Nestled along the Lahn River is the picturesque and historical town of Limburg an der Lahn. If looking for easy day trips from Frankfurt, then Limburg an der Lahn is one of the best and authentic German towns to visit. With its cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, and famous cathedral, Limburg an der Lahn is a must visit and one of my favorite towns. Here is how I spent one day in Limburg an der Lahn from Frankfurt.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Where is Limburg an der Lahn Limburg an der Lahn is located in the German State of Hesse. The city is next to the River Lahn, hence the name Limburg an der Lahn, an der Lahn meaning on the River Lahn.  From Cologne (Köln in German) Limburg an der Lahn is about an hour and fifteen minutes drive or an hour train ride. You can get here from Frankfurt as well under an hour drive or 30-minute train ride. Because of its location, Limburg an der Lahn makes for a great day trip from Frankfurt. Getting here from Frankfurt Limburg an der Lahn is roughly 63 km from Frankfurt making it an easy day trip.  If driving, Limburg an der Lahn is located right off of the A3. If coming from Frankfurt Airport, just stay on the A3 until exiting to Limburg an der Lahn. If coming from downtown Frankfurt the A648 and A66 connect to the A3.  From Frankfurt Airport, you can take the ICE train directly to Limburg Sud. Travel time is under 20 minutes.  From Frankfurt Hbf you can take an ICE train. The journey by ICE is about 40 minutes with a couple stops.  Once getting to Limburg, if driving,  there are a few park houses near the old town center.  How I spent One Day in Limburg: Things to do and See Limburg an der Lahn is a medium sized city with a population just over 35,000.  It’s big enough where you can spend a half to full day here. Jill and I visited Limburg while on a road trip from the North Sea back to Frankfurt Airport. We were able to spend a few hours here. We grabbed lunch, checked out some of the sites, and even met a friend from neighboring Wiesbaden. Of course, the day we visited Limburg an der Lahn it rained, heavy at times most of the day, typical for German weather. Listed, is how we spent one day in Limburg an der Lahn and my recommendations on things to do.  Limburg an der Lahn Altstadt Limburg an der Lahn has one of the prettiest and most well preserved town square’s I’ve ever seen in Germany. Many Altstadt’s or old towns I’ve visited in Germany have a nice square with a few half timber-framed houses. It seemed that most houses in Limburg an der Lahn were half timbered homes. They lined the small cobble stone streets throughout the entire town.  My basic recommending when visiting Limburg is to walk the old streets and pay attention to the timber-framed houses. In German, these homes are know as Fachwerk houses.  Other then looking at the beautiful buildings throughout the town, there are plenty of shops and restaurants.  Limburg Cathedral (Dom zu Limburg) Besides the fachwerk or timbered homes scattered throughout Limburg, the next main attraction is the Limburg Cathedral (aka Dom zu Limburg, Limburger Dom, St. George’s Cathedral). The Limburg Cathedral is a massive cathedral with stunning architecture. It is perched on a rock located above the Lahn River. You can see the Cathedral from a distance. There has been a church at this site since the early to mid 800’s. Over the years it developed into what it is today.  The cathedral combines Roman and Gothic styles and has a total of seven spires.  Today, visitors can freely walk inside the church. When I was here, there was a wedding going on and they still allowed me to enter the cathedral.  Like most famous sites you want to see in Europe, there was scaffolding on the towers at the time I visited (July, 2024). Don’t you hate that?  Schloss Limburg Schloss Limburg (Schloss meaning Castle), is a small castle just behind the Limburg Cathedral. The castle dates back to around 910.  When visiting, we just walked the perimeter of the castle and briefly walked into the courtyard. I am not sure if visitors are allowed inside or not. Nonetheless, from the courtyard you get nice views of the nature surrounding Limburg.  Lunch or Dinner at a Local Restaurant Chances are, if you are visiting Limburg an der Lahn for a half or full day, you are going to want to sit down and try local German food. I recommend heading to Gasthaus Burgkeller for the atmosphere alone and good German meals like schnitzel or Sauerbraten.  Gasthaus Burgkeller is a restaurant in a 17th century timber-framed building. Dining inside was an experience, just seeing what the inside of these historic buildings look like let alone being able to eat inside one. I ordered a Jäger Schnitzel with pommes (french fries). Honestly, it was not the best schnitzel I’ve ever had but it was still very good, especially paired with a good German beer.  Since we were leaving toward the airport later in the day, I wanted to eat one more Spaghetti Eis. We went to a ice cream shop in the town center called Eiscafe Venezia. I ordered their Spaghetti Eis, although it was very good, I felt the service at this place lacked a bit. Our waiters just seemed very uninterested in providing service that day. At least the Spaghetti Eis was good!  Conclusion Limburg an der Lahn was a very surprising destination. Prior to doing research I’ve never looked into visiting this beautiful city, it just never crossed my radar. After all there are so many beautiful cities in Germany. I’ve driven passed Limburg an der Lahn so many times growing up. I remember seeing the cathedral off in the distance from the autobahn. I am so glad to have finally stopped here for a day. Limburg an der Lahn is a beautiful city and underrated in my opinion. I definitely have plans to visit again when I am back in Germany.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇩🇪 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Want to try something fun in Germany meanwhile getting exercise and treating your feet? Why not try visiting a Barefoot Park (Barfußpark in German). There are several barefoot parks in Germany that are worth visiting. Walk barefoot through several kilometers of trails. There is a catch! The trails are full of materials to step on from painful rocks to slushy mud. It can be painful yet feel so good! One of the better parks in Germany is the Leguano Barfußpark in Friedeburg, Lower Saxony. Learn all about Germany’s barefoot parks and maybe add one into your Germany itinerary for your next visit!  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! About Barefoot Parks in Germany Germany is one of the only countries I’ve been to that has actual barefoot parks. Doing research, I’ve found that other countries do have barefoot parks, but Germany in particular has some of the best. If you look at a map of Germany, there are dozens of barefoot parks scattered throughout the country, especially on Germany’s western side. They are found from the southern state of Bavaria all the way north to Schleswig Holstein.  Barfuß Park Bad Sobernheim is a popular one, given it’s location being so close to Frankfurt. This one has river crossings and a variety of terrains to walk barefoot on.  Many of the bigger barefoot parks in Germany have extensive trails that can be several kilometers long. The trails have several different types of material you walk on from sand and mud to mulch and grass.  Barfoot parks are definitely an adventure, bringing you and your family out in nature, walking, and having a lot of fun!  Health Benefits of Barefoot Parks Not only are barefoot parks fun but it’s also a great form of exercise and has many health benefits.  Walking barefoot and over different terrains has many health benefits. First, being in nature is relaxing and good for the mind. Walking barefoot helps strengthen the foots arch which in return supports the rest of your legs, knees, and even back. Think reflexology for the feet. Applying natural pressure to different parts of your feet helps both relax and strengthen your feet.  Some portions of the barefoot trails are painful especially walking over the small and medium sized rocks, but it’s such a freeing and stress reduced feeling once finished.  Leguano Barfußpark Leguano Barfußpark  located in the city of Friedeburg, Lower Saxony, is one of the better barefoot parks in Germany.  Leguano Barfußpark has 8 kilometers of trails which can take anywhere from 1 t o3 hours to complete.  There is a shoe locker here and wash station to kind of clean your feet after walking the barefoot park.  If you walk the trails here at Leguano Barfußpark you will face all kinds of different terrains and surfaces to walk on. You get the opportunity to walk on grass, wood logs, mulch, sand, stones, water, and even a peat pit that is full of mud.  Honestly, walking through the peat was my favorite. Walking through the muddy water was fun, kind of gross, but felt great on the feet. Then the sand and mulch feels really good. The stones are a tad painful, it’s really hard to walk normal on the stones. But hey, whether it’s painful stones or muddy peat it’s all great for the feet and overall exercise.  Getting to the Park Getting to Leguano Barfußpark is somewhat tricky because you can’t actually park there. Instead, you need to park further down the road. Don’t worry, there is a free shuttle us that takes visitors back and forth.  If you type in Leguano Barfußpark in Google maps the pin actually takes you to the correct parking lot right by a local cafe.  The quick 5 minute or so shuttle bus ride will drop you off directly at the park.  Admission and Hours Admission Up to 6 Years Old – FreeAges 7 – 17 – €4.5018 Years and older – €9.50 Hours Open April until the end of September.  April – May: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10:00 am – 18:00June – August: Monday – Sunday 10:00 am – 18:00September: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10:00am – 18:00 **For the latest information on admission and hours, it is recommended to visit the official Leguano Barfußpark website.  Conclusion When visiting Germany, why not try something new? Find the nearest barefoot park and if in northern Germany specifically in the state of Lower Saxony, go to Leguano Barfußpark. Do your mind and your feet a favor. Walking the trails at barefoot parks not only is a great nature escape but the health benefits are worth it.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇩🇪 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Langeoog is one of Germany’s East Frisian Islands located in the North Sea. Langeoog is known for it’s long beaches, seaside village, and relaxed atmosphere. Langeoog can be reached by ferry but keep in mind that vehicles are not allowed on the island. The best way to explore the island is by foot, bike, or taking a horse-drawn carriage. When visiting Langeoog make sure to pack your beach gear and enjoy the relaxing island vibes. I created this post to share my day trip to Langeoog, including how to get to the island, what to do, and how to make the most out of your time on one of Germany’s most popular East Frisian Islands.  ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! About Langeoog Langeoog makes up one of the East Frisian (Ostfriesland in Germany) islands. In total, there are seven inhabited islands which include: Borkum Juist Norderney Baltrum Langeoog Spiekeroog Wangerooge The East Frisian Islands belong to the German state of Lower Saxony. These islands are in the Wadden Sea which makes up a part of the North Sea.  Langeoog is a long island, the beach is 14 km long which is about 9 miles. Langeoog is primarily dunes and grassland with natural beaches.  Langeoog is car free, so all visitors need to park at the ferry terminal. Once on Langeoog, you can rent bikes, walk, or take horse-drawn carriages.  Langeoog relies on tourism especially during tourist season which is around the summer months.  Parking and Taking the Ferry to Langeoog Since no cars are allowed on Langeoog, all visitors must park at one of the parking areas in Bensersiel. Am Hafen20 Parking is the main parking lot. When we visited it was full, I ended up parking just down the street in a grassy parking area.  Of course, all parking areas are paid parking, but I think I paid €5 for the entire day.  I visited in July and the place was packed, unfortunately, I had to get a ferry ticket an hour later then planned. So I recommend either coming to the ferry port earlier then expected or book online through the Langeoog website. The ferry from Bensersiel to Langeoog goes 5 times a day. The ferry journey takes anywhere from 30 – 45 minutes. The ferry is large with plenty of seating options both inside and outside. There are also children areas in the ferry. There are bathrooms on board as well as food and drink options. Once arriving at Langeoog, there is a small train that takes passengers from the pier to the train station in town. The train ticket is included in the ferry price. If visiting Langeoog for one day, you can get a roundtrip ferry ticket for €33 which includes the ferry and railway to get from the pier to the train station in town.  For updated times and prices, I recommend looking on the Langeoog offical website. Things to do While Visiting Langeoog While Langeoog is a small island in relative terms there is plenty of activities and things to do here to keep you busy for a full day if not multiple days. My guide to Langeoog below is more of an itinerary for a Langeoog day trip, but many vacationers stay here for several days to weeks. In fact, I met a man from New York that was staying on Langeoog for 3 weeks.  Here is how I spent one day on Langeoog Explore the downtown area The downtown area of Langeoog is easy to explore by foot. It’s full of shops, restaurants, and places to stay.  I recommend visiting the Langeoog Church, mainly just because the style in East Frisia is unique to this region of Germany.  Walk to the Langeoog Water Tower (Wasserturm) The water tower or wasserturm in German seemed to be a popular attraction in Langeoog. It’s up a few flight of stairs on the way to the beach.  You come here for the views. You get a 360° view of the island and village itself.  Explore the Hauptstrand Langeoog (Main Beach) Most tourists visiting Langeoog will come primarily to spend time on the beach. Langeoog has no shortage of beaches. Hauptstrand or the Main Beach in Langeoog stretches for 14 km.  I was here in July and there were people swimming in the beach, although the water was still somewhat cold, at least for my likings.  The beach here can be crowded. You will see people swimming, relaxing, playing games, or even participating in sport activities on the beach in Langeoog.  We did spot a few jellyfish on the beach washed up. Doing research on jelly fish in the North Sea, they appeared to be Compass Jellyfish and were quite beautiful.  Sample Local Food If visiting Langeoog, chances are you are coming at least a half day if not a full day or longer. Instead of bringing your own lunch, why not try some local island food at one of the many restaurants in the downtown area.  I ended up going to a restaurant called Ebbe & Flut.  Ebbe & Flut had a nice selection of local seafood options to vegan dishes.  I ordered the Schollenfilet mit Queller. Schollen is a Plaice which is a type of flatfish. Queller is Salicornia which is a plant that grows in salt marshes and beaches found in the North Sea and other parts of the world. Other dishes ordered included the vegetarian lasagna and the potatoes vegetable curry.  Keep in mind that prices on these islands are typically higher then you would find on mainland Germany.  Stay at an Inn or Guest House I only did a day trip to Langeoog so I never stayed at an Inn or Guest House in Langeoog. But I have family that has stayed in Langeoog and it is highly recommended.  Walking around Langeoog, there were plenty of vacation rentals and guest homes to stay at from single apartments to entire homes.  Bike, Hike, or Walk to Explore more of Langeoog Since motor vehicles are not permitted on Langeoog, the best ways to get around the island is simply to walk, hike the trails, or rent a bike and ride around.  There are bike rental shops on the island and some of the places to stay on Langeoog do have rentals. On a bike, you can travel the trail to the eastern most beach on Langeoog and perhaps even see some Grey Seals resting on the beach.  We found a trail that went through the dunes that we hiked/walked for a bit. At high points, you get awesome views of the island.  Conclusion If visiting the North Sea region in Germany I recommend taking a day trip to one of the East Frisian Islands. I had the opportunity to spend a day visiting Langeoog and highly recommend it. The main sites in Langeoog can be explored in a day but if staying longer, trust me you won’t get bored. Langeoog has plenty of beaches to walk, a cute downtown area, great bike paths, and tasty local restaurants.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇩🇪 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

If you are visiting Germany, chances are you will fly into Frankfurt Airport. Don’t get me wrong, Frankfurt has a lot of great attractions and things to do. You can easily spend a day in Frankfurt and see  Römerberg, visit a world class museum, and try great German food. But most visitors tend to avoid Frankfurt and venture elsewhere. Afterall, there are so many beautiful cities and traditional towns throughout Germany, many of which can easily be reached in a day from Frankfurt Airport. Whether you are renting a car in Germany or relying on the fabulous public transportation, here are 10 recommended day trips from Frankfurt that are worthwhile. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Why Visit Frankfurt, Germany: Many visitors to Germany are going to fly into Frankfurt Airport. Since you are in Frankfurt already, might as well spend some time here and check out the surrounding area.  Top Day Trips from Frankfurt: Mainz and Wiesbaden Würzburg Rothenburg ob der Tauber Where to Stay in Frankfurt: If you want to stay near the city center, look into the City Centre Hotel Neue Kraeme Am Roemer if you want to stay closer to the airport and have shuttle service, look into the Vienna House by Wyndham Frankfurt Airport.  Day Trips from Frankfurt, Germany There are so many day trips from Frankfurt that are possible within either a short drive or train ride. You can go to cities like Mannheim and Heidelberg or even Koblenz or Köln (Cologne). The 10 day trips from Frankfurt I have listed are my personal favorite destinations and ones I’ve visited within the last decade or so. This is a good list of decent sized cities to medieval towns. I ordered the towns below by nearest driving distance from Frankfurt Airport.  1. Wiesbaden Perhaps one of the easiest day trips from Frankfurt is Wiesbaden. Wiesbaden is about a 25 minute drive from Frankfurt Airport or a 40 minute train ride.  If you have a half day or better yet a full day, Wiesbaden makes for the perfect visit from Frankfurt. Wiesbaden is home to the Goldgasse, Heidenmauer, Kurpark, the beautiful Marktkirche, and so much more.  You can get a traditional meal at Der Andechser and enjoy a great German Bier!  2. Mainz Just on the other side of Wiesbaden across the Rhine River is the historical city of Mainz. Mainz is about a 35 minute drive or a 30 minute train ride from Frankfurt Airport.  You could theoretically tack on a quick visit to Mainz on the same day as Wiesbaden, but I don’t recommend it, just because there is so much do see in each city.  In Mainz, pay a visit to the Mainz Römisches Theater (Roman Theater), the Mainz Cathedral (Dm St. Martin),  3. Aschaffenburg Aschaffenburg, a 40 minute drive from Frankfurt Airport or a 50 minute train ride is a city in the German state of Bavaria.  Schloss Johannisburg in Aschaffenburg is worth the day trip from Frankfurt alone. This palace was built in the early 1600’s but was destroyed during WWII. It has since been fully rebuilt. Aschaffenburg is just a beautiful city to explore. The main street is full of beautiful buildings, shopping areas, and great restaurants!  4. Limburg an der Lahn About a 42 minute car ride or a 20 minute train ride from Frankfurt Airport is the medieval town of Limburg an der Lahn.  Limburg an der Lahn is that typical German town you think of with timber-framed buildings, “fachwerk” in German. Many towns will have timer-framed houses usually around the old town market. Even then, there might only be a few. But Limburg an der Lahn had hundreds of timer-framed buildings throughout the entire town.  Limburg an der Lahn can be seen in a half day although I recommend spending an entire day here. Outside of the timer-framed buildings, Limburg an der Lahn has a beautiful cathedral and castle.  For a good German meal in Limburg an der Lahn, I recommend trying Gatshaus Burgkeller. You can find great German food here inside of an old 17th century half-timbered building.  5. Mespelbrunn Castle Less then an hour by car is one of Germany’s most beautiful and peaceful castles, Mespelbrunn Castle.  Mespelbrunn Castle is most notable for its beautiful moat that surrounds the castle.  Its origins begin in the 15th century. Mespelbrunn Castle never did see war and was spared during the Thirty Years’ War due to it’s secluded location.  Today, visitors are free to walk the grounds and tour the insides of Mespelbrunn Castle.  Mespelbrunn is only a 25 minute drive from Aschaffenburg, so it can be combined as a day trip from Frankfurt.  6. Würzburg Würzburg, Germany  one of my favorite cities is a 1 hour and 15 minute drive from Frankfurt Airport and can be reached by train in about an hour and a half. Würzburg is a moderately sized city and you need a minimum of a full day here but I recommend at least two days if time permits.  If you have one day to spend in Würzburg, I recommend starting at the Residence. The Residence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with beautiful gardens and stunning architecture.  After visiting the Residence in Würzburg, head to the altstadt or old town and make your way across the Mainbrücke or Old Main Bridge. From here you get great views of the Marienberg Castle. After taking some photos and enjoying the views from the Mainbrücke, you can either hike to the Marienberg or take a taxi to the top. I recommend walking to the castle. It’s not a bad trek and there are several historical sites that you pass by.  Other recommended sites to see in Würzburg include the Kappele, Würzburg Cathedral, New Munster Church, and simply explore the city. Würzburg has a great food scene, you can find great Bavarian food, Greek food, vegetarian restaurants, and of course places selling Döner Kebabs.   If you are looking for a more in depth review on Würzburg, I have a post on What to Do, See, and Eat, in Würzburg. 7. Fulda Like Würzburg, Fulda is about 1 hour and 15 to 1 hour and 20 minutes by car from Frankfurt Airport. Fulda makes for a great day trip from Frankfurt and probably isn’t really on anyone’s radar, meaning you won’t bump in to to many tourists in Fulda.  I’ve been to Fulda dozens of times and it’s one of my favorite cities in Germany.  Fulda is very pedestrian friendly and has much to offer. The Fulda Cathedral, St. Michael’s Church, the Schlossgarten (Palace Gardens), and altstadt (old town) are all a must when visiting Fulda.  8. Bad Kissingen About 1 hour and 30 minutes by car from Frankfurt Airport is the spa town of Bad Kissingen. Bad Kissingen is a famous spa town but not well known to outsiders and is considered to be one of the Great Spa Towns of Germany which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  When visiting Bad Kissingen, I just recommend wandering the town and relaxing whether it be at one of the spas or at a local ice cream dealer. You get a sense of a tropical island here making it really feel like a vacation destination. 9. Rothenburg ob der Tauber Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of Germany’s especially Bavaria’s most famous towns. At 1 hour and 45 minutes from Frankfurt, Rothenburg ob der Tauber is quite a ways from Frankfurt but totally worth it. A day trip from Frankfurt is certainly possible and Rothenburg ob der Tauber is not that big o it can be explored in a half to full day.  Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a medieval city surrounded by a city wall. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is very pedestrian friendly once inside the walls. I highly recommend visiting the altstadt, most notably the market square. Don’t miss out on the Medieval Crime Museum or Kriminalmuseum in German. This museum has a lot of examples of methods of torture and torture equipment that was used back in the day. I wrote more about Rothenburg’s torture museum in my Dark Tourism Post. You have to try a Schneeball (snowball). It’s a specialty in Rothenburg ob der Tauber and can be found in several shops. It’s a fried pastry that is in the shape of a snowball. You can get a variety of schneeball flavors from plain sugar to Nutella.  10. Nuremberg The furthest recommended day trip on my list is Nuremburg at 2 hours and 30 minutes. Nuremburg can easily reached by either car or train. Nuremburg is a big city with many attractions. Ideally, you would want to spend an entire day here if not two. But if you do only have a day to explore Nuremburg from Frankfurt. I recommend making your way to the Frauenkirche (church) and then walking to Nuremberg Castle. Between the church and castle, there are many other churches worth seeing and historical buildings that are interesting to look at. The whole downtown area of Nuremberg is amazing to just walk around in.  For a meal, try Nürnberger Bratwursts. Nürnberger Bratwursts are smaller then regular bratwursts but taste just as great! You can get them fresh off the grill from a street vendor or at a local restaurant.  Conclusion There are so many day trips from Frankfurt and many I haven’t even listed or even visited. I’m sure, others would agree or disagree with my recommended day trips from Frankfurt but I personally chose these locations based on my experiences and audience. Provided are amazing destinations in Germany that are close to Frankfurt Airport like Wiesbaden and other locations that do take some planning like Nuremburg. But whatever destination you decide on, I guarantee it will make for a great day trip from Frankfurt.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇩🇪 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Hildesheim, Germany, located in Lower Saxony is probably not on most peoples radar when they travel to Germany. In fact, I’ve never heard of Hildesheim until I looked up a route from Würzburg to the North Sea and wanted to see if there were any UNESCO sites. Sure enough, Hildesheim showed up because two churches, St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If, like me, and you are trying to visit UNESCO sites in Germany, then spending a day in Hildesheim is well worth the effort. This post covers information on Hildesheim’s UNESCO sites and a few more sites to see in the city.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Hildesheim on a Map Hildesheim is a city located in the German state of Lower Saxony or Niedersachsen in German. It is conveniently located right off  the Autobahn 7 (A7), so traveling via car is really easy and the most recommended way to visit Hildesheim.  Hildesheim is about an hour and a half from Bremen and a half hour south of Hanover.  Hildesheim UNESCO World Heritage Sites In total, Germany has 54 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church in Hildesheim are part of UNESCO and were added to the list in 1985. According to UNESCO, these churches were built around the years 1010 and 1020 and are perfect examples of Romanesque Churches of the Holy Roman Empire.  St. Mary’s Cathedral St. Mary’s Cathedral also known as the Hildesheim Cathedral is known for it’s unique art and architecture.  St Mary’s Cathedral first started as a chapel in 815 and the cathedral was built in 872. During WWII, the cathedral was destroyed and was rebuilt in the 1950’s and 1960’s.  What makes St. Mary’s Cathedral a UNESCO World Heritage Site is not the cathedral itself but the artwork and treasures within the cathedral. Bernward of Hildesheim, a Bishop has many works of art that are still at the cathedral, to include the famous Bernward Doors. According to information at the church, the doors depict events that took place from the book of Genesis and the life of Christ.  Make sure to walk in the courtyard to see the Thousand year Rose. This is a rosebush that is said to date back to the year 815.  St. Michael’s Church The other major church in Hildesheim that is part of UNESCO is St. Michael’s Church.  According to the UNESCO website St. Michael’s Church was built with two apses that are seen in a lot of Ottonian Romanesque architecture.  Bishop Bernward of Hildesheim is said to have started the construction of this church and dedicating it to the archangel Michael. Bernward of Hildesheim died during the construction of the church and his successor, Bishop Godehard completed the construction of the church in the year 1031.  Like St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Michael’s Church was heavily damaged during a bombing raid in 1945. The church was rebuilt in the 1950’s. Bishop Bernward of Hildesheim lies in the churches western crypt.  The beautifully decorated wooden ceiling of St. Michael’s Church is a masterpiece that stands out.  Other Things to do in Hildesheim You can easily spend a half to a full day in Hildesheim. St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church are not the only attractions in Hildesheim. We spent about a half day in Hildesheim en route to the  North Sea. Below are a few of the other attractions and sites we saw in Hildesheim that are worthwhile.  St. Andreas Church Not part of UNESCO like the other two churches, St. Andreas Church is still an impressive church to see in Hildesheim. St. Andreas Church is considered to be the tallest church in Lower Saxony at a tower height of 114.5 meters. The majority of the church burnt down in 1945 during WWII but has since been rebuilt almost exactly to what it was prior to the war.  Marktplatz (Town Center or Market Place) When visiting Hildesheim, do not miss out on the old town center (Marktplatz in German). The town center here is beautiful! Prior to WWII there were hundreds if not thousands of half-timbered homes in the area. Today, there are only a handful. Most notable buildings surrounding the marktplatz are the Rathaus (townhall), Knochenhauer-Amtshaus (Butcher’s Guild House), and the Wedekindhaus.  There is also a great information center here at the marktplatz with free brochures, souvenirs, and local beer and wine.  Walk Around the Pferdemarkt and Hoherweg If you need to do some shopping or looking for a place to eat lunch/dinner. I recommend heading to the Pferdemarkt and Hoherweg area.  Hoherweg is your typical German shopping street lined with generic stores. Pferdemarkt and Judenstrasse are similar. There are lovely restaurants, ice cream shops, and bistros found around the area. We found a nice Döner Kebab place called Lawinia.  Conclusion Hildesheim, Germany is home to St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church, both listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most visitors who come to Hildesheim primary visit these two heritage sites and for good reason. These sites are prime examples of Romanesque Churches with a long history and important artifacts. After visiting both St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church there is still much to be discovered in Hildesheim.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇩🇪 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Wiesbaden, Germany is very dear to me. Not because I love the Marktplatz and Marktkirche or the many parks and restaurants. But I was born here and have fond memories of this beautiful city. With obvious reasons, I don’t remember much of Wiesbaden in my younger years but I’ve traveled to Wiesbaden many times growing up and in recent years. Wiesbaden is very accessible to travelers given how close it is to Frankfurt. Wiesbaden has everything visitors can expect of when it comes to a German city. Beautiful churches, large open green spaces, international restaurants, shopping, a train station, and access to other spectacular destinations around this region of Germany. Whether it’s your first time here or you’ve been to Wiesbaden many times, here are my recommendations on places to visit in Wiesbaden.  🇩🇪 **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Where is Wiesbaden, Germany? Wiesbaden (pronounced, vees- baa-din) is a city located in the German state of Hesse. As a reference, Wiesbaden is about 30 Km from Frankfurt and is easily accessible by both vehicle and train.  Wiesbaden is located along Germany’s Rhine River adjacent from the city of Mainz.  🇩🇪 Places to Visit in Wiesbaden Wiesbaden deserves a minimum of one day to explore but two days would be ideal. I’d recommend making Wiesbaden a home base and traveling to other nearby cities and towns in the region. There are so many attractions in Wiesbaden and the surrounding area. If you are into sightseeing, partying or checking out nightlife, or even getting out to enjoy the great outdoors, then Wiesbaden is a great place to visit. Below is a list of attractions and places I recommend visiting when traveling to Wiesbaden.  Der Andechser im Ratskeller Looking for a good restaurant in Wiesbaden that serves traditional food, has great beer, and a traditional atmosphere? Then I recommend going to Der Andechser im Ratskeller.  The Andechser im Ratskeller is located beneath the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall). The restaurant is huge and has a traditional Bavarian theme.  Beer wise, I tried their Special Hell, Weissbier Dunkel, and Radler. I found all the beers to be very good, especially the dunkel.  Since we spent most of our time in Northern Germany this last trip, I didn’t get a chance to eat much Bavarian Food. So we ordered a leberknödelsuppe which is a beef liver soup. Perfect for an appetizer on a cold and rainy fall day. Jill ordered her favorite spätzle dish and I had a schnitzel with an egg. Everything was delicious. I would highly recommend coming to Der Andechser im Ratskeller for a meal and a decent beer.  Goldgasse The Goldgasse is another exciting place in Wiesbaden, especially if you are a foodie. This is a skinny stretch of restaurants, tapas bars, and cafes in the heart of Wiesbaden. This area has a few higher end restaurants but there is a good mix of casual restaurants and places to just sit and have a coffee or beer.  Heidenmauer One of the more interesting and historical sites in Wiesbaden is the Heidenmauer. The Heidenmauer is part of a Roman defensive wall that was built around the year 370 AD. Considering it’s an ancient Roman structure, this is considered the oldest structure in the city of Wiesbaden. Many Roman sites have been discovered in this region. Wiesbaden is not that far from the city of Trier which was founded by the Romans. Even in Mainz, they are uncovering a Roman theater.  Kurpark Another place to visit in Wiesbaden is Kurpark which is a large spa park in Wiesbaden. Wiesbaden is known as a “spa town.” In fact Wiesbaden means or translates to “Meadow Baths.” The park is a great place to escape the city and enjoy nature and other leisure activities. There is a lake in the center of Kurpark and many trails. Concerts take place here as well as other events throughout the year.  For more information on the Kurpark and other attractions around Wiesbaden, check out the official Wiesbaden website.  Marktkirche (Market Church) The Marktkirche in Wiesbaden is a Protestant Church that was built in the mid 1800’s. What makes the Marktkirche unique compared to other churches in the region is that it’s entirely made from Bricks. It’s striking reddish color stands out amongst the skyline of Wiesbaden.  Visitors can freely walk inside the church during opening hours. I would say that the interior is not as impressive as the exterior but still worth it. The Marktkirche would be my most recommended of the places to visit in Wiesbaden because it is so iconic and unique.  Schlossplatz (Castle Square) The Schlossplatz or Castle Square in Wiesbaden is the historic town square in the center of town. Here you can find the Stadtschloss, Rathaus, and Marktkirche.  Like many market places and town squares throughout Germany, many special events take place here during the year.  Warmer Damm Warmer Damm is another public park in the heart of the city next to Kurpark. There is a decent size pond here and a few trails. The Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden is on the outskirt of the park. Otherwise, it’s a nice park just to relax and rewind.  Fun Day Trips from Wiesbaden Because of the location of the city, there are so many opportunities for day trips from Wiesbaden. Wiesbaden is well connected whether it be by train, major highways, or bike trails. In reality, there are hundreds of places you can visit from Wiesbaden, not to mention you can drive a few hours from here and cross other country borders like Luxembourg and France. Here are a few cities that are very doable as a day trip from Wiesbaden that are well worth a visit.  Ascahffenburg and Mespelbrunn About a 40 minute drive from Wiesbaden, Aschaffenburg is an underrated city in Germany. Aschaffenburg has beautiful churches and a Schloss Johannisburg is not to be missed.  Not far from Aschaffenburg is Mespelbrunn, most notable for Schloss Mespelbrunn (pictured). Mespelbrunn is a historic castle surrounded by a beautiful moat.  Frankfurt Frankfurt has a bad reputation among Germans and other visitors. I understand why, near the train station, there are a lot of homeless and troubled individuals that hang out on the streets nearby. Plus, many think Frankfurt, being a financial city, there is nothing to do here.  I’ve been to Frankfurt several times. Most recently I was here in August of 2019 for a couple days before heading to the airport back to the United States. Once you get away from the train station, there are so many cool districts and neighborhoods in Frankfurt, I actually really enjoyed this city.  If visiting Frankfurt, I’d recommend visiting the Römerberg and seeing the timber houses, checking out Domplatz, and trying apple wine with a nice German meal.  Mainz Mainz is literally across the Rhine River from Wiesbaden. Mainz is a very interesting city with a deep history.  There is a train station here, the Mainz Römisches Theater (Roman Theater) next to the Roman Theater that is being excavated. As far as I know, they are still uncovering the theater, it’s massive! One of the most impressive and oldest cathedrals in Germany is the Mainz Cathedral. There is so much to explore in Mainz, it deserves a minimum of a day. I haven’t visited Mainz in a while, I don’t have any photos of Mainz, the attached photo is from a nearby castle along the Rhine River.  Würzburg About an hour and a half from Wiesbaden is the beautiful city of Würzburg. Würzburg is known for the Residence which is a UNESCO site and one of the most gorgeous palaces in Germany. There is also the old Main Brucke (bridge) and Marienberg Fortress. So, is Wiesbaden worth visiting? Given its proximity to Frankfurt, Wiesbaden is well worth visiting. In fact, I’d recommend spending at least a day in Wiesbaden but multiple days would allow visitors to fully explore the city and surrounding areas. I mean you can basically cross a bridge and end up in the city of Mainz which deserves a full day in itself to explore.  There are many attractions and things to do in Wiesbaden that can keep anyone occupied. Visit the churches, relax in the parks, and try traditional and international dishes. Wiesbaden is a must if visiting Germany.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store.  Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️  🇩🇪 Booking Accommodations ⛺️  🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖  🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗  🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Oldenburg is a German city located in the state of Lower Saxony. Less then an hours drive from Bremen, Oldenburg is about half way between Bremen and the Dutch border. Oldenburg has a rich history, with evidence of activity in the area from the 8th century. Oldenburg at one point was a Duchy, Grand Duchy, and Free State. Today, visitors can walk the historical old town center, view the church, stroll through the castle gardens, visit museums, and eat traditional German cuisine. We spent a day in Oldenburg and want to share our Oldenburg itinerary.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Where is Oldenburg, Germany? Oldenburg is located in the German state of Lower Saxony. The city is located near the Hunte River which branches off the Weser River. When it comes to populations, Oldenburg ranks as the third largest city in Lower Saxony, just behind the cities of Braunschweig and Hanover. Unfortunately, Oldenburg is often overlooked as most visitors tend to visit the beautiful city of Bremen. Oldenburg has a large Train Station that is walkable from downtown. If traveling to Oldenburg by car, there are tons of parking options near the train station.  How We Spent a Day in Oldenburg After spending a day in Oldenburg, I think a day gives you plenty of time to visit the main attractions and sites within the city limits. Once downtown in the altstadt, everything with the exception of a few museums is within walking distance. After an entire day of exploring Oldenburg, we found that we saw everything we wanted to see. Below are some of the highlights of Oldenburg that we did and recommend.  Admired the outside of St. Lamberti Church St. Lamberti or St. Lambert’s Church in Oldenburg is the cities most notable building and dominates the skyline. St. Lambert’s Church is Oldenburg’s tallest building, the center tower has a height of 86 meters. Visitors can get incredible views of the church from the Sclossgarten by the Schlossteich. I found the exterior of the church to be absolutely beautiful but the interior was very underwhelming as it was very bland.  Enjoyed the Peacefulness and Beauty of Schlossgarten Oldenburg The Schlossgarten or Castle Park was a highlight for us. The park is within walking distance from St. Lambert’s Church and the Schloss (castle).  We visited Oldenburg toward the end of October of 2022 and the leaves were changing adding to the beauty of the park. Schlossgarten was huge, there were a variety of smaller gardens within the park, a lake, plenty of places to sit and relax, and several kilometers worth of trails.  Sampled Food at the Rathausmarkt Situated between St. Lambert’s Church and the Rathaus (town hall) is an open space known as the Rathausmarkt. This open space is where weekend and holiday markets occur as well as events. Jill and I visited on a Saturday and there was a local market taking place. There were a few rows of local vendors selling everything from meats and cheeses to flowers and woodcraft.  We sampled a few treats around the market. That day, I was in the mood for a warm leberkäse sandwich. Leberkäse is basically a loaf of meat consisting of corned beef and pork. It’s usually baked and gets a nice crust on the edges. I am sure it doesn’t sound that amazing, but trust me, it is!  Spaghetti Ice Cream at Gelateria Centrale San Marco Germany has some of the best ice cream parlors on the planet. Almost every town and certainly every city has an ice cream parlor or café that serves fancy ice cream dishes. One of my favorite ice cream dishes in Germany is Spaghettieis (Ice Cream). Spaghettieis is an ice cream dish famous around Germany. The dish consists of ice cream made to resemble a plate of spaghetti. It’s typically vanilla ice cream with whipped cream, strawberry glaze, and coconut or white chocolate shavings which are meant to look like grated parmesan cheese.  On the edge of the Rathausmarkt next to St. Lamberti Church is a café called Gelateria Centrale San Marco that served up a variety of ice cream dishes. Of course, I had their Spaghettieis and it was fabulous, even though the weather was cold and damp.  Strolled Through the Altstadt and saw Lappan Oldenburg has a nice and manageable altstadt or old town. It’s very walkable and easy to navigate. The old streets are lined with various shops and restaurants. Many of the buildings in Oldenburg’s altstadt are historical and worth seeing, so don’t forget to pay attention to the beautiful architecture of some of the buildings.  One building in Oldenburg that really stands out is Lappan. Lappan is an old bell tower and oldest building in the city. Unfortunately, when we visited Oldenburg, Lappan was being renovated and I couldn’t get any decent photos.  Schloss Oldenburg In German, Schloss means palace. Schloss Oldenburg is a beautiful palace located in the downtown area. It has a history dating back to the mid 1600’s when it was the residence for the counts of Oldenburg. In the late 1700’s until the early 1900’s, Schloss Oldenburg was the main residence for the dukes and grand dukes.  Today, one of the most striking features of this palace is the beautiful yellow exterior. There is also a State Museum within the palace. I’d recommend checking the Museum Website for an updated outline of the exhibits as well as viewing the entrance times and fees. Visited the Landesmuseum Nature and Humankind in Oldenburg and saw the Husbäke Man The primary reason we visited Oldenburg was to visit the Landesmuseum Nature and Humankind. I absolutely love science and history museums and found this one to be particularly interesting. The day we went, they had a special exhibit on mummies. They had several real mummies on display from animals like cats and hyenas to actual human mummies from Ancient Egypt and Peru.  The museum had several floors and was home to many taxidermy animals found around the world and had a lot of interesting artifacts not only from Germany and their history but ancient artifacts from various cultures throughout history.  One of the most fascinating permanent exhibits at the Landesmuseum Nature and Humankind was their exhibit called Moor. Much of Northern Germany’s habitat consists of moor and people have used this land for thousands of years. The exhibit had a lot of information on the moor region of Northern Germany, but they also had a few bog bodies on display. Like our trip to the Drents Museum in Assen, seeing the bog bodies was my primary obsession for visiting the museum. There was a cool display showing the layers of the bog. There was one particular bog body that caught my interest at the museum and that was the Husbäke Man or Husbäke II.  The Husbäke Man is a bog body that was found in 1936 near the German town of Edewecht, not far from Oldenburg. According to the museum, the body of the Husbäke Man was found by a peat worker. Like many of the bog bodies discovered, he was very well preserved due to the lack of oxygen in the many layers of dead moss in the moor region.  The Husbäke Man was found lying face down in the ground. Because he was so well preserved it is believed that he was quickly covered by the elements and only his feet dissolved.  Unlike the Yde Girl, the Husbäke Man showed no signs of injuries, so he potentially died of an accident or natural causes. The Husbäke Man had a beard which identified him as male, he was around the age of 20 when he died and was 1.75 meters tall. His death is estimated to be around 765-520 BC. His hair looks to be red but it was most likely blonde or brown at the time of death. The red hair is caused by chemicals found in the moor.  Other bog bodies on display at the Nature and Humankind Museum include the Dead Man from Jührdener-feld and the Dead Body from the Lengener Moor (Tarbarg New England). So, is Oldenburg Worth Visiting? So, is Oldenburg worth visiting? Honestly speaking, I do think Oldenburg is worth a visit. I think there is just enough here to do and see for a nice half day to day trip. Although, I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to visit Oldenburg unless there is something specific you are interested in like the Husbäke Man at the Landesmuseum. Sure, the exterior of the church is beautiful the altstadt has some interesting buildings, but there is nothing that stands out that separates Oldenburg from other great cities around Germany.   Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store.  Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️  🇩🇪 Booking Accommodations ⛺️  🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖  🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗  🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Moin! There are no Alps, medieval castles, or gigantic gothic churches here. In fact, The North Sea region of Germany feels more Dutch then German. The landscape is flat, fairly wooded, but agriculture and wind turbines dominate the landscape in this area of Germany 🇩🇪 . Visiting coastal areas and port towns in the North Sea region actually feel more Nordic then German. But it’s these differences that make the North Sea region of Germany so unique and beautiful. The country side is beautiful, the small villages hugging the coast are what you imagine a European fishing village to be like, and the architecture of the buildings and structures is unique to the area. A Visit to the North Sea of Germany promises a unique experience with spectacular views, food, and culture.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Where is the North Sea in Germany? So where is the North Sea in Germany 🇩🇪 ?  If looking at the map above, Germany borders the country of Denmark. To the east, you have the Baltic Sea or Ostsee (East Sea) and to the west, there is the Nordsee (North Sea). Technically, there is the Jutland Peninsula which includes a part of Northern Germany and a good portion of Denmark. The North Sea is to the west of the Jutland Peninsula.  The Particular geographic area of the North Sea region of Germany that we recently visited is called Ostfriesland or East Friesland.  Ostfriesland is a region of the German State of Lower Saxony. German districts that belong to Ostfriesland include the District of Aurich, Leer, and Wittmund. Emden also belongs to this area but is considered independent.  Many towns in Ostfriesland are located right along the coast of the North Sea.  This area also includes the East Frisian Island chain, consisting of the islands from East to West, Wangerooge, Spiekeroog, Langeoog, Baltrum, Norderney, and Juist.  Attractions and Places to Visit Around the North Sea of Germany I’ve been to Ostfriesland once when I was younger and just recently for 2 weeks while visiting family near the town of Wittmund. Our first visit, with my parents we did a wattwanderung, which is a hike through the mudflats during low tide. To this day, this is still one of my favorite experiences and memories.  In October of 2022, Jill and I rented a car and explored Ostfriesland. We visited places like Suurhusen on a trip back from Groningen, the Netherlands. We drove to the town of Jever for a half day, and went on a day trip with family to visit a few of the fishing villages along the coast. Here are the attractions and towns we visited while spending two weeks in Ostfriesland ⛵️.  Wittmund In Lower Saxony, there is a district and town called Wittmund. There are 14 towns and villages that are located in the district of Wittmund. I have family that lives in the Wittmund area. The town of Wittmund is really nothing to write home about. I mean Wittmund has its charms. There is a marktplatz (town square), church, and some gorgeous red brick buildings. The town of Wittmund, also has or had some decent restaurants but many are seasonal or have closed because of Covid-19. We recently spent two weeks in the area. One of our favorite activities was to take early morning and evening walks along the secluded farm roads. In October, the morning air was cool and brisk, the fog lingered until the sun came up. Every morning and evening, we were greeted by friendly ponies and herds of cows. 🐎 🐮   Carolinensiel During our stay in Wittmund, we decided to take a day trip to some of the fishing villages along the coast of the North Sea. My aunt and uncle are more familiar with the area and drove us to a few attractions and villages. First on the list was the cute village of Carolinensiel ⛵️.  Carolinensiel was first established in the year 1730 and named after Georg Albrecht von Ostfriesland’s wife, Sophie Caroline.  Today, visitors can take it easy and walk around the small village. There is a historic museum by the port with displays and information on the area. We simply walked around the port and enjoyed the views of the harbor while looking at the traditional North Sea fishing boats.  Apparently, there is a trail in Carolinensiel that is a few kilometers in length ending up in Harlesiel, right on the coast. Neuharlingersiel Our next stop while touring villages in the North Sea of Germany was Neuharlingersiel.  When you picture the North Sea, you usually think of beaches and the famous strandkorb (German for Beach Basket). These beach chairs are fairly typical for this region and are large seats with an awning and storage space under the seats. We were on Badestrand in Neuharlingersiel and this is where we first saw the typical beach with the strandkorb. Unfortunately, we were here in late October which is not the ideal time of year to relax on the beach in the North Sea. Instead of beautiful sunny weather, we were met with rather cloudy skies, wind, and drizzle. But no matter what the weather is like, it’s always nice to take a stroll on a beach.  After walking the Badestrand, we walked around the harbor. At the harbor, you can see traditional fishing boats in the canal that leads to the ocean. Along the harbor in Neuharlingersiel, there were quite a few restaurants and shops. We did browse a few shops. For lunch we grabbed a backfisch baguette, which is one of my favorite meals.  A backfisch baguette is basically a fried fish sandwich. It usually consists of some type of fried fish along with lettuce, tartar sauce, and a brötchen. It doesn’t get better then eating a fresh backfisch baguette from a local vendor while being near a harbor on the North Sea.  Another attraction in Neuharlingersiel worth seeing is the Sielhof. As you walk past the harbor and town district, there is a small castle or palace with a beautiful little garden. This palace is the Sielhof. This building has been turned into a café and restaurant.  Greetsiel Greetsiel is a gorgeous little port town about 40 minutes away from Aurich by car. Out of all the villages we saw while on our visit to the North Sea region of Germany, Greetsiel was my favorite.  Not that the other villages weren’t beautiful and traditional, but Greetsiel had it all. A historic windmill was present at the entrance of town, a harbor lined with traditional fishing boats, brick roads and buildings, and fresh seafood.  Upon our arrival at Greetsiel, we stopped at a local café called Greetsieler Zwillingsmühlen. This cozy café had amazing cakes, a regional tea, and alcoholic hot chocolates. We indulged in all of the above and it was fantastic. Especially given that the weather was drizzly, cold, and cloudy all day. A Little alcoholic beverage is always necessary to warm the insides.  After a relaxing visit at Greetsieler Zwillingsmühlen we wet to the mill next door. I’ve always been curious what the insides of the historical mills looked like. Thankfully for us, this mill was turned into a museum and visitors can explore the inside of the mill.  Greetsiel had a decent sized historic district. I recommend starting off at the harbor area to view the channel with all the fishing boats. If you visit the North Sea in Germany, this is that typical view most people imagine. The rows of fishing boats docked with red brick buildings in the background and the occasional seagull terrorizing the local seafood stalls waiting for that moment to steal a bite to eat when the shop owners turns their back. Otherwise, I recommend walking around the historical center. There are many cute alley ways and the church is not to be missed. The Greetsieler Kirche is a small church built with red bricks in the center of town.  At the end of the day, there are plenty of dining options in Greetsiel. You have the option to grab a quick backfisch baguette with french fries or sit down for a meal at one of the many restaurants. Don’t worry, not all restaurants in Greetsiel are seafood related. In fact, we went to a Greek restaurant called Zorbas. I absolutely love Greek food in Germany and my all time favorite dish is the Gyros Fournou or Gyros Special. It’s a dish served piping hot with gyros meat topped off with a Metaxa sauce.  Pilsum Lighthouse In Germany, the Pilsum Lighthouse is a well known lighthouse, mainly because it was in a popular film called Otto – Der Ausserfriesische. Otto is a famous comedian in Germany. In the movie, Otto lived in the lighthouse and it has been a popular site among tourists ever since.  The Pilsum Lighthouse isn’t just a movie prop. In fact, it was built in 1891 as a sector light for the Ems River that connects to the North Sea. The most prominent features of this lighthouse are the bright red and yellow stripes.  The Pilsum Lighthouse is just outside of Greetsiel, so we stopped here prior to visiting Greetsiel. There is a parking lot about 500m away. There is a paved path leading directly to the lighthouse. The day we went, there were a bunch of bird watchers at the lighthouse. Because of this, the lighthouse was open and we were able to go inside. I’m not sure if it is open daily to visitors. But in the event that it is open, the views are worth it.  Suurhusen The “Leaning Tower of Suurhusen” is an attraction that I feel is highly underrated. I mean, the Leaning Tower of Pisa gets so much press, but technically the steeple at the Suurhusen Church is tilted even more. It’s even recognized by Guinness World Records as having the most tilt then any other tower in the world.  There is a plaque at the church stating that the tilt angle is 5.2° while the tilt angle for the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a mere 4.0°. Heck, there is another tower in Germany, Bad Frankenhausen that has a tilt of 4.9°.  The church, especially the tilt is very impressive. Unfortunately, pictures don’t do it justice. If you plan to visit the North Sea area of Germany, I recommend making a brief stop here. Visitors can walk the grounds and even enter the church.  Aurich Aurich is a town in the district of Aurich in Lower Saxony not far from the town of Wittmund. Aurich is more inland from the coast, but it can be a great home base for day trips.  We visited Aurich briefly, walked up and down the main shopping street. Honestly, I really liked the downtown area of Aurich, I wish I spent more time here. There were a lot of interesting shops here and decent restaurants.  There is one restaurant we did go to. It was highly praised by my uncle and oma. The restaurant is called Lüttje Hörn and they serve fresh seafood. For starters, we all ordered the fish soup and it was delightful. For the main course, I think we all ordered the same thing. In German, it is called a Fisch Filet Pfanne which translates to Pan Fried Fish Fillets. The dish had three different types of fillets, usually the daily catch with bratkartoffeln (fried potatoes). This dis was probably one of the best fish dishes I’ve ever had, highly recommended.  Jever If you are going to visit the North Sea of Germany, I’d recommend taking at least a half day and explore the city of Jever. Check out the castle, church, walk the old town district, and most importantly, visit the brewery or try a Jever

Jever is the capital of Friesland in Lower Saxony and is not well known outside of Germany. In fact, most Germans only know Jever because of the Jever Pilsener that is produced here and sold throughout the country. Don’t worry, if visiting Jever, there is much more to do and see here then just drink beer. Jever has a lot of great restaurant options, a castle, unique church, and cute downtown area. But, if you are visiting Jever, might as well enjoy a Jever Pilsener. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Jever, Germany on a Map Jever is a town in Friesland, Lower Saxony, Germany. Some more recognizable big cities that are within driving distance from Jever include Bremerhaven, Bremen, and Hamburg. Only about 20km from the beaches of the North Sea, Jever can be a great home base to explore more of Friesland and the North Sea area.  Things to do Around Jever There is more to do in Jever then just drink Jever Beer. In fact, there is plenty to do and see in Jever to fill a days worth of exploring. Visitors can try local and regional food, visit the castle, and do some shopping in the old town district. Jever is a very walkable city and very easy to get around.  We spent a half day in Jever and definitely did not cover the entire city, but we have plans for visiting Jever again in the future. Whether you have a half day to explore Jever or a full day, here are some of the things we did and our recommendations.  Eat at a Local Café or Restaurant Like many small cities or towns in Germany, there are plenty of comfortable and delicious local cafes and restaurants in Jever.  Jever has a few great restaurant options, including your traditional German restaurants but there are also other cuisine types in Jever to include Bar and Grill’s, Italian, Seafood, there are even bakeries and ice cream shops Originally, we intended to eat a nice German meal at the brewery, but the restaurant attached to the brewery didn’t open until later in the evening. Jill and I found a cute café near the brewery for lunch called Café & Bistro de Mood. We got a few Beers and split a flammkuchen. Flammkuchen is similar to a pizza, the dough is very thin covered with fromage blanc topped with onions and thinly sliced bacon.  Enjoy an East Frisian Tea at Nordlicht Tee & Mehr Ostfriesland or East Frisian in English is well known for their tea. There is one tea in particular from the area that is a must try.  The traditional Ostfriesentee is a black tea traditionally with rock sugar added. You then add a little thick cream to the coffee. The cream creates little clouds in the tea which always fascinates me.  One place to try tea in Jever is Nordlicht Tee & Mehr. This cozy tea house has a warm atmosphere and menu full of tea to try. If you are a tea lover, then this tea house is a must.  I tried the traditional East Frisian tea and it comes out in its own pot.  Like everywhere else in Germany, there is homemade cake on the menu. I swear, the slice of cake I got was a quarter of the whole cake. I ordered a cheesecake or kase kuchen in Germany. The cake paired with the tea and a rainy afternoon made visiting Nordlicht Tee & Mehr a must visit place for me in Jever.  See the Stadtkirche (Town Church) The stadtkirche or town church in English, is a unique church found in the heart of Jever.  What makes this church so unique is that it is a mix of old and new. The original church burnt down and was rebuilt in the 1700’s. Then, in 1964 a new addition to the church was built and connected to the old apse. If visiting Jever, make sure to go inside the church and witness the differences between old and new.  Visit the Castle Museum Besides Jever Beer, visiting the castle and museum was a highlight of our trip to Jever.  Jever Castle isn’t your typical fairy-tale castle or medieval fortress. Despite not being as famous as other castles around Germany, it still has an interesting history and is well worth a visit. Jever Castle started off as a fortress in the 14th century. In 1818, Jever belonged to the Duchy of Oldenburg and became a residence for the Dukes.  Since 1921, the castle has had its own museum. The museum has a lot of artifacts from Jever from archaeology to art.  After visiting the castle museum, there is a beautiful garden surrounding the castle where visitors can leisurely stroll and look at the moat, peacocks, and get great views of the castle.  Walk Around the Altstadt Every great German city or town has a nice altstadt or old town. The altstadt is usually the center of town where all the shops, restaurants, and unique attractions can be found.  Jever has a small and very walkable old town area not far from either the castle or Jever Brewery.  The altstadt here is lined with cute shops and delicious looking restaurants. Jever Beer (Jever Bier) Jever’s claim to fame and in reality what puts this city on a map is their brewery and the beer they produce.  I’ve had a Jever Pilsener in Germany many times without knowing anything about the town or location it comes from.  According to the Jever Brewery website, Jever beer has been around since 1848. More can be read on their website about the history, but it’s developed over 160 years to what it is today.  Jever really only has two beers that are brewed, the Jever Pilsener and Jever Fun which is a non-alcoholic beer.  So is Jever Pilsener a good beer?  I think so, I’ve had many pilsener style beers throughout Germany and think Jever Pilsener is a solid pilsener. Would I say it’s my all time favorite? Probably not, then again, I am not a huge pilsener guy. I do think it’s a refreshing beer and has a nice crisp taste. Conclusion Jever is not a touristy city but its brewery has had quite the impact on the beer industry in Germany. In Germany, everyone knows Jever not because of the town but because of the beer. Jever Pilsener is a high quality beer that has a crisp and refreshing taste and can be found throughout Germany. If beer is not high on your to do list, then Jever also has a beautiful castle, unique church, and old town district with plenty of shops and restaurants.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇩🇪 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.