Our Germany Tour – we’re back! What an unforgettable journey through our home country, Germany. We’ve spent the last two months traveling across our country, finding incredibly beautiful places and meeting great people. We’ve visited more than 24 places, traveling by bus, train, car, hitchhiking, and bicycle. We’ve slept in hostels, hotels, apartments, on a houseboat, with friends and readers, as well as on air mattresses and sofas.
- Germany Tour – Our Route Through Our Homeland
- The Most Unforgettable Moments of the Trip
- The Most Beautiful Places in Germany
- Destinations for the Next Tour
- Discover Our Beautiful Homeland, Germany
Germany Tour – Our Route Through Our Homeland
You could probably travel through Germany for several months, but you’ll never see everything. We planned a route in advance that was feasible using public transport and hitchhiking. In the end, everything worked out quite well; we never really had any problems. In eight weeks, we covered more than 3,200 kilometers – crazy, right? And you wait so long for the trip to start and then, whoosh, it’s over again. This trip gave us, showed us, and taught us an incredible amount.
We started in Rostock and Warnemünde. Then we continued on to Hamburg, St. Peter Ording to the North Sea, to Flensburg and Kiel. We really liked the north; we simply love having water around us! We are and will always be coastal children through and through. Slowly, we left the north and made our way to Bremen, Münsterland, the Ruhr area, and finally to Mainz. Along the way, we met some great people and finally had the chance to meet many of our wonderful readers in person.
And we were getting closer and closer to the south. After a detour to Heidelberg and Freiburg, this round trip took us to Lake Constance, back to Marco’s hometown, and right across Bavaria. We hiked in the Alps, sailed around a beautiful mountain lake, and enjoyed a wonderful evening in Munich. The trip concluded with Regensburg, Bamberg, and Leipzig. The route was originally planned a little differently, but we spontaneously changed our minds.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t see everything in Germany, so we cut back and focused on the things we really wanted to do. Toward the end of the trip, we lost interest in big cities and opted for nature and smaller towns. We’ll definitely catch up on a lot of things on one of our next trips.
The Most Unforgettable Moments of the Trip
There are certainly a few moments, but the same thoughts always come to mind when someone asks us this question. Many places remain forever unforgettable, as do many encounters and situations. We’ll try to list the top 5 for you here, even though it’s very difficult for us. In the end, the whole trip was truly an absolute highlight.
Hamburg – Nicola and her “Lotte”
The meeting with Nicola, who invited us to her houseboat, was particularly special. Not only the location in the Vierlanden region (surrounding Hamburg) enchanted us at first sight, but also Nicola herself. We were on the same wavelength from the very beginning; the chemistry was just right. And not to forget the sweet cats who live with Nicola on the houseboat.
At the BBQ on her houseboat terrace, we caught up with each other, shared our travel stories, and laughed a lot. And that’s what happens when you just leave your door open. New people come into your life, each with their own story. Nicola fascinated us with her courage, her story, and her life. Thank you so much, Nicola, for your wonderful hospitality!
Kiel – Our First Time Couchsurfing
Why didn’t we do this much sooner? Our first time, we ended up in a shared apartment with men in the middle of Kiel. The two students were still very young (compared to us), but the chemistry was right. We got to know our friends, relaxed together in the park, cooked together, and talked about anything and everything.
Everything was so easy and uncomplicated. There was enough space to explore the city in peace and completely relaxed. And along the way, we heard exciting stories from “strangers” who became friends by the end of the day. Thanks guys for the time together!
Heidelberg – Work and Travel in a Hostel
Work and travel is only something you do in Australia? Wrong! It even works in Germany! Before we traveled to Heidelberg, we organized a place to sleep in a hostel. But we didn’t just want a free night! No! We wanted to lend a hand and share at least a little of everything we’ve been able to do over the past two months.
And so we were able to do a bit of work at the wonderful Lotte Hostel in Heidelberg for our overnight stays. We cleaned the windows, took the guests on a tour of the castle at sunset, and then went to a bar with the group. That was really cool for us, too, because we got to meet people from Korea, Japan, and Miami. Exchanging ideas about cultural differences is always exciting! This experience was simply fantastic!
Munich – Up Close with Friends
What an evening, what a surprise! As if Bavaria hadn’t blown us away enough already, one highlight followed another. Without any clue, we were “kidnapped” to the Tollwood Festival in Munich by our kind-hearted friend Niklas, whom we had the pleasure of meeting in South Africa.
Everything seemed as if we were going to enjoy a cozy evening with food and drinks. But then a friend of ours pulled concert tickets out of his pocket and took us to the music tent. It wasn’t until the lights went out and Max Herre and Joy Denalane jumped onto the stage that we realized what was happening.
What an AMAZING surprise, friends! We weren’t expecting this at all. It’s been 20 years since Freundeskreis’s debut album was released. We grew up with this music, and many moments from our youth suddenly came flooding back to us! And so we stood there, in the middle of the crowd. We looked at each other, grinned, and looked back at the stage. It wasn’t just a concert in Munich… it was the experience… the music… the people… the moment… the togetherness… the wavelength! Niklas, you’re simply amazing!
A9 – Hitchhiking is awesome and works
Hitchhiking works wonderfully in Germany. We never had to wait very long for someone to pick us up. On the route from Bamberg to Leipzig, we met great people, and we shared a passion with all of them: traveling. Hitchhiking not only saves you a few euros, it’s also incredibly fun. How long will we be stuck? Who will give us a ride? What (life) stories await us?
The unknown is what makes hitchhiking so exciting! In Bamberg, a young couple gave us a lift onto the A9, and from there, we drove 60 kilometers with a woman to the next rest stop. Not even 5 minutes on the side of the road, we were sitting in a woman’s car again, who gave us a ride to Leipzig Airport. Simply magnificent!
The most beautiful places in Germany
Germany – how beautiful you are! We always knew that our home country had a lot to offer, but we somehow hadn’t expected this diversity. Every place was very special, different, and beautiful. So, the decision to name the “best and most beautiful places” wasn’t easy. After all, we haven’t seen everything in Germany yet. We’ll still tell you our favorite places that we discovered during this tour.
St. Peter Ording on the North Sea
We’ve never been to the North Sea before! Who else feels the same? Looking back, that’s a real shame, because this little piece of earth is simply gorgeous. From Hamburg, we took the train to St. Peter Ording. We can’t tell you why we chose this particular place.
It just happened that way. The small spa town is a balm for the soul. These incredibly wide sandy beaches, the unique atmosphere, the rough North Sea, the dunes – words can hardly describe them. Here you can experience a unique short vacation that is sure to bring with it an enormous amount of peace and serenity.
The beautiful city of Heidelberg
The south has so much to offer that it’s hard to decide which place to visit first. A highlight of our tour through Germany was definitely the stop in the beautiful city of Heidelberg. It’s cozy, charming, relaxed, and never stressful. The clocks tick very slowly here, making it incredibly easy to let yourself go.
The old town with its many small alleys is just one highlight among many. You’ll find some great hiking trails, magnificent viewpoints, cool shops, laid-back bars, and plenty of students. Heidelberg is a place where you can happily “hang out” for a few weeks. You can find our best Heidelberg tips here.
The Alps and mountain lakes for the first time
First of all: we had actually planned to stop in Ulm and Augsburg. But we were drawn to nature! Finally, a little dream came true. After a few weeks, we finally reached Bavaria and the Alps. We didn’t wait any longer and plunged straight into the adventure. As much as we long for the sea, we also long for the mountains and nature. We spent the first day in Füssen to see Neuschwanstein Castle.
What an incredibly fairytale-like castle! You have to see it to be believed. We then hiked for almost four hours up to 1,700 meters before reaching the top of the Tegelberg. What a unique backdrop! The massive mountain range, the crystal-clear mountain lakes, the small villages in the surrounding area – we were truly speechless at times.
On the second day, we set off toward Garmisch Partenkirchen. Here, we saw mountain lakes that couldn’t have been more beautiful. In the heart of the Alpine foothills, we stopped in Walchen am Walchensee. We were told to hike up to the Herzogstand.
No sooner said than done! The tour was fantastic; we enjoyed the peace and quiet so much. We met very few people on our way; most people ended up taking the comfortable cable car. Once we got back down, we rented a pedal boat and cruised across the crystal-clear Walchensee.
Little Venice in Bamberg
One beautiful old town followed the next. We’ve never used the word “charming” as often as we have in the last two months. But how else do you describe these sweet, charming, and cozy old towns with their small, narrow streets? Charming, simply!
Bamberg was one of these beautiful areas. Many people also call Bamberg “Little Venice” because of the small waterways that run through the old town. It’s no surprise, then, that you can also see gondola riders here, just like in Venice. The architecture, the surroundings, the houses, alleys, and streets – Bamberg is a truly wonderful place.
Green, greener, Bremen!
Who would have thought that we would like Bremen so much? We were truly surprised by this city. It was so beautifully green everywhere, with so many wonderful spots. We can’t quite describe it, but the city still left an impression. The Schnoor district, the “1/4,” the beautiful ramparts, the parks, the people—Bremen is a truly laid-back city!
Regensburg, you beautiful pearl!
Bolle has probably fallen in love with all of Germany’s old towns, but she talks about Regensburg most often. The city is truly magnificent! Small, cozy, relaxed, creative, hip, and young. Somehow, the city has everything you need.
You can get lost in the streets and alleys, enjoy delicious food, and simply sit comfortably by the Danube. We were both really looking forward to Regensburg and would have loved to stay longer… Before the trip, we heard so many good things about this city and can only agree with everything!
Destinations for the next tour
Unfortunately, we had to skip many places simply because we didn’t have enough time and were also quite inflexible in some places. With a car, things are completely different. Then you can easily reach more remote regions of Germany. Next time, we especially want to spend more time outdoors, because Germany has plenty of that. Whether flatland, sea, mountains, lake landscapes, islands or national parks – our homeland is amazing!
- Experience the flair of East Frisia
- Island hopping on the North Sea (e.g. Juist or Sylt)
Across the Black ForestVisit the inconspicuous SaarlandHiking in Saxon Switzerland- Eltz Castle, Hohenzollern Castle, Lichtenstein Castle
Rothenburg,Würzburg, Bayreuth, Erfurt, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Cochem and much more.- Visit wine-growing regions (e.g., between Koblenz and Trier)
- Marvel at the Danube Gorge
Take a short break in the Harz MountainsTake a detour to the Königsstuhl on RügenExplore the island of UsedomTake a city trip to Hanover- Explore stalactite caves in Thuringia (e.g., the Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes)
Canoe on the Mecklenburg Lake District- To Lake Königsee in Berchtesgadener Land
Discover our beautiful homeland, Germany
We are so glad that we took the time to explore Germany. This is where we were born, this is where we were born. Germany has mountains, lakes, rivers, islands, vibrant metropolises, charming small towns, a wealth of culture and tradition, as well as great people and a whole lot of variety.
You don’t know what home is like until you travel far away.
We’re always traveling to other countries, sometimes far, far away. But here at home, it’s at least as beautiful. Perhaps you’ll skip Thailand, the Canary Islands, or Mallorca on your next vacation and instead travel to the Alps, the Baltic or North Sea, or take a tour through one of the federal states. Believe us, Germany is more diverse than you probably imagine.
Northern Germany
The north is as different from the south. The east is by no means like the west. The north is relaxing, expansive, idyllic, super maritime, and original. Around every corner, you’d expect to find the next fishing boat, seagulls, and lighthouses. The proximity to the sea creates a unique atmosphere here. It’s somehow rustic and so very unique in the north. And that’s exactly what we like so much about the region. The terms “coastal child” or “coastal love” fit perfectly.
The South of Germany
And then comes the unmistakable south of Germany. Here, the clocks tick so differently, beautifully different somehow. People live very traditionally, very relaxed, and always with that, the inevitable closeness to nature. We are particularly fond of Bavaria. The Alps, the mountain lakes, and the incredibly beautiful cities like Bamberg and Regensburg have burned themselves deep into our hearts.
We long for the sea, but we are also constantly drawn to the mountains. And Germany has plenty of them. A vacation in Germany is worthwhile, and everyone will get their money’s worth here – we are convinced of that.
We value our homeland very much and are incredibly proud to have grown up here. We also understand foreign tourists much better now, why everyone always travels to Regensburg, Füssen, Heidelberg, or Freiburg. Why not? These are stunningly beautiful areas worth a visit.
In a foreign country, you learn what your homeland is worth and then love it all the more.
Ernst Wichert
In the future, we will continue to take more time for our homeland, but also travel abroad. Many are naturally more interested in Mauritius, South Africa, or Thailand. Nevertheless, we will also regularly present destinations in Germany. There are certainly some places you haven’t yet discovered. And if you know of any other great places here in our country, please tell us about them! We are excited to hear about your highlights!
We thank you all!
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has accompanied and supported us. Thanks to all our readers! You have supported us and always given us the best tips. You have been with us from the very beginning and followed the journey with excitement. It has given us incredible joy to be able to share all of our experiences with you.
Thank you for all the wonderful encounters and conversations. And of course, thank you for giving us a roof over our heads so often and for providing us with plenty of stories, charity, and provisions. Your generosity and selflessness have truly left us speechless many times! You are simply the best community one could imagine!
A handful of our native soil is worth more than ten thousand pounds of foreign gold.
Wu Cheng-En
Of course, we would also like to thank all the partners who supported this project. This made this trip even more unforgettable than it already was. We are delighted that we were able to inspire supporters for this tour. Thank you so much for everything that has been made possible for us here. Thank you for the trust and commitment you have shown us. We really appreciate it and don’t take it for granted at all.
Lots of love to: Hamburg Tourism, Bremen Tourism, Kurzurlaub.de, Hostelworld, Regensburg Tourism, Ko’ Ono Hotel Konstanz, Lotte Hostel and Hostel Eden Leipzig. Many thanks, among others, to Anke from Flensburg, Chris & Chrissy from Verl, Julia from Ahlen, Niklas from Bad Schongau, Marie’s shared flat from Bamberg, Lukas & Bene from Kiel, Ariana Leser and family from Mainz, Nicola from the houseboat Lotte, Bolle’s relatives from Mainz, Fitschi from Hamburg, Laura from Hattingen, Claudia from Regensburg, Janine and Dennis from Soulcover-Clothing, Tina & Chris from Munich and to all the wonderful people we spontaneously met on site. You made this trip what it ultimately became – a shared journey through our home country!
The goal of the trip was to discover our home country with you. We very much hope that we were able to inspire one or two people with this tour. Get out and explore your hometown – it’s really worth it!
Snapshots of the Germany tour
