Things to do in 

Germany

Slip beyond the blockbuster sights to find alternative things to do across Germany, from quiet river valleys to quirky industrial relics, all within easy reach of major hubs.

Cultural experiences: Taste smoky rauchbier on a guided brewery stroll in Bamberg, 40 minutes north of Nuremberg; couples often linger on the Little Venice waterfront. Tour a small coffee roastery in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt and ride the public Elbe ferries for port views families enjoy. Hear an evening organ recital at Leipzig’s Thomaskirche, a short hop from Dresden by train; seniors appreciate the seating and acoustics. In Baden‑Baden, luxury travelers can book a private spa circuit at the Friedrichsbad before dinner on the Lichtentaler Allee.

Day trip ideas: From Berlin, punt through the Spreewald canals at Lübbenau (1 hour) and sample pickles at a waterside kiosk. Out of Munich, circle Lake Tegernsee (1 hour) for an easy lakeside walk and a beer garden lunch in Gmund. From Hamburg, wander brick lanes in Lüneburg (30 minutes) or cycle orchard roads in the Altes Land during harvest. From Frankfurt, ride the Rhine to Eltville and Rüdesheim (1 hour) for timbered lanes and a cable car up to the Niederwald. From Cologne, follow the Ahr Valley wine trail to Dernau (45 minutes) for tasting rooms set among steep vines.

Explore Germany's regions: In Bavaria (Munich, Berchtesgaden, Bamberg), mix alpine lake walks with Franconian beer cellars and riverside towns. Around Berlin‑Brandenburg (Berlin, Spreewald), pair street art and museums with quiet punt rides through wetlands. Along the Rhine and Moselle (Koblenz, Cochem, Bernkastel‑Kues), cruise between castles and cycle flat riverside paths. In Saxony (Dresden, Leipzig, Saxon Switzerland), hike sandstone gorges by Bad Schandau and catch evening concerts in city churches. In Baden and the Black Forest (Freiburg, Baden‑Baden), ride forest trams, taste Black Forest cake, and relax in classic spas. On the North Sea coast (Cuxhaven, Föhr), try a guided mudflat walk in the Wadden Sea before a plate of fresh shrimp on the quay.

Travel tip: Count on 10–14 days to cover two regions well, like Bavaria and the Rhine/Moselle; crossing the country north to south with side trips is a solid 3‑week plan.

More places to see in Germany

There’s a lot to explore in Germany beyond Berlin, from portside neighborhoods to river valleys and forest trails. You can ride local ferries, wander old lanes, and settle into small cafés where the day moves slower.

Hamburg: Drift through the red-brick canyons of Speicherstadt, then ride public ferry 62 from Landungsbrücken for wide views of cranes and shipyards. Step onto the Elbphilharmonie Plaza for a breezy lookout over the Elbe, and end the day with grilled fish on Ditmar-Koel-Straße in the Portuguese Quarter.

Middle Rhine Valley: Cruise between Boppard and St. Goar and watch castles slide by from the deck. Walk the chairlift up from Boppard to the Vierseenblick viewpoint, then tour Marksburg Castle above Braubach before a late-afternoon tasting in a small Bacharach wine tavern.

Black Forest: Follow the trail up to the Triberg Waterfalls and listen to the steady rush under tall firs. Step into the Vogtsbauernhof Open-Air Museum in Gutach to see farmhouses with deep eaves, then sit down for a slice of Black Forest cake at a Konditorei in Triberg.

Saxon Switzerland: Hike out to the Bastei Bridge and look into the Elbe gorge from the stone arches. Ride the old Kirnitzschtalbahn tram from Bad Schandau into the woods, and wind down with a simple dinner in Katschof or another small spot in Křinice Valley before heading back.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Wander riversides and palace gardens as cherry and apple blossoms colour paths, from Berlin’s canals to Munich’s English Garden. Savour Spargelzeit in April and May, pairing white asparagus with local Riesling in relaxed wine taverns. With mild days and lighter crowds that suit families and seniors, spring often feels like the best time to visit Germany, with easy cycling routes and boat tours easing back to life.

Summer: Settle into beer gardens and riverside promenades on long, golden evenings, then swim in lakes or head north for breezy Baltic beaches. Hike alpine trails at first light or cruise the Rhine past storybook castles; couples slip into open-air cinemas while kids chase fountains in historic squares. For things to do in Germany in summer, add vineyard tastings or a private boat charter to slow the pace.

Fall: Follow the grape harvest along the Moselle and Rhine, tasting Federweisser with warm Zwiebelkuchen in half-timbered villages. Watch forests in the Harz and Black Forest turn copper, then join locals at Oktoberfest or a quieter Volksfest in Stuttgart or Franconia. Cooler days make city walks comfortable for culture lovers and seniors, while food lovers linger at markets brimming with mushrooms and game.

Winter: Christmas in Germany means lantern-lit markets, spiced Glühwein, and hand-carved ornaments from Nürnberg to Dresden. Slip into thermal baths on snow days or ride up to alpine resorts for skiing, then warm up in cosy wine bars and café corners. Carnival season livens the Rhineland in January and February, while shorter queues suit museum-goers and luxury travellers planning unhurried visits.

Set a trip around Cologne’s Karneval parades in winter, Munich’s Oktoberfest and Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volksfest in fall, or Kieler Woche each June when tall ships crowd the harbour and bands play late. Watch Rhine in Flames fireworks ignite river towns on select summer nights, or catch Berlin’s Festival of Lights in early fall when landmarks glow after dark. Throughout December, Christmas markets fill town squares nationwide, turning evenings into easy-going strolls for families, couples, and curious first-timers.