Germany has many small towns with plenty of charming, from the Southern Alps to the Rhine River valley and Baltic Sea. And because the country’s extensive public transport system, most people can travel from Germany’s main cities. Because Germany has such a bounty of beautiful, historic, and interesting small towns, each traveler would have had trouble narrowing the selections down to a few. By planning your vacation with the help of this list of the best towns in Germany, will never confuse you.
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1. Schiltach, Baden-Württemberg
Schiltach is a town in the district of Rottweil, in Baden-Württemberg. It is 20 km south of Freudenstadt in the eastern Black Forest, on the river Kinzig. The town has an oceanic climate, like most of Germany. You may see a line of half-timbered houses in the riverbank and scattered throughout the town very charming today. The marketplace includes the four-century old town hall which is equally important. And also you’ll find town’s free museums Museum am Markt, Schüttesage Museum and Apothecary Museum.
2. Bamberg, Bavaria
Situated in the Franconian hills along the confluence of the Main and Regnitz rivers, Bamberg extends over seven hills, each crowned by a beautiful church. The area has an adequate rainfall year-round and has mild differences between highs and lows.
Because of its authentic medieval appearance, the town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Evaded the destruction of World War I and II, allowing the visitors to immerse themselves in thousands of years of culture and history. Likewise, numerous cathedrals are there throughout the town including the Bamberg Cathedral, a late Romanesque building with four towers. On the highest of Bamberg’s seven hills, you’ll see Altenburg, a castle, former residence of the bishops. Another must-see is the Altes Rathaus, a unique structure jutting out over the Regnitz River. Bamberg is popular for its smoked Rauchbier and is home to nine breweries including Schlenkerla and Brauerei Spezial.
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3. Quedlinburg, Saxony-Anhalt
Quedlinburg, is a town in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt just north of the Harz mountains. The town is having an oceanic climate. Town’s largest part is located in the western part of the Bode river valley. This old town, castle and the church were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Having escaped major damage in World War II, Quedlinburg is one of the best-preserved medieval and Renaissance towns in Europe. Walking through the stone-paved streets, you can also trace the history of half-timbered constructions, beginning with one of the oldest half-timbered houses in Germany.
4. Marburg, Hess
By its name, Hesse-Marburg, refers only to the subdivision around Marburg. Basically, the old county. Marburg has more to offer tourists than a storybook setting of steep cobbled streets and half-timbered houses. Elisabethkirche is one of Germany’s oldest pure Gothic cathedrals, and in addition to them its stained-glass windows telling the story of St. Elisabeth’s life are spectacular.
5. Gengenbach, Baden-Württemberg
On the western edge of the Black Forest, Gengenbach is a town in the district of Ortenau, and it is a popular tourist destination. A street of half-timbered houses leads into the Marktplatz, dominated by the Renaissance-style Town Hall. It is in demand for its role in the Christmas market, when its windows become a giant Advent calendar. You can see more of these, as well as hand-carved masks and costumes used during the pre-Lenten celebrations in the Fools Museum Niggelturm, located in a historic tower.
6. Monschau, North Rhine-Westphalia
The town is in the hills of the North Eifel, within the Hohes Venn. Eifel Nature Park in the narrow valley of the Rur river. Behind the town’s popular tourist attraction nowadays, there is the historic town center with many narrow streets. And also there are preserved half-timbered houses which have been remained nearly unchanged for about 300 years. Monschau castle is the most popular. And there are museums which show the civil living culture between the 18th and 19th centuries.
7. Wismar, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Wismar, a town in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, also known by its anglicized name Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Still an important seaport on the Baltic Sea, Wismar is with so much of medieval architecture.
And Wismar’s harbor, the Alter Hafen, is so well preserved that it looks like a stage set-as indeed it has been for several films. Fishing boats line the quay and sell fresh seafood sandwiches called fischbrötchen at lunchtime, and several boats offer sailing cruises. And also, Wismar was named, along with the neighboring ports of Rostock and Stralsund, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
8. Cochem, Rhineland-Palatinate
Cochem is in the Kusel district, falls just behind Kusel, as Germany’s second smallest district seat. In town, Cochem’s main square features half-timbered homes, are showcasing the charm that has drawn tourists for centuries. Perched on a hillside above town, Cochem Castle’s Gothic magnificence adds to the spectacular views. There are many others for sightseeing including Cochem Imperial castle, Winneburg castle and Saint Roch’s Plague Chapel.
9. Dinkelsbühl, Bavaria
Dinkelsbühl, considered as one of Germany’s best-preserved towns from the late Middle Ages. Furthermore, it has always been regarded as a magnet for holiday-makers and people seeking rest and relaxation. The town is located at the heart of the Romantic Road, in Romantic Franconia. The townscape has a largely unchanged appearance for over 400 years and presents imposing churches and impressive half-timbered, patrician houses. An afternoon spent exploring the historic streets should definitely include a walk around the city’s fortifications, which wrap around the entire town. Dinkelsbühl is a considered part of the Romantic Road, a one-time trade route that is now touted for tourism.
10. Goslar, Lower Saxony
Goslar is a historic town located the administrative in the center of the district of Goslar. It’s on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and Rammelsberg Mines are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Most of Goslar’s allure lies above ground, notably the city gates and walls, the Imperial Palace, and nearly 50 church spires rising beyond the skyline of timbered homes. The surprisingly windy and narrow streets in Old Town bring visitors past many of these historical wonders. But the view is best taken in from the hilltop location on the Imperial Palace grounds.