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Travel

Top 10: Germany's largest cities

Berlin, Hamburg, Munich — Germany has many cities worth seeing. Let us introduce you to the 10 largest and their characteristics and tourist highlights.

  • Germany| Berlin | Panorama | Skyline (imago images/Panthermedia)

    Berlin

    The undisputed number 1 is the German capital of Berlin with almost 3.8 million inhabitants. Every district has its own unique atmosphere: chic, grungy, hip, international. Of course, there are plenty of places of interest here, including the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building. And rising above it all is the iconic TV tower at 368 meters (1,207 ft).

  • Hamburg Binnenalster with town hall

    Hamburg

    Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city with almost 1.9 million inhabitants. The striking northern city on the Elbe offers maritime flair and elegant buildings, especially along the Binnenalster (picture). The weather here in the north does not always play along, but there is still a lot to see on a tour. For example the Speicherstadt with old warehouses and the Elbphilharmonie concert hall.

  • Germany Munich cityscape (picture-alliance/Arco Images)

    Munich

    Munich, the third-largest city in Germany, has over 1.5 million inhabitants. Tradition and the cozy Bavarian "Gemütlichkeit" shape this southern city. It is not uncommon to encounter people wearing traditional clothing on the streets, especially during the Oktoberfest, the largest public festival in the world. Hearty cuisine and good beer are of course a must when visiting Munich.

  • View of Cologne city center with cathedral (picture-alliance/J. Schwenkenbecher)

    Cologne

    Almost 1.1 million people live in Cologne on the Rhine River. What the Oktoberfest is for Munich, "Karneval" is for the Rhinelanders. Dressed in colorful costumes, revelers take to the streets to celebrate. In general, cheerfulness is a trademark of the open-minded people of Cologne. They are not only proud of their carnival traditions, but also of their landmark, the Cologne Cathedral (picture).

  • View of Frankfurt from the riverbank (picture-alliance/dpa/F. Rumpenhorst)

    Frankfurt am Main

    Frankfurt is Germany's banking metropolis with over 752,000 inhabitants. The city on the Main River is also called "Mainhattan" because of its many skyscrapers. On the opposite side of the river you'll find a fabulous view of the skyline — best enjoyed with a glass of "Äppelwoi", apple wine from the region. While here don't miss the town hall, called "Römer", as well as the newly-built old town.

  • New Castle in Baden-Baden. Fotolia/World travel images)

    Stuttgart

    Stuttgart has a population of around 635,000 and is home to the Swabians, who are known as hard-working and thrifty. Hearty food and good wine are typical for the region. The city also offers a lot of art and culture. Especially beautiful is the "Neues Schloss" or New Castle in the city center (picture). Stuttgart is perfect for car fans with its two museums: the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz Museum.

  • Marina with Gehry buildings in the evening light in Düsseldorf

    Düsseldorf

    Some 620,000 people live in Düsseldorf, putting the North Rhine-Westphalian state capital in 7th place among Germany's major cities. The Rhine metropolis is known for fashion and art. Luxury stores line the shopping mile Königsallee, or "Kö" for short. Along the river, you can enjoy a wonderful walk to the Media Harbor (picture) with its extraordinary buildings designed by famous architects.

  • Booming metropolis Leipzig (picture-alliance/dpa/J. Woitas)

    Leipzig

    Leipzig, with almost 602,000 inhabitants, attracts mainly young and creative people, because rents here are still modest and there is plenty of room for experimentation. Leipzig is therefore also called the "new Berlin" or "Hypezig". The university is located in the middle of the compact town center, surrounded by many shopping facilities, restaurants and parks — making it a very liveable city.

  • The creative center Dortmunder U (DW/C. Machhaus)

    Dortmund

    In 9th place with around 601,700 inhabitants is Dortmund, the largest city in the Ruhr area. This region in western Germany was once dominated by the coal and steel industry. Many industrial monuments such as the old Phoenix-West blast furnace plant in Dortmund are a reminder of this time. The landmark of the city is the Dortmunder U, a center for art and creativity (picture).

  • UNESCO World Heritage Zollverein (Thomas Willemsen/Stiftung Zollverein)

    Essen

    Essen is also located in the Ruhr area. Around 591,000 people live here. During World War II about 90% of the city center was destroyed. Essen might not shine with beautiful architecture, but it has a lot of green and a World Cultural Heritage Site, the Zeche Zollverein. The former coal mine these days is home to exhibitions, events, a swimming pool and plenty of space to enjoy life.


  • Germany| Berlin | Panorama | Skyline (imago images/Panthermedia)

    Berlin

    The undisputed number 1 is the German capital of Berlin with almost 3.8 million inhabitants. Every district has its own unique atmosphere: chic, grungy, hip, international. Of course, there are plenty of places of interest here, including the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building. And rising above it all is the iconic TV tower at 368 meters (1,207 ft).

  • Hamburg Binnenalster with town hall

    Hamburg

    Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city with almost 1.9 million inhabitants. The striking northern city on the Elbe offers maritime flair and elegant buildings, especially along the Binnenalster (picture). The weather here in the north does not always play along, but there is still a lot to see on a tour. For example the Speicherstadt with old warehouses and the Elbphilharmonie concert hall.

  • Germany Munich cityscape (picture-alliance/Arco Images)

    Munich

    Munich, the third-largest city in Germany, has over 1.5 million inhabitants. Tradition and the cozy Bavarian "Gemütlichkeit" shape this southern city. It is not uncommon to encounter people wearing traditional clothing on the streets, especially during the Oktoberfest, the largest public festival in the world. Hearty cuisine and good beer are of course a must when visiting Munich.

  • View of Cologne city center with cathedral (picture-alliance/J. Schwenkenbecher)

    Cologne

    Almost 1.1 million people live in Cologne on the Rhine River. What the Oktoberfest is for Munich, "Karneval" is for the Rhinelanders. Dressed in colorful costumes, revelers take to the streets to celebrate. In general, cheerfulness is a trademark of the open-minded people of Cologne. They are not only proud of their carnival traditions, but also of their landmark, the Cologne Cathedral (picture).

  • View of Frankfurt from the riverbank (picture-alliance/dpa/F. Rumpenhorst)

    Frankfurt am Main

    Frankfurt is Germany's banking metropolis with over 752,000 inhabitants. The city on the Main River is also called "Mainhattan" because of its many skyscrapers. On the opposite side of the river you'll find a fabulous view of the skyline — best enjoyed with a glass of "Äppelwoi", apple wine from the region. While here don't miss the town hall, called "Römer", as well as the newly-built old town.

  • New Castle in Baden-Baden. Fotolia/World travel images)

    Stuttgart

    Stuttgart has a population of around 635,000 and is home to the Swabians, who are known as hard-working and thrifty. Hearty food and good wine are typical for the region. The city also offers a lot of art and culture. Especially beautiful is the "Neues Schloss" or New Castle in the city center (picture). Stuttgart is perfect for car fans with its two museums: the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz Museum.

  • Marina with Gehry buildings in the evening light in Düsseldorf

    Düsseldorf

    Some 620,000 people live in Düsseldorf, putting the North Rhine-Westphalian state capital in 7th place among Germany's major cities. The Rhine metropolis is known for fashion and art. Luxury stores line the shopping mile Königsallee, or "Kö" for short. Along the river, you can enjoy a wonderful walk to the Media Harbor (picture) with its extraordinary buildings designed by famous architects.

  • Booming metropolis Leipzig (picture-alliance/dpa/J. Woitas)

    Leipzig

    Leipzig, with almost 602,000 inhabitants, attracts mainly young and creative people, because rents here are still modest and there is plenty of room for experimentation. Leipzig is therefore also called the "new Berlin" or "Hypezig". The university is located in the middle of the compact town center, surrounded by many shopping facilities, restaurants and parks — making it a very liveable city.

  • The creative center Dortmunder U (DW/C. Machhaus)

    Dortmund

    In 9th place with around 601,700 inhabitants is Dortmund, the largest city in the Ruhr area. This region in western Germany was once dominated by the coal and steel industry. Many industrial monuments such as the old Phoenix-West blast furnace plant in Dortmund are a reminder of this time. The landmark of the city is the Dortmunder U, a center for art and creativity (picture).

  • UNESCO World Heritage Zollverein (Thomas Willemsen/Stiftung Zollverein)

    Essen

    Essen is also located in the Ruhr area. Around 591,000 people live here. During World War II about 90% of the city center was destroyed. Essen might not shine with beautiful architecture, but it has a lot of green and a World Cultural Heritage Site, the Zeche Zollverein. The former coal mine these days is home to exhibitions, events, a swimming pool and plenty of space to enjoy life.


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