March 23, 2021, 9:47 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Each of Germany’s 16 federal states has its own charm, advantages, and unique features. But which is actually the most beautiful? TRAVELBOOK wanted to know and conducted a month-long poll. The result: A landslide victory for one state.
Currently, due to the global coronavirus pandemic, almost all travel is unthinkable. Long-distance travel will likely be off the table for a while, and even trips to European countries are still risky. That’s why vacations at home will probably be trendy in 2021. That’s not so bad, because sometimes the best things are close by. After all, Germany has a lot to offer, and each state has its own advantages. But which is the most beautiful? We asked you!
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All 16 federal states were, of course, included: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia. Each state could be voted for once, and one vote per device was allowed. The voting was open until March 21, and more than 25,000 TRAVELBOOK readers participated. They had a clear favorite.
In first place among the most beautiful states: Bavaria
The poll had a clear winner: the Free State of Bavaria. The state received votes from 29 percent of participants. “Being chosen as the most beautiful state by your readers is a great honor for us,” Sylvia Freund from Bavaria Tourism told TRAVELBOOK.
Why is their state so popular with Germans? “Bavaria stands for a sense of home and tradition. Nowhere else in Germany do locals maintain their customs like in the Free State. Deeply rooted, authentic, yet modern–’traditionally different’ is how the people of Bavaria are. And our guests feel that too: Through encounters with locals, visitors immediately immerse themselves in the warm atmosphere and experience the real Bavaria up close,” Freund speculates.
Second place goes to Baden-Württemberg
Bavaria’s neighbor, Baden-Württemberg, secured second place in the ranking. Eleven percent of readers consider it the most beautiful state in Germany. This brings joy to the state. “Especially in these challenging times for tourism in the state, this is a great signal that gives us hope and new motivation,” Sannah Mattes from Tourism Baden-Württemberg shared.
She suspects that the wide variety of landscapes and experiences convinced people about Baden-Württemberg. After all, vacationers can look forward to culinary specialties like Maultasche or Black Forest cake, as well as wineries, leisure and national parks, castles, palaces, and monasteries. “Not to mention the many charming small towns with half-timbered panoramas and the large city centers with their rich cultural and shopping offerings,” Mattes adds. There’s a lot to discover.
Third place in the far north: Schleswig-Holstein
In third place, we move on the map of Germany from the very “bottom” to the top in the far north–to Schleswig-Holstein! Eight percent of TRAVELBOOK readers think it is the most beautiful state in Germany.
Following that are two more northern states, Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, each with 7 percent. Rhineland-Palatinate also has 7 percent approval. The city-states of Berlin and Bremen are at the bottom of the ranking, each with only one percent.
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The voting for the most beautiful states
Previous voting winners at TRAVELBOOK
Need more inspiration for your next vacation in Germany? In the past, TRAVELBOOK readers have already voted for several German locations. For example, Tangermünde in Brandenburg was chosen as the most beautiful small town in Germany. In Saxony-Anhalt, Stolberg in the Harz is the most beautiful village in Germany. And the most beautiful island in Germany, Borkum, naturally belongs to Lower Saxony.
Note: The voting is not representative.