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Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in Germany 2024/2025

Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in Germany. Below you will find 20 of the best tour operators and travel agencies in Germany offering in total 272 tours and holidays through-out Germany. Combined they have received 152 customer reviews and an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The top tour activities offered in Germany are: Adventure and sport, Boat tours, water sports and marine wildlife & Sightseeing, attractions, culture and history.

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20 Tour Operators in Germany with 152 Reviews

Insight Vacations

• Address 33 Kern Road, Toronto, Canada
• Response Rate 86%
• Response Time 2 hours

Walkers' Britain

• Address 1B Osiers Road, London, England
• Response Rate 83%

• Best-in-Class Top 5% of companies
• Excellent Service Top 10% of companies
• Superior Service Top 15% of companies

• Address Picquet House, St Peter Port, Guernsey, London, England
• Response Rate 90%

Expat Explore

• Address 10 Merryweather Place, London, England

Indus Travels

• Address 233, 11951 Hammersmith Way, Richmond, Canada
• Response Rate 98%
• Response Time 3 hours

G Adventures

• Address G Adventures Ltd, 60 Bastwick Street, London, England
• Response Time 1 hour

Back-Roads Touring

• Address 109 Power Road, Chiswik, London, England

Original Europe Tours GmbH

• Address Pettenkoferstraße 17A, Berlin, Germany
• Response Rate 13%

Europamundo

• Address c/ Garcia de Paredes Nº 55 1ª Planta, Madrid, Spain
• Response Rate 96%

CroisiEurope

• Address 12 Rue De La Division Leclerc, Nedre Rhin, France

Exodus Travels

• Address Grange Mills, Weir Road, London, England
• Response Rate 85%

• Response Rate 88%

Intrepid Travel

• Address 380 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Australia

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Germany Tour Companies

Looking for an unforgettable Germany tour? Book a fully-organized trip with the best tour companies in Germany and let the tour operator take care of everything for you. Check out the tour details and read 147912 reviews from our customers to help you choose the perfect tour for you.

List of Germany travel companies & tour operators with 147912 reviews

• Excellent - 1,893 reviews for Germany tours

Well organized and well executed tour.

Amazing trip and fantastic tour!

• Excellent - 19,646 reviews for Germany tours

Not really my type of holiday travel! The stops are short and mainly at freeway truck and rest stops. The hotels were way too far from any real sites and some were small and cramped. I expected this tour to be hectic, given the countries visited and the days involved, . but IMO it could have been organized a lot better. The Tour Director and Driver were excellent but working with hands tied behind her back.The driven tours by coach just went too fast apart from road blocks or traffic jams. I appreciate that the TD kept mentioning that there are other tours by Cosmos, Globes that are lconcentrated on longer stays, however if they are at the hotels that we stayed at, then seeing the good sights are going to be a massive struggle. IMHO, even if the costs are higher for better hotels and safer areas, most would rather pay than skimp. Most of the stops overnight did not even have any decent restaurants where one could experience a decent meal of the region. Yes there were a couple of organized option dinners that involved costs, but these had to be reached via the coach. The three included meals are at the hotels which really did not have kitchens other than ones that could prepare breakfasts and the meals were simple and buffet style with one fixed item being served. As I started it may be OK for some, but definitely not my cup for tea!

I enjoyed the tours and the ample downtime. We were able to explore the city centers.

Indus Travels

• Excellent - 256 reviews for Germany tours

Tour was OK. Sites great, organization seriously lacking. Indus communication was horrible. Can't get a prompt response from any questions by phone or email but I get daily marketing emails from them instead.

Marvelous Germany chose some excellent sites in both Germany and France. The hotels were good overall, especially the historic hotel in Füssen. Unfortunately, communication from Indus was extremely poor. Instead of sending us complete itinerary information well in advance, it came the same week of departure (after multiple requests by phone and email that were never followed up by Indus) and that required us to create an account and log into their website to retrieve it ourselves. Buried in the fine print was the name of our German tour guide from a different company ... and Indus got his name incorrect. We were not even given a specific time to meet the guide. Shuttles to and from connecting airports were nonexistent, we relied on public transportation. There was a mix-up with hotel rooms on the first day, apparently Indus was unclear about who was in which room and who reserved single bed versus double bed accommodations. On the first evening, the German guide did nothing but check off names and hand out hotel room keys. He didn't provide any information or guided tour of Frankfurt at all. Our guide was knowlegable but not very communicative. Two older women on the tour with hearing aids couldn't hear most of what he mumbled. The problem wasn't the language, it was as though he didn't have any material prepared to tell us and did not attempt to read his audience to ensure everyone got the message. We all had to ask questions constantly to get anything out of him. During the farm visit & cheese tasting, our guide attempted to translate what the farmer explained in German. It was very clear that the farmer was explaining everything is significantly more detail than our guide gave us. More than once he got it wrong and the _farmer_ corrected our guide's translation. Our guide's navigation, driving skill, and narration were all very below average. We were not on a large motor coach, this was a full size van similar in size to typical bloated American vehicles. On multiple occasions he stopped in the middle of intersections, cut off other vehicles, drove around in circles, missed the correct turn, used turn signals inconsistently, and nearly took out a biker. This appeared to be not due to aggressive driving behavior but rather due to indecision. It looked like our guide had no pre-prepared route plan or parking plan. At many destinations instead of parking at the obvious convenient parking garage and leading a walking tour with a proper discussion, he'd drop the whole group off and let us explore on our own for only a very short time. Why he couldn't park the van and walk with us was a mystery. While the group itself was able to manage, this WAS NOT advertised as a self-guided tour. At Neuschweinstein, our guide made us pay for a public bus -- why was that not included in the tour???? Thank goodness our group had enough local currency on hand to buy tickets. It's simply cheap of the tour company to not pay for convenient local parking and transportation throughout. Meals also felt unplanned. While the tour advertised that several meals were included, it turned out that these were all hotel breakfasts, which were all quite good. We soon learned it was best to have a very hearty breakfast because we never knew where and when lunch might occur. Many days while the guide was "parking" and leaving us to fend for ourselves, we had to find our own restaurant and attempt to eat quickly (not an easy feat in Germany where meals are normally taken at a very casual pace). This subtracted substantially from the time we would have liked to tour the towns. Our guide generally did drop the group off at or near the pedestrian centre of a town where there were options but he clearly did not have specific recommendations, nor did he seem to read the audience to know our dining preferences. In general, he did not express any interest in joining the group for dinners so that too was for us to figure out on our own. On the last day, it felt as though the guide couldn't wait to drop us off as soon as possible at our last hotel and disappear. Biggest complaint of all: we did not feel comfortable that the tour guide lost/broke his mobile phone in the middle of the tour and left us no way to contact him. We asked him several times, and he had many opportunities to buy a replacement. He simply didn't. If any serious incident happened when he was AWOL, we would not know who to contact or how. In summary, Germany is a beautiful place with many interesting historical and cultural things to discover. The big cities were less relaxing with traffic and construction and higher prices but that was to be expected. The small towns, castles, beautiful river valleys and Schwartzwald made up for that. If we would change anything in the itinerary, it would be more coordination and efficient guide to have time to enjoy the small towns. We had a great time with our new friends in the group and would travel with them again anytime. Unfortunately, both Indus and their outsourced local guide company were very underwhelming. With better professionalism and attention to detail, the trip would have been great.

• Excellent - 169 reviews for Germany tours

My tour was great, nothing to do with utracks. Utracks was very poor getting information from. Unreturned e mails, never received notice for my final installment till I called a few weeks before my trip when I was inquiring about some info. They then stuck me with a 260 euro fee for high season ? September 12/19 was never told or saw that before. Never returned e mail questioning that charge.

Everybody on board were working very very hard. The boat was grossly understaffed. Just about all staff new on the boat. ALL Tried their hardest. No special food for persons with severe food allergies. No internet. Food was ok. Cabins roomy and clean. The trip director, Juergen, was excellent, 5 stars. E-Bikes were new and Excellent. Very top of the line bikes

• Excellent - 74,886 reviews for Germany tours

The included tour was good and hotels were good with buffet breakfast but I do not recommend all the optional tours too pricey and not worthed, just do it yourself ,explore on your own free time.Danube dinner cruise was awful ,there was a kerosene gas leak during the entire cruise I got headache and breathing problems and food was cold and not tasty. Careful of your belongings, Someone opened my bag ,robbed me in Prague and got all my $500 cash,credit /debit cards and important IDs. I did not get any help from Globus bec I did not pay travel insurance. I recommend travel insurance this time. Wake up call at NH Prague messed up ,They woke me at 2 am. I did not sleep after that. The included farewell dinners were not good. I am still waiting for my refund on the Danube cruise dinner.

Everything was top notch.

• Excellent - 14 reviews for Germany tours

Setting up the tour, and the tour itself were wonderful. We had a few glitches in our plans and Paula was a great help in getting them worked out. Hotels were very good and clean, food at the hotels, excellent! That said, the bikes were NOT. Even though they were brand new, and the gearing great for what they were. However, we did this tour under our own power, no electric bikes, and were told that hybrid bikes were not available for this tour, also told we weren’t allowed to use clip-in pedals. The bikes were heavy, and we found ourselves walking and pushing them up many hills, some rocky and gravel roads, which, if we would have had a decent bike for this tour, a hybrid bike, we would most likely had an easier time of it. Not happy about the bikes! Also, the opening page of the tour says 1-99 as in years old of people that could do this tour, definitely false advertising, there is no way, even with the electric bikes, that some people could not navigate the roads on this tour. We are 2 women in our 70’s and did it, I am proud to say, we have a lot of experience, it was not easy. It could have been much more enjoyable with a different bike. Over all, a fantastic trip. Thank you.

We were delighted with holiday and with the communication beforehand and the arrangements made on our behalf. Our only disappointment was that the second last day was only 40km (we were expecting to do approximately 60km each day) and the last day's distance was only 20km. We also discovered that our bags would not arrive at the final destination until 3pm that day which made it hard for us to use the day to move on elsewhere. Our solution was the do the 20km on the second last day as well as the 40km as scheduled, and then to drive back to the hotel that had been booked for us. This worked fine and suited our timings better. Otherwise no complaints at all, and we hope to use Tour Radar again.

• Good - 12 reviews for Germany tours

Wir waren mit Eurohike v. Garmisch nach Meran unterwegs.Die angegeben Tageskilometer stimmen oft nicht mit den tatsächlichen Km überein. Für eine Übernachtung gab es keine richtige Wegbeschreibung zum Hotel. Ganz daneben fanden wir jedoch den Rücktransfer. Das Hotel war außerhalb von Meran, so dass wir ein Taxi benötigen um an den von Eurohike genannten Sammelpunkt zu kommen,. da es hierfür keine öffentliche Verkehrsmittel gab. Weiterfahrti in Bozen mit 1 1/2 Std. Wartezeit abseits am Busterminal. Leider ist Eurohike häufig ungenau was zu Mehrkosten, Wartezeiten und Verdruss führt. Fazit: Die Qualität der Organisation u der angegeben Daten stehen in keinem Verhältnis zum Reisepreis. M. Wagner

Overall the trip was okay. At the beginning I was told the wrong time for the briefing, I messaged tour radar for help and noone ever got back to me. I ended up just winging it and got through the trip okay.

Insight Vacations

• Excellent - 633 reviews for Germany tours

There was the largest December snow in 90 years just before we a. It made getting there a little difficult but well worth it! Our carriage ride was magical. Greg made it even more special. He was so attentive to everyone’s needs and abilities. Never rushing anyone. Not to mention his surprises every time we got back on the bus. Starting each day with “Louie Armstrongs it’s a wonderful world. We all would sing along. We became friends instantly and felt like family within just a few days together. I highly recommend Greg as a tour guide he really added to the experience. The atmosphere he created by showing us all how much he truly cared for each of us. He is an exceptional person and I for one feel that the trip would have not been the same without him!!!!!

Great variety of markets. Well organised and Greg was very helpful when I had a bit of a mobility issue.

• Excellent - 21 reviews for Germany tours

The itinerary was well planned and spelled all the details of yhe tour from the time we arrived until we finished. Information on getting to locations was clear and understandable. Vouchers for hotel and transportation were provided as well as information regarding how to redeem them. We had opportunities to visit the recommended as well as places we had read about or were suggested by friends and coworkers who had either visited areas or knew our interests.

The itinerary was very informative and thorough. It related what to expect from hotel room side to explaining transportation and how to arrive ahead of time for tours.

Agate Travel

• Excellent - 282 reviews for Germany tours
• This operator has no Germany reviews

EUROLATINO Tour Operators

• Average - 18 reviews for Germany tours

Really enjoyed this tour. It was exactly what we were looking for, the independence to do what we wanted on some days and some tours organised for us on other days. Communication from Tour radar was great through What’s App. The only thing we would change would be to upgrade the two 3 star motels to 4 star motels.

I paid for a daily excursion and the tour guide did not show up. The rest of the tour was ok.

Terranova Touristik

• Excellent - 244 reviews for Germany tours

The tour was amazing—so much to see along the Mainz and Rhine. My ebike was perfect. We especially loved the stop at Oberwesel. Such a lovely unique hotel.

The individual bike tour through the Palatinate offers the perfect opportunity to explore the region at your leisure. The route is varied and leads through charming villages and along the Rhine. A real highlight for all cyclists!

Europamundo

• Good - 3,022 reviews for Germany tours

Apart from guide Jacob, all other guides need retraining. Poor communication and rudeness were most common traits rather than courtesy and knowledge. They were supposed to provide a service. Very badly lacking.

The tour was excellent and everything went as planned. The itinerary allows us to visit all the major highlight tourist places in Switzerland. Hotels were great, with amazing breakfast, and the bus that took us from town to town was very comfortable. We loved it!

Exodus Travels

• Excellent - 13,243 reviews for Germany tours

Poor communication from the agents. Too many layers of agents. Go direct I say. Once travelling it was fine. A few long rides (70 and 60 kms) that could have been shorter. The ride into Linz was tough but doable - they are upgrading the bike track. Hotel choices were great.

We really enjoyed the hikes that Bob took us on. Bob, made it very enjoyable and he picked the hikes that would be perfect for the group.

Uniworld Boutique River Cru…

• Excellent - 79 reviews for Germany tours

People are amazing. Except for reception.. very serious .food good, needs much faster internet

A friend recommended Uniworld to me and I'm glad he did. What a wonderful experience it was. The boat, the staff, the food, the scenery - everything exceeded my expectations. And you could be as active or laid back as you desired. I started each day joining the exercise class on the top deck. There were daily walking tours of the local town or village where we were moored, a strenuous hike for the more adventurous and a bike ride between towns. Bicycles were available to use at any time and many did meander up and down the bike paths along the river. I was travelling alone and had no trouble mixing and dining with the other guests, even though I am a little shy when it comes to social situations. I am looking forward to my next Uniworld experience, the difficulty being, which one will I choose!

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Germany Travel Agents & Reviews

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Customers rate Zicasso's travel referral service  5  on a scale of 1 to 5 based on  1541  reviews on Trustpilot

We match you with top tour companies that specialize in the trip you want,  whether it's a customized private tour or a group tour.

Our Germany travel agents have the expertise to craft an unforgettable luxury journey across this dynamic country.  With long-standing relationships with top hotels, guides, and tours, our travel agencies in Germany design exclusive German itineraries tailored to you. From fairytale castles and medieval towns to scenic Alpine escapes, our Germany travel experts handle every detail.  For insider access to Michelin-starred restaurants, VIP tours, and the best of Bavaria to Berlin, plan with our Germany travel agencies for an exceptional luxury trip.

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Our Germany travel agents have the expertise to craft an unforgettable luxury journey across this dynamic country. 

With long-standing relationships with top hotels, guides, and tours, our travel agencies in Germany design exclusive German itineraries tailored to you. From fairytale castles and medieval towns to scenic Alpine escapes, our Germany travel experts handle every detail. 

For insider access to Michelin-starred restaurants, VIP tours, and the best of Bavaria to Berlin, plan with our Germany travel agencies for an exceptional luxury trip.

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Jacob's Travel Agency

 Based on  12  reviews

Destinations:

Verified review.

Our Zicasso travel agent did an outstanding job of taking our various locations, preferences, and timeline to work with us to plan a very memorable trip. His recommendations based on his personal experiences living abroad made for a very special combination of high-quality accomodations, individualized driving tours, and personal restaurant referrals that were all as unique as they were of the highest quality. He was very flexible with any changes we wanted to make in the planning stage. He was extremely accessible no matter what time of day and arranged all tours and transportation logistics (planes, trains, and automobiles!) over the 10 days we were in Germany. We couldn't have been happier with our time there or his references, and were truly amazed by the incredible range of experiences we had over the course of our travels from north to south. It all went like clockwork!

Peter's Travel Agency

 Based on  19  reviews

This is our third trip booked through Zicasso. They make it very easy to find strong, reliable in-country travel agents. It’s a great service! We used a travel partner to plan our trip to Germany to see the Christmas markets. It was perfect. They selected great hotels that were perfectly located for walking to markets. The local guides for city tours were personable, knowledgeable, and engaging. Our itinerary was a great blend of seeing a lot, but not being overwhelmed. We visited Berlin, Dresden, Nuremberg, Rothenburg, and Munich, with some day trips to smaller towns. We did have some travel problems. Our inbound flight to Munich was canceled due to weather and a rail strike created a problem for our trip to Dresden. The travel agency was able to manage these events without any impact on our planned events. We rebooked flights into Berlin directly instead of taking a train from Munich, and they secured a private driver for the trip to Dresden on about 24 hours' notice. The travel team made these adjustments with minimal stress for us.

Viktor's Travel Agency

 Based on  20  reviews

Zicasso’s travel company helped us plan and make land arrangements for our trip to Berlin, Prague, Chesky Krumlov, the Wachau Valley, Vienna, and Budapest. We had different needs for the areas we visited based on friends and family we planned to see, tour guide requests, accommodations we needed our travel agent to book, one place we wanted to book ourselves, and car and train transportation between destinations. The arrangements were not straightforward, but our travel agent was flexible. He came through and everything went beautifully as we navigated our itinerary. We had a fabulous time in Central Europe and are very appreciative of our travel team's efforts. Most important to us was the quality of our tour guides, their knowledge of history and culture, storytelling abilities, and enjoyable personalities. Our agent delivered beautifully on our requests for outstanding tour guides, especially in Prague, the Wachau Valley, and Budapest. In Prague and Budapest, we had seven-hour walking tours that were truly wonderful and memorable. Another of our agent’s strengths was recommending charming and comfortable boutique hotels. Highlight hotels he recommended were in Kreuzberg, Berlin, near our friend's home; the one in Prague with the adjacent, gorgeous, UNESCO World Heritage garden; and the one in Vienna. Finally, our travel team remained available to us by text message throughout our trip, answering any questions that came up and being a fun travel partner throughout our travels.

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Joachim's Travel Agency

 Based on  22  reviews

Zicasso’s travel company provided a transformative travel experience; truly once in a lifetime. We were introduced to Zicasso by our friends and thank their agent and travel company for their outstanding compassion, empathy, and patience. They grasped our brief with remarkable clarity and crafted an itinerary that ensured incredibly enriching experiences at each destination, during travel, and in accommodations. They accommodated our need for space between intercity travels and provided invaluable advice and support, from itinerary changes to visa requirements, on-the-ground adjustments, and regular check-ins. I highly recommend our agent and his company for their attentive listening, empathetic approach, and expertise in curating unforgettable itineraries. Thank you, you changed the way we experience Europe and it will always be hard to match the high bar you set with this trip. We are deeply appreciative of our agent and his company’s staff.

Martin's Travel Agency

 Based on  220  reviews

This was our second trip with our travel agency, the first being in 2017. My wife had wanted, for a long time, to experience some of the European Christmas markets and this was a good year to do so. Based on our 2017 experience, we wanted to use the same company. When the Zicasso response to our travel request asked if we wanted to use them again, we enthusiastically responded yes! As before, the staff worked closely with us to develop an itinerary that met our desires for multiple Christmas markets and the flexibility of a mostly self-guided visit. The unique insights of the staff proved incredibly helpful in developing a wonderful day-to-day itinerary full of detailed information and resources that were invaluable. Our first-day greeter and guide was amazing and we had almost daily contact with the staff (including some from our 2017 trip) via SMS or voice call, during which they shared ideas and suggestions for the day. They were also immediately available to provide assistance if needed. Luckily, we did not need any, but knowing they were there was very comforting. They also provided a local mobile phone that was very useful for navigation (better than the built-in nav system in the rental car) and pre-programmed with all the numbers (restaurants, hotels, people, etc) associated with the trip. It came in very handy. The lodging and dining arrangements were superb, and based on our specific requests. The company's support enabled us to see nine Christmas markets (eight in Germany and one in France), explore a bit of history, catch up with some friends, and have a delightful trip! We had the same experience as in 2017 and will definitely work with them again if our future travel plans include Germany or any other area they cover. We pass on our heartfelt thanks to the agency for enabling us to cross off a bucket-list item in truly great fashion!

Lindsey's Travel Agency

 Based on  358  reviews

We took the most amazing trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights. I reached out to Zicasso, who put me in touch with our travel partner and their wonderful travel agent. She put together several options for the trip and we were able to choose the ones that best fit our family’s interests. Once everything was decided, she went to work doing everything. All the bookings, connections, transportation, etc. were handled and I didn't have to worry about any of it. Before the trip, she confirmed all of the details and included everything on an amazing travel app that we used while we were on the trip. I can't say enough about what an amazing experience we had on our trip and working with Zicasso and our tour operator. I have used both companies before and have never been disappointed.

Bernhard's Travel Agency

 Based on  97  reviews

Our Zicasso travel partner listened to our preferences and needs, and helped design a fabulous trip for our family. Transportation was flawless throughout the trip and the local guides were wonderful. We enjoyed getting to know them personally and learning about their hometowns. I especially valued the app that provided us with every detail for each day, including emergency contacts, hotel information, and itinerary. Thank you!

Expert Tips for Discerning Travelers

Tour operator - list, experiences, tips, book cheap

by Sascha Tegtmeyer

With the choice of the tour operator or travel agent, the vacation stands or falls. In particular, those who book a package tour must have great confidence in the company planning their vacation. Below I have listed some providers that are active in Europe.

As a traveler or vacationer, you basically have two options: Either you book a trip individually by booking flights, Hotels , transfers and other services search and book themselves. Or you trust a tour operator or travel agent when planning your holiday, from whom you buy a package tour or individual products.

In Germany alone there are 3.089 tour operators with a turnover of 12,5 billion euros (2020 - in the previous year 2019 35,4 billion euros) per year. The largest tour operator in Germany is TUI with a turnover of 7,9 billion euros (as of 2020 - source: Statista.de ). Especially in times of Corona pandemic The concept of the package tour has proven itself: If problems arise at the holiday destination, the tour operator usually steps in and helps the holidaymaker to survive the crisis or to plan the return trip.

Depending on what type of crisis it is and what services travelers and holidaymakers have booked in advance, they can even claim reimbursement of the travel price. In the case of a private, individual booking, however, travelers are responsible for all services themselves and may have to deal with hotels and airlines themselves in crisis situations. Because of this, I would - maybe my most important Vacation tip currently - currently always recommend booking a package tour with a tour operator - or booking through a travel agent with a tour operator.

Because the difference between a tour operator and a travel agent is that travel agents only refer customers to a tour operator about their offers. Ultimately, it is the tour operator who plans the trip or vacation

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Ranking – best rated tour operators and travel booking websites in Germany

In the BrandIndex of the market research institute YouGov, the five top rated tour operator and travel agents in Germany. For the vote, 900.000 people aged 18 and over were surveyed between September 01.09.2019, 31.08.2020 and August XNUMX, XNUMX.

• booking.com
• Meiers world travel
• mountains & sea

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Book your holiday – tour operator and travel agent for an unforgettable dream holiday

I have given you a list of tour operators and travel agents with whom I have had good experiences so far. Depending on what type of vacation you are planning, there are different travel providers and booking platforms available to you. The list of tour operators currently only includes German providers.

List of the most popular tour operators and travel agents in Germany

Below I have put together a list for you of many of the largest and most popular tour operators in Germany. The list is certainly not complete. New suppliers are constantly being added - and some are disappearing from the market.

• ADAC travel
• Attica travel
• Mountains & sea
• TUI MAGIC LIFE
• DER Touristik
• Holiday tourism
• For You Travel
• ID Riva Tours
• Inter Chalet
• Jahn travel
• LMX tourism
• Lufthansa Holidays
• Maris travel
• Meier's world travel
• Phoenix Reisen
• Robinson Club
• Schauinsland Travel
• Thomas Cook (bankrupt)
• vtours international

For different preferences – Which tour operators are there?

Basically, for every preference and every type of travel, there is a suitable tour operator who specializes in exactly that. This makes it easy for travelers to contact a tour operator when planning their vacation, who will plan and organize the trip. Which tour operators are there? Different types of tour operators are presented below and their characteristics are described.

Traditional Tour Operators

Traditional tour operators are companies that plan and organize trips for their customers. They often offer vacation packages that include flights, accommodation and sometimes activities. These tour operators often have a wide variety of destinations and types of travel, and cater to a wide variety of interests and budgets. Some well-known traditional tour operators in Germany are TUI, FTI and Alltours.

specialist tour operator

Special tour operators concentrate on certain types of travel, regions or target groups. For example, there are tour operators who specialize in city trips or active trips. Others are aimed at specific target groups such as families or seniors. These tour operators often offer special know-how and a wide range of trips for their specific target group or type of travel. Well-known special tour operators are, for example, StaTravel for student trips or ADAC Reisen for tours with a mobile home.

Online Tour Operator

Online tour operators are tour operators who sell their tours over the Internet. Customers can conveniently book and plan trips from home. Many online tour operators offer a wide variety of trips at great prices because they don't have the high cost of running travel agencies. Well-known online tour operators are Booking.com, Expedia and Opodo.

individual tour operator

Individual tour operators are tour operators who offer individually tailored trips. These tour operators often work with local suppliers to provide a tailor-made trip for the customer. These operators offer more flexible travel planning and can accommodate special requests and needs. Well-known individual tour operators are, for example, Tourlane or itravel.

There are a variety of tour operators that offer different types of travel and specialize in different target groups and types of travel. Anyone planning a trip has a wide range of tour operators to choose from and can choose the one that best suits their needs and desires. Whether one chooses a traditional tour operator, a specialist tour operator, an online tour operator or an individual tour operator depends on personal preferences and travel needs. However, it is worth comparing different operators and checking the offers carefully in order to book the best trip at a great price.

FAQs – Tour operators and travel agents – the most important questions and answers

If you are looking for a reputable and sustainable tour operator, travel agent, travel provider or an online travel booking platform, you certainly have many questions - for example where is the best place to book a holiday? I have put together the most important questions and answers on the subject of tour operators for you.

Who is the best tour operator?

There are numerous good and popular tour operators in Germany. My personal best tour operator is FTI Touristik. I have booked through this travel agent very often and have had very good experiences so far. In terms of booking numbers and turnover, TUI is the most popular tour operator in Germany. My personal ranking of the best tour operators looks like this: 1. FTI tourism 2. Meier's world travel 3.TUI 4 before flight 5. Neckermann Travel 6. Dertour 7. Alltours 8. ITS travel 9. Schauinsland travel 10. VTours

Which other tour operators are there?

The big tour operator Thomas Cook has gone bankrupt. Many travelers ask themselves: "Which tour operators are still there?" A selection of tour operators that are still active on the market are: 1. FTI tourism 2. Meier's world travel 3.TUI 4 before flight 5. Neckermann Travel 6. Dertour 7. Alltours 8. ITS travel 9. Schauinsland travel 10. VTours

Which tour operator is the cheapest?

The Stiftung Warentest has in " test 01/2018 “Travel organizer tested. Schauinsland, FTI and Neckermann were the cheapest tour operators in this test. All other travel agents were more expensive. Neckermann also did well in the area of ​​sustainability.

How is a package tour defined?

By definition, a package tour is characterized by the fact that a tour operator sells at least two travel services as a bundle - such as flight and hotel, but also food, leisure activities and transfer. Of course, more than two travel services can also be sold. The traveler pays a flat rate for the services offered.

Where can I book the cheapest package holidays?

The cheapest way to book package tours is to book them on the Internet at residual space exchanges. You have to be flexible and spontaneous and definitely be ready to leave in a day or two if in doubt. Often these are trips that have been canceled at short notice and would otherwise have been canceled. Some of these can be booked with a discount of up to 70 percent.

Where can I book package holidays?

Which travel company is still safe.

Most of the major tour operators in Germany are safe and won't go bankrupt anytime soon. If you want to be on the safe side, you should book with one of the large and established tour operators such as TUI, FTI or Meier's Weltreisen. These are usually well insured against bankruptcy.

Which tour operator is broke?

Every now and then a tour operator goes bankrupt - just like in any other industry. The British tour operator Thomas Cook went bankrupt in autumn 2019. For many travelers this was a disaster - even years later, many did not get the money back for their booked trips. The German subsidiaries of Thomas Cook were also affected by the bankruptcy.

Which tour operators are still in Germany?

- FTI tourism - Meier's world travel - TUI - 5 before flight - Neckermann Reisen - Dertour - Alltours - ITS travel - Schauinsland Reisen - VTours

Which travel portal?

The Computer picture has rated travel portals and compiled a ranking of the best travel portals that can be used for online travel booking: 1st place: Opodo - www.opodo.de 2nd place: Expedia - www.expedia.de 3rd place: Thomas Cook - is insolvent 4th place: Check24 - www.check24.de 4th place: Holidaycheck - www.holidaycheck.de 6th place: Neckermann - www.neckermann-reisen.de 7th place: WEG - www.weg.de 8th place: TUI - www.tui.com 9th place: off on vacation - www.ab-in-den-urlaub.de Place 10: Alltours - www.alltours.de

Which online travel provider is the best?

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Book with a reputable tour operator and travel agent

My detailed conclusion.

Many travelers and vacationers rightly swear by booking their trip on their own as an adventure vacation or an individual trip. That's perfectly okay. The package tour is considered a synonym for mass tourism and inexperienced cheap holidaymakers, especially among travel professionals. But that's at most half the story: For mine Travel Blog Since the beginning of the Corona pandemic, I have been booking Just-Wanderlust.com almost exclusively through tour operators or through travel agents with tour operators.

Because if something goes wrong in a crisis situation, the tour operator is there to take care of it. Corresponding insurance policies are often offered against Corona and even if there is a natural disaster at the holiday destination (think of the volcanic eruption on the Canary Island of La Palma), the tour operator in Germany is responsible.

What experiences have you had so far with tour operators and travel agents? Which is your personal favorite? Share your experiences in the comments.

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The 6 best online travel agencies in Germany

Best online travel agency for business travel, 1. travelperk: best for businesses looking for a complete solution.

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Best german online travel agencies for leisure travel, 2. tui: the perfect all-rounder for leisure travel.

• 24/7 customer service and travel experts
• A company-wide promise to sustainable travel and greener getaways
• Over 5,000 multi-destination trips to choose from
• TUI owned and operated airline: 737 Dreamliners & 737 MAX
• 180 worldwide destinations: Austria, France, Switzerland, and much further afield!

3. Holiday Check: great for real review and user photos

• Tons of last-minute deals on the table
• Travel protection plans for out-of-your-hands flight cancellations
• An on-trip tour guide to ensure your trip runs smoothly
• Destinations across Spain, Greece, greater Europe, and Africa & Asia

4. Ltur: a fit for those that want to book with a human, offline

• Refer a friend plan to earn cashback for future trips with Ltur
• Plenty of offline shops to book your trip with a travel agent
• Rotating deals for the spontaneous travelers among us
• Optional, affordable, travel insurance packages via HanseMerkur

5. Weg.de: great for easy-to-use technology

• Intuitive booking platform: ability to search by list or on the map
• Good hotel overview with reviews, features, and ratings
• Top Secret Hotels: great (secret) hotels at discounted prices, for the adventurous travelers!
• Weekly booking calendar to pick the nights that best suit your budget

6. Travel Scout 24: a Germany tour company for online-only searchers

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Wrapping up German tour companies for a spectacular trip

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Embarking on a journey to Germany can offer a deeply enriching cultural experience. A country that’s long been associated with castles, beer, and hearty sausages, Germany has so much more to offer. From the vibrant city of Berlin to the scenic Black Forest region, this country brims with history, art, and outdoor adventures.

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Welcome to Unique Germany

Germany´s premier on-site & destination specialist, unique germany, unique travel experiences.

Welcome to Unique Germany, a full-service luxury incoming travel company offering unique experiences, tours, services for Germany to travel agents, advisors and tour operators only. Unique Germany is a sister company of Compass Tours Incoming , a leading German DMC since 1974. 

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Unique Germany is a division of Compass Tours Incoming, CTI, serving tour operators and travel advisors with the focus on the upscale and luxury travel segment. Compass Tours Incoming has been founded in 1974 and operates local offices in Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt. The staff reflects a diversity of ages, backgrounds, and skill sets. It is the blend of these personalities and experience that is recognized by the customers as a valuable resource. Managing Partner is Michael Kater who is using his experiences in the travel industry to create with his team tailor-made German experiences for discerning clients. Now, after more than 40 years in the business, the company has become Germany´s premiere destination management company.

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Acanthus Tours offers tour operators, group travel organizers and travel agencies a wide range of inbound tourism services throughout Germany and in its neighbouring countries. According to your wishes and ideas, we are happy to adapt each tour programme.

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About Germany

Germany is a country of rich culture, with plenty of attractions for people from all walks of life. From medieval castles and cobblestone-lined streets to stunning natural landscapes, Germany has something unique to offer everyone. For those looking to explore history, Germany's many museums and monuments will provide an enlightening experience. History buffs can learn about the Medieval era at the incredible Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria or explore Berlin's Wall Memorial, where they can gain insight into 20th century German history.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Germany is a paradise full of dense forests, rolling hills and majestic mountain ranges. Hiking trails can be found throughout the country, offering opportunities to discover hidden gems like calm lakes and picturesque villages. When it comes to art and culture, visitors will find inspiration in Germany's world-famous concert halls, galleries and theaters. Enjoy traditional music performances in Munich or take in modern art shows in Frankfurt – whichever your preference may be, you'll find it here! No matter what type of holiday you're looking for – whether it be educational or relaxing – Germany has something special for everyone.

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The capital Berlin has lots of history, including the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall, the Holocaust Memorial, and more. 

Oktoberfest happens once a year in Munich, Germany, where millions gather to drink pints and pints of German beer together!

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Tour operators

Booking travel through any of over 50 tour operators is now easy via RoyalHolidays.eu. On this page you will find the complete list of tour operators offered by RoyalHolidays.eu.

FTI Touristik

FTI Touristik is the number four German tour operator and is known for its low-priced package tours, which are offered to 80 countries worldwide.

Read more about FTI Touristik

The online travel provider 5vorFlug lives up to its name because through it, you can book numerous trips around the world, even for the next day.

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At the ten clubs Aldiana's, is much to do and applies the motto vacation with friends. They are spread in six European countries and are located in the mountains or on the beach.

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Alltours is the largest independent German tour operator, focusing primarily on beach vacations in 4- and 5-star accommodations worldwide. Sportsmen and families will be happy, as will your wallet.

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Bentour Swiss

Bentour Swiss distances itself from mass tourism and arranges trips to Turkey in particular, where you can choose from numerous areas of interest, but also a trip to the Canary Islands or Northern Cyprus is possible.

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BigXtra Touristik

The thorough and service rich BigXtra with destinations worldwide, is among the largest tour operators in Germany, and among its specialties includes beach vacations for the whole family.

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Bucher Last Minute

If you want to go on vacation at the last moment, it may be worth taking a look at the offer of Bucher Last Minute, which offers about four million options daily, to the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Read more about Bucher Last Minute

Byebye is a subsidiary of Alltours with a worldwide offer of millions of package and building block tours, for example, to beaches and major cities, and occupies a significant position in the tourist market.

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One of the largest tour operators in Germany and Austria, DERTOUR, is the market leader in the field of individual building block tours and has a huge, varied selection.

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Express Travel International

Sun worshipers can turn to the wide offer of Express Travel International, which specializes in package tours to Egypt and other not too far sunny destinations, and strongly appreciates the wishes of the customer including families.

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Ferien Touristik

If you want to benefit from low prices, Ferien Touristik with destinations in Europe, Egypt, Thailand, Mexico, Florida and the Dominican Republic may be the right choice for you.

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Fox-Tours Reisen

Package tours such as traditional beach vacations as well as special vacations and innovative group tours to far-flung destinations, are part of the wide range offered by the customer-oriented travel company Fox Tours.

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I.D. Riva Tours

I.D. Riva Tours offers tours to Croatia, among others for bathers, nature lovers and families, and has a service network on the ground.

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ITS Reisen's global, large selection of package tours with mostly four-star hotels is especially interesting for a family or single.

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Jahn Reisen

Demanding individualists and families can seek advice from Jahn Reisen, which has opted for individuality and exclusivity, focusing specifically on the countries bordering the Mediterranean, but also offering luxurious and affordable options in the rest of the world.

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LMX Touristik

Destinations around the Mediterranean and the rest of the world are part of the offer of LMX Touristik, which works with the building block principle, which gives not only great flexibility in putting together your trips, but also reasonable prices.

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Meier's Weltreisen

If you want to make a long trip and value service, value for money and many options, such as the building block principle, then Meiers Weltreisen is certainly an option.

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Neckermann Reisen

The well-known brand Neckermann Reisen, now part of Anex Tours, has a wide range of holidays worldwide with an excellent price-quality ratio.

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With Turkey specialist and Europe's largest provider of tours to this country, Öger Tours, you can also book other destinations and choose, for example, a “water hotel”, and always count on excellent service.

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Olimar Reisen

To avoid the standard offer and stay in lesser known places and special hotels in Portugal, Southern Europe or Brazil, for example, you can choose a package tour from Olimar Reisen.

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Phoenix Reisen

Phoenix Reisen specializes in river cruises, boat trips on the high seas, and also air vacations, with destinations such as Morocco and Egypt.

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Schauinsland Reisen

Although Schauinsland Reisen is not a huge organization, it has earned a position within the travel industry with great popularity for destinations from West to East, for almost a century.

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TUI Deutschland

As a national leader, TUI offers something for everyone, and promises to give you more than a smile based on quality and service, plus a Best Price Guarantee for package tours.

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Ecco Reisen

The German Ecco Reisen regulates Sunday and active vacations to countries around the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Florida, offering a wide range of accommodations and facilities.

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The on-screen travel agent TRAVELiX exists only briefly, but offers a wide range of quality dynamic packages to worldwide destinations at low daily prices.

Read more about Travelix

The online tour operator Vtours is a major player in the German-speaking sector and organizes, also for families, dynamic package tours with a rich choice of accommodations, worldwide, in about 70 countries.

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Airtours, part of TUIs, specializes in luxury travel and is the leader in the sector in German-speaking countries. High standards are set for accommodation and treatment of guests so that your trip is an unbroken necklace of luxury experiences.

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The more than 40 years existing German FIT Reisen is a leading company in the field of health and wellness travel, due to the high quality, diverse offers and personalized service.

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The German tour operator Anex Tour-GmbH offers, after more than 20 years, now also package tours to the most beautiful beaches.

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Coral Travel

Coral Travel offers package vacations and ONLY hotel deals with excellent value for money in the vacation destinations of Spain, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia.

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Carefree and reliable holidays

Travel Agency Poot (since 1967) is a professional travel agency located in Emmerich, Germany. All employees speak English as well as German and are happy to answer your questions.

Royal and travel agency Poot stand for excellent service and a no-nonsense approach. In addition, benefit through RoyalHolidays.eu on the wide range of tour operators.

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Best Germany Luxury Tour Companies

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Germany Luxury Reviews & Ratings

The culture the tour guide was able.

The culture the tour guide was able to build and the beauty of locations and knowledge learnt

Marketa did a great job as our

Marketa did a great job as our tour guide.

The tour went very smoothly. I

The tour went very smoothly. I have no major complaints.

everything was taken care of for you

everything was taken care of for you - easy and well organised

Great tour leaders and city selection.

Great tour leaders and city selection. Accommodations could be improved

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Germany: The perfect destination with beautiful nature and cultural attractions for every taste

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Castles and palaces: fairytale film settings, 16 highlight natural landscapes, old towns with unesco world heritage status, classical art museums: genuine masterpieces, must-see museums, enjoy vegan and eco-sustainable city getaways, the latest trend: travelling out into the countryside by train., read our latest articles here, geological time travel: land of volcanoes, excellent hiking experiences in quality regions, creative and refreshing: the 'workation' travel trend, children are welcome: where the little ones take the main stage, 10 palaces and castles off the beaten path, slow travel by train: 9 gorgeous rail routes, 250 years of caspar david friedrich: pathways of history, university cities: youthful vibes and colorful atmosphere, capitals of culture: a grand entrance on the european stage, hotspots of automobile history, baroque cities: travel back in time to the 17th and 18th centuries, bauhaus: follow in the footsteps of this world-famous art school, nightlife cities: paradise for night owls, football hotspots: cities with an extra kick, action and adrenalin: tours for adventurers.

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Pilgrimage: slow down, meditate, reflect, along the magic of peaceful lakes and wild river landscapes, romantic or fairytale: german holiday routes, the world of german animals: more than fox and deer, top spots for astronomy fans: starry skies, 16 highlights in germany, from medieval banquets to the song of the nibelungs, a journey back in time to the baroque era, top tips for special holiday experiences, where world history was written, dine and sleep in regal style, this is the taste of germany, wine experiences from the ahr to württemberg, craft beer: hop heroes everywhere, germany has a (wine) queen, an a to z of health and wellness, health spas and health resorts - a little time out, wine hikes: 5 regions for connoisseurs, discover german originality, 35 years since the fall of the wall, chemnitz: european capital of culture 2025, 52 unesco world heritage sites, summer of football: germany 2024, caspar david friedrich, simply feel good, germany’s top 100 survey, journey of discovery by train, travel from austria to germany with öbb, travel from switzerland to germany with sbb, from france to germany at high speed, barrier-free, experience germany barrier-free, all four seasons enchant in their own way.

The sun is warming the air, the days are getting longer, everywhere things are budding and blossoming: it's spring in Germany - time for getaways, blossom festivals, asparagus feasting and popular Easter traditions.

Summer At Last: Beer Gardens, Swimming Fun, Strawberry Ice Cream

Golden sunshine, colourful forests: the Indian summer can also be found in Germany. An ideal time for active holidaymakers and wellness fans. And for epicures, since this is harvest time.

Winter is the favourite season for any romantic. Outside, snowed-in forests and frozen lakes beckon. Inside, it feels cosy with baked goods, mulled wine and candlelight.

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AugustusTOURS ACTIVE HOLIDAYS AND GROUP TOURS TO GERMANY

We organize active tours with luggage transport as well as city and cultural tours for groups of 10 or more people. Your vacation is our passion. Since 1997. Tailor-made, according to your ideas.

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As a special tour operator for individual cycling tours and eventful hiking holidays, we offer you unforgettable active tours along the most beautiful cycling and hiking trails in Germany and Europe .

We organise our cycling and hiking tours for everyone , whether you are travelling alone, as a couple, in family, with friends or your club. In order to give you the best service and great tips for your tours, we have explored most of our cycling and hiking trails ourselves.

Furthermore, we are specialized in yet another unique travel topic: steam train tours. Enthusiasts and lovers of steam trains or narrow-gauge railways will get to experience exciting rides with history-charged steam trains and learn more about the historical significance and tradition of steam engines in various regions.

Join us and celebrate nostalgic events and highlights like traditional steam engine festivals and anniversary jubilees and let yourself be enchanted by the special charm of historic steam trains and traditional narrow-gauge railways.

Tailor-made Group Tours

Expertise. ideas. passion..

For tour operators, bus companies, private groups, companies or clubs, we organise tailor-made group tours from 10 persons and excursion programmes to the most beautiful regions of Germany .

Our expertise lies in the processing of classic city tours, opera tours and cultural tours as well as festive offers. We have suitable accommodation, expert guides, restaurant recommendations and the best sightseeing and excursion tips up our sleeves.

We look forward to meeting you!

Your holiday is our passion. And the best thing is: we live and work where you go on holiday! Our travel forge is located in beautiful Dresden: some colleagues cycle to work along the Elbe every day. Others hike the Saxon Switzerland in their free minutes. But also culturally no wishes remain unfulfilled here: Semper Opera, Frauenkirche and the museums of the Dresden State Art Collections we know like the back of our hand. We would also be happy to crown your trip!

Find out more about us and get to know the AugustusTours team!

Compass Tours Incoming

Germany´s premier dmc & inbound tour operator since 1974, germany´s leading destination management company.

Compass Tours Incoming (DMC) is delighted to announce its exceptional achievement of being honored with the prestigious title of “Germany’s Leading Destination Management Company” at the esteemed World Travel Awards in 2024 again after 2023. Established three decades ago, the World Travel Awards serve as a distinguished platform for recognizing and celebrating excellence across all facets of the tourism industry.

Founded in 1974, Compass Tours Incoming has earned a well-deserved reputation as a frontrunner in orchestrating incentive programs and delivering opulent leisure travel experiences throughout Germany. Their dedicated team of experts consistently crafts distinctive and enchanting journeys that showcase the splendor and cultural richness of Germany.

DISCOVER GERMANY

Leading dmc since 1974.

Let Local Knowledge Guide Your Company Trip

Compass Tours Incoming is the only destination management company that covers the whole of Germany. With three offices, we have roots planted in each major region: one office in the North in Berlin , one in Central in Frankfurt , and one in the South in Munich . Where there are roots, there is knowledge; our team has been your local experts since 1974.

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Where will you take your team, among the top 25 dmcs.

Compass Tours Incoming was named one of the Top 25 Destination Management Companies worldwide by Special Events Magazine, the “official and premier magazine of the special events industry in North America,” according to the International Special Events Society (ISES.) DMCs were selected for this prestigious list based on number of events handled per year, annual revenue from DMC services, overall capabilities and noteworthy events. The company is the only pure German DMC who has the distinction of appearing on the Top 25 DMCs ever.

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What brings you to germany, transfers & tours, team-building, river cruise services, faith tours & meetings, inbound operator & leisure.

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• Online travel agencies with the best service in Germany 2023

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Standard travel planning, online travel agencies in germany in 2023, ranked by best service.

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The customer service experienced was evaluated with the "Service Experience Score" (SES). This score is closely connected to customer retention. The service ranking includes the reviews and experiences of current as well as former customers (last contact 36 months before at the longest).

Other statistics on the topic Tourism industry in Germany

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• Tourist arrivals in German travel accommodation in 1992-2023
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Statistics on " Tourism industry in Germany "

• Revenue in the travel industry in Germany 2005-2021
• Hospitality industry revenue by type of business in Germany 2019-2021
• Total revenue of German tour operators 2004-2023
• Total revenue of German travel agencies 2002-2023
• Gross annual earnings of travel agency employees in Germany from 2010 to 2022
• Employees at accommodation establishments in Germany 2021-2023
• Number of employees in the hospitality industry in Germany 2004-2023
• Number of tour operator and travel agency employees in Germany 2008-2023
• Employees at accommodation establishments in Germany 2012-2022
• Number of passengers in German airports 2001-2023
• Capacity utilisation of long-distance trains of Deutsche Bahn AG until 2023
• Cruise passenger numbers from Germany 2004-2023
• Accommodation revenues in Germany 2012 to 2022
• Tourist accommodation open in Germany 1992-2023
• Average hotel RevPAR in selected German cities in 2022
• Open campgrounds in Germany 1992-2020
• Most popular vacation destinations among Germans 2021-2023
• Most popular vacation activities among Germans in Germany in 2022
• Popular regions for bike travel in Germany 2023
• Vacations in Germany by type of planning in 2023
• Booking channel preferences for vacation travel in Germany 2024

Other statistics that may interest you Tourism industry in Germany

• Premium Statistic Revenue in the travel industry in Germany 2005-2021
• Premium Statistic German hospitality industry revenues 2013-2022
• Premium Statistic Hospitality industry revenue by type of business in Germany 2019-2021
• Premium Statistic Tourist arrivals in German travel accommodation in 1992-2023
• Basic Statistic Tourist overnight stays in Germany 1992-2023

Tour operators, travel agencies and industry employees

• Premium Statistic Total revenue of German tour operators 2004-2023
• Premium Statistic Total revenue of German travel agencies 2002-2023
• Premium Statistic Online travel agencies with the best service in Germany 2023
• Premium Statistic Gross annual earnings of travel agency employees in Germany from 2010 to 2022
• Premium Statistic Employees at accommodation establishments in Germany 2021-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of employees in the hospitality industry in Germany 2004-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of tour operator and travel agency employees in Germany 2008-2023
• Premium Statistic Employees at accommodation establishments in Germany 2012-2022

Transport and accommodation

• Premium Statistic Number of passengers in German airports 2001-2023
• Premium Statistic Capacity utilisation of long-distance trains of Deutsche Bahn AG until 2023
• Premium Statistic Cruise passenger numbers from Germany 2004-2023
• Premium Statistic Accommodation revenues in Germany 2012 to 2022
• Premium Statistic Tourist accommodation open in Germany 1992-2023
• Basic Statistic Distribution of hotels in Germany by number of stars 2024
• Premium Statistic Average hotel RevPAR in selected German cities in 2022
• Premium Statistic Open campgrounds in Germany 1992-2020

Travel destinations and activities

• Premium Statistic Most popular vacation destinations among Germans 2021-2023
• Premium Statistic Most popular vacation activities among Germans in Germany in 2022
• Premium Statistic Popular regions for bike travel in Germany 2023
• Premium Statistic Vacations in Germany by type of planning in 2023
• Premium Statistic Booking channel preferences for vacation travel in Germany 2024

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• Premium Statistic Market share of China's online air ticket companies 2016, by GMV
• Premium Statistic Online holiday booking in China in 2012, by distribution channels
• Premium Statistic Transaction volume of the Chinese online travel booking market 2013-2022
• Premium Statistic Share of U.S. business travelers who used select OTAs and metasearch engines 2017
• Premium Statistic Number of users of buses in Switzerland 2019-2028
• Premium Statistic List of factors consumers consider when receiving parcels in the UK 2020-2021
• Premium Statistic Revenue per user of buses in Germany 2019-2028

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• Online holiday booking in China in 2012, by distribution channels
• Transaction volume of the Chinese online travel booking market 2013-2022
• Share of U.S. business travelers who used select OTAs and metasearch engines 2017
• Number of users of buses in Switzerland 2019-2028
• List of factors consumers consider when receiving parcels in the UK 2020-2021
• Revenue per user of buses in Germany 2019-2028

U.S. reissues Level 2 travel warning for Germany. Here’s what you need to know before your next trip

• Updated: May. 04, 2024, 10:10 a.m. |
• Published: May. 04, 2024, 10:00 a.m.

The U.S. State Department has reissued a Level 2 travel advisory for Germany due to fears of terrorism. AP

• Katherine Rodriguez | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The U.S. State Department has reissued a Level 2 travel advisory for Germany due to fears of terrorism.

The State Department issued the advisory on Wednesday, ranking the travel advisory on a scale of two out of four. This means that those traveling to an area must “exercise increased caution.”

“Terrorists may attack with little or no warning,” the State Department noted.

The agency added that terrorists could target tourism and transportation hubs, as well as shopping destinations, hotels, clubs, restaurants, local government facilities and major events.

The State Department noted on its website that for those who do decide to travel to Germany, travelers should pay attention to their surroundings , follow the instructions of local authorities, be aware of the latest breaking news in the area and adjust your plans, if necessary. The organization also urges travelers to Germany to create a contingency plan for emergency situations as well as sign up for the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive alerts and make it easier for the State Department to locate you in case of an emergency.

The U.S. Department of State has issued several travel warnings this year with those most recently centered around the Caribbean.

One was a Level 4 “do not travel” warning against traveling to the country of Haiti due to kidnappings and gang violence.

Another warning from the State Department cautioned travelers to “reconsider travel” to the country of Jamaica after 65 people were murdered in one month.

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin more confident than ever inauguration speech; plot to 'kill Zelenskyy' stopped

Vladimir Putin has been officially sworn in as Russian president for a new six-year term, although many Western nations did not attend. The ruler seems more confident than ever. Elsewhere, Ukraine says it has foiled a plot to kidnap and kill President Zelenskyy.

Tuesday 7 May 2024 17:59, UK

• Putin sworn in again as president | Claims Russia would work with West
• 'We elect our president': Kremlin defends 'purely democratic' Russia
• Ivor Bennett analysis: Painted as a modern-day Tsar, Putin seems more confident than ever
• Plot to 'kidnap and kill Zelenskyy' stopped, Ukraine says
• Many nations boycott Putin's inauguration ceremony
• Putin has 85% approval rating - here's why
• Big picture : What you need to know as a new week begins
• Your questions answered: Why can't Ukraine destroy key Crimean bridge?
• Live reporting by Lauren Russell  and Ollie Cooper

We're pausing our live coverage of the war in Ukraine for the time being - thanks for tuning in.

Before you go, here is a recap of today's developments.

• Vladimir Putin was officially sworn in again as Russian president, marking the start of his fifth term in office;
• During his inaugural speech, Mr Putin said he is willing to work with the West, but it is down to them to cooperate with Russia;
• Two people have been arrested after Ukraine's intelligence agency foiled a plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy;
• The widow of former Putin critic Alexei Navalny criticised Mr Putin on the day of his inauguration calling him a murderer and a liar.

By Ivor Bennett , Moscow correspondent

Held inside the throne room of the Tsars, the ceremony felt almost like a coronation rather than an inauguration.

And that was part of the point. The symbolism was key.

Andreyevsky Hall, where Vladimir Putin took the oath of office, is dripping with gold. 

It oozes power. 

I think this was an attempt to paint him as a modern-day Tsar, who is the rightful ruler of Russia.

The other aim was to add the stamp of electoral legitimacy to his leadership, and his policies. 

The Kremlin’s chief spokesman Dmitry Peskov told me beforehand that this was just part of the "democratic" political process (see our 13.35 post).

The speech was typical Putin - talking up Russia's greatness, blaming the West for Moscow's isolation and doubling down on his current path of conflict abroad and a crackdown at home.

He said he ranks the safety of the Russian people "above all else".  

Translation - we're in this for the long haul. 

But whose fault is Russia’s status as a global pariah? 

Not ours, he said. 

This was all part of the Kremlin's narrative to portray the West as the aggressor, and Russia as the victim.

What might concern people both at home and abroad was the tone of the speech.

For example, he gave a thinly veiled warning that protest will not be tolerated, saying it’s important "not to forget the tragic price of internal turmoil", adding that Russia must be "absolutely resistant" to it.

And the last line: "We will overcome all obstacles and bring all our plans to life."

Vladimir Putin seems more confident than ever.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said Europe needs to spend "big money" in order to prevent other powers in the world from "raising a hand against it". 

Speaking at a conference in the Polish city of Katowice, Mr Tusk called on European countries to take joint action to increase spending on defence by at least €100bn (£85bn).

"Europe must be prepared in the next dozen or so months and the entire next five years for a situation in which no power in the world will dare raise a hand against it," he said.

"Big money will move the war away from Europe's borders for a long time, perhaps permanently."

He also repeated the idea of building a common European air defence system - saying Europe has "more initiatives than real actions". 

Due to the war in Ukraine, Poland is strengthening its defence capabilities, allocating over 4% of its GDP.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, agreed Europe must spend more on defence and declared that if she remains in office for another term she will propose new defence projects.

A Russian national has been sanctioned in the UK, US and Australia for his alleged role as the creator of the most prolific ramsomware group in the world. 

The sanctions target Dmitry Khoroshev who has been identified as one of the leaders of LockBit, the ransomware group responsible for extorting over $1bn from thousands of victims globally. 

In the US, Khoroshev has been charged with 26 counts of allegedly developing and administering a malicious cyber scheme.

The UK's foreign office said the LockBit group was behind attacks on over 200 UK businesses and major public server providers and 25% of all global ransomware attacks. 

Pro-Russian Chechen forces are baring the brunt of the frontlines in Ukraine and training Russian troops behind the scenes, the UK's Ministry of Defence says.

Around 9,000 personnel are currently serving within the Pro-Russian Chechen forces in Ukraine, which has been pushed back onto the frontline since the withdrawal of Russia's private military company, Wagner, the MoD said in its daily intelligence update. 

At the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, Chechen forces became known as "TikTok troops" for their presence on social media.

But, they have since provided personnel and given training to Russians at The Special Forces University in Gudermes, Chechnya. 

The MoD said troops receive up to 10 days' training at the so-called university. 

Chechnya has historically always supported Russia's military action in Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of using banned toxins on the battlefield. 

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is in The Hague, said that all accusations were "insufficiently substantiated".

But it added: "The situation remains volatile and extremely concerning regarding the possible re-emergence of use of toxic chemicals as weapons." 

Neither side has asked the OPCW to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons.

Last week, Russia denied allegations from the US that it had used the choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops and utilised riot control agents "as a method of warfare".

Under the Chemical Weapons Convention, any toxic chemical used with the purpose of causing harm or death is considered a chemical weapon.

We've been covering the fifth inauguration of Vladimir Putin as Russian president.

The ceremony took place in Moscow's Grand Kremlin Palace, and our correspondent Ivor Bennett was there to experience the entire event.

He also interviewed Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov about the state of democracy in Russia and the lack of opposition during the presidential election back in March.

Bennett asked Mr Peskov: "Western leaders and Western governments believe that Vladimir Putin has turned Russia into a dictatorship, why do you think that’s not the case?"

Mr Peskov replied: "This is not the case.

"It's just propaganda, it's rough propaganda, nothing else."

He went on to say Russia was "purely democratic", adding: "We choose our power. We elect our power. We elect our president. We vote for the president or don’t want to vote for the president.

"And we insist that we have the right to do it the way we want to do it.

"And we don’t want a third country to interfere in our choices, in our preferences."

Pressed on whether the lack of opposition to Vladimir Putin in Russia was democratic, Mr Peskov said: "But there is opposition inside the country, of course the conditions are much tougher here because we are in war conditions."

Mr Peskov used the word "war" twice in the interview - typically, the Kremlin refers to its invasion of Ukraine as a "special military operation" - a term he also used once.

Ivor Bennett then asked if it was even more important for the public to have the right to speak out in wartime.

"No, to the contrary. It needs tougher measures to ensure the victory, to ensure that we reach our goals," Mr Peskov replied.

Asked whether this was democratic, Mr Peskov insisted: "It is, it is."

He added that the Western media in Europe and the US exists in the "same circumstances".

Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside The Hague's Peace Palace in The Netherlands to protest the inauguration of President Vladimir Putin. 

The protesters, many of whom had travelled from Germany, carried a giant carnival float that showed a caricature of the Russian leader with blood on his hands in a striped prison uniform.

They also held Ukrainian flags and placards saying: "Putin to The Hague" - which is the home of the International Court of Justice.

Dina Musina, who works for a Berlin-based charity that supports Russian prisoners, said they need to "raise awareness about Putin's crimes internationally".

A plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been uncovered by Ukraine's state security service (SBU).

The SBU claimed two agents who were posing as Ukrainian state guard servicemen were tasked by Moscow to figure out a way to capture Mr Zelenskyy and later kill him. 

They also planned to kill other high-ranking Ukrainian officials, the SBU said in a statement on Telegram . 

Head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, described the plot as a "gift to Putin before the inauguration".

The SBU said two suspects have been detained after an investigation gradually documented their alleged criminal actions.

Ukrainian claims that plots to kill Mr Zelenskyy are not new. 

The president said in 2022 there had been at least 10 attempts to assassinate him since the start of the war.

The widow of former Putin critic Alexei Navalny has criticised President Vladimir Putin on the day of his fifth inauguration as Russian leader. 

In a video posted on YouTube shortly before the ceremony took place in Moscow, Yulia Navalnaya called Mr Putin a liar, a thief and a murderer. 

She added that the war in Ukraine is "bloody and senseless" and no one wants it apart from the Russian leader.

"Huge sums of money are stolen from all of us every day to fund bombings of peaceful cities, riot police beating people with batons, propagandists spreading lies. And also for [the elite's] own palaces, yachts and private jets," she said.

"And as long as this continues, we can't stop the fight."

Having been exiled from Russia, Ms Navalnaya has vowed to continue the work of her late husband, who died in an Arctic penal colony on 16 February. 

She has accused Mr Putin of having him killed, an accusation which the Kremlin has always denied.

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