Top 10 UNESCO Sites In Germany - Updated 2024

Melissa
Melissa 
Updated
| 4 min read

Germany is widely known for its beer, sausages, artisans, and even its architecture, yet it sometimes falls under the radar of many travelers touring Europe. Whether you’re in for a stroll around a park or just looking to explore the unique architecture in the city, travelers are sure to never run out of sites to see in Germany, as this country is full of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, left and right! Don’t believe us? Check it out for yourself and be prepared to bask in the beauty of these sites. Take a look at our list of top 10 UNESCO sites in Germany that you should definitely visit.

1. Cologne Cathedral (from USD 24.94)

top 10 unesco sites in germany | cologne cathedral

Attention history lovers: learn from the Romans and get some great tips on surviving the city of Cologne! Visit the Cologne Cathedral, one of those most impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites in Germany. Delight in the artistic masterpieces that show off the enduring strength of the European Christian community back in the ‘80s and take a peek into the special culture of Cologne. Nothing sounds better than a fun history lesson with a beer in a traditional and rustic German brewhouse, right?

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Cologne Cathedral and Old Town Tour with 1 Kölsch

Duration: 2.0 hour

502 reviews

2. Hanseatic City of Lübeck (from USD 222.29)

top 10 unesco sites in germany | hanseatic city of lübeck

It’s not a trip without a visit to the first German UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Hanseatic City of Lübeck! Also known as the City of Seven Spires or the Gateway to the North, Lübeck is widely admired by travelers because of its medieval character. Only here will you find unparalleled architecture and its unique skyline. As part of the walking tour, you’ll also hear interesting stories about the history of the Old Town.

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Lübeck: Classic Tour of the Hanseatic City

Duration: 1.5 hour

51 reviews

3. Museum Island (from USD 95.0)

While you’re in Germany, go museum hopping at this UNESCO site - Museum Island! Join the tour and visit all five museum buildings in Berlin: the Altes Museum, the Neues Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie, the Bode Museum, and the Pergamon Museum. You’ll also get to experience the diversity of Berlin’s museum landscape while enjoying a quick history and architecture lesson from your tour guide. Generally, Museum Island sees over five million visitors from all over the world each year, which tells you that it’s a site worth visiting!

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Best of Museum Island Away from the Crowds Private Tour

Duration: 2 hours

2 reviews

4. Classic Weimar (from USD 198.0)

If you love history, Weimar Classicism, and the need-to-know info on the relationship between the classical artists, put on your classicist’s hat and go visit the city of Weimar! Located in the federal state of Thuringia, Germany, the city of Weimar is known to be the birthplace of Weimar Classicism, a humanistic cultural movement. Book a private walking tour, so you won’t miss seeing its Market Square, Democracy Square, Anna Amalia’s Library, Park an der Ilm, Goethe’s House on Frauenplan, and Friedrich Schiller’s House and be sure to take a lot of pictures while you’re at it!

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Weimar Private Walking Tour

Duration: 2 hours

5. Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth (from USD 206.0)

Located in the town of Bayreuth, Germany, the Margravial Opera House is a must-see for modern art lovers! What makes this Baroque opera house so special was that it was built between 1744 and 1748 and it has survived since then, making it one of Europe’s few surviving theatres today. Although it has been extensively restored and was just opened for viewing in 2018, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012.

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Private Guided Walking Tour of Bayreuth With A Professional Guide

Duration: 2 hours

2 reviews

6. Speicherstadt and Elbphilharmonie (from USD 26.72)

speicherstadt and elbphilharmonie

Start your German cultural experience by visiting the Speicherstadt district, next to the Kontorhausviertel district. These two districts are located close to each other and are both UNESCO sites. You can then head to Elbphilharmonie before sunset to catch the view of the city from the Plaza. If that’s not enough, you can also visit the HafenCity and be in awe of its futuristic buildings.

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Hamburg: Speicherstadt, HafenCity & Elbphilharmonie Tour

Duration: 2.0 hour

4561 reviews

7. Town of Bamberg (from USD 14.1)

town of bamberg

There’s magic in the World Heritage town of Bamberg. From the cathedral to the Old Court and the New Residenz to the Rose Garden, Bamberg was not named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 for nothing. Located in Upper Franconia, Germany, this old town is home to the preserved structures of churches, monasteries, and Baroque facades. Join this two-hour walking tour, so you won’t miss a picturesque and artistic corner this beautiful historic city has to offer.

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Bamberg: Guided Walking Tour

Duration: 2.0 hour

1921 reviews

8. The Rhine (from USD 20.6)

the rhine

Take a romantic boat ride and revel in the beauty of the Rhine. Stay in the comfort of your warm seat on the boat and witness the old snow-covered castles on the hills and many other architectural monuments along the riverbank. You’ll also hear stories of ancient customs, fairytales, myths, and legends of the Rhine from your guide themselves. To top it all off, end your trip with a visit to the world-famous Rüdesheim Christmas Market, where you have to try the glühwein and cookies.

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From Rüdesheim: 2-hour Christmas Boat Tour on the Rhine

Duration: 2.0 hour

28 reviews

9. Palaces and parks of Potsdam and Berlin (from USD 23.75)

palaces and parks of potsdam and berlin

If you love lakes and picturesque scenery, you’re in for a real treat. Go explore the breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage region between Potsdam and Berlin on a three-hour cruise! Travelers in for the ride will get to explore one of the most beautiful regions of the country while having a rich history lesson provided by the tour guide. Go back in time and relive history as you learn more about these two regions and the famous personalities that make the place historically important.

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Berlin: World Heritage Cruise to Potsdam

Duration: 3.0 hour

1194 reviews

10. City Hall and Roland in Bremen Market Square (from USD 12.0)

city hall and roland in bremen market square

Explore the festive part of Germany and make sure to stop by the city of Bremen! This holiday season, experience the Christmas spirit and visit the City Hall and Roland in Bremen Market Square. Wander the streets of the lovely city and go see the famous statue of the Bremen Town Musicians and the town hall. While you’re at it, go through more than 200 decorated market stalls selling traditional Christmas decorations, like hand-painted glass baubles, crafted woodwork, nostalgic paper prints, and other products from distant lands.

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Bremen: 1-Hour Tour of the Christmas Market

Duration: 1 hour

3 reviews

Travel back in time with Germany's UNESCO sites

It’s not hard to fall in love with Germany with all the UNESCO sites around the country. Whether you’re looking left or right, there’s always an interesting history lesson or a breathtaking ensemble of architecture waiting for you. Get to know Germany for something else other than its beer, sausages, and artisans, and be sure to stop by one, two or many of these UNESCO sites in Germany.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Melissa is a 20-something-year-old storyteller from Manila. She's been to Europe and Asia but still dreams of going around her home, the Philippines. When she's not traveling, you can find her in...Read more

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