Why holiday in one destination, when with a Hertz car at your disposal you can see so much more?
Our products and services put you in complete control, so you can enjoy a hassle-free trip and plan all the incredible stops along the way.
This summer, we want to inspire you to savour the journey, not just the destination. We’ve teamed up with the travel experts from Culture Trip, the lifestyle and culture hub, to identify some of the best stops to enjoy when driving in Europe this summer.
Find out more about some of our top stops in Germany:
Alexandrowka - Russische Kolonie Potsdam, Germany
For drives between Berlin and Potsdam, why not stop off at Germany’s beautiful Russian colony? This sweet Russian quarter boasting delightful wooden buildings, lots of green spaces, a church, and a quaint Russian colonial life museum that just opened in 2005, is certainly not to be missed. Here visitors are able to observe the living conditions of Russian singers who lived in the area in the 19th century, as well as view key artifacts that made the area what is was and is today.
Frederick William III of Germany and the Russian Czar Alexander were close friends. To give expression to this friendship, Frederick had the Russian colony Alexandrowka built in 1826. The green spaces were designed by Peter Joseph Lenné and were meant to offer Russian singers a special atmosphere for music and leisure. Today, the entire area is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.
Try authentically Russian cuisine whilst in Germany at Russische Teestube. Enjoy Russian starters, such as Sakuska Assorti or Bliny Zar, soups like Bortsch, Tschi, Soljanka and Ucha as well as unique imported beverages, such as Kwas, as well as the finest Russian ales.
© Philip Lange/Shutterstock
Liquidrom – Berlin, Germany
With lots of accessible parking, head to this futuristic German spa, the perfect place to stop for relaxation just 15 minutes outside of Berlin’s bustling city centre on the drive to Hanover. This spa allows visitors to float in a pool of salt water while zoning out to underwater techno. The complex is built to look like an abstract tent structure, a design choice, meant to honor the site’s previous life as a massive train station from World War II.
Whilst food and drinks are served in Liquidrom’s bar, after your stay why not continue your detox at the Samadhi for a stylish, modern dining space with a South East Asian vegetarian menu featuring mainly vegan dishes. Alternatively, try Stadtklause- huge portions and authentically German with a great range of beers.
© canadastock/Shutterstock
Zollverein – Essen, Germany
Over the years there have been hundreds of coal mines that produced coal in the Ruhr area of Germany, but only one has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2001, and it’s located just 15 minutes outside of Essen. Zollverein Coal Mine has been dubbed a “masterpiece of industrial architecture”, created by Fritz Schupp and Martin Kremmer whose artistic and symmetrical arrangement of the buildings are still impressive today, making it well worth a stop off between Düsseldorf and Dortmund.
In action up until 1986, the site is now an industrial monument with museums for industrial heritage and design, as well as numerous leisure activities and events to enjoy. Not your ordinary coal mine, this location receives over 1.5 million guests from all over the world to explore the industrial architecture, participate in guided tours and exhibitions, celebrate festivals, or simply relax in the Zollverein Park.
© Tobias Arhelger/Shutterstock
Black Forest – Baden-Baden, Germany
Nicely positioned between Stuttgart and Zurich, stop off on your journey to find the dreamlike Schwarzwald (Black Forest) - taking its name from its dark canopy of evergreens. The home of the cuckoo clock and the setting of numerous Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales, it’s easy to appreciate the inspiration. With its stunning mountain range, pretty half-timbered farmhouse, castles ruins, and hidden small towns reflecting the cultural traditions influenced by each of its borderlands (Germany, France and Switzerland) it surely makes for one of the ultimate cross-country stop off.
In warmer months, park up and enjoy outdoor swimming amidst phenomenal scenes, as most towns have an open-air pool, sometimes complete with slides! Better still, swim in the stunning lakes such as "Silver Lake" in Reinerzau, just south of Freudenstadt- idyllic!
For good quality Black Forest cuisine, a popular choice is Oberkirchs Weinstube right in the heart of Frieberg. Get cosy in the wine tavern between the tiled stove and the wooden paneling, or outside you can enjoy the colours of the lovely marketplace directly on the Münster square terrace.
© LaMiaFotografia/Shutterstock
This summer, wherever you’re going #goviahertz.