Discovering Germany by train

Travelling by train goes easy on resources and wallets. Deutschland.de presents some of the most picturesque routes and destinations:

From Munich to Füssen in the Allgäu

Munich is not only the capital of Bavaria, it is also a cultural centre. The Bavarian State Paintings Collections and the picture galleries (Pinakotheken) exhibit a wealth of artworks ranging from the Middle Ages to modern times. You can gain an initial online impression of the 25,000 works from 17 museums. The Munich Residenz is the former royal palace of the Bavarian kings with exhibitions on culture and history; the Deutsches Museum (German Museum) is famous for its science and technology collections. The Bayerische Regiobahn takes you from Munich to Füssen close by the picturesque Schloss Neuschwanstein. The rail route to the fairy-tale palace of King Ludwig II takes you through the unspoiled landscape of the Allgäu region with awe-inspiring views of mountains and alpine pastures.

Alongside Lake Constance from Radolfzell to Lindau

The railway route alongside Lake Constance offers passengers some fantastic views. The Bodenseegürtelbahn (Lake Constance Belt Railway) stretches from Radolfzell to Lindau with large sections running directly beside the lake. One destination well worth visiting is Unteruhldingen open-air museum with reconstructions of stilt houses or lake dwellings from the Neolithic Stone Age and Bronze Age. The 5,000 year-old underwater remains of stilt houses were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. The enchanting old-town island of Lindau has many medieval buildings and a famous harbour entrance with a lighthouse.

From Hamburg to Sylt

A bracing breeze awaits visitors to Sylt. Visitors to this North Sea island can enjoy good food, a 40-kilometre-long sandy beach and the Wadden Sea National Park. Sylt is connected to the mainland solely by a narrow railway embankment. As there is no road connection, drivers will need to take the car train. The regional express train starts from Hamburg and ends in the island’s main town, Westerland. The journey across the embankment is a great experience. It takes you through an eight-kilometre stretch of the Wadden Sea National Park.

From Stralsund to Rügen

Cycling, horse riding, hiking or simply lounging on the long sandy beach on Rügen, Germany’s largest island has a wealth of nature for visitors to experience. A trip to the white chalk cliffs of the Baltic island in the Jasmund National Park should definitely be on the agenda, as well as the steep cliffs of Kap Arkona. Your rail link to the island leaves from either Stralsund or Rostock.

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