Colorful autumn markets and extraordinary light conditions: In autumn, city trips through Germany are something very special for gates of olympus.
City trips are especially fun in the fall: If the weather is nice, you can stroll through the streets, which are now bathed in a very special light, and visit one of the many fall markets.
And if it should rain, you can feast on autumnal specialties in a cozy restaurant or wander through the museums.
WHICH CITIES ARE ON OUR LIST
1. Freiburg in Baden-Württemberg
In autumn, the beautiful houses of Freiburg’s old town shine especially beautifully. The small alleys and cute stores invite you to stroll around, and in the background the typical Freiburg “Bächle” (brooks) are rippling. In the shadow of the imposing cathedral, the Münstermarkt takes place in the mornings, where farmers from the region offer red-golden apples, pears, pumpkins and other autumnal delicacies.
You can also feast wonderfully in one of the Straußenwirtschaften in the Kaiserstuhl very close to Freiburg. It’s harvest time in this wine-growing region, and in the ostriches – typical Baden inns – you can taste the sparkling “Neue Süßen,” a new wine that is still in the early stages of fermentation.
Also worth a visit: the Schauinsland, Freiburg’s 1284 meter high local mountain. From here you have an impressive panoramic view of the colorful trees in the valley and the shining houses of the city.
2. Hamelin in Lower Saxony
The city of Hamelin is known worldwide for the Pied Piper saga. What many, on the other hand, do not know: In the Middle Ages, the city was one of the richest in the region. The impressive houses of the Weser Renaissance with their detailed decorations, which sparkle golden in the autumn light, still bear witness to this today.
If you follow the little bronze rats on the ground, you will come to the most beautiful houses of the city, such as the Wedding House and the Pied Piper House. Or you sit down under the colorful parasols of one of the many cafés in Bäckerstraße and enjoy the last warm rays of sunshine with a fruity ice cream.
Hameln is also the perfect starting point for leisurely bike tours along the Weser River, for example in the direction of Bodenwerder and Holzminden, or for hikes through the brightly colored forests of the Weserbergland.
3. Regensburg in Bavaria
One of the longest rivers in Europe flows through the middle of Regensburg: the Danube. In the early morning, there is often still fog over the city in autumn, but by mid-morning at the latest, it clears up and the historic old town shines in the sunlight. This makes the city the perfect destination for late risers in the fall. And then, when the sun is shining, it’s time for a walk across the Steinerne Brücke, Regensburg’s landmark. Because from here you have the best view of the colorful houses on the left and right of the Danube.
4. Leer in Lower Saxony
Leer is the “gateway to East Frisia,” and visitors here experience maritime flair paired with northern German coziness. In the picturesque old town, small stores invite you to stroll and browse. And if it’s really rainy outside, you can enjoy East Frisian tea culture in one of the cozy tea rooms and warm up again with a cup of black East Frisian tea with Kluntje and a blob of cream.
