About this Book 7
About this Book
Located in the heart of Europe, Germany
offers its visitors a diverse experience. Historic
monuments, evocative landscapes, scenic
towns, and romantic medieval cities await
those driving through this fascinating country.
From the green marshes and pristine sandy
coasts of the north to the mountainous and
wooded regions of the south, the 24 leisurely
drives in this book take you on a trip through a
hospitable country while showing charming,
lesser-known places off the beaten track.
The delightful landscape ranges from the
windy Baltic Coast to the remote valleys of the
Black Forest and from rolling green pastures
to dramatic mountain peaks. Travelers will
discover reminders of Germany’s riveting past,
delve into the alluring multicultural
life of its cities, enjoy fine traditional cuisine,
and marvel at the country’s beautiful natural
vistas. Expect delightful surprises around every
bend, packed with the sights, sounds, and
flavors of the real Germany.Getting Started
The front section of the guide
provides all the practical informa-
tion needed to plan and enjoy a
driving trip in Germany. It includes
an overview of when to go and
how to get there, advice on renting
a vehicle, and details of any docu-
mentation required. The advice
ranges from driving rules to road
conditions, buying gasoline to
break down or accident procedures –
the kind of background knowledge
that will help to make driving stress
free. There is information on money,
opening hours, communications,
health and safety, and other practi-
cal matters, as well as advice
on accommodation and dining
options, to ensure that you expe-
rience the very best of Germany’s
hospitality. A language section at
the back lists essential words and
phrases, including key driving-
related vocabulary.
Top left Outdoor café, Oberammergau, Bavaria
Top right Imposing Burg Hohenzollern,
Baden-Württemberg Center left Lake Titisee,
Baden-Württemberg Center right Back road to
Immenstadt, Bavaria Below left Half-timbered
houses, Tangermϋnde, Hesse Below right Sandy
beach, Sylt, Schleswig-Holstein
begins with a list of highlights and a
clearly mapped itinerary. There is
useful advice on the best time of year
to do the drive, road conditions,
market days, and major festival dates.
The tour pages contain detailed
descriptions of each stop on the
route, linked by clear driving
instructions. Side panels highlight
information on the most authentic
places to stay and eat. Tinted boxes
feature background information and
interesting anecdotes.
Each drive features at least one
mapped town or countryside
walking tour, designed to take a
maximum of two hours at a gentle
pace with stops along the way.
The tours are flexible: they can be
linked to create a longer driving trip;
others can be shortened into day
trips while based in a region.The Drives
The main touring section of the
guide is divided into 24 scenic drives,
ranging in duration from one to six
days. All the tours can be undertaken
in a standard vehicle, and no special
driving skills are required. Each drive
Above Roadside viewpoint looking toward the Willibaldsburg, Eichstätt, BavariaUsing the Sheet Map
A pull-out road map of the entire
country is attached at the back of
this guide. This map contains all
the information you need to
drive around Germany and to
navigate between the tours. All
highways, major roads, airports –
both domestic and international –
plus ferry ports are clearly
identified. This makes the pull-
out map an excellent addition
to the drive itinerary maps within
the book. The pull-out map also
has a comprehensive index for
easy location of sights. The map
is further supplemented by a
clear distance chart, so you can
gauge the distances between
the major cities.