'So much to do': Why Germany is a great holiday destination

Compared with France, Spain or Italy, Germany is perhaps not top of mind as a vacation destination in Europe.

But maybe it should be: according to Statista, it’s actually the sixth most popular European tourist destination, just behind the UK and ahead of Greece.

Also, according to readers of The Local, Germany is largely recommendable as a vacation destination. 

In a recent survey, we asked readers if they would recommend taking a holiday in Germany, and about 60 percent of the respondents said that they would. 

The remaining respondents were evenly split between about 20 percent who said Germany ‘suits some people but not everyone’, and about 20 percent of readers who would not recommend Germany to travellers. 

Whether you already live here and are considering a vacation closer to home, or are thinking about visiting Germany for the first time, here are some reasons to consider a holiday in Germany this season – as well as a couple reasons not to – according to readers.

READ ALSO: Five 'coolcation' spots you can reach by train from Germany

Natural wonders

Asked to elaborate on some of the best parts of holidaying in Germany, one theme stood out.

Nita, a 35-year old from India summed it up best in her answer when she said simply, “The nature.”

Getting a little more specific, lakes, rivers, forests and mountain areas were mentioned by the majority of respondents.

Alex Laurens, 55, from South Africa and now living in Eppstein, Hessen, agrees: “There’s so much to do outside,” he said.

And this generally applies no matter which part of the country you choose to visit.

For example, Derek Hall, who lives in Norway noted the “beautiful countryside” and “great bike touring” around Berlin and Brandenburg in the northeast.

Whereas Larry Schulz, 78, a Munich resident originally from Chicago, recommends the lakes and towns in the southern parts of the country. Specifically, he recommended the towns of Berchtesgaden, Heidelberg and his home city of Munich, as well as the lakes Chiemsee, Tegernsee and Lake Constance (Bodensee).

For their part, Dave and Nancy Archer, from Indianapolis in the US, have taken a liking to western Germany in the middle Rhine region. They told The Local that they take a month-long vacation there every year, “directly on the river near Linz am Rhein”.

“As we are older travellers, we enjoy the relaxing time on our balcony watching the Rhine River ship traffic and taking leisurely drives to some of the small but beautiful towns on the Rhine, Mosel and Ahr rivers," they said.

Half-timbered houses Nuremberg's old town. Weißgerbergasse is among the city's best known scenic streets. PHOTO: picture alliance/dpa | Daniel Karmann

Historic sights

A close second to Germany’s natural attractions, for Local readers, were its historic sights and monuments.

For Germany-born American citizen John Daugherty, 66, travelling in Germany is about “experiencing the history – touring the Altstadt, churches, cathedrals and basilicas and going to museums".

With most regions in Germany having been home to dozens of different kingdoms throughout the past centuries, many German cities and towns have an Altstadt, or ‘old town’ – often near their centres – where you can find old German architecture, ancient churches, and often a fortress or castle on the nearest hilltop.

Krista Golden, 49, from the US said she spent a week in Munich to attend the city’s Opera festival.

“I'm a history nerd, and I loved knowing the stories of every place I saw,” she said.

Food and drink

Of course, no holiday is complete without enjoying the best of the local food and drinks. And in Germany there are plenty of hearty dishes and traditional drinks to try.

After the opera and history, Golden said as much herself: “I can't say enough about the food. Das Essen war lecker!”

Dave and Nancy Archer agreed, adding that they always make time to visit their favourite restaurants “for wonderful German dishes”.

For John Daugherty as well, a trip to Germany includes indulging in the local fare, including “the great beers and wines”.

READ ALSO:

• 9 incredible foods you have to try while visiting Frankfurt
• Five German foods to try this summer

Densely populated lands

Before getting into some of the potential drawbacks about visiting Germany, it’s perhaps worth noting that the survey responses that did not recommend vacationing in Germany mostly came from current residents in the country. Some people just prefer to holiday away from home.

However, being Europe’s most populous country, many parts of Germany can be a bit crowded. Especially during late July and early August when the majority of local residents have time off from school or work for their own vacations.

Asked about some of the downsides of taking a holiday in Germany, Diane Stuppard, 62, from Canada who currently lives in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, said there are “too many people”. She added that they can be rude and disrespectful.

Other complaints about travel in Germany tended to be about related issues.

For example, Daugherty noted that “some of the people can be cold and unwelcoming”.

Another respondent added that “the traffic jams” can be an issue. 

Gerry, 63, a Scot who also lives in Rhineland-Palatinate – and recommends visiting Rügen, Mecklenburg Seenplatte, Bodensee in particular – noted that one challenge is that restaurants are often full at 6pm, but many of them also stop taking orders by 9pm.

Budget considerations

Finally, Germany’s appeal as a vacation destination is certainly affected by whether or not the currency conversion rate works in your favour.

For those working in Germany, it generally feels like a pretty affordable country – even despite rising rents and inflation seen in recent years.

But for those coming from abroad, Germany can be either a pricey vacation, or budget destination, depending on how many euros your own currency trades for.

“The exchange rate is never favourable to the US,” said Daugherty. 

In fact, the last time the US dollar hit parity with the euro was in June 2002.

US-born Larry Schulz also mentioned high costs as a potential downside to vacationing in the Bundesrepublik.

But for those coming from countries with particularly high wages, Germany can actually be perceived as cheap.

Resident of Norway, Derek Hall said Germany offers “affordable prices when you are from Scandinavia”.