States of Germany | Federal States Germany

German States Map

Understanding Germany’s Federal States: Old vs. New

As you can see in the German state map, some states of Germany are green and others are blue.

The green federal states are called westdeutsche Länder (west German countries) or alte Bundesländer (old federal states) and the blue ones are the so-called neuen Bundesländer (new federal states).

The new federal states joined the Federal Republic of Germany on October 3, 1990 (day of reunification).

How many states of Germany are there?

Germany consists of 16 federal states, which you can see listed below. Bayern (Bavaria), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) and Baden-Württemberg are the largest federal states and Bremen is the smallest federal state.

Here is a list of states in Germany

• Berlin
• Bayern (Bavaria)
• Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony)
• Baden-Württemberg
• Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate)
• Sachsen (Saxony)
• Thüringen (Thuringia)
• Hessen
• Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia)
• Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt)
• Brandenburg
• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
• Hamburg
• Schleswig-Holstein
• Saarland
• Bremen

States of Germany and Capitals

Each state has a state capital. In the following I would like to briefly introduce you to a few provincial capitals.

The provincial capital of Berlin is also Berlin!

Berlin is not only the capital of Germany but also its own state capital.

Berlin is a so-called Stadtstaat (city-state), just like Hamburg and Bremen. A city-state is a federal state where the city and the state are essentially the same entity. While Berlin and Hamburg each consist of one city, Bremen is an exception, as it includes two cities: Bremen and Bremerhaven.

In the photo you can see the Glaskuppel des Reichstagsgebäudes (glass dome of the Reichstag building). In this building is the German Bundestag.

The capital of Bavaria is München (Munich)

In Bayern (Bavaria) there are beautiful landscapes and mountains to admire.

Munich is a great city and has many places to go. However, if you are in Bavaria you should definitely consider visiting the famous Märchenschloss in Neuschwanstein (fairytale castle in Neuschwanstein).

The castle is visited by about 1.5 million tourists every year. So, if you’re around, make sure to visit this castle.

The capital of Hessen is Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden offers a lot for tourists.

There are many cultural events in the field of theater and music. In the picture below, you can see the Kurhaus Wiesbaden.

There are always big concerts, galas and events.

The capital of Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz) is Mainz

The Mainzer Rheinufer and the city center are most beautiful in the setting sun.

If you are in Mainz at the right time, you should definitely see the carnival in Mainz.

The focal point is the Schillerplatz with its Carnival Fountain. The highlight is the Rosenmontagsumzug (Rose Monday parade).

In the picture below, you can see the Gutenberg Museum.

The capital of Saxony is Dresden

Dresden is definitely worth a visit. The old town is beautifully renovated and many attractions can be reached on foot, as they are all pretty close to each other.

If you are in Dresden, you should definitely visit the Frauenkirche, the Zwinger and the Semperoper.

In the picture below, you can see the Elbufer at night. Isn’t that beautiful?

There are of course many more great places in the different states of Germany and I cannot list them all. So, if you are planning a trip through Germany, you should think carefully about which places you want to visit and how much time you want to spend there.

And if you want to learn German easily, I recommend that you visit my other pages on my website as well!

You can also find more great places of Germany on my >>> Pinterest account.

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