Cruising The Rhine - Düsseldorf to Berlin

Düsseldorf, the capital and second-largest city of North Rhine-Westphalia, is a mix of old and new Germany. The Altstadt, or Old Town, is centrally located behind the Rhine Embankment Promenade and has been dubbed “the longest bar in the world” due to the estimated 300 bars and discos in the area. Shopping aficionados will be more than pleased with the variety of shops and interesting boutiques on Königsallee and Schadowstraße while fans of history and culture will not want to miss visiting St. Lambertus Church, the Rathaus (Town Hall) or the 13th-century Schlossturm (Castle Tower) which houses the nautical museum. Those with more time on their hands may also consider short trips to visit the Baroque-style 18th-century mansion of Schloss Benrath or the 12th-century ruins of Kaiserpfalz in the picturesque town of Kaiserswerth.

Duisburg is situated on the River Rhine where it welcomes ocean-going ships into its inland port which has twenty-one docks. As one of the oldest cities in Germany, it features historic buildings such as the church of St. Johann Baptist which was founded at the beginning of the tenth century. Sections of the ancient city walls that were built in 1120 can still be seen. Another landmark is the Mercatorbrunnen, an elaborate stone fountain that can be found near the town hall. The city is famous for its opera house which is the home of the celebrated Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra. The Fountain Mile retail area has many fashionable shops, cafes, and restaurants. There are several green spaces such as the Landschaftspark which has been created on a former industrial site. There is an aquarium and two important botanical gardens including the Botanischer Garten Kaiserberg which was created in 1890.

Münster is a city in Germany whose interesting statistics make it a tourist centre that brings in more visitors. It contains many education centres, and many museums over thirty, which have a wide variety of subject matter like sciences, technology, and historical details like a building, churches, cafeterias, and cobblestone roads. Besides, it has a muenster alcoholic drink brewery, which offers study and sampling figures for learners interested in breweries research. Also, being on the lakeside, it has a green environment that welcomes visitors to tour, relax, and even enjoy meals and soothing drinks in its restaurants.

Münster museums offer precious exhibitions showing incredible art scriptures, and all over its road are many historical images and art scriptures which are viewable even to those who never attend the presentations. Also, it is a great shopping centre with huge products and diverse bicycle businesses due to its parking and hiring site, making it easy to tour it.

Spanning both sides of the River Weser in North-western Germany, the picturesque city of Minden is the capital of the District. Its beautiful buildings and architecture are a feature of the city. The 11th Century Church of St Martin in the old part of the city is just one example. Founded in 800 AD, the city’s Cathedral exhibits an interesting display of national art treasures. Several museums are nearby, both Mindener Museum and the Prussia Museum offer interesting glimpses of the city’s history and culture. Visitors are drawn towards the canal by its aqueduct and the Shaft Lock (Schachtschleuse) which lifts vessels from the River Weser onto the canal. Nearby the Shaft Lock, canal boat trips take visitors past canal bridges, locks, and a reconstructed 18th Century Ship Mill (Schiffmühle). Local bars and restaurants serve a specialty, Grünkohl, a stew served with bacon, sausages, and roast potatoes.

Wolfsburg is a northern German industrial city famous for the production of popular cars such as the VW Beetle and the Volkswagen. Fittingly, the town has an automobile museum christened ‘Autostadt,’ which showcases different iterations of various classics. Visitors can also take a tour of the VW factory with multilingual tour guides who are well-versed in the production process.

Then there is the majestic Wolfsburg Castle in the middle of the city housing council offices and cultural sites. Further inside the city is the Planetarium, which is a delight for stargazers. The elegant blue spherical dome features optical instruments that allow visitors to explore the galaxy with all its splendor. The city is a haven for nature lovers courtesy of Allerpark, which is the largest public park in Germany. It features plenty of lush green grass for relaxing and space for several activities such as bike riding, swimming, high rope courses, and water sports.

Rothensee is located in the north of Magdeburg and is known for its famous ship lift, which is a true work of art due to its technical construction. The construction of the ship lift has historically been a milestone for water transport technology but was already decommissioned in 2006 because the dimensions of the construction are too small for today’s ships. For these reasons, the ship lift nowadays serves only as a monument.

Brandenburg Stadt is a lovely town in Germany. It is an excellent destination for architecture fans, as it boasts a variety of building both ancient and modern. Of particular note is Brandenburg Cathedral, built in a Romanesque/Gothic style in 1165. It contains a 15th-century Angel Candelabrum and an area dedicated to the victims of World War II.

A far more recent build is the Friedenswarte, Brandenburg Stadt’s tallest building. A viewing platform affords visitors gorgeous views out over the surrounding park and town. For a change from architecture, try archeology at the National Archeology museum, which used to be a Dominican friary and has been loving restored. For further museum collections, try the Industrial Museum, which showcases 100 years of Brandenburg’s steel-making. The perfect place for a quiet stroll or scholarly pursuits, Brandenburg makes a restful stop on a cruise itinerary.

Potsdam city is the capital of Brandenburg Land (state) in eastern Germany. The city is located on the southwest border of Berlin and is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town has some interesting sites worth visiting, such as the Sanssouci Palace, Dutch quarter, Cecilienhof Palace, Alexandrowka, Film Museum, Barberini Museum (a private museum), and the Bridge of Spies.

The city is also famous for its world-class cocktails, although its nightlife isn’t as vibrant as the of neighboring Berlin. At Potsdam, you also get an opportunity to visit one of the best-preserved Baroque squares in Europe. The Filmpark is also a very famous place in the city as it is where most of the German films were shot at. It is a beautiful city with lots of interesting places to visit.

Berlin is the capital of Germany and one of Europe’s biggest and edgier cities, famous for its catchy lyrics that embody creativity, technology, and culture. It’s a cosmopolitan hub that has grown and moved on with the times living a very open-minded spirit. Its history is a story of two parallel worlds, the end of World War two saw Germany divide, the East became communist while the west was capitalist. A 12-foot high concrete wall marked the division until 1989 when people were allowed to move freely. The city now draws 13 million visitors a year who come to visit Reichstag, Museum Island, East Side Gallery, or the iconic TV Tower.

The Reichstag Building is at the heart of West Berlin right by the Spree River, it’s the home of the German Parliament and it’s free to enter. The observation deck at the top of the building allows you to see across the whole city. One block south of the Reichstag is the emblematic Brandenburg Gate, an 18th-century neoclassical monument that came to represent German division during the cold war. Since 1986 the gate has become a symbol of peace and its now the backdrop of many tourists’ photos. This city has endless places to visit.