Germany Landmarks

1. Neuschwanstein Castle

There’s a reason you may feel you’ve seen the Neuschwanstein Castle before. This storybook palace in southwest Bavaria was Walt Disney’s inspiration for the “Sleeping Beauty” movie and the castles in the Disney parks.

Built by King Ludwig, who loved the theater, the castle was designed by a set designer instead of an architect. There are even murals depicting scenes from Wagner’s operas in some rooms. 

See even more fairytale destinations around the world 

2. Cologne Cathedral

The imposing spires of the Cologne Cathedral were completed in 1880 after six centuries of construction. Today, the Gothic cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a top Germany landmark. It servived several Allied bombings during World War II, then finally completely restored by 1956. Visitors may tour the famous cathedral and attend services. 

3. Brandenburg Gate

Considered by National Geographic to be the “regal symbol of Berlin,” Brandenburg Gate is the last remaining gate in a wall that once encircled the city. For 30 years, the gate symbolized Berlin’s division into separate parts and in 1989 it reopened when East and West Berlin were reunited. Notice the gate’s similarities to the entrance hall at the Acropolis and the depiction of the goddess of victory at its top. 

4. Old Town Hall, Bamberg

Two bridges over the Regnitz River lead to the Old Town Hall in Bamberg, built in 1386. The story goes that the bishop of Bamberg did not grant land for the town hall to be built on, so the citizens placed stakes in the river to create an artificial island upon which they constructed the hall. Take a walking tour of the old episcopal quarter and visit the town hall, noticing the impressive frescoes and trompe l’oeil architecture.

5. Berlin Wall 

Dividing Germany for 28 years and the most memorable symbol of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall remains a top tourist landmark in Germany.

There are several sites within Berlin where one can view the wall: the East Side Gallery, with the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall; Mauerpark, once part of no-man’s land; Checkpoint Charlie, the famous American-controlled border crossing; and the Berlin Wall Memorial, home to an insightful open-air museum with information about the wall. 

6. Heidelberg Castle 

A highlight of Germany’s Castle Road, Heidelberg Castle sits 300 feet atop the university city. This Gothic masterpiece has seen its fair share of tough times, both by invading armies and Mother Nature’s wrath.

While much of it lies in partial ruin, each building reflects a different period in German architecture and all together make for an insightful and beautiful castle site. Plus, when you’re on the castle grounds, you’ll have the best view around Heidelberg and the Neckar River. 

7. Holocaust Memorial 

The Holocaust Memorial, or Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, was designed by New York architect Peter Eisenman, who won a design competition. The site in Berlin covers 204,514 square feet, holding 1,711 concrete slabs of various heights.

Visitors can walk among the slabs, which are on a slight slope to emulate a wave-like formation, any time, day or night. The abstractness of the memorial is intended to give visitors the mental and physical space to contemplate the enormity of the topic. 

8. Holstentor 

The twin towers of Lubeck’s Holstentor are immediately recognizable when you leave the train station. For centuries, this monument was the main entrance to the town, set over a bridge that leads into the old town.

Built in the 15th century, the red-brick Holstenstor was meant to emulate Lubeck’s prestige - notice the inscribed motto: “Harmony at home and peace abroad.” Visit the Museum Holstentor to learn more about the gate’s history and Lubeck’s marine history. 

9. Hohenzollern Castle 

The impressive, 140-room Hohenzollern Castle was the ancestral seat of the Prussian king and the princes of Hohenzollern. King Frederick William IV, who commissioned the castle, asked that it be a reconstruction of his ancestors’ castles from the Middle Ages. Today, Hohenzollern’s towers and battlements stand proudly over the Swabian Alps of Germany’s Baden-Wurttemberg region.

Inside, there are incredible murals, a room dedicated to the family tree, a Queen’s room known as the Blue Salon, a gilded coffered ceiling, marquetry floors and numerous portraits of Prussian royals. 

10. Schwerin Castle

In a country full of fairytale castles, Schwerin Castle is one of the most glorious. Set on an island in Lake Schwerin, the castle’s roots date back more than 1,000 years.

The current castle layout was masterminded in 1857 by Frederick Francis II, the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, a reconstruction that ultimately resulted in 653 rooms full of marquetry flooring, intricate carvings, gilding and stucco ceilings, a throne room with Carrara marble columns, an ancestral portrait gallery, a round tower room and more.

11. Reichstag 

Despite burnings and bombings, the Reichstag, is an impressive place to visit in Berlin.

Designed by Norman Foster in 1894, the iconic seat of the German parliament is most often recognized by its glittering glass dome, reachable by elevator, which offers fantastic 360-degree views of Tiergarten, the dome and the mirror cylinder at the center. Walk the spiraling ramp around the dome to view exhibits on the building, other landmarks and parliament. 

12. Museum Island 

Spree Island, otherwise known as Museum Island, in Berlin encompasses five large museums that were built under the Prussian rulers. An reception and exhibition building - the James Simon Gallery - were added in 2019.

The entire collection was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status in 1999, at which time a master plan for the island was concocted, which will construct an Archaeological Promenade, an underground connection between the museum buildings.

The museums include the Altes Museum (Old Museum), Neues Museum (New Museum), Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery), Bode Museum and Pergamon Museum. 

13. Romantic Road 

The oldest, the best known and one of the prettiest routes in Germany, the Romantic Road runs for 248 miles between Wurzburg and Fussen. Drive it over a couple of days or several weeks and see UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient castles and charming villages.

Highlights include the half-timbered houses of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the medieval town of Dinkelsbuhl, Nordlinger (built in an old meteorite crater!), Augsburg and its Mariendom cathedral and Perlachturm tower, the palaces of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein and Fussen’s old town and the River Lech. 

14. Black Forest 

Play out a fairytale in Germany’s Black Forest (Schwarzwald) in the mountain range of Baden-Wurttemberg. Evergreens hang over the forest floor and villages of castle ruins and half-timbered, gingerbread-style houses await your discovery.

Highlights include the spa towns of Baden-Baden and Bad Wildbad, the pretty-as-a-picture town of Calw, university town of Freiburg and the Badische Wine Road, a 99-mile route in the foothills of the Black Forest. Feel the mysterious nature of the Black Forest in quiet villages like Alpirsbach and Schiltach and the romanticism of Heidbelberg. 

15. Miniatur Wunderland

Whether or not you’re a model-train fanatic, Hamburg’s Miniatur Wunderland will delight you. The largest model train installation in the world, at 11,840 square feet, the intricate display of detail and engineering replicates Scandinavia, Germany, Austria and the United States.

Incredible detail has resulted in highly accurate models, from container ships to working cable cars to snowy Swiss Alps. More than 170 computer-controlled cars move about throughout the model landscape. 

16. Rhine Valley

Considered one of Europe’s most beautiful rivers, the Rhine and its verdant valley are a top Germany attraction, whether you’re exploring on land or on the water. The Middle Rhine Valley (Rheintal) is considered an area of outstanding natural beauty and the Rhine Gorge, between Mannheim and Koblenz, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Replete with castles, historic towns and vineyards, the Rhine Valley may be best explored on a river cruise, stopping for walking and cycling tours of waterside villages. Dip into thermal baths in Wiesbaden, explore the crooked old streets and medieval half-timbered buildings of Braubach and marvel at the cathedral city of Mainz.

17. Zugspitze Massif 

Admire some of the best views in Germany atop the Zugspitze Massif, the country’s highest point, perched right on the border with Austria. There are three cable cars and a mountain railway that access the peak, one of which originates in the German town of Eibsee. Once you’re at the top, you can see more than 400 mountains spread across Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.

18. Konigssee (King’s Lake) 

Take a boat ride across Lake Konigsee to the 12th-century Roman Catholic church of St. Bartholomew, the top attraction at this emerald-green, notably clear and clean lake in Berchtesgaden National Park.

Nestled at the foot of Mount Watzmann, the lake appears as a massive fjord. The lake was long been enjoyed by Bavarian royalty and the local rulers of Berchtesgaden and Salzburg. If you take the boat all the way to the Salet stop, it’s worth taking the 15-minute walk to the smaller, pretty lake of Obersee.

19. Sanssouci Park and Palace, Potsdam 

It was Friedrich the Great’s dream to have a summer retreat where he could literally live “without a care,” (sans souci). Today, visitors can explore his 18th-century summer palace and parkland where he hoped to cultivate plums, figs and wine.

Frederick II’s tomb is on the palace hill of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Potsdam’s larger complex of palaces and parks includes Sanssouci Park, the New Garden and the Park of Babelsberg, all together considered a crowning achievement for Prussian royalty.

20. Insel Mainau 

The 111-acre flower paradise of Mainau Island (Insel Mainau) in Lake Constance is a worthwhile German landmark to visit any time of year. It’s a beautiful change of pace from the flurry of sightseeing you are likely engaged in.

The proliferation of flower blossoms changes throughout the year, from snowdrops and winter aconites in February, resplendent roses in June and dahlias each autumn. The island, with its gardens and greenhouses, is reachable by boat, bus or car from Knostanz, Meersburg and Uberlingen.

21. Harz Mountains 

For the nature lover and outdoor enthusiast, a top landmark to visit in Germany is undoubtedly the Harz Mountains. This is where the Grimm brothers wrote so many of the world’s most recognizable fairy tales. Hike, bike or ride an authentic steam train through the mountains and valley of one of Germany’s highest alpine ranges, past traditional homes and peaceful rivers. 

22. Aachen Cathedral 

The oldest cathedral in northern Europe, the Aachen Cathedral is near the German border with Belgium and the Netherlands. Built by the king Charlemagne, the Carolingian- and Gothic-style cathedral saw countless coronations in its heyday. Today, visitors can see the bronze Wolf Doors from the 9th century and the Palatine Chapel’s golden mosaics. 

23. Saxon Switzerland National Park 

Home to the Elbe River, deep valleys, notable rock formation and miles of hiking trails, Saxon Switzerland National Park is not far from the Dresden (despite its moniker). In fact, the park actually shares a border with the Czech Republic (the Czech side is called Bohemian Switzerland National Park).

The Bastei rock formation and its surreal Bastei Bridge are among the park’s top attractions. Be sure to visit the ancient Konigstein Fortress and the Toskana Therme (Tuscan spa) on the banks of the Elbe River in Bad Schandau when you’re within the park. 

24. Rugen Cliffs 

In Jasmund National Park in the northeast part of Rugen Island, the Rugen Cliffs face the surging Baltic Sea. The most picturesque part of the chalk cliffs is the 387-foot-high Konigsstuhl (king’s chair). From here, you get an incredible view of the peninsula. While you’re on Rugen Island, be sure to enjoy the 37 miles of sandy beaches and acres of charming countryside. 

25. Berchtesgaden 

History, sobering and gorgeous, Berchtesgaden in southern Bavaria, backing right up to the Austrian border, is known for its salt mines and as the summer retreat of Adolf Hitler. Perhaps better known as Eagle’s Nest, the structure is intact today and operates as a museum atop Mount Kehlstein at 6,017 feet high.

Tour buses chauffeur visitors to a viewing platform, from which a 407-foot tunnel leads to an elevator delivering guests 407 feet up into the Eagle’s Nest.