Planning a trip to Germany and want some advice on what to see and do first? Here is a list of the top ten attractions and sights in Germany that no traveler should miss.

01 of 10 Neuschwanstein Castle Christopher Larson / TripSavvy View Map Address Neuschwansteinstraße 20 , 87645 Schwangau , Germany Get directions Phone +49 8362 930830 Web Visit website The world's most famous castle, Neuschwanstein, is nestled in the Alps in Bavaria. It seems to come straight out of a fairytale; in fact, Walt Disney drew inspiration from it for "Sleeping Beauty." Neuschwanstein (which translates to new-swan-stone) is the most photographed building in all of Germany. King Ludwig II designed his dream castle in 1869 and instead of an architect, he hired a theatrical set designer to realize his vision. Take a tour through the flamboyant castle's interior. Highlights include a gaudy artificial grotto, the Throne Room with its giant crown-shaped chandelier, and the lavish Minstrels' Hall.

02 of 10 Europa-Park Michele Tantussi/Getty Images View Map Address Europa-Park-Straße 2 , 77977 Rust , Germany Get directions Phone +49 7822 776688 Web Visit website Europa-Park, Germany's largest amusement park, recently unseated Neuschwanstein as the most visited site in Germany. It may not have the romance of the castle, but it does have mind-blowing rides, lands modeled on the different countries of Europe, and a mouse mascot that may remind you of someone else.

03 of 10 Brandenburg Gate Taylor McIntyre / TripSavvy View Map Address Pariser Platz , 10117 Berlin , Germany Get directions Web Visit website Iconic Attractions 4.6 More than any other landmark, the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) is the national symbol for Germany. Built in 1791, it was simply meant to mark the end of the boulevard, Unter den Linden. But the gate has had an eventful history. The gate is crowned with the winged goddess of victory riding a four-horsed chariot — which was stolen by Napoleon’s soldiers and taken back to France as a trophy in 1806. After Napoleon was defeated, Victory was returned to her throne in Berlin. Brandenburg Gate has also had more controversial toppers like the Nazi and Soviet flag. During the cold war, when Berlin was divided in two, the Brandenburg Gate stood between East and West Berlin. It was the location of US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 iconic speech, where he demanded, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” After the wall fell in 1989, the Brandenburg Gate became the symbol of Germany's reunification.

04 of 10 Oktoberfest Johannes Simon/Getty Images View Map Address Schäfflerstraße 8 , 80333 München , Germany Get directions Phone +49 89 24292930 Web Visit website It might be a cliché, but it is an essential German experience of eating sausage and sauerkraut and drinking Oktoberfest beer. Oktoberfest, the world's largest fair, has over 6 million visitors annually. Celebrate in 14 different beer tents and enjoy Bavarian “Schuhplattler," alphorn players, and yodelers. If you aren't in town for the fest (or one of the smaller, more local beer festivals), visit the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, the most famous beer hall in the world. This Bavarian institution has defined gemütlich (“comfy”) since 1589. Wash down Bavarian specialties and giant pretzels with beer that is only served in a Mass (one-liter glass).

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05 of 10 Cologne's Cathedral Christopher Larson / TripSavvy View Map Address Domkloster 4 , 50667 Köln , Germany Get directions Phone +49 221 17940555 Web Visit website Cologne's Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is one of Germany's most important architectural monuments and the third tallest cathedral in the world. It took over 600 years to construct this Gothic masterpiece. When it was finally finished in 1880, it was still true to the original plans from 1248. When Cologne was leveled by bombings in World War II, the Cathedral was the only building that survived. Standing tall in an otherwise flattened city, some said it was divine intervention. A more realistic explanation is that the cathedral was a point of orientation for the pilots. In any case, the cathedral still stands next to the city's train station and beckons visitors from around the globe.

06 of 10 City of Trier Westend61/Getty Images View Map Address Trier , Germany Get directions Web Visit website On the banks of the Moselle River lies Trier, Germany's oldest city. It was founded as a Roman colony in 16 B.C. and became the favored residence of several Roman emperors. Nowhere else in Germany is the evidence of Roman times as vivid as it is in Trier. Highlights of the city are the Porta Nigra, the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps, and the Cathedral of Trier, which houses a holy relic that draws many pilgrims: the Holy Robe, the garment said to be worn by Jesus when he was crucified.

07 of 10 Black Forest Gnther Bayerl/Getty Images View Map Address Black Forest, Germany Get directions If you imagine Germany with rolling hills, small villages, and lush forests, visit the Schwarzwald (Black Forest), where you can experience it all. The vast expanse of hills, valleys, and forests stretches from the posh spa town Baden-Baden to the Swiss border, covering an area of 4,600 square miles. Walking, biking, or driving — there are many scenic routes that will lead you to tiny villages, such as Freiburg with its long red sausage, wineries, and old-world monasteries. Two of the most recommended tours are the Wine Road and the German Clock Road, which traces the history of the cuckoo clock. For Christmas, visit Gengenbach which becomes the world's largest advent calendar house. But remember: No visit to the Black Forest is complete without a piece of Black Forest Cake, with chocolate, cherries, cream, and a good dash of cherry schnapps.

08 of 10 Dresden Frauenkirche TripSavvy / Christopher Larson View Map Address Neumarkt , 01067 Dresden , Germany Get directions Phone +49 351 65606100 Web Visit website The Dresden Frauenkirche, the Church of Our Lady, has a moving history: In World War II, when air-raids wiped out the city center of Dresden, the grand Frauenkirche collapsed into a 42 feet high pile of rubble. The ruins were left untouched for over 40 years as a reminder of the destructive powers of war. In 1994, the painstaking reconstruction of the church began, almost completely financed by private donations. In 2005, the people of Dresden celebrated the resurrection of their Frauenkirche.

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