Top 5 Leisure Activities To Do In Germany Tuesday, May 31, 2011 / 4:32 AM
5. Sports
Soccer had been the most popular game in West Germany until 1980. In 1954, 1974, 1990 West Germany won the world cup.
Germany sports have gained worldwide popularity. It is indeed the national pride of Germans. Germans are also quite sport loving people.
Anyone in Germany can keep himself physically active by taking part in Germany sports.
In Germany group activities, team sports and competition take place very frequently. Playing with neighbors and friends is one of the leisure activities of Germans.
Germans are culturally rich people and they follow their conventional tradition strictly. Sports in Germany also falls under the domain of cultural activities and therefore plays a major role in Germany.
Germany has long been considered as a sport loving country. Playing and participating in sports in Germany forms an integral part in the life of the people of the country.
There are a large number of sports and games, which you can play when on a vacation to this country. Football is another favorite sport in Germany. In fact, the country has won the World Cup in the year 1954, 1974 and in 1990.
4. Berlin Zoo
The Berlin Zoological Garden also known as Zoologischer Garten Berlin is the oldest and best known zoo in Germany. Opened in 1844 it covers 34 hectares with more than 1,500 different species and around 17,000 animals the zoo presents the most comprehensive collection of species in the world.The zoo and its aquarium had almost 3 million visitors in 2010. It is considered to be the most visited zoo in Europe and one of the most popular worldwide.
History
Opened on August 1, 1844 the Zoologischer Garten Berlin was the first zoo in Germany. The aquarium opened in 1913.
Zoo
The Berlin Zoo is the most visited zoo in Europe with approximately 3 million visitors annually from all over the world. It is open all year long and is accessible by many modes of public transportation.
Aquarium
The aquarium has one of the largest collections of aquatic life in Europe.
Over 9,000 animals are presented on three storeys. It contains a famous jellyfish breeding, tropical and native fishes, crocodiles and broad variety of insects. In addition to its 250 fish tanks, the Aquarium houses a wide variety of amphibians and reptiles including the Komodo dragon.
Animals
Knut, the Polar Bear, 10 years old
Bao Bao (born 1978) is the only Giant Panda in a German zoo and the eldest known Giant Panda in a zoo worldwide.
Rare animals:
Sarcoramphus Papa King Vulture
Kuifseriema
3. Europa-Park
Europa-Park is Germany’s most popular amusement park.Europa-Park was opened as a place to show off their fun rides and attractions. Europa-Park has a prime location in central Europe. Located at the Black Forest region in South Germany.
Europa-Park Restaurant can be found in the theme park itself. For more German goodies, there’s the Black Forest Specialties Shop. If you prefer fast-food, then be sure to stop at the Euro-Burger. Young children and the young at heart will especially enjoy a meal at the theme park’s prime attraction, the Castle Balthasar. With its medieval interior and music, you’ll feel transported to a fantasy world.
Europa-Park Restaurant can be found in the theme park itself. For more German goodies, there’s the Black Forest Specialties Shop. If you prefer fast-food, then be sure to stop at the Euro-Burger. Young children and the young at heart will especially enjoy a meal at the theme park’s prime attraction, the Castle Balthasar. With its medieval interior and music, you’ll feel transported to a fantasy world.
Euro-Mir
Blue Fire
Silver Star
They operate almost all year around. Their general schedule is from mid March to early April through the beginning of November. Hours are 9 am to 6 pm but sometimes later during the peak summer season (April 9th until November 6th 2011).
Children under 4 years of age- Free Admission
Children (4-11 years)- € 32
Children on their birthday (up to 12th birthday on presentation of identity card)- Free Admission
Adults- € 36.00
Guests aged 60 or above- € 32,00
You can travel by car, air and public transport.
2. Tropical Island, Brandenburg, Germany
Looking for the perfect holiday with perfect weather year-round? Well, look no further! You can find everything for the perfect holiday in a dome. Located in the heart of Germany, this dome is the largest free-standing hall in the world: 360 metres long, 210 metres wide and 107 metres high. Tropical Islands covers an area approximately eight football fields!
On arrival, you can choose between two main areas which you wish to visit: the Tropical World or the Tropical Spa & Sauna complex. An electronic chip wristband will then be given to you. You can use this wristband to pay for any food, drinks or any chargeable services during your stay at Tropical Islands. You will then pay the total amount when you leave the Tropical Islands.
The Islands features:
- Water Park
- Rainforest
- Water Slide Tower
- Island Ballooning
- Fitness Club
- Indoor Miniature Golf
- Bali Lagoon
- Shopping Boulevard
- Spa, Steam Baths, Massages
Opening hours & Admission Tickets
The Tropical Islands is open all year round!
This attraction is open from 11a.m to 9p.m
Keep in mind that you have to be at least 3.2 feet high to be able to enjoy this attraction.
Tropical World | Spa & Sauna | Kombi-Ticket | |
Adult | €28.50 | €28.50 | €34.50 |
Children (From 4 to 14 yrs old) | €23.00 | €23.00 | €23.00 |
Toddler (From 0-3yrs old) | FREE | ||
Students (Over 15 yrs old) | €26.50 | €26.50 | €30.00 |
Disabled & Senior Citizens (over 65 yrs old) | €26.50 | €26.50 | €30.00 |
Note that there is an overnight charge of €15.00 added automatically at 3a.m per person. | |||
Getting there
By car, Tropical Islands is just off the A13 Berlin/ Dresden motorway, approximately 35km south of Berlin Schonefeld. Come off the motorway at the Staakow exit and follow the signs to Tropical Islands for a further three kilometers.
Tropical Islands runs free shuttle buses from Brand train station to the attraction itself.
1. Beer Drinking in Germany
One of the top leisure activities is of course, Beer drinking. Explore Munich as the beer capital of Germany, with its finest range of beer halls, beer gardens, beer cellars and the legendary Oktoberfest.
3 DIFFERENT ITINERARIES Tuesday, March 8, 2011 / 5:43 AM
1st Itinerary
6D4N Berlin
DAY 1
02 SEPTEMBER 2011
Depart Singapore for Berlin, with stopover at Frankfurt.
Approximate time departure: 1355hrs
Approximate time arrival : 2250hrs in Berlin
Head to Arcotel John F. Hotel and check-in.
DAY 2
03 SEPTEMBER 2011
8am: Breakfast Buffet provided in hotel
10am: Head to Brandenburg Gate thereafter will be the Reichstag.
Lunch at Restaurant Kaefer at the rooftop of the Reichstag building itself.
1pm: Over to Legoland Discovery Centre
DAY 3
04 SEPTEMBER 2011
8am: Breakfast Buffet provided in hotel
10am: Charlotte Palace
12.30pm: Head for lunch
1.30pm: Head over to the first ever Olympic Stadium
3pm: Germany Transport Museum
5pm: Fasanenstrasse (Street Shopping)
DAY 4
05 SEPTEMBER 2011
8am: Breakfast Buffet provided in hotel
10am: Alexanderplatz
1130am: Fernsehturm
Lunch at Fernsehturm
2pm: Museum Island (5 museums to visit on just one island)
Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Altes Nationalgalerie, Bode Museum, Pergamon Museum.
Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Altes Nationalgalerie, Bode Museum, Pergamon Museum.
5pm: Head off to Kurfurstendamm (Shophouses & Cafes)
DAY 5
06 SEPTEMBER 2011
8am: Breakfast Buffet provided in hotel
SLEEP IN AND PACK UP
11am: Meet at lobby and head to Kaufhaus des Westens for shopping (Second Largest Department store in Europe)
Depart Berlin at 1900 and arrive at Singapore at 1615 ON 07 SEPTEMBER 2011.
2nd Itinerary
Day 1
8am: Head to Alte Oper, a former opera house for some sightseeing.
At around 1pm, we'll go to Liebieghaus, an art museum housed in a castle-style architecture.
3pm: Check-in hotel & rest till the next day.
We'll be staying at Hotel National, a four star accommodation, in the heart of Frankfurt.
Day 2
Fun day awaits today as we'll be spending a whole day at Holiday Park, a theme park, which is a couple of hours away.
8am: Breakfast at hotel
10am: Head down to Holiday Park
Day 3
8am: Breakfast at hotel
12 noon: Lunch at restaurant
1p.m:Take a walk down MainKai street to take a look at the suburban german lifestyle and enjoy a little street shopping along the way.
Day 4
8am: Breakfast at hotel
A free and easy day at the Zeil, Frankfurt's arguably most popular shopping district, shop your hearts out before returning back to Frankfurt airport in the evening.
3rd Itinerary
Franz Josef Strauss International Airport
Flight no. SQ328 (Depart SIN 2305hrs, 16 September 2011, Arrives at Munich at 0535hrs)
Estimated journey: 6.5hours without any stop in between.
Day 1: Check in hotel
Near Schillerstrauss.
Hotel Monaco
From there we will be heading to Deutsches Museum- Masterpieces of science and Technology
Afterwhich, we will be heading to Museum Lichtspiele which is located next to Deutsches Museum for a movie treat. It's one of the only Munich Cinemas that show films in their original English version.
Museum Lichtspiele
Dinner at Bamboo (Asian Restuarant)
Day 2:
We will be heading down to Munich's Zoo "hellabrunn".
Day 3
Bavaria Film Studios
The Beer Garden at Viktualienmarkt
Day 4: SHOPPING
Neuhauserstrasse & Kaufingerstrasse, both lined with large departmental stores and international chains. smaller, more exclusive boutiques can be found around maximilianstrasse and theatinerstrass.
