Germany Travel

Traveling to Munich this summer? Then check out our travel tips on how to enjoy the best months of the year in Munich - from open air markets and bike tours, to lakes and parks, here's how to make the most out of your summer vacation in Munich. And what's a better way to end a summer's day than sitting at long wooden tables shaded by century-old chestnut trees, enjoying a big stein of Bavarian beer fresh from the brewery? Munich is home to almost 200 beer gardens, among them the largest beer garden in the world (seating 8000 people!), so a visit to one should be on your to-do list. For a complete summer round-up, check out our 2012 Summer Guide Munich.

(Photo by Björn Láczay)

Berlin is at its best in summer - urban beaches, outdoor festivals, open-air movies... it's the loveliest time in the German capital, and if you are there next weekend, you can take part in Berlin's unique summer carnival, the Carnival of Cultures in the district of Kreuzberg. The four-day street street festival, which celebrates the multicultural spirit of the German capital, starts June 10th and features exotic food and drinks, concerts, performances, and parties.

Don't miss the highlight of the festival: A colorful street carnival parade with more than 4,500 performers from 70 countries takes place on Sunday, May 27, and it will feel a bit like Rio de Janeiro: Soak up hot samba rhythms, and enjoy Brazilian drummers, Congolese singers, Korean culture groups, and artistic larger than life puppets.

More about Carnival of Cultures

Summer in Germany

• Summer in Berlin
• The Best Summer Festivals in Germany
• What's on in June 2012

(Photo: svenwerk)

Tonight, April 30th, Germany celebrates Walpurgis Night, or Hexennacht - "witches' night". According to German folk tales, this is the night when witches fly to Mount Brocken in the East of Germany to hold a celebration and await the beginning of spring.

So what can you expect in this magical night? Many people dress up as witches and flock to Mount Brocken, located in the Harz region of Germany. Big bonfires are lit, and the "witches" dance around the flames. If you want to skip the dressing up but still want to go dancing, visit one of the many Tanz in den Mai ("dance into May") events, held all over Germany.You can dance all night long to celebrate the spring of spring - tomorrow, May 1st, is Labor Day, a public holiday in Germany. Shops, banks, and offices are closed, so there is no need to get up early.

Related Articles

• Events in May
• Nightlife in Germany
• Germany in Spring

Are you traveling to Germany in May? Then you picked a wonderful month:  The weather is usually warm and sunny, the summer crowds haven't arrived yet, and you can take part in many German festivals, events, and holidays. And May starts off just right: May 1st is "Tag der Arbeit", Labor Day, which is a public holiday in Germany. Many families use this day-off for a picnic in the park, while whole villages in Bavaria come together to raise a traditional "Maibaum" (Maypole) with colorful ribbons and carved figures to celebrate the warm season.

Find out what's on in one of the loveliest months in Germany, from the stunning firework festival "Rhine in Flames", to concerts, and art fairs, in our monthly overview Germany in May.

If you want to try some traditional German cuisine in Frankfurt, you don't have to look far; sausages, sauerkraut, and pork ribs are served in most Frankfurt restaurants. To get a taste of some hearty local specialties, make sure to look out for the famous Frankfurter Grüne Sosse, a creamy sauce made with seven fresh herbs and often served with potatoes and eggs; Handkäs mit Musik ("handcheese with music"), a sour cheese marinated with oil and onions; and, of course, apple wine, called Ebbelwoi in the local dialect.

Check out these recommended Restaurants in Frankfurt - all of them serve regional fare as well as international dishes. Guten Appetit!

Frankfurt Travel Tips

• Frankfurt City Guide
• Top 10 Things to Do in Frankfurt
• Guide to the Goethe Haus in Frankfurt

(Photo: HA Hessen Agentur GmbH)

Every spring, the Bavarian State Ballet puts up its "Ballet Weeks" in Munich; this extraordinary dance festival includes modern and classical dance, which are performed by the Bavarian State Ballet as well as international guest ensembles such as the Birmingham Royal Ballet. This year, the festival features  "Illusions - like Swan Lake", which tells the dramatic story of Bavaria's mad king Ludwig (who built the world-famous castle Neuschwanstein), interwoven with the second act of Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky.

• When: April 22 - 29, 2012
• Where: Bavarian State Opera, Munich
• Website: Ballet Festival Weeks 2012

Berlin is not only the capital of the country, but also Germany's center for gay and lesbian life. Berlin's openly gay mayor Klaus Wowereit coined the now famous words "Ich bin schwul, und das ist auch gut so" ("I am gay, and that's a good thing"), and the city ranks as the third largest gay metropolis in all of Europe, only topped by London and Amsterdam, and same sex couples will find a thriving and diverse scene in Berlin, including 150 gay bars and cafes (as well as a gay bar owners' union).

To find out more about Berlin's most famous gay bars, clubs, restaurants, and events, check out this guide to Gay and Lesbian Travel in Berlin.

Gay and Lesbian Travel Guide Germany

(Photo by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images)

Don't let a rainy day ruin your Munich visit- there is a lot to do in the Bavarian capital, even if it is grey and wet outside. So how about soaking in a hot tub in one of the most opulent indoor swimming pools in Germany? The Müller'sches Volksbad is set on the banks of the Isar river, and when it opened its doors in 1901, it was the largest and most expensive swimming pool in the world. Its rich Art Nouveau architecture has been preserved until today, and the murals, bronze sculptures, marble columns, and stucco ceilings are a unique setting for swimming your laps. There is also a Finnish sauna with changing lights, a Roman steam bath, tanning studios, and a cafe - what a fantastic way to spend a dreary afternoon...

Here are some more family-friendly ideas on how to make the most of your time in Munich - rain or shine: Munich on a Rainy Day.

Attention art-lovers: Art Cologne, Germany's leading art fair, opens its gates today in the city of Cologne. Until April 22nd, more than 180 galleries from around the world exhibit modern and contemporary art, including paintings, sculpture, installation, video art, and photography in the Exhibition Center of Cologne.

But wait, there is more: Cologne, famous for its art scene, is home to more than 30 museums and 100 galleries with world-class collections, so don't forget to check out some of their current exhibitions.

• When: April 18 - 22, 2012
• Where: Exhibition Center Cologne and various Cologne museums
• Website: Art Cologne

Cologne for Art-Lovers:

• The Top 5 Museums in Cologne
• Cologne's Chocolate Museum
• Museum Ludwig
• Wallraf-Richartz Museum
• Romano-Germanic Museum

It's Easter time in Germany, my favorite time of year!

Next Friday, April 6th, is Good Friday (Karfreitag), the start of one of the most popular holiday weekends in Germany; after a cold winter, Germany gets ready for the new season. You will see spring flowers on display and many traditional "Easter trees", twigs and brushes dripping with colorfully decorated eggs. The custom of boiling and painting eggs, the symbols of new life, began in Germany; the bright colors represent sunlight and growth.

Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays, so it's a good idea to plan ahead: Shops, banks, and post offices are closed; trains and buses run on a limited holiday schedule, and museums and other attractions have special opening hours.

So what's the best way to spend Easter in Germany? Find out in my article How to Celebrate Easter in Germany and get helpful travel tips for a memorable Easter holiday weekend.

By the way, many well-known Easter traditions come from Germany; from the chocolate bunny, and the colored eggs, to the Easter hunt - it's all German.

Easter Travel Tips

• How to Celebrate Easter in Germany
• Easter Church Services
• Easter Dates 2012-2015
• Recipe: German Easter Bunny Breakfast Rolls

_{(Photo: GNTB/ Colorvision Utthof, Hans R.)}