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Best hidden gems in Germany

The 13 Best Hidden Gems in Germany

Discover the Best Hidden Gems in Germany, the top-rated off the beaten path destinations in Germany.

 

From Wuppertal to Sylt visit the lesser known secret destinations in Germany that you've probably never heard of.

 

Magical Secret Spots in Germany and the Best Germany Hidden Attractions are waiting for you.

 

Germany overflows with beautiful medieval cities, incredible landscapes and unspoiled nature. If you want to think outside the box, check out a selection of some of the best hidden gems in Germany.

 

Germany will unveil her most beautiful secret destinations: untold wild beaches, incredible secret cities where the metro soars through the air, undderrated destinations in Germany that seem straight out of a snow globe or a children's story.

 

Book your flights and accommodation at the best price as well as your tours and activities in Germany and discover Wuppertal, Ladenburg, Freudenberg,...some of the best hidden gems of Germany.

  


Best hidden gems in Germany - Trier - copyright Petair - European Best Destinations
©Petair

1. Trier

Rhineland Palatinate

This city in the Moselle region is one of the oldest in Germany, it is also one of the Best Secret Spots in Germany.

 

You will see many remains of its Roman era, such as the “Porta Nigra”, a huge fortified gate which is one of the symbols of the city of Trier.

 

Trier is also a great destination for a romantic city break or for Christmas shopping when the town becomes a magical destination, a perfect destination to celebrate Christmas with the family or simply to take a stroll in the Christmas market.

 

Book your flights to Trier or Luxembourg as well as your accommodation at the best price and discover one of the Most Amazing Hidden Gems to Visit in Germany.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Trier airport or via Luxembourg airport, located 40 minutes by car from Trier.

 

Where to stay: Vienna House Easy Trier” is a 4-star hotel particularly appreciated by travellers.

 


Best hidden gems in Germany - Wuppertal - Copyright seen0001 - European Best Destinations
©seen0001

2. Wuppertal

North Rhine - Westfalia

Just 30 minutes by car or train from Düsseldorf Airport, Wuppertal may be one of the less known destinations in Germany but it worth the trip.

 

120 years ago, this industrial city was the first to make the futuristic choice of a subway suspended in the air. Still in operation, this 13-kilometre monorail is one of the symbols of Wuppertal, one of your Best Hidden Gems in Germany.

 

You will feel like you are in an amusement park, flying over the rivers and parks of Wuppertal on board this original and very rare form of public transport in Europe.

 

Book your flights to Düsseldorf as well as your accommodation at the best price and your tours and activities in Düsseldorf or book your accommodation directly in Wuppertal.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Düsseldorf (30 min by car, 50 min by public transport).

 

Where to stay: "Park Villa", is a 4-star hotel located in the historic heart of the city.

 


Best hidden gems in Germany - Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Copyright MarinaDa - European Best Destinations
©MarinaDa

3. Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Bavaria

This is one of our favourite cities in Germany. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is what you might call a postcard town in Germany.

 

Everything is beautiful, authentic, traditional, colourful, charming. Rothenburg is really one of the Best fairy tale destinations in Germany.

 

The city is beautiful at any time of the year, but we recommend that you visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber in spring or in December.

 

Awarded as one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe, you will experience a moment of pure magic by booking your accommodation at the best price in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Nuremberg (1 hour by car, 2 hours by train) and discover one of the most beautiful hidden gems of Germany.

 

Where to stay: "Hotel Reichs-Küchenmeister” is a historic 4-star hotel located in the heart of the medieval old town. 

 


Best Hidden gems in Germany - Bremen  - Copyright RossHelen- European Best Destinations
©RossHelen

4. Bremen

Bremen is a port city located in the north of Germany. Despite being one of the largest cities in the country, it remains a hidden gem for travellers looking for off the beaten path destinations to visit in Germany.

 

Thanks to the port, Bremen is a rich city with a very pretty historic centre surrounded by medieval ramparts.

 

Travellers also like the "Marktplatz", the market square on which stands the "Rathaus", the former town hall which now houses a restaurant offering more than 500 German wines.

 

Book your flights to Bremen and your accommodation at the best price as well as your tours and activities in Bremen, such as a walking tour of the medieval Schnoor neighbourhood.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Bremen or Hamburg (1h30 by car - 2h by train).

 

Where to stay: Monopol Boutique Hotel”, one of our bestsellers in Bremen.

 


Best Hidden gems in Germany - Ladenburg- Copyrignt nnattalli  - European Best Destinations
©nnattalli

5. Ladenburg

Baden-Württemberg

Considered by historians to be one of the oldest cities in Germany, the city of Ladenburg is one of the best hidden gems of Germany.

 

Ladenburg is no longer the most important city in the region today as it is surrounded by very important cities such as Mannheim or Heidelberg; however, it remains one of the most beautiful secret cities in Germany and is worth the trip for a city break outside of the big cities or for a short afternoon excursion.

 

If you want to stay nearby, book your accommodation at the best price in Heidelberg, one of the Best Places to Visit in Germany.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Mannheim Airport (10 min) or Frankfurt Airport (1h).

 

Where to stay: Located 10km from Ladenburg, "Hotel Panorama" is located in the centre of Heidelberg.

 


Best hidden gems in Germany - Bamberg - Copyright Feel-good-studio  - European Best Destinations
©Feel-good-studio

6. Bamberg

Bavaria

This charming town in Bavaria was voted by the Germans as Germany's most pleasant city to live in. They love their city and it's a safe bet that you too will fall in love with Bamberg one of the Best Secret Spots to visit in Germany.

 

Bamberg is located just 40 minutes by car or train from the city of Nuremberg.

 

Come and walk among the baroque style houses and medieval churches of this city which, like Rome or Lisbon, is built on 7 hills.

 

Bamberg has remained intact over the centuries and has even been spared the bombings of WWII because it had no significant industry.

 

Do you want to make your stay unforgettable? Book your tours and activities in Bavaria, such as a “2-hour guided walking tour of Bamberg”.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Nuremberg (50 min by car, 1 hour 30 minutes by public transport) or Frankfurt (2 hours).

 

Where to stay: Our best seller in Bamberg is the "Best Western Hotel Bamberg Nichtraucherhotel".

 


Best hidden gems in Germany  - Freiburg Im Breisgau - Copyright  canadastock - European Best Destinations
© canadastock

7. Freiburg Im Breisgau

Baden-Württemberg

Located at the foot of the Black Forest mountains, this town is one of the largest in this fabulous region.

 

You will quickly feel very comfortable in Freiburg im Breisgau, one of the Best Hidden Gems in Germany, because its historic centre is on at human scale and so very charming.

 

In addition, the city is one of the pioneers in environmental conservation and also one of the leading university cities in Germany.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Basel Airport in Switzerland, just a 50-minute drive from the city of Freiburg im Breisgau.

 

Where to stay: The "Hotel Barbara" is an elegant hotel located in the heart of Freiburg im Breisgau.

 


Best hidden gems in Germany - Freudenberg - Copyright Dr-Norbert-Lange- European Best Destinations
©Dr-Norbert-Lange

8. Freudenberg

This magnificent city is one of the Epic Places in Germany most Germans dont know about.

 

How not to fall under the spell of these astonishing half-timbered houses which all seem identical and yet are all different.

 

Most of them were built in the 17th century after a terrible fire that ravaged almost the entire town of Freudenberg.

 

Book your flights to Cologne Airport and hop in your rental car to explore Freudenberg. You can book your hotel at the best price in Cologne or decide to stay one or two nights in Freudenberg.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Cologne (50 min by car).

 

Where to stay: Hostel die Wohngemeinschaft” for its value for money and its incredible baroque and wacky decoration.

 


Best hidden gems in Germany - Bastei Bridge - Copyright-Wolfgang-Zwanzger- European Best Destinations
©-Wolfgang-Zwanzger

9. Bastei Bridge

Saxon Switzerland National Park - Lohmen

Located to the east of the very pretty city of Dresden, Saxon Switzerland National Park is one of the Best Hidden Gems of Germany.

 

These incredible rock formations, called “Bastei”, attract travellers each year who follow unique destinations. This landscape is the natural result of water erosion over millennia.

 

Sensing the tourist interest of this site, already coveted by painters in the 19th century, the authorities have built a stone bridge that crosses the rock formations and allows travellers to  discover one of the Best Secret Spots in Germany.

 

Book your flights and accommodation at the best price as well as your tours and activities in Dresden, such as a "hike through the national park in Saxon Switzerland from Dresden".

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Dresden and drive 2 hours to Lohmen.

 

Where to stay: "Hotel & Ferienwohnungen Ettrich" offers a wonderful view of the Elbe and the Bastei rock formation.

 


Best hidden gems in Germany - Sylt  - Copyright Pawel-Kazmierczak - European Best Destinations
©Pawel-Kazmierczak

10. Sylt

Sylt Island

How many people know that Germany has islands? Not one or two but ten islands!

 

Wild, unspoiled, often car-free and eco-friendly, these islands are perfect destinations for travellers who want to breathe and discover off the beaten path destinations in Germany.

 

Sylt is the largest of the islands with an area of almost 100 km2. It is large enough to accommodate every weekend of the year as well as in July and August, the Hamburgers who flee the city to enjoy a few days at the beach with family or friends.

 

The easiest way to reach Sylt is to book your flights to Hamburg and to travel by car or train to Westerland via the Danish island of Rømø. Are you lost? Some companies like KLM offer direct flights to Sylt Airport.

 

Book your flights and your accommodation at the best price and enjoy an unforgettable holiday on one of the most beautiful German islands.

 

How to get there: Book your direct flights to  to Sylt or go through Hamburg (by plane or car).

 

Where to stay:  "Hotel Miramar" for its terraces with sea views. A 5-star hotel for an unforgettable stay on the island of Sylt.

 


Best hidden gems in Germany - Wismar - Copyright aMiaFotografia  - European Best Destinations
©aMiaFotografia

11. Wismar

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site for the beauty of its historic centre, Wismar is still one of the underrated destinations in Germany, although increasingly trendy with travellers who think outside the box.

 

Did you know that Wismar was, a century ago, a city occupied by the Swedes? 

 

It became a German city again in 1903. The inhabitants are not resentful of this Swedish occupation, since each year they celebrate the end of summer, a typical Swedish holiday in the port of Wismar.

 

Wismar has an airport, but you are more likely to have direct connections by booking your flights to Lübeck or Rostock Airport, which is an hour by car or train from Wismar.

 

Book your accommodation at the best price in Wismar and treat yourself to a German-Swedish getaway in a multicultural city.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Wismar or Lübeck or even Rostock (1 hour by car).

 

Where to stay: The "Denkmal 13" hotel is a favourite among travellers who have stayed in Wismar. 

 


Best hidden gems in Germany - Cochem copyright leoks - European Best Destinations
©leoks

12. Cochem

Moselle

Cochem, this charming German town crossed by the Moselle is one of the Best Hidden Gems of Germany.

 

Located a 1.5-hour drive from Cologne, it is the perfect destination for a getaway from the big cities. The Moselle is a region renowned worldwide for the quality of its wines.

 

Cochem is a perfect choice for a gastronomic, historical or simply romantic stay in one of the Best Secret Places in Germany.

 

Book your flights to Cologne Airport and set off by train or car to explore Cochem and its sublime castle overlooking the Moselle valley.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Frankfurt (1h30 by car) or Bonn / Cologne Airport (1h30). Allow 2:30 if you take public transport.

 

Where to stay: "Hotel Zehnthof" This family-run hotel offers beautiful, spacious rooms in the historic heart of the city of Cochem.

 


Best hidden gems in Germany - Lindau copyright Oleksiy Mark - European Best Destinations
©Oleksiy Mark

13. Lindau

Bavaria

Bavaria is one of the most beautiful regions in Germany. Germany’s most incredible castles are in Bavaria as well as some of the most beautiful German cities.

 

Do not miss a visit to Lindau but especially the island of Lindau, a small island on the shores of Lake Constance which is home to the historic centre of Lindau.

 

Close to the border with Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein, you will be spoiled for choice for your landing spot.

 

Book your flight and accommodation at the best price in Lindau and your tours and activities in Bavaria, such as a "Day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle" and discover one of the Best Secret Towns in Germany.

 

How to get there: Book your flights to Zurich Airport (1h by car) or Basel (2h by car). 

 

Where to stay: The "Hotel Garni Brugger" has a relaxation room, steam room and sauna.

 


 

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