Germany, the industrial might of Europe, efficient, punctual and manufacturers of great cars, offers small picturesque towns, elegant big-city charm, fine wine, beers by the stein, frankfurters and a wealth of art and culture. The country is littered with fairytale castles, especially along the Rhine and huge tracts of forest greenery that sweep into Rhineland valleys and scenic pastures. Germany also lies at the crossroads of Continental history. From the Holy Roman Empire to Otto von Bismarck's German Reich, the birth of Nazism and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, no other nation has shaped the continent of Europe to the same extent as Germany.

Best time to visit

November to April for fewer tourists and surprisingly pleasant weather.

Essential experiences

Hiking through the Black Forest; experiencing Dachau, Buchenwald, or other Holocaust memorials; immersing yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Dresden; taking a trip down the scenic Rhine; discovering picturesque walled cities and towns along the Romantic Road; viewing lofty cathedrals such as Ulm Munster and the Dom in Cologne; summertime swimming in the lakes.

In a few words, Germany is

Lederhosen; the legacy of WWII; cuckoo clocks; Oktoberfest; the Berlin Wall; BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Volkswagen and Porsche

Did you know

Germany was the fatherland to some of the world's greatest philosophers including Marx and Nietzsche; scientisit - Einstein and Planck; composers - Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Handel and Wagner and of course the Formula One driver - Michael Schumacher.