My favourite country to visit isn’t far from the UK (Image: Brian Dillon)
I’m quite the travel addict, and by the end of this year, I will have visited 27 countries in total. Considering the restraints of expense and annual leave, I think that’s a pretty impressive amount since I’ve started really getting the travel bug since the pandemic. Having been to places that are vastly different from each other, one country stood out to me as having endless experiences to offer, from rich history to glorious scenery and underrated food and drink.
This year, in an effort to visit as many countries as possible in one trip, I took an interrailing trip around Europe, visiting five countries in two weeks. One country stood out to me as worth visiting again and again, and it’s not a typical holiday destination for Brits. Jumping from hostel to hostel between seven cities in these five countries, Germany blew me away. I had been to Germany in the past, and every time I go there, I have a completely different experience.
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The views of the German countryside were gorgeous (Image: Brian Dillon)
This year, I visited Belgium, Czechia, Austria, Germany, France, and my home country of Ireland (going to parts of the island I haven’t been to before). Before that, I have made an effort to visit a number of countries across Europe and the rest of the world, including the USA, Canada, Thailand, Singapore, Croatia, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary and the Netherlands.
I go back to Germany in my mind, reminiscing about how surprised I was by the scenery and the gorgeous cities. This year’s Germany trip consisted of time spent in Munich and Stuttgart. However, I had previously visited the country’s capital, Berlin.
Each place I’ve been to in Germany was different from the other, from the brutalist jungle experience of Berlin to the historic elegance of Munich to the small-town vibe of Stuttgart.
Munich’s highlight is definitely its beer gardens (Image: Brian Dillon)
For me, Germany’s highlight is by far Munich. This city simply blew me away. First arriving in the Bavarian city on a train from Vienna, I was impressed by the architecture. It seemed like at every turn, there was another stunning building to gawk at.
The historic Old Town was superbly charming, and you really feel like you have been transported back in time to a centuries-old Germany. However, one aspect of Munich that I fell in love with was its local parks.
Here, me out. I know what you’re thinking. Every major city has some nice parks to explore. But Munich does it differently. Not only are the green spaces here stunning, but they all have lovely beer gardens where you truly feel like you are living like a local when you sit there, sipping a local beer and taking in the unique surroundings.
There wasn’t a huge amount to see in Stuttgart, but there is a very different feel in this small city, and I was happy to spend a day there exploring before I moved on to my next stop, Paris.
German cities are a fascinating mix of old and new (Image: Brian Dillon)
Meanwhile, Berlin is a thrilling city to explore. There are the obvious tourist attractions, such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall. But for me, the truly enjoyable experience in Berlin is the unique bars, the thriving arts and music scene, the edgy markets and the otherworldly nightclubs.
As a travel addict, Germany really has my heart. It’s so close to the UK, yet it often feels like it is a world away. Not only does it have gorgeous cities that each have a distinct identity, but its countryside is not to be missed.
When I travelled on a sleeper train between Brussels and Prague, much of my journey was spent speeding through the stunning German countryside. The sweeping green fields, the old-timy villages and the staggering mountains were a sight to behold. Waking up in a train cabin and seeing all of this first thing in the morning is an experience I will never forget.
Dresden at Christmas time is on my travel bucket list (Image: Getty)
If you were to tell me that for my next holiday, I had to go back to a country I had been to before, I would book a flight to Germany. Although I have been to three different cities and through stunning countryside, I suspect that this country has a lot more for me to experience.
The port city of Hamburg, the historic Cologne, the Christmas markets in Dresden, and the classic architecture of Nuremberg are definitely on my bucket list.
Each country I’ve visited has offered me something different. Croatia is a close second on the list of my favourite countries to visit because of its crystal-clear waters and charming old towns. Canada was also a highlight for me, as the nature here is unmatched, and Italy also has a special place in my heart.