#8 best destination in the world
Reichstag Building, Berlin
Best time to travel: May-Sept
Walk difficulty: Easy
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $
- Historic edifice constructed to house the Imperial Diet of the German Empire
- Opened in 1894 and housed the Diet until 1933, when it was severely damaged after being set on fire
- After World War II, the building fell into disuse; the parliament of the German Democratic Republic met in the Palast der Republik in East Berlin, while the parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany met in the Bundeshaus
- The ruined building was made safe against the elements and partially refurbished in the 1960s, but no attempt at full restoration was made until after German reunification in 1990
- After its completion in 1999, it once again became the meeting place of the German parliament: the modern Bundestag
Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau
Best time to travel: Jan-April, Nov-Dec
Walk difficulty: Moderate
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $
- 19th century Romanesque Revival palace on a hill in Bavaria
- Paid for with Ludwig II of Bavaria’s personal fortune and through borrowing, rather than using Bavarian public funds
- Intended as a home for the king, it was opened to the public shortly after his death
Europa-Park, Rust
Best time to travel: April-Oct
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $
- Largest theme park in Germany, opened in 1975, Europa-Park is located in Rust
- The park is home to 13 roller coasters, the oldest, which opened in 1984, is the Alpenexpress Enzian, which is a powered coaster that speeds through a diamond mine
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

Best time to travel: May-Sept
Walk difficulty: Easy
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $
- 18th-century neoclassical monument in Berlin, built on the orders of Prussian king Frederick William II
- One of the best-known landmarks of Germany, it was built on the site of a former city gate that marked the start of the road from Berlin to the town of Brandenburg an der Havel
- Throughout its existence, the Brandenburg Gate was often a site for major historical events and is today considered not only as a symbol of the tumultuous histories of Germany and Europe, but also of European unity and peace
Pergamon Museum, Berlin

Best time to travel: May-Sept
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $
- Building on the Museum Island in the historic centre of Berlin
- It was built from 1910 to 1930 by order of German Emperor Wilhelm II in Stripped Classicism style
- Currently, the Pergamon Museum is home to the Antikensammlung including the famous Pergamon Altar, the Vorderasiatisches Museum and the Museum für Islamische Kunst
Phantasialand, Brühl

Best time to travel: July-Sept
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $
- Theme park in Brühl, opened in 1967, and known for its introduction of new attractions more often compared to other theme parks
- Among the park’s thrill rides is Taron (the world’s fastest multi-launch coaster), Black Mamba (an inverted coaster) and a themed Mine Train roller coaster called Colorado Adventure, which runs among some mountains in the park’s Wild West section
Heide Park, Soltau

Best time to travel: late June-late Aug
Walk difficulty: Moderate
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $
- Theme park in Soltau, it currently has about 40 rides
- One of the main attractions is Colossos – Kampf der Giganten, a wooden roller coaster, which until the opening of Balder, in 2003 in the Swedish amusement park Liseberg, was the steepest wooden roller coaster in the world
- The latest attraction is the wing coaster Flug der Dämonen, Germany’s first wing coaster and reaches a maximum of 4 g positive during the ride