Getting out of the city to visit a village as always a good idea for an easy day or weekend trip in Germany. The country has a seemingly endless supply of charming villages -- some attract guests for their history or medieval architecture, others for their location near to natural wonders and some for a combination of both.
If you skim travel blogs, you're bound to come across some of the same names again and again: Rothenburg ob der Tauber, for instance, is never far from the top of the list. And while Rothenburg is certainly worth a visit, for those living in Germany's other regions, or those who want to stray a bit from the beaten path, there are plenty of other villages just as beautiful and historical to be found.
So here's eight recommendations for beautiful villages around Germany to check out this summer:
Ahrenshoop, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania
Located on a narrow peninsula on Germany’s northern coast, this little fishing village faces the Baltic Sea on one side and the smaller Bodden Sea on the other.
It was established as a seaside resort location at the end of the 19th century when it began to gain a reputation among artists for its beauty. Today the town is still full of art houses and galleries, and visitors can follow an art trail which connects ten spots where famous paintings were created.
You’ll also find the thatched-roof houses that are famous among Germany’s northern coastal regions, and be within reach of some gorgeous hiking trails and the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park.
Assinghausen, North Rhine-Westphalia
The Sauerland region in North Rhine-Westphalia is among Germany’s popular destinations for all kinds of interesting landmarks, including castles, caves, museums, amusement parks, nature parks and bathing lakes.
Around an hour’s drive to the east, Assinghausen offers visitors a chance to visit some of those destinations, while staying in a village known for its half-timbered houses and rose gardens.
Half-timbered houses are seen in Assinghausen. Photo by Riessdo via Wikicommons.
Visitors can follow one of four rose trails which lead through the village, manoeuvring around some of the local sights. The old building facades here are known for their richly decorated inscriptions: the oldest dates back to 1688.
Bad Langensalza, Thuringia
If you’re looking for a spa getaway, a general rule of thumb in Germany is to seek out any town that has Bad (bath) in the name and you’ll be set.
Bad Langensalza is in the middle of the central German state of Thuringia – a state that is often overlooked by tourists who are more likely to flock to the German Alps or the Black Forest. But even Thuringia’s bigger cities, like Erfurt, Jena, Gera and Weimar have beautiful old towns with rich local histories.
In Bad Langensalza you can soak in healing mineral waters at the Friederiken Therme, explore one of the many themed gardens (including a renowned Japanese Garden), or venture into nature in Hainich National Park (a Unesco World Heritage Site).
Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate
True to the aforementioned rule of thumb for finding spa towns, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is another German spa village, but this one is found on the west side of the country in the Ahr Valley.
The Ahr Valley was devastated by deadly floods in July 2021, but since local resorts and wineries have rebuilt and reopened, the community here has made an effort to jump start tourism to the region – which was popular for its striking narrow valley views and excellent traditional wines. In fact the region made it into Condé Nast Traveller’s list of top destinations to visit this year.
READ ALSO: Four places in Germany experts say you should visit in 2025
Neighbouring villages like Blankenheim and Altenahr are also known for their beauty. But in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler you’ll also find a charming spa district complete classic German white townhouses, a bath house and spa gardens.
Lehde, Brandenburg
For Berliners, Germany’s historic villages always seem to be in far flung regions on the opposite sides of the country. But there are some picturesque towns to be found nearby, some even just an hour’s drive or a short train ride away.
In fact, just about any village in Spreewald fits that description. But just one made it onto the ADAC’s list of “Die schönsten Dörfer in Deutschland” (The most beautiful villages in Germany).
Lehde in Brandenburg is sometimes described as a little Venice because of its narrow waterways and islands connected by bridges.
Similar to Venice, you can take a boat tour with a boat driver who pushes you along with a long pole. Instead of pasta and fine wine, however, you’ll more easily find all kinds of pickles and German faire.
Pottenstein, Bavaria (Franconia)
This village, tucked into a valley in the Franconian Alps (Fränkische Schweiz) makes for an easy scenic getaway with plenty of hiking, historical architecture and great local breweries to enjoy.
If you’re coming from nearby, you can easily get a sense of the village just by walking around the town, up to the castle on the hilltop, and perhaps into a nearby valley in one day. Or stay in an inn nearby and spend a bit more time getting into the other nearby attractions, including one of Germany’s longest caves or the nearby toboggan run.
Also nearby is Tüchersfeld, which is also renowned for its old German architecture tucked into dramatic rock formations.
READ ALSO: Six day trips you can take from Nuremberg with the 'Deutschlandticket'
Unteruhldingen-Mühlhofen, Baden-Württemberg
This one is not necessarily a little-known gem as the historical pile-dwellings found here have attracted enough attention to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but this sunny lakeside village nonethless demands a mention here.
Situated on the north side of Lake Constance, there’s no shortage of summer sports and water-based activities to enjoy here. And, being the town with the third most sunshine hours in all of Germany, you can expect plenty of good weather for it.
The historical pile dwellings (think wooden houses on stilts on the water) are the biggest tourist draw, but you can also take a trip to the Flower Island Mainau to see the Rhine Falls or to admire the gorgeous church Basilica Birnau.
Wallgau, Bavaria
For many, a trip to the German Alps is more about sport and taking in the natural beauty than seeing a scenic village, but with villages like Wallgau to be found, why not aim for both?
Wallgau is found in the Isar valley, not far from Garmisch-Partenkirchen which is famous for its skiing in the winter and outdoor sports like hiking and mountain biking in the summer. (It’s about an hour and half south of Munich by car.)
What makes this village unique and beautiful is its rustic farmhouses and facades decorated with artistic Lüftl paintings.
With over 1,200 years of history, traditions are kept alive here. So your visit just may align with one of the many local festivals for which locals break out their traditional dress and dance to Bavarian folk music.
Ben McPartland, Editor, The Local Europe
Comments (3)