Category: GERMANY

LUBECK – a guide to Germany’s most ravishing city

Posted onAuthorRenata Green48 Comments

Somehow, Lubeck, Germany’s most ravishing city, has always reminded me of Venice. An innocently cute and relatively small city that used to possess such political influence and economic power, reaching all over Europe and beyond.

Lubeck Germany's most ravishing city: Holstengate
There are quite a few lions in Lubeck – honoring Henry the Lion, the Bavarian King who, after Munich, also founded Lubeck in 1159. In the Backdrop, the iconic Holstentor and right next to it, the ancient salt warehouses.

Although Lubeck has incredibly beautiful buildings and alleys, seven church towers, three Nobel prize winners, and world-famous marzipan, it does not suffer from destructive over-tourism. Therefore, let me show you around one of Germany’s most captivating cities.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Guide to the Island of FEHMARN – Where Plan B is the Best Plan

Posted onAuthorRenata Green41 Comments

Beaches, Breezes, Birds, and endless fields of Brassica Napus – I don’t really have to explain why on the Baltic island of Fehmarn Plan B is the Best Plan, do I?

Renata Green riding a bike on the island of Fehmarn
Cycling along rapeseed fields – the basic activity of our stay on Fehmarn. (Photo: Mimi Green)

Therefore, I’ve had a soft spot for the Northgerman Island of Fehmarn for the longest time.

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Weekend in DUISBURG – Steel And Style in Germany’s Ruhr Area

Posted onAuthorRenata18 Comments

On my discovery tour through Germany’s Ruhr Area, I spent a weekend in Duisburg, a city mainly known for its large steel plants but extremely underrated when it comes to art and style.

Tiger And Turtle, a rollercoaster in a new style, visited on a weekend in Duisburg.
The walkable rollercoaster Tiger & Turtle is one of Duisburg’s most outstanding landmarks.

Very unjustly so, because you’ll be surprised how many hidden gems I pulled out from Duisburg’s cultural lucky bag.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Weekend in ESSEN: From Coal Mine to Treasure Box

Posted onAuthorRenata12 Comments

A weekend in the German city of Essen: If as a travel blogger I have a mission, it’s to show the world that there is far more to enjoy in Germany than the infamous Oktoberfest. Thus, some time ago, I’ve introduced five of Germany’s most beautiful and exciting islands in my series Island Hopping in Germany. Now, in this post, I’m starting another series, focusing on the Ruhr, a former industrial mining area at the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Ruhr where the city of Essen transformed a Coal Mine into a Unesco World Heritage Site. Yet, there is much more to explore.

The iconic winding tower, the most important feature of the Unesco World Heritage Site Zeche Zollverein, with the city of Essen in the backdrop.
The iconic winding tower, the most important feature of the Unesco World Heritage Site Zeche Zollverein, with the city of Essen in the backdrop.
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Guide to POTSDAM: How Frederick Made a Small Town Great

Posted onAuthorRenata Green96 Comments

In this guide, I’m taking you to the small town of Potsdam, which King Frederick II made great. Although it sounds like a cute, drowsy hamlet, everyone is amazed by the rich cultural and political heritage of this place, where Europe’s history was written and rewritten again.

Sanssouci palace in Potsdam, the great small town, introduced in this guide
Sanssouci Palace is Potsdam’s highlight, no matter what.
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BERLIN – a Guide to the Wild Wild East

Posted onAuthorRenata Green51 Comments

This is a guide to Berlin’s Wild East, hence, the part of Germany’s capital Berlin that used to be behind the proverbial Iron Curtain, obviously.

Mural at the East Side Gallery in Berlin introduced in a Guide to the city's Wild East
At the East Side Gallery, on this picture by street artist and wall painter Birgit Kinder you can see a Trabant – aka Trabi. It was one of two types of cars that were manufactured in the former GDR. The Trabi is crashing through a wall – guess which one. Its license plate reads Nov 9, 89, hence, the date the gates to the west were opened and the wall came down.

Formerly the capital of the GDR, Berlin’s Eastern neighborhoods actually changed really fast for the better and cooler. Today, they are more exciting than the full and settled West.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Best Street Art in FRANKFURT

Posted onAuthorRenata8 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, I introduced the 25 best things to do on a weekend trip to Frankfurt am Main, mostly known as Germany’s financial power station. One of the activities I recommended was getting to know the best street art in Frankfurt. Because not only is the city home to some of Germany’s best art museums. It is also a cradle of some of the most amazing urban artists such as Case MaClaim and Hera from the artist duo Herakut. In this post, I’m introducing you to some of Frankfurt’s best urban artists.

Mural by Justus Becker aka COR.
Mural by Justus Becker aka COR.
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The Island of NEUWERK – where the way is the goal

Posted onAuthorRenata Green48 Comments

“So, by which ferry did you get here?” asks the chubby little lady and her accent gives her away as Southern German. “Well, I came here walking”, I beam at her, still thrilled by my hike from the mainland to the island of Neuwerk.

Hike on tideland from Cuxhaven to Neuwerk
To Neuwerk – this way! You cannot blame people if they don’t believe that you came to an island on foot.  

The lady looks over the rough sea where the huge waves are rolling towards the shores of Cuxhaven. She frowns and shakes her head and is, obviously, thinking I’m trying to tell her a cock and bull story.

Little does she know: Visiting the island of Neuwerk, the way is most definitely the goal!

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Weekend in FRANKFURT – 25 Best Things To Do

Posted onAuthorRenata1 Comment

One of Germany’s most misconceived cities is certainly Frankfurt on the river Main. Derogatorily nicknamed Mainhattan, it is mainly recognized as Germany’s financial hub, hence, economically relevant but otherwise absolutely neglectable. Well, since this vibrant metropole is one of my favorite German weekend trip destinations, in this post, I’m introducing you to the 25 best things you should by no means miss on your visit to Frankfurt. Also, they’ll prove that the city is absolutely worth a trip!

View of Frankfurt from the Eiserne Brücke. Weekend Frankfurt 25 best things
View across the love locks on the Eiserne Brücke of what Frankfurt is all about: A bold mix of ancient history and powerful bank buildings.
This Way to the Whole Story ->