Germany's tourism numbers are up for the sixth year in a row. This shouldn't come as a huge surprise. After all, it was only last month that Germany was voted the 'best country' in a global poll.
Image: Imago/J. Tack
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The Federal Statistics Office counted 436.4 million overnight stays in Germany in 2015, a 3-percent rise over the year before, Destatis said Thursday.
The data reflected the number of travelers who booked accommodations in pensions with at least 10 beds. It did not include tourists who opted to stay in an Airbnb or some other form of lodging.
The trend is nevertheless significant. Germany's reputation as a stable, safe and affluent nation has boosted its status as an attractive travel destination in recent years, especially as tourists increasingly find themselves in the crosshairs of international terrorists.
The number of foreigners traveling to Germany last year rose by 5 percent to 79.7 million, according to Destatis. But it was the Germans themselves who made up the lion's share of the most recent statistics: 356.7 million of the overnight bookings were made by people from the Alps to the Baltic Sea, a 2-percent increase over 2014.
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The positive trend was perhaps foreseeable, especially after a survey of 16,000 people worldwide by US News & World Report designated Germany No. 1 in a "Best Countries" ranking.
The tourists that do come to Germany often flock to the usual attractions, such as the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria or the Berlin Wall. But there are some less intuitive destinations on many people's itineraries, according to an online survey conducted every year by the German National Tourist Board.
The place with the most votes? Click here to find out. Or just check out the photo gallery below. (Hint: It has roller coasters.)
Top 10: The most popular tourist attractions in Germany
Germany is more attractive than ever, with an 11-percent growth in the number of overnight stays for the first quarter. The German National Tourist Board has asked foreign visitors about their favorite travel sites.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B.V. Jutrczenka
Number 10: Romantic Road
It is Germany's oldest and most popular tourist route. It was founded in 1950 in order to help boost tourism in post-war Germany. Today more than 25 million visitors visit the many picturesque towns and castles along the 410 kilometer route, running between Würzburg und Füssen.
Image: picture alliance/Arco Images
Number 8: Zugspitze Mountain with Partnach Gorge
8th place was a tie in the online voting - one going to the Zugspitze. The Zugspitze is Germany's highest mountain at 2962 meters. A stunning starting point for hikes to the summit is the 700 meter long and 800 meter deep Partnach Gorge, a wild and romantic gorge near the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Image: DW
Number 8: Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall also came in 8th place. From 1961 to 1989 the Wall divided the city in two. It was torn down, but its traces can still be found. The Berlin Wall Trail forms a cycling and pedestrian trail along the former border. The colorful East Side Gallery in the city's Friedrichshain district is a remnant of the wall that was painted by artists from around the world in 1990.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/McPHOTO
Number 7: Lake Constance region
Water, wind and wine, delightful islands and enchanting towns: Lake Constance brings Mediterranean flair to southern Germany. Its best-known day trip destination is Mainau, nicknamed the flower island. But the monastic island of Reichenau and the prehistoric dwellings on stilts in Unteruhldingen - both UNESCO World Heritage sites - are well worth a visit.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Number 6: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a small town with a big reputation. It's arguably the best-preserved medieval town in Germany. If you stroll through the old town, with its towers, fountains, gates, fortifications and wine taverns, you'll feel as if you're on a journey into the past.
Image: Fotolia
Number 5: Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
No structure in Berlin is as well-known internationally as the Brandenburg Gate. Starting in 1961, it was in the middle of the no-man's land between the two walls that made up the Berlin Wall. For 28 years it was inaccessible. As a symbol of division and reunification, it represents the city's turbulent history.
Image: DW
Number 4: Heidelberg Castle and Old Town
It must be the special mixture of visibility and transience that lends Heidelberg Castle its fascinating aura. It seems other-worldly and is considered to epitomize German romanticism. Heidelberg's old town, with its picturesque narrow lanes and squares, as well as Germany's oldest university, lies just below the castle.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Number 3: Cologne Cathedral
In 1248, in the city on the Rhine, building that lasted for centuries began on a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. When it was finally finished in 1880, it was considered the world's largest building. Nowadays six million people a year visit Cologne Cathedral, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Ossinger
Number 2: Neuschwanstein Castle
The fairytale castle had to settle for second place. The Bavarian king Ludwig II wanted a knightly castle in medieval style. To have it built, he spent what was an enormous amount of money for the time: six million marks, wrung from his subjects. Ludwig didn't live to see it opened in 1886, but his fairy-tale castle is now one of Germany's most popular tourist attractions.
Image: picture-alliance/ZB/F. Baumgart
Number 1: Europa-Park in Rust
In the online voting conducted by the GNTB in summer 2015 the theme park received the most votes. With 11 roller-coasters, a flight simulator, 4-D cinema and more than 100 additional attractions and shows, Europa-Park in the southern German town of Rust is Germany's largest theme park. More than 5 million people visited the park last year.
