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Scenic view of Neuschwanstein Castle nestled in the Bavarian Alps, a top destination in Germany.

Germany Unpacked: Trains, Castles & Cultural Deep Dives

Your Guide to the Land of Composers

Germany offered us a mix of history, structure, and everyday life that felt distinctly its own. We explored cities like Hamburg and Cologne, spending time along waterways, historic streets, and cultural landmarks, before visiting Schwerin and its striking lakeside setting. From modern urban spaces to quieter historic towns, this guide brings together our firsthand experiences, destination highlights, and practical insights from traveling through Germany.

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Highlights from Our Journey

A visual snapshot of the places, culture, and experiences that shaped our travels across Germany.

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Where we’ve been in Germany: Real places we’ve personally visited, photographed, and written about.

Exploring Germany travel guide featuring a scenic waterfront skyline view of Cologne, Hamburg, and Schwerin under a clear sky.

Exploring Germany: Our Cologne Stopover, Hamburg House Sit and Schwerin Castle

From a 2019 Cologne stopover to six weeks based near Hamburg and a memorable day in Schwerin, this is our experience-led introduction to travelling in Germany.

Top Activities in Germany, Worth Booking Ahead

Some experiences in Germany are better booked in advance, especially iconic sites like Nuremberg or experiences like Oktoberfest. These are a few trusted tours we’d personally recommend.

Nuremberg: City Walls Tour—Tunnels & Secret Passages

Discover why Nuremberg was never conquered on this city walking tour with a local guide. Explore its defensive city walls along with the underground corridors at the Imperial Castle.

Oktoberfest Munich: Large Beer Tent Entry+ Lunch/Dinner

Celebrate Oktoberfest like a local with beer, music, and true Bavarian spirit. Feel the energy of the beer tent as the band plays and everyone sings along. Enjoy cold beer, roast chicken, and festival moments.

From Munich: Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Castle

Visit the majestic castles, Neuschwanstein and Linderhof. Discover Ludwig's childhood home of Hohenschwangau

Learn the history behind each turn from your guide or audio guide.

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Interesting Facts

Here are 15 interesting facts about Germany. Some may just surprise you!

1. Germany Has Over 1,500 Types of Sausages: From bratwurst to currywurst, Germany’s sausage culture is rich, regional, and a delicious part of daily life.


2. Berlin Has More Bridges Than Venice: With over 1,700 bridges, the German capital is surprisingly watery, crisscrossed by rivers, lakes, and canals.


3. Germany is known as "Das Land der Dichter und Denker," Meaning “The Land of Poets and Thinkers.” It's home to Goethe, Schiller, Kant, Nietzsche, and many more intellectual heavyweights.


4. The Autobahn Has No Speed Limit in Some Sections: While safety rules still apply, parts of Germany’s famed highway system allow for unrestricted speeds — a dream for car lovers.


5. Oktoberfest Isn’t in October: Munich’s legendary beer festival actually starts in late September and ends in early October.


6. Germany is the EU’s Most Populous Country: With over 83 million residents, Germany is the largest country in the EU by population.


7. Germany is a Federal Republic with 16 States: Each "Bundesland" has its own parliament, culture, and in some cases, even dialects.


8. Christmas Markets Originated in Germany: The tradition dates back to the 14th century and continues to spread worldwide. Dresden and Nuremberg host two of the most famous.


9. Recycling Is an Art Form: Germany’s Pfand system rewards you for returning bottles and cans, and separates waste into multiple color-coded categories.


10. The Hamburger Originated in Hamburg: Though the American burger took it global, its name traces back to Germany’s northern port city.


11. Beer is Legally Protected by the Reinheitsgebot: The 1516 Beer Purity Law limited ingredients to water, hops, and barley — a standard still celebrated in many German breweries.


12. Germany Has the Most Zoos in the World: With more than 400 registered zoos, wildlife parks, and aquariums, it’s a surprisingly animal-loving nation.


13. You Can Ride Double-Decker Regional Trains: The DB Regio trains are not only efficient — they’re a fun and scenic way to travel the country in style.


14. The Berlin Wall Fell in 1989: It's a fall marked the end of the Cold War and the reunification of East and West Germany — a moment that changed Europe forever.


15. Castles Are Everywhere: With over 20,000 castles, palaces, and ruins, Germany offers a castle for every mood — romantic, dramatic, or fairy-tale perfect like Schwerin.

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Blogs & Guides

Thoughtful travel stories, practical guides, and real experiences from the road.

Travel Essentials

Travel Information for Germany: Practical Tips & Things to Know Before You Go.

Information About Germany

POPULATION

Germany is the most populous country in the European Union, with over 84 million residents.

CURRENCY

Euro (EUR / €).

Most places accept card payments, but cash is still common—especially in smaller towns or at local bakeries and kiosks.

CAPITAL

Berlin (3.5 million) is the capital and largest city, known for its arts scene, history, and landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate.

SPEED / DISTANCES

Urban areas: 50 km/h

Rural roads: 100 km/h

Autobahn: No universal limit, but 130 km/h is recommended. Many cars flash their lights before overtaking on the Autobahn—stay to the right unless overtaking.

TIME ZONES

Central European Time (CET), UTC+1. Daylight saving time (late March to late October) shifts to Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2).

DRIVING

Drive on the right-hand side. Seat belts are mandatory. Children under 12 must use car seats. A valid license from the EU, UK, U.S., Canada, Australia, and many others is accepted for short visits.

ALCOHOL AGE

Beer & wine: Legal from age 16

Spirits & hard liquor: Legal from age 18

SMOKING AGE

Legal from 18. Smoking is banned indoors in most public places, though many venues have designated smoking areas.

Travel Resources

We rely on a set of trusted tools for transport, connectivity, insurance, and bookings while traveling full-time and living location-independent.

TOURS

Discover Experiences Worth Doing

We book guided tours, activities, and local experiences through trusted platforms that make exploring easier and more rewarding.

HOTELS

Find the Right Place to Stay

From short stays to longer slow-travel bases, these platforms help us find accommodation that fits our style, budget, and location needs.

TRANSPORT

Book Transport With Confidence

Compare trains, buses, ferries, and flights in one place. We use these tools to plan routes, check prices, and get around smoothly.

INSURANCE

Protect Your Journey

Unexpected things happen on the road. We rely on flexible travel insurance that covers health, delays, and long-term travel realities.

CONNECTIVITY

Stay Connected Wherever You Go

Reliable internet matters when you travel full-time. These eSIM and connectivity tools keep us online without local SIM hassles.

MONEY & TOOLS

Manage Money on the Road

From spending abroad to saving on fees, these tools help us manage finances securely while traveling across countries.

Over our many years of full-time travel, we've booked countless accommodations, flights, and activities while also navigating the world of earning online.

 

These are the tools we rely on to plan and book our adventures, and now, you can too!

GigSky eSIM: World Mobile Data

International eSIM Data Plans. Local Prices. No Roaming. Fastest Networks. Available in over 200 countries, with GigSky you’ll have cellular data the moment you arrive.


Save 10% on your first order with code CLOSERLIVES10

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions we get asked about Germany.

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YouTube

Discover the world with us. Join the Jenn & Leon YouTube channel.

Germany’s Most Beautiful City? 🇩🇪 Exploring Schwerin & Its Fairytale Castle

Germany’s Most Beautiful City? 🇩🇪 Exploring Schwerin & Its Fairytale Castle

As entrepreneurs and full-time slow travelers, our goal is to see as much of this beautiful planet as we can!

By subscribing to our channel, you will get notified of our latest videos, so you will never miss out!

Country Guides

Essential travel tips, practical planning, and real experiences from the road.

Check out our growing collection of country guides with all you need to know before you go. We include our latest posts, must-see places, fascinating facts, and key information about health & safety, transport, local customs, cuisine, connectivity, visa information, useful links, and much more! Browse by continent or destination below.

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Our Engagement Story

Discover Aphrodite’s Rock, the legendary birthplace of the goddess of love, and our engagement spot! Find out more about our story, how it all happened, and all you need to know about visiting this incredible location (and also Leon's ancestral homeland).

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Jenn & Leon at Closer Lives

Closer Lives was created to bring people, places, and stories closer together. Through travel, culture, history, poetry, and personal experience, we share the moments that shape how we see the world, and ourselves.


If you enjoy thoughtful travel guides, real experiences, and creative storytelling, you’re in the right place. You can also explore our Travel & Lifestyle Emporium, featuring inspirational travel pieces designed by us and shipped worldwide.

We explore more than maps. We journey through mindsets.

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