Not Berlin, Hamburg or Cologne: International tourists prefer to visit small Bavarian towns
Created: 09/03/2022, 12:00 p.m
By: Franziska Kaindl
Have you ever wondered which cities, national parks or castles international tourists in Germany prefer to visit?
Here are the answers.
As a local, you often have a completely different view of your surroundings.
After all, what is right outside the front door is usually the least interesting.
It looks completely different from the perspective of an international tourist.
What do travelers from the USA, France or China find exciting about Germany as a holiday destination?
Which sights are on the bucket list?
A survey by the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) asked around 15,000 international visitors from 30 countries.
The results might come as a surprise to some.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the top highlights in Germany, as international tourists find.
© Bernd Günther Imago
Top cities in Germany for international travelers
In the "Cities" category, it is not Berlin with its first-class museums or hip trendy districts that attracts the most international guests.
Despite the Elbphilharmonie, Reeperbahn and Landungsbrücken, the Hanseatic city of Hamburg does not even make it into the top 3. Instead, a small Bavarian town is the top highlight for a city trip in Germany: Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Middle Franconia.
The town is known for its beautiful and well-preserved medieval architecture, picturesque streets, historic half-timbered houses and colorful bay windows line the way.
In the overall evaluation of all tourist highlights in 2022 for international travelers in Germany, Rothenburg ob der Tauber even came in 3rd place.
Top 5 most popular cities in Germany
place | city |
|---|---|
1. | Rothenburg ob der Tauber |
2. | Berlin |
3. | Dresden |
4. | Hamburg |
5. | Munich |
One of the most popular photo motifs in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the Plönlein with Sieberstrum and Kobolzellerturm.
© Günter Gräfenhain/Imago
Top sights in Germany: These are the highlights of international tourists
The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has broken down the entries from international guests into a total of nine categories.
In addition to the "Cities" category, the favorites in the "UNESCO World Heritage", "Natural Highlights" or "Museums" sections were also filtered out.
But if you look at the entries in their entirety, then the most popular attraction for travelers to Germany is the Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg.
The model railway system not only makes the hearts of railway fans beat faster, but is also a highlight for every visitor due to its size and attention to detail.
The top sights in Germany at a glance (regardless of category):
place | Sightseeing |
|---|---|
1. | Miniature Wonderland Hamburg |
2. | Europa Park in Rust |
3. | Rothenburg ob der Tauber |
4. | Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau |
5. | Fantasyland Bruehl |
6. | Berlin |
7. | Black Forest National Park |
8th. | Criminal Museum Rothenburg ob der Tauber |
9. | Dresden |
10 | Moselle valley |
