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The clean-feeling big cities and the cultural and historical charm of Germany all make for a varied and interesting visit, no matter where you go. Not to mention the fun fun fun of the autobahn...

The delights of Germany - one of the major powers and biggest tourist draws in all of Europe - include clean-feeling big cities, dramatic scenery and cultural, historic charm.

Germany exudes order, and the cleanliness of the towns and cities, especially in the remoter areas, is striking. Forget the myth that Germany is expensive too: things are not cheap, but high quality makes Germany such good value for money.

Berlin

The German capital, Berlin, is a huge tribute to all things German. Fabulous local foods can be enjoyed at the many reasonable restaurants, and the bars and clubs are as numerous as they are excellent.

This is a city that has had its fair share of trouble, and the mammoth task of building a reunified capital that is underway is taking shape day by day. The combination of the West and the relaxed East make Berlin a cosmopolitan place to visit. As a city of history, its position geographically given it great importance throughout the ages, and both deliberate and accidental scarring on the buildings reminds you of darker days.

Try not to worry about getting lost in Berlin, or even in the surrounding greenery: the huge television tower at the centre of the city will always be visible to use as a compass. Do take the time to visit the museums and the art centres that Berlin has to offer – you will find them to be some of the best in Europe, if not the World.

Accommodation here is not as expensive on the whole as you might be expecting; but the slightly cheaper hotels in the Eastern side are, for the moment, under constant development. So try to find a reasonable one in the West.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is one of the most visited places in Germany. Tourists flock here in their millions each year to see the superb Gothic castle, take advantage of the cheap accommodation and to enjoy the local restaurants. A visit may be better advised in the off season, as it can get very busy indeed.

Lübeck

Lübeck is pretty medieval town in the north of the country. It took very heavy shelling during the Second World War, but the subsequent rebuild has restored the town to its full glory.

The town’s puppet theatre should not be missed, and for the more sobering reminder of the past visit the Marienkirche where the fragments of its destroyed bell lie in bits on the floor as a protest against the Second World War and war in general.

Munich

Munich is seems to be the hedonism capital of Germany. The locals seem to have found cosmopolitan ways to enjoy their lives that you will not come across elsewhere. The entertainment here can come in many guises, from sinking beer in the local beer halls, to taking in a performance at one of the many fabulous theatres or strolling around one of the pretty municipal gardens.

The Deutsche Museum is a definite must-see as it is one of the world’s largest displays of science and technology related exhibits, and has many things you can actively participate in. This museum's 1.3 million plus visitors every year can't be wrong...

The Bavarian Alps loom nearby and can be reached by locally arranged day trips. For a more harrowing trip, a visit to the nearbythe Dachau concentration camp - alowed to fall into ruin, but kept from redevelopment as a permanent reminder of the war crimes committed there - is a harsh reminder of the country’s chequered past.

The Two Frankfurts

There are two Frankfurts in Germany, one on the river Main and one on the Oder. Frankfurt on the Main is both the commercial and geographic centre of Germany; and, as a good proportion of the tax revenue from the area is ploughed back into culture, it is also the home of the country’s finest museums and art centres. The Städel Museum and the Museum of Modern Art are both well stocked with impressive and expensive pieces of art. The Städel alone houses a collection of 2,700 paintings, 600 sculptures and 100,000 prints and drawings from across 700 years of European history. Works come from artists from the big leagues - many names will be familiar to almost every visitor, including: Dürer, Holbein and Cranach to Rembrandt, Vermeer, Monet, Van Gogh and Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso, Bacon, Baselitz, Serra and Palermo.

A slight deviation from all this culture is the local brew called Ebbelweï, which is a cider derivative and, as such, is particularly strong.

Water

With a 10,000 km network of waterways, more than 23,000 square kilometres of waterways for seagoing vessels, approximately 2,400 km of coastline and 18 islands, as well as a number of charming lakes in the foothills of the Alps, the central highlands and the North German lowland plain, Germany has some of the largest, most varied and attractive water recreation facilities in Europe. There are more than 800 passenger boats with a total capacity of 200,000 places and around 750,000 sports and leisure boats waiting to take water enthusiasts on a journey of discovery through Germany.

Eight of Germany's thirteen national parks are either on the coast or encompass large areas of water, including: the Lower Saxony Wattenmeer Hamburg Wattenmeer, Schleswig-Holstein Wattenmeer and Müritz national parks. The Hanseatic towns and cities on the North Sea and Baltic coasts offer a number of striking holiday destinations by the water - as well as an extensive range of cultural attractions. The annual Kiel Festival, Hanse-Sail Rostock, Windsurfing World Cup Sylt, Lake Constance Festival and the 'Rhine in Flames' events are just a few examples of the breadth of activities staged on and around the water in Germany. The Starnberger Five Lakes Region at the heart of Bavaria is another example of water-based recreation within easy reach of an industrialised conurbation.

Follow this link for the official tourism site on visiting Germany. The site is accessible in English and offers advice on: accomodation, travel guidance for younger and older travellers - as well as those with disabilities - cuisine, events and national parks.

Full information about the single currency - the Euro - is available here.

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