Excursion tips for bad weather: 8 places in Germany that are beautiful even when it rains

In many parts of Germany , the weather isn't exactly at its best right now. But now's the time to stop moping about rainy days. Dressed properly, there are some places to discover in Germany that are worth a visit even in inclement weather.

In bad weather, some of Germany's landscapes transform into impressive photo backdrops. Whether it's a foggy landscape, threatening cloud formations, or a display of unruly nature: At these destinations, you'll experience a very special magic in bad weather.

Sylt is always a good choice. In bright sunshine, Germany's largest sandpit with an impressive sandy beach beckons sunseekers. But even in bad weather, the island has a special charm. Clouds so low during a brewing storm that you feel like you can touch them, lashing waves, and the hope of sunshine somewhere on the horizon.

If a walk in the rain, which on Sylt tends to come down from all directions at once, has your face prickling, it's time for a break from the natural spectacle. You can warm up with coffee and delicious cakes at Café Kupferkanne , for example. Even if the garden with its Wadden Sea view isn't an option in the rain, you can still make yourself comfortable in the café, which is housed in former catacombs.

Even in bad weather, the island of Sylt is an experience.

Source: IMAGO / Panthermedia

It has been recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1992. Mixed forests, meadow valleys, enormous rock formations, and impressive medieval castles and castle ruins make the Palatinate Forest a popular tourist destination. Nowhere else is there such a density of castles. When it rains, the forest transforms into a fairytale landscape: mushrooms sprout from the ground, and fog envelops the trees.

After a hike, the castle ruins offer a stylish end to the day. Nanstein Castle near Landstuhl, for example, offers guided tours and a castle tavern .

Mystical place: The Palatinate Forest in the fog.

Source: imago/imagebroker

Without water, there's no moor. So what could be more logical than visiting one in a drizzle? The Goldenstedter Moor raised bog near Vechta has been a nature reserve since 1984. A 900-meter-long trail with information panels leads through the area.

Carnivorous plants, snipe, and short-eared owls can be observed here. March to April is also the mating season for the moor frog, during which the skin of the male moor frog appears sky-blue instead of brown for a few days.

The Goldenstedt Moor: Especially in bad weather, some landscapes in Germany exude a very special charm.

Source: IMAGO/blickwinkel

Those who want to delve even deeper into the world of moorland can do so barefoot on the Moorland Adventure Trail. A 40-meter-long trail leads over typical moorland materials around a moor water basin.

Information on opening hours, prices and offers such as moor railway rides or hikes can be found on the website of the Goldenstedt Nature Conservation Information Centre .

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Those who wait for good weather in Hamburg often wait in vain. With an average of 133 rainy days per year, the Hanseatic city is often shrouded in hazy clouds. A stroll through the Speicherstadt (Warehouse District) is still worthwhile. The world's largest historic warehouse complex reveals its charm even in damp, cold, rainy weather.

The walk continues past the district's Gothic brick buildings with gables and towers, along canals and bridges, to the Elbphilharmonie. Completed in 2016, this not-without-controversy prestige building, which ultimately cost over €800 million, offers a 37-meter-high public platform with panoramic views of the city and harbor.

The Speicherstadt and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg are worth a visit even in bad weather.

Source: imago images/Westend61

Approaching rain or thunderstorms are no reason to stay indoors, even on Lake Constance. Magnificent cloud formations and impressive displays of color play out between the sky and the lake. As long as you have a safe, dry spot, this unpleasant weather is still good for an outing.

It's a bit of a cheat, of course, but why not enjoy a day spa in the panoramic sauna of the Seehotel Höri or another Lake Constance thermal spa and witness the natural spectacle from indoors? Alternatively, if it's raining, the indoor Pile Dwellings Museum is also worth a visit.

Thunderstorm on Lake Constance with a view of the Höri peninsula.

Source: imago stock&people

Crooked trees and pristine nature welcome visitors to the western outskirts of Nienhagen, right on the Baltic Sea beach. The forested area between Warnemünde and Heiligendamm is called the "Ghost Forest," which inspired Rilke's poem "Behind the Guiltless Trees." The bare and gnarled tree trunks and the sounds and smells of the sea, wind, and forest floor are especially noticeable in bad weather, simply because fewer people are around.

The Ghost Forest in the Baltic Sea resort of Nienhagen (Rostock district). The 180-hectare Nienhäger Holz nature reserve is located directly on the twelve-meter-high cliffs.

Source: imago/Hohlfeld

A 6.6-kilometer hiking trail leads through the forest, some of whose trees are 170 years old. When the fog envelops the forest and the beech trees appear ghostly in the evening light, you might shudder and wonder if the Ghost Forest is truly a haunt of ghosts and witches.

There's no such thing as bad weather for a hike to the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. With proper clothing and protection from the rain, neither fog nor clouds can spoil the mystical atmosphere. And the best part: On cloudier days, you can expect fewer crowds at this tourist magnet in the Bavarian Alps.

Numerous hiking trails of varying difficulty lead to magnificent views of the castle or to the fairytale castle itself, which also inspired Walt Disney's logo. Postcard-worthy views and impressive panoramic views are guaranteed along these trails. A popular vantage point for a view of the castle is the Marienbrücke (St. Mary's Bridge).

Like in a fairytale: Neuschwanstein Castle in the fog.

Source: PantherMedia / Stefan Reiß

And another moor. Between the Lippe and Ems rivers, near the village of Venne, lies the Venner Moor. This nature reserve unfolds its magic, especially in inclement weather or fog. Bizarre landscapes with tree stumps and bog waters extend over a total area of 148 hectares. Animal species with unusual names, such as the bog darter, a dragonfly species, the nocturnal nightjar, and adders, call this area home.

You will find extraordinary flora and fauna and spooky legends in the Venner Moor.

Source: imago stock&people

The moor first gained gruesome notoriety in 2002. It served as the setting and location for the first Münster crime series, "Tatort." But the all-clear: In real life, no bog body has ever been found here.

Looking for more inspiration? You can find tips for all the top travel destinations at reisereporter .