Germany excels in precision and structure. This has resulted in the world’s best engineered cars and stretches of the Autobahn with no speed limits. It is also a land of romantic palaces and impressive architectural treasures. If you love pork, soccer, electronic music, and beer, consider booking a flight to Germany as soon as possible.

Must Sees: Munich | Must Sees: Nuremberg | Food

MUST SEES: MUNICH

Frauenkirche

The Frauenkirche has massive twin clock towers crowned by green copper domes. The ceilings of the three naves inside the Frauenkirche look like a giant and delicate spiderweb made of wood. Every so often, the Frauenkirche’s bell towers chime and roar.

Marienplatz

The new and old town halls dominate the city’s main square. The Gothic architecture of the Neues Rathaus (new town hall) is ornate and skeletal. The Glockenspiel is a large clock with 32 figures reenacting stories from Munich’s past at 11 am and noon.

Viktualienmarkt

The Viktualienmarkt is the city’s food market full of fruit and vegetable stalls. You can also sample hot food items at the various booths. The biergarten rotates beer from the city’s six largest breweries. The Maypole welcome spring weather.

Peterskirche

St. Peter’s Church is Munich’s oldest church, dating back to the 12th century. It’s a mix of Gothic, Baroque and Rococo architectural styles. Johann Baptist Zimmermann applied the beautiful Baroque ceiling fresco in 1754.

Michaelskirche

Between Karlsplatz and Marienplatz is the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps. Its amazing façade draws you closer with its bronze sculptures of Wittelsbach rulers in a family tree formation. The nave’s stucco and stained glass is breathtaking.

Hofbräuhaus

In 1589, the Duke of Bavaria established Hofbräuhaus as a royal brewery. The giant beer hall has four long wooden tables and regular patrons store their mugs in lockers. When the Oom-Pah band starts up, they even have lumberjacks hacking away at a log to the beat.

MUST SEES: NUREMBERG

Frauenkirche

Peter Parler designed the Frauenkirche in 1361. The Männleinlaufen is a glockenspiel re-enacting the Golden Bull of 1356. At noon, the prince-electors walk around the seated Holy Roman Emperor.

Lorenzkirche

St. Lawrence’s Church was one of the earliest churches to convert to Lutheranism in 1525. The Gothic church’s west façade has a giant rose window and twin towers.

Kaiserburg

The imperial castle overlooks Nuremberg from a sandstone ridge. From 1050 to 1571, the Holy Roman Emperors rotated from one castle to the next throughout their empire. This fortification made Nuremberg a strategic location in the empire.

FOOD

Schweinshaxe

Schweinshaxe is a roasted pork knuckle. This is the pig’s leg just below the ham. The meaty bone is typically served with potato dumplings and red cabbage. In Munich, try this dish at the Ratskeller located in the cellar of the Neues Rathaus.

Weißwurst

Weisswürst is a Bavarian sausage of minced veal, pork, and spices. Seasonings include parsley, lemon, onions, ginger, and cardamom. Dip this breakfast food in sweet mustard.

Schweinebraten

Schweinebraten is a traditional Bavarian pork roast. The sliced pork roast comes with gravy, bread dumplings, potato dumplings, and red cabbage.

Rostbratwurst

Thuringian Rostbratwurst is a sausage of finely minced pork and beef and spices. It is roasted on a grill and served in a cut open roll with mustard. You can find this at a sidewalk stand.

Leberkäse

Leberkäse is loaf of baked beef, pork, and bacon. It has a crunchy brown crust and is best with some bread.

Lebkuchen

Lebkuchen is a honey-sweetened bread similar to gingerbread that is popular during Christmas in Germany. The Nuremberg version includes honey, cardamom, coriander, cloves, ginger, and allspice and is more than 25% almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts.

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