There’s so much more to German food and drink than the traditional favourites it’s often associated with including bratwurst sausage, schnitzel, sauerkraut and lager. Germany has a long and diverse culinary history, with each region having its own specialities and much-loved dishes. Southern Germany, for example, is renowned for its pork dishes, while the north has some highly-regarded fish dishes. Sauerbraten is a hearty stew featuring tender beef, marinated in vinegar and spices and served with potato dumplings and red cabbage, while hasenpfeffer is rabbit stew which is cooked for hours with onions and wine to create a deliciously rich flavour.

Rouladen consists of bacon, onions, pickles and mustard which is wrapped in thinly sliced beef or veal, while Kartoffelpuffer are delicious fried pancakes made from grated or ground potatoes and mixed with flour, onion, egg and seasoning. More than 1,500 types of sausage are made in Germany with the various regions having their own offerings and often found in the street food stalls - these include the Currywurst from Berlin, Weisswurst from Bavaria and Blutwurst from Cologne.

There are plenty of scrumptious types of cakes, pastries and desserts in Germany but a real classic is Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, which features a liqueur of the same name and layers of rich chocolate cake, cherries and whipped cream. Apfelschorle is a refreshing apple drink which is hugely popular in summer, Riesling is a superb white wine from the Rhine region and schnapps is the term for a range of strong alcoholic drinks in Germany which have been flavoured with fruit or herbs and spices.

Germany has a temperate climate, with warm summers and cold winters. An ideal time to visit the country is from May to September when weather conditions are very pleasant, the days are long and temperatures are typically in the mid-20s. This is, however, the time when tourist numbers are at their highest so, if you want to avoid the crowds, another time of year may be better for you - for example, April, May and October. July and September are usually fairly dry months, with plenty of sun and temperatures between 20°C and 25°C.
September is a key time in the festival season, with the Oktoberfest at the end of the month running for 16 days and drawing huge crowds. Winter begins in November with dark and cold nights, freezing rain and bouts of snow. Cruises to the famous Christmas markets in the Rhine Valley are extremely popular.

Germany really hits the bullseye when it comes to exciting things to see and do, from fun-packed adventures in the Great Outdoors to fascinating cultural and historical attractions in the country’s big cities. Wonderful national parks, magnificent lakes, enchanting forests, epic mountain ranges, picturesque islands and jawdropping coastal landscapes are among the delights waiting to be discovered. Key attractions include the chalk cliffs on Rügen Island, the Black Forest, the Saar loop at Mettlach, Blautopf Lake, Triberg Waterfalls and Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes in Thuringia.
Germany’s big cities are a hive of activity with attractions galore to captivate every visitor. Must-see landmarks include the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Building, Berlin and Cologne cathedrals, Checkpoint Charlie, Museum Island, Charlottenburg Palace and Munich Marienplatz. Germany’s castles are definitely worth a visit, with Neuschwanstein, Eltz, Heidelberg and Hohenzollern among the most impressive. Major attractions for families seeking a feast of fun include Europa-Park, Berlin Zoological Garden, Tropical Islands, Phantasialand, PLAYMOBIL Fun Park and Movie Park Germany. Thrilling winter activities in Germany include alpine skiing, tobogganing, ice skating, snowboarding, snow hiking and ice climbing, while cycling, hiking, sailing, golfing, diving, rafting, canyoning, surfboarding, canoeing and ziplining are some of the popular activities during the summer months.