Germany is a popular destination for city breaks from the UK, with most visitors going to the capital, Berlin. However, Germany has many other great cities that make great destinations for short breaks or even longer stays.
Some of the cool German cities that are great for tourists include Bonn, Cologne, Dortmund, Hamburg and Munich. These cities make a great alternative destination for people wanting to experience more of Germany without returning to Berlin.
Bonn, Cologne and Dortmund
These three cool cities are close together in North-Rhine Westphalia, and visitors can easily explore all three of them on a short break.
The former capital of West Germany until the government officially moved back to Berlin in 1999, Bonn is still the home of many government departments. Many parts of the city date back hundreds of years, with Beethoven’s birthplace a popular attraction in Bonngasse. Close by is the Old Town Hall, which is now an office of the mayor and used for official receptions. Other attractions in the city include Poppelsdorfer Allee, which was the site of the first horsecar in the town, and the ruins of Godesburg fortress.
Cologne sits on the banks of the River Rhine. The University in the city is one of the oldest and largest in Europe, and the cathedral is one of the most famous religious buildings in the world. In December, Cologne comes to life with eight great Christmas markets in the city. The one nearest to the cathedral is one of the best in this city and is great to stroll around and soak in the atmosphere.
With a skyline characterized by churches, some over 1,000 years old, Dortmund offers visitors some gems of medieval architecture. Nearly half of the city consists of waterways, woodland and green spaces, leading to the nickname of Westphalia’s green metropolis.
Hamburg
Situated in north Germany on the banks of the Elbe, Hamburg is the second city of Germany. It has a network of rivers and canals and more bridges than either Amsterdam or Venice. By day it is a thriving city with some architecture dating back hundreds of years, but by night it changes. The Reeperbahn is the largest red light district in Europe and a popular place at night with numerous bars and nightclubs.
Munich
Munich is the largest city in Bavaria and home of Oktoberfest, the largest fair in the world with over five million annual visitors. This 200 year old festival involves copious quantities of German beer and traditional food. This is another medieval city with history dating back to 1158, and plenty of ancient buildings to admire. Sports fans can enjoy exploring the venues for the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Germany is a large country and offers many great cities that make a great alternative destination to Berlin. All of these cities are easy to get to from the UK with low-cost airlines offering several flights a day.
