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I have asked the very same question about Belgium. I really liked the answers I got from Must see places while going through Belgium

Edit: I will be traveling by car from Baltics to Netherlands or Belgium with a group of 6 people, ages varies from 20 - 50. Our direction really depends on the weather and we'll start working our way back from there. One way or another we will be interested in the middle part of Germany (part between Hannover and Nürnberg).

We don't have anything special were interested in, we would just like to see as much as possible while driving back to the Baltics. Also we would like to avoid tourist traps where one could possibly spend a whole day, like amusement parks, big cities, bars & pubs etc.

We're looking sights where we could basically drive through (spend an hour or two and then move on). We're interested in anything that makes average Joe from another country go "wow" one way or another.

Earlier years we've used technique where we've looked POI's 50-100 km along the route from GPS and going through the country in a flowing manner.

Some style examples we've liked: Hill of crosses in Lithuania, Wieliczka salt mine, windmills in Netherlands, some great Castles, Nature beauty

Answer I liked from Belgium thread

What are a must-see places in Germany (middle section)?

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    Germany is a big country with many things to see. What kinds of things interest you the most— architecture, history, food, natural beauty? What time of year and what route will you take? What guide books or other resources have you consulted so far? Otherwise, it is not possible to answer such a question definitively. Please read the FAQ travel.stackexchange.com/faq .
    – choster
    Jun 17, 2012 at 14:48
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    To mention just one place: Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) made me go "wow". It took more than 600 years to complete it, and back in 1880s it was the tallest building in the world.
    – Jonik
    Jun 17, 2012 at 14:54
  • It's safe to say that I'm interested in things that will make an average Joe go "wow!". Sometimes there are things that make it worth to make 300km detour - I'm looking thing like that. A must-see places.
    – Kristjan Toots
    Jun 17, 2012 at 15:17
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    Even so there are hundreds of things that make the average Jo(nik) go "wow". As it stands this is still too broad a question. Germany is a MUCH bigger country than Belgium. Are you after architecture? Churches? Rivers? Waterfalls? How much time do you have? The more detail in your question, the better it can be answered.
    – Mark Mayo
    Jun 17, 2012 at 22:30
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    @Mark Mayo I've edited my question and also the heading.
    – Kristjan Toots
    Jun 17, 2012 at 23:58

4 Answers 4

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What you call the "middle section" is still quite vast. Here is a proposal.

From Belgium, you can transit via Luxembourg and then head to Trier, Germany's oldest city. It has among the finest Roman relics north of the Alps, such as e.g, an amphitheater and public bathes.

Continue southwards to Völklingen. There you can visit the famous and impressive Völklinger Hütte (Ironworks), an important piece of industrial heritage.

Then you will cross the Pfalz (Palatinate). On your way you can visit the Trifels Castle. The Palatinate is home to some of Germany's finest red and white wines. Don't forget to try the Saumagen, a local specialty. The Speyer cathedral is worth a visit too.

Next head to Nürnberg. If you are interested, you can can pay a visit to the technical museum in Sinsheim. The famous Hockenheim Ring is on your way too. Depending on the agenda and your interests it might be worth a stop.

Nürnberg has a nice old town dominated by the imperial castle. For me, the most impressive sight is the Nazi Party Rally Ground (Reichsparteitagsgelände). Definitely worth a stop and even a detour.

Some 60 kilometers north of Nürnberg, stop in Bamberg. This city has quite a big and well-preserved historical center. Very picturesque.

My next stop would be Dresden, with its world famous historical monuments (Frauenkirche, Zwinger, ...).

After Dresden, and beofre going to Poalnd, go to the Spreewald. This is a very special place. After the driving so much you will be able to breathe some fresh air. In Summer you can have a boat tour on the numerous waterways. In Winter, ice-skates are indicated rather than punts.

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    The Nazi Party Rally Ground is definitely one of the best spots in Germany, worth at least half of the day.
    – crenate
    Jun 18, 2012 at 9:40
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Since Bayreuth lies almost directly in your path of travel, you would almost certainly want to take in the Margravial Opera House, which is one of the most dazzling examples of high baroque architecture in central Europe. The inside of the threatre is breath-takingly opulent. Bayreuth also has a few other 'surprises', not to mention Bavarian cuisine. Avoid Bayreuth in August.

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The Landschaftspark in Duisburg is an outstanding place on the industrial route. It's an old, closed steel mill with surrounding buildings. It's free and open round-the-clock, which makes it a thrilling experience as you walk up one of the towers in the middle of the night and completely on your own. It's nicely lit, but you'd better take a torch.

Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord

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Driving along the Rhine river (between Mainz and Koblenz), there are a lot of "must-see-places" especially Rüdesheim and Loreley. I have been there more than 20 times, and I am still loving it

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