In order to plan your trip to German cities and places of interest, you can easily collect information by going to the cities' websites. Their names all consist of www., the cities name, and ".de". If you wonder how long it may take you to get there by train and how expensive the tickets might be, go to www.bahn.de. If you know you will be traveling long distances by train at least three times during your stay, you may want to purchase the Bahncard (for students) at the Reisezentrum of the Deutsche Bahn in every main train station. This card costs 100€ but it cuts all of your in-country travel by 50%. For safe, clean, and reasonable lodging options, check the website of the Deutsche Jugendherbergen.

If you want to experience the atmosphere of a 'gemütliche Universitätsstadt,' come to Mainz. Stop at  the Gutenberg-Museum and learn how to use Gutenberg's printing press, stroll along the pedestrian area of a total of 18 km, explore the city's Roman past and don't miss the chance to taste local specialties like Bretzel with Spundekäs. If you want to experience Fassenacht first hand, bring your red nose and join the fun in February!

Burg Eltz



The Rhein- and Mosel-area is the place to go if you want to see real "Ritterburgen" dating back to the Middle Ages. One of the most beautiful and best preserved is Burg Eltz, which was never conquered or destroyed due to its strategic position.   




In order to visit this beautiful castle, take the train to Moselkern and enjoy the beautiful hike. 

They offer guided tours through the rooms and a castle museum displaying treasures of former times.

Make sure you look up once in a while
 . . .

  and watch out . . .

Simply a must for the castle- and language-fan alike is the Marksburg located above the picturesque little town of Braubach easily reached by train.

But on a beautiful day, make sure to take one of the white ships cruising the Rhine River--they depart directly behind the Mainzer Rathaus.

Make sure you get a nice place on deck--the ships fill up pretty quickly. Now enjoy the panorama right and left and don't miss the appr. 20 castles (some of them youth-hostels!) dramatically set against the sky high above the riverbed.

(You cannot miss the Loreley--you'll see why!)

Finally you can see the Marksburg from afar before you get off at Braubach: 

What's special about their guided tour: not only do you get a good impression of how people lived here, but the guid3es make
it their specialty to explain where certain German idioms come from. They show you why it means 'bad luck' if you have 'Pech,' they demonstrate what it meant if someone wanted to save money and therefore put it "auf die hohe Kante." They demonstrate what it means "eine Tafel aufzuheben," just as they show you why it is not at all fun "auf den Hund zu kommen." "Auf dem hohen Ross sitzen" and "etwas mit links machen," are likewise tied to their literal sources--and these are just a couple of examples. Have you ever wondered what it means "einen Zahn zuzulegen?" And why on earth "Zahn?" Come here and you'll never forget!


In the late afternoon (and after so much brain-food), it is time to taste some of the local specialties either at the castle's restaurant or in one of the cosy places in Braubach before you take the train back to Mainz.

Photographs Mainz, Burg Eltz, and Marksburg by courtesy of J.B.

Bonn

(House of German History / Beethoven House)

The old capital city has preserved its world-open character and invites you to explore Germany's historical, cultural, and political development from 1945 to this very day. An interactive exhibition in the House of German History turns every visitor into a witness.

The city was home to Beethoven's family and carefully preserved the house where he was born. Furniture, original instruments, written music and documents invite you to take a trip back to Beethoven's times, before you relax in one of the cozy restaurants on the major market place or stroll down one of the narrow streets making up the large pedestrian area.

 Köln

Cathedral / Chocolate Museum / Roman-Germanic Museum

The Roman-Germanic Museum, the Museum for Olympics and last not least the Chocolate Museum will keep you busy before you enter one of the cozy "Konditoreien", some of which offer more than 30 different cakes on the same day. Also famous for its quality and taste is the locally brewed beer called "Koelsch".

Make sure to visit the largest gothic cathedral in Europe. The three Holy Kings are supposedly buried here, but the building in itself would be worth visiting. Don't miss the tower - the view from above makes you forget the narrow stairs.

Trier


Porta Nigra, Kaiserthermen, Amphitheater, Kurfürstliches Palais, Basilika, Karl Marx House


Come to the oldest German city and judge yourself whether the Roman architecture deserves to be admired. And don't miss the Hauptmarkt   with its colorful architecture, icecream-parlors and restaurants. From this central place, you can walk Trier's large pedestrian area and enjoy the atmosphere.

 




Weilburg

Every year in October, the castle turns on the magic. 2000 candles illuminate the building as in the old days. Dressed in historic costumes, musicians play in the large and authentically furnitured halls of the castle. A historical market (food, arts and crafts) surrounds the castle's beautiful park and spreads through the city. This adds a special flavor to the atmosphere rich with the aroma of "Gluehwein", "Zwiebelkuchen" and "Federweisser". The local Mining Museum is also worth visiting.