Produced by Virtuoso with the German National Tourist Office
Stralsund's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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The country is home to more than 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and thanks to an efficient (and sustainable) train network, it’s easy to see many of them on one trip.
Germany’s cities, mountain villages, and old-growth forests are home to 51 UNESCO World Heritage sites – the third most of any country in the world. These ancient ruins, architectural marvels, and natural landmarks are an enriching complement to visiting the country for its world-famous festivals and holiday celebrations. The UNESCO sites, which are designated based on their significant cultural or historical context, are sprinkled all over Germany. One minute, you can toast to your health with a stein of Weissbier and the next, soak in the healing waters of a nineteenth-century bath in a UNESCO-recognized spa town.
Germany’s efficient and notoriously punctual public transportation infrastructure makes traveling throughout the country a piece of (German chocolate) cake. The national train system, the Deutsche Bahn, also offers direct connections to 150 European cities. “So many of the UNESCO sites are within the major cities – Cologne, Berlin, and Potsdam, for example – that with a bit of planning, you can see quite a number of them by rail,” says Virtuoso travel advisor Robert Kunikoff. “Purchasing a rail pass makes it easy to accommodate last-minute plans and changes.”
Another bonus for conscious travelers looking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions: All long-distance trains are 100 percent powered by green electricity. And because Germany is one of Europe’s most bike-friendly countries, travelers can further minimize their carbon footprint by pedaling around town or to and from villages.
When it comes to exploring Germany and its UNESCO World Heritage sites, there’s a lot of ground to cover. Here are four types of trips to inspire a visit – along with the cultural highlights that are sure to enchant travelers along the way.
Hamburg's Speicherstadt warehouse district dates to the 1880s and was built on oak pilings.
GNTB/Francesco Carovillano
Coastal Beauties
Many travelers are surprised to discover that Germany is home to a magnificent coastline, which stretches nearly 1,500 miles along the North and Baltic seas. From the seaside and further inland, the country’s vast network of rivers and waterways reveals a centuries-old maritime history ripe for modern-day exploration.
In Hamburg, architecture buffs shouldn’t miss a stop at Speicherstadt, which means “warehouse city.” Built on thousands of timber poles at the edge of the Elbe River (and restored following World War II), the neo-Gothic and modernist historic district is the world's largest complex of warehouses. Hop aboard a harbor cruise through Speicherstadt’s narrow waterways to fully appreciate the masterful renovation project.
Roughly a three-hour train ride northeast of Hamburg, Stralsund offers another fascinating look into bygone eras. Like several others in Germany, its entire Old Town is a designated World Heritage site – in this case, comprising approximately 500 buildings, from brick churches to gabled homes to a thirteenth-century City Hall. Just over the Rügen Bridge is Rügen, Germany’s largest island, where travelers can trek along the striking chalk cliffs and stroll through ancient beech forests in Jasmund National Park. Post-exploring, settle into a Strandkorb, or “beach basket,” Germany’s iconic beach chair, which is ubiquitous along the sandy coast.
Potsdam’s Sanssouci Palace and its gardens modeled after Versailles.
DZT/Jens Wegener
Day Trips from Berlin
While the German capital is extremely bike-friendly, Berlin’s surroundings beckon outdoorsy types for extensive exploring. About an hour and a half southwest by train, Dessau-Rosslau, located in the UNESCO Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve – one of four World Heritage sites in the area – is a great choice for cyclists of all skill levels. Travelers with an interest in design will delight in the 14-mile route that passes all of Dessau’s Bauhaus buildings, while experienced riders can tackle longer options that weave through the region’s floodplains and moors.
Potsdam is only a 30-minute train ride west of Berlin, and travelers should plan for at least a day to wander around the city’s more than 1,200 acres of parks, gardens, and 150 historic buildings, including 17 palaces. If you only have time to see one palace, make it Sanssouci, a rococo beauty with lush, terraced gardens that was once the summer home of Frederick the Great and is now one of Germany’s largest UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Baden-Baden, one of Germany’s 350 spa towns.
GNTB/Francesco Carovillano
Self-Care Sojourns
Nordic countries aren’t the only European destinations with rich sauna cultures: Germans have long been big fans of wellness. In 2021, UNESCO recognized 11 spa towns in Europe as World Heritage sites, including Germany’s own Baden-Baden. A two-hour train ride south of Frankfurt, the restorative destination nestled at the base of the Black Forest mountains has 12 natural thermal springs. Its surrounding Baden-Württemberg state is practically synonymous with self-care: During a day trip from Frankfurt, travelers can participate in a 146-year-old, 17-step Roman-Irish bathing tradition at the Friedrichsbad baths before venturing out on a contemplative hike in the fairy-tale Black Forest.
In German, the word Bad indicates a spa town, and Bad Ems, about three hours northwest from Frankfurt by train, is home to 15 mineral springs and some impressive spa facilities, including a baroque bath complex and whimsical spa gardens. If you’re feeling lucky after your spa treatment, head to the Casino Bad Ems, one of Germany’s oldest, built in the early nineteenth century.
Roughly a two-hour train ride south of Baden-Baden (three hours south of Frankfurt) lies Maulbronn, an idyllic town that’s home to the Cistercian Maulbronn Monastery. Founded in 1147, the UNESCO site is considered the best-preserved medieval monastic complex north of the Alps – the church itself inspired other Gothic architecture across northern and central Europe. Bike enthusiasts can also tackle the Northern Black Forest Monasteries Route, a scenic 91-mile adventure that winds past Maulbronn and several other centuries-old monasteries.
Travelers visiting Germany between April and June can catch the country’s beloved Spargelzeit, or white asparagus season, “which Germans take very seriously,” says Virtuoso travel advisor Jennifer Rubinstein, who grew up in Frankfurt. South Germany’s Baden-Württemberg is the main growing region for the vegetable, though “there are white asparagus festivals throughout the country, and this delicacy can be found in restaurants everywhere,” she notes.
Zollverein, once one of Europe's largest coal mines, has been transformed into an arts and entertainment district.
GNTB/Francesco Carovillano
Exploring Germany’s Industrial Past
There’s no better place to appreciate Germany’s history as a global manufacturing powerhouse than in Zollverein, a sprawling former industrial complex near Essen, about four hours north of Frankfurt by train. Home to the world’s largest coal mine until it shuttered in 1986, Zollverein is now a UNESCO site that’s been transformed into the Ruhr Museum, galleries, and restaurants. Many of the guides who lead travelers on tours of the complex are among the town’s 600,000 former mine workers.
Three hours south of Essen by train, Stuttgart is a testament to Germany’s design and automobile achievements. The city is home to the headquarters of Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, as well as the UNESCO-designated 1927 Weissenhof Estate, a housing complex by Le Corbusier and 16 other architects that showcased modern and affordable housing design. The estate was severely damaged during World War II, but 11 out of the 21 buildings are still intact.
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