Escaping Heat: Best Thing To Do In Germany This Summer

by Dan Cole

Escaping Heat: Best Thing To Do In Germany This Summer

30 Apr 2024

There are far few countries in this world that have a landscape as beautifully rich and varied as Germany. From the shores of the River Rhine to the lush slopes of the Alps, the European state has a nearly endless amount of alluring locations to visit. Each exquisite location comes with a plethora of activities to engage in: sporting trips and outdoor adventures to get the heart pumping, as well as mind racing. With so much on offer, here are some of the best things to do in Germany this summer.

Alpine adventures

Bavaria is a paradise for cultural enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. The German state is covered in rich green fields, forests, and natural parks. A slew of beautiful historic castles and villages are dotted throughout the landscape. And, on the southern cusp of the region, just an hour outside of Munich on the train, stand the magnificent Bavarian Alps.

Photo: Peter Ford

Stretching for 100 km, the breathtaking mountain range, with its snow-covered peaks, glacial lakes, and traditional huts, attracts hikers, climbers, and bikers from across the world. During the summer months — once the winter snow has subsided — the Alpine environment turns into a frenzy, where hiking trails fill up with locals and internationals alike.

The mountain trails vary in difficulty, ranging from the ambitious — such as those that ascend to the tip of the region's highest point, Zugspitze — to the more casual. Most trailheads are easily accessible with public transport, with traditionally styled, rustic mountain huts providing respite and refreshments for those physically robust enough to reach them.

Zugspitze. Photo: Lennart Borstelmann

Tegernsee and Chiemsee, both offer a range of wonderful hiking opportunities that take you across the stunning Alpine range, rewarding each climber with stunning views of the lakes and landscapes below. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, located next to Zugspitze and the magnificent Eibsee, is a great starting point for reaching several hiking routes. One of the area’s best hiking routes can be found here, leading up the Partnach Gorge, and into the stunning Reintal Valley.

Chiemsee. Photo: Dan Cole

The Romantic Road

Staying in Bavaria, and swapping the slopes for the saddle, the state also offers bountiful opportunities for biking. One of the country's very best biking routes, from the very top, to the bottom of the state; The Romantic Road (Romantische Straße). 440 km in total, the bike route stretches from the historic town of Würzburg, all the way to Füssen, on the Austrian border.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Photo: Roman Kraft

The relatively flat cycling route comes with an abundance of camping and accommodation options, many of which are affiliated with the national Bike + Bett program. It also passes through Bavaria's most picturesque towns and villages. Along the route, the journey takes in the sites of Donauwörth, Nördlingen, and the picture-postcard Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which is often listed as one of the must-see sites in Germany. And, as the bike route starts to ascend slightly, as it approaches the Alpine region towards the end, the trail passes the mighty Neuschwanstein Castle.

Saxony Switzerland

When it comes to nature, nothing quite beats the strikingly scenic Saxony Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz) national park. The rugged, hilly landscape is filled with scenic Sandstone mountains and rock formations, all of which hug the winding Elbe River. Hidden in the higher grounds are old medieval castles, quaint wooden restaurants, and historic villages.

Sächsische Schweiz. Photo: HUSQY _OFFICIAL

The iconic sandstone formations run throughout the area and even across the Czech border. They help depict a picturesque world that has been the subject of many romantic-era painters, and it's easy to see why. Beyond nature, the national park also boasts the magnificent Bastei Bridge, small river gondolas, an industrial-era streetcar, natural spas, and much, much more.

For hikers, there are countless paths that wind through the natural surroundings. One of the most famous is the Malerweg — the painter's path — a route that runs for 116 km through the park, across the rugged terrain and across the river. It's an inspirational route, that provided mainly of the inspirational touchpoints for the painters of old.

Moselle addling

Away from the mountain and onto to the waterways, Germany has over 7,000 km of interconnected rivers, canals, and lakes, many of which are perfect for kayaking, canoeing, and other such water sports.

Over in the west of the country, one such river is noted for its stunning beauty, history, and gastronomy: the Moselle. Along the river, one can find historic Roman ruins, ancient castles, monasteries, and much more. The winding river stretches from Koblenz, where it meets the River Rhine, all the way to Trier and across the border into Luxembourg.

Photo: Dan Cole

Thanks to an industrial water management programme, the Moselle is no longer a fast-flowing, energetic waterway. This makes it more than ideal for water sports, with many canoe and kayak rental points located along the river. One of the most alluring routes starts in the town of Piesport and heads downstream to the market town of Bernkastel-Kues, famed for its narrow Fachwerk architecture and shopping.

Berlin, the capital of culture

Exhausted from a sleuth of activities, then finish your summer off by enriching your cultural palette in the country’s historical centre. Berlin is awash with cultural institutions, from museums, to galleries, concert halls, and much more.

The summer months provide an abundance of open-air activities for visitors to engage in. From the airport-turned neighbourhood park at Tempelhof, to the sprawling parks that run through the city, Berlin has an abundance of food-festivals, outdoor installation pieces to enjoy throughout the summer.

Photo: Claudio Schwarz

In June alone, there is The Classic Open-Air festival at Gendarmenmarkt; Fête de la Musique, a series of free concerts that take place throughout the city; and 48 Stunden Neukölln, an arts-and-music event that takes place in galleries and shops throughout one of the city’s southern-most districts.

by Dan Cole