Dresden and one from Leipzig. There is lots to see in the area as well, we spent 4 days camping and exploring here in Thüringen. Read more about Erfurt & around in a full post by clicking the button below.

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RÜGEN | impressive while cliffs on Germany´s largest island

Rügen, the largest German island, not so far from the Polish border, pleasantly surprised us with its hilly countryside, amazing white chalk cliffs in the national park Jasmund (which is also on Unesco´s heritage list), fancy beach towns like Binz for example, old wooden piers like the one in Sellin, treetop canopy walks and historical buildings in Prora nand more. We had a wonderful 4 days and met almost no international tourists.

Besides Rostock, there is no really big town around. It takes 3hrs of driving from Hamburg or Berlin and 2 from Lübeck to get there. The island is conveniently connected to Stralsund on the mainland with a bridge and there are also train connections. You can also arrive or depart from Rügen to the Swedish Trellborg. Read more about our 4-days visit to Rügen in a full post by clicking the button below.

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WATTWANDERUNG | hiking to East Frisian islands in the Wadden Sea NP

Well, this is something, I tell you. Walking from the continental coast to an island? How is this even possible? Well, here in the Wadden sea national park it is. Every day at low tide you can join a gorup (it is not allowed to wander off on your own) and hike to one of the East Frisian islands. You can go barefoot although I recommend wearing old socks. We did a 6km hike through the muddy grounds to reach the island of Baltrum with its beautiful white sandy beaches on the other side – such a great and unique experience.

A visit to the Wadden sea can be combined with visiting Hamburg, Bremen and other parts of the East Frisian coast in northern Germany or the Netherlands. Neßmersiel, a small town where we started our Wattwanderung hike is 4 hrs drive from Cologne and 3 from Hamburg. It´s not really close but therefore there are not so many non-German tourists coming here. Read more about our experience in a full post by clicking the button below.

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RAKOTZBRÜCKE BRIDGE | the most beautiful bridge in Germany

Maybe you have seen this picture already but did you know this place is actually in Germany? Just a few kilometres from the Polish border, in the place called Kromlau near Cottbus, there is this wonderful 19^th Century English park called Azalea und Rhododendron Park Kromlau. The park is nice on its own but it is mostly known by this bridge, Rakotzbrücke, also known as Teufelsbrücke, which in translation means the Devil´s bridge. Its reflection in the water is actually what makes it such a stunning site, especially in Autumn when all the leaves color in yellows and reds.

Kromlau is reached after 2hrs driving from Berlin or an hour and a half from Dresden. If you have a little bit more time, you can check out the Spreewald area close by or include this stop to your road trip through Poland, Czech Republic or former East Germany.

BAMBERG | Unesco town with an unique town hall

Bamberg, the picturesque town on seven hills somewhere between Nürnberg and Würzburg might be something you´ve already heard about already but I think it is still pretty much hidden from the international tourists. This charming town with its cathedral, Michelsberg abbey, Neue Residenz castle, Little Venice area and more interesting sights is also on Unesco´s heritage list The most recognizable building in the city must be the impressive town hall, built on an artificial island on Regnitz river and covered in frescoes with a beautiful rococo hall and a porcelain collection. Don´t forget to eat something locally Bavarian and drink a proper beer, there are lots of breweries here.

Bamberg is 2hrs driving from Munich or Frankfurt, but otherwise the closest bigger towns are Nürnberg (with great Christmas markets if you are there in December), Würzburg (lovely wine countryside), Bayreuth and Coburg. Read more about our weekend in Bamberg in a full post by clicking the button below.

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CUXHAVEN | German northern coast with yellow Strandkorb beach baskets

Cuxhaven might not seem like something special to many others, but I really like it. Especially due to its yellow Strandkorb beach baskets or however you call these on English. It´s a perfect spot for a weekend getaway or a day trip, with lots of options from cycling, longer walks on the beach or in the Küstenheide protected area, day trips to Neuwerk island with horses, day trips to Helgoland island, or just relaxing on the beach and checking out the famous Kugelbacke and Alte Liebe pier. Don´t forget to dip your feet into the Wadden sea, a Unesco protected area.

1 hour drive from Bremen or 2 from Hamburg and you are there. You can visit Cuxhaven as a part of a longer trip in northern Germany or as a day trip from let´s say Hamburg. We´ve spent our longer weekend up there exploring Bremen, Bremerhaven and Helgoland island as well. Read more about this trip in a full post by clicking the button below.

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LÜNEBURGER HEIDE | pink blooming fields of heath

Lüneburger Heide is a larger area with a protected area in it, strongly marked with specific factors (climate, soil, geological and geographical features, flora and fauna). It spreads out between the towns of Celle, Gifhorn, Uelzen, Lüneburg (wonderful town, well worth visiting btw), Scheeßel, Harburg, Rotenburg and Lüchow-Dannenberg in northern Germany. Towards the end of the summer the fields over here turn to pink and purple and the whole are looks absolutely spectacular. Besides cycling and hiking trips, you can also check out a special heath garden, Heidegarten Höpen.

From Hamburg you can reach it in just 30min drive, from Hanover and Bremen in 1 hour and from Berlin in 3hrs. Otherwise it is well accessible by train as well. If you have a bicycle I strongly suggest to bring it with you. We´ve been here two times, once we stayed in an apartment in Bispingen and once we were camping with our tent in Soltau. Read more about it in a full post by clicking the button below.

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COCHEM | medieval castle and wine tasting along Mosel river

This smaller town, nestled between the vineyards and the Mosel river, is mostly famous for its impressive medieval castle on the hill. If you visit the Reichburg castle you also get to see the chambers, courtyards and gardens, not to mention, the views from up there are stunning. Surrounded by other charming villages, the town of Cochem, is full of beautiful typical German ”Fachwerk” buildings as well and it´s a great spot for any wine lover. In the summer months there are lots of festivals over here and you can also do a boat trip on the Mosel.

Gographically, Cochem is not easily reached, as it is not situated close to the main highways. But the extra kilometres on winding roads are totally worth it. You can get here in 2hrs from Frankfurt and 1,5hrs from Köln, but the closest bigger town is Koblenz, just 40min drive away. This is also a great stop if you are on a road trip through either Germany, or on to Luxembourg, Belgium, France or the Netherlands.

ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER | the star of German Romantic Road

This wonderful medieval town with the best preserved city walls in Germany is surely one of the most touristy ones from this list and also one of the most known ones. And yet, there are many who have never heard about it, therefore I´m including it here. The city is also the cultural capital of Bavaria and besides trolling down the streets of the old town, you can visit lots of museums, galleries, lovely shops and one of the best German Christmas markets in December.

Being on the German Romantic Road route, which goes from Füssen (close to the famous Neuschwanstein castle) to Würzburg makes it a perfect and convenient stop. Otherwise it is 2 hrs drive form Frankfurt or Munich and just 40min from Würzburg. Read more about our trip on the Romantic Road in a full post by clicking the button below.

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What do you say, there are quite some interesting places in Germany, right? As I said, I have a couple of more on my bucket list and I´ll be adding to this list once I visit those too. Anyone has another suggestion about a secret place? Let me know in the comments below.