7-10 days in Germany. What is the Most Beautiful Region?

Easy to answer for me :-)

I'm a Munich local and of course for me Bavaria (north and south of Munich) is a gem. But my heart is beating faster when I think about the German Baltic Coast. This is my favorite region in all Germany.

I'm a fan of staying in a region. Germany is too big to race the country.

I agree about Bavaria being the most beautiful. I'm also loving the Tirol region or western Austria--just south of Bavaria. The mountains in those areas are just breathtaking.

I've also been to Warnemunde on the Baltic Coast, and would relate it to the beaches of Florida. Pretty flat up there.

While Bavaria is beautiful, for cities and attractions Berlin is probably a place you want to see if only once. The nice thing about Germany is their high speed rail.(Don't say that to a German). You can pretty much go from north to south in 8 hours or so.

It is hard to say, but I very much like the Mosel between Luxembourg and where it empties into the Rhine.

On the other hand the Fachwerkstraße in Hesse has gorgeous buildings.

I think it depends on what sort of beauty you are looking for. The modern repurposing of huge disused industrial facilities in the Ruhr and in the Saarland are unique, thoughtful and thought provoking in their own way. Particularly in much of the Ruhr and well demonstrated in Neunkirchen east of Saarbrücken in Saarland (other towns with similar names exist).

Bavaria, then the Mosel Valley and Black Forest.

Bavaria is quite large and quite diverse. From the Austrian border, it stretches north almost to Frankfurt. Some of Bavaria is beautiful, some not so much. I suspect it's the extreme southern part Bavaria, near the Austrian and Swiss borders, which most people think of as Bavaria - places with ski resorts, Alps, and mountain lakes, with names like Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, Berchtesgaden, and Füssen. Most would fly into Munich for such destinations.

The Mosel Valley is indeed beautiful - and so is the Middle Rhine Valley, an official UNESCO World Heritage site for many good reasons. Both are filled to the brim with castles, attractive old-world towns, vineyards and wineries, river cruise opportunities, and biking/hiking options. The rivers meet in Koblenz and flow north from there to Cologne and onward.

Rhine/Mosel area map with railways and towns

Rail service in these river valleys is excellent. It is very easy to visit both valleys with 7-10 days, and Frankfurt Airport, closer to the Rhine than the Mosel, makes for easy access. Düsseldorf Airport might also work well. Luxembourg airport is closer to the Mosel Valley and might also be convenient.

Season matters. In winter, I guess Baden Würtemburg is a bit sunnier.

In summer, Schleswig-Holstein plus Hamburgis cooler weather wise. Both the North sea and Baltic coasts have their charms.

Totally biased for the north. I mean, I love the mountains of Bavaria, and the Black Forest, the Harz, and the Rhein are all amazing. But to breathe in the fresh breeze (stiff wind to most people), watch the reeds waving, see the water play across the Watt, see the red cliffs of Helgoland, to drive through birch forests or hike through sand dunes covered in pines, to see seals, birch forests, heath, reed roofed brick homes, and true rural life . . . .

You'll get those things in the north.

My vote goes to the North . I mean specifically Schleswig-Holstein, the northern part of Lower Saxony, and Brandenburg,... intriguing, scenically enticing , captivating, and serene, My travels in these lovely regions are always done in the summer.

Is that natural beauty or historical beauty?

In my case it is both.

The Baltic as well as the North Sea coast and islands having an incredible landscape to offer (not only talking about beaches). It is on the North Sea side this unique Wadden Sea National Park and on the Baltic side the almost untouched nature.

It is this typical northern maritime feeling, the people and their great sense of humor and of course the historical beauty. The Hanseatic League left an amazing cultural heritage you still enjoy today in cities like Lübeck. I'm a huge fan of this typical red brick architecture. And my favorite German city, Hamburg, you find there as well.

Bavaria is first of all home. But of course I'm in love with this gorgeous landscape south of Munich all the way to the Alps. Little villages and people deeply rooted in their tradition making it perfect for me.

And as well I like Franconia and its picturesque towns and villages a lot. The people are different in Bavaria's protestant north but nonetheless as nice as people south of Munich.

And not to forget about Munich my beloved home town. Except Hamburg this is the only place I want to live. Full of history and tradition but modern at the same time is this liberal capital a bastion in conservative Bavaria. Somehow quite busy but relaxed as well. And living without a real Munich Beer Garden would be almost impossible :-)
There are some sayings describing Munich very well:
- Village of the millions
- Live and let live
- Laptop and Lederhosen

Well, I love all the areas of Germany I’ve been to, but if I were to go back, I would head for the northern area. I would love to explore more of that and get to see all the places I didn’t get to see when I was there last year and back in 2010. I haven’t been there enough to really give you a good idea of what areas would be best; for that, I suggest you look at the others posts here. But I’m just putting in my vote for the north as well.

Mignon, I briefly lived in Munich (okay, technically outside of Freising), but I am a northerner first and foremost. SH, not MV, but I find MV absolutely gorgeous and on our list for more explorations this summer. And we agree on Munich / Bavaria AND on the north and Hamburg! We really should meet up sometime.

I was going to add that perhaps one of the most overlooked places of natural beauty in Germany is the Elbtalaue. We had to drive through the villages of Dannenberg and Gusborn last year, and it was one of the prettiest drives in Germany I have ever been on.

I train search and rescue dogs, and we are always training in super rural areas of SH. Neufeld is a really cute little harbour, and it's near the Seal Station at Friedrichskoog and not far from Wilster, a super adorable town. And an event I did was in Büchen, and the nature there was gorgeous as well, even in the rain.

We went to a wedding in Ostfriesland (Aurich) and wound up in the stunning village of Greetsiel last summer. HIGHLY recommend this place, and if you know the German comedian Otto, you will love the nearby Pilsumer Leuchtturm and the town of Emden.

And again, that's not really touching on MV and all its amazing towns and beautiful capital or the cities of Hamburg and Bremen. Or the Lüneburger Heide.

The north is really an underrated gem of natural beauty with tons of history, mostly maritime (Hanseatic, Viking, and of course full of pirates), and untouched rural beauty. It's truly special.

I am definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference!

My favorite areas are the southern Bavarian mountains/Alps. The Main Franken Wine region too. I also enjoy the eastern Bavarian mountains and The Sachsen Ore mountains. I've tried the North Sea and Baltic Sea a few times, but it just does not do it for me. Probably won't be going back to the Spreewald or Harz either. Baden Wurtenburg and Hessen have been nice and surprising at times. I can understand the "Wow" of the Mosel and Rhein, but a visit or two is enough. Dead area in winter. I travel by car and enjoy nature, landscapes and the lesser traveled road. I vacation a lot in Austria and Südtirol too.

@HowlinMad

I'm born in Munich and actually I'm not having any roots in SH or MV but somehow it is calling my name. And even more strange same for my sister. Since many years she is working in SH as a secondary school teacher. Maybe we should do some genealogical research........

I will be in MV (Ahrenshoop and Stralsund) in May :-)

@mchpp

What is so great about Germany is the variety. Regardless what you are up to you will find it.

For me it's my home region - National Park Saxon Switzerland and surroundings which include Dresden and the Elbe river valley down to Meissen, the rolling hills of Upper Lausitz and the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge).

https://www.saechsische-schweiz.de/en/region/highlights
(Some pictures to enjoy ...)

"The North is really an underrated gem of natural beauty...." How true ! So aptly described in the famous verse, " Die graue Stadt am grauen Meer...."

I’m partial to the lakes region just south of Munich but in my last trip I spent about a week in Franconia hiking (stayed at my favorite brewery Lindenbräu) and it is a much hidden gem for most non-German tourists.

DJ

@Mignon -- Sadly, May is quite busy for me as I have visitors every weekend, but we will definitely connect at some point! But of course I can understand why the region would call to you. My bias is showing, but I don't mind that!

@ibrenn -- This is a region I haven't explored yet but is definitely on my list. Every time we have planned to go, something has come up (like a pandemic!) I almost mentioned it as a suggestion, but since I can't speak from personal experience I left it out.

@Fred -- Husum!

Fred, “Die Stadt” ist eines meiner Lieblingsgedichte. So schöne Worte.

@Mardee
Wow your German is excellent.

Vielen Dank! Aber mein Schreiben ist besser als mein Sprechen. 😊 Ich brauche mehr Übung.

@ HowlingMad.....No question that Husum is one of those gems in Schleswig-Holstein, which on this summer's trip is part of my agenda, (yes, it's about time), mostly likely as a day trip from Kiel.

@ Mardee....Prima ! Keep plugging away at acquiring the German. As the proverb says, "Übung macht den Meister." ...sort of the version of "practice makes perfect. "

Aber mein Schreiben ist besser als mein Sprechen. 😊 Ich brauche mehr Übung.

A clear sign that you have to come to Munich soon and we take a walk together and talk and talk :-)

Husum

Oh yes on my agenda as well together with Sankt Peter-Ording and the most famous German lighthouse Westerheversand (a photographer's dream). Can you imagine that I've never been in this area :-)

Mignon, I would love that! Hopefully I will return soon.

By the way, I just looked at your photos that you link to in your profile. They are absolutely beautiful! I didn’t have time to go through them all, but I definitely plan to go back on it some more. Just lovely! You are very talented.

Thanks a lot Mardee

I'd focus on Munich down to Berchtesgaden. Munich is a great city to fly into and out of and spend a few days sightseeing. Then get a car and explore the area. If you have time, Salzburg is great.