Germany Country Guide

Occupying a prime position in the heart of Europe - both literally and figuratively - today's Germany is an endlessly engaging destination: a land of high culture, frothy beer, half-timbered villages and dynamic cityscapes. Anyone expecting a homogenous country conforming to rigid Teutonic stereotypes is in for a surprise.

Germany has shaken off the shackles of its inglorious past to stand as a country of remarkable diversity, as notable for its avant-garde architecture as for its horizon-wide countryside vistas. Tourists will encounter a heady mix of untamed nature, fine arts and youthful creativity. The capital, Berlin, has a reputation as a hip and hedonistic community where almost anything goes. In contrast, the quiet academic surroundings of historic university cities like Heidelberg and Freiburg convey a peacefulness quite at odds with the atmosphere of the capital.

Rich in history, there is plenty to soak up on a Germany vacation - castles, medieval cities, bustling metropolises. The birthplace of Pope Benedict in Marktl am Inn, the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, the Cathedral of Cologne, or the famous Neuschwanstein Castle in the Alps. The braver Germany tourist won’t want to miss out on beer and bratwursts of Oktoberfest, the world’s largest fair or the Hofbräuhaus Beer Hall in Munich. A trip to Germany has something for everyone.