Picturesque towns of Germany: 6 hidden gems

Beyond the big cities, Germany has many small towns with half-timbered houses, castles and old squares. They are less crowded than Berlin or Munich and are perfect for a day trip or a road trip. Here are 6 picturesque German towns in different regions.

Picturesque towns of Germany at a glance

Town	State	Known for
Heidelberg	Baden-Württemberg	castle and Old Bridge
Goslar	Lower Saxony	Rammelsberg mine, UNESCO
Idstein	Hesse	half-timbering and Witches' Tower
Bacharach	Rhineland-Palatinate	wine and Stahleck Castle
Regensburg	Bavaria	cathedral and Stone Bridge
Quedlinburg	Saxony-Anhalt	over a thousand half-timbered houses

1. Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg

A romantic university town on the Neckar river. The ruins of Heidelberg Castle rise above the old town, and the riverside and the Old Bridge with views of the castle are made for walks. The narrow streets of the centre are full of cafes and small shops.

2. Goslar, Lower Saxony

A town by the Harz mountains with old half-timbered houses and a market square. In the Middle Ages Goslar grew rich on silver and other ores, so its old town and the Rammelsberg mine are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mine has a museum about historic mining techniques.

3. Idstein, Hesse

A small town in the Taunus hills near Wiesbaden. Its historic centre of half-timbered houses is well preserved, and above it rise the medieval Witches' Tower and a castle that is now a school. Idstein offers the feel of old Germany without the crowds.

4. Bacharach, Rhineland-Palatinate

A wine town in the Middle Rhine valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has half-timbered houses, town walls with towers and old wine cellars where you can taste Riesling. Above the town on a hill stands Stahleck Castle, overlooking the Rhine.

5. Regensburg, Bavaria

One of the best-preserved medieval towns in Germany, with a UNESCO-listed old town. Highlights include the Gothic St. Peter's Cathedral, the Old Town Hall and the 12th-century Stone Bridge over the Danube.

6. Quedlinburg, Saxony-Anhalt

An ancient town by the Harz mountains, mentioned since the 10th century and linked to the first German king, Henry I. Quedlinburg is famous for over a thousand half-timbered houses from different periods, so it is also UNESCO-listed. A stone statue of Roland stands in the market square.

These towns combine well with trips to big cities: Heidelberg with Frankfurt, Bacharach with the Rhine valley, Regensburg with Munich, and Goslar and Quedlinburg with the Harz mountains.