Unusual Places & Experiences to Enjoy When Backpacking Germany

Germany remains one of the top five most visited countries in Europe by tourists from all around the world. The land of fairytale castles (Marburg was brilliant!), rich culture (Berlin!) and history, famous beer (Munich beer crawl) and popular festivals certainly deserves its place on every traveler’s bucket list. 

Full of famous, spectacular and unusual sights to explore that make for many unique experiences for tourists, Germany promises an exciting stay for all types of travelers. But to see and experience Germany from a different angle you need to strain away from the usual path and common tourist itinerary. German-speaking tourists will always enjoy a more genuine experience as finding all these hidden gems may require more than “Guten tag” in your vocabulary. 

Speaking the language of the country you are visiting always makes for a better experience. The locals are very happy to see your appreciation for their language and culture and you can make your way to discovering hidden sights and genuine tradition easily. So, if you are fond of Germany, start learning the language online at https://www.livelingua.com/german/ and take your tutor along the way. The best places and experiences in Germany are yet to be discovered! 

A Theme Park Located on a Former Nuclear Powerplant 

Germany, the land of ideas as many want to call it, has certainly put some wild ideas into practice. Only a few miles north from Düsseldorf, Wunderland Kalkar is a place so strange that you wouldn’t want to miss it for the world.

Built on a site of a former nuclear power plant that was never actually used, Wunderland Kalkar is an amusement park with an interesting offer for kids and adults equally. It features rollercoasters and unusual rides but what makes it the most appealing is the all-inclusive entry ticket. Moreover, once you are in, you can drink beer, wine, soda, and eat fries and ice cream, all you want at no extra cost. Due to the odd location and appearance, this place has a very quirky vibe. What makes it most unique is that it is probably the sole place in the world where you can indulge in all-you-can-eat fries, ice cream and soda, then hurl yourself on rollercoasters placed on a nuclear power plant. Sounds pretty unique, right? For those that find the idea appealing, the place also has an underground network of bars and a hotel where you can stay with an all-you-can-drink special offer included in the room rate. 

Attend the World’s Largest Pumpkin Festival

Near the popular city of Stuttgart, a small baroque town named Ludwigsburg is everything you ever imagined Germany would look like. It truly is the hidden gem of Germany. Sheer-size parks and fairytale gardens arranged so beautifully offer breathtaking sceneries and the most beautiful places to sit and appreciate the cultural heritage of Germany. 

On the scenic ground of one of the many palaces in this beautiful town, a giant pumpkin festival takes place every fall. This festival is nothing like anything you’ve ever seen before. Delicious pumpkin-flavored food in any form and, of course, a variety of pumpkin-infused drinks can be savored while enjoying a display of impressive pumpkin sculptures. What makes this event even more special is the variety of pumpkin-related activities you were never aware existed, nor you would imagine you’d be enjoying taking part in. The highlight of the happening here in Ludwigsburg would be paddling across a beautiful lake on giant and hollow, pumpkin-made canoes. You wouldn’t want to miss it for the world!

Basteibrücke

Germany is mostly recognized for the very famous fairytale-looking like sites that often feature mesmerizingly beautiful castles. However, most castles are a widely known tourist attraction and easy to visit taking daily tours from the nearest city. But if you want to see a fiction-like scenery as you’ve never imagined existed you should head to Basteibrücke.

Basteibrücke or Bastei is a large rock formation near the city of Dresden. Reaching a height of 305 meters above sea level the Bastei Bridge is the highlights point of the german Saxon Switzerland National Park area. The mesmerizing panoramic view over the mountains and the river Elbe are breathtaking. For adventurers that are not afraid of finding themselves so tiny compared to a frighteningly huge mountain, it can be a revelation experience per se and a lifelong memory. 

A modern hotel and a restaurant with panoramic views are available for overnight guests and can offer a very special stay, especially for couples looking for a romantic experience. 

Dachau German Death Camp

When one is visiting Germany it is inevitable to take on an incredibly moving experience and a valuable history lesson. The war that has changed the world forever, World War II has left a lot of sites as reminiscents of the dark times.

Dachau was Initially used as a regular prison for political prisoners, but later on, it has become a transfer station to other German Death camps and it is remembered as one of the largest concentration camps and the only one to have existed throughout the whole 12 years of the Nazi rule. 

This place has a chilling atmosphere and as hard as it is to digest the sights and tales it’s something everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime. The museum has a free entrance, but you can take an audio tour for a fee. There are plenty of things to see there that will induce strong feelings of fear and all the sad stories can be overwhelming. Overall, it’s a truly unique experience and a history lesson one should take first-hand. Among the many exciting, fun, interesting, traditional and progressive activities in Germany, visiting a concentration camp is on the list of top things in Germany for most tourists.

Wherever you plan to go to in Germany, don’t forget to drink a lot of the world’s best beer and celebrate life, cheers!