Walking through small towns in Germany is a bit like flipping through the pages of a storybook –think perfectly preserved half-timbered homes, painted churches and cobblestone streets lined with wrought-iron signs and potted plants. But these places are very much real, and very much worth renting a car (or rail pass) for. Who needs those big cities anyway?
Whether you want to experience the country’s famous Christmas markets or simply spend a few days sipping beer and snapping photos, now’s the time to start planning your trip to this fairytale corner of Europe. In no particular order, here are nine of the most charming small towns in Germany, with the last recorded official population figures.
