Germans' favorite vacation destinations

Why go abroad when there are so many beautiful destinations in your own country? One in every four Germans feels this way, and plans to spend this year's summer vacation in Germany. Hiking in the mountains in Bavaria, relaxing on the beaches of Baltic and North seas or exploring Berlin's nightlife - there's something for everyone in Germany.

Spanish islands are particularly popular with German holidaymakers, for example Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea. A survey by the Foundation for Future Studies showed that around 8 percent of the Germans plan to travel to Spain this year. With so many German tourists on the island, Mallorca is even jokingly referred to as the 17th federal state of Germany.

Germans enthuse about the friendliness of the Turkish people, so it's no wonder that around 5 percent will travel to Turkey this year. At the Turkish Riviera in the southwest of the country, Germans enjoy relaxing on sandy beaches. Turkey has the advantage of being cheap and relatively near. Maybe that's why its popularity as a destination for German tourists has even increased since last year.

Venice, Florence, Rome - Italy offers tourists beautiful cities with a lot of history. Germans have always admired the Italians' easygoing lifestyle - and not to mention its great cuisine! Just under 5 percent of the Germans will therefore go straight south for their vacation - it's also close by, just a seven-hour car ride from Frankfurt to Milan.

"A cheaper Italy" is how some Germans describe Croatia. The country's popularity as a holiday destination has grown enormously over the past years - 2.4 percent plan to explore the country in 2013. Scuba divers enthuse about the clear seawater; others love the picturesque ports, such as Rovinj on the Istrian Peninsula, pictured here.

Even though Austria has no beaches, it is still the favorite destination for 2 percent of Germans. They enjoy hiking in the Alps or visiting Austria's beautiful cities like Salzburg. Austria not only neighbors Germany, but also has another advantage: Austrians speak German (or a dialect thereof). Some older Germans, who never learned English, therefore prefer Austria as a vacation destination.

Marseille, Bordeaux or Paris - the city of light - there's no lack of culture and arts in France. Other popular destinations in France are the Mediterranean coastline in its southeast corner, known as the French Riviera, or the entertainment resort Disneyland Paris. Just under 2 percent of Germans visit their Gallic neighbors.

Even more Germans would go to the Scandinavian countries for their vacation if it weren't so expensive. But 1.5 percent think the tremendously beautiful nature in Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden is worth the money. Magnificent lakes, spectacular fjords and intact forests without mass tourism - all these things draw Germans to Scandinavia.

A German who wants to spend a vacation on a Greek island might have a hard time choosing, as the country has more than 1,000. But one thing is certain: There are beautiful beaches on almost all of them. But Greece's reputation in Germany has suffered due to the economic crisis and resultant unrest. Less than 1 percent plan to spend their vacation here - much fewer than before.

Safari in Africa, bear-watching in Canada, exploring the South American rainforest or visiting the Great Wall of China - 8 percent of the Germans plan to travel to faraway destinations this year. Of course, not all Germans can afford the expenses associated with such travel: it's about two-and-half times as expensive as a vacation in their own country.