Bavarian Route. Here in the land that gave us Oktoberfest, you’ll find everything your inner Günther desires. Fairytale castles — like the famous Neuschwanstein, inspiration of the Disneyland castle — dot the subalpine landscapes around Munich and Nuremberg. Breweries craft 400-year-old recipes. In the summer, hike through mountain valleys to find hidden glacial lakes. In the winter, strap on your skis and hit the slopes.
Rhineland Route. Compacted into a corner of western Germany, the Rhineland is a densely populated expanse of rivers, vineyards, and cities. Here, you get a lot of bang for your traveling buck — travel between major cities like Cologne, Aachen, and Düsseldorf rarely takes longer than an hour. With its Roman history, you’ll want to be sure you visit the Ruins at Trier, Germany’s oldest city and one-time capital of the Roman empire. Also check out the local wine scene, and, of course, cruise the famous river that gives the region its name.
North Coast Route. Bookended by Germany’s two most famous and beautiful islands, Rügen and Sylt, this route will ensure you keep the sea in view at all times. Many of the cities along this route — Lübeck, Kiel, Hamburg, etc. — were members of the historic Hanseatic League; nowadays, you can see the Hansa influence in traditional Brick Gothic architecture exhibited on the region’s cathedrals and town halls. The area is known for its excellent bike trails, made all the more welcoming (and leisurely) by its extremely flat landscape and beautiful sea views.
Eastern Route. Travel through Germany’s ex-communist east, the former lands of the German Democratic Republic. You’ve got both ends of the spectrum here: old Soviet-style factories decay amid picturesque, unspoiled forests and lakes. With just a few hours’ train ride, you can travel from Berlin’s thumping nightclubs to Dresden’s reconstructed Baroque city center to the fantastical limestone rock formations of Sächsische Schweiz National Park.
The Grand Tour. For the completionists among us, it’s possible to visit all of Germany’s major cities by rail in just a few days. Start in the historic Römerberg neighborhood in Frankfurt; an hour away in Cologne, witness the Cologne Cathedral; head to Hamburg’s UNESCO-designated Speicherstadt, the world’s largest warehouse district; two hours later, scope out Berlin’s impressive museums or party the night away (or both). For your last and longest leg, a four-hour ride gets you to Munich, home of Oktoberfest, where you can finally sit down in a traditional biergarten, toasting to your journey.
Comfort. Prefer to overpack? Trains let you bring as much baggage as you can carry. Like to spread out while you’re traveling? Trains offer more space than planes or buses. Picky eater? Just bring your own food and drinks on the train with you. Desperately need Wi-Fi? Long-distance ICE trains have free, unlimited Wi-Fi, and many train stations offer free Wi-Fi for an hour.
This content was originally published here.
