Holiday country Germany: a sustainable holiday in the city and in nature

Just a stone's throw from the city, visitors await recreational areas. Connecting urban centers and the countryside – including a quality mobility offer – gives a holiday in Germany added value: guests can spend the night in the city and discover the natural beauty of the surroundings, or enrich their holiday in the countryside with city trips.

Relaxation and experiences in German forests

Germany is one of the most forested countries in Europe - forests cover almost a third of the country. From the Ruhr to the Sauerland, from Cologne to the Eifel and in the Rhineland and Taunus area – from the urban environment to nature, the journey is often short. Many options are thus available to nature lovers. Those who want to relax can recharge their batteries in forest, and those with a more adventurous spirit can explore nature on paths between the canopies or in forest adrenaline park. Forest museums and information centers of national parks offer useful guidance and information to visitors. Forest guides and rangers in many forest regions, guests are taken into the mysterious world of the forest, so that they can get up close and personal with life in this magical habitat.

Rivers and cliffs

About a third of the German territory is under special protection as natural landscape of national importance. Responsible and careful handling of natural resources makes it possible for travelers an authentic experience. Certain geographical features, such as riverbanks or cliffs, are associated with myths and legends, which is why many people attribute special significance to them. There are examples Externteine sandstone rock formation in Westphalia, the Himmelsweg route near the city of Nebra – where the world-famous celestial disc from the Bronze Age was found – and Neolithic stone graves in Everstorfer Forst in Mecklenburg. For centuries, visitors have also been fascinated by the sandstone cliffs in Saxon Switzerland National Park near Dresden. Here ecological visionary Sven-Erik Hitzer border town Schmilka changes to sustainable holiday village.

Barefoot on the Wadden Sea

Spacious Wadden Sea in the North Sea represents the largest associated muddy shoals in the world. When the water recedes during low tide, visitors can be accompanied by experts explore this unique landscape barefoot and get to know its inhabitants: crabs, sandworms and cockles, as well as many species of birds. You can also visit Halligen – small inhabited marshy islands that are partially flooded during storms and therefore boast a unique flora. From North German metropolises such as Hamburg and Bremen, the North Sea coast is within reach.

Sustainable accommodation

The holiday country of Germany offers its guests more than 1,000 certified sustainable accommodations and restaurants. The wide range of sustainable accommodation ranges from campsites and traditional guesthouses to luxury hotels. Sustainable accommodation stands out careful use of resources, sustainable construction, regional cuisine and decent working conditions for employees and a good attitude towards the local population.

Camping with the family

Sleeping in a tent or mobile home in the embrace of nature is a real experience for children as well. Many German camps are particularly family-friendly, as they offer special attractions for children and young people and a varied animation program. There is a variety of activities for the whole family: from pony rides and adventure playgrounds to a sailing school and evening shows. You will surely find the right one for your next family vacation in the wide range of campsites; so be it on the coast of the Baltic Sea in Rosenfelder Strand Ostsee Camping or in lush Extertal forests at the Buschhof holiday farm, which even has its own small zoo.

Light feet around the Ruhr - Fresh air and insider tips from locals

In many creative quarters in the former coal mining area of the RUHR region now you can find modern cafes and bars as well as studios and design workshops. All in a sign upcycling and individual design. The region is characterized by a unique a blend of old and new, traditional and modern. Here you can get to know the industrial culture first hand on tours of former coal mines, steel mills and other monuments to a completely different time. Luurci even has a festival dedicated to the industrial past of the area: Extra Shift. Once a year, live concerts, theater and dance performances, slams (poetry duels and literary evenings) and much more take place in incredible historical venues - this is how Porurci makes visitors from all over the world aware that even a few years ago the people here worked hard. Attractions such as abandoned railway lines and canal paths are the best explore by bike – no congestion and away from traffic.

Find out Halden, the Ruhr Mountains with a rich history. This monument to mining is now green and criss-crossed with well-maintained hiking trails. There is something hidden at every step historical or natural landmark, but above all, there you can finally escape to peace and nature and breathe freely. Urban hiking on the outskirts of cities or in the picturesque towns themselves awaits you, and above all, breathtaking views!

If you like to go off the beaten path, away from the tourist crowds, it's best to go directly to the open-minded residents of this diverse region for advice. You can start a conversation with them easily and anywhere - in a tobacconist, restaurant or when traveling around the region by bike or train. V the traditional Ruhr drinking halls trinkhallen and you not only get advice, but also something sweet and a bottle of local beer for the journey.