Tourism in Germany

Germany is the eight-most-visited country in the world, welcoming many visitors each year. In 2012, there were over 400 million overnight stays, including those by both international and local travelers. Many tourists come from countries like the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.

International tourism brings significant benefits to Germany, with over 30 million visitors arriving in 2012 and contributing billions of dollars to the economy. The tourism industry plays an important role, supporting millions of jobs and adding to the country's overall wealth. Each year, the ITB Berlin takes place, which is the world's leading tourism trade fair.

People visit Germany for many reasons, including its rich German culture, beautiful outdoor spaces, lively holidays and festivities, and interesting cities and countryside. Germany is also known for being a safe and welcoming place for travelers from around the world.

History

The history of tourism in Germany began with people visiting cities and landscapes for learning and relaxation. From the late 1700s, famous cities like Dresden, Munich, Weimar, and Berlin were popular stops on a grand trip across Europe called the Grand tour.

Spas and seaside resorts, especially along the North and Baltic Sea like Rugia and Usedom islands, grew in the 1800s as train routes were built. After World War II, tourism expanded as visitors came to experience Germany’s history and beautiful landscapes. Today, Germany has many national parks, biosphere reserves, and nature parks, along with charming old towns known as Altstadt.

Statistics

Germany is a very popular place for visitors. In 2017, there were 459 million visitor nights overall, with 83 million of those nights spent by guests from other countries. Bavaria had the most visitors, with 94.3 million nights spent in hotels, hostels, or clinics. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern had the highest number of tourist nights per person, with 18.4 nights per inhabitant.

Surveys show that people visit Germany for many reasons. The most common reasons include culture (75%), outdoor and countryside activities (59%), cities (59%), cleanliness (47%), and safety (41%).

Countryside

See also: List of spa towns in Germany and List of seaside resorts in Germany

Many visitors to Germany enjoy staying in special towns known for health and relaxation. These towns, often located near natural hot springs, offer treatments using mineral water and other therapies. Some of the most famous places include Bad Wiessee, Baden-Baden, Wiesbaden, Aachen, Travemünde and Westerland.

Germany has many beautiful areas to explore. Popular spots include islands like the East Frisian and North Frisian Islands, coastal areas along the Baltic Sea, and famous regions such as the Rhine Valley, Black Forest, and Bavarian Alps. These places attract many tourists throughout the year.

See also: Geography of Germany and List of national parks in Germany

Since the 1930s, Germany has created special roads called theme routes to showcase different areas and their unique culture and scenery. Some well-known routes include the European Route of Brick Gothic, European Route of Industrial Heritage, Harz-Heide Road, Bertha Benz Memorial Route and Bergstrasse.

See also: List of ski resorts in the German Alps and List of ski resorts in the German Central Uplands

Germany's winter sports areas are mainly in the Bavarian Alps and other mountain regions. These places offer great opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities. During the Advent season, many towns and cities hold festive Christmas markets.

Cities

See also: Metropolitan regions in Germany

Travel to Germany's largest cities grew quickly between 1995 and 2005, more than any other destination. This growth came from people visiting for culture, learning, or business. As these cities improved their cultural, entertainment, and hotel services, they attracted even more international visitors.

The ten most visited cities in Germany in 2012 are listed in a table. Other popular cities with over a million nights a year include Rostock, Hannover, Bremen, Cuxhaven, Bonn, Freiburg, Münster, Lübeck, Wiesbaden, Essen and Regensburg.

Berlin

See also: List of sights in Berlin

Berlin is one of the most visited cities in the European Union, with about 135 million day visitors each year. In 2012, the city had 781 hotels with over 125,000 beds. That year, Berlin had 20.8 million overnight stays in hotels and 9.1 million guests.

Munich

See also: Category:Tourist attractions in Munich

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is famous for its history, culture, and beautiful buildings. The center of the city is Marienplatz, where the Neues Rathaus has a Glockenspiel that performs a show every day. Nearby is Frauenkirche, Munich’s big cathedral. The Munich Residenz is a museum that was once a royal palace.

Munich has many museums, such as the Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek, and Pinakothek der Moderne. Families enjoy the Deutsches Museum, a huge science and technology museum. The city also has big green spaces like the Englischer Garten, where people can relax or even go river surfing.

Hamburg

See also: Category:Tourist attractions in Hamburg and List of museums and cultural institutions in Hamburg

In 2007, Hamburg had over 3.9 million visitors who stayed for more than 7.4 million nights. Tourism is very important to the city, providing jobs for over 175,000 people and bringing in €9.3 billion each year. Visitors often see the city hall, the big church St. Michaelis, the old warehouse district, and the harbour promenade. Many people also take boat tours of the harbor. Hamburg is also home to a famous zoo, Tierpark Hagenbeck, which was founded in 1907.

Events

The table below shows some of the largest annually recurring events in Germany:

Trade fairs

Germany is home to some of the world's largest trade fairgrounds. Every year, thousands of trade fairs, conventions, and congresses are held in Germany. In 2008, more than 10 million people visited the 150 biggest trade fairs, and more than half of them came from other countries. The table below shows some of the most visited trade fairs.

Most visited

Protected areas

Some of the most visited protected areas in Germany include:

• Bavarian Forest National Park
• Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park
• Berchtesgaden National Park
• Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park
• View from Mt. Lusen in the Bavarian Forest over the Alpine Foreland
• Swabian Jura
• Mainau
• The Kölpinsee, Jabelscher See and Fleesensee in the Mecklenburg Lake Plateau
• View over the Moselle and past the village of Dorf Bremm to the Calmont in the Eifel
• Wilseder Berg in the Lüneburg Heath
• Lilienstein at Saxon Switzerland
• The Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park

Landmarks

Germany has many famous landmarks that attract visitors. The Cathedral of Cologne is the most visited landmark in the country, with over 6 million people visiting each year. Other popular spots include the Reichstag building in Berlin and Neuschwanstein Castle, which inspired Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty's Castle. The Zwinger in Dresden is also a well-known attraction.

Theme parks

Germany is home to many popular theme parks and related facilities, though this list focuses only on the largest ones in selected categories. The full list may not include every park.