sight / attraction
Loading your saved state.
sight / attraction
A place, building, or object that is especially interesting to tourists and visitors because of its historical, cultural, or natural significance.
Das Brandenburger Tor ist eine berühmte Sehenswürdigkeit in Berlin.
The Brandenburg Gate is a famous sight in Berlin.
The word is a compound made up of 'sehen' (to see), 'würdig' (worthy), and the ending '-keit' (-ness). A 'Sehenswürdigkeit' (sight/attraction) is therefore literally something that is 'worthy of being seen.'
Die alte Burg ist eine wichtige Sehenswürdigkeit der Region.
The old castle is an important sight in the region.
The adjective 'sehenswert' (worth seeing) is closely related. If a place is a 'Sehenswürdigkeit' (sight/attraction), then it is also 'sehenswert' (worth seeing).
Die Altstadt mit ihren kleinen Gassen ist wirklich sehenswert.
The old town with its small alleys is really worth seeing.
In connection with sights, the verbs 'besichtigen' (to visit/tour) or 'besuchen' (to visit) are often used. The verb 'besichtigen' is more specific to tourist attractions.
Im Urlaub wollen wir alle wichtigen Sehenswürdigkeiten der Stadt besichtigen.
On vacation, we want to visit all the important sights in the city.
When talking about tourism or the attractions of a city, this word is very often used in the plural.
Welche Sehenswürdigkeiten kannst du in deiner Heimatstadt empfehlen?
Which sights can you recommend in your hometown?
monument / landmark
'das Denkmal' and 'die Sehenswürdigkeit' can both be an interesting building, a statue, or a special place. The difference lies in the point of view: a 'Denkmal' commemorates a person or an event, or is protected because of its history. A 'Sehenswürdigkeit' is mainly something that visitors and tourists like to see. The words can be confused because many monuments are also sights or attractions. But not every 'Sehenswürdigkeit' is a 'Denkmal'; for example, a beautiful viewpoint can also be a 'Sehenswürdigkeit'.
Auf unserer Reise wollen wir die wichtigste Sehenswürdigkeit der Stadt besuchen.
On our trip, we want to visit the city's most important sight.
Vor dem Rathaus steht ein Denkmal für die Opfer des Krieges.
In front of the town hall stands a monument to the victims of the war.