10 Reasons to visit Germany in 2017
It’s no surprise that Germany is one of Europe’s top tourist destinations. The country boasts Europe’s hottest capital, the über-hip Berlin, with its world-famous clubs, a flourishing foodie scene, and plenty of urban green spaces.
But that’s not all. If you visit Germany, you can also check out the maritime magic of Hamburg, the world-famous university town Heidelberg, the chic old-school sophistication of Munich (served with a side of dirndls, pretzels, and lederhosen), and last but not least, the lovely jewels in the former East, like Leipzig and Dresden.
But you by no means have to stick to the towns and cities. Germany also has a lot to offer any nature lover. The country is home to the Bavarian Alps with quaint mountainside villages and the Black Forest of Brother’s Grimm fame. For great hiking in the former East, check out Saxony Switzerland, a lovely climbing area and national park southeast of Dresden.
If water is more your cup of tea, then be sure to take a boat ride down the Rhine river, enjoying a glass of local Riesling from Germany’s wine country. For a little seaside air, make your way to the Baltic Sea and treasure hunt for amber or stroll along the North Sea mudflats at low tide.
And did we mention castles and palaces? Germany has around 20,000 of them, including Potsdam’s San Souci palace and Neuschwanstein, the so-called “Disneyland” castle.
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10 reasons to visit Germany in 2017
Still not enough? Below we’ve listed 10 more reasons why a trip to Germany is a must for 2017.
1. The dollar is strong against the euro right now
With plenty of free cultural offerings and cheap eats galore, Berlin has been an inexpensive tourist destination for years. However, many other places in Germany are usually a bit pricier, particularly Hamburg and Munich. Why not take advantage of a weaker euro and visit these places now when you’ll get more bang for your buck?
Air Berlin and Lufthansa fly direct to Germany from the US. Photo: BriYYZ
2. New cheap flights to Germany
AirBerlin flies direct to Berlin and Dusseldorf from several US destinations including New York and Miami. Sign up for their newsletter to stay on top of their latest deals that include round-trip flights from $499.
Norwegian Air gets you from the US to Germany for a very nice price with fares under $500. You can book tickets to several cities in Germany, including Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich.
Another airline to keep an eye on is Icelandair, which flies to Frankfurt and Hamburg with an optional stopover in Iceland.
Cheapo tip: Click here to sign up for newsletters for all the major airlines, to be the first to know about airfare sales.
3. Cheap transportation between cities
Once you’re in Germany, you no longer have to rely on costly train tickets to get around Germany. Although there are some important ways to save on train tickets, you can also try the bus. Budget bus services like Flixbus offer cheap tickets between cities starting as low as €7 one-way.
Also, car sharing services like BlaBlaCar are sometimes even cheaper than the bus with the added bonus of chit chat with a local as you barrel at top speeds down the Autobahn.
4. Luther 2017: 500 years since the Reformation
500 years ago, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. His action marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, which changed the face of Christianity and the world forever.
Throughout 2017, exhibitions, concerts, and festivals are taking place across Germany to celebrate Luther 2017: 500 Years Since the Reformation. If you’d like to follow in Luther’s footsteps, we recommend you check out the three cities that were important to this event: Wittenberg, Mansfeld, and Eisleben, his birthplace. These three towns are not only historically interesting, they’re also extremely beautiful, so much so that the area has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
But you don’t have to stop here: Germany has over 2,000 kilometers of Luther trails where you can hike and learn about the life, work, and legacy of this important historical figure.
Cologne Carnival brings parades and parties to the city streets. Photo: Marco
5. Cologne Carnival
Known to locals in Cologne as “the 5th season of the year,” Cologne Carnival (Kölner Karneval) officially starts on November 11 at 11:11 am. However, the party gets really wild on Fat Thursday (Weiberfastnacht) on February 23rd, the week before Carnival Monday (Rosenmontag). During this time, residents give themselves Narrenfreiheit; in other words, license to do as they please because, as they say, “what happens at Karneval stays at Karneval.”
From Weiberfastnacht on, it’s all play and no work for the city, with round-the-clock costumes parties on the streets and in the pubs, and no one at school or the office. Toss back a cold Kölsch, Cologne’s most famous beer, dress up and watch the parade on Rosenmontag where you’ll hear the locals singing merry Carnival songs at the top of their lungs. Festivities continue until Ash Wednesday (March 1).
Although the Cologne Carnival celebration is the largest and most famous one in Germany, Carnival is also celebrated in Düsseldorf and Mainz.
Spring brings beautiful flowers and festivals to Berlin. Photo: visitBerlin
6. Free festivals in Berlin during June
While Berlin is well worth a visit at any time of the year, our favorite month to explore Germany’s capital is June. Not only does June usually bring the best weather — warm, but not too hot, with plenty of springtime flowers — the month is also famous for its free festivals. Here are a few to check out:
Carnival of Cultures – June 2 – 5
This gigantic street festival and parade celebrates multiculturalism in Berlin and is dedicated to highlighting world cultures.
Fête de la Musique – June 21
This summer solstice celebration features live music of all kinds at hundreds of venues and street locations across the city.
48 Hours Neukölln – June 23 to 25
Taking place in Berlin’s hippest neighborhood, this art festival highlights local artists and community art projects across Neukölln.
Long Night of the Sciences – June 24
Laboratories, scientific institutions, and libraries open their doors to the public for the “smartest night of the year.”
Bergmann Street Festival (Bergmannstraßenfest) – June 30 to July 2
This jazz festival presents three days of live music in the “multi-kulti” atmosphere on Kreuzberg’s well-known Bergmannstraße.
7. Berlin Marathon
On September 24, 2017, the 44th Berlin Marathon will take place, curving through the city center. If you’re a runner, there’s no better way to experience the city than to run in this world-class race. Just be sure to register soon before it’s too late.
If you’re not a runner, it’s still fun to watch the marathon. Get up early and watch the top runners rip up the asphalt when the race begins at 9:15 am. If you’re in the mood to sleep in, you can cheer on the runners (some in costume!) until the mid-afternoon.
If you can’t make it out in September, but still want to get in on the sporty fun, the Berlin Half Marathon takes place on April 2.
Related: Berlin hotels under $100 per night
Beer fans travel from all over the world to Munich’s famous Oktoberfest. Photo Christian
8. Oktoberfest
Dirndls, lederhosen, brass ensembles, and gallons of beer: That’s what most people imagine when they think about Oktoberfest (and probably Germany in general, for that matter). But don’t let yourself be fooled. Except for a few celebrations around the country designed to trap clueless tourists, Oktoberfest is really only celebrated in Munich. And contrary to its name, the festival starts in late September.
In 2017, Oktoberfest runs from Saturday, September 16 to Tuesday, October 3 (German Reunification Day). If you do decide to go “Auf der Wiesn,” make sure to plan your trip well in advance. The festival gets extremely busy, especially on the opening weekends, so head over to the beer tents nice and early to avoid the crowds. For more tips, check out our article 10 ways to save time and money at Oktoberfest.
Fireworks light up over Freiburg on New Year’s Eve. Photo: Orest
9. Silvester, a.k.a. New Year’s Eve
If you want to live dangerously, try spending New Year’s Eve in Germany. On New Year’s Eve, Germans don’t just drink, eat and make merry. They also add explosives to the mix — fireworks — and lots of them. To play it safe, check out the major fireworks display close to midnight, which you’ll find in every town and city across the country.
But for the true Silvester experience, go to Berlin to set off bottle rockets and light up firecracker after firecracker with hordes of people who have already tossed back far too many drinks. But beware: On this night, the city gets a little crazy, so come prepared.
10. Wonderfully Weird Festivals
Last but not least, Germany is also a great place to visit for weird festivals, some truly bordering on the surreal and bizarre.
Tübingen Duck Race
On October 7th, check out the Tübingen Duck Race, where locals get together and race 7,000 rubber duckies down the Neckar River.
German Deer Calling Competition
Listen as hunters go horn to horn in the traditional German Deer Calling Competition, held every fall during deer mating season.
German Bus Pulling Championship
If you’re more in the mood to see some brawn, check out the annual German Bus Pulling Championship, where 16 five-person teams from around the country compete to see who can pull a 14-ton bus the furthest and fastest. Scheduled for June.
Wave-Gothik-Treffen
And for lots of black and graveyard fashion, be sure to hop over to Leipzig for the Wave-Gothik-Treffen, the world’s largest goth festival which takes place this year from June 2 to 5.
Affordable hotels in Europe
No matter where you’re off to in 2017, you can search for hotels on EuroCheapo. Check out our expert hotel reviews to start planning your trip!
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