Germany Archives | Page 4 of 5

Weekend in ESSEN: From Coal Mine to Treasure Box

Posted on2024-01-202025-10-29AuthorRenata12 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.

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Guide to POTSDAM: How Frederick Made a Small Town Great

Posted on2023-11-142025-10-30AuthorRenata 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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24 hours in MUNICH

Posted on2023-11-142025-10-04AuthorRenata Green37 Comments

Munich, the capital of the federal state of Bavaria, stands, of course, for the famous beer and Oktoberfest and is the epitome of Germany.

Marienplatz in Munich. A must see during 24 hours in Munich. — Mary overlooks the Marienplatz from her column. In the backdrop of Munich’s most iconic symbol, the Frauenkirche, Church of Our Lady – it cannot get more Bavarian.
(Photo: Nicknicknick97, München Marienplatz , CC BY-SA 4.0)

Since Munich also has Germany’s second-largest airport – after Frankfurt – chances are that you have a stopover here.

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BERLIN – A Guide to the Wild Wild East

Posted on2023-10-222026-10-11AuthorRenata 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, in 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 settled and full West.

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Best Street Art in FRANKFURT

Posted on2023-08-192025-10-26AuthorRenata8 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.

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The Island of NEUWERK – where the way is the goal

Posted on2023-07-222025-09-10AuthorRenata 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 ->

24 hours in FRANKFURT

Posted on2023-07-192025-08-17AuthorRenata Green2 Comments

Germany’s busiest international airport is located just minutes from the city of Frankfurt on the Main. This might give travellers the opportunity to explore this often underrated city on a layover. In this post, I’ve put together a perfect itinerary for up to 24 hours which will enable them to make the best of their stay in Frankfurt.

View of the Main River at Frankfurt — Just see for yourself how idyllic Frankfurt can be!

This special category on my blog is designated to transform any kind of a layover into a short extra vacation.

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How to Visit the NordArt in 2023

Posted on2023-06-282024-04-20AuthorRenata11 Comments

The older I get, the faster time seems to go by. The advantage of time just flying by, however, is the fast return of annual events such as the wonderful art fair NordArt. Every year, this fantastic art event transforms the northern German provincial town of Büdelsdorf for a couple of months into a vibrant and exciting international art mecca. So come on, join me on my train ride into the boonies, and let me show you how to visit NordArt 2023.

Heads are rolling, literally, at the first, pebble-covered exhibition hall.
Spanish artist Samuel Salcedo casted them from iron and aluminum.

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Weekend in FRANKFURT – 25 Best Things To Do

Posted on2023-06-172025-08-17AuthorRenata1 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.

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