Most people escape to Italy or Greece over the summer to soak up plenty of sun. But with the right local guides you can make Germany your new European summer destination!

Whether you love to hike, explore beautiful towns and villages, or simply relax by the water, we make sure to help you find your next dream trip in Germany with our tips. In this guide, we'll introduce you to some of the most beautiful villages, lakes, and hiking areas for your summer in Germany.

The Most Beautiful Villages in Germany

Rothenburg ob der Tauber Houses

Germany has some big and beautiful cities to offer, like Munich or Hamburg, but for this summer we recommend you to visit the small villages instead.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Arguably one of the most beautiful small towns in Germany is in Bavaria. For your stay here, we recommend the hotel Mittermeiers Alter Ego. Not quite as tiny as some of the others on our list, this town in central Franconia in the Ansbach district has a population of a little less than 11,000. Rothenburg is reminiscent of a medieval town and still has many monuments and cultural assets. Even today, efforts are made to maintain the original buildings and facades as authentically as possible - they contribute significantly to its charm. Book the private tour through Rothenburg ob der Tauber if you want to see all the highlights and interesting history the city has to offer.

Ahrenshoop

Another quintessential small village to visit is located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. With just under 120 inhabitants, it is one of the smallest on our list and is therefore considered more of an excursion destination if you are visiting Northern Germany. However, you might be lucky and get hold of one of the few vacation apartments. Ahrenshoop is a seaside town, located directly on the Baltic Sea coast and on the Fischland-Darßt-Zingst peninsula chain.

Bacharach

This lovely village  located in Rhineland-Palatinate has a population of 1,800, which is rather modest, but it has something great to offer. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley and is believed to have Celtic origins. Architecturally, Bacharach is characterized by half-timbered houses and its city wall. Here you will also find a medieval charm. In this village, you have the feeling of traveling back in time. We recommend staying at the PK Parkhotel Kurhaus in the beautiful old neighboring town Bad Kreuznach.

In addition to the above destinations, we have also compiled a list of the most beautiful places for your summer:

  • Schiltach, Baden-Wurttemberg
  • Tüchersfeld, Bavaria
  • Bremm, Rhineland-Palatinate
  • Alsfeld, Hesse
  • Monschau, North Rhine Westfalia
  • Rüdesheim am Rhein, Hesse

Looking for destinations for a wellness vacation this summer? Then don't forget to read our guide to the 5 most beautiful cities for your wellness vacation.

The Most Beautiful Lakes in Germany

View over the Walchensee in Bavaria, Germany

For travelers who like to spend their vacations by the water, we have just the thing. In Germany, you will find a large number of lakes and some of them are breathtaking - you could almost think you are in another country.

Walchensee

Located in Bavaria, Walchensee is over 620 feet deep and with that, is one of the deepest and largest alpine lakes in Germany and includes the island of Sassau. Due to the location of the adjacent mountains, the climate is very mild, as the lake has optimal sunlight. The water is crystal clear and you can see up to 120 feet deep, thus the lake has a beautiful color.

Forggensee

Also located in Bavaria, the Forggensee is the fifth largest lake in Bavaria with 160 square feet and is a reservoir. It is used for hydroelectric power generation but has a lot more to offer. In winter, the lake is dry and in summer you can watch the picturesque Alps from the shore of the turquoise lake or cool off in the water.

Königssee

Located in the Berchtesgadener Land in Baden-Wurttemberg, Königssee is surrounded by the steep cliffs of the Berchtesgaden Alps and with a depth of 600 feet, the Königssee is very impressive. You must take the boat in order to fully experience the scenery and reach the peninsula of St. Bartholomä. For that, book the private tour and boat cruise on Activitygift. On the way there, you will be surprised how present the echo of the boat is bouncing from rock face to rock face across the lake. In Berchtesgaden, think about staying at the Kronprinz Alpenhotel in the middle of the mountains for an authentic and scenic stay.

Besides these lakes, we have picked out a few more stunning places in Germany to make your list complete. Bavaria has by far the most and most beautiful lakes to offer. So, it is a good idea to take a lake tour through this picturesque federal state.

  • Eibsee, Bavaria
  • Chiemsee, Bavaria
  • Bodensee, Baden-Wurttemberg
  • Tegernsee, Bavaria

The Most Beautiful Hiking Areas in Germany

Black Forest Gorge Trail in Baden-Wurttemberg Germany

For all the hiking enthusiasts among you, the following list of hiking trails throughout Germany will be the highlight of this article. On the routes of these trails, you will discover breathtaking panoramas and be in harmony with nature.

Heidschnuckenweg

A 138-mile hiking trail that leads from Hamburg to Celle and thus through the states of Hamburg and Lower Saxony. The trail was only inaugurated in 2012 and consists mainly of forest and meadow paths, as well as trails. It leads through more than 30 large and small meadow  areas. We recommend coming here in late summer, as at this time the meadows will be all purple - from early August to mid-September they will be in bloom.

Altmühltal Panorama Trail

Located in Bavaria stretches over 124 miles and through four different counties in this beautiful state. It leads along the river Altmühl, past rocky landscapes, castles and palaces, historic towns, and juniper heaths, and thus has an incredibly great panorama along the entire route. If you want to hike off the main route and thus a bit more in private, you can take one of the 27 loop trails along the way.

Black Forest Gorge Trail

Located in Baden-Wurttemberg is one of the trails for more advanced hikers and is about 73 miles long, but definitely worth the effort. On narrow and steep paths it takes you from Sühlingen to Wert and leads along gorges, tunnels, and ravishing waterfalls. But don't worry, you'll be rewarded with magnificent views all along the way.

In addition to these great hiking options, below you'll find a list of other beautiful hiking trails. With this, you definitely won’t run out of ideas:

  • Goldsteig, Upper Palatinate & Bavarian Forest
  • Eifelsteig, North RhineWestfalia & Rhineland-Palatinate
  • Hochrhöner, Bavaria, Hesse & Thuringia
  • Rheinsteig, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate & North RhineWestfalia

Ready to Summer in Germany?

Have we convinced you to ditch the overly crowded streets of Italy for the cool lakes and picturesque Bavarian villages? If you're ready to fly over to Germany this Summer, book your flight with Flightgift to select from over 400+ airlines and have flexibility to travel whereever and whenever you'd like.