What Guidebooks Won't Tell You About Places to Visit in Germany

Decidedly gritty and blatantly irreverent, Berlin is almost notorious for its reputation as the coolest city in the world. Berlin doesn't glitter with glamour like Paris or bustle with energy like London. Unlike other European capitals, Berlin is unpolished and understated and yet, an absolute delight.

Places to visit in Germany:

Getting around in Berlin

Cycling is one of the best ways to get around Berlin. The faultlessly maintained cycle lanes are easy to navigate, often segregated from pedestrians and are used by more than half a million Berliners everyday.

The public transportation infrastructure includes the U-Bahn (underground trains), S-Bahn (hybrid underground and street level), trams and buses.

One of Berlin's biggest tourist traps is worth a visit, if only to observe the slightly absurd, but entirely self-aware spectacle of watching tourists pose for pictures with men dressed in military costumes. What used to be a US Army Checkpoint to control movement of people between East and West Berlin, is today a monument to the Cold War, appropriately flanked by a glittering McDonalds in the background.

A 1.3 km riverside stretch of what used to be the Berlin Wall, is now called the East-side Gallery. A spectacular community art project, the wall is now a canvas for local and international artists, and also an awesome space for commissioned exhibitions.

In many ways, Kreuzberg has come to define present-day Berlin. Unapologetically gritty, Kreuzberg is what other cities try to be when they 'experiment' with the alternative (usually pre-gentrification) community art projects. But in Kreuzberg, the art is effortless, organic and everywhere; integrated within the very fabric of the neighbourhood.

Berlin Mitte is the city's classical European heart. Elaborate neoclassical and Baroque architecture, magnificent monuments, stone-arch bridges, intricate statues and fountains; this is where the pre-war glory of Berlin thrives, immaculately preserved.

Museum Island is a UNESCO world heritage site built on an island on the river Spree, housing five museums, all within minutes of each other. The Mitte is also home to at least 14 other museums and several temporary exhibits.

Brandenburg Gate is perhaps Berlin's most photographed monument. The gate is also mired in Berlin's political history and is to this day, periodically hosts political events and demonstrations.

The Brandenburg gate leads to Tiergarten, one of the largest urban parks and one of the most stellar places to visit in Germany. The perfect place to spend an afternoon under the sun. Au naturale, if you dare, but only in designated areas (look for signs reading FKK) .

Right by Brandenburg gate is the Reichstag building, which is the legislative centre of Berlin. The dome on the roof of the Reichstag is a massive tourist attraction for a spectacular panorama of Berlin Mitte.

Visit the local markets

The Turkish Market by the canal is a little bit of Istanbul, whipped up with classic Berlin. A great place to buy local art and experience real Berlin.

Markethalle Neun is Kreuzberg's world-famous farmer's market and a melting pot of German and contemporary world cuisine. A few steps from U-Bahn, this needs to be must-visit on every food-lover's itinerary.

Germany's second largest city has a sophisticated demeanour, behind which lurks mischief and abandon. Hamburg is considerably smaller than Berlin, more tight-night and connected, and yet thoroughly eclectic when it comes to art and music.

Getting around in Hamburg

The U-Bahn is the best way to explore most of Hamburg's sights. A lot of walking will inevitably be involved. A single day pass for unlimited use of all public transport costs €6.20 a day for adults, €2.30 for children aged 6 to 14. Bike rentals are available, but not as accessible or widely advertised as in Berlin

The newest part of a thousand year old city, HafenCity is one of Europe's largest rebuilding projects. What was historically a commercial harbour with hundreds of warehouses, is now converted to hotels, restaurants, residential and public spaces. The neighbourhood is still a work in progress, with many upscale residential buildings in the pipeline.

Through the bridges and the winding roads you will eventually land up on to the Port of Hamburg, a lively boardwalk which is perfect for an afternoon stroll and people watching. Buskers and street performers keep the energy up, against a beautiful backdrop of the city's harbour.

Ferry 62 to Finkenwerder follows a popular tourist route through the historic port of Hamburg, stopping at the the Fischmarket and Dockland along the way. Tourist boats normally charge upwards of €15 for the tour, whereas the same trip on the public ferry is € 3.20 (or free if you've already paid for the day-ticket). You can chose to return back to Landungsbrücken or get off at any of the stops. The whole round-trip takes about an hour.

Home to the city's hippest clubs and a red light district, Reeperbahn is where Hamburg goes a little naughty. Here you can witness some of the world's most iconic music and dance venues (there are hundreds), peek inside the sex-shops (there are many), or take it all in from the sidelines at Beatles Platz.

A short walk from the train station, the Hamburg Rathaus building is a beautiful backdrop to the immense waterside plaza in the heart of the city.

A few steps from the Rathaus Platz is Alster Lake, where visitors can take boat trips for some gorgeous vistas of the city and the surrounding greenery. Jogging tracks and sunbathing areas line the lakeside and in the winters, the lake can sometimes even freeze over. The last time this happened was in 2012.

Places to visit around Hamburg

Wadden Sea National Park on Germany's northwestern coast is a popular day-trip from Hamburg. Ferries run from Landungsbrücken, all the way to the island of Neuwerk in the North Sea (5 hrs). Also, the cities of Bremen and Hanover are both just over an hour away from Hamburg.

Hailed as the beer-capital of the world, Munich has always attracted the crowds on accounts of Bavarian brewing skills, especially during Oktoberfest when (seemingly) the entire continent, if not most of the western world comes down to participate in the annual celebration of Bavarian pride. There's much more to Munich than the city's approach to beer and word seems to be getting around.

Getting around in Munich

Cycles are pretty mainstream, as is the case with most of Germany, although renting one is not as easy as in Berlin. The U/S-Bahn and tram network will take you pretty much anywhere. A day ticket costs €6.40, but if you are staying longer, the 3-day ticket costs €16.

For centuries, Marienplatz has been the commercial and political heart of München. Today it is dominated by the towers of the New City hall, the Mariensäule column, and surrounded by churches and mansions showcasing the city's Gothic legacy.

Stroll on around the corner to Viktualienmarkt for some fine Bavarian delicacies, bakeries and local produce. Munich's beloved farmer's market is one of the best places to get fed in the city.

The largest city palace in Germany, is among the most elaborate residential buildings in the world. It's impossible to take it all in in one visit, so don't even try. Completed over four centuries, the Residenz spans multiple architectural styles. Don't miss 'The Renaissance Antiquarium', the most lavish and the oldest buildings in the Residenz.

The Dachau concentration camp was the first and longest running concentration camp in Nazi Germany. Today, the place stands as a memorial to the lives lived and lost here during the 12 years of this camp's operations (1933 to 1945).