Germany's Most Beautiful Small Towns by the Water

If you want to travel to the water in Germany, you'll probably think first of vacation spots on the North Sea and Baltic Sea or harbor cities like Hamburg or Rostock.

However, there are also many impressive cities by the water that are less known but worth every vacation. We introduce you to eleven particularly beautiful ones.

In the Rureifel in North Rhine-Westphalia lies Monschau with around 12,000 residents. The medieval town near the Belgian border is traversed by the Rur. Over the historic city center with its half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets, the Monschau castle towers.

Not far from here is the Eifel National Park with breathtakingly beautiful hiking trails. Either way, the trip into the green is worth it, as you can expect unique natural wonders in NRW.

In Hann. Münden in the southernmost tip of Lower Saxony, only about 24,000 people live. The picturesque cityscape is mainly defined by water. Hann. Münden is also called the Three-River City because the Weser arises from the confluence of Werra and Fulda there.

Sports enthusiasts can explore the city by canoe or bike. Well-developed paths lead through the Weserbergland to Bremen.

The coast can't quite be avoided when listing the most beautiful small towns by the water, because Wismar in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern simply can't be missed. The Hanseatic city with approximately 44,000 residents is located on the Baltic Sea coast in the Bay of Wismar. Wismar is especially known for its well-preserved medieval core.

At the Old Port, you can watch the cutters and sailboats gently swaying on the waves in a dreamy atmosphere. Reporter Nicole gives tips for a perfect weekend in Wismar.

Along the Mosel, there are many beautiful places and cities, including Bernkastel-Kues. Situated on both sides of the Mosel, the small town with about 7,100 residents invites you to explore a history over 2,000 years old.

The wonderful half-timbered houses, the early Gothic St. Michael's Church, or the Renaissance Town Hall at the historic market square are just some of the highlights. The city can also be explored on four designated 'city walks' through winding alleys, past shops, and along the famous Riesling slopes.

High above the town, the ruins of Landshut Castle stand. A barrier-free circular trail with numerous information boards leads around the castle.

In the Mosel region, there are numerous hiking trails where you can discover Germany's oldest wine-growing area. These take you through river valleys and gorges, and then up into the vineyards. Incidentally, Riesling makes up more than half of the cultivation area - no wonder the Mosel vintners are considered Riesling specialists.

Vast vineyards and picturesque castles make the idyll in the Rhine valley perfect. Right in the middle lies the small town of Bingen on the Rhine bank with about 25,000 residents. Those who want to explore the area around the half-timbered gem can do so on a Rhine cruise. Additionally, great hiking trails are available to get to know Rheinhessen, the land of a thousand hills, properly.

Lindau in Bavaria is located directly on Lake Constance near the Austrian border. The small town has fewer than 25,000 residents and is known for its idyllic old town island. On a city tour, you can expect charming alleys and historic buildings against a picturesque backdrop at the foot of the Alps.

At the eastern end of Lake Constance, water sports enthusiasts will also find plenty to enjoy.

Medieval Pirna in Saxony has a lot to offer: a world-famous marketplace, beautiful small shops, cafés and restaurants, a lively cultural life - and of course, water. The sandstone town is bordered by the wide Elbe. On a steamboat, visitors can discover the Elbe and the foothills of Saxon Switzerland from the water.

Pirna is surrounded by vineyards and castles. Additionally, the town with about 39,000 residents is just a stone's throw from Dresden and the Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland. The Saxon Wine Route, which starts in Pirna, takes hikers to spectacular viewpoints.

Nestled in the lake landscape at the heart of the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park is the picturesque small town of Mölln in the south of Schleswig-Holstein. The town is known as the 'Till Eulenspiegel town' because the famous jester Till Eulenspiegel is said to have come to Mölln during the plague year 1350 and died and been buried here. In the town's streets, fountain figures, a museum, and a memorial stone, as well as his face on house walls, remind us of the joker.

Nearly 20,000 residents feel at home in the picturesque town. Half-timbered houses and brick romance characterize the townscape, and among the oldest buildings are the St. Nicolai Church and the historic town hall.

The nicknames 'Gateway to the Spreewald' and 'City of Punt Tours' describe the small town of Lübbenau in Brandenburg quite well. Here, on the edge of the Spreewald biosphere reserve, numerous waterways traverse the landscape - and the best way to explore this idyllic spot is by boat. You can paddle through the waterways of the Spreewald on your own or take punt tours from the port in Lübbenau.

In Lübbenau, nearly 16,000 residents live, and the old town not only offers historic charm but also dwarf figures linked to Sorbian legends.

By the way: Lübbenau also has a cucumber quarter. The traditional pickled Spreewald cucumbers are said to have originated here.

The air and Kneipp spa town of Prien on Chiemsee with around 11,000 residents presents itself with traditional Bavarian inns, surrounding mountains, and the deep blue Chiemsee, also known as the Bavarian Sea.

If you're looking for maritime flair, Prien on Chiemsee is just right, and you can reach Herreninsel with the New Herrenchiemsee Palace by excursion boat in a 20-minute ride. The magnificent building was commissioned by the so-called Fairytale King Ludwig II, who also created a monument with Neuschwanstein. However, it can be simpler: Another excursion destination accessible by boat is the Fraueninsel with its village character, small gardens, and a monastery.

Nestled in vineyards, Rüdesheim hugs the banks of the Rhine and invites you into an old town full of half-timbered houses, stucco-decorated buildings, and castle romance. The heart of the old town is the Drosselgasse, where one tavern follows the next.

No wonder: Rüdesheim is known for its good wine. According to Hessen Tourismus, three million visitors a year don't want to miss this special alley.

Yet the small town with nearly 10,000 residents combines other attractions. For example, the Benedictine convent above the town, where they still live according to 1400-year-old monastic rules, and the nearly 1,000-year-old Brömserburg directly on the Rhine, which houses a wine museum.

With a chairlift, you can travel between the mountain and the valley in Rüdesheim, and in the beautiful surroundings, the long-distance hiking trail Rheinsteig with sections through vineyards, forests, past castles, and with views of romantic villages, beckons.

Looking for more inspiration? You can find tips for all top travel destinations at bettercities.net, and the best travel deals on our deal page.

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