Get Whimsical: 18 Surreal Architectural Sites to Visit in Germany

When you think about visiting Germany, you might imagine remote, spiraling Gothic cathedrals and soaring fairy-tale castles from centuries past; or the modern hum of its vibrant cultural centers. It’s true that Germany is home to all of those things, but there is so much more to discover, beyond the half-timbered houses, the medieval grandeur, and the minimalist style of the Bauhaus school.

Germany is also a world capital of playful, surprising, and whimsical architecture, which can be found all across the country, from the coast of the Baltic Sea in the northeast to the Black Forest in the southwest, and sometimes in the most unexpected places. 

In western Germany there’s the walking roller coaster in Duisburg, known as Tiger and Turtle—Magic Mountain, built by artists to provide a unique perspective to the visitors who move along its track. In Dresden you can find a building covered in drainpipes designed to “sing” a symphony of rushing water when filled by a rainstorm. In the southwestern city of Karlsruhe, you can find an active kindergarten built in the form of a giant white cat, poised and alert as students glide down the slide that serves as its tail. And you can’t miss the upside-down house in Trassenheide, on the Baltic coast, where visitors walk up the stairs to reach the ground floor.

Whether you’re seeking an offbeat encounter with nature, a radical approach to design, or just a touch of wit and whimsy, Germany has it all. And Lufthansa currently connects you to Germany with nonstop flights from 19 U.S. gateways, making your journey as enjoyable as your stay.