Planning trip to Germany - which city?

[Lottapianos]

DP and I are planning a few days in Germany at end of March. It's just the two of us and we're flying from London. We love food, beer, walking, bit of shopping, bit of museum and gallery stuff. Will probably be there for 4 nights so could consider a day trip to somewhere else a short train journey away

Which German city would you recommend? Thanks

Berlin

Berlin for sure!

I went in 2018 for a long weekend and it was such a great time for all the reasons you've specified!

Would absolutely go back, even now with the kids (we went pre children).

Berlin is great but I was so impressed by Nuremberg. Really easy to get in from airport- 15-20 mins on subway so cheap too. Beautiful medieval city- walls and cobbles and pretty buildings. Some great churches and museums- nice river flows through the centre- great walks and fairly compact.

Munich is great for a long weekend.

Munich and Berlin are both great.

Munich.

Heidelberg is beautiful with lots to do and is known as the Romantic Cityl

I agree with all those mentioned, but will add Hamburg. I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it is on a recent trip there.

Munich is great for a long weekend, also Freiburg im Breisgau- v pretty. Ulm is lovely too. Berlin always amazing but you need to book museums well in advance to get in

We went to Munich for a few nights after we got married last year - it's a beautiful city, we are going again this year!!

I would always say Berlin, but going to add Cologne. Amazing cathedral, great beer (or so I've been told - don't drink it), galleries, Rhine boat trips. You can take a day trip to Bonn with more Rhine and a great German history museum.

I would go to Berlin. You can combine it with Hamburg, it’s 2 hours on the train.

Hamburg, also easy to go by train to Lübeck, Lüneburg
Berlin
Munich
Nürnberg

Came on to suggest Ulm as a less obvious one that no one else would mention and there you are @ArghhWhatNext - it's fabulous but actually everywhere we have been is. It's so beautiful and pristine.

Stuttgart. Day trip to Tubingen, Heidelberg, Baden Baden (spa) or Strasbourg if you fancy France.
Or Munich, daytrip Berchtesgaden or Salzburg.
Hard to go wrong in Germany with your brief.

If you were going to go to Cologne you might as well take the train, if you're already in London. It's under 2 hours from Brussels.

Munich with day trip to Nuremberg

I agree with all of the above, and would like to throw Dresden into the mix! Lots to do in Dresden, cruise on the river Elbe and day trips to Meissen (porcelain), Sächsische Schweiz (Mountains) or even Prague.

To be honest, everywhere in Germany is nice and you will find plenty to do!

I didn't like Berlin at all! Thought it was a dive tbh

Nuremberg was nice

I came on to say Heidelberg. Wonderful place!

If this is your first visit, I'd say Berlin is a must. It's a fabulous city.

I'm going to second Cologne. Nip over to Düsseldorf for some shopping and great beer in the Altstadt.

I'd say Heidelburg too. Very pretty and enough to do for 4 days. Makes me want to go back!

For a first visit, I'd say Munich or Berlin. But lots of the smaller cities and towns have lovely old quarters, castles etc.

Munich. You can then get a suburban train out to the beautiful lakes and feel 1000 miles away from the city - so perfect city/outdoor combo in 4 days.

Hamburg also really interesting- bit rough around the edges but not in a bad way IYSWIM. Reminds me of Liverpool - loads of history, working port city etc etc.