Wherever I wander, my quest for living a full life never ends. Germany, with its rich tapestry of experiences, has been no exception. Amidst its landscapes and culture, I've unearthed a plethora of delightful activities that have filled my days with joy and laughter.
Now it's my time to pass them on to you!
So, let's get to it!
Table of Contents
Cannstatter Volksfest, Stuttgart
Estimated distance from the KMC: 2 Hours
My first choice for Oktoberfest celebrations! It's not Munich, but it boasts almost everything that Munich offers and is within day-tripping distance. Check out my Comprehensive Guide and most recent blog post for further information.
Stuttgart also holds a Spring Festival (Frühlingsfest) between April & May as well!
Weinfest der Mittelmosel, Bernkastel-Kues
Estimated distance from the KMC: 1.5 Hours
Website: https://www.bernkastel.de/
Bernkastel-Kues is a beautiful river city situated along the Mosel. The town holds a variety of festivals, most notable being their Wine Festival held in early September and Advent Calendar Christmas Market!
For a complete guide to visiting Bernkastel-Kues, head here!
Brezelfest, Speyer
Estimated distance from the KMC: 1 Hour
Website: https://www.speyerer-brezelfest.de/
Are those pretzels falling from the sky? Each year, in July, Speyer holds its annual pretzel festival; you don't want to miss it! It's a wonderful cultural experience, but I'd suggest bringing a fan. It was HOT last year.
Llama Hike, Annweiler am Trifels
Estimated distance from the KMC: 1 Hour
Website: https://www.pfalz-lamas.de/
It was such a fun experience! I mean, who wouldn't want to hike with llamas?
I won't be able to do this before I leave, but I also found a Donkey Hike (Eseltouren) if you'd like to check that out, too!
Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt, Bad Dürkheim
Estimated distance from the KMC: 1 Hour
Website: https://www.bad-duerkheim.de/
Dubbed "the largest wine festival in the world..." However, I refuse to call it a "wine festival (there just happens to be a lot of wine there)." The name technically means "sausage market," and it's basically a carnival on steroids. Great warmup for Oktoberfest!
Frankenstein Halloween at a Castle, Königstein im Taunus
Estimated distance from the KMC: 1.5 Hours
I originally went to this event near Darmstadt, but it seems they have changed the location this year! I highly recommend the VIP experience. It came with an extensive buffet and unlimited drinks, and the characters came by for us to take photos with. This is a great secondary option if you can't make it all the way to Transylvania!
Almond Blossom Season & The Almond Mile
Estimated distance from the KMC: 1 Hour
Suggested sites for info: Hello it's Jasper, Kaiserslautern Day Tripper, http://www.gimmeldingen.de/
Instead of Cherry Blossoms, they have Almond Blossom season in the spring here in Germany! Some towns hold festivals, and you can hike along trails like the Mandelmeile (Almond Mile). Start looking for events and peak blooming season in March.
Culinary Wine Hikes - Wolfstein & Freinsheim
Estimated distance from the KMC: 30-45 Minutes
Websites: http://wolfstein.de/ & https://www.stadt-freinsheim.de/
Called "weinwanderung," these are perhaps my absolute favorite things to do in Germany! Freinsheim usually holds one twice yearly, with their "Rotweinwanderung" being held in January. Wolfstein will hold theirs in the spring, around May. You can find these events all over Germany and even book individual hikes for a group! I've done this at Weingut Alois Kirchen multiple times.
Crime Wine Hike, Ingelheim am Rhein
Estimated distance from the KMC: 30-45 Minutes
Something fun and different to do! The Ingelheim am Rhein region is also stunningly gorgeous during the warmer season. Sadly, we did not solve the crime. We were horrible investigators!
I also found a wine scavenger hunt near Bernkastel-Kues at Weingut Kochan & Platz if anyone would like to check that out!
Brunch at Heidelberg Castle
Estimated distance from the KMC: 1.5 Hours
An extravagant 4-course brunch awaits! Do you see that buffet in the picture above? That's the FIRST COURSE. Usually, next will come a soup, then your choice of a main course (unlimited selections), and finally, a dessert buffet. I'd reserve at least 4 hours for this experience! Oh, and I forgot, it also includes unlimited alcohol! You can find the restaurant inside the castle courtyard, past the gate, to the right, and up some stairs.
Heidelberg Castle also hosts various other events, including a Vampire Ball around early February!
Schwetzingen Palace & Gardens
Estimated distance from the KMC: 1.5 Hours
I always lament that people go to Heidelberg but neglect the other nearby palaces and residences! This Palace boasts extensive lush green gardens and even has a small indoor tour! I've spent hours wandering around the property. However, only visit in the warmer months. During the winter, they cover all the statues and sculptures, and most of the foliage has died off.
There are a total of 4 palaces and residences you can discover in the surrounding areas. This website is a great guide!
Ramborn Cidery, Luxembourg
Estimated distance from the KMC: 1.5 Hours
Website: https://www.ramborn.com/
This is such a wonderful establishment. Nestled right across the German border, this cidery uses locally grown apples & quince from the surrounding area. They also sell juices, vinegar, and soda. An excellent tour is offered if you schedule it ahead of time.
Ludwigsburg Palace & Gardens
Estimated distance from the KMC: 2 Hours
Website: https://www.schloss-ludwigsburg.de/
Another stunning nearby Palace that hosts many festivals, including their annual Pumpkin Festival (Kürbisausstellung)! There's so much to unpack here. If you have littles, you can also explore the Fairy Tale Garden (Märchengarten) right next door.
Roman Wine Barge Tour, Neumagen-Dhron
Estimated distance from the KMC: 1.5 Hours
I wrote about this in my most recent blog post. I highly recommend booking this unique riverboat tour that takes you along the scenic Mosel and even stops at the ruins of an old Roman wine press!
Castle Beats Music Festival, Sankt Goar
Estimated distance from the KMC: 1.5 Hours
Website: https://castlebeatsfestival.de/
It is super fun, and the town is quite beautiful as well! My friend and I drove up for the night to check this out. I can't express how amazing it was to attend an EDM-style festival that was at a CASTLE. Like, how cool is that!?
Burg Eltz, Wierschem
Estimated distance from the KMC: 2 Hours
Website: https://burg-eltz.de/de/startseite
Open from Spring to Autumn, this is one of the top castles to visit in Germany, other than the famous Neuschwanstein! They have short, guided tours, and it's also a popular photography location if you're wondering where to go to get that perfect memory.
Carnival in Germany: Fasching, Fastnacht, Karneval
Estimated Distance from the KMC: Depends on where you go!
The website also depends on where you decide to attend; this is a national occurrence celebrated in almost every town and city in early February. German Carnival Parades are where it's at, and you don't want to miss them! For more information, check out my most recent blog posts here and here.
Easter Markets/Ostermarkt
Estimated distance from the KMC: 45 Minutes
Website: https://tourismus.sankt-wendel.de/
Every Spring, some villages and cities will hold their annual Ostermarkt. The closest one to the KMC being at Sankt Wendel. This is where you can buy those beautifully decorated eggs you see!
Christmas Markets
Estimated Distance from the KMC: Depends on where you go!
Almost every town and city nearby will hold its own Weihnachtsmarkt. Including your tiny village! It's the highlight of winter here, and most of us dash to see how many we can fit in each winter (and how many mugs we can collect). Some of my favorite nearby markets are Rüdesheim, Sankt Wendel, Homburg, Kaiserslautern, Saarbrücken, Wiesbaden, Bernkastel-Kues, Luxembourg, and Strasbourg.
Want a full, complete guide? Head here!
Suggested cities within 1-2 Hours of the KMC:
For more events and activities, head to my KMC Guide. I'm even currently working on a European Guide as well! As I edit them live, both documents will continuously update, so you'll always see the most recent version!
A few weeks ago, I came out with My Favorite Things to Do in the KMC.
A more locally based guide!
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