Nearly in the heart of Germany is one of Germany’s best kept secrets practically unheard of outside of the country. Often referred to as a “mini Black Forest”, the Harz Mountains, stretches 100 km long and 30 km wide over a distance of three German states, Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony and Thuringia. Boasting of Medieval towns littered with timber-frame houses, historic steam trains, UNESCO World Heritage status, fairy tale castles and a lot of natural beauty in between, it’s a great place to explore lesser known parts of Germany.

If you’re an avid Caliglobetrotter reader, you’ve likely noticed by now that many of the places we visit are low-key destinations. Small towns and cities or hidden natural gems not always found between the pages of a travel guide. You might ask, well then how did you discover these hidden gems in Germany? I certainly like to think I have a special talent in sniffing out the diamond in the rough, the whimsical town that is better than any major city.

Spring. The time of year where Germans prune back their bushes, plant some flowers and decorate their bare bushes with colorful Easter eggs to brighten up the warming days. They come in every shape and size and can be found on at least one bush or tree in the yard until Easter. But, it’s not just the trees they decorate with Easter eggs. There’s a tradition of even decorating water fountains in the center of small villages. Where and why can you find these ‘Osterbrunnen’? Let me enlighten you!

When it comes to traveling and picking out a new destination to visit, I take many things into consideration. From, location, hotels, city center, activities and restaurants. When traveling, I always stop to think about the things to do on every holiday we go on, from making sure we can do a city walking tour, to visiting a library and most importantly, starting any sightseeing at the local city hall. WHY you ask!?

As of writing this, there are 79 days and 7 hours to go until the opening of Dresden’s Christmas Market and I can hardly contain my excitement than Christmas is just around the corner! To say that Christmas in Germany is anything less than magical would be a complete understatement! So, when you’re looking for the best Christmas Markets in Germany, Dresden’s Striezelmarkt is right up at the top of the list! Why, well for one, it’s the oldest Christmas Market in Germany and two, because its über pretty!

If you’re planning a trip to Germany soon but wondering what you should do when you get here, look no further! There are a million things to do in Germany where one can stuff their face with the most delicious food in Germany to visiting the best festivals, celebrating the best holidays, visiting Germany’s most popular tourist attractions and lesser-known gems!

ou might think that Bavaria, Germany is all about Lederhosen, Weißwurst, Bier and Biergartens, but you would be sadly mistaken. Würzburg, the wine capital of Franconia in the northwestern tip of Bavaria, will show you that there’s more to life than beer and sausage. The dialect is different, the choice of sausage is Bratwurst and here you’ll find endless rows of vineyards and Weingartens for wine aficionados to enjoy a glass of wine, reminding you that you are no longer in beer country. So, how do you spend a day exploring the wine capital of Bavaria? Come and find out!

Did you know that Germany has a few islands? You’d have to zoom in on your Google Maps to see them, but they’re there. And one of the most popular islands to visit on the Baltic Sea is the relatively large island of Rügen. You’ve probably never heard of it, so allow me to tickle your travel buds and entice you to swap out your holiday in the Alps for a beach holiday on Rügen.

All those images foreigners seem to associate with Germany can be found in eastern Bavaria, in the lush Alpine region. Romantic castles, dramatic Alpine settings, lush green pastures with cows, onion-domed churches and crystal blue lakes. And deep within the crevices of those mountainous peaks, is a tiny sliver of beauty, known as the Partnach Gorge, with turquoise blue waters rushing between a carved out path waiting to be explored by avid hikers.

There are two kinds of people who go on holiday – those that travel and those who vacation. What’s the difference you might ask? The traveler wants to see and experience everything to learn about a destination while the vacationer prefers to relax in a beautiful destination, sipping on a cocktail soaking up their surroundings. One is not better than the other, just that there are difference ways to see this beautiful world.