On water, land and in the air; by bike, on horseback, or on foot; with golf, tennis or diving - there's no end of possibilities for spending time outdoors in German's historic cities. Adventurers in search of a dose of adrenaline, as well as those who like to take it easy and admire the view will find plenty to do here.

Water, water, everywhere 
Because Potsdam is situated on an island, it offers excellent opportunities for water sports. With Canadian Canoes on the Havel Lakes, for instance, you can commune with nature on rarely traveled water routes, without any distractions whatsoever. The beauty of Potsdam's cultural landscape and the pristine nature of the Havel region is also accessible by going on an extended yacht trip.

From spring to fall, Heidelberg gives the green light for ship excursions on the Neckar River. On the "Castle Road" through the lovely Neckar valley, you can experience more than 1,200 years of history along a route stretching from Heidelberg through Neckargemünd, Neckarsteinach and Hirschhorn to Eberbach.

In Trier (from May to October), you can go on day trips on the Mosel River into the neighboring country of Luxemburg. From Koblenz, you can travel by boat to the most beautiful stretches of the Rhine and the Mosel, passing the picturesque vineyards on the banks of both rivers. And Koblenz, Mainz and Wiesbaden, of course, are gateways to the castles and villages of the Middle Rhine.

In Würzburg, you have your choice of a three-hour boat trip on the Main River to Veitshöchheim or moonlight cruise.Rostock lets you spend a full day of at least eight hours doing deep-sea fishing.

Augsburg offers a refreshing experience: rafting fun for everyone on Germany's only artificial rapids. Built for the 1972 Olympics, the course is one of the world's safest, letting you get your thrills without risk.

On two feet and two wheels
Hikers and cyclists have limitless choices. Rostock offers day trips into the surrounding region. Münster lets you experience the Münsterland and feast your eyes on water castles. From Freiburg, you can set off to the Black Forest or to the upper Rhine Valley with its villages and vineyards. Or take a mountain bike by cable car to the top of nearby Schauinsland Mountain, and maneuver your way more than 3,000 feet downhill.

Bike paths pass through most of our cities: Trier and Koblenz with the Mosel Bike Path, Regensburg with the Danube Bike Path, Mainz and Koblenz with the Rhine bike Path and Würzburg with the Main Bike Path, to name just a few.

It's easy being green
Potsdam is famous for its many gardens, including the Sans Souci Park, the New Garden, and the Babelsberg Park. Erfurt is known all over Europe as the "Flower City" - a reputation that is reinforced by the ega-Park, which boasts Germany's largest flower bed. The groundwork for all these magnificent blossoms was laid in the early 18th century by using scientific methods for breeding seeds, a tradition - and industry - that live on.

The Kurpark behind the Wiesbaden Kurhaus was laid out in 1852 as an English garden and is an invitation to wander among the magnolia, azalea and deciduous cypresses growing there. A fountain within a pond and statues and sculptures add further charm to the park.

More than one-third of the area of Osnabrück consists of rivers and lakes, woods, meadows and farmland. In fact, Osnabrück is the largest German town situated in a nature reserve, UNESCO Geo Park TERRA.vita. Embedded between the Teutoburger Wald and the Wiehengebirge (two ranges of wooded hills), the green traces of this nature reserve stretch right into the inner city. In the Botanical Gardens, exotic plants from all over the world thrive and flourish–from palms to water lilies.