German Info: Destinations for the Young

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Destinations for the Young and Young at Heart

What's better than touring a castle? How about living in one. Forty-three castles and palaces across Germany have been converted into youth hostels, and many more offer accommodations within walking distance of former royal residences. With these kind of affordable accommodations, lively student cities, variety of outdoor recreation, and well-organized public transportation net, Germany has long been a favorite destination for young travelers.

Affordable Accommodations
The Schlossblick Youth Hostel, for example, overlooks the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. Hostels offer simple accommodations, often dorm-style rooms and shared bathrooms, at low prices and are great places to meet other travelers. At the German Youth Hostel Association website you can find just the right location and book online. For travelers who prefer to be spontaneous, most large cities and many smaller towns have central tourism offices where you can book accommodations when you arrive. They are often located in or near the train station.

Student Cities
Those cities and towns who's populations are dominated by university students have an especially exciting and open culture. Three major universities - Humboldt University, Technical University, and the Free University - make Berlin a magnet for the young and the young at heart, who fill its many trendy bars, cafes and galleries. The Love Parade, set for July 13, 2002, brings out more than a million techno-music fans for a massive parade through the central Tiergarten and a weekend of round-the-clock partying in clubs.

Heidelberg on the Neckar River offers more traditional pastimes like touring the beautiful castle dating from the 13th century or strolling the Philosopher's Way, a path offering great views of the city. The student scene is centered in the area around the Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit) on the market square in the old quarter.

On the Baltic Sea, the city of Rostock and the nearby beach town of Warnemünde offer visitors a taste of coastal life. Hanse Sail Rostock from August 8 - 11 will feature windjammers and yachts, and the Beach Olympics from August 16 - 18 are an option for sports lovers.

Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor recreation is a year-round option in Germany. The northern beaches are a summer destination with several national parks that help to preserve this unique landscape while keeping it accessible. You can ski and snowboard in many of Germany's mountain regions. For the courageous, there are the bobsled and toboggan runs open in places like Winterberg, a sports center in the Upper Sauerland in North Rhine - Westphalia. Hiking is a year-round option in every corner of the country, and you're likely to run into quite a few Germans on the trails as hiking is something of a national pastime.