It has fairy tale castles perched high on tree-covered hills. It has cathedrals that pierce the sky with a thousand spires. It has mountains and vineyards and rivers that are ripe for leisurely cruises. It even has the world’s biggest funfair. So what are you waiting for? There are cities to be explored, mountains to be climbed, and beers to be drunk…

Germany might be known for beer, but it also produces wonderful wines. Wine regions such as the Moselle and the Middle Rhine help to put some of the finest Riesling in the world on our dinner tables. Germany’s tastiest food exports include apple strudel and Black Forest gateau. And while traditional staples such as bratwurst might not be considered refined cuisine, the restaurant scene – in Berlin in particular – is flourishing and foodies will be more than happy with the menu.

Then there’s the music… From classical concerts and open-air festivals to hip nightclubs, the distinctive German beat will have your feet tapping at the very least.

On top of all of that you’ve got palaces, parks, museums, art galleries, shopping and a wealth of opportunities to get outdoors.

If this has whetted your appetite for a trip to Germany, hotels and flights should be booked as far in advance as possible, especially during the busy summer months. The Christmas markets will also see demand rise for city hotel rooms in December, while Munich’s Oktoberfest attracts thousands and hotels will fill – it is essential to book as early as you can to enjoy this wild party.

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Germany’s cities are perfect short-break destinations. Bustling Berlin, for example, is crammed with manmade attractions such as the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag building, and the Berlin Wall Memorial, plus plenty of parkland and forest.

Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, and Frankfurt are also great options, while if you plan to see – and taste – the gorgeous Black Forest, consider a stay in Stuttgart; it takes just over an hour to drive there from the city.

Dusseldorf, Dortmund, Essen, Cologne and Bonn, meanwhile, are all within easy reach of each other in western Germany. Hire a car and see a new city each day.

And yet more striking city skylines can be found in popular destinations such as Bremen, Leipzig, Nuremburg, Dresden, and Hanover.

There are hotels in Germany to suit every type of traveller and every size of budget. Luxury hotels and mid-range accommodation suit tourists looking for city treasures, while castles, boats, treehouses and spa resorts also welcome adventurous travellers.

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Top five attractions

Neuschwanstein

Sitting in the Alps, Neauschwanstein is one of the most impressive castles in the world, and was the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s castle designs. This Bavarian beauty is also believed to be the most photographed building in Germany. Munich is the nearest big city with an airport.

Brandenburg Gate

Built as a monument to peace in 1791, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was trapped between East and West Germany during the Cold War when inaccessible due to the erection of the Berlin Wall. When the wall came down in 1989, the Brandenburg Gate became the symbol of a unified Germany.

Cologne Cathedral

It took more than six centuries to complete the Cathedral of Cologne – the world’s third tallest cathedral. Remarkably, when construction ended in 1880, the finished article was exactly the same as the original plans drawn up in the mid-13th century. The Gothic masterpiece was also the only building left standing during the WWII bombing of Cologne.

The Black Forest

Densely wooded hills and valleys strewn with roads, footpaths and cycle paths make up the vast 4,500 square miles of the breath-taking Black Forest. There’s also a sprinkling of delightful towns that feature restaurants and cafes serving up that very famous local delicacy – Black Forest gateau, or Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte in German.

Weimar

The attractive city of Weimar in eastern Germany is like no other place in Europe. It is a bubbling melting pot of art, literature and thinking that has been a hotbed of intelligentsia for more than 200 years. Famous for being the home of the Bauhaus movement, which dictated a seismic shift in design and architecture, it’s also becoming internationally renowned for its excellent restaurants and cafes.

Berlin Fashion Week; JanuaryJuly: Germany has been cementing its place as a style hub for decades and the Berlin Fashion Week, which is held twice a year, crowns this achievement. Go along to check out the latest trends and get a glimpse of the fashion world’s movers and shakers.

Rhine in Flames; May: Every year in May, fireworks and huge bonfires illuminate the Rhine Valley for this dramatic annual spectacle. Bonn is the centre of the action; board one of the Rhine ships to get close to the displays.

Oktoberfest; September/October: Easily the biggest celebration in Germany and arguably the biggest party in Europe, this is definitely the biggest beer festival in the world. Munich takes centre stage as the streets are crammed with beer tents and the smell of freshly smoked sausage fills the air: “Prost!”