Northern Germany Road Trip | Campervan Rental

Stop 1: Hamburg

Worth a visit:

Kunsthalle: One of the most important art museums in Germany.
Historic Christmas market: Everything from gingerbread to woodcarvings.
Miniatur Wunderland: The largest model railway display in the world.

Where to Eat:

Café Paris ($$$): French brasserie in an Art Deco setting.
L’Orient ($$): Lebanese food, very popular — book in advance.
Alt Helgoländer Fischerstube ($$): Modern take on traditional seafood dishes.

Where to Park for the Night:

Landesbetrieb Verkehr, Hopfenmarkt ($$$$): Central open-air car park.

Setting the bar high

Success is no stranger to Hamburg. Throughout its history the city has prospered through international trade, and today it has more millionaires than any other German city.

But don’t panic if your bank balance isn’t quite so impressive. You can still have a brilliant time in this vibrant port city, the first stop on your northern Germany road trip, and it has something for every traveller, whatever your mood or taste.

Start with the Altstadt, the historic heart. Then step into modernity with a visit to the Elbphilharmonie, a futuristic glass-and-brick building. You can also relax with a view over the Binnenalster, one of the city’s large lakes.

Get up early to check out the fresh fish at Altona Fischmarkt, which, oddly, also sells parrots and palm trees. And go on a tour of the Holsten Brewery — this is Germany, isn’t it?

Don’t miss this city on your route across northern Germany, even if it’s only for a weekend — it’s full of history, fantastic museums and stunning architecture!

Stop 2: Bremen

Worth a visit:

Worpswede: Former artist colony on the moors.
Oldenburg: Historic city with a castle.
The Universum: Interactive science exhibits — a hit with kids.

Where to eat:

Bremer Ratskeller ($$$): Restaurant in the wine cellar beneath the town hall.
Scharfrichter Lounge ($$): Serves over 100 varieties of Currywurst.
Das Theaterschiff ($$$): Floating restaurant with views over the river.

Where to park for the night:

Irresistibly idyllic

Bremen is the final stop on the 600 km (approx. 373 miles) long German Fairy Tale Road — which should give you some idea of what you’re in for. The popular fairy tale of the Bremen Town Musicians by the Brothers Grimm is just one reason for this city’s magical, romantic feel.

While Hamburg calls itself the "gateway to the world", Bremen likes to retort, "But we have the key." Head on to the next stop on your northern Germany road-trip itinerary to see what they’re on about.
Begin with the Marktplatz, bordered by a majestic Gothic cathedral and those quintessentially German gabled houses. And, of course, check out the bronze statue of the four Bremen Town Musicians — whose story is re-enacted each Sunday by performers.

Explore the narrow streets of Schnoorviertel, full of artists selling everything from porcelain dolls to pipes — consider getting all your Christmas shopping done in one go. Then trade the twee for the terrifying at Bremen Cathedral with its eight 400-year-old mummies in glass coffins.

Stop 3: Schwerin

Worth a visit:

Galerie Alte & Neue Meister: Gallery with an extensive Marcel Duchamp collection.
Mecklenburg State Theatre: Catch a play, opera or ballet.
Ludwigslust Palace: Often called the Versailles of Mecklenburg.

Where to Eat:

Buschérie ($$): Modern bistro with a seasonal menu.
Zum Freischütz ($$): Atmospheric pub with value specials.
Weinhaus Wöhler ($$$): Characterful old beer house with a terrace.

Where to Park for the Night:

For fairy-tale fantasies...

Think German romance. Look no further than the next stop on your northern Germany road trip: Schwerin. Home to a castle plucked straight from the pages of a fairy-tale... On an island surrounded by lakes...
The 15 turrets, onion-shaped domes, and classically Hanseatic gables of Schwerin’s Schloss are charmingly over-the-top. When you’ve had enough of pretending to be a 14th-century courtier, you’ll find the rest of Schwerin also seems designed to delight.

Begin in the Alter Garten, taking in the extravagant neo-Renaissance state theatre, and perhaps visiting the Kunstsammlungen art museum. Climb to the top of the Gothic cathedral for views of the old town and lake — don’t let the 219 steps defeat you.

Of course, you must also visit the palace — and its gardens, with the orangerie and ponds. Top tip: before going, head to Der Käseladen Mühlenberg, a deli with everything you need for a picnic fit for a king.

Stop 4: Warnemünde

Worth a visit:

Rostock Zoo: More than 4,000 animals.
Stasi-Knast Rostock: Former prison to learn about the Stasi.
Edvard-Munch-Haus: House where the painter Edvard Munch lived.

Where to eat:

Fischerklause (€€€): Traditional German seafood by the pier.
Restaurant Hopfen Keller (€€€): Steakhouse in a former brewery basement.
Herberts Restaurant & Café (€€€): Patio with a view.

Where to park overnight:

Last stop on your whistle-stop tour

The final destination on your northern Germany road trip itinerary is all about relaxing. The Blue Flag-winning white sands of Warnemünde seaside resort are the perfect complement to a trip full of high culture and history.

Brimming with maritime charm, Warnemünde doesn’t demand much from its visitors. It just encourages you to take it easy, stroll the promenade, eat plenty of seafood, and while away the afternoon in a Strandkorb — a sheltered straw 'beach basket' seat.

Stroll the Alter Strom, the boat-lined main canal, with its adorable cottages. Check out the Rathaus, which looks straight out of a Wes Anderson film. Climb the 135-step spiral staircase of the lighthouse for spectacular views.

Grab an ice cream and indulge in some people‑watching on the beach — where you can also have barbecues and campfires. And be sure to try Fischbrötchen — Warnemünde’s famous fish sandwich, made with a range of fish, from halibut to herring.