Explore Europe – Germany

One of Europe’s biggest and most populous countries, Germany has a truly unique culture and history which has had a huge impact on the world. In terms of arts and culture, Germany has provided us with everything from classic sonatas by Beethoven to progressive house and techno in Berlin, from the Brothers Grimm’s famous childhood tales, to Thomas Mann’s canonical literature and much, much more.

All of this adds up to a country which is both classic and contemporary, with traditional European architecture housing ultra-modern bars, restaurants or boutique shops and sleepy 17^th century town squares which become vibrant hubs of activity at night.

Head to Berlin, Germany’s capital and discover why many consider it to be the coolest city in the world.

A laid-back, liberal city which knows how to throw a party, Berlin is home to some of the continent’s best bars and clubs. It’s not all about nightlife, however, and there is plenty to do in Berlin during the day. Wander the ever-poignant Holocaust Memorial, one of the city’s most famous monuments, and learn the true heart-wrenching tale of the persecution of Jews in Europe in Ort Der, just below the monument. Near the memorial, you have the site of Hitler’s Bunker, as well as the magnificent Brandenburg Gate. Berlin is also world-famous for its troubled history, which you can learn all about at Checkpoint Charlie, a former site on the Berlin Wall which is now a museum.

Other than that, Berlin is home to art galleries and studios galore, from large spaces such as the Hamburger Bahnhof, to more intimate and interesting venues like the Pool Gallery. The city is also a world-class destination for food, with excellent restaurants featuring cuisine from all over the world, Berlin is also the birthplace of both the doner kebab and currywurst, both of which can be found on every street corner.

Germany also has a number of big cities outside of Berlin which are excellent in their own right. Hamburg is a classy, traditional German city with magnificent baroque buildings and canals, Leipzig is a cool, trendy city perfect for students and young people alike, and Munich is the capital of Bavaria and home to the previous Champions of Europe, Bayern Munchen.

Not a city-slicker? Germany is blessed with beautiful, picturesque and unspoiled countryside and some gorgeous beaches in the north.

Take your bicycle down the Castle Trail and see some of the most stunning, fairy-tale castles and palaces in Europe. You can also head to Oktoberfest in Bavaria or take a vineyard tour and discover that the Germans really aren’t too bad at this whole alcohol thing, either…

No matter what you’re looking for out of a holiday, Germany will have something for you, and what’s more, with the country having won this year’s World Cup, the entire nation is buzzing with positivity, making now the perfect time to visit!