Adventure Travel Overseas: Germany

Germany is a country exceeds my expectations. It was not on my list for my first European trip. When I visited Germany in 2018, I was totally shocked by numerous amazing royal palaces, spotless cities, excellent high-speed train network, convenient city transit systems and large variety of delicious food, high quality consumer products and extremely affordable cosmetics. I visited Germany again to explore more about this beautiful country. As the economy engine of Europe, Germany has so much to offer for tourists. I visited Germany again to explore more in 2019.

Must Do

1. Buy chocolates at supermarket Aldi or Lidl where has the lowest price and much cheaper than Duty Free Stores at airports.

2. Buy Berlin Welcome Card (Berlin + Potsdam ABC) online or at the airport. It covers all the city transit and train to Potsdam. Another option to include the museum island as part of the Berlin Welcome Card.

3. Book your free tour for Reichstag (German Parliament Building) online ahead of time.

4. Try Asian Buffet for €7.50 at Potsdam train station.

5. Visit DM - the best drug chain stores in Europe. European manufactured cosmetics are as low as €0.99 which you won't find anywhere else in the world. High quality and affordable infant and toddler consumer products.

6. Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Dresden (my favourite city in Germany) and Bruhl (most beautiful palace in Germany).

7. If you ever visit State of Bavaria, please buy Bayern-Ticket (cover any regional train, local bus and city transit from 9 am to 3 am the next day within the whole state): Super Deal!!! Best usage of Bayern-Ticket:

(1) Day Trip: Munich to Fussen to visit the famous German Neuschwanstein Castle. Then stop in Augbug (Old University Town) for supper on the way to Munich.

(2) Day Trip to Salzburg (UNESCO World Heritage Site) to see the birthplace of Mozzart and the city filmed the movie "The Sound of Music".

(3) Day Trip to Bamburg (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Wurzburg (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Rotherburg ob der Tauber (Lonely Planet Cover Photo for Germany) or Regensburg (UNESCO World Heritage Site) from Munich or on the way to Munich.

8. Buy Munich Day Pass for City Transit (Day Ticket €6.7 or 3-day ticket for €16.80).

9. Use the resources from Tourism Office in Potsdam train station. Free maps, transit information and any questions for staff working in the office.

10. Dresden is such a walkable city with wonderful city layout. No city transit would be needed from train station to hotel/Airbnb properties and to all the major attractions. A wide walk street leads you all the way to core of attractions.

11. Book Airbnb from the link below will save you $62 CAD/$43 USD/€41 instantly for your first stay anywhere around the world

https://www.airbnb.ca/c/weic3807?currency=CAD

Avoid

1. Avoid jaywalking.

2. Avoid talking about the war.

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Trip Highlights

Oslo to Berlin by Norwegian Air

Berlin Television Tower (Fernsehturm Berlin) is the fourth tallest freestanding structure in Europe. Its height is 368.03 m (1, 207.45 ft). We flew from Oslo to Berlin in the morning. Purchased Berlin Welcome Card at the airport. We traveled to the Museum Island (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in the late afternoon.

Statue of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in Berlin

The Berlin Cathedral is a Protestant church on the Museum Island in Berlin. It was built between 1894 and 1905 by order of German Emperor William II.

Very Impressive Berlin Cathedral

Pergamonmuseum in Berlin

Processional Way of Babylon in Pergamonmuseum: iconic mosaics.

Ishtar Gate in Pergamonmuseum: stunning navy and gold gate of Babylon's inner city (575 BC)

Market Gate of Miletus: Entrance to an ancient Miletus market built in 120 AD.

Alte Nationalgalerie

Altes Museum in Berlin

Brandenburg Gate: the most famous landmark of Germany

Reichstag in Berlin

Enjoyed Free Tour at Reichstag in Berlin

Public can observe the parliament conference from top glass ceiling: Incredible Design

Night View of the Dome of Reichstag in Berlin

Neues Palais (New Palace) in Potsdam. The construction was begun in 1763 and was completed in 1769. It is considered to be the last greatest Prussian Baroque Palace.

Very Impressive Neues Palais (New Palace) in Potsdam

Neues Palais in Potsdam

Unique Room Decoration with Shell in Neues Palais

Neues Palais in Potsdam

Communs: Opposite to Neues Palais in Potsdam. The curved colonnade decorated with statuary and obelisks, which acted as a state entrance and a screen to shield the view of marshlands beyond. Today the buildings are used by the University of Potsdam.

Beledere Palace on Pfingstberg Hill

View From Top of Beledere Palace on Pfingstberg Hill

Sanssouci is the summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia in Potsdam

Sanssouci in Potsdam

Beautiful living room in Sanssouci

Gold décor of ceiling in Sanssouci

Gold décor of ceiling in Marble Hall, Sanssouci in Potsdam

Chinese Style décor is extremely popular in 18th century

Chinese antiques in Sanssouci. Potsdam

Sanssouci in Potsdam

Cologne Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage Site 1996)

Impressive Cologne Cathedral

Impressive Cologne Cathedral: Inside View

Cologne Cathedral: Beautiful Glass Window

Cologne Cathedral: View from Cologne Train Station

Cologne Cathedral: Front View

Most Beautiful German Palace: Schloss Augustusburg in Bruhl (UNESCO world Heritage Site in 1984): We catch a train from Cologne heading to Bruhl, only 20 minutes by regular train.

Beautiful Ceiling of Schloss Augustusburg in Bruhl

Schloss Augustusburg in Bruhl

Garden of Schloss Augustusburg in Bruhl

Schloss Augustusburg in Bruhl

Dresden Neumarkt (UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, delisted in 2009). Dresden is my favorite German city. I only stayed one night in this beautiful city and found it's inadequate to explore whole city. Dresden is 2.5 hours train ride from Berlin, 2 hours 11 mins from Prague by train. I recommend tourists to stay at least 2 nights in Dresden.

Dresden Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady): A Lutheran Church Built In the 18th Century

Dresden Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady)

Beautiful Church Ceiling Dresden Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady)

Dresden

The Furstenzug (Procession of Princes) in Dresden: a large mural of a mounted procession of the rulers of Saxony. It was originally painted between 1871 and 1876 to celebrate the 8000th anniversary of the Wettin Dynasty.

Dresden is a city that boasts magnificent architecture. It is known as a Baroque city in Germany

Katholische Hofkirche: Beautiful Church in Dresden.

Magnificent architecture in Dresden. The whole city is a museum.

Backside View of Katholische Hofkirche

Beautiful Dresden

Streets in Dresden

We took the high speed train from Dresden to Munich about 5 hours. Munich is such a spotless city. Amazing New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) is a major attraction in Munich.