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Viewing Holidays in Germany: All about Berlin, Munich, and FrankfurtHolidays in Germany: All about Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt
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As a holiday destination, Germany has a lot going for it - fashionable and dynamic big cities, quaint towns straight out of the Brothers Grimm, deep forests, fairy-tale castles, and to top it all off, an unequalled range of beers. Want to hear more? By Alistair White As a holiday destination, Germany has a lot going for it - fashionable and dynamic big cities, quaint towns straight out of the Brothers Grimm, deep forests, fairy-tale castles, and to top it all off, an unequalled range of beers. Germany's Climate Located in the heart of Europe, Germany has a temperate climate with regional variations. The best weather is from May to October. Winter is freezing and wet. Berlin: finally in from the cold The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990 ushered in a new era for this city, long time cloak and dagger capital of the Cold War. The Berlin of today is a dynamic and creative city with abundant theatre and music, imposing public buildings, splendid museums, sophisticated restaurants, and a host of pubs and clubs. Transport: getting there and getting around Berlin is not well served with direct flights. Travelers usually make connections through hubs like Frankfurt or Amsterdam. You can reach Berlin by bus from most European cities, and German trains run like clockwork. Berlin is walker- and cyclist-friendly, and its underground system, the U-Bahn is efficient. There is a new tram system in the eastern parts of the city. Climate: Rain is possible in any month. The winter months tend to be gloomy, with temperatures often dropping below freezing. Accommodation: From cheap stays to luxury resorts. Check on the Internet for the range, location, and cost of Berlin hotels Events: What's on and what's hot. Berlin's calendar is loaded with annual fairs, festivals, concerts, and parties. • The Berlinale (Berlin International Film Festival), the world's second largest, is held in February. • April sees Festage (Festival Days), a host of gala concerts and operas held over 10 days. • Christopher Street Day in June is Berlin's big gay event. • August features JazzFest Berlin. • In November, Christmas markets are held throughout the city. Munich: Bavarian good living Capital of the southern province of Bavaria, Munich brings to mind images of lederhosen and foaming steins of beer. In fact, Munich is a sophisticated city that is home to a multitude of cultural offerings including museums and a lively arts scene. Transport: Getting there and getting around. Munich's Franz-Josef-Strauss Flughafen serves flights bound for Europe, New York, and Sydney, either direct or via Frankfurt. It also connects with many German cities daily. Rapid trains connect with all the major German cities as well as Vienna, Prague, Zurich, Rome, and Paris. Getting around Munich is easy via an excellent public transport network, which includes an underground and buses. You can also cycle. Climate: May to September are the finest months. April-May and September-October offer sunny weather too. November to March is a time of sub-zero temperatures and sunless skies. Accommodation: From cheap stays to luxury resorts. Check on the Internet for the range, location and cost of Munich hotels. Events: What's on and what's hot. Munich features events and festivals all year round. • Fasching in January is a bawdy six-week-long extravaganza of street parties and balls. • Lent ends in March with Starkbierzeit, a time for quaffing strong brews. • April is the time for a mini Oktoberfest known as Fruehlingsfest. • June features the Munich Film Festival. • Christopher Street Day in July is a three-day gay fest, celebrated with street parties. • Oktoberfest, the world's premier pub bash, is held, surprisingly, in September. Frankfurt: big city with a heart Frankfurt is often seen as a neat and tidy business city with no real soul. In fact, Frankfurt spends more on the arts than other city in Europe, and there is always something on at one of its many museums. Transport: Getting there and getting around. Frankfurt is the major European rail and air transport hub. Flughafen Frankfurt-am-Main receives flights from all over the world, and Hauptbahnhof is Germany's busiest main train station. Long-distance buses connect Frankfurt with almost all countries in eastern and western Europe. Frankfurt is not a practical city for walking. Luckily, it has a first-class public transport system composed of the city's bus, tram, S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines. Cycling is also an attractive option, as most streets have designated bike lanes. Climate: Typical for Germany with freezing winters and frequent storms. The summer months of June to August are hot and prone to afternoon thunderstorms. Accommodation: From cheap stays to luxury resorts. Check on the Internet for the range, location, and cost of Frankfurt hotels. Events: What's on and what's hot • February in Frankfurt is marked with the pre-Lent Fastnacht parades. • In March, there's the International Music Trade Fair. • Summer has many events to celebrate Frankfurt's famed apple wine. • In July, the riverside springs to life for Museumsuferfest with art, music, and exhibitions. • September/October is the time for the world's largest book fair, and the International Jazz Festival. About the Author: Alistair White has been in the travel industry for over 20 years, and is the founder and CEO of Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers Cheap hotels in Germany. Article source: 111 Travel Directory: Triple1.com (triple one dot com) |
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