europe

germany

While there are few sites more kitch than seeing a grown man in lederhosen belt out some tunes, there are few cooler-than-cool sites than the hipsters that populate the streets of Berlin.

The madder than mad Love Parade may have grown too big in its boots, but electronic music has long had a home in Germany meaning the country has its sharing of rocking clubs and pumping festivals. As an antidote to the debauchery take stock of the many remnants of the past – glory days of the monarchy or the East before the wall came down or the ancient architecture of Dresden and Cologne. In Bavaria you’ll be tempted to down Pilsners and wurstl by the bucketload. Don’t worry, you can detox by heading to the hills or swishing down the Alps. Just make sure you leave plenty of room in your suitcase – you’ll likely want to bring a lot home from this design nation.