A country · 1,328 places · 11 regions

Germany, all of it.

1,328 curated places across 11 regions — photographed, mapped, and noted with the season each is best in.

Bastei · via Wikimedia Commons

The 4 biggest regions — Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony — read below as chapters, with 7 more waiting past them.

Chapter I · Bavaria · 274 places

Bavaria

A fjord-like lake tucked within sheer limestone walls in Berchtesgaden National Park, Königssee is fed by glacial melt and reaches depths of nearly 190 metres. Electric boats provide the only motorised access, preserving the water's exceptional clarity. The pilgrimage church of St Bartholomä stands on a small peninsula against the backdrop of the Watzmann massif, creating one of the most recognisable alpine compositions in Germany.

Königssee

Bavaria, Germany

✦ May to September · $$

Neuschwanstein Castle

Bavaria, Germany

✦ Late April to early June and September to October · $$

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Bavaria, Germany

✦ May to October; December for Christmas market · $$

All 274 places in Bavaria →

via Wikimedia Commons

Chapter II · Baden-Württemberg · 181 places

Baden-Württemberg

A densely forested highland stretching roughly 160 kilometres along the eastern bank of the Rhine in south-west Germany, the Black Forest ranges from the sandstone northern heights to the granite peaks of the southern Feldberg area. Valleys cut deeply between rounded ridges cloaked in silver fir and spruce, concealing lakes, waterfalls, and traditional farmhouses with characteristically wide-hipped roofs. The Feldberg summit at 1,493 metres offers wide views across to the Alps on clear days.

✦ May to October for hiking; December to March for skiing · $$

Meet Black Forest All 181 places in Baden-Württemberg →

Chapter III · North Rhine-Westphalia · 132 places

North Rhine-Westphalia

The historic core of Cologne clusters along the Rhine beneath the twin spires of its Gothic cathedral, with colourful gabled houses and riverside promenades. It is the heart of the city's carnival traditions and brewhouse culture.

Cologne Old Town

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

✦ May to September · $

Museum Ludwig

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

✦ Weekday afternoons · $$

Xanten Archaeological Park

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

✦ May to September · $$

All 132 places in North Rhine-Westphalia →

via Wikimedia Commons

Chapter IV · Saxony · 85 places

Saxony

A dramatic sandstone formation rising above the Elbe River in Saxon Switzerland National Park, the Bastei bridge connects eroded rock pillars at roughly 194 metres above the river. The classic viewpoint looks north across the forested gorge at sunrise, when low mist settles in the valley below. The site forms part of the broader Elbe Sandstone Mountains, a photographer's destination for its layered, otherworldly rock architecture.

✦ April to October; early morning for mist photography · $

Meet Bastei All 85 places in Saxony →