15 Most Beautiful Small Towns in Germany: Charming Hidden Gems

The Most Beautiful Small Towns in Germany on a Map

The most beautiful small towns are scattered all across Germany.

We’ll introduce you to the towns sorted by state. But first, here’s a map so you have an overview of where Germany’s most beautiful small towns are located and which ones might be perfect for your next trip.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

In Rothenburg ob der Tauber, you step back into the Middle Ages. You walk through winding alleyways, past colorful half-timbered houses, and can stroll along the fully preserved city wall.

The most famous highlight is the Plönlein. If you looked at every postcard of Germany, chances are this little square would appear on most of them. The crooked half-timbered house, the towers in the background, and the bright colors really are just stunning.

During the day, the town gets very busy. Plan at least one evening in Rothenburg. By then, the day-trippers are gone and you have the old town all to yourself.

Community tip:

• Go in the evening to the double-arch bridge in the Tauber Valley. From there you have a lovely view of the town.

Our hotel pick: Mittermeiers Alter Ego — a cool mix of old brick walls and modern furnishings. You’ll feel right at home here.

Combine with: Dinkelsbühl, Würzburg and Nuremberg

Dinkelsbühl

Here’s another gorgeous half-timbered town for you: Dinkelsbühl. This charming small town is practically bursting with well-preserved, colorful half-timbered houses.

If you love culture, you’ve come to the right place: there’s theater, historical festivals, and small museums. And during the Advent season, the town has even more charm. That’s when one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany takes place in Dinkelsbühl’s historic alleyways.

Community tips:

• Go in mid-July for the Kinderzeche, a huge festival with a large theatrical performance.
• Join the night watchman’s tour or one of the other fantastic guided city tours.

Our hotel pick: Deutsches Haus — an old townhouse with wonderfully modern rooms on the edge of the historic center.

Combine with: Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Nuremberg

Tübingen

Tübingen has a seriously beautiful old quarter. You walk through narrow alleyways and along the Neckar River, stumbling upon small shops, cozy cafés, and lively squares at every turn.

In the summer, you can go punting on the Neckar and feel a little like you’re in Venice. Other highlights include the colorfully painted Town Hall with its astronomical clock and Hohentübingen Castle with sweeping views over this charming town.

In the evenings, the bars fill up with students and other guests. That’s when Tübingen really feels like a proper escape from everyday life.

Community tips:

• Eat Maultaschen or Spätzle at the restaurant Mauganeschtle.
• Take a day trip to Hechingen to see Hohenzollern Castle.
• Hike in the Swabian Alb, a beautiful low mountain range.
• Take an excursion to Lake Constance or the Black Forest.
• Let yourself be punted through the city on a pole boat ride on the Neckar.

Our hotel pick: Hotel Metropol — cool minimalist décor and a great parking garage right next door.

Combine with: Stuttgart

Konstanz

Konstanz sits right on Lake Constance. You can stroll through medieval alleyways, sit in charming cafés, and enjoy the lake breeze. Make sure to stop by the Münster cathedral — from the tower, you get an amazing panorama over this beautiful German town and the water beyond.

There’s so much to explore around Konstanz. The town sits on Lake Constance with the Alps just beyond, so you can take a day trip to the flower island of Mainau, visit Meersburg, or head over to Switzerland.

With so many options, Konstanz is also a fantastic stop on a road trip through Germany.

Our hotel pick: RIVA — cool rooms, a pool, views of Lake Constance, and a fantastic breakfast. What more could you want?

Combine with: Ravensburg and a day trip to Switzerland or Austria

Ravensburg

Ravensburg is a real under-the-radar pick among Germany’s most beautiful small towns. The historic center is beautifully preserved, with narrow alleyways, lovely squares, and even parts of the old city wall still standing.

Rising above the rooftops are several old defensive towers — which has earned Ravensburg the nickname “City of Towers.” Particularly cool is the Mehlsack, a white tower with a gorgeous view over the old town and even all the way to Lake Constance and the Alps.

Community tips:

• Head up to Veitsburg and enjoy the great food and the view all the way to the Swiss mountains.
• Visit the Rutenfest in the last week of school before summer break. Especially great with kids.

Our hotel pick: Hotel Restaurant Sennerbad — from the terrace you have a wonderful view of Ravensburg during breakfast and dinner.

Combine with: Konstanz, Lake Constance, and a day trip to Switzerland or Austria

Michelstadt

Have you heard of Michelstadt? No? Then it’s about time.

Michelstadt has a lovely old town filled with independent shops — you won’t find any big chain stores here. Also worth a visit is the town garden, a little green spot that’s perfect for just slowing down.

In the evening, settle into one of the cozy taverns and sample the local Odenwald cuisine.

Community tips:

• Make sure to try the Odenwald marzipan.
• Eat at the lovingly decorated Café Elefantenhaus or enjoy a tasty meal at Michelstädter Rathausbräu.

Our hotel pick: die Träumerei — a sweet hotel with murals and lots of charming little details.

Combine with: Frankfurt and Heidelberg

Limburg

Limburg is a beautiful historic small town in Germany. Even back in the Middle Ages, horse-drawn carts traveling from Cologne to Rome crossed the old Lahn Bridge here.

The town’s old houses are perfectly preserved, and the Romanesque cathedral still stands tall — a true standout in Limburg.

You can soak up the historic atmosphere, browse through small shops, and sit in cozy riverside taverns.

Community tip:

• Have dinner at the Gasthaus Burgkeller.

Our hotel pick: Bad Emser Hof in Bad Ems, since there aren’t many hotels in Limburg itself — a stylish hotel with a cool rooftop terrace.

Combine with: Frankfurt and Koblenz

Bernkastel-Kues

Bernkastel-Kues lies along the Moselle River and is perfect if, alongside all the half-timbered romance, you also love wine and nature.

Stroll through the little alleyways or go for a hike in the surrounding countryside, then settle into one of the many wine taverns. You’ll have truly earned your glass of Riesling.

You can walk through the vineyards and forests or hike up to the old Landshut Castle ruins, where you get a spectacular vista of the Moselle Valley and Bernkastel-Kues spread out below. Also well worth the walk is the viewpoint Maria Zill — from there you can see even further than from the castle.

Hotel tip from the community: Hotel Zeltinger-Hof — a charming hotel in a half-timbered house near Bernkastel-Kues.

Combine with: Traben-Trarbach, Zeltingen and Koblenz

Görlitz

Görlitz has one of the most beautiful historic centers in Germany. The best view of it is from St. Paul’s Church — though the church itself is worth a look too, with its striking roof that turns heads.

Görlitz also sits right on the Polish border. You can walk across one of the bridges to Zgorzelec and experience two countries in one day.

Several films have been shot here, including The Grand Budapest Hotel. No surprise, really. The cobblestone streets, the grand historic townhouses, and the quiet courtyards are simply stunning.

Community tips:

• Visit the Altstadtfest in August and enjoy the hustle and bustle, the medieval activities, and the live music.
• Combine Görlitz with a city trip to Dresden.
• Join a Hallenhausführung and see the old houses from the inside.

Our hotel pick: Tuchmacher — a sweet hotel in the old town where every room is painted a different bright color.

Combine with: Zittau, Dresden and a day trip to Poland

Zittau

A little further south, Zittau sits right in the tri-border area. You could walk through Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic all in one day — but this is about the best small towns in Germany, so let’s focus on Zittau.

The town has a sweet little historic district with narrow alleyways and remnants of the old city wall. On the squares you can relax with a coffee, or — if you’re up for some adventure — go hiking in the Zittau Mountains.

Community tips:

• Eat at the charming old tavern Dornspachhaus.
• Take a day trip on the narrow-gauge railway to Oybin and check out the large hilltop monastery there.
• Go swimming at Olbersdorfer See near Zittau.

Our hotel pick: König Albert — large, modern rooms at a very good price-to-value ratio.

Combine with: Görlitz, Dresden and a day trip to Poland or Czech Republic

Quedlinburg

Quedlinburg is a true storybook town. Cobblestone alleyways wind their way past more than a thousand half-timbered houses — no wonder it’s been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The town has an incredible amount of charm. You keep walking past small studios, secondhand bookshops, and hidden cafés. If those don’t make you want to browse and linger, we don’t know what will.

One standout is the collegiate church. It looks amazing in photos and doubles as a great vantage point over the town.

Community tip:

• Combine Quedlinburg with Wernigerode and Thale.

Our hotel pick: Schlossmühle Quedlinburg — a cool hotel on a charming square below Castle Hill.

Combine with: Wernigerode and the Harz

Wernigerode

In Wernigerode, it’s not just the castle that’s stunning — the houses in the old town are equally unique and ornate. You really wouldn’t be surprised if a fairy tale character wandered by. They’d fit right in.

In the half-timbered houses of the town center you’ll find charming shops and restaurants. And make sure to stop by the Town Hall with its little towers.

After that, you can head out on a day trip into the Harz.

Community tips:

• Visit Chocol’art, Germany’s largest chocolate festival, in the fall.
• Stroll through the glowing Christmas market.

Our hotel pick: Gothisches Haus Wernigerode — in a half-timbered house right on the market square with a delicious breakfast.

Combine with: Quedlinburg, Goslar and the Harz

Goslar

Goslar is perfect for a relaxed visit to one of Germany’s most beautiful small towns. You’ve got half-timbered houses, narrow alleyways, and a lovely market square. On the square, a carillon plays daily at 9 AM, noon, 3 PM, and 6 PM, telling the story of the area’s former mining history.

Around the market square you can sit in cozy cafés and taverns or browse through the shops.

Community tip:

• Take a day trip to the historic Rammelsberg mine.

Our hotel pick: Alte Münze — a lovely hotel with a mix of traditional elements, modern décor, and a charming courtyard.

Combine with: Wernigerode and the Harz

Wismar

Want to explore a beautiful small town in Germany and breathe in some sea air at the same time? Then put Wismar on your list. It’s a genuine gem on the Baltic coast.

We love the Brick Gothic architecture, the colorful gabled houses, and the huge market square. And of course the Old Harbor with its restored cogs and fish rolls you can buy right off the boat.

Community tips:

• Have dinner at the fish restaurant Kutterkaten at the Old Harbor.
• Have a sundowner on the harbor promenade.

Our hotel pick: Hanse House Wismar — super cozy, set in an old townhouse near the Old Harbor.

Combine with: Lübeck, Schwerin and the Baltic Sea

Schwerin

Last but not least, we have one more fairy tale destination for you: Schwerin. The city’s fairy tale castle sits on an island in the middle of a lake — absolutely magical for photos!

All around you’ll find charming old houses and little alleyways, with small lakes dotted throughout. In summer, a boat trip on the largest of them, Schweriner See, is totally worth it. Or you can cycle along one of the many bike paths to the lakes.

Community tip:

• Have dinner at the fish restaurant LUKAS. They serve the most delicious fish dishes.

Our hotel pick: Hotel Speicher am Ziegelsee — a freestanding building right on the lake with a terrace that reaches down to the water’s edge.

Combine with: Wismar, Lübeck and the Baltic Sea