Tourism in Germany
Encyclopedia
According to Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report
s, Germany
is rated as one of the safest travel destinations worldwide. Germany is also the third most visited country in Europe, with a total of 369.6 million overnights during 2010. This number includes 56.5 million nights by foreign visitors, the majority of foreign tourists in 2009 coming from the Netherlands, the United States and Switzerland (see table).
The official body for tourism in Germany is the German National Tourist Board
(GNTB), represented worldwide by National Tourist Offices in 29 countries. Surveys by the GNTB include perceptions and reasons for holidaying in Germany, which are as follows: culture (75%), outdoors/countryside (59%), cities (59%), cleanliness (47%), security (41%), modernity (36%), good hotels (35%), good gastronomy/cuisine (34%), good accessibility (30%), cosmopolitanism/hospitality (27%), good shopping opportunities (21%), exciting nightlife (17%) and good price/performance ratio (10%) (multiple answers were possible).
More than 30% of Germans spend their holiday in their own country. With more than 133 million foreign visitors (2008) Germany is ranked as the 7th most visited travel destination worldwide. A total of 27.2 billion Euros is spent on travel and tourism: this is equivalent to 3.2% of Germany's GNP.
, Munich
, Weimar
and Berlin were major stops on a European Grand tour
. Spas and resorts on the North and Baltic Seas and along the Rhine valley particularly developed during the 19th and early 20th century and since the end of World War II
tourism has expanded greatly, as many tourists visit Germany to experience a sense of European history. The countryside has a pastoral aura, while the cities exhibit both a modern and classical feel.
in 2008. With 76.91 million nights spent in hotels, hostels or clinics, Bavaria
has the most visitors. With 14.300 nights per 1,000 population, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has the highest density of tourists.
Forthcoming highlights in Germany are: 20 Years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall
, the Oberammergau Passion Play
(Bavaria) in 2010, Ruhr
2010 European capital of culture, the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup and the Finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
.
, offering convalescence (German: Kur) or preventive care by means of mineral water
and/or other spa treatment. Spa towns and seaside resorts carry official designations such as Mineral and mud spas (Mineral- und Moorbäder), Healthy climate resorts (Heilklimatische Kurorte), Kneipp cure resorts (Kneippkurorte = water therapy resorts), Seaside resorts (Seebäder), Climatic resorts (Luftkurorte), and Recreation resorts (Erholungsorte). The largest and most well known resorts also have casino
s, most notably at Bad Wiessee
, Baden-Baden
(Kurhaus
), Wiesbaden
(Kurhaus), Aachen
, Travemünde
and Westerland (Kurhaus).
and North Frisian Islands
, the Baltic Sea coasts of Holstein
and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, the Bavarian
and Black Forest
, and the Bavarian Alps.
The table below shows the five most visited rural districts in 2008:
Other popular regions include
Since the 1930s, local and regional governments have set up various theme routes, to help visitors get to know a specific region and its cultural or scenic qualities. The table below shows some of the most prominent theme routes. Other popular German theme routes include parts of the European Route of Brick Gothic
and European Route of Industrial Heritage
, the Harz-Heide Road
, Bertha Benz Memorial Route
and Bergstrasse.
Note: This list is incomplete.
regions in Germany are the Northern Limestone Alps
and Ore Mountains
, Harz
, Fichtelgebirge
and Bayerischer Wald of the Central Uplands
(Mittelgebirge). First class winter sport infrastructure is available for alpine skiing
and snowboarding
, bobsledding and cross-country skiing
.
In most regions, winter sports are limited to the winter months November to February. During the Advent
season, many German towns and cities host Christmas market
s.
In terms of numbers of overnight stays, travel to the twelve largest cities in Germany more than doubled between 1995 and 2005, the largest increase of any travel destination. This increase mainly arises from growth of cultural tourism
, often in conjunction with educational or business travel
. Consequently, the provision and supply of more and higher standards of cultural, entertainment, hospitality, gastronomic, and retail services also attract more international guests.
The table below shows the ten most visited cities in Germany in 2009. Other cities and towns with over 1 million nights per year are Hanover
, Rostock
, Bremen
, Cuxhaven, Bonn
, Freiburg im Breisgau, Münster
, Lübeck
, Wiesbaden
and Essen
.
Note: This list only includes the largest, annually recurring events in selected categories. This list may be incomplete.
Germany is home to several of the world's largest trade fair
grounds, and many of the international exhibitions are considered trend-setters or industry leaders. Thousands of national and international trade fairs, conventions and congresses are held in Germany annually. In 2008, 10.3 million people visited the 150 largest trade fairs alone. More than half of these visitors come from abroad, more than one third from countries outside Europe. The table below shows some of the most visited trade fairs.
Note: This list only includes trade fairs with 250,000 visitors per year or more. This list may be incomplete.
Note: This list only includes protected areas with 1 million or more visitors per year. This list may be incomplete.
is Germany's most visited landmark. Second and third places go to the Reichstag building in Berlin and the Hofbräuhaus
in Munich. Other much visited architectural landmarks include the Drosselgasse in Rüdesheim (3.0m), the medieval old towns of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
(2.5m), Monschau
(2.0m) and Bad Münstereifel
(2m), the Brandenburg Gate
in Berlin and the Holsten Gate in Lübeck
1.
Note: This list only includes physical landmarks with 1.0 million visitors per year or more. This list may be incomplete.
Note: This list only includes the largest theme parks/facilities in selected categories. This list may be incomplete.
Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report
The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report was first published in 2007 by the World Economic Forum. The 2007 report covered 124 major and emerging economies. The 2008 report covered 130 countries,, the 2009 report expanded to 133 countries, and the 2011 report to 139 countries...
s, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
is rated as one of the safest travel destinations worldwide. Germany is also the third most visited country in Europe, with a total of 369.6 million overnights during 2010. This number includes 56.5 million nights by foreign visitors, the majority of foreign tourists in 2009 coming from the Netherlands, the United States and Switzerland (see table).
The official body for tourism in Germany is the German National Tourist Board
German National Tourist Board
The German National Tourist Board is a national marketing organisation and has worked with the Federal Government of Germany to promote tourism in and to Germany. It represents Germany throughout the world as a destination for holidays, business travel and visits to friends and family.The GNTB is...
(GNTB), represented worldwide by National Tourist Offices in 29 countries. Surveys by the GNTB include perceptions and reasons for holidaying in Germany, which are as follows: culture (75%), outdoors/countryside (59%), cities (59%), cleanliness (47%), security (41%), modernity (36%), good hotels (35%), good gastronomy/cuisine (34%), good accessibility (30%), cosmopolitanism/hospitality (27%), good shopping opportunities (21%), exciting nightlife (17%) and good price/performance ratio (10%) (multiple answers were possible).
More than 30% of Germans spend their holiday in their own country. With more than 133 million foreign visitors (2008) Germany is ranked as the 7th most visited travel destination worldwide. A total of 27.2 billion Euros is spent on travel and tourism: this is equivalent to 3.2% of Germany's GNP.
History
The history of tourism in Germany goes back to cities and landscapes being visited for education and recreation. From the late 18th century onwards, cities like DresdenDresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
and Berlin were major stops on a European Grand tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
. Spas and resorts on the North and Baltic Seas and along the Rhine valley particularly developed during the 19th and early 20th century and since the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
tourism has expanded greatly, as many tourists visit Germany to experience a sense of European history. The countryside has a pastoral aura, while the cities exhibit both a modern and classical feel.
Statistics
The table below shows the distribution of national and international visitor nights spent in each of the sixteen states of GermanyStates of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
in 2008. With 76.91 million nights spent in hotels, hostels or clinics, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
has the most visitors. With 14.300 nights per 1,000 population, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has the highest density of tourists.
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Forthcoming highlights in Germany are: 20 Years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
, the Oberammergau Passion Play
Oberammergau Passion Play
Oberammergau Passion Play is a passion play performed since 1634 oberammergau-passion.com. 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2011. as a tradition by the inhabitants of the village of Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany.-Origins:...
(Bavaria) in 2010, Ruhr
Ruhr
The Ruhr is a medium-size river in western Germany , a right tributary of the Rhine.-Description:The source of the Ruhr is near the town of Winterberg in the mountainous Sauerland region, at an elevation of approximately 2,200 feet...
2010 European capital of culture, the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup and the Finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Eurovision Song Contest 2011
The Eurovision Song Contest 2011 was the 56th annual Eurovision Song Contest and was won by Eldar & Nigar performing "Running Scared" for Azerbaijan. The event took place in the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany, following Germany's win in the previous year...
.
Health
About 242 million nights, or ⅔ of all nights spent in hotels in Germany, are spent in spa towns. Germany is well known for health tourism, with many of the numerous spa towns having been established at a hot springHot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
, offering convalescence (German: Kur) or preventive care by means of mineral water
Mineral water
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
and/or other spa treatment. Spa towns and seaside resorts carry official designations such as Mineral and mud spas (Mineral- und Moorbäder), Healthy climate resorts (Heilklimatische Kurorte), Kneipp cure resorts (Kneippkurorte = water therapy resorts), Seaside resorts (Seebäder), Climatic resorts (Luftkurorte), and Recreation resorts (Erholungsorte). The largest and most well known resorts also have casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s, most notably at Bad Wiessee
Bad Wiessee
Bad Wiessee is a spa town on Lake Tegernsee, Bavaria, Germany. The name "Bad" means for "spa" or "baths", while "Wiessee" derives from "West See", meaning "western part of the lake"....
, Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
(Kurhaus
Kurhaus (Baden-Baden)
The Kurhaus is a spa resort, casino, and conference complex in Baden-Baden, Germany in the outskirts of the Black Forest .-History:...
), Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
(Kurhaus), Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
, Travemünde
Travemünde
Travemünde is a borough of Lübeck, Germany, located at the mouth of the river Trave in Lübeck Bay. It began life as a fortress built by Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony, in the 12th century to guard the mouth of the Trave, and the Danes subsequently strengthened it. It became a town in 1317 and in...
and Westerland (Kurhaus).
Regions
The most visited tourist regions in Germany are the East FrisianEast Frisian Islands
The East Frisian Islands are a chain of islands in the North Sea, off the coast of East Frisia in Lower Saxony, Germany. The islands extend for some from west to east between the mouths of the Ems and Jade / Weser rivers and lie about 3.5 to 10 km offshore...
and North Frisian Islands
North Frisian Islands
The North Frisian Islands are a group of islands in the Wadden Sea, a part of the North Sea, off the western coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The German islands are in the traditional region of North Frisia and are part of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park and the Kreis of...
, the Baltic Sea coasts of Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, the Bavarian
Bavarian Forest
thumb|The village of Zell in the Bavarian ForestThe Bavarian Forest is a wooded low-mountain region in Bavaria, Germany. It extends along the Czech border and is continued on the Czech side by the Šumava . Geographically the Bavarian Forest and Bohemian Forest are sections of the same mountain range...
and Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
, and the Bavarian Alps.
The table below shows the five most visited rural districts in 2008:
| rank | district | # of nights in 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nordfriesland Nordfriesland Nordfriesland, English "Northern Friesland" or "North Frisia", is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It includes almost all of traditional North Frisia along with adjacent areas to the east and south and is bounded by the districts of Schleswig-Flensburg and Dithmarschen, the North Sea and... |
6.96 million |
| 2 | Rügen Rügen (district) Rügen was a Kreis in the northeastern part of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The district of Rügen was created in 1806 by the Swedish administration of Swedish Pomerania. At first it was named Amt Bergen, in 1810 it was renamed to Kreis Bergen. On 4 September 2011, Rügen was merged to... |
5.57 million |
| 3 | Oberallgäu Oberallgäu Oberallgäu is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Unterallgäu and Ostallgäu, the Austrian states Tyrol and Vorarlberg, the district of Lindau, and the state of Baden-Württemberg... |
5.29 million |
| 4 | Ostholstein Ostholstein Ostholstein is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Stormarn, Segeberg and Plön, the Baltic Sea and the city of Lübeck.-History:... |
5.27 million |
| 5 | Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald is a district in the south of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Emmendingen, Schwarzwald-Baar, Waldshut, Lörrach and the French départements of the Haut-Rhin and the Bas-Rhin. The district-free city of Freiburg is surrounded by the district... |
4.41 million |
Other popular regions include
- in the North: Holstein Switzerland, the Lüneburg HeathLüneburg HeathThe Lüneburg Heath is a large area of heath, geest and woodland in northeastern part of the state of Lower Saxony in northern Germany. It forms part of the hinterland for the cities of Hamburg, Hanover, and Bremen and is named after the town of Lüneburg. Most of the area is a nature reserve...
and HarzHarzThe Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz... - in the West: Teutoburg ForestTeutoburg ForestThe Teutoburg Forest is a range of low, forested mountains in the German states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia which used to be believed to be the scene of a decisive battle in AD 9...
, SauerlandSauerlandThe Sauerland is a rural, hilly area spreading across most of the south-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, in parts heavily forested and, apart from the major valleys, sparsely inhabited...
, EifelEifelThe Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
and the Moselle Valley - in the East: Saxon SwitzerlandSaxon SwitzerlandSaxon Switzerland is a hilly climbing area and national park around the Elbe valley south-east of Dresden in Saxony, Germany. Together with the Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic it forms the Elbe Sandstone Mountains....
, Thüringer Wald, Erzgebirge and the Elbe ValleyElbe valleyThe Elbe Valley is most often used as a term for that section of the river valley in which most of the quarters of Dresden are located. The Dresden Elbe Valley was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 and has lost the title June 25, 2009 due to a dispute between UNESCO and the City of... - in the South: TaunusTaunusThe Taunus is a low mountain range in Hesse, Germany that composes part of the Rhenish Slate Mountains. It is bounded by the river valleys of Rhine, Main and Lahn. On the opposite side of the Rhine, the mountains are continued by the Hunsrück...
, SpessartSpessartThe Spessart is a low mountain range in northwestern Bavaria and southern Hesse, Germany. It is bordered on three sides by the Main River. The two most important towns located at the foot of the Spessart are Aschaffenburg and Würzburg....
, OdenwaldOdenwaldThe Odenwald is a low mountain range in Hesse, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in Germany.- Location :The Odenwald lies between the Upper Rhine Rift Valley with the Bergstraße and the Hessisches Ried in the west, the Main and the Bauland in the east, the Hanau-Seligenstadt Basin – a subbasin of...
and AllgäuAllgäuThe Allgäu is a southern German region in Swabia. It covers the south of Bavarian Swabia and southeastern Baden-Württemberg. The region stretches from the prealpine lands up to the Alps...
.
Theme routes
European Route of Brick Gothic
The European Route of Brick Gothic is a tourist route connecting 31 cities with Brick Gothic architecture in seven countries along the Baltic Sea, from Sweden through Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia....
and European Route of Industrial Heritage
European Route of Industrial Heritage
The European Route of Industrial Heritage is a network of the most important industrial heritage sites in Europe. The aim of the project is to create interest for the common European Heritage of the Industrialisation and its remains...
, the Harz-Heide Road
Harz-Heide Road
The Harz-Heide Road is a road that runs over the Harz mountains in Germany through heath landscape and which is known for its beautiful scenery....
, Bertha Benz Memorial Route
Bertha Benz Memorial Route
The Bertha Benz Memorial Route is a German tourist and theme route in Baden-Württemberg and member of the European Route of Industrial Heritage...
and Bergstrasse.
| route | established | theme | length in km |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Weinstrasse | 1935 | Palatinate Palatinate (wine region) Palatinate is a German wine-growing region in the area of Bad Dürkheim, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, and Landau in Rhineland-Palatinate. Before 1993, it was known as Rhine Palatinate . With under cultivation in 2008, the region is the second largest wine region in Germany after Rheinhessen... wine route Wine route Wine route or wine road is used for a number of tourist routes usually in German-speaking wine regions including:*German Wine Route in Palatinate wine region, the first such route established... |
85 km |
| Romantische Strasse | 1950 | Romanticism Romanticism Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution... |
366 km |
| Schwarzwaldhochstrasse Schwarzwaldhochstraße The Schwarzwaldhochstraße, or Black Forest High Street, is the oldest and one of the best known themed drives in Germany. It is a part of the Bundesstraße 500.-Route description:... |
1952 | Black Forest Black Forest The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres .... |
60 km |
| Burgenstrasse | 1954 | Castles in Germany | 1,000 km |
| Strasse der Weserrenaissance | Weser Renaissance Weser Renaissance Weser Renaissance is a form of Renaissance architectural style that is found in the area around the River Weser in central Germany and which has been well-preserved in the towns and cities of the region.- Background :... |
350 km | |
| Strasse der Romanik | 1993 | Romanesque architecture Romanesque architecture Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,... |
1,195 km |
| Deutsche Fährstrasse Deutsche Fährstraße The Deutsche Fährstraße , established in May 2004, is a theme route similar to the American National Scenic Byways. It connects various places between Bremervörde and Kiel with relation to the history of ferries and crossing of rivers, like the historic transporter bridges in Rendsburg and Osten.It... |
2004 | fords, ferries, bridges and tunnels | 250 km |
| Deutsche Fachwerkstrasse | 1990 | timber framing Timber framing Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns... (Fachwerk) |
3,000 km |
| Deutsche Uhrenstrasse | Cuckoo clock Cuckoo clock A cuckoo clock is a clock, typically pendulum-regulated, that strikes the hours with a sound like a common cuckoo's call and typically has a mechanical cuckoo that emerges with each note... manufacturers, clock-face paintings workshops, museums, Black Forest and Baar villages, landscapes |
320 km | |
| Route der Industriekultur | industrial heritage Industrial heritage Industrial heritage is an aspect of cultural heritage dealing specifically with the buildings and artifacts of industry which are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations, often forming a significant attraction for tourism.The... of the Ruhr area Ruhr Area The Ruhr, by German-speaking geographers and historians more accurately called Ruhr district or Ruhr region , is an urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With 4435 km² and a population of some 5.2 million , it is the largest urban agglomeration in Germany... |
400 km |
Note: This list is incomplete.
Winter sport
The main winter sportWinter sport
A winter sport is a sport which is played on snow or ice. Most such sports are variations of skiing, ice skating and sledding. Traditionally such sports were only played in cold areas during winter, but artificial snow and ice allow more flexibility...
regions in Germany are the Northern Limestone Alps
Northern Limestone Alps
The Northern Limestone Alps are the ranges of the Eastern Alps north of the Central Eastern Alps located in Austria and the adjacent Bavarian lands of southeastern Germany. The distinction from the latter group, where the higher peaks are located, is based on differences in geological composition...
and Ore Mountains
Ore Mountains
The Ore Mountains in Central Europe have formed a natural border between Saxony and Bohemia for many centuries. Today, the border between Germany and the Czech Republic runs just north of the main crest of the mountain range...
, Harz
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
, Fichtelgebirge
Fichtelgebirge
The Fichtelgebirge is a mountain range in northeastern Bavaria, Germany. It extends from the valley of the Red Main River to the Czech border, a few foothills spilling over into the Czech Republic. It continues in a northeastern direction as the Ore Mountains, and in a southeastern direction as...
and Bayerischer Wald of the Central Uplands
Central Uplands
The Central Uplands is one of the three major natural regions of Germany and covers most of the land area of the country. To the north lies the North German Plain or Northern Lowland; to the south, the Alps and the Alpine Foreland.- Formation :...
(Mittelgebirge). First class winter sport infrastructure is available for alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
and snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
, bobsledding and cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
.
In most regions, winter sports are limited to the winter months November to February. During the Advent
Advent
Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi...
season, many German towns and cities host Christmas market
Christmas Market
A Christmas market, also known as Christkindlmarkt, Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlmarket, and Weihnachtsmarkt, is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent...
s.
Cities
Cultural tourism
Cultural tourism is the subset of tourism concerned with a country or region's culture, specifically the lifestyle of the people in those geographical areas, the history of those peoples, their art, architecture, religion, and other elements that helped shape their way of life...
, often in conjunction with educational or business travel
Business travel
Business travel is the practice of people traveling for purposes related to their work. It is on the rise especially with foreign business markets opening up...
. Consequently, the provision and supply of more and higher standards of cultural, entertainment, hospitality, gastronomic, and retail services also attract more international guests.
The table below shows the ten most visited cities in Germany in 2009. Other cities and towns with over 1 million nights per year are Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
, Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
, Cuxhaven, Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, Freiburg im Breisgau, Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
, Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
, Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
and Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
.
Events
The table below shows some of the largest annually recurring events in Germany:| type | event | location | season | # of visitors | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volksfest Volksfest A Volksfest is a large event in Germany which combines a festival and a carnival. Admission to a Volksfest is free however you have to pay for each ride separately.... |
Oktoberfest Oktoberfest Oktoberfest, or Wiesn, is a 16–18 day beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending every year. The... |
Munich | September/October | 6.0 million | ||
| Volksfest Volksfest A Volksfest is a large event in Germany which combines a festival and a carnival. Admission to a Volksfest is free however you have to pay for each ride separately.... |
Cannstatter Volksfest Cannstatter Volksfest The Cannstatter Volksfest is an annual three-week festival in Stuttgart, Germany. It is sometimes also referred to by foreign visitors as the Stuttgart Beer Festival although it is actually more of an autumnal fair... |
Stuttgart | September/October | 4.2 million | locally called "Cannstatter Wasen" | |
| Fun fair | Largest Fair on the Rhine Largest Fair on the Rhine The Largest Fair on the Rhine is a fun fair in Düsseldorf, drawing more than 4 million visitors annually, is one of Germany’s biggest fun fairs. It takes place every third week in July on the left bank of the Rhine River, in the district Düsseldorf-Oberkassel, and features beer and food tents,... |
Düsseldorf | July/August | 4.0 million | ||
| Sport event | Sailing Sailing Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and... regatta Regatta A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas... |
Kiel Week Kiel Week Kiel Week is an annual sailing event in Kiel, Germany. It is the largest sailing event in the world, and also one of the largest Volksfest in Europe.- Procedure :... |
Kiel | July/August | 3.5 million | |
| World Marathon Major | Berlin Marathon Berlin Marathon The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers is set up as a city-wide road race where professional athletes and amateur runners jointly participate... |
Berlin | September | |||
| Carnival parade | Cologne Carnival Cologne carnival The Cologne Carnival is a carnival that takes place every year in Cologne, Germany. Traditionally, the "fifth season" is declared open at 11 minutes past 11 on the 11th of November. The Carnival spirit is then temporarily suspended during the Advent and Christmas period, and picks up again in... |
Cologne | February | 1.5 million | number of visitors for Rosenmontag Rosenmontag Rosenmontag is the highlight of the German "Karneval" , and is on the Shrove Monday before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The "Mardi Gras," though celebrated on Tuesday, is a similar event... szug |
|
| Gay pride Gay pride LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity... |
Cologne Pride | Cologne | June/July | 1.2 million | ||
| contemporary art exhibition | Quadriennale Düsseldorf | Düsseldorf | September/January | only held every 4 years | ||
| documenta Documenta documenta is an exhibition of modern and contemporary art which takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Bundesgartenschau which took place in Kassel at that time... Kassel |
Kassel | 0.7 million | only held every 5 years | |||
| Music festival Music festival A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,... |
Techno music | Love Parade Love Parade The Love Parade was a popular electronic dance music festival and parade that originated in 1989 in West Berlin, Germany. It was held in Germany annually between 1989 and 2003 in Berlin, and then from 2006 to 2010 in the Ruhr region... |
varies | June/July | 1.6 million | * Further Events have been canceled following the Love Parade tragedy in 2010 |
| Rock music Rock music Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music... |
Bochum Total Bochum Total Bochum Total is an annual music festival in Bochum, Germany that is attended by up to one million people every year and one of the largest free pop/rock festivals in Europe. Bochum Total usually begins on the first Thursday of summer break, in 2011, however, it takes place from July 21 to July 24.... |
Bochum Bochum Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:... |
June/July/August | 1.0 million | ||
| Rock music Rock music Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music... |
Rock am Ring and Rock im Park | Nürburgring and Nuremberg | May/June | 0.8 million | ||
| Classical music Classical music Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times... |
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival The Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival is a classical music festival held every year in summer time all over the state of Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany.... |
throughout Schleswig-Holstein | July/August | 0.2 million | ||
| Anniversary Anniversary An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event... |
Port of Hamburg birthday | Hamburg | May 7 | 1.0 million | ||
| Fireworks show | Cologne Lights | Cologne | July | 1.0 million | ||
| Wine festival | Wurstmarkt Wurstmarkt The Wurstmarkt in Bad Dürkheim, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany is the world's biggest wine festival with over 600,000 visitors each year. The first Wurstmarkt - under a different name - was held in the year 1417.-External links:... |
Bad Dürkheim | July | 0.6 million | ||
| Film festival Film festival A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings... |
Berlin International Film Festival Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978... |
Berlin | February | 0.5 million |
Note: This list only includes the largest, annually recurring events in selected categories. This list may be incomplete.
Trade fairs
Trade fair
A trade fair is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent market trends and opportunities...
grounds, and many of the international exhibitions are considered trend-setters or industry leaders. Thousands of national and international trade fairs, conventions and congresses are held in Germany annually. In 2008, 10.3 million people visited the 150 largest trade fairs alone. More than half of these visitors come from abroad, more than one third from countries outside Europe. The table below shows some of the most visited trade fairs.
| trade fair ground | city | trade fair | industry | # of visitors | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt Trade Fair Frankfurt Trade Fair Frankfurt Trade Fair , with 448,000,000 Euros in sales and over 1,600 active employees, is one of the world's largest trade fair companies. The group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries, five branch offices, and 52 international sales partners. Thus, the Messe Frankfurt is present in over 150... |
Frankfurt am Main | Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) | motor show | 850,000 in 2009 | held in Hanover every other year as a truck show |
| Frankfurt Book Fair Frankfurt Book Fair The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world's largest trade fair for books, based on the number of publishing companies represented. As to the number of visitors, the Turin Book Fair attracts about as many visitors, viz. some 300,000.... |
books | 300,000 in 2008 | |||
| ISH Ish Ish may refer to:*Chazon Ish, sobriquet of Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz*the Sanskrit for "lord", see Ishvara*Ishan Morris, Canadian singer and actor*Ish Kabibble , comedian and cornet player... |
heating, ventilation and air conditioning | 201,000 in 2009 | biennial | ||
| Messegelände Hanover fairground The Hanover fairground is an exhibition area in the Mittelfeld district of Hanover, Germany. Featuring 496,000 m² of covered indoor space, 58,000 m² of open-air space, 27 halls and pavilions and a convention centre with 35 function rooms, it is the largest exhibition ground in the world.-... |
Hanover Hanover Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg... |
CeBIT CeBIT CeBIT is the world's largest and most international computer expo. CeBIT is held each year on the world's largest fairground in Hanover, Germany, and is a barometer of the state of the art in information technology... |
computer expo Computer expo A computer expo or computer show is a trade fair or exposition for computers and electronics. Expos usually include company or organization booths where products and technologies are demonstrated; talks and lectures; and general mixing of people with common interests.- Notable Computer... |
512,000 | 87,000 foreign visitors |
| Agritechnica | agricultural machinery Agricultural machinery Agricultural machinery is machinery used in the operation of an agricultural area or farm.-Hand tools:The first person to turn from the hunting and gathering lifestyle to farming probably did so by using his bare hands, and perhaps some sticks or stones. Tools such as knives, scythes, and wooden... |
340,000 in 2007 | biennial | ||
| Messe München International | Munich Munich Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat... |
BAUMA | construction machinery | 500,000 in 2007 | triennial |
| BAU Bau In Sumerian and Akkadian mythology Bau was a goddess, daughter of An and Ninurta's wife. She had seven daughters, including Hegir-Nuna .... |
architecture Architecture Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art... , materials, systems engineering Systems engineering Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over the life cycle of the project. Issues such as logistics, the coordination of different teams, and automatic control of machinery become more... |
212,000 in 2009 | biennial | ||
| Messe Berlin Messe Berlin Messe Berlin fairgrounds are situated in Berlin-Westend, precinct Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, at Masurenallee opposite of the Haus des Rundfunks.... |
Berlin Berlin Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union... |
International Green Week (IGW) | sustainable agriculture Sustainable agriculture Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment... |
425,000 | 9,000 foreign visitors |
| Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) | consumer electronics Consumer electronics Consumer electronics are electronic equipment intended for everyday use, most often in entertainment, communications and office productivity. Radio broadcasting in the early 20th century brought the first major consumer product, the broadcast receiver... |
230,000 in 2010 | |||
| Messe Düsseldorf Messe Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Messe is a trade fair ground and organizer, based in Düsseldorf, Germany. With a workforce of 1,459 employees worldwide and a total exhibition space of 285,000 sqm in Düsseldorf, the company is one of the largest in the industry... |
Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the... |
Drupa Drupa Drupa is the largest printing equipment exhibition in the world, held every four years at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, City of Düsseldorf, Germany.... |
print media | 390,000 | 230,000 foreign visitors, quadrennial |
| Boot Düsseldorf Boot Düsseldorf The Düsseldorf International Boat Show , more commonly known as boot Düsseldorf or just boot , is one of the world's premier boat shows.... |
boats | 267.000 | 43,000 foreign visitors | ||
| Kunststoffmesse (K) | plastics | 242,000 in 2007 | triennial | ||
| Cologne Trade Fair Cologne Trade Fair Koelnmesse is the name of the international trade fair and exhibition center located in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany... |
Cologne Cologne Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the... |
gamescom Gamescom gamescom is a trade fair for video games held annually at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is organised by the Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware... |
video games | 245,000 in 2009 | organised by Leipzig Trade Fair Leipzig Trade Fair The Leipzig Trade Fair was a major fair for trade across Central Europe for nearly a millennium. After the Second World War, its location happened to lie within the borders of East Germany, whereupon it became one of the most important trade fairs of Comecon and was traditionally a meeting place... until 2008 as Games Convention Games Convention The Games Convention, sometimes called the Leipzig Games Convention and abbreviated as GC, was an annual video game event held in Leipzig, Germany, first held in 2002. Besides video games, the event also covers Infotainment, Hardware, and Edutainment... |
Note: This list only includes trade fairs with 250,000 visitors per year or more. This list may be incomplete.
Protected areas
The table below shows the most visited protected areas in Germany.| rank | protected area | location | type | # of visitors in 2002 | # of visitors in 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park The Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park is Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's largest national park situated at the coast of the Baltic Sea... |
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | National park | 2.50 million | 3.00 million | |
| Saxon Switzerland National Park Saxon Switzerland National Park The Saxon Switzerland National Park , is a National Park in the German Free State of Saxony near the capital city of Dresden. It covers two areas of 93.5 km² in the heart of the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains which is called the Saxon Switzerland .The National Park is not far away... |
Saxony | National park | 2.15 million | 2.90 million | |
| Bavarian Forest National Park | Bavaria | National park | 2.00 million | ||
| Jasmund National Park Jasmund National Park The Jasmund National Park is a nature reserve in the Jasmund peninsula, in the northeast of Rügen island in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is famous for the largest chalk cliffs of Germany, the so called Königsstuhl . These cliffs are up to 161 m high above the Baltic Sea... |
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | National park | 2.00 million | ||
| Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park 1 | Lower Saxony | National park | 2.00 million | ||
| Berchtesgaden National Park | Bavaria | National park | 1.50 million | ||
| Harz National Park Harz National Park The Harz National Park is a nature reserve in the German federal states of Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. It comprises large portions of the western Harz mountain range, extending from Herzberg and Bad Lauterberg at the southern edge to Bad Harzburg and Ilsenburg on the northern slopes... |
Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt | National park | 1.50 million | ||
| Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park The Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park is a national park in the Schleswig-Holstein area of the German Wadden Sea. It was founded by the Parliament of Schleswig-Holstein on 1 October 1985 by the National Park Act of 22 July 1985 and expanded significantly in 1999... 1 |
Schleswig-Holstein | National park | 1.50 million | ||
| Mainau Island | Baden-Württemberg | 1.30 million |
Note: This list only includes protected areas with 1 million or more visitors per year. This list may be incomplete.
- 1 World Heritage Site in Germany
Landmarks
The German Tourism Association (Deutscher Tourismusverband) irregularly publishes statistics on the most visited landmarks. With an average of over 6 million visitors entering the cathedral per year, Cologne CathedralCologne Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site...
is Germany's most visited landmark. Second and third places go to the Reichstag building in Berlin and the Hofbräuhaus
Hofbräuhaus
The Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in München is a brewery in Munich, Germany, owned by the Bavarian state government...
in Munich. Other much visited architectural landmarks include the Drosselgasse in Rüdesheim (3.0m), the medieval old towns of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town in the district of Ansbach of Mittelfranken , the Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany, well known for its well-preserved medieval old town, a destination for tourists from around the world. In the Middle Ages, it was an Imperial Free City...
(2.5m), Monschau
Monschau
Monschau is a small resort town in the Eifel region of western Germany, located in the district Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia.-Geography:The town is located in the hills of the North Eifel, within the Hohes Venn – Eifel Nature Park in the narrow valley of the Rur river.The historic town center...
(2.0m) and Bad Münstereifel
Bad Münstereifel
Bad Münstereifel is a historical spa town in the district of Euskirchen, Germany, with about 19,000 inhabitants, situated in the far south of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia...
(2m), the Brandenburg Gate
Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is a former city gate and one of the most well-known landmarks of Berlin and Germany. It is located west of the city centre at the junction of Unter den Linden and Ebertstraße, immediately west of the Pariser Platz. It is the only remaining gate of a series through which...
in Berlin and the Holsten Gate in Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
1.
| rank | landmark | location | subject | # of visitors in 2002 | # of visitors in 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site... 1 |
Cologne | Gothic Cathedral | 6.0 million | 6.0 million in 2004 |
| 2 | Reichstag building | Berlin | Bundestag Bundestag The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier... |
2.70 million | 2.70 million in 2006 |
| 3 | Hofbräuhaus Hofbräuhaus The Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in München is a brewery in Munich, Germany, owned by the Bavarian state government... |
Munich | Brewery Brewery A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company.... |
1.80 million | |
| Heidelberg Castle Heidelberg Castle The Heidelberg Castle is a famous ruin in Germany and landmark of Heidelberg. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps.... |
Heidelberg | Renaissance architecture Renaissance architecture Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance... |
1.30 million | ||
| Neuschwanstein Castle | Schwangau | Castle of King Ludwig II of Bavaria Ludwig II of Bavaria Ludwig II was King of Bavaria from 1864 until shortly before his death. He is sometimes called the Swan King and der Märchenkönig, the Fairy tale King... |
1.25 million | 1.36 million | |
| Zwinger Zwinger The Zwinger is a palace in Dresden, eastern Germany, built in Baroque style. It served as the orangery, exhibition gallery and festival arena of the Dresden Court.... and Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister The Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden features major works of art. It is located in the gallery wing of the Zwinger.... |
Dresden | Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden is a cultural institution in Dresden, Germany, owned by the State of Saxony. It belongs to the most renowned and oldest museum institutions in the world, originating from the collections of the Saxon electors in the 16th century .Today, the Dresden State Art... |
1.20 million | ||
| Fernsehturm | Berlin | Television and observation tower Observation tower An observation tower is a structure used to view events from a long distance and to create a full 360 degree range of vision. They are usually at least tall and made from stone, iron, and wood. Many modern towers are also used as TV towers, restaurants, or churches... |
1.10 million | ||
| Aachen Cathedral Aachen Cathedral Aachen Cathedral, frequently referred to as the "Imperial Cathedral" , is a Roman Catholic church in Aachen, Germany. The church is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe and was known as the "Royal Church of St. Mary at Aachen" during the Middle Ages... 1 |
Aachen | Imperial Cathedral Imperial Cathedral Imperial Cathedral may refer to Imperial Cathedrals:Cathedrals in Germany*Aachen Cathedral in Aachen, Germany*Bamberg Cathedral in Bamberg, Germany*Frankfurt Cathedral in Frankfurt, Germany*Speyer Cathedral in Speyer, Germany*Mainz Cathedral... |
1.0 million | 1.5 million |
Note: This list only includes physical landmarks with 1.0 million visitors per year or more. This list may be incomplete.
- 1 World Heritage Site in Germany
Theme parks
The table below shows some of the most visited theme parks or related facilities in Germany.| rank | park | location | subject | # of visitors in 2002 | # of visitors in 2008 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Europa-Park Europa-Park Europa-Park is the largest theme park in Germany and third most popular theme park resort in Europe. Having over 4.2 million visitors in 2009, it is the second most popular seasonal theme park in the world and is only behind the Tivoli Gardens and Disneyland Paris. Europa-Park is located in Rust,... |
Rust | Theme park | Amusement park Amusement park thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people... |
3.5 million | 4.0 million |
| VW Autostadt Autostadt The Autostadt is a visitor attraction adjacent to the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, with a prime focus on automobiles. It features a museum, feature pavilions for the principal automobile brands in the Volkswagen Group, a customer centre where customers can pick up new cars, and take a... |
Wolfsburg | Automobile Automobile An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor... park |
2.1 million | |||
| Nürburgring Nürburgring The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about... |
Nürburg | Formula One Formula One Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which... park |
2.0 million | |||
| Therme Erding Therme Erding Therme Erding is the largest thermal bath complex in Europe at . It is 30 minutes northeast of Munich by car and is visited by around 4000 people every day.- History :... |
Erding | Water park Water park A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments... |
1.5 million | |||
| Movie Park Germany Movie Park Germany thumb|Movie Park Germanythumb|[[Bermuda Triangle]] - Alien Encounterthumb|The Old Westthumb|[[Hollywood]] FilmmuseumThe Movie Park Germany is a theme park with real movie studios in Bottrop-Kirchhellen. It consists of 6 areas based on the topic "fascination film".The park was opened in June 1996 as... |
Bottrop | Movie park | 1.3 million | |||
| Legoland Deutschland Legoland Deutschland Legoland Deutschland is a Legoland park located in Günzburg in southern Germany, roughly half way from Munich to Stuttgart, which opened in 2002. It is 43.5 hectares in area, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bavaria... |
Günzburg | Miniature park Miniature park A miniature park is an open space that displays miniature buildings and models, and is usually open to the public. A miniature park may contain a model of a single city or town, often called a miniature city or model village, or it can contain a number of different sets of models... |
1.3 million | |||
| Berlin Zoological Garden | Berlin | Zoo Zoo A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred.... |
3.0 million | |||
| Deutsches Museum Deutsches Museum The Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany, is the world's largest museum of technology and science, with approximately 1.5 million visitors per year and about 28,000 exhibited objects from 50 fields of science and technology. The museum was founded on June 28, 1903, at a meeting of the Association... |
Munich | Museum | 1.4 million | |||
| Hamburg Planetarium | Hamburg | Planetarium Planetarium A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation... |
0.4 million | |||
Note: This list only includes the largest theme parks/facilities in selected categories. This list may be incomplete.
See also
- Transport in GermanyTransport in GermanyAs a densely populated country in a central location in Europe and with a developed economy, Germany has a dense and modern transportation infrastructure....
- Public holidays in GermanyPublic holidays in GermanyExcept for the national holiday , public holidays in Germany are determined by the federal states.Notes on the tableGood Friday and Holy Saturday are silence holidays by law.- Custom about holidays :...
- List of museums in Germany
- List of world's largest cuckoo clocks
- Economy of GermanyEconomy of GermanyGermany is the largest national economy in Europe, the fourth-largest by nominal GDP in the world, and fifth by GDP in 2008. Since the age of industrialisation, the country has been a driver, innovator, and beneficiary of an ever more globalised economy...
- Cuisine of Germany
- Tourism in East GermanyTourism in East GermanyTourism in the German Democratic Republic was controlled by the government.-Tours:A traveller would first book their trip at a travel agent that was accredited by the Reisebüro der DDR, the East German state tourist organisation...
- German tourism industry
External links
- Official Germany tourism website
- For the USA the official website for tourism to Germany is http://www.cometogermany.com and
- http://www.germany-tourism.co.uk for the UK. Both websites offer a variety of information services and a selection of free brochures.