Recently, I visited Bamberg, which is a beautiful city located in southern Germany. I would recommend this city to anyone seeking German culture but hoping to avoid the chaotic larger cities, such as Frankfurt. There is something about strolling over the old stone roads and imagining who walked there before you. Seeing the streets wind around history and suddenly opening up into courtyards that are enclosed by historic town halls and ancient cathedrals is something you’ll want to do on your trip to Germany.
The city of Bamberg is known for ‘Little Venice’, which is a pocket of fishermen’s houses that run along the river dating back to the 19th century. The river rushing by gives the city an alive and open feel as you walk across the bridges and catch a glimpse of the many cathedrals, statues, pubs, cafes, and markets. A part of Germany’s culture is beer, I can attest to this as it seemed to be available at almost any point of my trip, but Bamberg is known specifically for its smoked beer. Brewed in the old part of the city, it is tradition for visitors to try this uniquely flavored beverage.
Overall, Bamberg felt like the perfect compromise between old and new. Here you get the culture, you get the history, but you also get the younger crowd of students and the atmosphere that entails. Bamberg felt like it was buzzing with life, from the brisk air, those buzzed from smoked beer, and the bubbling river there was an inspiring energy. Despite the cold weather and winter tourist lull, there were people everywhere. Bamberg is on the must see destinations on your next trip to Germany.