From Berlin to Bavaria – What Tourists Want to See

From Berlin to Bavaria – What Tourists Want to See

Germany’s s made up 16 federal states
all of which are well worth visiting!
There are large states like Baden-Württemberg,
and small ones like Thuringia.
All are truly unique, with
distinct attractions and highlights:
from the Alps of southern Germany,
to the coastlines of the North and Baltic Sea.
But which states are most 
popular with foreign tourists?
Let’s check it out!
We’re starting in 16th
place with the Saarland,
one of Germany’s smallest states.
Visitors shouldn’t
miss out on the Saarschleife,
and former industrial sites
like the Völklingen Ironworks.
Next up is Thuringia.
The state capital Erfurt  
and its unique Krämerbrücke,
or Merchant’s Bridge are must-sees.
The city of Weimar once home to
famous writers Goethe and Schiller
is also well worth a visit.
Saxony-Anhalt takes 14th place.
State capital Magdeburg
should be on your bucket list,
along with UNESCO World Heritage Sites
like Naumburg Cathedral.
Also check out Wittenberg, where Martin Luther
kick started the Protestant Reformation.
Bremen comes in at 13th place.
It’s a city-state,
making it one of Germany’s
smallest and least populous.
Bremen’s magnificent
town hall and the Roland statue
have UNESCO cultural heritage status.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is the 12th
most popular state among foreign tourists.
It s fabulous Baltic Sea
coast is not to be missed.
And neither are the city of Rostock, 
and Germany’s largest island: Rügen.
If you’re into nature,
be sure to visit Brandenburg –
ranked in 11th place.
With some 3,000 lakes and
the picturesque capital of Potsdam,
this state should
also be on your bucket list.
So, what do you think?
Which states are in the top ten?
Saxony is the 10th most-visited state
in the country, according
to Germany’s Statistical Office.
We really recommend visiting the state
capital Dresden if you re short on time.
It’s old town is breathtaking!
Next up in 9th place is Schleswig-Holstein.
Boasting kilometers of North Sea coastline, 
lovely cities like Lübeck and stunning islands
like Sylt this state shouldn’t be unvisited.
That brings us to Hamburg in 8th place.
The city-state might be
small-ish but has much to offer:
It’s home to Germany’s largest seaport
and most stylish concert venue,
the Elbphilharmonie.
Hamburg’s also famed
for its cosmopolitan atmosphere!
The state of Lower Saxony
comes in 7th place,
with about 1.5 million visitors.
It has plenty to offer:
from the state capital Hanover,
to the imperial palace of Goslar
to the Wadden Sea, a unique coastal 
eco-system under World Heritage protection.
The state of Rhineland-Palatinate
takes 6th place.
Its picturesque state
capital Mainz is another must-see.
And the Upper Middle Rhine Valley was
awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.
It has inspired painters
and writers for centuries!
What, then, are the top-5
most popular states in Germany?
Let’s find out!
Germany s 5th most popular state is Hesse.
Many foreign tourists visit the
state capital Frankfurt as it’s also home
to one of Germany’s
biggest international airports.
A little tip from us:
make time to explore historic sites
like Wilhelmshöhe Palace in Kassel.
4th place might come as a surprise:
it’s the capital Berlin!
Germany’s largest city-state
slipped down the ranking from 3rd
to 4th place compared to previous years.
But it’s certainly worth seeing!
Historic sites like the Brandenburg Gate,
world-class museums
and the East Side Gallery –
the capital is never boring!
There are even some lakes dotted 
across the city if you fancy relaxing in nature.
And that brings us to the
top-3 most-visited states in Germany:
3rd place goes to Germany’s
most populous state:
North Rhine-Westphalia, with a
population of more than 18 million people!
It’s a major tourist destination
with vibrant cities like Cologne
and Düsseldorf that are well worth exploring!
Baden-Württemberg –
Germany’s third-largest state is,
as in previous years,
Germany’s second most visited.
It is home to some of the country’s
best-known car brands,
but also the iconic cuckoo clock!
It shares a long border
with France and boasts a rich history
and plenty of culture.
from old university towns like Heidelberg
and its iconic castle ruin,
to the state capital Stuttgart,
the Black Forest
and Lake Constance
there’s something for everyone.
And that brings us to the
tourist favorite in all of Germany.
Bavaria is by far
the most popular state with holidaymakers!
A total of 39 million domestic and
foreign tourists visited the southern state!
What makes it so appealing?
Bavarian cuisine and beer?
Yes, but not only.
Bavaria offers a diverse
mix of culture and nature.
Its stunning state 
capital Munich is a must-see,
and so are Nuremberg,
Augsburg,
and Regensburg.
The Bavarian Alps
are an absolute highlight, too!
Then there are King Ludwig II’s charming castles,
which are total crowd-pullers!
Don’t miss out on Linderhof
Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle!
And Bavaria is chock-full
of beautiful beer gardens –
perfect for indulging in a
cold brew and tasty snack!

Germany’s 16 federal states stretch from the Alps to the North Sea and Baltic Sea coast. But which ones were the most popular tourist destinations in 2023? Checkout our ranking to find out! We’ll also share some tourist highlights from each one of them.
How many German federal states have you visited so far?

00:00 Intro
00:30 16th place: Saarland
00:45 15th place: Thuringia
01:02 14th place: Saxony-Anhalt
01:20 13th place: Bremen
01:34 12th place: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
01:49 11th place: Brandenburg
02:07 10th place: Saxony
02:27 9th place: Schleswig-Holstein
02:44 8th place: Hamburg
03:01 7th place: Lower Saxony
03:17 6th place: Rhineland-Palatinate
03:42 5th place: Hesse
04:05 4th place: Berlin
04:35 3rd place: North Rhine-Westphalia
05:03 2nd place: Baden-Württemberg
05:38 1st place: Bavaria

Report: Andreas Kirchhoff
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