Sun and beach holidays are the most popular type of holiday for Indian travellers in 2023. Look no further than Germany’s nearly 1,200 kilometres of coastline and islands with their unspoilt natural beauty and long stretches of golden, sandy beaches to see some truly stunning landscapes. From the Wadden Sea National Park on the North Sea to Rugen Island with its magnificent white chalk cliffs on the Baltic Sea, there is a lot to discover. Travellers are spoilt for choice and do not need to venture far to escape the crowds and find some tranquillity.
Hidden beaches are often closer than one may think and can be found in the most unexpected places. Similarly, many beautiful lakes can be found all across the country such as the famous Lake Constance, the extensive Mecklenburg Lake District and the spectacular Lake Koenigssee nestled in the Bavarian alps. The GNTO’s global campaign Embrace German Natureshowcases beautiful natural landscapes and sustainable holiday experiences in Destination Germany. It encourages travellers to venture off the beaten tracks to discover the country’s many beautiful outdoor highlights.
The following are some examples of hidden gems for those seeking a little peace and quiet during their stay in the beautiful natural landscapes of Germany.
Island of Usedom
The sunniest regions in Germany are located on the Baltic Sea coast. The very top performer is the little village of Zinnowitz on the island of Usedom. An average of 1,917 hours of sunshine are recorded here per year – more than in any other region. But that's not all that makes Usedom a paradise. A gentle breeze blows over the sand dunes, cries of seagulls fill the air and quaint bathing resorts invite you to enjoy a leisurely stroll.
Bluest of skies
Anyone looking for brilliant blue skies in Germany has two good options: they can either travel to the Baltic Sea in the north or head to the foothills of the Alps. In the latter case, deep in the south of the country, visitors can find places such as Traunstein in Bavaria, nestled in an idyllic setting between theChiemsee and Königssee lakes. A sunny stroll through the historic old town is a must. The sunny weather is also a good excuse for a little break in a café – and some ice cream, of course. The warm, dry autumn wind that keeps the clouds in check is responsible for the impressive sunshine record at the foot of the Alps in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
Balcony with a view of the Elbe
Sunny moments relaxing on a balcony are among life's most pleasurable experiences. And sun lovers can look forward to a real treat in Hamburg's Altona district, in the form of an extra-large balcony. Occupying an elevated position on the high bank of the River Elbe, the Altona Balcony offers impressive panoramic views over the bustling activity in the harbour and the striking curves of the Köhlbrand Bridge. In a lush green setting, you can spread out your picnic blanket and enjoy that summer feeling.
Reaching new heights
You have to look up to the sun to find it – this sounds logical and it also turns out to be true. The Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, is a particularly sunny place. The warm, dry autumn wind keeps unpleasant clouds at bay. But you very soon realise that long periods of sunshine are not necessarily synonymous with high temperatures. Up there at 2,962 metres, it can get extremely icy. And if bitter winds start to blow, there's no chance of sunbathing – even if the sky is still a beautiful shade of blue.
Romit Theophilus, Director, German National Tourist Office in India, said, Hiking, biking or simply taking in wonderful views. With so many different natural highlights, Germany has a surprise for Indian travelers around every corner. From powder-soft sandy beaches to idyllic natural beaches for long walks, Destination Germany beckons for all kinds of bathing fun at the sea, lakes and rivers.
The GNTB promotes forward-looking tourism in line with the objectives of the German government. The focus here is on sustainability and digitalisation.
To make inbound tourism more sustainable and competitive, our organisation follows a three-pillar strategy that combines the sharing of knowledge with external partners and a supporting communications strategy with our internal sustainability initiative. The GNTB positions Germany as a sustainable and inclusive destination in the international travel market.
The GNTB is a pioneer when it comes to using immersive technologies (virtual, augmented, and mixed reality), voice assistants and other conversational interfaces, and artificial intelligence applications such as chatbots. To ensure that tourism offerings are visible on AI-based marketing platforms, the GNTB coordinates the German tourism industry’s open-data/knowledge graph project.