Rügen Island

       In my new series on hidden gems in Germany I am highlighting some of the destinations that most visitors don’t include in their itineraries, even though they are remarkable places of great beauty. They are all places I recommend people visit on a trip through Germany – so if you are planning to travel in my home country, I suggest including these places, which are all easy to get to on public transportation and can be combined with other famous tourist destinations in Germany.

Read on to find out more about my first recommendation: Rügen Island. I am pretty sure that most of you have never heard of this little island, located in the Baltic Sea on Germany’s northern coast, connected to the mainland with a bridge. So why don’t we let the island introduce itself in a little video?

                         

Places to visit in Rügen Island 

Rügen Bridge and Rügen Causeway

                 

                 

In the Baltic Sea, Rugen Island happens to be the biggest island in Germany, linked with the landmass by the Rugen Bridge and Rugen Causeway. Wonderful cottages, loving beach hotels and wonderful seashores all attract tourists to Rugen Island. 

Jasmund National Park ( white-sand beach ) 

In addition to serene white-sand beaches, the island is home to Jasmund National Park which makes for great day hikes and was even declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, thanks to its outstanding natural beauty. The National Park includes the massive 120 meters/390 feet steep and truly breathtaking King’s Chair White Cliffs – a place you can’t miss on a visit to the island. The 45 meter/148 feet high Cape Arkona marks the northernmost part of former East Germany and features two lighthouses, and makes for a splendid hiking destination.

          

        

         

Jagdschloss Granitz

Another must is the beach promenade of Binz, a gorgeous seaside town, best explored on a long walk or bike ride. Putbus is the oldest holiday resort on the island, these days an impeccable little village, beautifully restored and lined with white villas that give the town its nickname ‘White City’. Beyond Putbus on the far south eastern coast of the island is the Jagdschloss Granitz, a hunting lodge that looks more like a fairytale castle and offers splendid views over the Baltic Sea shore from its tower. You can walk the 12.5 kilometers from Putbus to the Jagdschloss – it takes about 2.5 hours to get there on foot. If you prefer cycling, there are around 200km of cycling paths on the island, and pedaling across the island is a great way to explore Rügen. There are bike rental places in all of the bigger towns and hostels.

               

                 

 

Rustic narrow-gauge steam train

If you don’t feel all that active, jump on the Rushing Roland (Rasender Roland), a rustic narrow-gauge steam train that runs from Göhren to Lauterbach Mole, a 24km ride that passes lush forests, poppy seed fields and deserted beaches.

          

                

Typical German canopied sunchairs

A visit to Rügen is not complete without a visit to one of its gorgeous beaches. A particularly picturesque beach with the typical German canopied sunchairs(Strandkörbe) can be found north of the town of Göhren, so if you decide to hop on the train, you can combine the ride with a beach visit before or afterwards.

               

I also went there with my host family many times because in this island have a lot of things to do, for example: hiking, biking tour, trekking etc. We usually went to this island for hiking, biking, trekking, picknick with friends and chill. There have a wunderful natures and a lot of things that you can do with family. I think it's a great island to take a vacation.

Stralsund

Attractions Stralsund ( Antique City )

                                 
                                        


                
    

Stralsund is a Hanseatic town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is located at the Southern coast of the Strelasund (asound of the Baltic Sea separating the island of Rugia from the mainland). The Strelasund Crossing with its two bridges and several ferry services connect Stralsund with Rugia.The Western Pomeranian town is the capital of theVorpommern-Rügen district since the 2011 district reforms. It is the fourth largest city of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and together with Greifswald Stralsund forms an Oberzentrum, one of four high level urban centers of the region. It is favourably located within the metropolitan regions of Hamburg, Berlin, Copenhagen-Malmö and Stettin and the nearby regiopolis of Rostock. Stralsund was founded in 1234 and was one of the most prospering members of the medieval Hanseatic League. Since 2002, Stralsund's old town with its rich heritage is honored as a UNESCO World Heritage, along with Wismar in Mecklenburg. 

The main industries of Stralsund are shipyards, fishing, mechanical engineering, and, to an increasing degree, tourism, life sciences, services and high techindustries, especially IT (Information Technology) and biotechnology.

Alter Markt ( An old market )

                  

Nikolaikirche ( Nikolai Church )

                 

              

The main portal of the soaring Nikolaikirche is reached via an entrance off the Alter Markt. This masterpiece of medieval architecture dates to 1270 and is modelled on Lübeck's Marienkirche. It's interior is redolent with colour and is filled with art treasures. The main altar (1708), designed by the baroque master Andreas Schlüter, shows the eye of God flanked by cherubs and capped by a depiction of the Last Supper. Also worth a closer look are the high altar (1470), 6.7m wide and 4.2m tall, showing Jesus' entire life, and, behind the altar, a 1394-built (but no longer operational) astronomical clock .

Marinekirche ( Marine Church )

      

You'll need divine inspiration to guess the number of bricks used to build the massive 14th-

century Marienkirche, a superb example of north German red-brick construction. You can climb the steep wooden steps up the tower for a sweeping view of the town, with its lovely red-tiled roofs, and Rügen Island. The ornate 17th-century organ is a stunner.

Ozeneum

           

In an arctic-white wavelike building that leaps out from the surrounding red-brick warehouses, the state-of-the-art Ozeaneum takes you into an underwater world of creatures from the Baltic and North Seas and the Atlantic Ocean up to the polar latitudes. In a huge tank you can see what thousands of herring do before they end up dropping down northerner gullets.

Stralsund Harbour

               

Photos from Stralsund city

        
         
        
         
        

        

       

       

       

       
                 
                            

As an exchange student I was in this city. There have a lot of things to see, for example habour, old town etc. This city is very popular for old people because there antique building and the old streets. Stralsund is the of city that german people called "fresh city" because of the fresh air from the ocean. It was a bit bored for me to stay in this city but I had a great host family and nice friends so I had lots of fun.

Schwerin

Attractions Schwerin 

                                            

                                               

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in German, also used in English) is the least densely populated state in Germany, with a mere 73 inhabitants per km² (three times less than the national average). With only 1,642,000 people, it is less populous than the city of Hamburg. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is also the poorest German state measured by gross regional product per capita at purchasing power parity.

Three of Germany's fourteen national parks are in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, in addition to several hundred nature conservation areas. The Baltic Sea and the numerous lakes contribute to making Mecklenburg-Vorpommern the number-one tourist destination within Germany, especially popular with Berliners. The state also boast two of Europe's oldest universities (Rostock and Greifswald, both founded in the 15th century), and two cities listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Stralsund and Wismar). Yet, the most beautiful of all is undeniably Schwerin, the state capital.

Schwerin Castle

                        

                                     
                 
                                  

The gem of Northeast Germany, Schwerin is pressed on every side by a multitude of lakes. Oldest city and capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, it was the seat of a grand duchy, and its magnificent Neo-Renaissance ducal castle is one of the loveliest in Germany.

                                 

State Museum Schwerin

          

On the east side of the Alter Garten in Schwerin is the State Museum (Staatliches Museum) with its splendid Gallery of Old and New Masters, a first-rate picture gallery in Neoclassical style that was established in 1882. The facade was enriched during rebuilding with Italian Renaissance flourishes. The collection also includes large numbers of works by Flemish and Dutch masters of the 17th and 18th centuries, and modern art is also represented. It's also well known for its collection of medieval art, which includes the famous Neustädt Altarpiece.

Schloss Ludwigslust

                     

Schloss Ludwigslust, about 38 kilometers south of Schwerin, is the focal point of the Baroque village after which it's named. Built in 1772, this sumptuous palace is home to a collection of courtly art, as well as artifacts befitting the aristocracy of the 18th and 19th centuries, including paintings, furniture, and fine décor. It also boasts a beautiful park and gardens that cover an area of 309 acres. 

My family visited me 2 years ago

            

One of the favourite city in Germany. It was pretty cool! This city is very nice and peaceful. My opa and oma they also love this city. 

Hamburg

                             

Industry City 

                            


                             

                             


                   


Hamburg is a transport hub and is an affluent city in Europe. It has become a media and industrial centre, with plants and facilities belonging to Airbus, Blohm + Vossand Aurubis. The radio and television broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk and publishers such as Gruner + Jahr and Spiegel-Verlag are pillars of the important media industry in Hamburg. Hamburg has been an important financial centre for centuries, and is the seat of the world's second oldest bank, Berenberg Bank. 



                  


Hamburg, city and Land (state), located on the Elbe River in northern Germany. It is the country’s largest port and commercial centre. The Free and Hanseatic City (Freie und Hansestadt) of Hamburg is the second smallest of the 16 Länder of Germany, with a territory of only 292 square miles (755 square km). It is also the most populous city in Germany after Berlin and has one of the largest and busiest ports in Europe. Its population is over 1.7 million people. The official name, which covers both the Land and the town, reflects Hamburg’s long tradition of particularism and self-government.

Maritime Hamburg

THE SCENT OF FREEDOM IS EVERYWHERE

The Port of Hamburg is the second largest seaport in Europe and is one of the nine largest container harbours in the world: More than eight million containers are handled here every year. What sounds like an imaginary industrial site is actually a real "hands-on" port "and one of Germany's most popular attractions.

Culture in Hamburg

                        

After New York and London, Hamburg is the world's third largest musical metropolis. Disney's THE LION KING is a classic at the majestically located Theater im Hafen. It is also the numerous theatres, museums and galleries, along with the Staatsoper and a colourful club scene, that make Hamburg a pure cultural pleasure.

Historic Hamburg 

                       

                       

The Old Town is indeed Hamburg's oldest district and the real attraction for many tourists. The most famous, of course, are the Chilehaus and the office buildings on Burchardplatz, but the Sprinkenhof, Mohlenhof and the Messberghof are also considered popular tourist destinations. The "Old Elbe Tunnel", however, remains unchallenged.

                               

The ten-storey office building is one of the historic architectural monuments of Hamburg. Due to its distinctive architecture with its lean, unconventional structure - its top evoking the bow of a ship - it is an attraction known well beyond the boundaries of Hamburg. Built between 1922 and 1924 by F. Höger, it is considered a representative example of the revival of north German brick construction supported by Hamburg's senior construction director F. Schumacher and F. Höger.

Green Hamburg 

               

           

Parks and green spaces Hamburg not only has abundant water, but with almost 1,400 parks offers lots of space for relaxationeven away from the Elbe and Alster,Spacious, modern and historic gardens and parks offer plenty of room for relaxation, games and sports in Hamburg. 

In my opinion I think Hamburg is a high-technology city. Hamburg isn't a tourist city but it's really good for someone who like industry, factory or technology.I went to Hamburg 2 years ago it was very cool because in this city have many beautiful and old building.

Berlin

Popular place to visit in Berlin

Berlin Wall

                       

In the years between 1949 and 1961, about 2.5 million East Germans had fled from East to West Germany, including steadily rising numbers of skilled workers, professionals, and intellectuals. Their loss threatened to destroy the economic viability of the East German state. In response, East Germany built a barrier to close off East Germans' access to West Berlin (and hence West Germany).

This barrier, the Berlin Wall, was first erected on the night of August 12–13, 1961, as the result of a decree passed on August 12 by the East German Volkskammer (“Peoples' Chamber”). The original wall, built of barbed wire and cinder blocks, was subsequently replaced by a series of concrete walls (up to 15 feet [5 metres] high) that were topped with barbed wire and guarded with watchtowers, gun emplacements, and mines. By the 1980s this system of walls, electrified fences, and fortifications extended 28 miles (45 km) through Berlin, dividing the two parts of the city, and extended a further 75 miles (120 km) around West Berlin, separating it from the rest of East Germany.

The Berlin Wall came to symbolize the Cold War's division of East from West Germany and of eastern from western Europe. About 5,000 East Germans managed to cross the Berlin Wall (by various means) and reach West Berlin safely, while another 5,000 were captured by East German authorities in the attempt and 191 more were killed during the actual crossing of the wall.

East Germany's hard-line communist leadership was forced from power in October 1989 during the wave of democratization that swept through eastern Europe. On November 9 the East German government opened the country's borders with West Germany (including West Berlin), and openings were made in the Berlin Wall through which East Germans could travel freely to the West. The wall henceforth ceased to function as a political barrier between East and West Germany.

Museum Island

                    

Museum Island is the name of the northern half of an island in the Spree river in the central Mitte district of Berlin, Germany, the site of the old city of Cölln. It is so called for the complex of five internationally significant museums, all part of the Berlin State Museums, that occupy the island's northern part.

Berlin Television Tower

               

                   

The Fernsehturm is a television tower in central Berlin, Germany. Close to Alexanderplatz in Berlin-Mitte, the tower was constructed between 1965 and 1969 by the administration of the German Democratic Republic. It was intended as a symbol of Berlin, which it remains today, as it is easily visible throughout the central and some suburban districts of Berlin. With its height of 368 meters, it is the tallest structure in Germany, and the second tallest structure in the European Union. The tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of the country and is often in the establishing shot 
of films set in Berlin. Due to its location near Alexanderplatz, the tower is occasionally called Alex Tower.

Charlottenburg Palace 

                  

Charlottenburg Palace (German: Schloss Charlottenburg) is the largest palace in Berlin, Germany. It is located in the Charlottenburg district of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough.The palace was built at the end of the 17th century and was greatly expanded during the 18th century. It includes much exotic internal decoration in baroque and rococostyles. A large formal garden surrounded by woodland was added behind the palace, including a belvedere, a mausoleum, a theatre and a pavilion. During the Second World War, the palace was badly damaged but has since been reconstructed. The palace with its gardens are a major tourist attraction.

Brandenburg Gate

                        

The Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin's most important monuments – a landmark and symbol all in one with over two hundred years of history. A former symbol of the divided city, it drew visitors who used to climb an observation platform in order to get a glimpse of the world behind the Iron Curtain, on the other side of the barren "death-strip" which separated East from West Berlin, geographically and politically. It was here that on June 12, 1987, Ronald Regan issued his stern command to his cold war adversary admonishing him with the words: "Mr. Gorbachov – tear down this wall!". The speech delivered to West Berliners was also audible on the east side of the Gate and echoed President von Weizsacker’s words which translate as: "The German question is open as long as the Brandenburg Gate is closed."

Brandenburg Gate has turned into a symbol of unity

When Germany was reunified following the fall of the Berlin in November 1989 Brandenburg Gate quickly reinvented itself into the New Berlin's symbol of unity. It was officially opened to traffic on December 22, 1989 and 100,000 people came to celebrate the occasion. Unfortunately this also resulted in severe damage to the monument which needed to be restored and was only officially reopened on October 3, 2002.

In my opinion I think Berlin have a lot of places to visit and history. In this city also have many park. If you like natures and history you should visit this city. I was also in Berlin but I didn't have much time to visit all of the beautiful places. If I have a chance I'll visit Berlin again.