Hello again everyone! For this week’s blog, I recruited some help from a professional. My friend Amanda lived in Germany for over two years while serving in the military (thank you, Amanda!). I asked her to share some of her top recommendations for things to do while visiting Germany.
Here is what she wrote:
“From 2012-2014, I was stationed in the small town of Ansbach, which is approximately 30 minutes from Nuremberg (German: Nürnberg), the second-largest city in the German state of Bavaria. During my time in Germany, I was fortunate enough to get to explore the country and honestly, I can’t wait to go back!
Germany is absolutely beautiful, and there’s certainly no shortage of things to do. Have limited time to explore? Here are my top 6 recommendations for your next trip to Germany. The first half can be applied to anywhere you go, the second half is more area specific. Though I have traveled all over to places such as Berlin, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart, the Bavaria region was the stand out for me!
1.) Christmas Markets (German: Christkindlesmarkt)
The number one thing I loved the most, and still want to go back for, was their Christmas markets! Usually starting the last week of November and continuing through until a day or two before Christmas, city streets are filled with people, various vendor booths, and bands. The vendors range from those selling food/drinks to handmade ornaments, one-of-a-kind gifts, and local goods.
I frequented the Nuremberg Christmas Market (due to the proximity), however, most cities have their own Christmas markets. My first stop was always to a food vendor that had Nutella-filled crepes, which I paired with a delicious warm adult beverage. Glühwein, which is mulled wine, is a popular drink that often comes in decorative mugs that you can pay a deposit on. If you return the mug, you get your deposit back, or you can choose to keep it as a souvenir.
Shopping for unique gifts for family and friends is always so fun at the Christmas Markets. I suggest checking out the store Kathe Wohlfahrt (this is technically open all Overall, the entire experience feels like something straight out of a movie and the atmosphere is unmatched. It is Germany around the Holiday seas
2.) Flower Fields (German: Blumen zum Selbstschneiden)
When I first moved to Germany, flower fields were a whole new concept to me. You can be driving along anywhere and there will be seasonal flower fields on the side of the road. You can pull over, take however many flowers you want/need then leave your money in a bucket at the entrance. They run off the honor system, and there is typically a sign with the cost and a bucket/box where you drop your money. There was one located right outside of Ansbach that we would frequent when it was Sunflower season. The sunflowers were the size of my head and very inexpensive. Thankfully, the ones I went to also had shears that we could use to cut our flowers, which will come in handy if you are traveling and decide to stop.
I know flowers will most likely be the last thing on your mind when traveling , however, if you find yourself driving along and come across one, it is fun to get some flowers and even have a little photo shoot in the process! If you are interested, the title at the top is linked to a list of various flower fields throughout Germany.
3.) Food
My favorite part of traveling in general is the food and Germany sure does not disappoint when it comes to that. One of my top favorite German dishes is Jägerschnitzel (pork cutlet with a mushroom brown gravy) and Käsespätzle (cheese spätzle). Spätzle is a type of egg noodle dish that I still frequently get from Aldi and enjoy (it is THAT good!). Different types of Schnitzel and Sausages (bratwurst, currywurst) are popular dishes wherever you go in Germany. I am not a huge wurst fan however, like most things in Germany, if you do eat meat, it is worth a try.
One of my absolute favorite food items (though not German) is a döner kebab. They have shops on most city/town streets and even have little pop-up stands. It consists of shaved meat on a freshly made roll and you can add different toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, feta, and sweet chili sauce. You can also do a box with all the toppings over fries or lettuce. I have been on the hunt to find a döner here in the US and have yet to find anything that comes close to its deliciousness.
If you do find yourself traveling to Germany, their breakfasts are a little different than those you find if you live in the States. You will not find French toast, pancakes, or bacon, but instead will be greeted with rolls, deli meats, cheese, and Muesli. It took a little getting used to but I had some of the most delectable cheeses, some of which I still do not know the names of, but often think of.
Germany is also known for their beer. On most weekends you can stumble into a small town and find a small-scale Oktoberfest with plenty of beer and festivities. For those of you who may not be huge beer fans, but would like to give it a try, I highly recommend their twists on the tried and true. My go-to drinks were the Cola Hefeweizen and the Bana Hefeweizen. The Colaweizen was half coca cola and half wheat beer. The Bananaweizen was the same wheat beer but would have banana juice added in. For those who do not like bananas, they do have raspberry, but the banana was quite delicious (this is coming from someone who is not a huge banana fan).
I could go on all day talking about Germany’s food/drink scene, but I can guarantee that whatever you decide to eat, you will not be disappointed!
4.) Garmische Partenkirche
If you are a big ski/skating/hiking person, this is the place for you. Even if you are not into those activities, I highly recommend a trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen to experience Zugspitze, the highest mountain peak in Germany. While you can choose to hike, my friends and I decided on the easy route and took a cable car to the top.
Once at the top, we stopped in a little food area to indulge in hot chocolate and delicious pastries. We then ventured out to the viewing deck where you have a 360-degree view of over 400 summits. Breathtaking is an understatement! Whether you are looking to dabble in all the outdoor activities Garmische Partenkirche has to offer or simply take in an amazing view and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I would definitely add this to the list.
I also recommend staying at the Edelweiss lodge. I personally have never stayed at a lodge/hotel with such an exquisite view!
5.) Neuschwanstein Castle
About an hour from Garmische Partenkirche, above the village of Hohenschwangau in southwest Bavaria, is the Neuschwanstein castle. This castle is known as the inspiration behind the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland and with good reason — it is something straight out of a fairytale!
Before making our way up to the castle, we ventured around the town and looked at the different shops, stopping by the beautiful Lake Alpsee to take in the scenery. To get to the castle, you can either take a carriage, shuttle, or hoof it. We decided on the latter. Once at the top, we went on a guided tour to see the inside of the castle. During high tourist seasons, there is a long wait time, so I recommend going early and getting tickets as soon as possible.
While I am not one for guided tours, mostly because I like to walk and read the placards and see everything at my leisure, this was very entertaining and enjoyable. The inside of the castle is just as beautiful as the outside and it was interesting to hear about its history. There is also another castle nearby, the Hohenschwangau castle. Though I did not visit this castle, it is another option if you find yourself that way.
6.) Rothenburg ob der Tauber
This makes my list more for the atmosphere. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is known for its medieval architecture. Walking down the streets makes you feel transported back in time. Like many places in Germany, there are cobblestone streets lined with quaint shops and eateries. There are even a few coats of armor outside shops where you can stop for some photo ops.
While there, I went to the Medieval Crime and Justice Museum and took a few photos in the pillory right outside. Afterward, we popped into a little shop where they were making a delicious pastry in the window. The baker informed us they were called Snowballs (German: Schneeballs), which are deep-fried, ball-like, shortcrust pastries that you can get with different fillings weaved throughout. He informed us that these were a must-try while visiting and they are the most popular in this small town. They may be available outside of the town, but in my travels, this was the only place I found them. If you want to experience a small/cute European town, Rothenburg ob der Tauber should definitely be on your list.”
And there you have it folks! The top 6 recommendations from an American living in Germany. If you have any questions or comments, my inbox is always open. Thank you again, Amanda, for contributing so much to the blog this week!
