Favorite city - Germany

Berlin, a modern, vibrant, rebuilt city but with many layers of history. They built memorials to those they had killed in years past.

Everybody will have a different favorite.
May I suggest you read the thumbnails for cities in Germany here:
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/germany
See which appeals to your interests.
Enjoy planning!

I agree with Liz. We all have our favorites for a variety of reasons and they will all differ. Look for a city that appeals to your interests.

Munich is very quaint and probably the first place most people think of in Germany. You'll find dirndl costumes for sale, beer halls, and a very iconic look to it. Berlin, on the other hand, is (as Suki said), modern and vibrant, with a wealth of history to uncover, and filled with unique places to visit. Hanover is a huge port city with a glorious harbor, a rich history, and sits nestled between the Baltic and the North Sea.

I've been to all three and I could not pick a favorite. If you have the time, I would suggest visiting more than one if you can.

Hamburg is not always included in a "Germany" over view trip. (in my experience, feel free to disagree. There are certainly tourists, but I hear of fewer Americans visiting there than Berlin or Munich. )

I find it an attractive city with canals, lake, historic areas, fine museums and art collections. Good jumping off point for day trips to Bremen, Lubeck, etc.

I certainly agree with the above regarding defining one's interests in determining which cities to visit. I can't say that Hamburg "beats" Berlin or Munich or any of the other many German cities/towns I've visited. Simply mentioning it as a place to consider depending on individual preferences.

Favorite Big City: Berlin. A German take on modern multicultural international city. Many layers of history as mentioned above. My favorite Berlin historical event? The Berlin Airlift. There is so much to do there.

Favorite Mid-Size City: Erfurt. The city largely escaped bombing during WWII and has many half-timbered houses still standing. Many layers of history there, too, as it was part of East Germany. It was the first East German city a West German chancellor visited, and the square where East German citizens welcomed the chancellor with cheers (to the embarrassment of East German officials and the surprise of reporters) bears its post-reunification name of Willy Brandt Platz. There are not very many English speaking visitors here.

Favorite Small City/town: Esslingen. I have to admit I have not been to a lot of small cities in Germany, but Esslingen's WWII industrial sites were on the river, far from the city center, so the city center was largely spared from bombing and has very nice architecture.

It's very hard to pick a single favourite city, there are many great ones in Germany. But if I'd really had to pick one it would probably be Berlin, interesting history, beautiful parks, great culture and amazing museums.

But I do agree that Hamburg is probably the most underrated city in Germany. It's in many ways an amazing city but so many visitors to Germany just ignore it.

If the answer can only be one city in Germany, then it's Berlin....hands down.

Then I like Hamburg and Munich too as urban centers, both of which, like Berlin, I visited on my first trip to Germany and have been the places of repeated visits. That Hamburg is off the North American radar is irrelevant, doesn't concern me.

Re: small places....it's Potsdam, Lüneburg, and Weimar. Super difficult to choose only one.

Favorite large city Berlin
runner up Munich

Favorite medium sized city Augsburg

Favorite small town Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Many thanks for your answers! I will research the suggested cities.

No doubt about it, Berlin. Ditto reasons others have given.

No problem with the Berlin answer. I enjoy Cologne as a casual tourist and museum-goer. Weimar is a very rich literary, musical, artistic, political history destination. Both have good daytrip options as well.

In the top 100 sights and attractions in Germany voting of travelers you will find a lot of German towns and cities which might give a tendency answer as well.

Guess what my favorite large city is? Frankfurt am Main. Ancient, packed full of historical sites, and is far more interesting than some guide books make it out to be. Sometimes you have to dig a little to find the true gems, they may not be as flashy, but are very worthwhile.

Medium city - Potsdam. Charming architecture and it lends itself to strolling everywhere. Sansoucci is gorgeous.

Small city - Büdingen. I love the massive walls, towers, 13 sided castle, and the 100s of half-timbered houses here. Oh, and the frogs.

Many thanks for your answers! I will research the suggested cities.

You might find something of interest here -
The Atlas Obscura Guide To Germany
726 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Germany
https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/germany

Just released is the annual SKL survey about happiness in Germany. Summary:

"Germany is back on the road to happiness. After the deep slump during the coronavirus pandemic, Germans are returning to the happiness levels of the 2010s. General life satisfaction makes a significant leap upwards in 2024. Income satisfaction is also on the rise and the frequency of feelings of happiness is increasing. However, the frequency of negative emotions is also on the rise and satisfaction with family life is disappointingly low. Hamburg replaces Schleswig-Holstein as the most satisfied region in Germany."

Big city: Hamburg. It's a lot about the atmosphere in Hamburg. It's very pleasant. The walking areas around the Elbe River are wonderful. I liked walking the Reeperbahn. The International Maritime Museum is excellent. The St. Nikolai Church memorial was moving.

Berlin is a close second.

Small city: Bamberg, northern Bavaria. Bamberg is packed with culture and history. My favorite site is the beer museum. A close second is the Bamberg Cathedral with Tilman Riemenschneider-carved altar and famed Bamberg Reiter statue; the ETA Hoffman museum was also fascinating; and it's a town made for bicycling. I didn't see the castle that Claus von Stauffenberg's family owns, because I didn't know it was there when I visited in 1996, but I'm told it's moving. I hope to see it when I return to Germany.

Texaskett, could you pls add Germany to your title so I can find this among my Bookmarks in the future? Thanks so much!

Texaskett,
Thanks for editing the title!

Rick always has a bit of a negative spin on Hamburg. Of course I live here, but I do for a reason. I LOVE this city. We have it all, just in a different way than most German or even European cities do. Old parts of town (they are small and spread out because of the WWII destruction between the spared sections), leftist and counter culture, waterfront, WWII points of interest, musicals, nightlife, great connections to beautiful other places to visit, art galleries and museums, bridges, brickwork, pirates, modern buildings and even Airbus . . . . And we are an incredibly green city, with beaches (complete with shipwrecks), parks, sand dunes, and more parks.

It's a great city that is often overlooked.

For me, there is no doubt. Berlin is a unique city in the world. Besides history, it has a modern and grunge atmosphere that makes you fall in love with it. I've been there four times and I can't get enough of it. The last time I went on a guided tour, something I had never done before, and which I recommend 100%. I did the original GuruWalk walking tour Berlin and it was worth it.