City Breaks - Germany is Wunderbar

Germany Holidays: Düsseldorf, the Ruhr’s front room

A landmark city on the Rhine, rich in architecture and art, where the Ruhr’s industrialists splash their cash and their workers come for their big days out.

Germany Holidays: Lübeck’s Nobel laureates

Two great figures of German literature and one world status politician: the Hanseatic city of Lübeck has nurtured them all

Germany Holidays: Hamburg – where the Beatles cut their teeth

In 1960 a young band from Liverpool began their musical career by playing every day in bars in the seediest part of Hamburg. The experience was to prove invaluable.

Germany Holidays: Seafood and salty humour

Fish is a tradition in northern Germany, but it may not be what you expect, and it has a long association with a type of salty humour you’re unlikely to hear elsewhere.

Germany Holidays: Time for coffee and cake

Germans love their cafés and you should try them as well. Have a piece of cake with your coffee. There’ll be plenty of choice.

Germany Holidays: The Hamburger DOM

No, not the cathedral – this DOM is the northern German equivalent of Munich’s Oktoberfest, but with more rollercoasters.

Germany Holidays: Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg’s model railway

The world’s finest model railway is in Hamburg. Prepare to be surprised by its extraordinary ambition, gorgeous detailing, and surprising sense of humour.

Museums and architecture n Germany: MARTa in Herford

Germany Holidays: Travel along the Museum and Architecture Route

Germany is a major centre for modern architecture, as demonstrated by a new Museum and Architecture Route in Northern Germany.

King George I of England, painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller

Germany Holidays: The House of Hanover

Britain got 200 years’ worth of Kings from Hanover, and Hanover reciprocated with lovely English gardens, but we showed the city little respect during the Second World War.

Germany Holidays: Pied Piper of Hamelin

Germany’s most famous fairytale, the Pied Piper of Hamelin, has its setting in a pretty town on the banks of the river Weser.