Since the football World Cup in 2006, a host of unsung German cities have made their voices heard in the crowded city break market.
Although Budapest, Prague and Cracow are popular weekend breaks, German cities top the polls as the biggest and fastest-growing market in Europe. And the British are the largest visitor group.
So how old is the average British visitor? For the most part, they are in the 35 to 54-year-old age group, although there is a steady rise in the 15 to 34-year-old range. Hamburg and Düsseldorf are popular with young people thanks to their strong student scenes and lively nightlife.
Berlin and Munich are great weekend breaks, but there are alternatives – consider Cologne, Dresden, Düsseldorf or Hamburg, all of which have much to offer.
Cologne
Famous for: Cathedrals and beer. This Roman city on the banks of the Rhine has the air of a slightly tipsy elegant aunt – regal from a distance, but enormous fun when you get up close and personal.
Old Cologne with its cobbled streets and churches is steeped in history, but this city also boasts a modern arts scene.
The gothic cathedral is Cologne’s most distinctive landmark, and history buffs will enjoy its 12 Romanesque churches and museums. For refreshments after sightseeing, point your clients at the 2,000-year-old Altstadt, which is jammed with bars selling locally brewed Kolsch beer.
Sell it to: Art lovers, history buffs, and beer connoisseurs.
Sample package: Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the three-star Conti Hotel leads in at £184 per person until the end of March, including flights, with Thomson Cities.
- Official Cologne website: Koeln.de
Dresden
Famous for: Bomb damage, unfortunately. Dresden was virtually destroyed during the Second World War, but has been restored beyond its former glory and is noted for its splendid architecture.
Its baroque heritage is evident throughout, particularly in the famous Zwinger Palace. Culture fans will also like the Royal Palace, home to paintings by Degas, van Gogh and Monet.
For family outings, attractions include the world’s oldest aerial railway, a well-stocked zoo and a miniature steam train. See the British Airways competition on page 59 for a chance to experience it for yourself.
Sell it to: Architecture and art lovers, families.
Sample package: Two nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel Elbflorenz leads in at £299 per person with Dertour until the end of March, including flights.
- Official Dresden website:Dresden.de
Düsseldorf
Famous for: Stunning views across the new Media Harbour of architect Frank Gehry’s striking buildings. With museums, theatres, concert halls and galleries, Düsseldorf has an international reputation as a centre for art and culture.
For the best upmarket shopping, tell your customers to go to Königsallee.
This city provides great nightlife, predominantly in the form of the ‘longest bar in the world’, the Aldstadt, with more than 260 restaurants and pubs, offering the opportunity to sample the local Altbier.
Sell it to: The young and young at heart, and culture lovers.
Sample package: Two nights’ bed and breakfast at the three-star Dusseldorf Mitte leads in at £289 per person with Dertour until the end of March, including flights.
- Official Düsseldorf website:Dusseldorf-tourismus.de
Hamburg
Famous for: Its impressive history and harbour, colourful nightlife and the Beatles. Hamburg offers tourists the chance to follow the early days of the Fab Four, but the ‘Venice of the north’ offers much more than a magical mystery tour.
With its busy port, two lakes and three rivers, this medieval Hanseatic city is a stylish mix of traditional and contemporary architecture. Historians will love its grand merchants’ houses, while at the other end of the scale, the celebrated Reeperbahn is bursting with pubs, theatres and nightclubs.
Sell it to: Discerning travellers and party people.
Sample package: Three nights’ bed and breakfast at the Park Hyatt leads in at £744 per person this February and March with Kirker Holidays. Package includes flights and unlimited use of public transport and reduced rates for sightseeing.
- Official Hamburg website:Hamburg-tourism.de