🇩🇪Germany

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

An 18th-century neoclassical gate that came to symbolize a divided Germany during the Cold War, standing just behind the line of the former Berlin Wall. It's now a focal point for national celebrations and remains the city's most recognizable landmark. Nearby, sections of the wall and the Holocaust Memorial add further historical weight to the area.

Neuschwanstein Castle

A 19th-century fairy-tale castle built by the reclusive King Ludwig II of Bavaria, its turrets and mountain backdrop reportedly inspiring Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. Set against the Alps in southern Bavaria, it's reached by a walk or horse-drawn carriage up from the valley below. The nearby Marienbrücke bridge offers the classic postcard view of the castle itself.

Cologne Cathedral

A Gothic cathedral that took over 600 years to complete, its twin spires dominating the Cologne skyline and once making it the tallest building in the world upon completion in 1880. It survived Allied bombing in World War II largely intact while much of the surrounding city was destroyed. Climbing the south tower's 533 steps rewards visitors with wide views over the Rhine.

Berlin Wall Memorial

A preserved stretch of the wall that divided East and West Berlin for 28 years, complemented by an outdoor exhibition and a documentation center explaining the personal and political impact of the division. Watchtowers and a reconstructed death strip give a visceral sense of the wall's scale. It's a sobering but essential stop for understanding modern German history.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

A remarkably well-preserved medieval walled town along the Romantic Road, its half-timbered houses and towers largely spared from wartime destruction. A full walk of the town walls offers views over the red-roofed old town below. It's especially atmospheric during its Christmas market season.

Black Forest

A densely forested mountain region in southwest Germany, its dark fir-covered hills giving the region its name and its cuckoo clocks their reputation. Small spa towns like Baden-Baden sit alongside hiking trails and waterfalls throughout the region. It's also the origin of Black Forest cake, a local specialty worth trying at its source.