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Brandenburg Gate
City/Region: Berlin
The impressive and symbolic Brandenburg Gate that lay forlorn for so long in the no man's land behind the Berlin Wall, is now once again renovated and accessible, along with the newly reconstructed Pariser Platz that links the gate to the beautiful Unter den Linden Boulevard. The gate is Berlin's only remaining city gate, built of sandstone between 1788 and 1791 with 12 Doric columns according to a design by C.G. Langhans. Six columns support an 36ft (11m) transverse beam, similar to the propylaeum of the Acropolis in Athens. The massive gate is topped with a stunning statue of the Goddess of Victory facing east towards the city centre (this was added in 1794). The gate is closed to traffic, as is the adjacent Pariser Platz, a gracious square that was once surrounded with beautiful buildings sadly destroyed in the Second World War. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall new buildings have been built, however, to designs closely following those of the originals.

Checkpoint Charlie
City/Region: Berlin
The infamous border crossing point in the wall dividing West and East Berlin has now become a shrine to the wall's memory with the addition of a museum, Haus am Checkpoint Charlie. For nearly 30 years, between 1961 and 1990, Checkpoint Charlie in the Friedrichstrasse was the only crossing point between East and West Berlin. The soldier's post can be visited, and tourists can be photographed under the border sign.
Address: Friedrichstraße 43-45
Phone Number: (030) 253 7250
Email Address: info@Mauer-Museum.com
Website: www.Mauer-Museum.com
Hours: Daily 9am to 10pm; documentary films are screened throughout the day, with showings of the historically significant feature films 'Mit dem Wind nach Westen' daily at 5.30pm and 'Mein Kampf' daily at 7.30pm
Admission: Adults EUR9.50, scholars/students EUR5.50

Eastside Gallery
City/Region: Berlin
The remains of the infamous Berlin Wall have now become the largest open-air art gallery in the world. The longest section of the wall, which has been preserved, stretches from Ostbahnhof station to the Oberbaumbrucke, and has been given over to graffiti artists from around the world. A total of 118 artists from 21 countries have exerted their skills on the 4,318ft (1,316m) long section of the wall, and this collection has become a Berlin landmark and a tourist attraction. Best known paintings are Dimitri Vrubel's Brotherly Kiss and Gunther Shaefer's Fatherland. The gallery is billed as an international memorial for freedom.
Address: Mühlenstraße 10243 Berlin-Friedrichshain
Email Address: eastsidegallery@eastsidegallery.com
Website: www.eastsidegallery.com

Jewish museum
City/Region: Berlin
Although relatively new the Jewish Museum in Lindenstrasse has already gained an international reputation for its significant architecture and unique exhibitions that bring history alive. The bulk of the museum is housed in a windowless and doorless steel-clad, silver building, designed by Daniel Libeskind, sited alongside the yellow Baroque edifice of the Berlin Museum. Visitors enter the Jewish Museum through the Berlin Museum to explore the exhibition rooms, which are clustered around a main axis void, designed to signify the empty and invisible aspects of Jewish history.
Address: Lindenstraße 9-14
Phone Number: (030) 25993 300
Email Address: info@jmberlin.de
Website: www.juedisches-museum-berlin.de
Transport: U1, U6 Hallesches Tor or U6, Kochstraße
Hours: Monday 10am to 10pm, Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm
Admission: Adults: EUR5, Students and Seniors EUR2.50, children under six free

Hamburger Bahnhof
City/Region: Berlin
One of the most popular art galleries in Berlin is housed in a train station. The historic Hamburger Bahnhof, built in 1846 at the Tiergarten, was badly damaged during the Second World War, but has been restored and reopened, with some modern elements added to the architecture, as an exhibition venue for an extensive contemporary art collection. The former station now offers 107,639 square feet (10,000 sq metres) of space filled with works by the likes of Andy Warhol, Josephy Beuys and Roy Lichtenstein. The basis of the exhibition is the Marx private collection, but there are changing exhibitions and good examples of the Italian Transavanguardia and minimalist art on show too.
Phone Number: +49 (0)30 266 3660
Email Address: hbf@smb.spk-berlin.de
Website: www.smb.spk-berlin.de
Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 6pm; Saturdays 11am to 8pm; Sundays 11am to 6pm. Guided tours are conducted on Sundays at 4pm
Admission: EUR8; children under 16 free. Concessions available

Potsdamer Platz
City/Region: Berlin
This vibrant square is the heart and soul of the 'New Berlin', which has emerged since the fall of the wall in 1989. The original square was once one of the busiest junctions in Europe with a major train station sited on it. However after damage during the Second World War and being cut through by the divisive wall, it became a decayed wasteland. Since the fall of the wall, however, a building boom has been taking place around the Potsdamer Platz, which now boasts an exciting mix of restaurants, shopping centres, hotels, a casino, theatres and cinemas that draws both Berliners and tourists seeking good food and recreation. Focus of the square is the 22-storey Debis Haus, designed by Renzo Piano, featuring an atrium with cathedral-like dimensions, and its neighbouring Potsdamer Platz Arkaden, a shopping mall with an Imax cinema. The Sony Centre is the most recent addition, consisting of seven buildings around a light-flooded arena, which also houses Berlin's popular Film Museum. The Kollhoff building features a panorama platform, reached by Europe's fastest express elevator, which offers views of the city.
Website: www.potsdamerplatz.de
Hours: The panaroma platform is open Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 8pm; the Film Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm (Thursday until 8pm)

Hofbrauhaus
City/Region: Munich
Beer has been swilled at this world-famous tavern site in the centre of Munich since it became a royal brewery in 1605. Equally famous is the Bavarian jollity and conviviality, known as 'gemuchtlikheid', which has emanated directly from the Hofbrauhaus in Munich along with the beer which flows freely there each day, served by robust rosy-cheeked young women clad in Bavarian dress in litre-sized beer steins. The cheerful atmosphere that reigns constantly in the establishment's different halls is helped along by the foot-tapping strains of traditional Bavarian 'oom-pah' bands and drinking songs. When the beer becomes too much, soak it up with a delicious salty pretzel or a German speciality from the menu, such as liver dumplings, potato soup or a variety of delicious sausages.
Address: Am Platzl 9
Phone Number: (089) 29013610
Website: www.hofbraeuhaus.de

Marienplatz
City/Region: Munich
The Marienplatz is the heart of Munich and the site of its most important historic buildings. The square is dominated by the Neo-Gothic Town Hall featuring its famous Glockenspiel, both built in the 19th century. The Glockenspiel delights visitors when it chimes the hours every day at 11am, 12pm, 5pm and 9pm with its 43 bells, accompanied by moving clockwork figures that display vingnettes from Munich's history. The Town Hall has a tower that can be accessed by a lift. The centre of the square - which was once a vibrant farmer's market - features a statue of the Virgin Mary after which Marienplatz was named. Visitors can also explore a toy museum in the Old Town Hall on the square, and the Frauenkirche, Munich's cathedral, dating from the 15th century.
Phone Number: New Town Hall: (089) 2331; Toy Museum: 294 001; Frauenkirche: 290 0820
Hours: Town Hall: Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm, Friday 9am to 1pm, and weekends 10am to 7pm. Toy Museum: daily 10am to 5.30pm. Cathedral: daily 10am to 5pm

Olympia Park
City/Region: Munich
Munich's massive Olympic park complex was constructed for the 20th Olympic Games in 1972, but remains a marvel of modern engineering. Its main stadium is a like a massive tent, which can seat close on 70,000 spectators, topped by the largest roof in the world, extending for 720,000 square feet (66,890 sq metres) and made of tinted acrylic glass. The roof collects rainwater which is used to fill the adjacent Olympic lake. Tent roof tours (with or without an abseiling option) are on offer. Visitors to the site can enjoy a spectacular view from the revolving restaurant and observation terrace which tops the 950ft (290m) high Olympic Tower. Near the tower is the BMW Museum, which displays the history of Germany's famous automobile manufacturer. Far from being a remarkable 'white elephant', the park is still in constant use as a lively leisure and recreational centre for the city; on more than 200 days of the year it is the venue for rock and pop concerts, sports events, exhibitions and trade fairs.
Address: Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21
Phone Number: (089) 30670
Email Address: infoolympiapark-muenchen.de
Website: www.olympiapark-muenchen.de
Hours: The tower is open daily 9am to midnight
Admission: Tower: EUR4 (adults), concessions available

Nymphenburg Palace
City/Region: Munich
About five miles (8 km) from the city centre, accessible by tram and bus, is the interesting Schloss Nymphenburg, originally a summer home for the Munich aristocracy. The palace has been expanded, altered and fitted with various eccentricities by succeeding owners over the centuries since building began on it in 1664. Today it is a delight for tourists who revel in exploring the villa and grounds. Inside there are some interesting frescoes in the main hall. An arcaded gallery features a collection of 36 provocative paintings ordered by King Ludwig I showing the most beautiful women of his day. The surrounding park has some surprises too, with some interesting pavilions hidden among the English-style gardens. There are also collections of Ludwig's elaborate coaches on display, and a porcelain museum.
Address: Eingang 19
Postal Code: (0) 89 179 080
Email Address: sgvnymphenburg@bsv.bayern.de
Website: www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/index.htm
Hours: Daily 10am to 4pm (November to March), and 9am to 6pm (April to October)
Admission: EUR5 (Combination ticket EUR10)

Alte Pinakothek
City/Region: Munich
Munich's art museum houses one of the most important collections in Europe on two floors of a large neo-classical building. Nearly 1,000 paintings are on display featuring the work of the greatest European artists from the 14th to the 18th centuries. Highlights include works by Dutch and Flemish masters, as well as the Italian masters such as Botticelli and Titian. The gallery is massive, consisting of dozens of rooms, and requires a great deal of time to explore thoroughly.
Address: Barerstrasse 27
Phone Number: (089) 23 80 52 16
Email Address: info@pinakothek.de
Website: www.pinakothek.de
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (Tuesday to 8pm)
Admission: EUR5 (including audio guide), on Sundays EUR1 (audio guide EUR4)

Neuschwanstein
City/Region: Munich
The fairytale castle built by King Ludwig II (known as 'Mad King Ludwig' until his death in 1886) has become the trademark of the German state of Bavaria, with its Gothic wedding-cake tiers and towers. Day tours to the castle are available from Munich, or self drive via Garmisch. From the parking lot there is a steep half-mile (one km) climb to the castle, but one can ride in a horse-drawn carriage. The interior of the castle is as extravagant as its outer aspect, particularly the King's apartments, which are decorated entirely with hand-embroidered silk, elaborate wall and ceiling paintings, and carvings.
Address: Neuschwanstein Castle is near the Forggensee in the Allgäu, very close to Schwangau. Ticket Centre: Alpseestrasse 12, Hohenschwangau
Phone Number: 083 628 1035
Email Address: svneuschwanstein@bsv.bayern.de
Website: www.neuschwanstein.de/english
Transport: Train (Deutsch Bahn) to Füssen, then bus RVO/OVG 73 towards Steingarden/Garmisch-Partenkirchen or bus RVO/OVG 78 towards Schwangau to Hohenschwangau. The path to the castle starts in the village of Hohenschwangau. Walk (30 minutes), take a bus, or horse-drawn carriage
Hours: Daily 9am to 6pm (April to September), 10am to 4pm (October to March)
Admission: Entrance tickets can only be bought at the ticket centre in the village of Hohenschwangau below the castle. Adults EUR9, concessions EUR8

Berchtesgarten
City/Region: Munich
The name Berchtesgarten is most closely associated with Adolf Hitler's country house, but it is in fact a delightful Bavarian alpine village with ancient winding streets and a medieval marketplace, popular as a side trip from Munich. Hitler's holiday house, the Berghof, is actually at Obersalzberg about half a mile (2 kms) up the Kehlstein mountain. Afternoon bus tours to the Fuhrer's playground can be undertaken from the tourist office in the village, but there is little to see besides some underground bunkers which are open to the public. Most tourists, however, do delight in visiting the Kehlsteinhaus or Eagle's Nest, a remarkable building perched precariously atop the mountain, which was originally commissioned by Martin Bormann as a 50th birthday present for Hitler. The notorious Nazi leader seldom visited it because of his fear of heights. Today it is the site of an excellent Bavarian restaurant and provides breathtaking views at the end of a stunning winding mountain road. The town of Berchtesgarten itself has some interesting attractions, besides its 16th-century architecture and enticing inns. There is a small wood-carving museum at Schloss Aldelsheim which can be viewed on a guided tour offered on weekdays at 10am and 3pm. Wood sculptures, Renaissance furniture and some art works are worth seeing at the Konigliches Schloss, which was originally an Augustinian monastery. The most fun to be had, however, is in the salt mines to the east of the town, which offers guided tours. Visitors wear protective clothing and ride on wagons to the mine, then explore the mine on foot and ride miner's slides, finishing with a trip on the salt lake ferry. The tours run daily, all year round. The mine has been in operation since 1517. Berchtesgarten also boasts a world-class ice-skating rink, the Eisstadion, which is sought after by winter sports enthusiasts in the winter months, along with the skiing opportunities in the surrounding area.
Website: www.kehlsteinhaus.com

Dachau Memorial Site
City/Region: Munich
About 10 miles (16km) to the northwest of Munich on the Stuttgart Autobahn is the town of Dachau, once a quiet artists' community that became the site of the first notorious Nazi 'death camp', where thousands of perceived enemies of the Third Reich were imprisoned, starved, and killed between 1933 and 1945. The camp has now been turned into a memorial museum to the prisoners (67,000 were liberated alive by the US Army on April 28, 1945). The museum contains three memorial chapels. The Lagerstrasse, the main camp road, still exists lined with poplar trees but only two of the original 32 barracks that lined it remain, having been rebuilt to illustrate the conditions endured by the prisoners. The original kitchen, laundry and shower block is now a museum containing exhibits, photographs and documents depicting the persecution of Jews and other prisoners.
Address: Alte Römerstraße 75, Dachau
Phone Number: 8131 669970
Email Address: info@kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de
Website: www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de
Transport: From Dachau train station take Bus 724 to the Memorial Site car park, or bus 726 to the main entrance of the Memorial Site
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm. An English version of a documentary film, 'KZ-Dachau' is screened at 11.30am and 3.30pm
Admission: Free

Garmisch-Partenkirchen
City/Region: Munich
Germany's top winter sports destination, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a busy centre that has retained the charm of the older town of the twins, Partenkirchen. About 20 trains a day arrive at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bahnhof from Munich, and many more visitors come by bus or self-drive via the A95 Autobahn to enjoy the delights of the Bavarian Alps. Pride of the city is the Olympic Ice Stadium and the larger Ski Stadium which were built for the 1936 Winter Olympics and are still put to good use by winter sports enthusiasts. The area is picturesque and scenic, both in winter and summer. In summertime it is a popular spot for hiking and mountain climbing expeditions. A tourist office assists visitors in making the most of their visit and seeing the local attractions. Contact Verkehrsamt der Kurverwaltung, on Dr. Richard-Strauss-Platz (tel: 08821 1806), open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm and Sunday from 10am to noon.

Chiemsee
City/Region: Munich
One of the most beautiful lakes in the Bavarian Alps, Chiemsee boasts two islands and is lined with resorts. It can be reached by train from Munich in an hour, or by road via the A8 Autobahn. Visitors can take a steamer cruise around the lake from Prien on the west shore to explore the islands in the lake. Frauenchiemsee is the smaller island, site of a quaint fishing village with some colourful traditional customs, and a Benedictine nunnery known for its liqueur. The larger island, Herrenchiemsee, bears one of King Ludwig's famous fairytale castles. This one was never completed, but was intended to be a replica of the palace of Versailles. The centre of the palace still stands, complete with a splendid hall of mirrors and surrounded by gardens and woodland. It is an extremely popular tourist attraction with its gaudy splendour.
Hours: The 'Neues Schloss' is open daily 9am to 5pm (April to September); 10am to 4pm (off-season)

Romantic Road
City/Region: Munich
To experience the best of medieval Germany hundreds of visitors drive, bus or cycle their way along the Romantic Road, a 180-mile (290km) route between Munich and Frankfurt that links together a string of quaint, well-preserved walled towns dating back a thousand years or more. The towns en route have banded together to market their attractions and ensure Romantic Road travellers are well informed and accommodated. Bicycles can be rented at any train station along the road, and tourist offices along the route provide maps and information. Best known of the towns on the Romantic Road is Rothenburg in the Tauber River Valley. Other favourites among the cute towns are Dinkelsbuhl and Nordlingen.
Address: Tourist Information: Waaggässlein 1, Dinkelsbühl
Phone Number: 9851 551387 (Tourist office)
Email Address: info@romantischestrasse.de
Website: www.romantischestrasse.de

Goethe-Haus
City/Region: Frankfurt
The house where Johan Wolfgang von Goethe, Germany's world-famous poet and writer, was born in 1749 is now a shrine to his memory, preserved as an example of how the well-to-do lived in the late Baroque era. The house, which is a reconstruction because the original was destroyed during the Second World War, consists of two neighbouring half-timbered houses in Grosser Hirschgraben, and is sited next to the Goethe Museum, which contains a huge library of books, documents and graphics relating to the poet.
Address: Großer Hirschgraben 23-25
Phone Number: (069) 138 800
Email Address: info@goethehaus-frankfurt.de
Website: www.goethehaus-frankfurt.de
Hours: 10am to 6pm daily
Admission: Adults EUR5; students EUR2.50; children 7-18 EUR1.50

Zoologische Garten
City/Region: Frankfurt
Frankfurt's large and well-maintained zoo is home to about 600 different species and a total of 5,000 animals, mostly kept in enclosures resembling as closely as possible their natural habitats. A special feature is a 'day and night house' where visitors can watch what nocturnal creatures do after dark. The zoo, located in Ostend, was established in 1858 and is one of the oldest in Germany.
Address: Alfred-Brehm-Platz 16
Phone Number: (069) 2123 3735
Website: www.zoo-frankfurt.de
Transport: Subway: U6 or U7 to Zoo Station
Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, and weekends 8am to 7pm (April to October); daily 9am to 5pm (November to March)
Admission: EUR8 (adults), EUR4 (children 6-17 years). Concessions available

Botanical Gardens
City/Region: Frankfurt
The well ordered and interesting Botanical Garden in Frankfurt is administered by the University. The gardens are designed to take visitors on a journey through different areas of the plant kingdom, from the hardwood forests of North America to the barren savannah of Africa. The gardens cover more than eight hectares (20 acres) and contain more than 6,000 different botanical species, from exotic rainforest flowers to European weeds.
Address: Siesmayerstrasse 61
Phone Number: (069) 2123 3939
Email Address: info.palmengarten@stadt-frankfurt.de
Website: www.palmengarten-frankfurt.de
Transport: Entrance Palmengartenstraße: trains U6, U7 or buses 32, 33, 50 to Station Bockenheimer Warte
Hours: Daily 9am to 6pm between March and October, with earlier closing during winter months
Admission: EUR5; EUR7 for special events including festivals and certain exhibitions. Concessions available

Wiesbaden
City/Region: Frankfurt
Germany's most favoured spa resort lies about 25 miles (40km) west of Frankfurt in a valley between the Rhine River and Taunus Mountains. The town has been a spa resort since the time of the ancient Romans, with its 26 hot springs averaging temperatures of around 50°C (122°F). Besides being known for its luxurious spa hotels, Wiesbaden is also a cultural centre, its events being concentrated around the major Kurhaus concert hall complex. The complex includes a casino and restaurant, conference and exhibition facilities.

The Rhineland
City/Region: Frankfurt
The wide, deep and sluggish Rhine River flows from Switzerland into the sea in the Netherlands, and most of its length in the process meanders through the mountains and plains of Germany. The river has always served as a major trading route, and it is also a favourite with tourists who enjoy cruising it, particularly along its scenic mid-section between Mainz and Koblenz. Boarding a steamer in Mainz, about 25 miles (40km) south west of Frankfurt, one journeys through steep vine-covered hillsides dotted with romantic towns and castles, many associated with fascinating legends and fables.
Address: Rheinland-Pfalz Tourism Bureau, Löhrstraße 103 - 105, Koblenz
Phone Number: RheinlandPfalz Tourism Bureau: (0)261 915 200
Email Address: info@rlp-info.de
Website: www.germany-tourism.de/biking/05_route36.html

Trier
City/Region: Frankfurt
A taste of ancient Rome is a popular tourist attraction in the German city of Trier, 120 miles (193km) south west of Frankfurt. Trier was founded as a colonial capital under Roman Emperor Augustus in 16 BC, making it Germany's oldest city. The city became an important political and cultural centre, and many Roman buildings and monuments remain to be explored by visitors. The city is also a good starting point for trips into the Mosel Valley, and cruises on the scenic Mosel River, which is Germany's main wine-producing region.
Address: Tourist Information: An der Porta Nigra, Trier
Phone Number: Tourist Information: 651 978080
Email Address: info@tit.de
Website: www.trier.de

Heidelberg
City/Region: Frankfurt
The historic university town of Heidelberg, about 55 miles (89km) south of Frankfurt, is billed as a city of music and romance. It is one of the few German cities that escaped relatively unscathed from air raids during World War II, and still has numerous buildings from the Middle Ages and Renaissance to explore. The modern part of the city around the Bismarckplatz has some good hotels and restaurants, and enticing shopping plazas. The city is built along the banks of the Neckar River, and has a colourful atmosphere lent by its large student population, particularly in the student quarter with its narrow streets and lively inns. The university was established in 1386.

Altona Fish Market
City/Region: Hamburg
It may be billed as a fish market, but there is just about anything and everything on sale at this lively, colourful Hamburg market that takes place early on Sunday mornings, and has done since 1703. There is a restaurant in the historic Fish Auction Hall, along with some live musical entertainment, to rejuvenate tired shoppers.
Address: The market is between Hexenberg and Grosse Elbstrasse
Phone Number: (0)40 380 120
Website: www.fischmarkt-hamburg.de
Hours: Daily 5am to 12pm; from 7am in winter

Warehouse complex
City/Region: Hamburg
The world's oldest warehouse complex, built of red brick with gables and turrets, is a century old and still in use for storing exotic goods from around the world. Known as the Speicherstadt in German, this historic section of the Free Port between the Deichtorhallen and Baumwall has been turned into a tourist attraction by the addition of an open air theatre, a spice museum, a miniature exhibition and an old Russian submarine open for exploration. Another attraction is the 'Hamburg Dungeon', an interactive experience showcasing the more unpleasant and gory aspects of the city's history. The Speicherstadt is illuminated at night, creating an enchanting spectacle, particularly viewed from a boat on a harbour night tour (Tel: 040 31 31 30).

Hamburger Kunsthalle
City/Region: Hamburg
Hamburg's premier art gallery offers the chance to view works across the time spectrum from the Middle Ages through to the present day. The Kunsthalle's main aim is to educate about art, rather than showcase particular art treasures, and exhibitions are constantly changing to introduce new forms of art.
Address: Stiftung öffentlichen Rechts, Glockengießerwall
Phone Number: +49 (0) 40 428 131 200
Email Address: info@hamburger-kunsthalle.de
Website: www.hamburger-kunsthalle.de
Transport: Suburban Fast Train: Main Station (S1, S2, S3, S4, S11, S21, S31). Underground: Main Station (U1, U2, U3). Bus 112
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm; Thursday 10am to 9pm; closed Mondays
Admission: EUR8.50 (adults), EUR5 (concessions)

Blankenese
City/Region: Hamburg
This quaint destination on the steep Elbe hillside was once a fishing village favoured by retired ship captains. Today it has become popular with locals as a weekend outing, and visitors also throng the narrow alleys and stairways between picturesque houses packed together on the cliffside. The village offers an abundance of cafes and restaurants where patrons can relax and watch ships steaming in and out of the harbour. There is a ferry service to Blankenese from St Pauli-Landungsbrucken in Hamburg's Free Port.

Museum of Hamburg History
City/Region: Hamburg
The museum gives a detailed description of the city of Hamburg from the 8th through to the 20th centuries. Scale models have been used to illustrate the changing shape of the city's famous harbour. Exhibits also include reconstructions of various typical rooms, such as the hall of a 17th-century merchant's home to an air raid shelter from World War II.
Address: Holstenwall 24
Phone Number: 42841 2380
Email Address: info@hamburgmuseum.de
Website: www.hamburgmuseum.de
Transport: Subway Line U3, St Pauli stop. Bus 112, 'hamburgmuseum' stop
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm, Sundays 10am-6pm
Admission: EUR7.50 (adults), EUR4 (Friday special for adults), children and students under 18 free. Concessions available

Reeperbahn
City/Region: Hamburg
Hamburg's notorious red light district to the east of the city centre in the St Pauli zone has become its second-greatest tourist attraction, according to the city management. The Reeperbahn (Rope Street) is where rope used to be produced for the ships in the harbour. It is now a half-mile long street which, along with its cross-streets, is filled with bright lights and flirtatious prostitutes, crammed with bars and establishments offering erotic entertainment. The Reeperbahn became the neighbourhood where sailors of old were encouraged to seek entertainment after they were banned from invading the city's more respectable areas in the 19th century. The district also boasts an Erotic Art Museum (at Nobistor 10A), which is privately owned and restricted to persons over 16.
Transport: St. Pauli (U3) or bus 36, 37, 112

Sylt
City/Region: Hamburg
The island of Sylt is Germany's most northern point, lying off the northwestern coast in the North Sea. The island boasts some lovely sandy beaches and stunning views, and its main town, Westerland, has become a popular seaside resort. The island also has miles of bicycle paths meandering through pine forests. The island offers plenty of entertainment for tourists, including shops, spas and exclusive restaurants. Trains arrive several times a day from Hamburg. The island is connected to the mainland by the six-mile (10km) long Hindenburgdamm bridge.

Hameln
City/Region: Hamburg
Hameln, the famous town of the Pied Piper tale told to children around the world, is a popular tourist destination in Lower Saxony, northern Germany, lying beside the River Weser. The old town centre has been reconstructed with several Renaissance buildings, and some wood-frame historic buildings, all adding to the fairytale atmosphere that brings alive the legend of the piper who offered to rid the town of rats, and ended up stealing all the children. A short musical version of the story is performed each Wednesday in the old town between May and September at 4.30pm. The Pied Piper himself conducts tours around the town!
Email Address: touristinfo@hameln.de
Website: www.hameln.de/tourismus/rattenfaenger/rf_sage_gb.htm

Lübeck
City/Region: Hamburg
Lübeck lies 41 miles (66km) north east of Hamburg, close to the Baltic coast. Not only is this historic town the home of a couple of noted Nobel Prize winners, but as a living monument to the wealthy Hanseatic merchants of the 13th century, it sports some architectural treasures that have ensured its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town's famous sons were Willy Brandt, the West German chancellor who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971, and Thomas Mann, whose novel Buddenbrooks won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1929. As far as the architecture goes, the town is known for its steeples and spires, high-gabled houses, strong towers and massive gates. The town is also billed as the world capital of marzipan, having been the spot where this delightful confection was first devised (there is a legend attached, of course). Samples of marzipan are freely available in Lübeck.
Website: www.luebeck-tourism.de

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
City/Region: Berlin
The newly opened LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is the first indoor LEGOLAND in the world and provides an interactive journey through a land of colour, creativity, learning and play. There is a fun factory, where real LEGO bricks are made, a 4-D cinema show, opportunities for visitors to make their own creations, Miniland Berlin, a themed ride and much more all under one roof.
Address: Sony Centre, Potsdamer Platz
Phone Number: (0)30 30 10400
Website: www.legolanddiscoverycentre.com
Transport: Bus M41 to Potsdamer Platz, or M48, 200, 357 to Varian-Fry-Str. U-Bahn U2, S1, S2, S25, RE3, RE4, RE5 to Potsdamer Platz station
Hours: Daily 10am to 5pm; closed 25 December
Admission: EUR14.50 (adults), EUR11 (children); other concessions available

Freiburg
City/Region: The Black Forest
Black Forest cake and cuckoo clocks are what most visitors travel to Freiburg for, but the beautiful city has far more to offer than the expected. The recommended way to explore the town and environs is by bicycle (there are plenty for hire) along more than 93 miles (150km) of bicycle paths. What one will find is a wealth of ancient history, some delicious food and wine, and breathtaking natural beauty. The city (really a large town) is known for its university, magnificent cathedral and medieval treasures, and a somewhat bohemian vibe with its street musicians and pavement artists. The Altstadt (Old City) is picturesque, featuring canals and dozens of historic buildings. A cable car carries passengers on scenic trips up the Schauinsland Mountain from the Stadtgarten to enjoy the view from the mountaintop restaurant. Freiburg hosts a music festival in mid-June each year, followed by a wine festival at the end of June and a wine-tasting festival in mid-August. Visitors very much enjoy the local Black Forest cuisine on offer at Freiburg's restaurants.

The Story of Berlin
City/Region: Berlin
One of Berlin's most popular attractions, the unusual exhibition recounts the history of the German capital city from its foundation until the fall of the Wall. The Story of Berlin is divided into 25 themed rooms and pays attention to the feelings, thoughts and living conditions of common Berliners. One of its main attractions is the nuclear bunker that was built during the Cold War in the 1970s. Guided tours are available every hour.
Address: Kurfürstendamm 207-208
Phone Number: (0)30 887 20 100
Email Address: info@story-of-berlin.de
Website: www.story-of-berlin.de
Transport: Subway to Uhlandstrasse or Kurfürstendamm, S-Bahn to Savignyplatz or Zoologischer Garten, or bus to Uhlandstrasse
Hours: Daily 10am to 8pm. Last guided tour at 6pm
Admission: EUR9.80 (adults), EUR3.50 (children aged 6-13). Other concessions available

Pforzheim
City/Region: The Black Forest
Founded by the Romans as a mercantile centre on the northern edge of the Black Forest, Pforzheim, at the confluence of the Wurm, Enz and Nagold Rivers, is today the centre for traditional jewellery and clock-making. The town features a fascinating Technisches Museum (at 81 Bleichstrasse, tel: 07231 392869), to commemmorate the important role time-keeping has played in Pforzheim's history. The museum features a reconstruction of a clock-making studio in the 19th century. Jewellery is also important in the town and the Schmuckmuseum collection features pieces dating from the 3rd century BC through to modern times. Pforzheim also has an interesting Alpine Garden which has 100,000 or more varieties of high-altitude plants growing in a natural setting beside the Wurm River.

Triberg
City/Region: The Black Forest
The true spirit of the Black Forest is brought to life in the Schwarzwald-Museum of Triberg, which documents the old traditions and lifestyle of this unique region, with displays of costumes, handcrafts (including clocks) and furnishings. It also boasts Europe's biggest barrel organ collection. Nearby Gutach contains original Black Forest homes up to four centuries old at the Freilchtmuseum Schwarzwalder. An exceptional waterfall at Gutach drops down the mountainside in seven stages, accessible by a walking trail. South of Triberg a huge variety of elaborate Black Forest clocks is on display at the German Clock Museum, to be found at Gerwigstrasse in the village of Furtwangen.


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