Freiburg is the quintessential "Hansel&Gretel" German town located in the beautiful Black Forest. Not far from the border of Switzerland and France, this college town is where I spent a semester my junior year. Filled with beer gardens, shops, and scenery that is fit for any hiker, Freiburg is a perfect little stop over. 

Perhaps it's the Central European heritage in me, but Berlin became my favorite German city and is probably one of my favorite European cities overall. The mix of West and East, new and old, posh and hip makes this city an exciting place. One of the best advises someone gave me for the city was to do one of the Free Walking Tours. Usually, I would be against tours of any kind, but I gave it a try. The guides are mostly all history students who might as well have their PhD's in story telling. A two hour walking tour takes you through the major sites of the city including the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag and more. I learned more on the tour than I ever did in school. The guides are animated and excellent at telling the history. Before you leave Berlin, make sure to get currywurst. I ate it for lunch every day and never got sick of it.  

The Bavarian capital, Munich is one Germany's top locations. Home Oktoberfest, BMW and more, the city offers a lot of fun regardless of what you want to do. Recommended day trips include Neuschwanstein Castle, Garmisch, and Dachau.