Germany has made it easy for tourists to explore the German countryside, creating special travel routes and German roads touring various areas. Whether you decide to travel the very popular Romantic Road, shop along the Crystal Road or Toy Road, explore castles along the Castle Road, or go wine tasting along the Wine Road, there are plenty of opportunities for exploring Germany´s most scenic areas by car, bus, or bicycle. Explore Germany by traveling one of Germany´s many famed tourist routes.
The Romantic Road is probably one of the most traveled routes in Germany, next to the Castle Road. Taking you through towns like Rothenburg, Würzburg, and Füssen, you will be transported back in time as you visit medieval villages and historic locales. This 270 km drive (about 140 miles) takes you through some of the loveliest villages and towns in Germany - take the time to spend a night or two in Rothenburg or Füssen and enjoy your time in the historic towns of the area.
The German Castle Road takes you through several medieval villages and you can visit more than 70 castles and palaces along the way. The whole road is about 450 miles long if you take it all the way from Mannheim to Prague. It overlaps with the Romantic Road so you don't have to do both and have the chance to experience some of the loveliest scenery in Germany as well as visiting several castles along the way.
The German Toy Road is definitely a must for collectors, children and toy lovers of all ages. The Toy Road is 300 km long and runs from Zirndorf (near Munich) to Waltershausen. The tour takes you through Franconia and Thuringia and lovely villages and towns along the way. If you have children you will want to stop at the Playmobil Fun Park. The number of museums and toy manufacturers along the route seems endless and the towns you visit along the way include Nuremburg and the lovely town of Coburg to name only a few.
The German Clock Route is one of my favorites, relaxed, a lot of beautiful scenery and 320 kilometers in a circular route so you see plenty of sites. The Black Forest is a lovely relaxed place to tour and the villages along the Titisee are lovely as are the roads that loop through the area. You can stay in charming villages along the way, tour through clock factories and shops full of beautifully crafted items and enjoy the great cuisine of the Black Forest. The Clock Route is perfect for a leisurely few days in the Black Forest.
The German Fairy Tale Road is great for adults and children alike, read up on your Brothers Grimm and travel to the homes of all your favorite childhood fairy tales - Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, The Bremen Musicians, Sleeping Beauty´s Castle, the actual home of the Brothers Grimm. The route goes from Hanau up to Bremen and takes in a good deal of the countryside of Northwestern Germany.
The oldest of Germany´s scenic routes, the German Wine Road is only 85 kilometers long but encompasses some of Germany´s prettiest wine country in the Palantine. You can take a six day cycling tour for as little as 300 euros including hotel and breakfast and meander through the vineyards, visit the quaint towns along the way and enjoy the climate which is very similar to Tuscany. There are several great cycling and hiking trails and the regional food is excellent.
Tour through the charming towns of the Bavarian Alps including some of Germany´s most beautiful ski resorts and historic towns. The 450 kilometer route includes some of the finest scenery in Germany and the villages and towns offer great vistas, charming architecture and historic sites. The route includes the town of Fussen and King Ludwig´s castles, Garmish Partenkirchen, Lake Constance, over 25 castles and some of the most breathtaking scenery in Germany.
Start at the Bodensee or Ruegen Island and wander 2,400 kilometers of road - Germany´s longest scenic route down to the Bodensee. If you have plenty of time, this is a great way to see Germany including the Northern islands on the Baltic Sea, the Black Forest, and Lake Constance. The route takes you through Brandenburg, Berlin, Potsdam, Dresden, Wiesbaden, and Stuttgart. Make sure you have a good three weeks to really enjoy the time and visit all the sights along the way.
The European Route of Brick Gothic takes you to seven countries, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Estonia, through historic port towns and islands of the Baltic Sea. The 2,500 kilometer route requires some stamina but the fresh sea air and the incredible architecture are well worth the long drive. Take the opportunity to see the Nordic countries and Eastern Europe on this route through some of the most charming old cities in Europe.
You don´t have to travel the whole 2,800 kilometers of the Framework Road to enjoy the half timbered houses and quaint towns and cities along the way. Check out the various towns and shorter routes on the Framework Road and take a trip back in time. The route starts at the Elbe River and goes south to Lake Constance. It is divided into nine sections and passes through Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Hessen, Thuringia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg taking in spa resorts and festival venues, nature reserves and beauty spots.
