Germany travel

For a weekend getaway, we travel to Berlin, a young capital on the move, vibrant and captivating, both urban and green, and a blend of East and West, imperial and Soviet, neoclassical and designer styles. The city is vast, with many districts. Unter den Linden and its Baroque past, Prenzlauer Berg, a hub of creative and alternative culture, the Saint Nicholas district and its neoclassical atmosphere. One cannot miss the Brandenburg Gate, the Jewish Museum, the Pinakothek, the Reichstag, the Baroque Charlottenburg Palace or the Museum of Contemporary Art. If you’re craving greenery, head to Tiergarten, the city’s green lung.

With a past in maritime trade, the merchant cities of Northern Europe - embodied by Hamburg -have undergone a fascinating transformation that deserves a visit over a weekend, or even a longer journey in Germany. From Bremen to Lübeck, the characteristic red brick is ever-present, as are the medieval alleyways, churches and market squares. But now they share the cities with a new, creative atmosphere, ports and warehouses transformed into trendy spots, art galleries, great restaurants, museums of all kinds… The charm of the old with the energy of the new.

We love Munich, the capital of Bavaria and the second most visited city in Germany after Berlin, for its rich architectural heritage - sometimes neoclassical, sometimes Baroque - its quality of life, pleasant terraces, large parks, new avant-garde landmarks, and its pedestrian centre. On a trip to Munich, you should not miss the Frauenkirche “Cathedral of Our Dear Lady”, St Michael’s Church, the Alte Pinakothek, Marienplatz or Nymphenburg Palace. With its picture-postcard landscapes, Bavaria charms just as much with its flower-filled meadows, wooden chalets and hilltop castles. Hohenschwangau Castle, Linderhof Castle, Neuschwanstein Castle and the Pilgrimage Church of Wies are among the region’s unmissable sights.