When you plan you vacation in Germany, cities and towns with plenty of attraction will no doubt be high on your list of places to visit. Berlin is obviously the first city that you will visit if you fly into the country. This is the capital city of the country with a population of about 3.4 million. It is known for its cultural attractions, many of which have international renown. There are over 400 art galleries and over 150 museums. Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the old Museum, called the Altes Museum, you can view the bust of Queen Nefertiti. Performing arts is alive and well with over 50 venues and the Zoologischer Garten Berlin, one of two zoos in the city, is home to the most diverse range of species in the world.

The Hanseatic City of Lubeck dates back to the 15th century when it was founded as the first western city on the Baltic Coast. This city is actually an island and boasts seven church steeples in its historic center. The superb Gothic brick architecture that survives makes it a World Heritage Site. The Holstein Gate dominates the skyline. This is one of the best-preserved town gates that date back to the Middle Ages in all of Europe. In places the walls are 3.5 meters thick.

Bonn is a city in Germany located on the Rhine River about 20 km from Cologne. The history of the city dates back to the first century when the Roman army had a garrison here. It is the birthplace of Beethoven and you can visit this home located at Bonngasse. Walk the Poppelsdorfer Allee, which is a beautiful alley lined with chestnut trees. This will take you to the Poppelsdorfer Schloss, a palace that was built in the 18th century. See the Guggenheim Collection at the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Republic of Germany and relax for a while in the Botanical Garden.

The economic center of Germany is the city of Dusseldorf. Here you can attend one of the many fashion and fur trade shows, for which the city is famous. The city is located on the east side of the River Rhine and is divided into ten districts. It does have an international airport that sees planes landing and taking off for all parts of the world. If you plan to be in the city anytime from November to February you can experience the annual Karneval which runs for this length of time with parades, parties and many forms of entertainment.

The name of the city, Koblenz, describes its geographic location. The word means confluence and the city is located at the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel Rivers. There were early fortifications here as far back as the 10th century and roman troops under the command of Julius Caesar built a bridge here in 55 B.C. the remains of which are still visible. Forts still remain in the hills around the city and the Church of Saint Castor in the center of the city dates back to the 9th century. Lahneck Castle is close by and is open to visitors in the summer months.

This is just a sample of what awaits you when you choose Germany for your next vacation destination.