Wolfsburg exists because of Volkswagen. The city was founded in 1938 to house workers for the new car factory, and VW still dominates — the plant stretches for over a kilometre along the Mittelland Canal and employs tens of thousands of people. What makes Wolfsburg worth a stop is not the factory floor but what VW has built around it.
The Autostadt is the centrepiece: a sprawling theme park and museum complex where you can trace the history of the automobile, see classic and concept cars from every VW brand (Lamborghini and Bugatti included), and watch new cars roll off the delivery towers. Across the canal, the Phaeno Science Center — designed by Zaha Hadid — is one of the most striking buildings in northern Germany, its concrete hull hovering above the ground on angular pillars. Inside is a hands-on science museum that is genuinely good for both children and adults.
Beyond the VW universe, Wolfsburg is a modern, planned city without much historic charm, but the Allerpark lake offers swimming and watersports in summer, and the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg hosts strong contemporary art exhibitions. Architecture pilgrims should not miss the Alvar Aalto Cultural Centre, one of the great pieces of postwar modernism in Germany.