Travelling on a pandemic is a challenge, especially abroad. That’s why we decided to rent a motorhome and spend a road trip through Germany. From the Baltic Sea to the north, we visited nine other resorts.
Our adventure began on the largest German island of Rungen, located north of the Baltic Sea. On arrival, the first demanding situations arose. We arrived quite late at night, too late for check-in. We slept in the parking lot in front of the campsite that we thought we had booked. It was a bloodless night and we were ice cream in our van. In the morning we discovered that we had absolutely passed to the wrong camp, so we temporarily packed our things and headed to the right camp. Once we have taken care of everything, we have to go straight to one of the most popular beach resorts in the city, Binz. We took a great walk on the beach and controlled ourselves to enjoy the sun. The water was very incrusting, so we should not swim, but at least we controlled ourselves to plan our first adventure: a boat trip to the famous UNESCO-protected chalk cliffs that are part of Jasmund National Park. We finish the stopover at Cape Arkona, the northernmost component of the island.
We had no luck with the weather, but we still had a beautiful view from the treetop walk.
On our last day in the city of Rungen, we visited the Treetop Walk in Prora. A network of trails that allow visitors to move through a millennial forest in the eyes of treeheads. The trail eventually leads to a solid wood construction. When we climbed to the top, we were able to enjoy a splendid view of the Baltic Sea and the nature that surrounds us. We seek to know if it was imaginable to pass to the beach safely. Large teams of basically German tourists who distanced the property socially on the beach trust us that the summer atmosphere was definitely conducive this year.
Partying in Berlin outdoors
All roads lead to – Berlin. The main explanation for why we visit the German capital is how the absence of the club scene due to the coronavirus pandemic affects Berlin’s nightlife, and what kind of outdoor activities you can still do safely. On the first day we explored Berlin by kayak down the River Spree.
Social distancing on the water – kayaking on the river Spree
As we rowed, we saw many other young people passing in party boats. Boats seem to be a smart choice for crowded indoor clubs. The next day we went to Mauerpark, one of Berlin’s largest urban parks, where many others enjoyed a hot Sunday afternoon with music, drinks and food, as well as the flea market. So, even if it’s not imaginable to party indoors, Berliners have discovered another artistic solution: dancing outdoors respecting social distance. We finished our Berlin tour in Tempelhofer Feld, where teams of other people were accumulated to pay attention to the teams that gave small concerts at sunset. This relaxing outdoor environment thrives throughout the city.
Berliners spend a lot of time outdoors during the pandemic. The Mauerpark was full of people
Climbing sandstone rocks in Saxon Switzerland
To the southeast of Berlin, our next resort: Saxon Switzerland, a mountainous diversity located in the Elbe Valley. Known for its stunning nature and thousands of opportunities for climbing and hiking, it’s another must-see for nature lovers like us. Our two-day stay took us on an 8-hour hike to see the well-known Bastei Bridge which is located in the Saxon Switzerland National Park.
The Bastei Bridge is the absolute point of Saxon Switzerland
The amazing view from and over the bridge was invaluable. But we even dared to go further: the next day, we faced our concern for heights and climbed the ancient sandstone rocks we visited the day before. With the help of our fantastic insturtor Bernd, we controld to climb two rocks, the moment was 25 m high! It was a just socially remote activity and a laughing and learning experience. We also saw a strong presence of German tourists, who seemed to enjoy their summer vacation in the forest. It was as if everyone was returning to nature after a grueling time of confinement.
We outperformed our concern for heights and did a workshop
Beer tasting in Bavaria
The following prevents another UNESCO World Heritage Site with one of Europe’s most preserved ancient cities: Bamberg. Even though it’s just an obstacle on the way to Munich, we check to see some of the local specialties: smoked beer and red meat popsicle, both incredibly delicious.
Pig shoulder is a specialty in Bavaria
The last major city on our map was the Bavarian capital, Munich. We spent our days walking along the famous Marienplatz square, where many tourists (mainly German) enjoyed the glockenspiel bell set. We also visited several beer gardens, however, the English garden, a giant urban park, left us with the greatest impression. Hundreds of other people spent the hot summer day outdoors with music, drinks and sports, especially in the famous Eisbach wave, where surfing was imaginable after a strict curfew. It was as if everything had returned to normal and the pandemic had ended. Only the strong police presence, which was unaware of measures to involve the spread of the virus, reminded us that things are not as general as they seem.
Explore german lakes and neuschwanstein fairy castle
Our first windsurfing on Lake Starnberg
In Bavaria, we visited 3 alpine lakes. First we went to Starnberg Lake, where we tried windsurfing for the first time. Then, after a sleepover on Lake Bannwald, where we went swimming the night before for a beautiful evening, we headed to one of Germany’s most beautiful castles: Neuschwanstein. After a last hike that lasted about an hour, after queuing for another 20 minutes, we were there. Here we were in spite of everything being able to see foreign tourists who told us that they were visiting germany because they felt safe in the country. However, the fact that we had to wear a mask on Mary’s Bridge from which you have the maximum productive view of the castle reminded us that concern about the coronavirus was still threatening. The sunset over the so-called German Caribbean, Lake Walchensee, was the last thing we enjoyed on our trip. When we arrived, without delay we jumped into the bloodless lake which is surrounded by stunning nature.
Neuschwanstein Fairy Castle
When we were taken home, we had time to reflect on our memorable experiences, the other people we met and the local specialties we tried. We can only conclude that it is possible to imagine a wonderful summer holiday in Germany. Swimming in the sea or on a lake, hiking and climbing the mountains, as well as walking through bustling villages, offers endless opportunities to enjoy a variety of outdoor and socially remote activities. But as the risk remains, the vast majority of holidaymakers, most of whom come from Germany, comply with all measures to involve the spread of the virus. This made us feel very safe and helped us to control ourselves for an unforgettable summer camp trip.
Today begins our adventure through Germany: from the Baltic Sea to the Alps! Camping holidays are incredibly popular this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. So it wasn’t easy to book a camper van, but despite everything we controlled it to get one in Leipzig. Today we will take the exercise from Berlin to the pick-up station. The mobile home will be our mobile vacation home for two weeks.
Our first obstacle is the baltic sea island of Regen. We’re late at 10:15 p.m. Initially we went to the camp, but we didn’t realize our mistake until the next morning because we had parked our caravan in front of the closed doors and slept there. Now we have discovered the right campsite and we can explore the island. We are very pleased that our adventure has begun and we look forward to sharing it with you.
The early riser catches the Array.. ship! Today, we were left early for a boat off the coast of Rungen. It took us to the famous limestone cliffs and to the northern end of the island to Cape Arkona. The cliffs reach up to 160 meters (525 feet) in the sky. Unfortunately, it started raining and our planned windsurfing elegance was canceled. Something to prepare for a holiday in Germany: rain!
Today our last day on the island of Regen and started back with a lot of rain. But that didn’t stop our exploration of the island. After a quick coffee and breakfast, we headed towards the Tree Walk in Prora which took us to a gigantic tower, where the view is phenomenal, even in the rain. In the afternoon we return to our motorhome to get to Berlin, our next stop on our road trip.
After repairing the water pump that caused us a little pain the night, we headed to the village. In Treptower Park, we met recording host Nicole to row along the Spree. Now we’re tired and our arms hurt, but it was great!
As it was Sunday, we headed to the Mauerpark, where Berlin’s largest flea market is being positioned. At that time, the Berlin Wall passed through the park. These days, it’s a position where other people come together to sing, dance, eat and buy things. There were many other people visiting the market position and the surrounding park, some socially remote and even dressed in masks, others did not.
We’ve lived so long! That’s why we had a day, with breakfast in a café. But we are already thinking about our next destination: Saxon Switzerland. This excessive rocky landscape near Dresden is unique. Then, after the metropolitan air, we return to the field. We’re very curious to know what we’ll find.
Our campsite is right next to the Elbe, which means we enjoy a magnificent view every time we get out of our van. The hills rise on both sides of the river and, on our left, Konigstein Castle dominates the entire valley. During our several-hour walk through the countryside, we were given a bit of a loss, but it didn’t matter: we went, nature was spectacular!
This morning we headed to the pillars of Hercules, a set of giant sandstone rocks belonging to the Saxon Switzerland National Park. Our challenge today? Climb the rocks, despite concern about heights. But fortunately, our consultant Bernd was encouraging. We ended up climbing two rocks. Getting to the most sensible and seeing the view of the sandstone was indeed breathtaking!
Unfortunately, the weather is still bad, but we did a great tour of Bamberg. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the name is well deserved! Half-timbered houses and reinforcing buildings make the Franco city unforgettable. We went to Bamberg Cathedral, the city corridor (pictured) and walked through the historic alleys.
We arrived in Munich late last night. A bad smell greeted us upon our arrival and there was almost no kindness to advise us through the jungle caravans. The bathrooms were dirty and dotted with slugs and insects. The next morning we tried to locate another campsite, but we were unlucky: everything was full. We’re in a hotel now. After a bad start, our Munich sightseeing tour can begin in spite of everything!
We head to the English lawn where we watch with admiration the surfers surfing in the remarkable wave of Eisbach. We also heard the ringing of the bells of the new city corridor on Marienplatz square and saw the little characters on the facade spin. What struck us was that most of the tourists were German. It is strange to see the absence of foreigners in one of the most visited cities in Germany.
Today we went windsurfing at Lake Starnberg. By the end of the day, we weren’t just able to stand safely on our boards but we were whizzing around, making curves and occasionally picking up some speed. It was great fun! In the evening, we head further south. Only 20 minutes into our drive we started seeing the Alps rising up on the horizon. We stopped a few times to admire the view. Fantastic!
Today we visit one of the most popular tourist attractions in Germany: Neuschwanstein Castle. We climb the hill for about part of an hour, then cover ourselves to reach the Marien Bridge, where the view is simply spectacular. On deck, larger equipment is not allowed because it is too narrow for social estrangement. In addition, all visitors must wear masks. However, it was worth it!
Today, unfortunately, our journey through Germany is over. The day was quite exhausting, as we made a long journey back from Allgiu to Leipzig, where we returned our caravan and went out to Berlin. Now we’re pretty tired and we’ll probably sleep the rest of the day. It was wonderful with many impressions!
Author: Emily Gordine, Olivera Zivkovic
Bamberg’s Old Town, Aachen Cathedral and Dessau Bauhaus are all a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With our new “DW World Heritage 360” app, you can explore them in a new way.