The German landscape features dramatic regional differences. Every city has its own aura, its own version of sausage, and its favorite local wines and beers. Cities range from busy Berlin to fun-loving Munich...from Cologne with its world-famous cathedral to Frankfurt with its designer skyscrapers from the romantic university town of Heidelberg to the port city of Hamburg with its risqué Reeperbahn area. You can pack a lot of uniquely German experiences into your trip with this book as your guide. Cruise down the Rhine with its castle-crowned crags or cruise the lively club/bar/disco scene. Join the locals in a giant beer hall with an oompah-pah band or opt for opera. Go on a strenuous hike in the Black Forest or get pampered in a sophisticated health spa. Whether you want culture or action, you ll find plenty to do in this guide that gives you the scoop on:

• Luxurious hotels that take you back in time or modern, contemporary marvels



• The Rhine Valley, with its romantic legends and thriving vineyards



• The Barbarian Alps and the intriguing alpine resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen



• The imposing Cologne cathedral that dazzles your senses



• Weimar, where Goethe lived, or Leipzig, where Bach conducted



• Shopping in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Cologne, or on Frankfurt s Zeil, the busiest shopping street in Germany



• Incredible castles and palaces, including Sanssouci, Frederick the Great s 18th-century rococo place in Potsdam, Zwinger Palace in Dresden with it s Old Master paintings and porcelain treasures, Nymphenburg Place outside Munich, and Neuschwanstein and Linderhof, the opulent fairy-tale castles built by Ludwig II of Bavaria



• The moving memorials at Dachau and Buchenwald



• The art museums and symphony, opera, and ballet performances that grace almost every German city



• Romantic landscapes, from the majesty of the Bavarian Alps to the sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea, and from the winegrowing Rhine Valley to the rock cliffs along the Elbe



• The Mosel Valley with its vineyards, Roman ruins, medieval castles, and riverside towns



• Cuisine that ranges from traditional local fare to dining with an Italian flair

Like every For Dummies travel guide, Germany For Dummies, 2nd Edition includes:

• Down-to-earth trip-planning advice



• What you shouldn t miss and what you can skip



• The best hotels and restaurants for every budget



• Handy Post-it® Flags to mark your favorite pages

Peruse this guide, pack your bags, and have a wunderbar trip.