All Germany

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Germany

745 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Germany

Updated March 4, 2025

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Aachen
  2. Altenburg
  3. Augsburg
  4. Bad Dürkheim
  5. Bamberg
  6. Berchtesgaden
  7. Berlin
  8. Bielefeld
  9. Bingen
  10. Binz
  11. Bonn
  12. Bremen
  13. Brunswick
  14. Chemnitz
  15. Cologne
  16. Darmstadt
  17. Detmold
  18. Dresden
  19. Duisburg
  20. Dusseldorf
  21. Erfurt
  22. Essen
  23. Frankfurt
  24. Frankfurt (Oder)
  25. Freiburg Im Breisgau
  26. Garching Bei München
  27. Garmisch Partenkirchen
  28. Giessen
  29. Goslar
  30. Göttingen
  31. Haigerloch
  32. Halle (Saale)
  33. Hamburg
  34. Hanover
  35. Heidelberg
  36. Karlsruhe
  37. Kassel
  38. Koblenz
  39. Königswinter
  40. Landsberg Am Lech
  41. Leipzig
  42. Lemgo
  43. Lübeck
  44. Magdeburg
  45. Mainz
  46. Munich
  47. Nuremberg
  48. Oranienburg
  49. Passau
  50. Potsdam
  51. Regensburg
  52. Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber
  53. Schwangau
  54. Schwerin
  55. Siegen
  56. Sindelfingen
  57. Stuttgart
  58. Trier
  59. Tübingen
  60. Ulm
  61. Waldeck
  62. Wiesbaden
  63. Worms
  64. Wuppertal
  65. Xanten
  66. Zeitz
  67. Zossen

Unusual Attractions in Germany

See All 745 Things To Do in Germany

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Germany

See all 46 Places to Eat in Germany
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Explorer’s Guide to Winter in Germany

Sponsored by The German National Tourist Office and Lufthansa

In Germany, the winter holidays are a gift that never stops giving. From Christmas markets to skiing adventures in the Alps, the country’s main seasonal attractions are well known, but the cooler months of December to March also offer much more off the beaten path. Hidden snowscapes, markets, and manors straight out of the Brothers Grimm books promise a unique turn to the wintertide. Here are some of the best, lesser-known places for outdoor fun and indoor warm-ups across the country. And if you’re ready to book your next trip, Lufthansa operates direct flights from 20 U.S. cities to Germany, making it easier than ever to plan the perfect German winter adventure.

View Itinerary

Explore Germany

Architecture 110
Museums 96
Military 82
World War Ii 81
Architectural Oddities 67
Nazis 48
History 46
Sacred Spaces 44

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Recent Germany Activity

Stories About Germany

Snowy Christmas market in Erfurt

Your Guide to Germany’s Coziest Winter Customs

From cookies to crafts, Germany is home to a host of charming seasonal traditions.
Sponsored by The German National Tourist Office and Lufthansa

Was ‘Dracula’ the Biggest Flying Creature Ever?

In prehistoric Transylvania, a giant darkened the skies.
by Andrew Coletti
For more than half a century, the traveling International Astronomical Youth Camp has offered a gateway to careers in astronomy—and to lifelong friendships.

Up at Noon, Out All Night: This Summer Camp Is for Serious Stargazers

For more than half a century, the International Astronomical Youth Camp has attracted aspiring astronomers from around the world.
by Hannah Seo
Many zombie graves span Europe—was this site in Oppin one of them?

Could This Recently Found Skeleton in Germany Have Been a Zombie?

It was possibly treated like the undead.
by Charis McGowan
End winter with some fiery chaos.

Spinning Balls of Fire Light Up Spring in This German Town

Plus fireworks, music, and maybe a goddess or two.
by Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey
Aubrite meteorite from asteroid 2024 BX1, found by Laura Kranich near the village of Ribbeck, Germany.

Germany Had 90 Minutes to Prepare for a Beach Ball-Sized Meteorite Impact

Meanwhile meteorite hunters rushed to Berlin to find this most rare space rock.
by Meg St-Esprit
The Virgin Mary was a common feature on Schluckbildchen.

These Tiny Baroque Prints Once Served as Edible Prayers

The sacred scraps were meant to be ingested.
by Amelia Soth
Scientists finally find out something they haven’t been able to see.

Why Holes at the Bottom of the Ocean Disappear and Reappear

What lurks below doesn’t always stay beneath the sand.
by Hannah Seo

Lists Featuring Germany

In winter, this 590-acre Baroque park is home to sledding, skating, and romping dogs.
This perfectly petite palace makes for a calm and cozy wintry retreat.
Three Kings Reliquary

Germany’s Infinite Winter Wonderland

Sponsored by The German National Tourist Office and Lufthansa
21

Including Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, Linderhof Palace, and Schwebebahn Dresden

The “pet ham” is 119 years old.

Bog Butter, Ancient Beef, and Other Remarkably Old Foods on Display in Museums

Some of these foods are centuries past their expiration dates.

6

Including Ancient Bog Butter, Preserved Victorian Wedding Cake, and World’s Oldest Edible Ham

Bolivia’s Witch Market
Dubrovnik Maskeron
The Statue of St. Anthony’s Pig
The Guardhouse Monkey

15 Unlikely Places to Re-Up Your Luck

Luck be a... llama fetus?

15

Including Bolivia's Witch Market, Dubrovnik Maskeron, and Statue of St. Anthony's Pig

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