Contents
WELCOME TO GERMANY
From half-timber medieval towns to cosmopolitan cities, Germany offers a thoroughly engaging mix of tradition and modernity. You can explore Bavarias magnificent baroque palaces one day, and immerse yourself in Hamburgs cool, redeveloped HafenCity the next. In hip Berlin, historic sites such as the Brandenburg Gate and contemporary art galleries create exciting contrasts. Throughout the country, discovering world-class museums and cutting-edge design is as quintessentially German as grabbing a stein of beer at a centuries-old Biergarten.
Top Reasons to Go
Castles: Majestic palaces such as Neuschwanstein seem straight out of a fairy tale.
Fun Cities: You can party all night in Berlin or soak up culture in Munich.
Music: From Bach to Beethoven to Wagner, Germany is the birthplace of the classics.
Beer and Wine: The home of Oktoberfest also surprises with top-notch regional wines.
Markets: Locally made crafts shine, especially during the Christmas season.
Great Drives: Scenic roads wind through the Alps and past vineyards and villages.
Editorial: Douglas Stallings, Editorial Director; Margaret Kelly, Jacinta OHalloran, Senior Editors; Kayla Becker, Alexis Kelly, Amanda Sadlowski, Editors; Teddy Minford, Content Editor; Rachael Roth, Content Manager
Design: Tina Malaney, Design and Production Director; Jessica Gonzalez, Production Designer
Photography: Jill Krueger, Senior Photo Editor
Maps: Rebecca Baer, Senior Map Editor; Mark Stroud (Moon Street Cartography) and David Lindroth, Cartographers
Production: Jennifer DePrima, Editorial Production Manager; Carrie Parker, Senior Production Editor; Elyse Rozelle, Production Editor
Business & Operations: Chuck Hoover, Chief Marketing Officer; Joy Lai, Vice President and General Manager; Stephen Horowitz, Director of Business Development and Revenue Operations; Tara McCrillis, Director of Publishing Operations
Public Relations and Marketing: Joe Ewaskiw, Manager; Esther Su, Marketing Manager
Writers: Joe Baur, Wibke Carter, Jennifer Ceaser, Christie Dietz, Lee A. Evans, Liz Humphreys, Evelyn Kanter, Chantal Pannozzo, Courtney Tenz
Editor: Douglas Stallings
Production Editor: Carrie Parker
Copyright 2019 by Fodors Travel, a division of Internet Brands, Inc.
Fodors is a registered trademark of Internet Brands, Inc. All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Fodors Travel, a division of Internet Brands, Inc. No maps, illustrations, or other portions of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.
1st Edition
ISBN9781640971103
Ebook ISBN9781640971110
ISSN 2639-4448
Library of Congress Control Number 2018954448
All details in this book are based on information supplied to us at press time. Always confirm information when it matters, especially if youre making a detour to visit a specific place. Fodors expressly disclaims any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, that is incurred as a consequence of the use of any of the contents of this book.
Photo Credits: Cover: Stefano Politi Markovina/AWL Images Ltd. Experience Germany: canadastock/Shutterstock. Munich: Scanrail | Dreamstime.com. The Bavarian Alps: St. Nick/Shutterstock. The Romantic Road: Bernhard Klar. Franconia and the German Danube: LaMiaFotografia. The Bodensee: Dr. Heinz Linke/iStockphoto. The Black Forest: g215/Shutterstock. Heidelberg and the Neckar Valley: Kai Koehler/iStockphoto. Frankfurt: S.Borisov/Shutterstock. The Pfalz and Rhine Terrace: ultimathule/Shutterstock. The Rhineland: Pecold/Shutterstock. The Fairy-Tale Road: ccbyhj/Shutterstock. Hamburg: Mapics/Shutterstock. Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic Coast: LianeM/Shutterstock. Berlin: Nikada/iStockphoto. Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia: leoks/Shutterstock.
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CONTENTS
MAPS
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Fodors Recommendations
Everything in this guide is worth doingwe dont cover what isntbut exceptional sights, hotels, and restaurants are recognized with additional accolades. Fodors Choice indicates our top recommendations. Care to nominate a new place? Visit Fodors.com/contact-us.
Trip Costs
We list prices wherever possible to help you budget well. Hotel and restaurant price categories from $ to $$$$ are noted alongside each recommendation. For hotels, we include the lowest cost of a standard double room in high season. For restaurants, we cite the average price of a main course at dinner or, if dinner isnt served, at lunch. For attractions, we always list adult admission fees; discounts are usually available for children, students, and senior citizens.
Hotels
Our local writers vet every hotel to recommend the best overnights in each price category, from budget to expensive. Unless otherwise specified, you can expect private bath, phone, and TV in your room. For expanded hotel reviews, visit Fodors.com.
Restaurants
Unless we state otherwise, restaurants are open for lunch and dinner daily. We mention dress code only when theres a specific requirement and reservations only when theyre essential or not accepted.
Credit Cards
The hotels and restaurants in this guide typically accept credit cards. If not, well say so.
EUGENE FODOR
Hungarian-born Eugene Fodor (190591) began his travel career as an interpreter on a French cruise ship. The experience inspired him to write On the Continent (1936), the first guidebook to receive annual updates and discuss a countrys way of life as well as its sights. Fodor later joined the U.S. Army and worked for the OSS in World War II. After the war, he kept up his intelligence work while expanding his guidebook series. During the Cold War, many guides were written by fellow agents who understood the value of insider information. Todays guides continue Fodors legacy by providing travelers with timely coverage, insider tips, and cultural context.