Driving Inspiration: Germany
Destinations and ideas for places to go and things to do on road trips in Germany.
Fall in love with the Romantic Road
A stunning drive through some of Germany’s most spectacular landscapes and beautiful towns. Stopping at fairytale castles, idyllic villages and historic castles, you will surely be seduced by the charms of the ‘Romantische Straße’.
The Romantic Road is a 220 mile (355km) route, mainly in Bavaria, devised by the German Tourist Board in the 1950s to encourage post-war visitors. It takes drivers from Würzburg on the River Main to Füssen in the Alpine foothills, passing through towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Donauwörth and the city of Augsburg.
We have put together a 3-day itinerary, giving you plenty of time to fall in love with the Romantic Road, before journey's end at the showstopping Neuschwanstein castle.
Berlin on a shoestring
There’s no need to miss out when saving money in Berlin. The German capital has a surprising amount of cost-effective or entirely free things to do.
Berlin is such a fascinating city that sometimes the best way to appreciate it is on foot, although getting around on the tram network or U-Bahn (underground) is still cheap. Some museums are free and there are wonderful parks like the Tiergarten to explore.
Some of the biggest attractions in Berlin don't cost a cent to visit. They include the Brandenburg Gate, the city's most iconic and historic landmark, and the Reichstag's roof terrace and dome, designed by Norman Foster, is free to visit, and also includes an optional guided tour (but you will need to book in advance). Large sections of the Berlin Wall are still standing, and the Topography of Terror, an immersive museum about the rise of the Nazis and the Cold War, is free too.
Autumn in the Black Forest
The Black Forest ('Schwarzwald') in south-western Germany inspired Grimm's fairy tales, gave birth to the cuckoo clock and still retains a sense of darkness and mystery. But in autumn the Black Forest takes on a different hue as the seasons change. The glorious golds, oranges and reds make one of Germany’s most unspoilt and traditional regions even more beautiful.
The autumn months are the perfect time to visit the Black Forest - you’ll visit picturesque mountain villages, see spectacular landscapes, get pampered in spa resorts and, yes, see the world's largest cuckoo clock! Follow the 64 km long ‘Schwarzwaldhochstraße’ from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt, the 267 km Clock Route (‘Deutsche Uhrenstraße’), or plot your own road trip exploring this enchanting part of Germany.
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