German Holiday Packages, Deals & City Breaks by Fred.\

Destinations » Holidays in Germany

From the vibrant cities of Berlin, Cologne and Munich to the medieval villages and majestic mountains of the country, Germany always proves a hit with tourists. Holidays in Germany have so much to offer with famous beer festivals, beautiful sandy beaches, twinkling Christmas markets, enchanting lowland plains and lakeside beach resorts waiting to be discovered from the Alps in the South to the Northern coast and Baltic Sea.

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Destinations

Culture

Historically, Germany is called 'Das Land der Dichter und Denker' which means 'The land of poets and thinkers'.

Culture is deep in the German soul. There are more than 91 million visits to museums every year, 20 million trips to the theatre and opera and 3.6 million people listen to the major orchestras. Some of the world's most famous composers were from Germany including Beethoven, Bach, Brahms and Wagner. German literature can be traced to the Middle Ages. 20th century authors include Berthold Brecht, Hermann Hesse, Heinrich Böll and Günter Grass.

Food and drink

German cuisine ranges from hearty country fare at simple inns to top-quality international cooking at Michelin starred restaurants. Each region has its own local specialties, such as the southern regions that share the cooking styles of Switzerland and Austria. Germany is world renowned for its high quality beer production governed by its own 'purity laws'. The German sausage is another culinary icon, with over 1,500 different types available.

History

Throughout history, until the end of the 18th century, the land we know as Germany consisted of hundreds of principalities, duchies, free cities and small states. Conflict was frequent and poverty levels high. Many areas had their own currency and enforced their own laws. The occupation of the region by Napoleon I from the mid-1790s until 1813 was a key factor in the move towards a more unified Germany. This eventually became a reality in 1871 when Emperor Wilhelm I, king of Prussia, transformed Germany into an empire.

Did you know?

The word 'Germany' derives from the Latin word 'Germania'. 'Germania' came into use when Julius Caesar adopted it from a Gallic word for the people that lived to the east of the Rhine. It is likely that 'Germania' meant 'neighbour'.

Facts and figures

Capital	Berlin
Official language	German
Currency	Euro
Time zone	Central European Time
Unification	18 January 1871
Federal Republic	23 May 1949
Reunification	3 October 1990
Accession to the EU	25 March 1957
Area	357,021 sq km / 137,847 sq miles
Population	81.7 million

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Fred.\ - Your holiday experts to the heart of Europe

The 87 mile long Wall divided Berlin and Germany from 1961 to 1989

Oberstdorf is also well-known as a "Kur" resort in the summer

Enjoy peace and beauty in Düsseldorf’s Japanese garden at Oberkassel

The picturesque town of Rothenburg

The magnificent Semperoper in Dresden is a must for opera lovers

The exciting Blue Fire rollercoaster