Sightseeing Despite Lockdown: 31 Top Attractions with a Twin in Germany

Golden Gate Bridge, Eiffel Tower, Norwegian Fjords: amazing sights await all over the world. However, traveling abroad is currently not possible due to COVID-19, or poses such a high risk of infection that around 78% of Germans have not yet made travel plans for 2021. Those who are already planning their vacations prefer their own country as a destination.

That's why Travelcircus has identified 31 sights in Germany that are strikingly similar to world-famous attractions. This ensures that sightseeing with international flair is also guaranteed this year!

The glacier-fed Moraine Lake in Banff National Park impresses mainly with its majestic mountain panorama, which reflects crystal-clear in the turquoise surface of the water. However, a similar picture can also be found in Bavaria: Eibsee, with its emerald green water and view of the Zugspitze massif, is considered one of the most beautiful spots in southern Germany.

The canals, also known as 'gracht', are so symbolic of Amsterdam that the Dutch capital is also called the 'Venice of the North'. What makes a stroll or boat tour along the waterways so special? Of course, the canal houses, which line the shore in a picturesque manner. The narrow, pastel-colored, and somewhat crooked houses date back to the 17th century.

But to enjoy such beautiful houses, one doesn't necessarily need to cross the border - visitors can also admire impressive architecture in Aachen. The picturesque houses can be found directly at the Karlsbrunnen opposite the town hall and are now protected as historical monuments.

Few cities are as famous for their skyline as New York City. The focus of attention is clearly the Empire State Building, which rises 443 m into the sky with its 102 floors. A comparably spectacular panorama can be found in Frankfurt: while the buildings in the banking district reach a maximum height of 240 m, they evoke just as much awe as their American twins.

A stroll through the old town of Colmar is a marvel: numerous civic buildings from the Middle Ages and Renaissance allow visitors to dive into the city's history.

Equally historic flair awaits in Nuremberg - to be precise, in Weißgerbergasse. Here you'll find the last medieval half-timbered houses of the city, which were once inhabited by the white tanners. Today, restaurants and cafes line this charming street.

The famous Cinderella Castle in Florida reaches a height of 56 m and impresses with its 27 towers and a typically fairytale appearance. Interestingly, the castle was designed based on various European castle models, especially Neuschwanstein Castle.

So why travel all the way to Orlando when the model of Disney's castle is waiting in Bavaria? After all, with the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, visitors can also experience a world-famous attraction. Located in Hohenschwangau, the castle was built in 1869 as an idealized knight's castle for King Ludwig II.

With its extensive canal system and picturesque bridges, the lagoon city of Venice attracts about 30 million tourists each year. A gondola ride through the waterways lined with Mediterranean houses from the 13th to the 15th centuries is a must.

Equally interesting is a boat tour through the Speicherstadt of Hamburg. And especially in the evening light, the waterways of the Hanseatic city are just as romantic as those in Venice.

At the bustling Venice Beach, visitors can enjoy not only surfing, swimming, and delicious fast food, but also one of the most romantic spots in Los Angeles. The Venice Fishing Pier extends about 300 m into the sea and especially at sunset, it makes visitors' hearts melt.

But it's not just the USA that offers such a flair! The sunrise at Pier Heringsdorf is just as heartwarming - the pier, built in 1995, reaches almost as far into the water as its twin in LA.

As the longest mountain range in the world, the Andes stretch from Venezuela to Chile. They extend from the west coast of South America up to 600 km inland and regularly amaze with snow-capped peaks, sandstone formations, and even volcanoes.

However, those longing for misty mountain chains and spectacular panoramas can also find satisfaction in the Black Forest. Germany's largest medium mountain range extends from the Upper Rhine to Kraichgau and impresses especially with its densely wooded slopes.

One of France's absolute highlights can be found on the Champs-Élysées - the famous Arc de Triomphe. Once commissioned by Emperor Napoleon to glorify his victories, it was solemnly inaugurated in 1836. Today, the 49.54 m high arch is one of the most popular photo motifs in Paris.

However, for the Arc de Triomphe, spectators do not need to travel all the way to Paris, as its tourist twin can be found almost right at the door. The Siegestor in Munich, while only reaching a height of 'only' 24 m, also offers a great photographic motif.

Covering a massive 9 million km² and spanning ten countries, the mighty Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world. However, visitors can also enjoy sandy realms in Germany. The Lieberoser Wüste is located just nearly 100 kilometers from Berlin and is at least as worth seeing as its African twin. Although the desert encompasses 5 km², making it 1.8 million times smaller than the Sahara, it is nonetheless the largest desert in Germany.

With a total construction time of 120 years, St. Peter's Basilica merges styles from the Renaissance, Mannerism, and Baroque. Under the direction of Michelangelo, the green dome, which rises to a height of 43 m, shines prominently over the Vatican.

But why travel all the way to Italy? Located directly at the Old Market, St. Nikolai Church has established itself as an essential part of the Potsdam skyline. Similar to St. Peter's, the green dome features a gilded cross that rises above a globe. The church was built around 1850 according to the plans of Karl Friedrich Schinkel.

Powerful and elegant, the Colorado River, as the largest river in the southwestern United States, flows through the horseshoe-shaped river bend in Arizona, known as the Colorado River Horseshoe. A similar phenomenon can also be found in Germany with the Saarschleife: the Saar River carves through Taunus quartzite as a breakthrough valley and is bordered by cliffs along the banks.

Every year, Grand Central Station in Manhattan, New York, attracts countless visitors to the trains and especially to its splendor. The world's largest railway station is actually called 'Grand Central Terminal'. However, since an older station named 'Grand Central Station' stood at the same location, many people still call it that today.

Covering an area of 83,640 m², the Leipzig main station gives its New York counterpart a bit of competition. The Leipzig Hauptbahnhof is considered the largest terminal station in Europe by area. Up to 120,000 travelers wait for their trains on 21 tracks every day.

Gracefully, 'The Little Mermaid' adorns a boulder in the Øresund in Copenhagen. Based on the story of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen, the 1.25 m tall bronze figure is considered a national symbol. Just 160 km away by air, the twin sister of the little mermaid decorates the coast in front of the Baltic Sea spa Sellin (Rügen). Also made of bronze, the so-called Kaysa statue, however, depicts a completely different scene: a standing girl drying her hair with a towel.

From the early to mid-17th century, it served as a hunting lodge for Louis XIII until it transformed into a symbol of monarchy under his son Louis XIV - the Palace of Versailles in France. Spanning an area of 51,000 m², it shimmers with elements from early and late Baroque.

Equally opulent - although never completed - Herrenchiemsee Palace in Bavaria bears witness to the immense admiration for the French monarchy. Under Ludwig II, the Bavarian residence was built after the model of Versailles - in deference to Louis XIV.

In the heart of Yosemite National Park in California, Yosemite Valley stretches over 13 km. The glacial valley is surrounded by rock walls, some rising over 1,000 m into the sky, and is lined with numerous waterfalls. The most famous are the Yosemite Falls and the Snow Creek Falls.

However, Bavaria also offers a waterfall that closely resembles those in Yosemite National Park. Near the Königssee, the Röthbachfall enchants hikers and nature lovers in its most beautiful form. With a height of 470 m, it has rightfully earned the title 'Highest Waterfall in Germany.'

With a height of 324 m, the Eiffel Tower has shaped the skyline of Paris for decades. Originally built from 1887 to 1889 for the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, the tower made a significant contribution to the history of broadcasting as a transmitting center for Europe's first public radio program in 1921.

The German twin, while only 146 m tall, also made its mark on the advancement of broadcasting: opened in 1926, the Berlin Funkturm was used to broadcast the world's first television program in 1935.

New Zealand is considered a mecca for film fans, as Hobbiton is the original film set of the beloved trilogy 'The Lord of the Rings'. Since filming was completed, gardeners have been maintaining the preservation of 'The Shire' with its 44 hobbit houses.

But fans can also dive into the world of Frodo and Co. in Germany, as evidenced by the cave dwellings in the Harz region, specifically in Halberstadt. The first of twelve cave dwellings was built here at the end of the 18th century. However, the last family moved out of their stone house in 1916. Since 1990, visitors have been able to experience the life of cave dwellers and tour the former dwellings.

Once formed from a melting glacier, the Geirangerfjord in Norway, 15 km long, is an impressive highlight for tourists from around the world. In contrast, those searching for fjord-like waters around the corner will find exactly that in the Berchtesgadener Land region of Bavaria. Nestled at the foot of the Watzmann, the Königssee stretches over an area of more than 5 km². Due to its location between enormous mountain ranges, it closely resembles its Norwegian twin.

Stretching 136 m, the free-swinging Capilano Suspension Bridge spans the Capilano River at a height of 70 meters. The suspension bridge was built in the late 19th century and served as a filming location for series such as MacGyver and The Crow.

With a length of 360 meters, the Geierlay Bridge in the Hunsrück is more than twice the length of its Canadian twin. At a dizzying height of 100 m, it towers over the Mörsdorfer Bachtal, thus connecting the municipalities of Mörsdorf and Sosberg.

Situated majestically on a hill in Athens, close to the gods, is the Acropolis. Columns and statues adorn the fortress complex and still allow visitors to dive into Greek antiquity. However, the largest part of the complex is occupied by the Parthenon, which is dedicated to the Greek goddess Pallas Athena.

When parts of the former harbor temple of Xanten were uncovered in 1978, the German twin of the Acropolis was born: in recent decades it has been reconstructed - though somewhat more modestly. The southern corner of the harbor temple has been nearly completely rebuilt, while the other columns have only been suggested.

With a main span of 1,280 m and a total length of 2,737 m, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. Opened in 1937, it connects San Francisco with Marin County and spans the strait that gave it its name: the so-called Golden Gate that unites the Pacific with San Francisco Bay.

With a total length of 803 m and a span of 500 m, the Rhine Bridge Emmerich is not only the northernmost but also the longest suspension bridge in Germany, thus giving its twin a bit of a run for its money. Due to the similarity, it is humorously referred to as the 'Golden Gate of the Lower Rhine.'

Located on an island in the Normandy tidal sea, Le Mont Saint Michel is a monastery of a special type. About a kilometer from the coast and approximately 55,000 m² in size, the monastery fortress is considered one of the priciest construction projects of the Middle Ages.

The roots of the German twin reach back even to the year 1061. Following complete destruction in 1423, Hohenzollern Castle in the Swabian Alps was rebuilt in 1454, although it fell into ruin once again. In the 19th century, the House of Hohenzollern restored the castle. Since then, it has belonged privately to the family.

As the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln shaped the nation like few other presidents. In his honor, the Lincoln Memorial was built between 1915 and 1922 in Washington D.C. The 36 columns surrounding the building represent the 36 U.S. states during his presidency.

Near Regensburg, a remarkable memorial also towers over the Danube, remarkably similar to the Lincoln Memorial: opened in 1842 in remembrance of significant individuals and groups from the Germanic language family, the Walhalla features 96 busts and 64 commemorative plaques honoring the heroic deeds of German-speaking figures.

El Ángel de la Independencia, translated as 'The Angel of Independence', is one of the most famous monuments in all of Mexico. Built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Independence War in 1910, the monument towers almost 50 m high. At the top stands the gold-coated bronze figure of the goddess of victory, Victoria. In her hands, she holds a laurel crown and a broken chain to symbolize victory and freedom.

Germany also offers a significant national monument: the 67 m high Victory Column in Berlin was completed in 1873 to commemorate the wars of unification. The crowning statue of Victoria by Friedrich Drake, popularly known as Goldelse, is meant to remind of the victories. In her hands, she holds a battle standard and - like her Mexican twin - a laurel wreath.

High pillar-like mountains, steep cliffs, mystical primeval forests, deep gorges - the Zhangjiajie National Park in China is rightfully classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The highlight of Zhangjiajie National Park is its 430 m long, 300 m high glass-bottom bridge, which further highlights the majesty of the national park.

Its primarily sandstone twin stretches along the Elbe in two parts: the German part - also known as Saxon Switzerland - and the Czech part - Bohemian Switzerland. The Elbsandsteingebirge also offers steep cliffs, lush vegetation, and high rock pillars. The highest mountain on the German side is the Große Zschirnstein at 561 m.

In the warm south of France, just 14 km from the Mediterranean coastline, lies the city of Béziers. It borders the Orb River, which is passed over by the famous bridge 'Pont Vieux' (Old Bridge). From the opposite bank, visitors have a perfect view of the former Cathedral of St. Nazaire, which towers over the city.

Just like in French Béziers, visitors must first cross the Old Bridge over the Neckar before enjoying the view of the old town. As symbols of the city, the Church of the Holy Spirit and the castle ruins rise majestically above Heidelberg, creating a scene that is hardly dissimilar to that in Béziers.

When the Taupo volcano in the center of New Zealand's North Island erupted almost 30,000 years ago, its magma chamber collapsed. Nearby rivers filled the crater with water over the years. One of New Zealand's most beautiful travel destinations was born: Lake Taupo. Today, it measures about 40 km in length and 28 km in width.

With an area of 536 km², its German twin doesn't offer much less water surface. Lake Constance is undoubtedly the largest lake in Germany, formed by the merging of Upper Lake, Seerhein, and Lower Lake. However, it was not formed by volcanic activity, but rather by glacial movements during the Ice Age.

More than 400 km southwest of Cairo, adventurers encounter an incredible sight at the White Desert National Park: the rock formations were formed over 80 million years ago. Through erosion, they have taken on various shapes.

Similar structures can be found in Germany - namely in Hinterweidenthal in the Palatinate Forest. There a stone mushroom rises 14 m high, known as the Devil's Table. It counts among the landmarks of the Palatinate and owes its name to a poem by Fritz Claus, in which the devil sought a resting place in the forest. When he found none, he supposedly laid two stones on top of each other and made a table out of them.

Created as a symbol of American independence, the 92.99 m tall Statue of Liberty was a gift from France. Since 1984, the depicted Roman goddess of liberty, Liberta, with her golden torch and Declaration of Independence in hand, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. She can be found on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.

But her smaller brother in the Teutoburg Forest is at least as interesting. Slightly shorter at 53 m, the Hermannsdenkmal is nonetheless the largest statue in Germany. The monument was built between 1838 and 1875 in memory of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, which the Cherusci prince Arminius won with his troops against the Romans.

In Messolonghi, a city on the Greek west coast, it could hardly be more romantic during sunset: The traditional stilt houses 'pilades', which were built as houses multiple times in earlier centuries, still shape the town's image today.

But why fly to Greece when similar stilt houses also invite visitors to linger at Lake Constance? They have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2011 and can be viewed at the Stilt Houses Museum in Unteruhldingen.

Who would have thought that travel and sightseeing in Germany could be done in a much greener way? Travelcircus has created an overview of how much CO2 travelers can actually save:

Those who prefer vacationing in Germany rather than undertaking long flights save over 36 tons of CO2 per person - and that is just for the outbound journey. Which sight in Germany would you like to visit next?

Those who prefer vacationing in Germany rather than undertaking long flights save over 36 tons of CO2 per person - and that is just for the outbound journey. Which sight in Germany would you like to visit next?