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20 Things to Know Before Visiting Germany

April 7, 2018 by Contributor

Here we inform you of our 20 Things to Know Before Visiting Germany, including crucial German etiquette standards and how to travel throughout Germany with grace and dignity.

Crucial German Etiquette

How to visit germany with grace.

There are only a handful of countries that are so different yet so similar to North America, then Germany. Walking around Germany, at first glance, looks like a regular day in Canada – a regular day in one of our oldest cities, mind you, but a regular day.

The people wear the same clothes, we eat the same foods (mostly), we even listen to the same music. This is about where the similarities end. Our customs and etiquette standards are almost polar opposites, to the point where many Canadians/Americans have complained about visiting this great country.

It is easy to criticize a society we don’t know much about or have certain preconceived notions that don’t hold up once confronted with the real thing.

1. It’s all about the Cash

Not every place of business takes plastic. Even fewer accept credit cards as payment. It is always helpful to have cash in hand, just in case you run into a place that is cash only. Oh, they won’t tell you in advance, they don’t even have signs at the entrance. You just need to know.

Travel Tip:  always have a few 1euro coins and 50Euro cent coins. You never know when you will need them. I have one of each stashed in a little pocket in my wallet. When I need it, it’s there.

2. You have to pay to pee

Speaking of change, just about every toilet you will use is going to cost you. It is generally 50 cents Euro but can go all the way up to 1 euro per person. Children are allowed to enter with a parent free of charge but the change rooms for babies are oftentimes in the handicapped toilet and still require payment to access.

There are free options available, though I wouldn’t suggest using them outside of a restaurant. They can be “interesting”.

3. There is no Sunday shopping

Germany has very quiet peaceful Sundays. Many locals from NRW travel to the Netherlands on Sundays for shopping. Luckily, the border is packed with great little towns just waiting for shoppers from the German border region to arrive. This has the expected consequence of making Saturdays in Germany a very busy shopping day for the unprepared. Sundays in the Netherlands are a great opportunity for shopping and other activities. This is why I prefer doing all of my shopping online, or just before I pick up the kids from school. That sacred 2-3 pm time at the grocery store is heaven…and the baby is napping in the stroller. Win-Win.

4. If a German says they will be there, they will be there.

Every year around my son’s birthday, I remember when he was turning 2 and we invited his whole class from preschool to his party. All 20 agreed to come, so I made snacks and cake for 20 kids and a parent. 3 showed up. And 2 of them were related. In Germany, when 20 people RSVP that they will be there, expect 20 people. German punctuality is also something to mention. Never be late for a German; traffic is not an excuse.

5. Germans stare.

Not like, staring at you until you make awkward eye contact then pretending nothing happened. They will stare at you, even after you notice and express your discomfort in it. I can’t tell if they are judging me, trying to figure out what I am saying, or some strange “lost in the moment” face and I happen to be in their line of sight, but it’s weird. I would say you get over it, but you really don’t.

6. We keep our voices down in public.

Germans like rules and they like it when everyone follows the rules. Part of these rules is keeping your voice down; no one wants to hear your conversation, and we don’t want anyone else hearing our conversation. Even the (local) children are aware of this rule. After living here for 4 years, we still stand out like the foreigners that we are. I can’t tell you how many times I have to shh the kids (to no avail) on a 10-minute bus ride, let alone a 45-minute tram ride to downtown.

7. Nudity is a thing.

Between the spa, beach, and swimming pools, I have seen way too much nudity. The changing rooms at the pool are communal family rooms, male rooms, and female rooms. And no one is shy about changing in front of strangers. Same with the showers after the pool. Speaking of the spa; a Spanish friend went to the spa with a few of her German girlfriends. They didn’t tell her anything because it is normal for them. She was mortified when she walked into the sauna and saw a bunch of naked old men lounging around. It got worse after she laid down and one of them walked up to her to talk about the flip-flops on the chair.

Nudity in the sauna is mandatory; they believe towels or swimsuits will lock in too much heat and damage your pores and overheat your body, and dirty towels are in the sauna are gross. We learned this the hard way when we went to the Tropical Islands . Fun times.

8. Never ask for tap water in a restaurant

On our very first night here, our waiter was so kind as to inform us of this social etiquette. While you may drink tap water at home, not everyone does. It’s seen as a faux pas. And therefore, restaurants will sell you a bottle of water.  Even a pitcher of water with ice will cost a few euros. And be sure to ask for Still water . Germans like to carbonate their water and their juice. I mean, I guess water is pretty boring and those flavor infusion drops have a lot of sugar in them but seriously, carbonated apple juice?

9. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle

Back in the day, everything was taken back to the recycling depot and we were given a few bucks to spend at the candy store. Germany still has that and the depot is conveniently located at the entrance of most (if not all) grocery stores. When purchasing eligible items, we pay a deposit. In turn, we are encouraged to return that item for a refund. Most items start at 25 cents Euro and go up from there.

Many Germans prefer to return their items on a daily basis since they generally go to the store that often. I tend to forget mine and show up once a week with two large bags full of them. Again, more stares and comments. I don’t care – today’s groceries are free. I’m a winner.

There are some things that I just won’t return for a deposit, like my fancy Christmas market mugs . Sure, I COULD take a fun photo with them and pretend as I took it home. It would save me a ton of money and even more cabinet space. But where is the fun in that?

10. Avoid the bike lane.

We have ingrained this fact into our son and he is now schooling the little one. On most sidewalks, there are two lanes, a colored lane, and a grey lane. The colored lane is for bikes and the grey is for pedestrians. Cyclists will ring their little bell until you move out of the way; if they have to go around you, you will hear about it and everyone will know what you have done, see rules 5 & 6.

We learned this on our House Hunting Trip a few years ago. We almost got taken out by a line of bikers and a nice English-speaking couple (see, they are everywhere) informed us. I guess we looked like we had no idea what just happened. My son asked a good question the other day about it; if there are no signs, how do people know that these are the rules? I told him that moms and dads teach their kids, who go on to teach their kids… yes mummy but what about moms and dads that don’t know about the rules, who tells them? The bike that nearly hit you will be sure to educate you on the matter.

11.  Germans don’t jaywalk (without getting yelled at).

Not a word of a lie, it doesn’t happen in Germany. I have been at this one intersection in town, not a car in sight for miles, and dozens of people are just standing on the curb – waiting for the light to change. They even get upset that it’s taking so long, but no one will dare step out into the road. The one or two people that will cross, get an ear full from both sides of the road.

Why? Mostly, because it’s against the law and Germans always follow the rules. But also because that jaywalker has set a bad example for the children around and could have been hurt. I have the right to go about my day without witnessing an avoidable tragedy.

This has a lot to do with the driving laws in Germany too; Cars generally have the right of way in all cases except when a crosswalk is present ( but even like North America, many drivers view them as suggestions instead of laws), followed by bikes, dogs, then pedestrians. That’s right, dogs have socially more rights than a pedestrian.

When it comes time to cross on a small street, cars rarely slow down to let anyone pass before they make their turn. We learned this rule VERY QUICKLY.

While not totally related, this does come to mind every time I hear the term Jaywalking

12. Speaking English hasn’t made its way up the ranks just yet

The random lady walking her dog can speak to my kids, my neighbor is a SAHM and she can speak perfect English. So can the butcher, the cashier, and the nice lady that serves me at Subway even has an American accent. But my Realtor, Bank Teller, or Cell Phone retention department… not a single word.

I mean, yes, this is Germany and English isn’t even an official language so I can’t exactly EXPECT anyone to speak English. But when the guy at McDonald’s has a second language but the guy robbing me blind at Vodafone can’t string two sentences together, I start to question things.

The moral is, to try to learn a few words. Those that can’t speak English though, seem to have a bit of a chip on their shoulder about it and refuse to hear your broken German no matter how hard you try. I have had a few altercations with the staff because I am trying to say the few German words that I know and they just stare at me like I was from another planet.  A nice customer from behind would interrupt, tell me what was going on, tell the staff what I am trying to say, then proceed to chew them out for being so ignorant about my accent.

13. They will scold your kids for you

True story, Germans are not afraid of Mamma bear. If your kid is out of line, they will correct the child and the child better listen respectfully. On the other hand, if you are busy chatting with the neighbors and your kid gets an earful from grandma across the park, just take it and move on. It’s nothing personal, and she probably has her best intentions at heart. This has a lot to do with the level of freedom Germans give their kids.

14. Kids roam free and respectfully at a very young age

The main reason I can think of why strangers discipline “school” children is a result of the amount of freedom that children are given in Germany. As young as 6 years old, kids are allowed to ride the train on their own, walk to school by themselves, go to the store, and run errands for mom and dad. Because they are allowed in public without supervision, the general public is in charge of that child’s well-being. It takes a village, after all. As a parent, Germans know that strangers will care for the child should they need help, and in return, parents help other children they see walking alone (or not alone, they don’t really care).

15. Tax is included in the price

Gone are the days of factoring in 14% sales tax on some items, but not on others. Or wondering what is the tax rate in this province/state. It is the law that all price tags show the final price of an item. Kids can now properly budget for their sweeties.

TRAVANDO Slim Wallet with Money Clip Austin RFID Blocking Card Mini Bifold

The slim wallet  AUSTIN  presents itself in a modern way with a certain number of card slots and a money clip. The noble design is emphasized by the  metal emblem

16. German grocery stores

What the cashiers lack in patience, they make up for in speed. Not only am I required to bring my own bag (plastic bags are for sale, but they aren’t cheap), and bag my own groceries, these people never let up. I could be drowning in a sea of vegetables and they will keep piling it on until there is no room left on the counter… then wait and stare as I frantically throw everything into my buggy so she can scan more items. And of course, they are done scanning well before I am done putting food away, so what do I do?

Do I pay now and finish packing after, or do I finish packing and pay after? Either way, everyone is staring and checking to see if I will break under the pressure.

It’s a sport, it has to be. Even the locals look flustered when it’s their turn. I am convinced this is why they all have small fridges; so they have to shop more often, meaning they have smaller loads in their carts, and can easily keep up with the cashier.

17. Expect to share and make new friends

Just like the cafeteria in high school, Biergartens and other public spaces have a lack of seating and this can only lead to one thing… sharing. The benches are long enough to accommodate many people and Germans may not ask permission to sit with you. If there is space, they will come. If you are taking up too much room, they will ask you to move over to make way for the rest of the group. No one is shy in Germany.

Now, this doesn’t mean you actually have to talk to them. As I said before, Germans aren’t really into small talk, so if you aren’t interesting to them, they will leave you alone. But if you say or do something to pique their interest, be prepared to make a new friend because they will start talking to you.

18. Drinking in public isn’t just for the Biergarten

It is legal to drink just about anywhere in a public space. This makes Christmas Markets and the downtown area a great place to be during festivals. You are allowed to drink in public, this doesn’t mean you can be drunk in public. Know your limit and don’t embarrass yourself.

The surrounding countries, however, don’t have the same love for beer.

We went to Rotterdam for a quick weekend break and saw a guy drinking his beer outside the train station. To me, it wasn’t a problem, I’ve been in Germany for 4 years, it’s normal. Nope.  A nice man politely asked him if he was German, and the answer was yes. “Well, here in the Netherlands you are not allowed to drink in public. I suggest you put it away until you are back in the hotel”.

Oops. Another great story; we were walking around downtown and saw a Panel Van pull up at a stop sign. A bunch of construction workers jumped into the van, with a beer in hand, and they drove off. Drinking while in a car is legal.

Driving while drunk or drinking while driving the car is not legal, however. The legal limit is .05% (to compare, it is .08% in America). The fines are much higher, you can lose your license on the first offence and may also be required to see a psychologist for evaluation of your ability to drive in the future. With this much beer available, and so ingrained in their culture, it is no wonder that strict rules are made.

19. Autobahn is German for Highway

Germany is not the magic land of high speeds and NASCAR practice. There are speed signs on many parts of the highway. There just also happens to be many parts, safe parts, that are unlimited. This means the roads are straight and uneventful enough to make driving 200km/hr relatively safe. But whatever you do, do not go into the Left lane if you aren’t prepared to join them. Cars will come up at you so incredibly quickly that you won’t know what is going on. Rarely will they slow down, mostly because they don’t have to. It’s like a game of chicken except everyone knows that the slowpoke is at fault. Keep up or get out.

20. They aren’t rude, they are just German.

So this has come up a few times. Germans, in general, are very frank. They aren’t interested in pleasantries; they have things to do. Germans tend to be more direct and expressive which can come off as a little aggressive to non-Germans.

This can come off as rude in terms of customer service, the way they talk to you in the streets, even the way they scold you and your kids (adults are not immune to being told off). I promise you, they aren’t being rude. Some would even say our exaggerated concern with politeness is exhausting and time-consuming.

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Destination Germany

Would you like to travel to Germany as a tourist? Here you’ll find all the important information you need for an unforgettable stay.

Whether you love nature or history, mountains or the sea, Germany has something to offer for everyone. From majestic castles set amid picturesque landscapes to the lively streets of Berlin, there are countless hidden treasures to discover in the country. Here you will find valuable information about popular destinations, cultural highlights, local traditions and delicious dishes along with practical travel tips. Get ready for a journey through Germany to explore fascinating cities, breathtaking mountain landscapes and intriguing UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Topics on this page

Entry requirements, how can i get about in the country, travelling on a budget, what do i need to know before the trip, food and drink, the most attractive towns and cities, outdoor excursions, history and technology, history up close, unesco world heritage, the great outdoors, where can i stay the night, germany from a distinctive perspective, germany from a digital perspective.

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To get you in the mood, we’ve put together a summary of some of Germany’s magical spots, magnificent natural attractions and a few ideas as to what you might like to do on your trip to Germany:

What are the requirements for tourists entering Germany?

Tourists from EU countries in the Schengen area and from many other countries can enter without any further formalities. All other travellers need a tourist visa for a 90-day stay: the type C Schengen visa. Check this list issued by the German Foreign Ministry Auswärtiges Amt to find out if you need a visa:

https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/-/231148

You can obtain a visa from the German embassy or consulate in your country. It will also provide you with details of any requirements that apply.

How can I travel in Germany?

Germany is well-known for its motorways . They criss-cross the country in all directions. With the exception of a few islands, you can get to virtually every point of interest in Germany by car. Travelling by train in Germany is very convenient, too: the local and long-distance public transport network has trains and buses that serve virtually the entire country. The major cities and their surrounding areas in particular offer excellent transportation links. One convenient option for travel between larger towns and cities is that of the long-distance buses. There is also domestic air traffic – though given that Germany is not overly extensive in size, more ecofriendly forms of travel are available.

Here you will find tips for travelling in Germany:

Bonus tip: how can I travel in Germany on a limited budget?

Travelling costs money, and even though there are a lot of countries that are more expensive than Germany, it is certainly not one of the cheapest holiday destinations. The longer you want to spend exploring Germany, the more this applies, of course: travel, accommodation, food and drink are necessary expenses. One option is to earn the cost of your trip in Germany itself while you are there.

Find out all about work and travel in Germany:

What are the most important things I need to know when travelling to Germany?

Germany is made up of 16 federal states , but this won’t affect you in terms of tourist travel. There are no noticeable borders between the states and the same laws apply everywhere throughout the country. Germany has a nationwide system of healthcare consisting of general practitioners and hospitals. In order to keep costs low in the event of illness or accident, tourists are advised to take out travel health insurance for the duration of their visit to Germany. All common means of payment are accepted in Germany, though paying with cash is still widespread, especially in the case of small amounts. Food in Germany is international: Italian, Turkish and Asian cuisine is to be found practically everywhere. German cuisine with all its specialities is an option too, of course.

What can I eat and drink when I visit Germany?

The restaurant landscape in Germany is practically unlimited and highly diverse. In big cities in particular it is possible to find almost every type of international cuisine, often in gourmet quality, too. Virtually every town in Germany has a pizzeria, a kebab restaurant or a Chinese restaurant serving good food that is reasonably priced. But tourists will want to try the country’s own typical dishes and drinks, too. Some dishes require a little tolerance, unlike perhaps the most common German drinks such as beer and wine. When it comes to beer and wine, it’s always a good idea to try regional specialities.

What places should I visit in Germany?

There are hundreds of worthwhile destinations in Germany. Here you will find the most popular places for tourists from abroad to visit in Germany:

Everything you need to know about the most attractive German towns and cities

But this is only a small selection of course. You might be asking yourself: where do I start my trip to Germany? What are the most frequently visited towns and cities in Germany ? Maybe you’d like to get to know the big German cities ? Hamburg, the port city on the North Sea, Berlin, the German capital, Leipzig, the cultural centre in the east, or Cologne, the city with the famous cathedral? Frankfurt, the city of banks and museums? Or Munich, home to the Oktoberfest, situated on the edge of the Alps? Each of these cities has a long and fascinating history, even dating back to Roman times in some cases.

Our bonus tip: “Berlin for free”

You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money if you want to visit Germany. Here we have compiled a special set of tips for those who’d like to get to know Berlin (almost) for free:

Everything you need to know for a trip to the countryside in Germany

Germany has a rich variety of landscapes: the islands in the North Sea and Baltic Sea , extensive plains in the north rising to the lower mountain ranges, and then Germany’s highest point in the far south – the Zugspitze in the picturesque Alps. In all these regions you will find unique and stunning landscapes, romantic river valleys, majestic mountains such as the Brocken in the Harz Mountains or the Feldberg in the legendary Black Forest – and there are even enchanted primeval forests, too.

The different landscapes provide habitats for numerous different animal species. If you are interested in wild animals, this is the right place for you:

Everything you need to know about cultural and historical highlights on your trip to Germany

No one can visit the land of Goethe, Bach and Beethoven without at least encountering in some form the mark left by these and other great artists – or indeed hearing their works. Germany is the country with the most symphony orchestras and opera houses. The Berlin Philharmonic is considered one of the best orchestras in the world, and more than a third of the world’s opera performances take place in Germany. In Berlin alone there are three opera houses, the Semperoper in Dresden is world-famous, too, and then of course there is the Festspielhaus in Bayreuth, where only works by Richard Wagner are performed. Popular music has an equally important role to play: with festivals such as “Rock am Ring” at the Nürburgring motor racing track and concerts ranging from local bands to international superstars, there is something on offer to suit every taste.

Great art treasures in impressive museums

In Germany, cultural education is seen as a responsibility of the public sector, which is why many museums receive funding from the state. This is another reason why the country has countless museums that many millions of people visit every year. Berlin has an entire museum island – a must-see on any visit to the capital. The Alte Pinakothek in Munich, the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, Museum Ludwig and the Wallraff-Richartz Museum in Cologne, the Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart and the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden – the list of outstanding exhibition venues is virtually endless. The advantage from your point of view when travelling to Germany: it’s usually not far to go to the nearest major museum.

Spectacular presentations of history and technology

Museums are not only dedicated to the fine arts, of course. The largest technology museum of its kind in the world is in Munich: the Deutsches Museum. 1.5 million people visit it every year. Another spectacular place to see is the Sinsheim Museum of Technology, where a real Concorde is on display – still the fastest passenger aircraft ever. Anyone visiting Frankfurt am Main who is interested in natural history should be sure not to miss the Senckenberg Museum.

German history is featured in numerous museums, with both its dark and bright sides. The largest German-language cultural history museum is the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg. Meanwhile, the Buchenwald memorial on the site of a former concentration camp near the Goethe and Schiller city of Weimar is dedicated to the crimes perpetrated under National Socialism.

Where can I immerse myself in German history up close?

Finding out about history in a museum is fascinating, but here are some tips for you if you want to really immerse yourself in the past. Open-air museums bring bygone times back to life, ancient walls give you history at first hand and historical festivals offer a glimpse of what life must have felt like in past eras.

Unique destinations in Germany: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The United Nations awards a distinctive seal of quality to particularly outstanding natural or cultural monuments. They are declared by UNESCO to be World Heritage Sites . Here you can find out which of these places you should definitely not miss in Germany:

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Are you a nature-lover wanting to get a feel for the great outdoors in Germany?

It is possible to explore cities and landscapes on foot. Those wishing to cover lengthier distances in the countryside may prefer to travel by bicycle. Germany offers numerous opportunities for this, too:

Where can I stay on my trip to Germany?

Germany has hotels in all price categories, ranging from exclusive luxury hotels to budget hostels. You will find accommodation in all price categories via the usual channels on the internet, too. One particular feature in Germany is the concept of the youth hostel: nowadays these can be used by people of all ages, including families. The accommodation they provide is usually quite basic, but inexpensive. Since Germans like to camp, Germany has lots of campsites as well. Motorhome travellers take note: you are allowed to stay for a single night anywhere where it is not expressly forbidden. But one night is the maximum.

Are you looking for what is typical of Germany or what is not so typical?

If it’s winter and you want to experience something typically German: go to a Christmas market! If you like whimsical things, such as cuckoo clocks: set off on the German Clock Road. Here you will find some distinctive ways to explore Germany – not always off the beaten track, but highly recommended:

Bonus tip: I want to visit Germany without travelling!

Want to visit Germany but without travelling? We can help you with that. We’ve put together some great destinations for you to explore digitally. You might like to start with a virtual tour of some of the most impressive spots:

Frankfurt’s New Old Town is a spectacular sight, shown here in 360-degree video:

But there are lots of other ways to explore Germany on the internet without setting foot in the country. Try our tips for a virtual visit to Germany:

The Only Germany Travel Guide You’ll Ever Need

Last Updated: January 5, 2024

*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.

While most commonly associated with beers, bratwursts and tight leather pants, Germany is a country full of delightful finds that extend far beyond the stereotypes.

From dreamy castles and fairytale towns to awe-inspiring nature and sprawling cities, Deutschland has a little something for every kind of traveler… although I’ll admit the leather pants are also great.

I first visited Germany on a 6 week backpacking trip across Europe, and as I sipped my comically large beer under the toasty Berlin sun, I felt a strange sense of calm and belonging.

Spurred by this hunch, I moved to Munich. One study abroad, and 5 years later, I’m still here, with so much giddy enthusiasm for this country that I’ve become a thoroughly insufferable dinner guest.

But my social life’s loss is your gain, my friend… because today, I’ve decided to channel all my Deutschland fangirl tendencies into this concise Germany travel guide filled with all my top tips, itineraries, and recommendations.

Save this Germany travel guide for later!

I promise it’ll come in handy!

I hope you find it helpful, and of course, feel free to ask any more questions in the comments section or on Instagram here.

Traveling to Germany Basics

Currency: Euro

Language: German, although accents and dialects vary wildly! In larger cities and tourist hotspots, most Germans also speak excellent English.

Getting Around: Trains, buses and flights are plentiful and affordable in Germany – my best tip is to use Omio to compare options easily. Having a car is ideal for visiting smaller towns, more remote locations and numerous destinations in a short amount of time, but is otherwise not needed for big cities.

Germany Highlights (By the Season)

• Winter: Christmas markets, skiing & alpine sports, Karneval and Fasching season (Carnival), Starkbier (Strong beer) season
• Spring: Cherry blossoms in Bonn , Frühlingsfest (Springfest) in Munich
• Summer: Hiking, Beer Garden season, summer festivals/celebrations
• Fall: Oktoberfest and other Volksfests, the world’s biggest pumpkin festival in Ludwigsburg, the Wurstmarkt (world’s largest wine festival)

My Favourite Places in Germany

Let’s get my mega-biased opinion out of the way first – Munich is the city I now call home, and I couldn’t recommend it more… especially if you’re obsessed with beer like I am. This is the birthplace of Oktoberfest after all!

There are lots of fun things to do in Munich , like hopping around the city’s sprawling museum district (many only cost 1 euro on Sundays!), eating up the best Bavarian food that Munich has to offer or soaking in the wealth of historical sites scatered around the city.

It’s also an ideal base for many epic day trips. Going from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle (AKA the real life Sleeping Beauty castle) takes only 2.5 hours. Or, if you want to visit glorious Salzburg from Munich (AKA the birthplace of Mozart and setting of Sound of Music), that’s only 1 hour by train.

Why visit Munich when you travel Germany:

• Amazing beer & beer festivals
• The English Garden – one of the largest city parks in the world
• Beautiful palaces and museums
• Easy base for amazing day trips to the Alps

Berchtesgaden National Park

If it’s natural beauty you’re after, Germany’s Berchtesgaden National Park (near the border to Austria) is a must-visit.

Everything here is breathtaking – from the shimmering turquoise lakes and snow-flecked mountains to the adorable Berchtesgaden town center.

And, if you’re up for it, this is the ideal place to enjoy a typically Bavarian wellness weekend.

Why visit Berchtesgaden National Park when you travel Germany:

• Stunning hikes and scenery
• The glorious boat ride on Königssee to see the equally stunning Obersee
• Historic sights like Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest

Hands down one of my favourite places to visit time and time again is Berlin.

This endlessly fascinating city is home to incredible museums, delicious food, and a unique culture that makes it distinct from the rest of the country, despite its status as capital!

Whether you’re a history nerd, an avid partyer, or a famished foodie, Berlin has plenty to offer.

Why visit Berlin when you travel Germany:

• Fascinating history
• World-class museums and attractions
• A thriving nightlife and food scene

Franconia is a glorious region in northern Bavaria that is divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper Franconia.

To me, it’s one of the most underrated regions in Germany for international visitors, with an abundance of fairytale half-timbered houses, amazing beer, and unique natural landscapes.

Here are some places in Franconia that are absolutely worth visiting:

• Franconian Switzerland
• Würzburg (still haven’t been yet!)

Perhaps the most idyllic entry of this list is Monschau, a sleepy but gorgeous village found near the border to Belgium.

I was lucky enough to come here for Christmas markets a few years ago, and I loved it so much, I skipped the train I’d pre-booked just so I could spend a few more hours there. 

Picturesque half-timbered houses clustered around a roaring central river… oh, and a castle on a hill. Because of course they have one.

Why visit Monschau when you travel Germany:

• Super friendly locals
• Picture-perfect scenes at every turn
• Christina might cry if you don’t

Hamburg is an amazing city I’ve had the chance to visit a few times now. It’s a lifestyle city that reminds me a lot of my hometown, Vancouver.

Home to a mix of classic and modern architecture (including the coolest opera house in the world!), as well as Germany’s #1 attraction – the adorable Miniatur Wonderland, Hamburg has a lot to offer tourists, but perhaps the best way to enjoy it is with a nice beer and sunset along the Elbe.

Why visit Hamburg when you travel Germany :

• Amazing architecture like the Elbphilharmonie
• Fresh and tasty seafood (and a booming foodie scene!)
• A fun, vibrant vibe

Dresden is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany, and its beauty is all the more astounding when we consider that much of the city was destroyed completely in WWII.

After decades of reconstruction however, Dresden once again shines with its former glory, establishing itself as one of the most important cultural hotspots in Germany.

… and all only a stone’s throw from Saxon Switzerland, one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the country!

Why visit Dresden when you travel Germany :

• Stunning architecture and sights
• World-class museums and culture scene
• Its jawdropping Christmas market (the oldest one in the country!)

Stuttgart (and its Surrounding Area)

Stuttgart is the biggest city (and capital) of the German state Baden-Württemburg. 

It’s perhaps best known as the ‘cradle of the automobile industry’, which explains why it’s home to not just one, but two car-centric museums: one belonging to Mercedes-Benz, and one to Porsche.

Besides cars though, the area around Stuttgart offers up some of the cutest small towns you can find in Germany, all easily reachable by public transport, meaning you get the best of all worlds during a visit here.

Why visit Stuttgart and the surrounding area when you travel Germany:

• Fairytale towns like Esslingen, Ludwigsburg, and Tübingen
• Stuttgart’s Stadtbibliothek, one of the most unique and beautiful libraries in the world
• Lots of fun events like Stuttgart’s Christmas Market and the Cannstatter Volksfest 

Thuringia is a state often overlooked by international tourists, but if you’re looking for a truly charming German escape, its capital Erfurt makes an excellent choice.

This beautiful city is famed for its unique Krämerbrücke, which is a gorgeous medieval bridge lined with residential buildings.

But that’s not all – there’s also an impressive cathedral, an imposing fortress, and surprises waiting on every corner… quite literally, because Erfurt is the HQ of the German children’s channel KiKA, and there’s plenty of fun statues of famous characters scattered around town.

Why visit Erfurt when you travel Germany:

• Krämerbrücke, the longest inhabited bridge in Europe
• Quirky and fun children’s channel sculptures all over the city

Cologne, to me, is a city synonymous with fun and celebration. While at first glance, it might not rank among the “prettiest” places to visit in Germany (much of it was destroyed in the war), it still boasts several impressive landmarks and sights, like the epic Cologne Cathedral.

Where Cologne really shines though is during special events – the Christmas markets here are some of the best I’ve been to in my entire life, and the Karneval celebrations… well, those are truly epic!

Why visit Cologne when you travel Germany:

• Bucket list events like the Cologne Christmas Market and Kölner Karneval
• The iconic Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), one of the most famous churches in the world 
• Fun-loving locals who are among the friendliest I’ve ever encountered in Germany

Last but not least, we have Hannover, a city which (in my opinion) is one of the most underrated cities in Germany where tourism is concerned.

Locally, people often joke that Hannover is one of the most boring cities in Germany, but I don’t think that’s true at all. One quick look and you’ll find a stunning palace within the city, an architecturally impressive Town Hall (with a unique elevator offering epic views), and a cool laidback vibe that many compare to what Berlin was like decades ago.

Here are some awesome things to do in Hannover.

Why visit Hannover when you travel Germany:

• Its gorgeous New Town Hall
• The stunning Herrenhausen Palace and its gardens
• A fun, laidback city vibe

Bucket List Experiences in Germany

Germany is full of incredible bucket list experiences. Here are a few of my favourites:

Christmas Markets

German Christmas markets are the stuff of bucket list dreams.

If you adore Christmas, a German Xmas market trip needs to make it on your bucket list, because nobody captures Christmas coziness and joy quite like the Germans do.

The best part (besides the droolworthy assortment of German Christmas Market foods ) is that you’ll find Christmas markets in just about every city, town, and even the smallest of villages, each with their own unique take on traditions.

Trust me, you could never get bored of visiting these.

Here are some full guides to the Christmas markets I’ve visited in Germany:

• Munich’s Christmas Markets
• Berlin’s Christmas Markets
• Cologne’s Christmas Markets
• Esslingen Christmas Market
• Ludwigsburg Christmas Market
• Karlsruhe Christmas Market
• Düsseldorf Christmas Market
• Nuremberg Christmas Market
• Essen Christmas Market

Oktoberfest

Trust me – Oktoberfest , AKA the world’s largest beer festival, is reason enough to make a trip to Germany.

Typically celebrated annually in Munich, this is one of the most incredible events in the world, with millions of people attending, millions of beer served, and a guaranteed recipe for making memories to last a lifetime.

… If you can remember anything after 5L of beer that is.

Read my full Oktoberfest guide for more details.

Visiting Fairytale Castles

If you love castles, I recommend avoiding Germany……. because you might just combust from sheer fangirl joy.

Seriously, Germany is every castle lover’s kryptonite, with elegant palaces and fairytale castles in the thousands. If you’re a Disney gal like me who grew up dreaming of happily ever afters, pack a ballgown and head to Germany ASAP.

I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Here are some castles that you must visit in Germany:

• Neuschwanstein Castle
• Nuremberg Castle

The Cherry Blossoms in Bonn

The cherry blossoms in Bonn (also the birthplace of Beethoven and gummy bear legend, Haribo) are absolutely spectacular, and 100% worth visiting in Spring time. In fact, I’d even say they’re one of the best things to see in Europe at Spring time.

Yes, you, too, can come frolic in these tunnels of pink! Here is my guide on where to find cherry blossoms in Bonn.

Karneval, Fasching, Etc.

Carnival Season is one of the best times to visit Germany if you’re looking for a party.

The grandest celebrations take place just before Lent, and are celebrated throughout the country, although the festivites in North-Rhine Westphalia are probably the best known.

My top recommendation? Go celebrate in Cologne, where the Kölner Karneval draws millions of visitors every year.

My Recommended Germany Itineraries

Germany is a huge country with a massive diversity in sights… so how can you organize your time efficiently and make the most of your trip? Here are some German trip itinerary ideas…

Germany itinerary ideas for a taste of everything:

• Southern Germany Classic: Munich, the Allgäu (for Castles!), Garmisch Partenkirchen, Berchtesgaden National Park, Stuttgart & Area, Black Forest
• Eastern Germany Classic: Berlin, Dresden, Saxon Switzerland
• Western Germany Classic: Aachen, Monschau, Eifel National Park
• Northern Germany Classic: Hamburg, Bremen , Lübeck, Kiel, Sylt
• The Rhine River Classic: Mainz, Koblenz, Burg Eltz, Cochem, Bonn, Cologne, Düsseldorf
• The Harz Mountains Experience: Harz Mountains, Goslar, Wernigerode, Quedlinburg

Germany itinerary ideas for city breakers and culture hunters:

• The Big City Tour: Berlin and Munich (a 4 hour express train connects them)
• The BaWu Special: Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg, Tübingen, Esslingen, Heidelberg
• The Bavaria Special: Munich, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Würzburg, Bayreuth
• The Saxony Special: Leipzig, Görlitz, Dresden
• The Rhine City Hop: Bonn, Cologne, Düsseldorf
• The Romantic Villages Hop: Würzburg, Dinkelsbühl, Nördlingen, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Füssen

Germany itinerary ideas for nature lovers:

• Southern Germany Nature Itinerary: Berchtesgaden National Park, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the Black Forest and Lake Constance (Bodensee)
• Bavaria’s Best Nature Itinerary: Berchtesgaden National Park, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Munich’s Lake Region, Franconian Switzerland, Danube Gorge
• Eastern Germany Nature Itinerary: Dresden and Saxon Switzerland National Park

My Top Germany Travel Tips

• If you’re overwhelmed by transport options, Omio is a great resource for comparing trains, buses and flights in Germany at the same time.
• If travelling by train, look into group discount tickets like the Bayern Ticket which give you unlimited train travel for one day on regional trains. It can save you a TON of money.
• If you are traveling to multiple countries nearby (i.e. Switzerland), a Eurail pass might save you money.

Accommodation:

• Booking.com is a great place to search up hotels, and filtering by Free Cancellation allows you to book without paying upfront
• Airbnb can be a very affordable alternative for longer stays/bigger groups

Attractions and Tickets:

• GetYourGuide is a great site for finding tours and attraction tickets
• City passes like the Munich City Pass , Berlin Pass , and the Cologne Card can save you a LOT of money if you plan to visit many tourist attractions in a short time
• If you’re trying to find specific info about a place, try using Google Translate to search in German because German versions of sites always have more info

If you’re past the planning stage and heading to Germany soon, make sure you read this before you go:

• Hilarious must-knows before you visit Germany

More Germany Travel Reads

Feeling inspired to visit Germany after reading all that?

As you can (probably) tell, I’ve written extensively about Germany.

So, here are some more articles that might pique your interest:

• Unique Things to do in Germany (That You Can’t Do Anywhere Else)
• The Best Christmas Markets in Germany
• Hilarious Must-Knows Before You Visit Germany

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

4 thoughts on “The Only Germany Travel Guide You’ll Ever Need”

i found myself reading almost every post in your website for days and days and i ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT and adore and thank you for spending so much time and effort to make it so helpful, informative and fun to read. you have helped me plan my trip to munich in december and i cant wait to visit just because of your enthusiasm 🙂

We would like to Thank you for sharing such a beautiful blog! Very informative.

This Germany Travel Guide truly captures the multifaceted beauty of Deutschland, a country that has something to offer to everyone, from culture enthusiasts to nature lovers. Your personal anecdotes from living in Munich make it come alive, making me yearn for a taste of that amazing beer you’ve mentioned, and a wander around the English Garden! The varied seasonal highlights emphasize how Germany is a year-round destination, offering uniquely charming experiences, from the festive winter Christmas markets to the lively summer festivals. It’s heartening to know that navigating around the country is convenient, making it possible to explore its picturesque small towns and vibrant cities. This guide is a treasure trove for anyone planning to travel to Germany – it gives a well-rounded view of the country, infused with personal insights, which makes it even more valuable. I’m particularly intrigued to visit Munich, the city you so passionately call home.

As a Berliner, I can’t agree more with this guide. Germany truly is a delightful mix of tradition and innovation, natural beauty and urban charm, hearty cuisine and diverse cultures. Moving around in Germany is indeed quite convenient thanks to the well-organized public transportation system, including trains, buses, and trams. And yes, English is widely spoken in major cities, so communication shouldn’t be a problem for travelers. As for the varied dialects across regions, it just adds to the unique charm of exploring this beautiful country. Safe travels, fellow adventurers!

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How to Plan a Trip to Germany (Your Step by Step Germany Trip Planner for Traveling to Germany for the First Time!)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my  disclaimer policy.

You’ve decided to visit Germany. Hooray! Whether you’re looking for bustling cities, sandy beaches, alpine hiking, intriguing history, fairytale castles, delicious food, fun festivals or friendly people, Germany is the perfect European vacation destination.

Not only is there a tremendous amount to do, see, eat, and experience in Germany, you can easily combine a visit to Germany with other European destinations. Germany is easy to get around in by train, bus, car or bike, and many people speak English.

You’re probably wondering…where do I even begin with planning my dream-come-true vacation to beautiful Deutschland? 

Where should I go? Is it better to take the train or rent a car? What are the must-see cities and attractions? Which ones should I skip? Where’s the best place to stay? What should I eat and drink?

Join our FREE Germany Trip Planning Facebook Group!

Don’t worry! We’re here to help you narrow down your travel options, plan your itinerary , and book your trip with ease. It’s actually quite easy to plan a trip to Germany by yourself with the information in this article, on this site and with some help of some online booking engines.

To reduce overwhelm and help you plan your ideal vacation, we cover everything you need to know to get started planning your trip to Germany . And if you have any questions, you’re welcome to ask us in our free Germany travel Facebook community or send us  an email . 

Ok, let’s begin!

• 1 Meet Your Germany Travel Guides
• 2 Overview of Regions
• 3 Where to Go in Germany: Itineraries and Planning
• 4 Want more itinerary ideas? Are you a big city person? Check out… 
• 5 Prefer smaller historic, picturesque cities? Check out…
• 6 What about cute little villages with “Fachwerk” (half-timber) architecture? There are so many! Here are a few ideas…
• 7 Looking forward to visiting fairytale castles?
• 8 Like islands and water? Take a look at…
• 9 What about nature, hiking, and national parks? Consider…
• 10 Passports & Visas
• 11 What’s the Best Time to Go to Germany?
• 12 Germany Booking Timeline
• 13 What’s the Weather in Germany Like?
• 14 What Time is it in Germany Right Now?
• 15 What’s the Best Way to Get to Germany?
• 16 Where to Stay in Germany
• 17 Getting Around Germany
• 18 What to Wear in Germany
• 19 My Absolute Favorite Travel Clothing Items
• 20 What to Eat in Germany

Meet Your Germany Travel Guides

Hi, we’re Cate and Aaron, and we love helping people plan amazing trips to Germany. While Aaron has visited Germany several times (and is our chief rental car driver!), I lived there for 4+ years, have spent nearly 30 years of my life going back and forth between the US and Germany, and have traveled to all corners of the country.

I also taught German for several years and have a PhD in German Applied Linguistics, which means I’ve gotten to know Germany from several different angles. We’re so excited to help you plan your dream trip to Deutschland! 

Overview of Regions

Northern Germany  – Hamburg is the largest city in this region but there are other must-visit smaller cities like Lübeck , Stade, Bremen, and Lüneburg. Northern Germany also has the beautiful beaches of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, the Wadden Sea national park, and the islands of Sylt, Flör, and Heligoland. Northern Germany is flat and great for biking. It looks so different from Bavaria! Combine a trip to Denmark with a visit to northern Germany.

Eastern Germany  –  Berlin is of course the feature city in this region, but Dresden, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Quedlinburg, Bautzen, Erfurt, and Weimar are smaller must-see cities. There’s also the Harz mountains, Swiss Saxony national park , Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes in Thuringia, Wernigerode castle, the Schwerin Palace, and Sansouci in Potsdam. Combine a trip to eastern Germany with a visit to Poland or the Czech Republic.

Central Germany  – This region offers bustling cities like Cologne , Düsseldorf, and Frankfurt , smaller cities like Aachen, Wiesbaden, Koblenz, and plenty of cute villages. There’s also the Rhine and Mosel river areas, vineyards, the Eifel national park, castles , and beautiful rolling hills. Combine a visit to central Germany with a trip to the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, or France.

Black Forest/Baden-Württemberg  –  Stuttgart is the largest city in this region, and smaller cities like Baden-Baden, Heidelberg, Freiburg , Tübingen, and Ulm also warrant a visit. Vineyards and wineries, spa towns, castles (such as Hohenzollern or Lichtenstein ), waterfalls, Lake Constance, cute villages, and hiking are also features of the Black Forest /Baden-Württemberg region. Combine a trip to France or Switzerland with a visit to southwestern Germany.

Bavaria/Alps  – Munich is the feature city of Bavaria ( Oktoberfest! ), along with smaller cities like Regensburg, Nuremberg, Würtzburg, Bamberg, and Passau. There’s also the famous Zugspitze, Eagle’s Nest, Neuschwanstein castle , and Chiemsee lake, as well as lovely alpine towns like Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Berchtesgaden . Combine a trip to Bavaria with a visit to Austria, Czech Republic or Switzerland.

Click here for what to do in Munich!

Where to Go in Germany: Itineraries and Planning

There’s so much to see and do in Germany! Here’s some info to get you started on your itinerary (you can also check out this article with 10-14 day itinerary ideas ). 

If you have just a few days,  I recommend focusing on one city and a day trip (e.g., Hamburg with a day trip to Lübeck or Munich with a day trip to Neuschwanstein ).

If you have a week,  you could visit 2 cities (plus 2 day trips) in different parts of Germany and allot one day for travel between cities (e.g., a few days in Munich with a day trip to Chiemsee, travel day to Berlin, then a few days in Berlin with a day trip to Potsdam). Or you could spend a week touring one region of Germany (e.g. the Black Forest or the Rhine and Mosel areas).

If you have two weeks,  you can see a lot of Germany! You could, for example, start in Berlin, then visit Hamburg, take a day trip to Lübeck , then visit the Rhein river area, stop in the Black Forest , and end your trip in Munich. You could easily do this trip via train or car. Take a look at a couple 10-14 day itineraries we’ve outlined to give you a sense of how much you can do in that amount of time.

Grab our FREE Germany Trip Planning Checklist Now!

How long does it take to travel around Germany by train? 

It’s quick and easy to travel around Germany by train. Here are some sample travel times to give you an idea: 

• Berlin to Hamburg – 1 hour 45 minutes 
• Berlin to Munich – 4 – 4 1/2 hours
• Hamburg to Lübeck – 1 hour 
• Hamburg to Cologne – 4 hours 
• Hamburg to Munich – 5 hours 40 minutes 
• Frankfurt to Nuremberg – 2 hours 
• Stuttgart to Munich – 2 1/4 hours 
• Munich to Berchtesgaden – 2 hours 

I use and recommend the official German rail system website to check travel times and book train tickets (point-to-point, saver tickets, and discounted regional tickets). I book all of our train tickets here!

Want more itinerary ideas? Are you a big city person? Check out… 

• Cologne / Düsseldorf

Prefer smaller historic, picturesque cities? Check out…

• Lübeck
• Würtzburg
• Tübingen

What about cute little villages with “Fachwerk” (half-timber) architecture? There are so many! Here are a few ideas…

• Wernigerode
• Quedlinburg
• Dinkelsbühl
• Rothenburg Ob der Tauber
• Berchtesgaden

Looking forward to visiting fairytale castles?

• Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau (the “Disney castle”)
• Castles near Frankfurt
• Castles near Cologne
• 16 castles to visit in Germany

Like islands and water? Take a look at…

• Husum (North Sea)
• Timmendorferstrand (Baltic Sea)
• Lake Constance (Bodensee)
• Titisee 

What about nature, hiking, and national parks? Consider…

• Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park
• Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park 
• Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park
• Jasmund National Park
• Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park
• Müritz National Park
• Lower Oder Valley National Park
• Harz National Park
• Kellerwald-Edersee National Park
• Hainich National Park
• Eifel National Park
• Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park
• Saxon Switzerland National Park
• Bavarian Forest National Park
• Berchtesgaden National Park
• Black Forest National Park

How about a road trip? Why not drive the…

• German Timber-frame Road (northern to southern Germany)
• Romantic Road (Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, north/south)
• Castle Road (Bavaria to Baden-Württemberg, east/west)
• Wine Road (Palatinate wine region, north/south)
• Fairytale Route (from Hanau to Bremen, south/north)
• Black Forest High Road (Baden-Württemberg, north/south)
• Alpine Route (Baden-Württemberg to Bavaria, east/west)
• Volcanic Route (Rhein River and Eifel mountains, north/south)

Passports & Visas

If you’re from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries, you do not need a visa to enter Germany (at the time of publishing this article). You do, however, need a valid passport with at least 3 months validity AFTER your planned departure date.

Play it safe and have MORE than 6 months validity on entrance to Germany! You also need at least 2 blank passport pages at the time of your arrival. Check your passport NOW so you have plenty of time to renew it if needed. Do not wait until the last minute to do this (been there, done that – it’s expensive and stressful)!

Germany is part of the Schengen zone, which means you can stay in Germany for up to 90 days without a visa. If you visit other countries in the Schengen zone before or after Germany, that counts towards your 90 days and reduces the amount of time you can spend in Germany. While on the automatic 90-day tourist visa you may not work but you can engage in business.

What’s the Best Time to Go to Germany?

The best time to visit Germany is whenever you can get there! No, seriously! There’s no best time of year for your  Deutschland   tour because there’s no bad time of year to visit. I’ve traveled all over Germany in spring, summer, fall, and winter and enjoyed every single season (Cate here, writing this article, by the way).

When should  you  travel to Germany? Well, it just depends on what you’re looking for…

Summer  is when you’re most likely to have warm (even hot) sunny weather. But it’s not guaranteed. I’ve had hot steamy summers in Germany (like last summer when we traveled during a heat wave), cold rainy summers, and everything in-between.

Fortunately, even if you encounter rain in the summer it likely won’t last more than a few hours or at most a couple days before you’ll see the sun again. The benefit of summer travel is that you’ll have nice long days for sight-seeing because the sun doesn’t fully set until about 10pm. If you’re interested in beaches or mountains, summer is a great time of year to visit.

Note, however, that not all hotels, cars, and restaurants use A/C. If you really hate hot weather, play it safe and avoid Germany in the middle of the summer. (Although, to be honest, in all of the summers I’ve spent in Germany, there have only been a few days in the summer that I’ve found truly unbearable without A/C.) If you  must  have A/C, be sure to confirm that your room or rental car has it.

Summer can also be a more crowded time to travel, since so many families make use of summer break. Book accommodation early for the most options and best prices!

Winter  travel in Germany can be cold but beautiful. One of my favorite times of year to travel in Germany is during the four weeks of advent at Christmas.

Yes, it gets dark early (by 5pm or a bit earlier) but the lights, decorations, and Christmas markets more than make up for it. Plus, you can go skiing and enjoy other winter activities.

I was just in Germany for a couple weeks in December and the weather was perfectly fine 90% of the time. There was only one day where the weather was truly miserable and even on that day there were enough breaks in the weather to enjoy my day trip exploring a new town and a new Christmas market. 

Germans don’t let winter keep them from enjoying outdoor activities, hiking to strolling through a Christmas market or enjoying a coffee at an outdoor cafe. Don’t let it stop you, either! Just bundle up, grab a mug of Glühwein, and you’ll be fine!

Fall and spring  are also great times to visit Germany. In the fall you’ll enjoy crisp mornings and cool evenings and seeing the leaves change color.

In the spring you’ll experience the joy everyone feels when they can once again sit outside at cafes and restaurants. The weather can vary quite a bit day to day but if you travel late in the fall or early in the spring you can score great deals and will find smaller crowds.

Germany Booking Timeline

I’ve booked flights, accommodations , and tours and tickets a few weeks before my arrival, and I’ve booked them several months in advance. Book early if you:

• Are traveling during peak summer, Christmas market or ski season
• Have very specific travel dates or lodging, transportation, sight-seeing needs
• Are visiting big cities
• Are on a tight budget
• Are visiting during a special event, such as Oktoberfest 

I usually start looking at my options as early as possible so I can figure out what a good deal looks like for my travel dates. I then set up flight alerts and start earmarking AirBnB’s and hotels. I begin booking whenever I find something that meets my needs and fits my budget. 

Here’s a general booking timeline to get you started:

6-12 months in advance:

• Research and book your international flights
• Research travel insurance
• Plan your travel itinerary and dates
• Research and book flights within Germany or Europe
• Research travel options within Germany (rental car, train bus, etc)
• Research accommodation options (book if you find great deals or if availability is limited)
• Make sure your passport is up-to-date (you need at least 6 months left on it when you enter Germany) and apply for a new one if it isn’t

3 – 6 months in advance:

• Book accommodation
• Book trains or busses (usually 90 before your travel dates is the earliest you can book but always check if you can book earlier – the best deals go fast)
• Book rental car
• Book tours, events, and tickets
• Book travel insurance 
• Review your travel wardrobe and gear and purchase the items you need  

1 month in advance:

• Book any remaining attractions and tours
• Book airport transfers or plan how you will get to your lodging
• Purchase a sim card for phone or check how you can use your current phone service in Germany (e.g., I can use my Verizon phone service for a $10/ a day fee)

1 week in advance: 

• Print out or ensure that you can easily access all bookings, tickets, and travel info on your phone (make sure you can access everything without data or wifi!)

1 day in advance:

What’s the Weather in Germany Like?

What will the weather be like when you visit Germany? Well, it depends on the time of year and where you are. Weather in Germany can be somewhat unpredictable no matter the time of year.

I recommend being prepared by wearing layers, packing an umbrella or rain jacket, and remembering that the weather will likely change soon. And, as I said earlier, don’t let any kind of weather stop you from enjoying Germany! 

Summer.  Germany comes alive in the summer with everyone and their dog (literally, there are dogs everywhere) outside enjoying the nice weather. Average high in the summer is 80F.  

Be warned…it can rain in the summer but it doesn’t usually last that long. It can also be super hot in the summer…but again, scorching temperatures doesn’t usually last that long.

Fall.  Such a beautiful time of year in Germany with the leaves changing colors and cool, crips mornings and evenings and warm days. One of my favorite times of year in Germany! In September, the average high is 67F and by November it’s around 47F.

Winter.  Bring your scarf, hat, and mittens because German winters can get cold! Average temps hover around freezing with warmer days in the 40s/50sF. While it can snow anywhere in Germany, you’ll find the most snow in southern Germany. Winter weather doesn’t mean everyone hides inside, though. On the contrary! Do what the Germans do – bundle up and enjoy the outdoors.

Spring.  I love being in Germany on the first spring day because  everyone  heads outside to enjoy the sun and everyone is in such a good mood! Early spring will see a high around 47F but by late spring it’s more like 67F.

What Time is it in Germany Right Now?

Germany is in the Central European Time zone (CET) or UTC+2. It’s 6 hours ahead of the US EST, 7 hours ahead of CST, 8 hours ahead of MST, and 9 hours ahead of PST.

Daylight savings in Germany in 2020: time “falls back” on October 25 and “springs forward” on March 29. Write these dates in your calendar so you don’t accidentally miss any flights or trains (been there, done that)!

What’s the Best Way to Get to Germany?

It depends on where you’re coming from and where you’re going.  When flying from outside Europe, many people fly into Frankfurt (FRA), the largest airport in Germany and one of the largest and busiest airports in Europe.

The benefit of flying into Frankfurt is that it has a ton of direct flights, and once you reach Germany you can easily take a commuter flight, train, bus or rental car to your final destination.

The downside? The airport is huge, busy, and I’ve noticed prices into Frankfurt have been higher than regional airports in Germany.

I used to  always  fly into Frankfurt , and then take a train, bus or rental car to my final destination. But recently? I’ve found that it’s easier (and sometimes cheaper) to bypass FRA and fly into other German cities, such as Munich , Hamburg , Berlin , Düsseldorf ( Cologne ) or Stuttgart .

You might even be able to find a direct flight from the US (I’ve flown direct Atlanta – Stuttgart and Washington DC – Munich, for example). Otherwise, you’ll change planes somewhere in Europe and take an easy 1-3 hour flight to Germany. We’ve changed planes in London, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Paris, and Vienna, for example. You could also fly into another European city and then take a train, bus or rental car into Germany.  

A Few Notes About Flying Into FRA (Frankfurt Airport) and Traveling Onwards

If you take a commuter flight from Frankfurt  (FRA) to your final destination in Germany, you’ll go through passport control in FRA and then to your connecting gate. Super easy. Most flights from FRA to elsewhere in Germany are an hour or less in duration.

If you’re traveling onward by train from Frankfurt,  you can transfer to the train right at the airport below Terminal 1. If your train leaves from the main station in Frankfurt, you can either take the S-bahn or a regional train from the airport to the Hauptbahnhof (main station) in about 10-15 minutes.  

Important:  you’ll find cheap “savings fare” train ticket prices if you book your ticket online well ahead of your arrival. Be sure to book your ticket for  at least  a few hours after your flight’s arrival time into FRA.

Be warned: getting through passport control, customs, picking up your checked luggage, and making your way to the train station can take longer than you think. And if your plane from the US (or elsewhere) is delayed…well, it’s easy to miss your train and have to buy a new, much more expensive ticket on the spot. Personally, I would book a saver fare train ticket for a train that leaves 3-5 hours after my international flight’s arrival time – at the minimum. And that’s still cutting it close if there’s any kind of delay!

Tip: If you want maximum flexibility and peace of mind, buy a “flex ticket.” You’ll pay more but these tickets aren’t tied to a specific train. So if your flight is five hours late, you can take a train later in the day without changing your ticket or losing money.

These tickets also you to stop somewhere en route to your final destination for a couple hours, and then get back on a different train (e.g., stop in Stuttgart for a couple hours on your way to Munich). So if you arrive on time, you can work in a short excursion on the way to your final destination (store your luggage at a locker in the train station). If your flight is late, just go directly to your destination. These tickets are also refundable before the first day of travel.

For ultimate flexibility and peace of mind, spend the night in or around Frankfurt and book a saver fare train for early the next morning. 

You can also easily pick up a rental car at FRA  and drive to your final destination. Aaron and I have done this a few times and never had any problems.

The one problem we do have? Staying awake long enough to drive to our destination! We usually keep the driving distance to an hour or two on the day of our arrival and drink a lot of coffee. Sometimes we pull over at rest area and take a nap. 

If you want to rent a car at the airport and are concerned about driving while jet lagged, consider picking up the car and then spending the night in nearby town, such as Wiesbaden (I spent an enjoyable few days there before catching my flight home a few years ago). 

If you’re catching a bus  from the city center to travel onwards, S-bahn 8 or 9 will zip you into town quickly and cheaply in about 10-15 minutes. Buy tickets at any of the ticket machines before you board the S-bahn.  

You can also catch busses  into Frankfurt and elsewhere in front of Terminal 1 (arrivals level) and Terminal 2 (level 2).

You’ll find taxis  in the same general area. It takes about 20 minutes to get into downtown Frankfurt by taxi.

Flying to Germany from Elsewhere in Europe

These days it’s super easy and generally inexpensive to fly to Germany from all over Europe. Here are a couple tips:

When booking your international flight, you might be able to include a stop-over in the city where you’ll transfer to your Germany flight. I used to do stopovers in London, and a couple years ago I did an awesome stopover in Iceland. TAP also offers free stopovers in Lisbon or Porto.   

I highly recommend looking into both flying and taking a train (or bus) into Germany, especially if you’re arriving from a neighboring country and not on a stopover. Of course, if you’re flying from cities like London, Barcelona, Rome or Oslo, flying is the best option. But if you’re traveling from Paris, Vienna, Copenhagen or Prague, for example, a train might be the better way to go.

Even if the actual flight is only an hour, you have to factor in the time it takes to travel to the airport, go through security, potential flight delays, and then traveling to your lodging once you land. A 5- or 6-hour train ride might actually take less time than a 1-hour flight when you total it all up!

Traveling to Germany By Train, Bus or Car

Traveling to Germany from other European countries by train, bus or car is easy. Train travel is generally simple, comfortable, and quick. Most train stations in Germany are located in the city center, so it’s easy to get to your lodging via taxi or public transportation. 

If renting a car in another country, just double check that you’re authorized to take the car out of the rental country. If you are, you’ll have no problems crossing the boarder and driving around Germany. 

Busses tend to cost less than trains, and you can find some amazing deals, but to be honest, I still prefer taking trains over busses. Trains are more comfortable, you can get up and walk around, and they’re almost always faster than busses. Plus, they don’t get stuck in traffic.

Tips for Booking the Best Flights with Cash or Miles: 

• Start looking for flights early,  especially if you’re traveling during peak season. I booked our mid-June flights in late January. While we found low mileage flights for very specific weekend travel dates, we could have found better flight times had we booked even earlier. 
• Track flights  through google or look at options in Hopper so you’ll know a good deal when you see one.  
• Look for last-minute deals.  When I decided to go to Germany in December I didn’t start looking for flights until early November (the trip was a last-minute decision). Because I was flexible on travel dates and went early in the month, I found excellent tickets using miles. This doesn’t always happen, but it never hurts to look for deals, even if your travel dates are right around the corner. 
• Fly in or out of smaller regional airports  (e.g., Berlin , Hamburg , Stuttgart , Munich , Düsseldorf). When I booked our flights for mid-June I couldn’t find anything into Frankfurt using miles. But I did find flights into Berlin and out of Stuttgart, and that actually worked even better for that trip ! For my recent December trip , I found that flying in and out of Stuttgart used the lowest amount of miles and had the best schedule. I’ve also flown into Hamburg and Munich airports.

Where to Stay in Germany

Germany has so many options for lodging:

• Vacation rentals (e.g., VBRO, AirBnB)
• Hip boutique hotels
• Quirky hostels
• More traditional HI hostels
• Large hotel chains
• American-styles hotels (Hilton, Marriott, etc)
• Family-run Pensionen (bed and breakfast)
• Camping (RV and tent)

When we’re in Germany we typically opt for AirBnB (I like having a kitchen to make breakfast) or a smaller family-run Pension or boutique hotel. We used to stay in hostels when we was younger (they’re pretty nice in Germany) but even then I found Pensionen to be very affordable – sometimes  more  affordable than hostels – especially when traveling with one or two other people. If we’re spending the night near an airport or train station and want convenience and ease we’ll stay at a larger chain hotel .

Whether you’re looking for luxury or budget accommodations, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in Germany! To help you get started, check out our Germany hotel guides.

Breakfast  is often included with lodging in Germany (but not always). Sometimes breakfast will feature fresh bread or Brötchen (delicious German rolls), cold cuts and cheese, butter and jam, and tea and coffee. Other times there will be an extensive breakfast buffet that includes things like yogurt, museli, a variety of breads, meats, cheeses, and even hard-boiled eggs. You’re unlikely to find things like omelets, bacon, pancakes, waffles, and hot oatmeal.

If you’re looking to save money on lodging,  book rooms with a shared bathroom. (This is typically only an option in smaller or older hotels and not an option I come across as often anymore.) Sometimes that will mean sharing a full bathroom with other guests on your floor, and other times you’ll have a sink and/or shower in your room and will share a toilet located in the hallway. Shared bathrooms are more common in smaller Pensionen than in hotels.

These days I prefer the convenience of having a full bathroom in my room but I’m not averse to sharing a hall bathroom when needed (takes me back to my younger backpacking days – ha!). I’ve never had to wait to use a shared bathroom or had any trouble with them. Sometimes there are two or more bathrooms per floor. If you do opt for a shared bathroom, bring flip-flops!

Hostels can be a great option for families,  as many offer family rooms. Hostels typically offer a simple breakfast and sometimes dinner. While accommodations are simple, some hostels can be in spectacular locations. The hostel in Bacharach, for example, is in an old castle on a hill and offers a gorgeous view of the town below and the Rhine river!  

Getting Around Germany

One of the benefits of traveling in Germany is that it’s super easy to get around the entire country. You have so many transportation options.

You can rent a car and drive from place to place. Or you can stick to trains and busses. Or ride a bike – there are tons of bike paths throughout Germany.   

If I’m primarily visiting big cities I prefer taking the train or a bus to get from one city to another. When I spend more time in smaller cities or want to take day trips to harder to reach places, I prefer having a car.

For our recent summer trip to Germany, we rented a car at the Berlin airport and returned it to the Stuttgart airport. We didn’t take trains or busses at all. We got a car so we could go to places that aren’t as easily (or quickly) accessible by train. We didn’t use the car every day, though. We walked and used public transportation when exploring cities.    

Speaking of public transportation, Germany’s is one of the best! It’s super easy to get everywhere you want to go via the S-bahn (above ground metro), U-bahn (underground metro), Strassenbahn (street car), and city bus. Taxis (and Uber/Lyft, where available) are also convenient options, though more expensive than public transport.

There are also car-share programs that you can look into. I haven’t used any of them and don’t know how convenient they are for travelers but it doesn’t hurt to check them out.

German cities are very walkable, so it’s easy to get around by foot. And, if you’d like to bike around like a local, there are lots of places to rent bikes (or scooters!) around town or maybe even at your hotel or AirBnB. If you’re more interested in just one afternoon of biking, try a city bike tour!

A few transportation tips:

• For the best train ticket prices book your ticket via the official German rail system website in well in advance. I book all of our tickets there. Note: if you pre-purchase your ticket at the lowest price you have to take the specific train you booked. If you miss that train, you have to buy another ticket. 
• If you don’t mind taking slower regional trains you can get some really cheap tickets and regional day tickets. You may not want to use these tickets to go from Munich to Hamburg, but they’re great for day trips, whether traveling solo or with others.
• Busses are often less expensive than the train (though not quite as comfortable and often slower).
• There are Eurail options for Germany, and they’re a great choice if you value flexibility and ease or if you want to make stops while traveling (eg., stop in Cologne for a couple hours while traveling from Hamburg to Munich).
• If you plan to rely on public transportation in the cities you visit, buy a day pass (or perhaps a multi-day or week pass) rather than individual tickets. Also check to see if there are group day tickets or if young kids can ride free. Note: there’s often a small additional fee to bring a bike or a large amount of luggage on public transportation. There are often less expensive day passes for travel starting after 9am. 

What to Wear in Germany

Check out my packing list for Germany!

Layer, layer, layer!  The weather in Germany is often unpredictable so your best bet is to bring layers so you can customize your wardrobe on the fly. Since rain is a possibility any time of year, you may want to bring a light rain jacket or an umbrella.

Bring comfortable shoes.  You’ll no doubt walk all day long (often on cobblestone), so bring your most comfortable, supportive shoes. Be sure to break in your shoes  before  you travel. There’s nothing worse than realizing a day into your trip that your shoes pinch your toes or give you huge blisters. (Bring along moleskin, just in case. I always have  this kind  in my day bag!) I typically bring a good pair of walking shoes appropriate for the season (e.g., boots in the winter) and a nicer pair of flats (sandals in the summer).

You can wear jeans.  Some people say  never travel with jeans  but I’m not one of those people. I love traveling with jeans! They’re comfortable, I can wear them a few times without having to wash them, and I feel less like a tourist wearing them because everyone wears them. If you like jeans, wear jeans.

Scarf, hat, gloves.  If you’re traveling in the winter or even late fall or early spring, definitely bring a warm scarf, hat, and gloves or mittens. Or buy them in Germany and take them home as a souvenir! Almost all of my winter accessories are from Germany. Even if you’re not traveling in colder weather, I recommend a  travel scarf with a hidden pocket  for ease and security.

You can wear shorts in the summer.  Shorts are more popular in Germany than they used to be, so if you like them and are comfortable in them, wear them. That said, do also bring summer dresses or skirts and or lightweight pants to wear when shorts are too informal.

Bring a comfortable day bag or purse.  When you’re out and about all day you want a comfortable bag or purse to hold your travel essentials – wallet, phone, camera, ipad/kindle/book, umbrella, journal, etc. For peace of mind, you may even want one with special security features.  Click here to read my guide for buying the best travel purse.

My Absolute Favorite Travel Clothing Items

Merino wool camisole/tank  – These camisoles are the BEST for travel! They’re soft, comfortable, easy to hand wash, and they never stink. This might be TMI but a few years ago, when I was traveling solo around Europe, I wore the same merino wool tank each day for 14 days in warm spring weather. It never smelled bad! Since that experiment I don’t typically go that long without washing my tanks, but I like knowing that I could!  Click here to read more reviews and buy a merino wool camisole/tank.

Foldable flats  – I splurged on a pair of foldable leather flats a few years ago, and after I broke them in I started really liking them. I wouldn’t recommend them for a full day of walking (especially on cobblestones) but I like to bring my foldable flats along for a change of pace or when I want the option of wearing a cute pair of shoes but don’t want them to take up much space in my suitcase.

Merino wool shoes  – I bought a pair of dark grey merino wool walking/tennis shoes a couple years ago and I LOVE them! I can wear them barefoot in the summer, and not only do my feet stay relatively cool, my shoes don’t stink when I take them off at the end of the day. I can throw them in the wash if they get dirty (though mine still look great 2 years later), they pack flat and don’t take up much space in my suitcase or travel backpack, and the heel is thick and cushioned. You can also buy replacement merino wool insoles without having to buy a new pair of shoes.

What I don’t like: the pair I have doesn’t have enough arch support for me and there’s not enough padding under the ball of my foot. The first few times I wore them they were uncomfortable after walking all day and I was super disappointed! But after adding an arch support and a gel insert under the ball of my foot (I like  this one ) I loved them and now wear them all the time while traveling and at home. Many people love them from the start!  Click here to to read reviews and check out merino wool shoes.   

What to Eat in Germany

You’ll never go hungry while traveling in Germany! While you can always find traditional items like Schnitzel, Spätzle, Rouladen, and Bratwurst, there are plenty of healthier options, including those that are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.

Many restaurants now cater to special diets and accommodate allergies, as do some specialty grocery stores. Aaron has a meat allergy and frequently eats gluten-free and has never had a problem finding delicious food in Germany.

These days Germany has a wide variety of restaurants to ft all budgets featuring cuisine from all over the world (except Mexican…I’ve yet to find good tacos in Germany). So you won’t be stuck eating Schnitzel every day – unless you want to!

We usually eat breakfast at our AirBnB or hotel, enjoy a nice lunch at a restaurant we’ve stumbled upon, and then grab a Döner, salad or pizza for dinner. We also often picnic using ingredients from the bakery and grocery store or farmer’s market.

Traditional German dishes to try:   Schnitzel, Spätzle, Rouladen, Bratwurst, Sauerbraten, Schweinehaxen, Maultaschen, Currywurst, Leberkäse, Flammkuchen, Sauerkruat, Kartoffelsalat (potato salad), Quark, all kinds of German breads.

Quick lunches and snacks on the go:  Döner, Falafel, Bratkartoffeln (fried potatoes), Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes), Bratwurst, Currywurst, salads, Brötchen filled with meat and/or cheese, fresh pretzels, pastries, cakes. Click here to see the best German street food!

Desserts & sweet treats:  Schwarzwälderkirchtorte (Black Forest Cake), Bienenstich (Bee Sting Cake), cheesecake, Stollen, Frankfurter Kranz, cake, Donauwellen cake, Berliner, Lebkuchen, Pflaumenkuchen (plum cake), all kinds of pastries and chocolate – just to name a few! Click here to see the 10 must-try German desserts and sweets.

Beer:  every kind you could ever imagine! I usually just ask for the local beer unless there’s a specific one I know I want to try.

Christmas: This is the best time of year to be in Germany, partly because of the many delicious holiday treats like Lebkuchen, Stollen, Glühwein, and so much more. Click here to read more about what to eat in Germany during the Christmas season.

Want to try German food now? Click here to see where to buy delicious German food online!

Got a question about traveling in Germany? Join our free Germany trip planning community or  send us an email!

Cate has been traveling to Germany for 30+ years. She has lived in Germany, taught college German, and has a PhD in German Applied Linguistics. She loves helping travelers plan their dream trips to Germany!

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GERMANY TRAVEL PLANNER:  Just getting started? Have questions about Germany’s confusing train tickets or how to find the best guided tours? Not sure which parts of Germany should be in your itinerary (and what to leave out)? Our  Germany Travel Planner  answers those questions and more via how-to videos, our interactive Germany Planning Map, City Cheatsheets, and MUCH more. Click here to unlock the best of Germany the easy way!

GERMANY TRAVEL CONSULT:  Feeling overwhelmed? Itinerary just not coming together? Wonder if a few tweaks would take your trip to the next level? Book a Mini or Full consult with Cate! She’ll help you create or tweak your itinerary, recommend train tickets/passes, hotels, things to do, guided tours, show you how to buy train tickets, orient you to specific cities, help you plan out day trips, and answer your Germany travel questions.

ACCOMMODATIONS:  We recommend using  Booking.com  since they have widest range of accommodations available from hostels, boutique hotels, luxury chains, aparthotels, at the best prices. Check out our  accommodation guides  for specific recommended hotels.

WHAT TO PACK: If you’re bringing your phone, be sure to bring this plug adapter , this power bank , and this wrist strap . They’ve been lifesavers for us! You can see our other packing essentials here and here .

TICKETS & TOURS:  For guided tours, day trips, private tours, and skip-the-line tickets,  Get Your Guide  is our go-to!

TRAINS & BUSES:  To research train schedules and buy tickets or a Germany Rail Pass, we recommend the official  Deutsche Bahn (German Rail System)  website (and download their DB Navigator app). For buses, look at  FlixBus  , which offers tickets for routes within Germany and to other European countries. FlixBus is often cheaper than trains but can take longer.

69 Comments

I enjoyed reading this information. My husband and I would like to stay in Germany for 2 to 3 months in 2022. I am interested in staying in the area of Bamberg with the plan of visiting other regions in Germany via a rental car. Either at the end or beginning of our stay we would like to visit France (especially Paris). I have so many questions. But our hope is to have basically our last trip on our own and experience more of the everyday lifestyle. Up to this point we have only traveled via being guest of Viking River Cruise and tours.

Hi Donna! 2-3 months in Germany sounds awesome! Since you’ll be there so long, you might want to consider spending 1 month in 3 different regions or 1.5 months in 2 regions. Otherwise you’ll be doing a lot of overnight or multi-night trips if you want to see other regions. Are you thinking about renting an AirBnB? If you want to experience the everyday lifestyle, I highly recommend it. Feel free to email me if you have questions as you start planning. 🙂

Hi! Thank you for this awesome post. It’s very useful. I wanted to ask you a question. I’m planning to travel to Germany as soon as the pandemic starts to be less dangerous. I want to go to Germany for 2 months, how many cities do you think is possible to visit? And also how much money do you think is possible to use everyday for food if my budget is small? Thank you very much!

Hello! Two months is a good amount of time to visit Germany, and you should be able to see and do quite a lot! Just how many cities depends on how quickly you like to travel and what you want to do in each place (e.g., just see the highlights or live like a local). If you want to stick to big cities you could spend 1-3 weeks in each and take lots of day trips to see the surrounding area.

If that’s the case, you could rent an Airbnb (or similar), which would not only save you money on lodging (they’ll often give discounts for stays of 1 week or longer) but also make it easier to make some inexpensive meals at the Airbnb (and it’s easy to make German dishes “at home”!) and maybe even do laundry for free.

If you want to be on the go the whole time, moving from city to city (big, medium, and small), it will be more expensive unless you stay at hostels (or super cheap hotels). And remember to factor in the constant packing and unpacking, time getting to/from the train station (or airport)…that gets tiring when traveling for a couple months!

I recommend coming up with a budget, then looking at what kind of lodging fits that budget (hotels, hostels, longer Airbnb stays, Couchsurfing, etc). Then think about what you most want to do in Germany (live like a local, just spontaneously explore, see specific sights, have specific experiences, etc) and what you want your daily experience to be like (e.g., do you want to feel relaxed each day and get to know fewer places or be on the go, packing and unpacking, moving from place to place). Neither is better than the other, it’s just important to get clear on what kind of experience you want!

A few ways to reduce your budget: – Eat in fewer sit-down restaurants. Eat breakfast at “home”, buy snacks and drinks at the grocery store and bring them with you each day, cook some meals each week at “home”, pick up lunch from a grocery store or bakery and eat in a park, etc. Make eating dinner in a sit-down restaurant a special occasion. Doing these things will save you money and you’ll eat healthier!

– Take busses or slower trains to travel around Germany. There are regional train passes you can purchase that allow travel in a specific area very inexpensively. Travel will be slower and there are some restrictions on when you travel (often not during rush hour) but you’ll save money and often you’ll see some out of the way sights. You can also get good deals on flights but once you factor in travel to the airport (time and cost), time to check in, waiting to board, potential delays, and then getting from the airport to your final destination, it’s often just easier to take the train.

– Buy standard train tickets in advance. You can get nice discounts on faster train tickets if you book far enough in advance.

This might be more info than you wanted but I hope that helps you start planning your trip! Let me know if you have any other questions. 🙂

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Great post full of detailed information on all aspects of travel in Germany. When travel reopens in Europe we’re planning on a 2 week trip in Germany with our adult son. He’s an avid soccer fan so we’ll need to plan the trip around the soccer schedule so he can see as many games as possible. We are considering Eastern Germany with a short trip into Poland or Northern Germany with a few days in Denmark. We’d really appreciate your expertise and suggestions. Although we’ve traveled extensively in many western and eastern European countries, we have not spent a great deal of time in Germany. Thanks. J.

Hello! I’m back working on this site now and am happy to help. I’ve got more articles and resources coming but let me know if you have any specific questions!

Hi Both The Ueckermann family 9-10 adults and 2 little once to experience Germany in Oct 2023. Central G and Netherlands will be awesome. We need to do all planning and funds estimates please assist. We live in South Africa and hopefully COVID 19 not a factor any more. Plan 2-3 weeks depending on the funds regards Engela

Hi Engela! Let me know if you have any specific questions about planning your trip to Germany. Happy to help!

HI, I was having trouble with your email 🙂 so sorry I am just replying here. I was hoping you could help us and I wasn’t sure if you offer buying tickets and guidance of our specific places we would like to visit. Anxiously wanting to hear back from you, Anne

Hi Anne! I just sent you an email. 🙂

Hello Cate! Such a well written article with great info! My husband and myself would like to travel to Germany in Oct. of 2022, possibly with my then 16 year old son as well. We want to go in October so we can also experience Octoberfest. I cant have beer because I have celiac’s. IS THERE OTHER ALCOHOL DURING OCTOBERFEST OTHER THAN BEER? WHAT IS THE WEATHER IN OCTOBER AND DOES OCTOBERFEST RUN THE FULL MONTH? IS THERE A CERTAIN AREA WE SHOULD STAY TO REALLY EXPERIENCE OCTOBERFEST AND ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES TO AVOID DURING OCTOBERFEST? We are overwhelmed with planning our trip because we don’t even travel within the US and I feel like there’s so much we want to experience in such a short period. We would like to go for 2 weeks. We want to go because both our families are from Germany. My family comes from Nuremburg (sp) and my husbands family Bavaria but we are unsure which part. This trip is important for us to try to learn about our family roots. DO YOU KNOW WHERE WE COULD GO IN GERMANY TO LEARN ABOUT OUR GENEOLOGY? We would like a more of a laid back approach to experiencing Germany. I dont want to necessarily feel rushed every single day but I do understand that some events and places we would want to visit would need to be scheduled and we are ok with that. I would like to do the Air bnb but know nothing about them. I would like less stress worrying about transportation such as missing busses. We are interested in castles, picturesque views, experiencing floating on the Rhine River perhaps. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON AIR BNB’S THAT PROVIDE BREAKFAST AND ANY IDEAS ON AREA’S TO VISIT BASED ON EVERYTHING I’VE PROVIDED? P.S……our last name literally translates to “the German”. We have had so many Europeans tell us that when they hear our name…LOL

CORRECTION: This is Lisa Nemec. My hubands family is Bohemian. We believe his family crossed over from Czech.

Hi Lisa! There are plenty of other drinks at Oktoberfest, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding something. The weather at that time of year can vary but in late September to early October it’ll likely be warm during the day and cooler in the evening. Oktoberfest is mostly held in late September but I believe it goes until Oct 2 in 2022. There are a lot of hotels and AirBnB’s within walking distance of Oktoberfest (also walking distance to downtown) but book early because they fill up quickly! You’ll also pay a premium at that time of year. Some people prefer not to stay near the main train station but other people don’t mind it.

As to where you could go in Germany to find out about your genealogy, I’d start by searching the genealogy sites online and get as much specific info as you can. You can then try a site like http://www.genealogienetz.de/index_en.html (I haven’t used it, just found it).

If you have 2 weeks, you could fly in and out of Munich and focus on Bavaria. While in Munich you could take a couple day trips to Salzburg, Berchtesgaden, Neuschwanstein, the Alps, etc. You could see a lot at a laid-back pace in 2 weeks!

AirBnB’s are great if you’re going to be somewhere for at least a few days, want a little extra space, a kitchen, etc. Even just being able to make breakfast, coffee/tea, and keep drinks cold for when you come home in the evening is so nice. But you don’t typically get hotel-like services like a prepared breakfast, new towels each day or linen changes. If you want to be walking distance to lots of things in Munich, a hotel near downtown could be a great option. If you’re ok with being in a neighborhood, an AirBnB could be a good choice. There are so many great neighborhoods in Munich so you really just need to look at price, amenities, and distance to the things you want to see. I’ve stayed at hotels near Marienplatz and in an AirBnB further away (maybe a 10-15 minute walk + U-bahn ride to Marienplazt) and I enjoyed both.

I hope that helps!

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HELP……I have been put in charge of coming up with an itinerary for my hubby and 4 of our friends for travel in July 2022. I truly have no idea what I am doing. What we are looking for are castles, beautiful scenery and history (although I have been told that they do not want to go to concentration camps). The following is the tentative itinerary I have come up with. We are looking also, for moderate priced Inns/quaint hotels and castle stays centrally located. Any changes/suggestions/comments would be GREATLY appreciated. We will be renting 2 cars. 1 night Munich drive to Nuremburg 3 nights Nuremburg – drive to Fussen 1 night Fussen – drive to Ettal 3 nights Ettal – drive to Unterwossen 1 night Unterwossen – drive to Salzburg Austria 3 nights Salzburg Austria drive to Munich 1 night Munich – fly home

Hi Linda! Your itinerary looks good for a 2-week trip. Here are few suggestions:

-If you’re flying into Munich, you could drive right to Nuremburg on the first day, since it’s only a couple hours drive from Munich airport. If you pick up your car, drive into Munich, settle into a hotel, and then drive to Nuremburg the next day, you’re using a lot of time for driving/checking in/unpacking/packing and you won’t get to see much of Munich. If you go right to Nuremburg on arrival day and stay for 3 nights, you could add a night to the end of your trip so you have 2 nights in Munich or add a day to Salzburg and keep Munich at 1 night.

-Fussen and Ettal are pretty close to each other so you could stay 3-4 nights in one and then take a day trip to the other. I like to reduce the number of one night stays as much as I can during 1 and 2 week trips for the reasons I mentioned above. You could also stay in Ettal and make day trips to both Fussen and Unterwossen and cut out 2 1-night stays.

-If you don’t want to see Munich, I’d keep that at 1 night and stay near the airport at the end of your trip. If you do want to see Munich, I’d give that 2 nights minimum.

I hope that helps! I think you’ll really enjoy your itinerary!

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Thankyou for all the wonderful suggestions! I’m visiting Germany closer to Christmas for two weeks.

That’s my favorite time to be in Germany! Everything is so beautiful and festive. You might be interested in my Stuttgart Christmas Market article – even if you won’t be near Stuttgart, it will give you an idea of what you can do, see, and eat at any Christmas market. I also talk about 6 other nearby Christmas markets that are super fun to visit. 🙂 Enjoy your trip!!

I had all but given up on our delayed 25 yr Wedding Anniversary(07/28/2020 delayed to Sept 2021, due to covid) trip to Germany. Then I found your website! It reinvigorated our desire to NOT CANCEL our plans! We have a son in Kaiserslautern(rhein main air force base) , and want to split a 2 week trip between seeing 7-8 days traveling in Germany( Berlin, Munich, Cologne, and Stuttgart) and Paris. And then 6 to 7 day visiting our son. We had all but given up, until I read your article. Thanks! I wish that there were some way to have everything planned for us in advance! But, your post at least has assured us that we can make this happen on our own. Thank you very much!!

Definitely don’t cancel your plans, even if you have to postpone! (We had to postpone our anniversary trip, too – such a bummer!) You can definitely make your trip to Germany happen. Here are a few ideas for you…

You could fly into Paris, then travel to Kaiserslautern to see your son and do a day trip to Stuttgart (visit the Christmas market if you’re there in December or nearby Esslingen any time of year) and then either visit Munich and the area around there (fly out of Munich) or travel up to Cologne and over to Berlin (fly out of Berlin).

It’ll be a lot to try to see Paris, spend several days in Kaiserslautern, and also see Cologne, Stuttgart, Munich, and Berlin but if you can combine things – like if your son can go with you to visit Stuttgart and Munich or Cologne and Berlin, you could see a lot of the places you’re interested in. Flying into one city and out of another will help a lot, too.

You could also fly into Munich, then go to Kaiserslautern via Stuttgart, take a short trip to Paris, then go to Berlin via Cologne and fly out of Berlin. Or do the same but start in Berlin and fly out of Munich.

You’ll have a great time no matter your itinerary! 🙂

Your website is a such a great resource! I have a ton of questions about planning a trip, I’m just going to send you an email.

Thank you Komal

Got it and replied 🙂

What is a good budget for 2 adults in Germany for two weeks?

It’s nearly impossible to give a guideline because it depends on so many things – your travel style, what kind of transportation you want to use, your accommodation & restaurant preferences, etc. I know that’s not very helpful in the short-term but it would be less helpful for me to give you a specific budget not knowing any specifics about you or your trip plans. Plus, most travelers like to splurge in one area and cut back in another but that’s so different for each traveler.

What I recommend is this: start looking at flights, transportation, and accommodations well before you want to book them in order to get an idea of what each costs for your travel dates. Add everything up for 2 weeks and then decide if you’re ok with that amount so far, keeping in mind you’ll still need to add on food, souvenirs, tickets/tours, insurance, and anything you need to get before you leave (clothes, luggage, passport, etc). I like to do this research before I book flights/transport/accommodations. That way I get an idea of what will be my splurge and where I will need to reduce costs to keep within the budget that’s right for me. Everyone’s ideal budget is so different!

hi i am planning to travail to Germany in December 2021 with my family , any idea

My big tip for Germany in December: visit the Christmas markets (if they’re open this year)! You’ll find one in nearly every German city, town and even small villages. They’re outdoors so dress warmly and enjoy the food, drink, and stalls. They’re a great place to pick up souvenirs and gifts, too.

Days are short in December, and some touristy sites do shut down in winter, so keep that in mind. But you’ll still find plenty to do after dark, especially if you’re in bigger cities. As long as you take these two things into consideration, you’ll have a great visit no matter where you go!

Hi, my partner and I are wanting to visit Germany in January 2022. I have previously stayed in Wurzburg for 3 weeks and dream of taking my partner there.Seeing as I went with school a few years ago we didn’t really have a chance to look around other parts of local Germany. Where would you recommend us to go whilst in that area? We like architecture (but not too much…) we’re in our 20’s so we also want to have fun 🙂 we’ll either be driving (we live in France) or we’ll be going by train. Will the Christmas markets still be on? I doubt it but you never know… Thanks

Also, we are wanting to go with our dog. Would that be possible or too complicated?

You could easily go to Munich and spend a few days there – lots to see and lots of places to have fun. (I had a great time there in my 20s!) There are also a lot of day trip options – Berchtesgaden, Salzburg, Neuschwanstein, Passau, Regensburg, etc. You could also stop in Nuremberg on your way to Munich. All of that is easy by car or by train – and if you go by train, you could probably do those day trips using a regional train pass. Or you could do guided day trips and not have to plan anything! I’ve got some listed in my Munich guide – https://www.mygermanyvacation.com/munich-travel-guide/

It looks like the Christmas markets are on for 2021 but they could always get canceled in the coming weeks. Most have their last day on Dec. 24 so unfortunately, you won’t get to see them if you visit in January. That just means planning another trip to Germany for December 2022! 🙂

Germany is pretty dog-friendly so it’s probably do-able. But there are likely museums and other sites that might not allow dogs inside. If you mostly want to spend time outdoors, and your dog is ok with possibly very cold/wet/windy weather, or if you can leave the dog at your lodging for part of the day, it might work ok.

Hope that helps!

Hi Cate, you have put together a terrific planning guide. Thanks. Our 4 children just gave us a trip back to Germany in celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary. We lived in Erlangen from Aug 1972 – 1973. We are excited to go back but we are debating between a Rhine river cruise or going on our own. We’ll probably go sometime in May/June or Sept/Oct 2022.

How exciting!! It’s so fun to go back and revisit where you used to live in Germany. Aaron and I did that in 2019 and had such a good time seeing what had/had not changed. I’m excited for you!

I’ve heard people say great things about Rhine river cruises. If you don’t have time to or don’t want to do much trip planning, that’s a great option. The downside is that you’re more limited to what you can do and see. If you have time and interest in planning your own trip, you can definitely do it. And since travel is coming back, I’ll be focusing on this site a lot more in the coming months and helping people plan their trips, so I’ll be here to help you, too. 🙂

Hi Cate, We have wanted to visit Germany (from the US) for a few years now and have finally decided to make it happen, but had no idea where or how to start. Your article is full of valuable information. Thank you. At least we now have a starting point. Our trip isn’t for another year, but it will go quickly. So excited and thank you for all the information.

You’re welcome! I’m so excited for you already. 🙂 The next year will fly by and you’ll be on a plane bound for Germany before you know it. Now that travel is coming back, I’ll be focusing on this site a lot more so be sure to come back when you’re ready to plan your trip. I’m working on lots of guides and helpful resources! 🙂

Hello. My grandfather expressed interest in going to Germany in 2022. More specifically, he wants to go to ‘The Battle of the Bulge’ where his older brother passed away in World War II. We would also like to go to the Holocaust Memorial. I have been trying to research/plan this trip but would be open to suggestions. We are from the US and could spend about a week out there. I am grateful that I stumbled across your blog as it is very informative and interesting! 🙂

Hello! That sounds like it will be a wonderful trip for your grandfather! If you’re talking about visiting the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin (highly recommended), you could fly right into Berlin (their new airport!) and spend half of your time seeing the city, then head to Brussels and take a Battle of the Bulge day tour! I found one here that you can look at (aff link): https://www.getyourguide.com/bastogne-war-museum-l35043/bastogne-battle-of-the-bulge-tour-from-brussels-t169657/?partner_id_Y5UOFLS It looks like it also goes into Luxembourg so you could get 3 countries in one trip. 🙂 If you have enough time, you could take a day trip to Brugges or Ghent – both are 30-60 minutes from Brussels. You could then fly out of Brussels back to the US. To get from Berlin to Brussels you’d probably want to fly but it’s a short flight and you could probably get an early morning or a late afternoon flight so it wouldn’t take up your whole day. Hope that helps with your planning!

Hi, your site is wonderful and has some great information! I am traveling (solo) to Germany in late April and will be there for one month. I have been to Munich/Bavaria/Salzburg before so I’d planned on focusing my trip on the rest of Germany. I’m flying into Berlin and was planning on staying there 4-5 nights, then I’m not sure where to go. I was thinking of spending a week in an area and going on day trips; for example, the Black Forest, the middle Rhine area, maybe Harz Mountain. But I also want to see some cities like Cologne, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Trier, and Hamburg. So maybe a bit of both cities and countryside? Do you have any thoughts? Thanks!

I definitely recommend choosing 3-4 locations where you can stay for a week or so and then take day trips. You could do longer stays in Berlin and Hamburg – there’s tons to do and see in each city, as well as lots of day trip options. You could also do Cologne or try a smaller town on the Rhein or Mosel and explore that area in more depth. For the Black Forest you could stay in the university town of Freiburg and day trip to towns/hiking in the Black Forest, as well as Basel and Colmar/Strassbourg). You could also choose 3 locations for longer stays (e.g., Berlin, Hamburg and Freiburg) and then do a couple of 2 or 3-night stays as you travel between cities, e.g., a short stay in Wernigerode or Quedlinburg (Harz mountains), Trier, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, or Tübingen on your way to Freiburg. Tip: if you want to do a lot of day trips, make sure you stay where it’s fairly quick and easy to get to the train/bus station! Since you’ll be there for a month you have lots of flexibility and plenty of time to do and see a lot of the areas you mentioned!

@Cate, Thank you so much! I’m really enjoying going through your site, too!

Looking for a good travel guide book for Germany any recommendations?

Rick Steve’s is always a good one! I’ve used his guidebooks a ton. You can get his Germany guidebook on Kindle or as a hard copy (aff link): https://amzn.to/33z7d59

@Cate, Thanks

So excited to find your site! My husband and I will travel from Texas to Bavaria for 7-10 days in September. I am in charge of all the planning. I’m thinking Munich & surrounding area and Salzburg. Do you have any suggestions? I’m also pondering some organized day tours..

Munich is a wonderful home base for seeing lots of great sites in Bavaria! You could easily spend 1-3 days in Munich (especially if you’re there during Oktoberfest) and then take day trips to places like Neuschwanstein, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Salzburg, Linderhof, Chiemsee, Berchtesgaden, Nuremberg…just to name a few! You can easily do all of that by train and mix it up with some organized day tours here and there. I’ve been working on a Munich guide that will have ideas for day trips and tours so keep an eye out for that!

Hello Cate, Your blog is very helpful. Like to seek your help and guidance. I am from Singapore and not familiar with Germany. Both me and my wife intend to fly to Amsterdam where my daughter is attending university and spend 18 days vacation with her in Europe during her break. Am planning 7 days touring Germany. Tentatively looking tourist site at hamburg, Berlin, Stuttgart and then off to another country eg. france, switzerland or Italy for another 7 days. then travel back to Amsterdam to fly home. Any advise how we can optimize the traveling as we are not familiar with these region? Appreciate your kind assistance. regards, Perry

It will be so much fun to travel with your daughter! It might be difficult to fit Hamburg, Berlin and Stuttgart into 7 days. On the train it takes about 6 hours from Amsterdam to Hamburg, 3 hours from Hamburg to Berlin, and over 8 hours from Berlin to Stuttgart. While all three of those cities are amazing, I recommend choosing either northern or southwestern Germany, rather than trying to hit all three (or make the Germany part of your trip 10 days).

You could, for example, travel from Amsterdam to Hamburg, then to Berlin, and fly from Berlin to France or Italy. That would give you plenty of time for travel, city exploring and day trips.

Or take the train from Amsterdam to Stuttgart and explore that area. Stuttgart is close to France, so you could spend several days seeing both southwestern Germany (Stuttgart, villages in the Black Forest, Freiburg, Baden-Baden, etc) and French cities like Strassbourg, Colmar and Mullouse. You could also very easily go to Basel in Switzerland! It’s a long train ride from Amsterdam to Stuttgart so I’d look into flights. Stuttgart is a great airport to fly into!

Hi, my family and I would like to visit Germany this summer. My husband and I have two teenagers (15 and 13), and one of them is reads a lot and it is very interested in history. We would like to visit german cities but also, some concentration camps. Our plans is to spend two weeks there. Any suggestions?

You’re going to have so much fun in Germany! Everywhere you go there’s so much history, so it just depends on what kind of history you’re looking for. For a 2-week stay you could easily visit 2 (maybe 3) different parts of Germany without feeling like you’re spending your whole vacation on the train or in the car. You could, for example, fly into Munich, visit the city and Dachau concentration camp, take a few day trips to Salzburg, the Alps, Neuschwanstein, Nuremburg, etc – there are so many options!…then visit the Black Forest area, the Rhein/Mosel area, the Hamburg area or the Berlin area and fly out of that second city (Stuttgart, Cologne/Düsseldorf, Hamburg or Berlin). If you want to focus on 2 main areas, say Munich and Berlin, you could do a 1-2 night stopover in a city in-between. Hope that helps you get started on your planning! 🙂

@Cate, We are from USA planning on attending next years NfL game if possible. We are a large group 10-15people who would also like to see the culture and history. Open to staying in Berlin, munich, or anywhere else as long as accessible to get to game. We want to fly out wed night from BOS be there Th F S Su (game in Frankfurt) leave M. Anything you would recommend?

Hi! I just now saw your question. If you’re flying into FRA and have Th, F, and S to do some sight-seeing, I’d stick to the Frankfurt area and do day trips. If you go to Berlin or Munich you’ll spend most of your time in transit and checking in/out of hotels. We’ve got a Frankfurt guide on our website and also a castles guide – so you could spend a day exploring FRA, then a day visiting a castle, and then 1 day visiting a nearby city like Heidelberg, Nürnberg or Rothernburg ob der Tauber. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. We’ve also got a Germany Trip Planner and one-on-one travel consults, too. And lots of info on this website. We’re happy to help!

I just found your great website! We have just drafted a 3 week trip plan to Germany and Austria and I would love your thoughts about it!. Is late May better than June? (I really can’t do heat without AC!)

– [ ] 2. Land in Vienna- 2 nights… – [ ] 3. Take tour or just Spend a day in the sprawling Schönbrunn Palace, – [x] 4. Rental car to Take KM 29 for about an hour to Burg Liechtenstein drive an hour to Melk Abbey Then Steyr From Melk, Steyr 1 night stay – [x] 5. Spend a little time, touring the Steyr Mannlicher! – [x] 6. Wake up early and bike 15 minutes to spend the morning exploring more of Halstatt before the day-trippers.. Sky Walk salt mine – [x] 7. After lunch, enjoy more the beauty of Salzkammergut area! on to Salzburg in time to return the rental car. we will stay in the old town (Salzburg 3 nights) – [ ] 8. See Salzburg – [ ] 9. Take guided tour to Eagles nest – [ ] 10: To Munich by 2 hour train.. taxi to hotel, Sleep Munich 2 nights … – [ ] 11. Guided tour all day— Dachau and Munich sites – [x] 12 Slow morning to rest, checkout, cab, 1.5 hour train to Oberarmagau for lunch and stroll. Rent car in Garmish and Drive another hour to Sleep in Hohenschwangau 2 nights Maybe take 30 minute Schloss Hornschwangau Castle tour before closing if time – [x] 13 Visit Neuschwanstein! (Hohenschwangau castle first if not last evening) then rent a bike and go a mile -7 minutes to Tegelberg luge ride – [x] 14 drive 2.5-4 hours but first stop for lunch and see Ulm Cathedral. Going Opposite the crowds arrive in afternoon to stay in nearby Rothenburg 3 nights. See stunning Rothenburg – [x] 15 After coffee and quiet streets, walk the medieval wall. If crowds arrive, leave and drive a short way and tour the Bad Weinsheim Frankonian Open Air Museum – [x] 16 Drive 30 min to Ansbach, park and Take 30 min train and10 min cab into Neuremburgfor day. – [x] 17. leave in early morning and drive 3-5 hours through To St Goar take B9 along the Rhine from Bingen arrive in time to tour Burg Eltz and then maybe return car in Emmelshausen this day or next. Take cab back down to nearby St Goar for 3 nights. – [ ] 18 See Burg Eltz castle if not seen yesterday and then see Marksburg castle – [ ] 19 REST maybe just board a boat for a relaxing Rhine River cruise from Sant Goar. We will disembark to visit small Bacharach and back again by train. – [ ] 20 Depart by 70minute train to Frankfurt airport Or would it be better to do the trip in reverse, starting with Germany first? Thank you!!

It’s not usually super hot in May but it can be hot in mid-late June. The last time we were there in June (2019) it was incredibly hot and there isn’t as much a/c there…but you never know, I’ve had cold and rainy June visits, too. If you want to be more sure of not-super-hot weather, I’d go in mid-late May or early to mid-June — as long as you’re ok with the possibility of some not-so-warm days. If you go in mid-late June and don’t love hot weather, book hotels with a/c, rent a car with a/c, and plan to buy a lot of cold drinks. No matter the weather, it’s always fun to travel around Germany! 🙂

You could easily do your itinerary either way so I’d just look at whether flights are better into Vienna/out of FRA or vice-versa. Check the hotels you want to stay in to make sure they have availability — I’ve actually reversed my itinerary before due to hotel availability!

You’re planning to cover a lot of ground in 3 weeks and be on the go go go, which some people find more tiring than expected…but if you know your travel style, then go for it! 🙂 3 nights in one place gives you 2 full days, which is a good amount of time for most places. 2 nights means 1 full day, which can be enough in some locations but if you do many in a row, it can feel like you’re constantly checking in/unpacking/packing/checking out, and can get super tiring if you’re doing a lot of day trips.

Be sure to plan in time for getting ready, eating breakfast, packing, checking out of the hotel, getting to the train station/car rental – it often takes up more time than you’d expect. Trains aren’t as punctual as they used to be, so keep that in mind for what you plan on arrival after a train trip.

An idea — instead of taking a train to Oberammergau, then to Garmisch to rent a car, then driving to Hohenschwangau, I’d rent a car in Munich and drive to each place. It will probably be less expensive to rent in Munich and easier than doing the train and car pick-up (especially with luggage!).

For the longer drives, plan on them taking longer than what’s estimated in google maps because there’s often traffic! If you miss the traffic and arrive early, it’ll be a nice bonus!

Your idea to add in some guided day tours is a good one – it’s a nice change from having to figure everything out yourself and can feel like a mini vacation from your vacation.

Overall, you’ve got a really fun trip planned!

Hi Cate! I love your clear way of describing and explaining. My husband and I are invited to a wedding outside of Berlin the last weekend in April. From there we would love to head to the spas in Baden-Baden .. what else would you suggest to see in the Baden-Baden area and without driving the best transportation option? We can stay up to about 10 days. Thank you!

Thank you for your nice comment! 🙂 I’d take the train from Berlin to Baden-Baden. It’s about 6 hours and you can relax and see the sights along the way. You could fly from Berlin to Stuttgart but by the time you travel to the airport in Berlin (the new one is further out than Tegel was), check in, wait to board, fly, and then take the train from Stuttgart to Baden-Baden, it’s at least as long as – if not longer – then taking the train.

When in Baden-Baden you could visit Gengenbach, the Black Forest, Triberg (cuckoo clocks & waterfalls), Tübingen, Stuttgart/Esslingen, Lichtenstein Castle, Hohenzollern Castle, Freiburg, Basel (Switzerland), Strassbourg (France), Colmar (France) — just to name a few! You should be able to reach all of these places via train/bus. The Black Forest Open Air Museum is also a lot of fun! I’m working on guides to several of these locations – and some are already on the site – so check back soon for new ones. 🙂

You should be able to get a free KONUS train pass, which enables you to travel throughout the Black Forest region for free. I don’t think it works for every place I listed but it will get you to several of them. Here’s more info about the KONUS card: https://www.schwarzwald-tourismus.info/planen-buchen/konus-gaestekarte (you can switch to English if it’s in German).

You could fly out of Stuttgart airport or travel up to Frankfurt and fly out of there. Strassbourg or Basel might work, too.

@Cate, that really does! Thanks again,

You’re very welcome!

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I am planning a trip with my husband, 18 year old daughter, mother in law and myself. We will have 8 nights total flying Munich to Amsterdam or vice versa. Interested in the Christmas markets, of course, castles (would love if we could stay the night in a castle if that’s possible), and just getting an authentic German experience. My mother in law found family ancestry in Stuttgart, so she would like to stop there. The other areas that we have an interest in are Frankfurt, Cologne (wonder if there is such thing as a day cruise on the Rhine River), and maybe Hamburg (for the canals, but I’m not sure December is the best time of year for that). Although, I’m not sure we’ll be able to see all those cities in just 8 nights, as we would also like 1-2 nights in Amsterdam.

We plan to rent a car and I will be doing the driving. We live in Colorado so I’m familiar with winter driving, but wonder if I can use Google maps while traveling through Germany.

Would love your thoughts or suggestions on this.

Thank you, Lea Ann

Hi Lea Ann, you’ve got the makings of a magical winter trip! All of the places you mentioned will be beautiful in December because of the Christmas markets. Stuttgart, for example, has a huge, old Christmas market (plus there are 2 other really beautiful ones nearby) and there are 2 nearby castles you can visit. Hamburg and Cologne and also wonderful cities (Frankfurt too but I’d skip it on a short trip unless you have a specific reason to go there).Amsterdam is also a lot of fun and a great place to fly in or out of.

It’s a lot to fit into 8 nights so you’ll definitely need to hone in on just a few places, otherwise you’ll spend your entire trip packing/unpacking/driving. 🙂

You can use google maps in Germany and that’ll make getting from place to place easy. But unless you want to stop at specific sights between cities, you could easily take the train, since you’re going to big cities (you don’t need a car in any of the cities you want to visit). If you don’t mind parking the car at each hotel in the city, a car can give you more flexibility.

You can also stay in a castle in Germany! We’ve got a guide for that right here so you can see which one you like best.

It’s hard to get more specific about an itinerary here in the comments without taking to you and getting a better sense of your interests and needs but we’ve got lots of resources to help you — Christmas market guides (definitely take a look at the Stuttgart one!), city and hotel guides , and we’ve also got a Germany Travel Bundle with an interactive Germany Travel Map, City Cheatsheets, and other resources, and I do one-on-one trip planning consults .

And be sure to join our travel planning Facebook group !

@Cate, thank you for your quick response and feedback! I’ll check out the links you shared and I’ve joined your Facebook group.

You’re welcome! Glad you joined the group! 🙂

Hi Cate , I have visited Germany but only Düsseldorf for my sugery. I will like to take my wife and kids with me this time I have an appointment in December might use the opportunity to take them for Christmas holiday . I have 12’night in total . 5 night in Düsseldorf can you please advise which city we can visit for the rest days and we are not leaving Germany until 26th. So I want them To enjoy the Christmas but I don’t know which city to choose .I will you to please give me where the kids can enjoy the trip age 8 ,6 and 3 . Do we fly back from Düsseldorf or from Another city ? Thanks for your help.

If you’d like to fly out of the Düsseldorf airport, you could spend the second part of your trip in Cologne so you could visit the markets there, in Bonn, and surrounding area (e.g. a day trip to Aachen).

If you’re ok with flying out of a different airport, you could go to Stuttgart (good Christmas markets in the area and a couple castles), Munich (good markets and day trips) or Berlin (good markets and day trips) and fly out of any of those airports.

Most everything will be closed on Dec 25 and the latter half of Dec 24 so keep that in mind when doing your daily planning.

Hope that helps with your planning!

Hi, Thank you for the detail page. I and my family will be visiting to watch a NFL game in Frankfurt and had some travel ideas outside of the city that I have not found solutions for. First, are US citizens allowed to rent cars without a permit? We want to travel to Stuttgart and Munich for some museums and possibly Berlin, but I’ve yet to figure how time and distances for the trip as these do seem to be quite a distance from each other. Then, we would end the trip back in Frankfurt to travel back to the US, unless we find an airline in Berlin. Do you have suggestions? This would be a 7-14 day trip, depending on cost. Thank you

Hi Marco! Yes, you can rent a car with just your US driver’s license. While not required, an int’l driver’s license can be helpful if you get pulled over or in an accident (you can get on at AAA). You can check distance between those cities via google maps (it’ll show you both driving and trains). I always add 25% to the times they suggest because there’s a good chance you’ll encounter traffic somewhere. We use google maps for all of our road trips in Germany. You could definitely do Frankfurt – Stuttgart – Munich – Berlin – Frankfurt (stay near airport on the last night) in 14 days. If you don’t want to drive from Munich – Berlin – Frankfurt, you could return the car in Munich and then take the train to Berlin and back to Frankfurt. Hope that helps you get started on your trip planning!

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Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

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Germany Travel Guide

Last Updated: April 29, 2024

Germany. The country is synonymous with beer, sausages, incredible hiking, majestic castles, serious people, and wild techno parties. It’s huge, diverse, and utterly amazing.

There’s a vibrant art and music scene in Berlin , beautiful forests in the west, majestic cathedrals and castles throughout the country, picturesque “Sound of Music” cities in the south, and overlooked historic cities and beaches in the north.

The more I visit Germany, the more I fall in love with it. Whether you are backpacking, traveling on a mid-range budget, or looking to splash out, traveling around Germany is wonderful.

That said, Germany is a huge country so don’t rush your visit. There’s more to the country than just Berin and those cross-country train rides are longer than you think.

This travel guide to Germany will help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Germany

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in germany.

1. Get lost in Berlin

Germany’s hip capital has world-class museums, history, funky neighborhoods, and some of the best nightlife in Europe. From the museums to the art and music scene to the great bars and cheap food, Berlin is electric (and one of the cheapest European capitals). It’s a really amazing city that has grown on me with every visit.

2. See Munich

Berlin’s quiet, upscale cousin, Munich is a city steeped in history, lively beer halls, incredible food, lush parks, and a royal palace. It’s a beautiful destination and there are a lot of Bavarian towns nearby that make for scenic day trips.

3. Party at Oktoberfest

Held annually in September and October, the world’s largest beer festival is filled with huge steins and giant pretzels. I went there for 5 days and had the time of my life. Buy some lederhosen, raise a glass, and sing some German beer songs. Just make sure to plan your trip well in advance as things sell out fast!

4. Explore the Romantic Road

A string of historic cities in Bavaria, the “Romantic Road” is the name for the route through majestic Bavarian towns and their surrounding snow-capped mountains. The area can get quite touristy but it’s a beautiful area and a great choice for road trips and romantic getaways. There are a ton of tour options for the area that are worth checking out. For some of the more further afield attractions, the tours are a must as they are hard to visit without a car.

5. Hike the Black Forest

The Black Forest is so named because of the dark green pine trees that grow here. Spanning over 6,000 square kilometers (2,300 square miles), there are hundreds of miles of hiking trails worth exploring and you can spend some time stopping in towns that are famous for their cuckoo clocks and hearty German fare. If you want to go on a guided hike or adventure activity, you can find a lot here.

Other Things to See and Do in Germany

1. explore lake constance.

Lying along the country’s southwestern border with Switzerland and Austria , Lake Constance (known as Bodensee in German) is Germany’s largest freshwater lake and the third-largest in Central Europe. One of the lake’s main attractions is the island of Mainau, also known as Flower Island, which is home to many specialty gardens, a baroque palace, and one of the largest butterfly houses in Germany. Tickets to visit the island are 10.50 EUR. Be sure to visit the many picturesque medieval villages and castles nearby, enjoy water sports, and go hiking and biking along the 272-kilometer (170-mile) Lake Constance Trail.

2. Visit Hanover

This city was one of the hardest hit during World War II, leaving it with only a few historical landmarks. But what I loved about Hanover were its large green areas of forests and big parks, the River Leine winding through the city, and the Sprengel Museum. Not many people visit, but I think it is one of Germany’s most underrated destinations .

3. Hike Berchtesgaden National Park

This national park, located in the south of Germany along the Austrian border, is an alpine heaven of lush forests, steep rock faces, crystal clear lakes, sleepy villages, and rolling meadows. It’s just you, the chirping birds, and cows ringing their brass bells. Well-marked trails wind through the spectacular scenery, which brims with opportunities for hiking and cycling. While nature is the main attraction, the beautiful red-domed Church of St. Bartholomew (dating to 1697) is a worthwhile stop as well.

4. Check out Trier

Nestled in the Moselle River valley, picturesque Trier is the oldest town in the country. With a 2,000-year-old history, Trier was home to six Roman emperors and contains numerous UNESCO Roman ruins. The most outstanding example is the Black Gate, a monumental structure that was once part of the city walls. Other Roman sites worth visiting include the incredibly well-preserved basilica, the huge amphitheater, the bridge, and the baths. Trier is also home to several important Gothic and Baroque churches, a beautiful main square, and great wine due to its location in the Moselle wine region.

5. Visit Dresden

Dresden, the capital of the German state Saxony, is a vibrant city located along the majestic Elbe River near the Czech and Polish borders. During World War II, the city was subject to one of the most devastating bombings of the war. Tens of thousands of civilians died, and over 90% of the city was razed at the hands of British-American forces. After the war, the city was completely rebuilt. The famous Frauenkirche church, the Neumarkt historic district, the Zwinger Palace, the Royal Palace, and the Semper Opera House have all been restored to their former glory. Other must-see attractions include the Fürstenzug, a unique 102-meter-long (334-foot) porcelain mural dating to the 1870s; and the baroque Grosser Garten, the largest green space in the city.

6. Spend a day in Cologne

Cologne is a cool place to stop in West Germany on your way to or from the Netherlands . The cathedral is the most popular landmark in the city (and one of the most popular in the country), but there’s also a vibrant art scene, incredible international restaurants, and lots of riverside cafes and pubs. It’s an underrated stop worth exploring for a couple of days.

7. See Neuschwanstein Castle

This 19th-century Neo-Romantic palace is the model for the Disney castle and a must for any Germany itinerary. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Europe, with over 1.5 million visitors each year. Perched on a rugged hill in Bavaria near the town of Füssen, the palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as an homage to Richard Wagner. Visitors can walk around outside and admire the stunning exterior for free, but the interior is only accessible by guided tour at specific times, which must be booked in advance. While the palace is 6,000 square meters (65,000 square feet) in size, only 14 of those rooms were ever finished. The finished rooms were fitted with very modern technology for the time, such as central heating, hot and cold running water, automatic flush toilets, and telephones. Admission is 15 EUR and guided tours are available . I think the guided tours add a lot of context and would really recommend taking one.

8. See Frankfurt

Often considered just a stopover city (there is a huge airport here), Frankfurt is home to a gigantic exhibition hall (one of the largest in the world so tons of events and conferences are held here), an excellent science museum, and a towering 14th-century cathedral. It’s less expensive compared to other cities in Germany and worth spending a day or two visiting.

9. Visit Olympia Park

Located in Munich, this massive complex was originally constructed for the 1972 Olympic Games. It is topped by the largest roof in the world, which spans over 700,000 feet. There is a really good restaurant here too. Tickets to the stadium cost 3.50 EUR while a ticket to the Olympic Tower costs 11 EUR. You can also skate in the ice arena, swim in the Olympic swimming pool, and reserve court time on the tennis courts. The BMW Museum is also nearby and worth a visit.

10. Tour to Schloss Colditz

Originally built to be a Renaissance palace, this interesting structure has a long, bizarre history. Located between Leipzig and Dresden in the region of Saxony, it’s been a hunting lodge, a poorhouse, and even a mental hospital. It is most famous for being a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II. There is a museum within the palace, with tickets costing 4 EUR. A two-hour guided tour through the castle (and escape tunnels built by prisoners) is 10 EUR. There is even a hostel within the castle (30.50 EUR per night).

11. Visit Hamburg

Located in northern Germany, Hamburg is Germany’s second-largest city. This port city, home to the second-busiest port in Europe, is famous for its parks and canals. Near its core, Inner Alster lake is dotted with boats and surrounded by cafes. The city’s central boulevard connects the Neustadt (new town) with the Altstadt (old town) and is home to landmarks like 18th-century St. Michael’s Church.

12. See Tierpark Hagenbeck

Located in Hamburg, this zoo and aquarium spans over 60 acres and is home to more than 2,500 animals including polar bears, penguins, and walruses. In addition to the classic attractions, there is a petting zoo, a miniature railway, pony rides, a playground for kids, and a serene Japanese garden. Combination tickets for the zoo and aquarium are 40 EUR.

13. Take a break in Bremen

Located in the north (near Hamburg), Bremen is a smaller city worth exploring. The charming medieval Schnoor district makes for a great stroll, and there is a beautiful cathedral and opulent city hall in the historic market square. The medieval harbor has been converted into the Schlachte, a large pedestrian promenade along the banks of the Weser River lined with countless restaurants, beer gardens, and riverboats. Bremen is also home to several fascinating museums, including the Universum Bremen, an interactive science museum in a modern whale-shaped building. The museum also offers a Dining in the Dark three-hour dinner experience, where you learn to experience food with just four out of your five senses.

14. Explore the Rhine Valley

The longest river in Germany, the Rhine holds incredible importance both historically and culturally. The most popular area to visit is the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This 67-kilometer (41-mile) stretch is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with countless castles, ruins, villages, and vineyards. An extensive network of walking and cycling paths, as well as excellent public transportation, means you don’t even need to rent a car when visiting.

15. Step back in time in Bamberg

Located less than an hour from Nuremberg, Bamberg is one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval towns, home to Europe’s largest intact historic city wall. Founded in the 9th century, the town was important in both the 12th-century Holy Roman Empire and the 18th-century German Enlightenment. It’s an incredibly picturesque town so spend the day wandering around, seeing the old homes, visiting the 13th-century cathedral, the 17th-century palace, the 18th-century city hall, and the seven churches that sit atop each of the seven hills surrounding the village.

16. Take a river cruise

Many of Germany’s major cities lie along large rivers, making river cruises a popular way to see the country. While there are expensive multi-day cruises going from city to city, you can also take a day cruise for a more budget-friendly option . Generally, these are around 15-25 EUR for a 1-2 hour trip. They are super fun.

17. Ascend Germany’s tallest mountain

Located in the Alps along the German-Austrian border, the Zugspitze mountain measures 2,962 meters (9,718 feet) and is a popular destination for winter sports. Even if you’re not into skiing, you can still enjoy the trip up the mountain via one of three different cable cars and a 90-year-old rack railway line. At the top, you’ll be treated to panoramic views and several restaurants with traditional Alpine food. Round-trip cable car tickets cost 24-63 EUR depending on the season and which cable car you take. If you don’t want to go solo, day trips are available from Munich and are the best way to get there and around without transportation.

  For more information on specific cities in Germany, check out these guides:

• Berlin Travel Guide
• Cologne Travel Guide
• Frankfurt Travel Guide
• Munich Travel Guide

Germany Travel Costs

Accommodation – Accommodation in Germany is quite affordable compared to other Eurozone countries. Hostels are plentiful and range from 17-25 EUR per night for a dorm room with 6-8 beds. For a private room, expect to pay 40-60 EUR per night. Free Wi-Fi is standard and many hostels also include free breakfast.

Budget hotel prices begin around 45-65 EUR for a small double room with a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi.

Airbnb is available everywhere with private rooms going for as little as 30-45 EUR per night and entire apartments or homes starting at 50-75 EUR. Book early though or prices will double (or triple).

While wild camping is illegal, there are a ton of campsites around the country. Expect to pay 5-20 EUR per night for a basic plot for two people without electricity.

Food – Food in Germany is very cheap (and hearty). Meat is a staple of most meals, especially sausages; there are over 1,500 different kinds of sausages in Germany (sausages here are known as “wurst”). Stews are also a popular traditional choice, as are potato dumplings and sauerkraut. Breakfast is usually composed of bread, cold cuts, cheese, and boiled eggs.

You can get sausages and bratwurst from outdoor vendors for around 3-5 EUR. Meals at many of the beer halls around the country cost 9-15 EUR. Pre-made sandwiches cost around 5 EUR. Fast food (think McDonald’s) costs around 8.50 EUR for a combo meal.

If you eat in the beer halls, a traditional German meal costs around 14-18 EUR. Turkish, Middle Eastern, and Asian food can be found for as little as 5 EUR, while a nicer meal at a sit-down restaurant costs around 25 EUR.

Beer costs around 4 EUR while a latte/cappuccino is around 3 EUR. Bottled water is around 1 EUR.

If you plan on cooking for yourself, a week’s worth of groceries costs around 40-50 EUR. This gets you basic staples like rice, pasta, seasonal produce, and some meat. While they don’t always offer the most variety, the cheapest places are Aldi, Lidl, Penny, and Netto. Bring your own bag if possible.

Backpacking Germany Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Germany, my suggested budget is 55 EUR per day. This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel dorm, cooking all your meals, limiting your drinking, using local transportation to get around, and doing mostly free activities like hiking and taking free walking tours. If you plan on drinking, add another 5-10 EUR to your daily budget.

On a mid-range budget of 135 EUR per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb room, eat a few meals out, take the occasional taxi to get around, enjoy a few drinks, take the bus between cities, and do more paid activities like visiting museums and castles.

On a “luxury” budget of 245 EUR or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, travel between cities via train, eat out at restaurants for all of your meals, drink more, take taxis to get around, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in EUR.

Germany Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Overall, Germany is not an expensive country to visit. Yes, river cruises are expensive. Yes, there’s plenty of high-end cuisine throughout the country. Visiting Frankfurt, the capital of finance, costs a pretty penny. But those are exceptions to the rule. Overall, Germany is quite affordable for a Eurozone country, with plenty of bargains throughout the country. Here are my best tips for saving money in Germany:

• Eat cheap – Throughout Germany, cheap outdoor sausage vendors offer quick eats for only a couple of euros. Additionally, some of the best and cheapest food in Germany is Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine. You can get meals for 5-8 EUR that are delicious and filling. It’s what I mainly eat while in Germany whenever I want to eat out.
• Drink cheap – In Germany, buying beer and walking around — known as a ‘Weg bier’ — is totally acceptable. Take advantage of good weather by sitting outside in Germany’s lovely plazas and lush parks and buy your own drinks from the Späti shops, street kiosks, and supermarkets to save money. Also, find the student areas by the universities as you’ll find the discounted places.
• Take the free tours – The bigger cities in Germany have free walking tours. They’re a good way to see the city, learn about the history, and get your bearings without spending money. Just make sure to tip your guide at the end!
• Book your train early – Trains in Germany are expensive but you can get a saver ticket that is around 40-50% off the standard fare if you book at least a week in advance. These tickets have limited availability, so be flexible with your travel plans. Also, if you are more flexible with times, try Flixtrain instead, which has fewer routes between bigger cities sometimes at inconvenient times but is way cheaper than Deutsche Bahn.
• Take the bus instead of the train – While not as comfy or romantic, Flixbus or Postbus are two bus companies with super cheap prices. Download the app and you can get tickets last-minute but be aware that prices vary by time and availability so if you need to be somewhere by a certain time or day book in advance.
• Use rideshares – If you’re flexible in your schedule, use the ridesharing service BlaBlaCar and catch rides with locals between cities (or countries). You save money and get to spend time with locals. Drivers are verified and it’s perfectly safe (though sometimes rides don’t show up, which is why you need to be flexible). While the bus might be cheaper, this is usually faster (and more interesting). Just make sure to check where the pickup and drop-offs are as sometimes they are not exactly central places or main station.
• Stay with a local – While accommodation in Germany is pretty cheap, if you want to get some local insight into the country, you should Couchsurf. Not only will you save money on accommodation but you’ll meet locals who can help get you off the tourist trail and show you around! Plus, they have occasional meet-ups depending on the city so you can meet other travelers and locals
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.
• Look out for free museum days – Most museums in Germany offer free admission on certain days or evenings. Check their website or ask the local tourism office to find out about discounts.
• Get transportation day passes – If you’re going to be using public transportation a lot in a city, get a day pass. Paying for single rides adds up quickly.
• Get city tourism cards – Most of the major cities in Germany offer city tourism cards. These include free admission to major museums and attractions, discounts on restaurants, and usually unlimited public transportation. If you plan on seeing a lot, these cards can save you money.

Where to Stay in Germany

There are lots of fun and social hostels in Germany. Here are some of my suggested places to stay:

• St. Christopher’s (Berlin)
• Circus Hostel (Berlin)
• Wombats (Munich)
• Jaeger’s Hostel (Munich)
• Five Elements Hostel (Frankfurt)
• Meininger (Hamburg)
• Generator Hostel (Hamburg)
• Station Hostel for Backpackers (Cologne)
• Black Sheep Hostel (Cologne)
• Lollis Homestay (Dresden)
• Hostel Mondpalast (Dresden)
• a&o Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof (Nuremberg)
• Five Reasons Hostel (Nuremberg)

How to Get Around Germany

Public transportation – Germany has some of the best public transportation in the world. All the cities and larger towns have public transportation that is reliable and efficient. In cities like Berlin and Munich, all the various networks are integrated: one ticket gives you access to buses, trams, U-Bahn (subway), and S-Bahn (above ground train). Fares are determined by zone, but generally, a one-way fare starts from 2.90 EUR. A one-day unlimited pass is generally around 7-9 EUR while a three-day pass costs 17-20 EUR.

Train – Train travel is an incredibly efficient way to get around Germany, though it’s not cheap. Germany’s main rail system is Deutsche Bahn, which has both high-speed trains and regular trains. The high-speed trains are a quick way to get around but are usually much more expensive.

Take advantage of regional group tickets that start at around 22 EUR. These regional discounted tickets are available in Bavaria, Brandenburg-Berlin, Baden-Wüttermburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westfalia, Hesse, etc. For example, the Bavarian Bayern Ticket is 58 EUR for a group of 5 tickets for any train in Bavaria from 9am to 3am.

Last-minute tickets from Berlin to Hamburg can cost 50 EUR, but advance bookings start around 20 EUR. Frankfurt to Cologne is also around 20 EUR. It’s always best to book in advance when possible, otherwise, you’ll pay the price for last-minute bookings. You can track schedules and fares on the Deutsche Bahn website.

Another great site for trains around Germany (and into neighboring countries), is Trainline .

A Eurail Pass, which allows travelers to explore Europe by providing a set number of stops in a specific time period, might also be a good option if you’re doing some country hopping. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how Eurail passes work and can save you money .

Bus – Aside from hitchhiking, buses are the cheapest way to get around Germany. They are punctual but slow, with comfortable seats, air-conditioning, rest stops, and usually free Wi-Fi.

I recommend Flixbus for the cheapest rates and most comfortable buses. You can get from Berlin to Dresden for as little as 10 EUR, or from Berlin to Munich for 20 EUR. Munich to Hamburg is around 22 EUR.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Ridesharing – Ridesharing in Germany is very common. Ridesharing means you travel as a passenger with someone in exchange for payment toward fuel costs. It’s usually not as cheap as the bus but it’s often faster and you’ll meet some interesting characters! BlaBlaCar and Mitfahren are the two most popular ride-sharing websites.

Car rental – German is a great country to explore by car. Car rentals start at 30 EUR per day for a multi-day rental. Renters need to be at least 21 years old.

For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Germany

Germany is a year-round destination. Summer is the most popular time to visit as temperatures are hot and everyone’s outdoors enjoying the weather. People flock to beer gardens and to the lakes to swim. This is also the peak season, when prices are much higher than usual. During this time, average temperatures hover around 24°C (75°F) and can soar well into the 30s°C (high 80s°F). You’ll want to book accommodation and transportation early (especially in July and August).

Temperatures warm up fast in spring, and the season is marked by the arrival of cherry blossoms. By May it’s warm enough to walk around in t-shirts and shorts. May 1 (Der Erste Mai) is Germany’s Labor Day, and the country breaks out in full celebration. If you’re lucky enough to be here during this time, take to the streets with your fellow Germans and enjoy the live music, drinking, dancing, and general mayhem.

Thanks to the famous Oktoberfest, autumn is a very popular time to visit Germany (especially Munich). From the end of September to early October, millions of people flock here from all over the world to enjoy the most epic beer-drinking festival in the world. If you’re planning on attending Oktoberfest, book your accommodations in advance. Way, way in advance.

An autumn visit to Germany is overall a great idea, especially in Bavaria when the foliage in the hills and mountains makes for some amazing photography. Temperatures can sometimes be chilly, but with light layers, you’ll be fine.

Winter in Germany can be cold, with temperatures as low as -10°C (14°F), but Germany is known for its Christmas spirit and the holiday markets all over the country are well worth your time, especially in Munich, Berlin, and Dresden. Pack some warm clothes and let the delicious glühwein (mulled wine) warm you up.

Winter in Bavaria is a skier and snowboarder’s dream only around one hour outside of Munich. While people might not think of Germany first in terms of skiing in Europe, these slopes are pristine, truly breathtaking, and way cheaper than neighboring Switzerland. Check out Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Füssen, Kranzberg, Zugspitze, and Laber.

How to Stay Safe in Germany

Germany is an incredibly safe place to travel. However, due to a few high-profile terrorist attacks in the country, I often get asked if it’s safe to travel to Germany. I wrote a whole article about how Germany (and Europe) is safe to visit if that’s a concern of yours.

Generally, you just need to watch out for scams and petty crime as you would anywhere (especially in Berlin late at night). Keep an eye on your valuables when in large crowds and on public transportation. Violent crime is rare so as long as you keep your valuables secure you shouldn’t experience any issues.

Scams are rare but if you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

Solo female travelers should feel safe in Germany, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone at night intoxicated, etc.).

If you experience an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Germany Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
• BlaBlaCar – BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It’s a cheaper and more interesting way to travel than by bus or train!

Germany Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Germany and continue planning your trip:

Where to Stay in Berlin: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

How to Survive Oktoberfest

The 18 Best Things To Do in Berlin

Munich is Better than Berlin

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8 of the best places to visit in Germany

May 9, 2024 • 6 min read

Plan your trip to Germany with this guide to the best places to visit © Westend61 / Getty Images

At the heart of Western Europe  is  Germany , a boundless feast for travelers.

Its endless variety of historic yet cutting-edge cities, romantic forests, and cultural riches can often make the task of planning a visit daunting. It would take a lifetime to see all of this fascinating country’s highlights, so take it slow and make a start with our guide to the very best places to visit in Germany.

1. The Middle Rhine Valley (the Rhine Gorge)

As the Rhine , Germany’s second-longest river, flows south from Koblenz , it cuts a gorge through a gasp-inducing landscape of vineyards and castles. The stretch between Koblenz and Rüdesheim, known as the Oberes Mittelrheintal (Upper Middle Rhine Valley) is so special it won UNESCO World Heritage listing in 2002.

A land heavily contested over the centuries, the Oberes Mittelrheintal harbors wonderful castles like  Pfalzgrafstein ,  Burg Rheinstein ,  Burg Reichenstein and Koblenz’s mighty Festung Ehrenbreitstein .

Planning tip:  Make time to visit some of the many wineries and wine bars here. We recommend Bingen’s Weingut Georg Breuer,   Alte Weinstube Zum Hubertus in Koblenz and Zum Grünen Baum in Bacharach.

2. Cologne 

Cologne (Köln) is known for its liberal climate and its wealth of historic sights. Taking its name from the Romans (who founded it in the first century CE as Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium), it’s been a major center of German history for centuries.

The most tangible symbol of Cologne’s importance and the essential sight is its magnificent 13th-century Gothic cathedral. The Kölner Dom  is Germany’s largest church, and was also Europe’s highest building until eclipsed by the  Eiffel Tower . Other must-see historical and cultural attractions include the  Römisch-Germanisches (Romano-Germanic) Museum and the sublime collection of 13th- to the 19th-century European art at the  Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Fondation Corboud . 

Planning tip:  Pick up a  KölnCard  at the  Cologne Tourist Board office (adjacent to the cathedral) or at any KVB or DB ticket machines. A 24-hour individual ticket (€9) gets you unlimited public transport and up to 50% off at many cultural attractions, restaurants and shops.

Looking for more budget tips? Here's our money-saving guide to visiting Germany

3. The Baltic Coast

Northern Germany’s Baltic Coast represents a side of the country not many visitors anticipate. The indented southern coast of the Baltic Sea hides great swathes of pure sand, susurrating pines and pristine nature sanctuaries. Highlights include the former Hanseatic power Stralsund, a classic of red-brick Gothic gabled architecture; the sheer cliffs of  Jasmund National Park  on Rügen Island ; and the birdlife and beauty of the Darss-Zingst Peninsula.

Driving in Germany? Here are the best road trips

4. Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Perhaps the most enchanting village along the entire 400km (250 miles) of the Romantic Road ,  Rothenburg ob der Tauber (meaning “above the Tauber river”) is a wonderfully preserved example of a medieval German village. Strict heritage protection ensures that every turn reveals meandering cobbled lanes, glimpses of the intact city walls and venerable churches. See the local treasures collected in the  Reichsstadtmuseum , housed in a former Dominican convent, and the  Alt-Rothenburger Handwerkerhaus , where weavers, potters and other craftspeople ply their trade as they have done for over seven centuries.

5. Munich and the Bavarian Alps

Munich (München), the capital of the Free State of Bavaria (Freistaat Bayern) is the city most visitors associate with “classic” German culture – for while Germany is in fact a patchwork of cultures and dialects, it’s often the Bavarian model of Bierkellers , Bratwurst and Lederhosen that outsiders have in mind. Munich is no cliché, though: Germany’s third-largest city is a center of high-tech manufacturing and cutting-edge culture, as well as the gateway to the magnificent Bavarian Alps .

Essential sights and experiences include the  Residenzmuseum , the former palace of Bavaria’s ruling Wittelsbach dynasty; the museum-packed  Kunstareal district; and the gracious 17th-century Schloss Nymphenburg . An easy drive south of Munich lie the forested mountains, photogenic villages and ski- and spa-resorts of the beautiful Bavarian Alps.

Planning tip:  Oktoberfest  – the beer festival that starts each year in September – is synonymous with Munich, and is the busiest and most expensive time to visit. Accommodations are booked solid long in advance, so plan ahead.

Time your visit to Munich right with this seasonal guide

6. Erfurt and Weimar

The proximate central-German cities of  Erfurt and Weimar represent an astonishing concentration of cultural achievement and historic significance. Erfurt, capital of Thuringia , has one of Germany’s loveliest medieval centers, while Weimar stands tall as the capital of the eponymous 20th-century Republic, and before that the home of cultural luminaries such as Bach, Goethe, Schiller and Nietzsche.

Erfurt’s essential sights include its  cathedral , where Martin Luther was ordained, and the vast, baroque  Zitadelle Petersberg . In Weimar, make time for the Goethe-Nationalmuseum , in a building that was the author’s home of 50 years; the UNESCO-listed Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek ; and the modernist treasures of the Bauhaus Museum , which also originated here.

7. The Black Forest

Bordering France and Switzerland , the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) is a vast woodland of more than 6000 sq km (2316 sq miles). From its spruce-swaddled slopes to deep valleys broken by silvery lakes and traditional villages and farmsteads, this diverse rural playground just begs to be explored by car, cycle or foot.

If you’re pressed for time, a drive along the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse ( Black Forest High Road ) from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt unfurls a series of gorgeous vistas. If you have more time, consider hiking the 40km (25-mile)  Panoramaweg or the 12km (7.5-mile)  Feldberg–Steig to the forest’s highest peak. Population centers you should definitely include on your visit include Triberg, with its waterfall and cuckoo clocks; the laid-back university town of Freiburg ; and Alpirsbach, with its 11th-century Benedictine monastery .

Planning tip: While travelers are naturally drawn to the Black Forest’s great outdoors, it would be a mistake to overlook the region’s excellent cuisine. There’s Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest gâteau), of course – while lesser-known specialities include venison Baden-Baden , smoked Schwartzwalder Schinken (ham) and skinless lange rote (long red) sausages from Freiburg.

Don't miss Germany's best flavors with this guide to food and drink

No list of German highlights would be complete without the country’s capital and dynamic cultural engine room. Germany’s most populous city,  Berlin is a bountiful beast of a place, with some of the country’s definitive museums, dining, art and – perhaps above all – nightlife.

Boisterous Berlin has long had a bohemian streak. While you should definitely make time to for cultural highlights like the Mies van der Rohe–designed Neue Nationalgalerie and the treasure trove that is Museumsinsel (Museum Island), those seeking a party will surely find it in iconic venues like  Berghain and  Pratergarten , where beer and bonhomie have flowed together since 1837. As ever, Berlin’s party people continue to innovate . 

Planning tip:  Before you hit town, get yourself a Berlin Welcome Card online. It's available for varying periods of time, from 48-hours to 6-days, and gives unlimited rides on public transport , free entry to more than 30 top attractions plus up to 50% off entry to over 150 more, as well as other benefits.

Explore Berlin one neighborhood at a time with our guide

This article was first published Jun 3, 2021 and updated May 9, 2024.

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20 of the Best Places to Visit in Germany for Breathtaking Mountains, Medieval Towns, and Moving Historic Sites

From moving landmarks to charming villages, these are 20 of the best places to visit in Germany, according to experts.

Lindsay Cohn is a writer, editor, and avid traveler who has visited 45 countries across six continents — and counting. She contributes to Travel + Leisure, Hotels Above Par, InsideHook, Well+Good, The Zoe Report, and more.

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Germany is filled with charming small towns, exhilarating cities, enchanting castles, historic landmarks, and famous festivities — notably Oktoberfest and the Christmas markets . With 16 states, from Bavaria to Bremen, there are a lot of different ways to vacation in Deutschland. That might look like bopping around to hilltop villages on a road trip or plopping down in a vibrant metropolis and going on some interesting day trips. Need some inspiration ahead of your first (or next) trip to the land of bratwurst and beer? We asked Liam S. Dunch, product manager, Europe at Abercrombie & Kent , and Caroline Quinn, a travel expert at Black Tomato , to share their top picks. Scroll on for the best places to visit in Germany.

Related: 12 Best Small Towns in Germany, From Charming Medieval Villages to Idyllic Mountain Escapes

1. East Side Gallery

Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Once a symbol of oppression — and an enduring reminder of Germany’s turbulent past — the concrete barrier that used to divide Berlin now serves a vastly different purpose thanks to the creation of the East Side Gallery. Artists transformed the largest remaining section of the Berlin Wall into an open-air art gallery with colorful, thought-provoking graffiti murals.

2. Rothenburg ob der Tauber

One of the most beautiful small towns in the world , Rothenburg ob der Tauber is an endlessly charming village along Germany’s fabled Romantic Road in the Franconia region of Bavaria. Its cobblestone lanes, half-timbered houses, churches, medieval walls, and towers look like they were plucked from a storybook.

3. Courtroom 600

Eye Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Many people who visit Germany want to gain a deeper understanding of the tragic events of the 20th century. “Not only does a trip to Courtroom 600 means the chance to step inside the room where Nazi leaders were tried for their unspeakable crimes, but visitors can also watch real footage of the Nuremberg trials and learn about the legacy of the verdicts,” explains Dunch.

4. Bach-Museum Leipzig

Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure

Dunch urges lovers of classical music to make the pilgrimage to Leipzig, where Johann Sebastian Bach composed most of his major works and spent the last 27 years of his life. The Bach-Museum Leipzig houses a collection of instruments, original manuscripts, and other memorabilia related to the German composer. 

5. Baden-Baden 

Werner Dieterich/Getty Images

European aristocracy (including Napoleon III and Queen Victoria) have decamped to Baden-Baden, a historic spa town on the edge of southwestern Germany's Black Forest, since the 19th century. This Belle Époque resort town retains its glamorous reputation and wellness credentials, continuing to entice well-heeled travelers with thermal baths and high-class spa hotels such as Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa .   

6. Museum Island

“I always tell first-time visitors to Berlin to check out Museum Island,” says Caroline Quinn, a travel expert at Black Tomato . Situated in the middle of the Spree River, this architecturally stunning cultural complex houses five magnificent museums: Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Bode Museum, and Pergamon Museum. 

7. Schloss Proschwitz

Daniel Schäfer/picture alliance via Getty Images

Schloss Proschwitz is a beautiful 18th-century, neo-baroque castle in the district of Meissen with elegant interiors and gardens. The estate also plays host to Saxony's oldest private winery, which invites visitors for cellar tours and tastings.  

8. Hofbräuhaus

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The most famous of the many beer halls in Munich, Hofbräuhaus takes patrons back in time to an era when tokens were used to pay for steins and shares the tradition of gemütlichkeit (geniality) with visitors from around the world through live music, warm hospitality, and homemade Bavarian food.

9. Meissen's Porcelain Museum

Wolfgang Kaehler/Light Rocket via Getty Images

“The medieval town of Meissen has produced fine figurines and crockery since 1710,” explains Dunch. The Meissen Porcelain Museum tells the story of Meissen porcelain through a collection of more than 2,000 objects — including ornate tables used in the royal courts of Europe in the 18th century, vases, candle holders, and intricate animal figurines. 

10. Neuschwanstein Castle 

Keren Su/Getty Images

One of Germany’s most famous and frequented attractions, Neuschwanstein Castle welcomes a whopping 1.4 million visitors each year. Travelers come from all over to gawk at the fairy-tale medieval palace and far-reaching views from atop a dramatic rocky hilltop in the Bavarian Alps. Quinn recommends booking timed-entry reservations to avoid waiting in lengthy lines.

11. Linderhof Palace

Juha Huiskonen/Getty Images

And you don't have to go far to see another stately residence. Instead of (or after) fighting the crowds at Neuschwanstein Castle, Dunch suggests visiting nearby Linderhof Palace. “It’s easy to see why this idyllic fantasy ‘hunting lodge’ was Ludwig II’s favorite getaway.”

Yasonya/Getty Images

Set on the shores of Lake Constance in Bavaria, Lindau attracts travelers with its harborfront charm and scenic views. On the itinerary? Catch sight of Switzerland across the water as you stroll the streets, check out the lighthouse, pause along Seepromenade to snap photos of the 12th-century Mangturm watchtower, and embark on a kayak excursion.  

13. Spreewald Biosphere Reserve

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Tucked between Berlin and Dresden, the UNESCO-listed Spreewald Biosphere Reserve is a unique inland delta along the Spree with waterways and woodlands. It’s an idyllic setting for kayaking along the channels and soaking in the natural beauty of the area. 

14. Porsche Experience Center Leipzig

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Sports car enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Porsche Experience Center Leipzig , a state-of-the-art factory and test circuit. Ready to go full-throttle? After the tour and a brief history lesson, accelerate, brake, and drift on an adrenaline-pumping drive on the circular track.   

15. Zugspitze

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Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, rises 9,718 feet above sea level and stands out as a top spot for high-altitude fun and year-round recreation. The Wankbahn cable car operates from April to October, bringing visitors to Mount Wank for a homemade breakfast at Sonnenalm and far-reaching panoramas. Hiking is also popular during the warmer months, while winter brings opportunities for skiing, tobogganing, and glacier tours.

16. Baiersbronn

Baiersbronn, a quaint village in southern Germany between Strasbourg, France and Stuttgart, is the culinary capital of the Black Forest with seven Michelin-starred restaurants and even more that have earned other culinary awards. “It’s the perfect place to stop for lunch on a drive through this scenic region,” says Quinn. 

17. Therme Erding

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The largest thermal bath complex in Europe, Therme Erding , located just 30 minutes northeast of Munich, draws upwards of 5,000 visitors each day. The giant water slides, wave pool, and lazy river are a hit with kids. Prefer relaxation? There’s also a classic spa and sauna area just for adults. 

18. Titisee-Neustadt

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Nestled within the Black Forest in southwest Germany, Titisee-Neustadt is a local’s getaway on the lakeshore that’s beloved for family fun and access to nature. During the summer, active types love to hit the scenic trails and climb Hochfirst Mountain, while winter means skiing and sledding. Bringing the kiddos? Head to Badeparadies Schwarzwald, an indoor water park with slides, mineral pools, and saunas. 

19. Europa-Park

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Travelers of all ages will have a blast at Europa-Park , a theme park in Rust, Germany with over 100 rides — including 13 thrilling roller coasters — plus a water park, live shows, restaurants, bars, hotels, a camping site, and even a wellness spa. Looking for something unique? The resort area is also home to Eatrenalin , an experience that combines fine dining with theme park technology for a totally immersive meal.

Felix Hörhager/picture alliance via Getty Images

There are plenty of naturally beautiful places to visit in Germany, but few are as stunning as Eibsee. Sitting at the base of the Zugspitze, this pristine lake is filled with crystal-clear water and surrounded by alpine peaks that make it a favorite destination for boating and hiking.

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Best places to visit in germany.

Full of culture, lively locals and great beer, Germany is home to many captivating travel destinations. Whether you're looking to soak up art, architecture and history or imbibe at Oktoberfest, this country appeals to a variety of tourists. U.S. News weighed factors like sights, food, culture, accessibility and value, in addition to expert and traveler opinions, to create the best places to visit in Germany. Vote for the destinations you love below to help shape next year's ranking.

Neuschwanstein

Garmisch-partenkirchen, black forest, berchtesgaden, rüdesheim am rhein.

Germany's capital city is akin to Paris and London in that you just can't visit the country without going. Like many large cities, Berlin offers something for everyone, from a lively nightlife scene to restorative green spaces. Those looking take in the arts can explore the impactful East Side Gallery (on the Berlin Wall) or visit the more traditional art galleries at Museum Island. Berlin also pays homage to its ominous past with powerful and humbling attractions. Must-visit historical sites include the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie.

Visitors flock to Munich every fall to take part in Oktoberfest, a two-week-long ode to Bavarian traditions featuring Germany's best beers and bratwurst. But Munich, one of the largest German cities, offers so much more than just this festival. The city is home to beautiful gardens, exquisite churches and engaging museums worth exploring. Wander around Munich's charming neighborhoods and spend some time in Marienplatz, a central square that's home to the world-famous Rathaus-Glockenspiel and hosts a popular Christmas market.

Though Neuschwanstein Castle was never meant for visitors, it has become one of Germany's most popular tourist attractions. King Ludwig II commissioned the castle as a place of refuge from public life. Today, more than 1 million people stroll through the property every year. The castle's Romanesque Revival-style is certainly romantic; in fact, it inspired Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. But what elevates this castle to bucket list status is its unbelievable setting, perched in the Bavarian Alps. From the castle, travelers can get an eyeful of the surrounding mountains, Alpine lakes and striking foliage (especially during fall).

This scenic mountain town in the Bavarian Alps calls to adventure-hungry travelers. In winter, Garmisch-Partenkirchen draws skiers looking to hit the slopes and learn about the Winter Olympics that were held here in 1936. In summer, hikers descend upon the town hoping to climb Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak (the summit is also reachable via cable car). Other can't-miss attractions include Lake Eibsee and Partnachklamm, a narrow gorge characterized by steep rock walls and roaring rapids. Meanwhile, if you're looking to unwind, take a stroll through Historic Ludwigstrasse or explore the grounds of Linderhof Palace and Park.

One of the best places to see Germany's natural splendor is the fairy-tale-inspiring Black Forest. This section of Baden-Württemberg encompasses more than 2,000 square miles of enchanting waterfall-filled forests, rolling hills and lengthy valleys dotted with half-timbered villages. A great introduction to the Black Forest is driving along its scenic namesake highway (Schwarzwaldhochstrasse); be sure to start or end your journey in the spa town of Baden-Baden to benefit from its thermal springs. You'll also want to save time for visiting gorgeous natural wonders like the picture-perfect Triberg Waterfalls, Lake Titisee and the Feldberg, the Black Forest's highest peak.

Dresden is made for architecture enthusiasts. The city, which is located in eastern Germany near the Czech border, features remarkable facades and edifices adorned with ornate architectural details. Though you'll have your pick of stunning structures, make sure you visit the Dresden Zwinger (a Baroque-style palace) and Dresden Royal Palace (a Renaissance landmark where the Fürstenzug, the world's largest porcelain mural, resides). If you prefer modern architecture, head to Kunsthofpassage to gaze at its quirky buildings, one of which has singing drainpipes. And those visiting during festive season can't miss Striezelmarkt, Germany's oldest and largest Christmas market.

For a memorable vacation in the Bavarian Alps, visit Berchtesgaden. This destination, which sits on the Austrian border, captivates visitors with its massive peaks, cascading forests, deep valleys and Alpine lake and river that make up Berchtesgaden National Park. Start your journey driving the scenic Rossfeld Panoramastrasse before traveling south to awe-inspiring Lake Königssee and the Eagle's Nest, a mountaintop beer garden. If you enjoy skiing, arrive in winter when Jenner Mountain is blanketed with snow.

First-time visitors to this historic German city should make a beeline for Cologne Cathedral – this breathtaking example of Gothic architecture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city's most popular landmark. Meanwhile, travelers with a sweet tooth should make time in their schedule for a tour of Cologne's Chocolate Museum. Other activities include relaxing on the lawn at Rheinpark, exploring Cologne's Old Town, cruising the Rhine River and taking in spectacular city views from a cable car. Visit in February or March when Cologne's annual Carnival celebration takes place, an event featuring festivities like masked balls, parades and parties.

Go off the beaten track on your next getaway by heading to this Bavarian city in southeast Germany. Boasting centuries-old architecture and a prime location along the Danube River, Regensburg is known as one of Germany's oldest and best-preserved medieval cities. Most of Regensburg's top attractions can be found in the city's UNESCO-listed Old Town, including landmarks like St. Peter's Cathedral, Haidplatz Square and the Stone Bridge. Other sights worth visiting include the Thurn und Taxis Palace and Walhalla, a hall of fame honoring exemplary German-speaking figures throughout history.

This city in southwestern Germany is well known for housing the country's oldest university. However, its good looks and superb location along the Neckar River also make it a great destination to enjoy old-world character and a small-town ambiance. To see as much of this beautiful city as possible, take a long stroll through Heidelberg's old town and across its picturesque Old Bridge. Then, ride the funicular railway to Heidelberg Castle, and continue on to Königstuhl for impressive views. Additional must-see sights to add to your vacation itinerary include the Philosopher's Walk, Heidelberg Zoo and the Student Prison at Heidelberg University.

Boasting elaborate churches and palaces around every corner, Würzburg is a photographer's paradise. From the Baroque-style Residence Palace to the Romanesque St. Kilian Cathedral, there are countless buildings worth exploring. Not only can travelers enjoy beautiful architecture, they can expect manicured gardens and parks, such as Ring Park and the University of Würzburg's Botanical Garden, along with numerous vineyards and estates offering wine tastings (Würzburg is located in Germany's Franken wine region). When you're not sipping on delicious vino, consider visiting the grand Marienberg Fortress or snapping a photo of Würzburg's iconic Old Main Bridge.

Primarily known for its winemaking capabilities, Rüdesheim am Rhein is a small village located at the base of Germany's Rhine Valley. While you'll surely want to spend the majority of your time here sampling Rüdesheim am Rhein's famous riesling, you should save time for other activities as well. The restaurant- and market-lined Drosselgasse alley is a perfect place to hear live music, and you'd be remiss to skip the one-of-a-kind Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet during your trip. Another worthwhile activity is a castle cruise along the Rhine River.

Frankfurt is best known as the financial capital of the eurozone thanks to it housing the European Central Bank, but don't assume the city is nothing more than a concrete jungle. Frankfurt doubles as a tourist-friendly destination with all kinds of attractions. Here, you'll find the Frankfurt Museum Embankment, a riverside perimeter that comprises more than a dozen museums, including the popular Städel Museum. Other noteworthy sights include the city's colorful old town, the Main Tower observation deck and the Palmengarten, a beautiful botanical garden.

Located less than 22 miles southwest of bustling Berlin, Potsdam makes for a perfect daytrip. The city offers a quieter, more serene atmosphere complete with parks and eye-catching historical landmarks. The city's most popular attraction, Sanssouci Palace, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site so breathtaking that it is often compared to Versailles. The palace's name means "without a care," so plan on spending unhurried hours there taking in its splendor and the surrounding grounds. You'll also want to save time for visiting Cecilienhof Country House – where the historic Potsdam Conference took place – and strolling through the charming Dutch Quarter.

Home to Germany's largest cruise port, the Elbe river and hundreds of canals flowing through the city center, Hamburg is a great place to explore by boat. But for those on foot, many top attractions are clustered in the heart of the city, including the Alter Elbtunnel and Planten un Blomen park. Speicherstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site worth visiting, offers Miniatur Wunderland, the world's largest model railway system that enraptures visitors of all ages. Plus, Hamburg is a haven for music lovers with its impressive Elbphilharmonie complex, which features two concert halls and a plaza with sweeping city views.

The second-largest city in Bavaria, Nuremberg is a must-visit destination due to its well-preserved history (both medieval and more recent). The city's darker World War II connections are on display at the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rallying Grounds and the Memorium Nuremberg Trials museum. Go further back in time with a visit to the vast, all-encompassing Germanisches Nationalmuseum, which includes artwork from prehistoric times to today. Then, wind your way through old town's endearing streets, where you'll find half-timbered houses, a four-story fountain and the imposing Imperial Castle, which dates back to the days of the Roman Empire.

Head to this small medieval city in northern Bavaria to feel as if you've stepped back in time. Bamberg is famous for housing notable Enlightenment-era writers and philosophers like E.T.A. Hoffmann and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. Plus, Bamberg boasts a gorgeous location along the Regnitz river and a collection of exquisite architectural beauties, including the Romanesque Bamberg Cathedral and the Old Town Hall. But no visit would be complete without seeing the dreamy rose garden at the New Residence palace.

Upon first glance, Lübeck might look like any other mid-size German city. However, this northern destination with Nordic beauty holds plenty of historical significance, so much so that UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site. Between the 12th and 16th centuries, Lübeck was considered one of Europe's most important trading ports. The city still remains a hub for maritime commerce with its location on the Baltic Sea. After learning more about Lübeck's maritime roots at the European Hansemuseum, travelers can check out the stately Holsten Gate in the city's charming old town or explore its many waterways during a boat tour.

Sitting on the banks of the Rhine River about 80 miles northwest of Frankfurt, Koblenz is overlooked by the hilltop Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. This idyllic setting is an added bonus to the city's strong cultural offerings, which range from institutions like the DB Museum Koblenz and the Ludwig Museum to monuments like the German Corner. You should also make time for a ride on the Koblenz Cable Car, which offers panoramic views of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Plus, with access to both the Rhine and Moselle rivers, Koblenz is an excellent destination for a river cruise (many routes take travelers past vineyards, castles and more).

Situated about 10 miles east of Germany's border with Luxembourg, the country's oldest city draws history buffs in droves. Trier was founded by Romans in 16 B.C. and is filled with some of the best-preserved ruins from that era. Must-see Roman relics include St. Peter's Cathedral, Porta Nigra, the Basilica of Constantine and the Imperial Baths. When you need a break from learning about Trier's ties to the Roman Empire, explore old town's colorful Hauptmarkt square, visit Karl Marx's birthplace or take a scenic boat tour along the Moselle river.

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Home » Destinations » Europe » Germany » 5-14 Day Germany Itinerary: A Guide For Planning Your Perfect Germany Trip

5-14 Day Germany Itinerary: A Guide For Planning Your Perfect Germany Trip

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Plan Your Perfect Germany Itinerary with These Detailed Templates!

If you’re looking to plan the perfect trip around Germany, you are in luck! We’re passionate about exploring Germany because it’s a great country – and because Lisa is German!

Jokes aside, we’ve been lucky enough (and have made it a point) to see lots of different parts of the country – from the sea in the north to the mountains in the south. That said, Germany can be a tough country to plan a route or road trip through because there is just so much to see and do!

So, whether you’re looking for the best week in Germany or a Germany itinerary that covers 5 days or 14 days – here’s our master guide with 7 detailed Germany itineraries by train and/or by car! We’ve got cities, attractions, hotels and accommodations, directions, and distances to help you plan the best Germany travel route for you!

We’ve got other great posts to help you plan a visit to Germany:

• Must-Knows + Tips for Travelling to Germany for the First Time
• Helpful German Phrases to Get You By
• Discover 30 Beautiful Places in Germany
• Our Top Hostels in Germany (Stayed at all of them)

Table of Contents

Things to Consider When Travelling in Germany

Before you plan your trip to Germany, there are some things that you should know and keep in mind to make planning easier and to have a successful trip. While you probably know that the currency used in Germany is the Euro, here are some other topics that you should consider as well.

Best Time of Year to Visit Germany

Germany is actually a destination that you can visit year round – but it is important to plan accordingly and go in with the right expectations. If you’re planning a trip during the spring – let’s say from March to May – you could absolutely have beautiful weather… but it may also just rain a lot.

Unfortunately, the weather can be quite difficult to predict. However, as long as you prepare for different possibilities, you can have a great time no matter the weather! Generally you can say that Germany has a moderate climate with cool and rainy winters (more snowy the farther south you get) and warm – but not overly hot – summers.

July and August are usually the warmest months with an average temperature around 20°C. However, there can be days where you have 30°C. Of course, this can vary depending on the exact location you’re travelling to. Often, it is colder by the north coast than it is farther south. 

We would honestly recommend that you avoid visiting the country in July if you dislike crowds since this is when the majority of kids are on their summer break from school. As a result, some cities can get quite busy.

Typically, we would recommend travelling in May or June and then from the end of August until the end of September (or even the middle of October). However, there is also a great reason to plan a Germany trip during the winter because of the many beautiful Christmas markets that you could visit at that time of year!

Public Transportation in Germany

Public transportation in Germany is quite good, especially when compared to North America. Yes, sometimes us Germans like to complain about the “Deutsche Bahn” – the German train company – but at the same time we are also super glad that it exists and works well. 

If you’re wondering: Yes, all the itineraries mentioned below can absolutely be done if you want to take the train (minus the odd day trip to a castle here and there). If you want to check a train connection and/or buy tickets in advance you can do so on the DB Website . Alternatively, you can also download the DB app to your phone. We both have it and use it regularly. 

As an alternative to the train, you can sometimes also use the bus to get from one city/town to another. Since 2013 (before this date it wasn’t allowed), long distance buses have established their presence in more and more cities and are now a popular way to get around for people who are more conscious of their money.

Unfortunately long distance train tickets can sometimes get quite expensive if you don’t book in advance – so the bus can be a good alternative in some cases.

The most popular long distance bus company in Germany is probably Flixbus. We have also used them multiple times to get between cities. If you want to look at the schedule and/or book a ticket, you can do so on their website .

In addition to the trains and long distance buses, the public transport within the cities is also usually pretty good – especially in bigger centres. Many of the cities – or transport associations – have their own transport apps. So, if you know where you are going and plan on using the local buses, trams, metros, etc. then downloading the local transport app would be a great idea!

Car Rental in Germany

If you want to rent a car and plan a Germany road trip, then that is certainly an option as well. Driving in Germany is generally pretty safe and people are not usually as reckless as in some countries in the south of Europe. However, it can get a little crazy in bigger cities like Berlin or Munich – especially if you are not used to driving in bigger centres. 

In Germany, you drive on the right side as it is done in the United States, Canada, and many other countries as well. You have probably heard of the “Autobahn” – that’s simply the German name for our highway system. If you follow any of these itineraries, you’ll drive on many different highways. 

While it is true that there is no speed limit in some parts of the Autobahn, there are lots of sections where there are actually speed limits in place. You can usually find limits imposed at/around construction zones along the way – so don’t think you can just speed all the time.

And PLEASE don’t drive on the Autobahn like you would on a highway in the United States or Canada – pass on the left and then get back over . If you’re going slower than other cars, there’s no need for you to be in the left (or even in the middle) lane. You can probably tell that this is something that Lisa complains about in Canada frequently, haha. 

Since Germany is such a popular destination, there are lots of different rental car agencies to choose from. You can compare prices from different agencies for the duration of your trip with this handy rental car comparison tool . Please make sure to read the fine print so you know whether you need extra insurance, etc.

Also please be aware that many people in Germany drive cars with a stick shift. Rental cars with automatic transmissions exist, but the numbers available are usually lower and these cars might be slightly more expensive.

We’d also recommend that you reserve an automatic car well in advance if you need one – just so you can make sure that one is available for you. It probably wouldn’t be fun learning how to drive a stick shift while on a road trip in a foreign country. 

Travel Insurance for Germany

If you’re planning a trip to Germany and you’re not from another EU country, then you should make sure to get travel insurance for the duration of your trip!

While you’ll probably be fine, accidents do happen and it could get really expensive if you’re not covered. That’s why we always travel with insurance.

If you live in another EU country and have health insurance there, you can get the blue health insurance card with which you are covered in other EU countries in emergency cases, as well.

If you don’t have that option – or are from outside of Europe – we recommend that you get private travel insurance.

Germany Itinerary 5 Days

If you only have a few days to travel through Germany, then have a look below at the two 5-day itineraries we have created. For these itineraries, we have assumed that you are not already in the country so they all start and end in bigger cities.

This should help make it easier for you to fly in/out of an airport with good connections if you are coming from overseas.

Depending on your preferences, you can choose between a trip through the northern part of Germany or a trip through the south of the country (mainly Bavaria). If you are interested in bigger cities and/or harbours, then we’d recommend the northern route.

In case you prefer half-timbered houses and beautiful old towns, then you should have a look at the southern route instead. Of course, you can always modify any itinerary to better suit your interests!

Germany Itinerary 5 Days – North

This 5-day Germany itinerary through the northern part of the country can certainly be considered a “sampler-type” of itinerary since you get to see the two biggest cities in the country – but not much more than that.

That’s completely fine though – you can only see so much in five days anyway. If you are interested in bigger cities and don’t have more than a few days, then this itinerary would be great for you!

The total driving time for this itinerary would be about 5 hours 30 minutes with a total distance of approx. 520 km. Of course, this can change depending on the route you are taking and the time of day you are travelling. Commuter traffic could add quite a bit of travel time to your journey.

Day 1+2: Berlin Day 3: Bremen Day 4+5: Hamburg

Day 1+2: Berlin

Berlin is a great place to start your adventure since it is the German capital, has multiple airports close by, and has really good train connections.

Since Berlin is such a popular tourist and business city, the car rental industry is well established and there are many different rental agencies to choose from.

— Compare prices from rental car companies in Berlin here

However, since you are only visiting bigger cities on this relatively short itinerary, we believe that a rental car is probably not necessary. Instead, for this trip, it might make more sense to take the train.

Since Berlin is such a big city with lots of things to do, it is worth it to spend (at least) two days in the city. So, remember to book your accommodation in Berlin for two nights .

Accommodation in Berlin : Berlin is a massive sprawling city with loads of different areas to stay and different accommodation options. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Berlin .

If you are travelling to Berlin with a car, you’ll need a place to park. Check out Park Plaza Wallstreet Berlin Mitte for a stay right in the middle of the city close to Museum Island and other top attractions. It also has a tasty breakfast. Park Plaza has free parking on the street near the hotel (if available) or else it’s for a fee (but a reasonable price considering you’re in the middle).

If you are arriving into Berlin by train, you can check out NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie . Located in the city centre right near the top sight “Checkpoint Charlie”, this popular hotel is in the heart of the action/attractions and is easy to get to via modes of public transit (metro – called the “U” for U-bahn).

If you are searching for a hostel/hotel, check out PLUS Berlin . Located over near the East Side Gallery (the piece of the Berlin wall with the artwork on it), Eric stayed here and really liked it! It’s also very easy to get to using public transit and is close to other areas to go out, etc.

Must-see Attractions in Berlin:

• Brandenburg Gate
• East Side Gallery (Berlin Wall)

We have also written a whole article about classic tourist attractions in Berlin in case you’d like some more inspiration. If you’re looking for some tips on how you could spend a day in Berlin, have a look at our One Day in Berlin Guide .

Day 3: Bremen

On the third day of your 5 days in Germany, you’ll head for Bremen. We’d recommend that you do the drive/train ride in the morning so you have enough time to explore the city once you get there.

Bremen is a hanseatic city with a nice old town – the market square with the town hall and the cathedral is especially popular. In German-speaking countries, the city is also known for a tale called the “Town Musicians of Bremen” by the Brothers Grimm. You’ll come across the animals of the tale (donkey, dog, cat, and rooster) many times as you stroll through the city.

The drive from Berlin to Bremen will take you approximately 4 hrs 10 min by car , but only around 3 hrs by train . If you take the train, try to book in advance if you can as this will usually save you some money.

Accommodation in Bremen: Bremen is a popular city to explore and it’s also on the larger side so you’ll find plenty of accommodations to suit your needs. There are hotels in the city centre/old town which put you within walking distance of the river and top attractions. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Bremen .

For a popular choice in the historic middle, you should check out the very popular Radisson Blu Hotel Bremen . Funny story – we know there’s underground parking because we parked there when we visited Bremen by car.

If you want to stay closer to the train station just outside the historic centre (but still very central), check out the Dorint City-Hotel Bremen . This lovely and also very popular hotel is close to the pretty Windmill and flower gardens and has water views just outside the old city walls.

Must-see Attractions in Bremen:

• Marktplatz with Town Hall and Cathedral
• Böttcherstraße
• Schnoorviertel

If you want some more tips for Bremen, have a look at our detailed Things to do in Bremen Guide .

Day 4+5: Hamburg

Hamburg is the second-biggest German city and the last stop on this short itinerary. We have been to Hamburg numerous times now and it is actually one of our favourite bigger German cities. You’ll find that the atmosphere of the city is very different than in Berlin. Not necessarily better or worse – just different.

Interesting (and slightly irrelevant) fact: The cities you visit on this itinerary are the three city states that exist in Germany in addition to the 13 area states such as Bavaria, Nordrhine-Westphalia etc.

The drive from Bremen to Hamburg is actually pretty simple and should only take around 1 hour 30 minutes by car and just around 1 hour if you take an ICE (fast train) . The train connection between these two cities is great with trains running pretty frequently. That should make it quite easy to find a train connection that works for your schedule.

Accommodation in Hamburg : Hamburg is popular city with loads of different accommodations and areas to stay in. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Hamburg .

If you are travelling to Hamburg with a car, you might want to check out the Mövenpick Hotel Hamburg . Located in an old water tower, this unique hotel has a number of cool features with stunning views and parking onsite. It’s very popular – and also close to public transit for getting around!

If you are travelling to Hamburg by train, ARCOTEL Rubin Hamburg is a great hotel option for you to check out. Located in the cool area of St. Georg, you can easily walk to the hotel from the train station. It’s also walkable to other parts of the city centre and other attractions.

If you are looking for a hostel in Hamburg, you might want to check out Generator Hamburg as a reliable and popular hostel stay close to central station and the heart of the city.

If you want more details about accommodations in the city, we have a more detailed guide on where to stay in Hamburg .

Must-see Attractions in Hamburg:

• Speicherstadt
• Elbphilharmonie
• St. Pauli Piers

As one of our first ever articles on Penguin and Pia, we actually wrote a short Hamburg Guide . Have a look if you want some more Hamburg inspiration. Unfortunately it’s not nearly as detailed as our newer article – looks like it’s time for an update!

Germany Itinerary 5 Days – South

If you would like to explore the southern part of Germany instead of the north, then we would recommend the following 5 days Southern Germany itinerary. Compared to the northern itinerary, this trip includes stops in some smaller towns and cities. So, if you are interested in seeing some places of various sizes, beautiful old towns, and maybe a castle, then this might be a good itinerary for you.

The driving distance of this trip is just around 680 kilometres with a total driving time of approx. 7 hours . Depending on your mode of transportation, this can – of course – vary slightly.

Day 1: Munich Day 2: Regensburg Day 3: Nuremberg Day 4: Stuttgart Day 5: Munich

Day 1: Munich

We are starting (and ending) this itinerary in Munich since it is an easy airport to fly in and out of from other parts of the world. If you are coming from another part of Europe by train, the connections to Munich are also usually pretty good.

Munich is the third-biggest German city and a very popular tourist destination. International travellers often mainly know the city because of the Oktoberfest which happens every year from the middle of September until October.

However, there is so much more to do and see in Munich than just the “Wiesn” (as the Oktoberfest is sometimes called as well). We are always happy to return to Munich because there is just so much to explore.

If you are thinking about renting a car for this itinerary, then you’ll be happy to know that it is quite easy to get a rental car in Munich. You can either pick it up directly at the airport after you land (if you arrive by plane) or in the city centre before you head to the next stop on this journey.

— Compare prices from rental car companies in Munich here

Accommodation in Munich: Munich is very large and popular city so finding a place to stay is no problem. The issue becomes that there are too many places to choose from! That said, you can check here for accommodations and hotels in Munich .

Specifically, we stayed at the very popular H2 Hotel München Olympiapark and we would highly recommend it for the value for money. The hotel has nice, cozy rooms, a super great breakfast buffet, and has a metro station steps from the front entrance to take you to the city centre.

There’s also onsite parking which makes this hotel perfect if you are travelling to Munich by car. The famous Olympic Park and BMW Museum are close by, too!

If you want to stay a little more in the city centre, then check out the Platzl Hotel Superior . This trendy hotel is in the heart of the Old Town just steps from top attractions like Marienplatz and the famous Hofbräuhaus. It’s also easy to get to the central train station either walking or on the metro.

If you are looking for more details on accommodations in this massive city, we wrote a detailed guide on where to stay in Munich .

Must-see Attractions in Munich:

• Marienplatz with New Town Hall
• Olympic Park
• Victuals Market
• English Garden

We also have a great little guide on how to spend one day in Munich if you want more details.

Day 2: Regensburg

On day two of your trip you’ll be on your way to Regensburg, a small city in Bavaria on the Danube river. Due to its location by the river, Regensburg is a popular stop for people on a river cruise. So don’t be surprised if you see many different tour groups in the Old Town.

We recently spent a couple of days in Regensburg to get to know the city better and enjoyed our time there. One of the highlights is the Old Stone Bridge in the city centre which was built in the 12th century. We actually filmed a small YouTube video in Regensburg – which you can watch here if you are curious about what the city looks like.

The journey from Munich to Regensburg takes approximately 1 hr 20 minutes by car and around 1 hr 30 minutes by train . If you decide to travel by train – and especially if you are travelling with other people – we would recommend that travel with a “Bayernticket” (Bavaria Ticket). This ticket for train travel within the state of Bavaria usually allows you to save some money compared to regular prices.

Accommodation in Regensburg:  If you are staying a night in Regensburg, you’ll have a number of great accommodations to choose from. To get started, you can check here for accommodations and hotels in Regensburg .

When we visited the city, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express – Regensburg and really liked it. It’s a newer hotel and it really shows. The breakfast was excellent and there is even an onsite parking garage if you are travelling with a car. It’s not in the Old Town or near the river – but we did walk there one day and it only took about 15 minutes.

If you are travelling by train and you are on-foot, then check out the Altstadthotel Am Pach . This simple hotel is located right in the heart of the old town so you’re close to everything there is to see and do in Regensburg – including the beautiful Danube River. They also have breakfast included.

Must-see Attractions in Regensburg:

• Old Stone Bridge
• St Peter Cathedral

We are currently still working on our Regensburg Guide – but we’ll link it here once it is published.

Day 3: Nuremberg

On the third day of this 5 day Southern Germany itinerary you’ll drive – or take the train – from Regensburg to Nuremberg. Nuremberg is a medium sized city in a part of Bavaria called Franconia. If you pay attention, you might notice that the dialect spoken here is quite different from that spoken in Munich and other places farther south.

Lisa actually grew up in this part of Germany so she has been to Nuremberg many, many times. Last year we also went to explore the city together and had a great time. Travellers from abroad mainly know the city for the Nuremberg Trials which took place there after World War II. You can certainly learn alot of history in this German city!

Since Nuremberg is quite close to Regensburg the drive won’t be long – giving you slightly more time to explore the city.

The journey takes approximately 1 hour 10 minutes by car and between 1-2 hours by train depending on which train you take (some stop more often than others). Once again, a regional ticket – such as the Bavaria Ticket – will probably save you some money if you travel with more people.

Accommodation in Nuremberg : Since Nuremberg is a very popular city to visit in Germany, there are many, many places to stay scattered throughout the city centre and around it. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Nuremberg .

When we visited, we stayed at Five Reasons Hotel and Hostel and we really liked it. Located just inside the medieval city walls, we were really close to the train station and yet also steps from top attractions like the Germanisches Nationalmuseum. The place was bright and great value for the price which we liked a lot.

Close to Five Reasons, we had friends stay at the Sheraton Carlton Nuremberg and they loved it. We actually saw it with our own eyes – it had a pool with views of the city among other perks. There’s also a parking lot right across from the hotel if you’re coming to Nuremberg by car. It’s walking distance to the old centre and the central train station so best of all worlds!

Must-see Attractions in Nuremberg:

• Imperial Castle of Nuremberg (Kaiserburg)
• Documentation Center + Nazi Party Rally Grounds
• Albrecht Dürer’s House

As is the case with Regensburg, we are also still working on our article for Nuremberg. Once it’s live, we’ll link it here.

Day 4: Stuttgart

Stuttgart is the capital of the German state called Baden-Württemberg and the only place on this itinerary that is not located in Bavaria. The city is mainly known for being a “car hub” since both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have their headquarters there. There are also museums dedicated to both car brands.

Stuttgart is a bit smaller than Munich but there is still a lot to see. In fact, one day won’t be enough to see the whole city – but it’ll allow you to get a good first impression. Next to the car museums, you could visit some of the many green spaces and/or old buildings that the city has to offer.

Driving from Nuremberg to Stuttgart by car will take you approximately 2 hours 15 minutes. If you have the time, you could even take a small detour and stop in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, known for its picturesque Old Town.

By train , the journey from Nuremberg to Stuttgart will take between 2 hrs 10 minutes and 2 hrs 30 minutes – depending on the type of train you are taking. Try to book your ticket in advance if possible as this can save you some money.

Accommodation in Stuttgart: There are many places to stay in Stuttgart – especially in the city centre. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Stuttgart .

If you’re travelling to Stuttgart with a car, check out the Abalon Hotel ideal . Located very much in the city centre, this popular hotel has an underground parking garage and offers a good breakfast selection.

If you’re travelling to Stuttgart by train, you can check out the Pension am Heusteig . This guesthouse-style accommodation doesn’t have parking but offers a great breakfast and is a doable walk or metro ride from the train station. Funny enough, these two accommodations are very close to one another!

Must-see Attractions in Stuttgart:

• Schlossplatz
• Mercedes-Benz Museum
• Staatsgalerie Stuttgart

Day 5: Munich

On the last day of your trip you’ll make your way back to Munich since it is usually easier to leave Germany through the Munich airport than smaller airports in the surrounding area.

However, if you don’t have to get to an airport – and/or are taking the train home – you could also stay an extra night in Stuttgart if you wanted. Both cities are worth spending an extra few hours in – so you really just have to see what works best for you.

If you decide to get back to Munich, then the journey from Stuttgart to Munich will take approximately 2 hours 20 minutes by car and just slightly less (2 hrs 15 minutes) by train .

Accommodation in Munich : We already went over accommodations in Munich in Day 1 of this itinerary. So, you can head back up for the full details – but we would highly, highly recommend the H2 Hotel München Olympiapark as great value for money with great breakfast, parking, and a metro stop outside the front door.

Don’t forget we also have our detailed guide on where to stay in Munich if you want to have a deeper look at accommodations in the city.

We also have a post on spending one day in Munich if you want more details about the city!

Germany Itinerary 7 Days

If you have slightly more time to explore Germany, we have also created two 7 day Germany itineraries for you. Similar to the 5 day itineraries, we made two different itineraries since it’s pretty much impossible to see the whole country in just a week.

Instead of a northern and southern itinerary, this time we have focused on the western and eastern parts of the country. But please don’t read too much into that description – we use the terms quite loosely. As always, you’re welcome to modify any part of the itinerary to make it better fit your schedule/interests.

Germany Travel Itinerary 7 Days – West

For this itinerary, the total driving time would be around 14 – 15 hours and the distance would be slightly over 1100 km . For these calculations, we included the day trip to Monschau (and back to Cologne) as well as the day trip to Freiburg im Breisgau (and back to Stuttgart), which would be a longer day trip anyway.

So, depending on which day trips you decide to add on to (or remove from) this itinerary, your driving time and distance could be noticeably different than the estimates given above!

Day 1: Cologne Day 2: Day Trip to Monschau/Aachen Day 3: Koblenz Day 4: Frankfurt Day 5: Heidelberg Day 6: Stuttgart Day 7: Stuttgart / Day Trip to Freiburg im Breisgau

Day 1: Cologne

As we have already explained above, we like to start these itineraries in bigger cities to make it easier for people from overseas to get to Germany and start their adventure without hassle. Cologne is Germany’s fourth-biggest city (by population) and has two pretty good airports (Airport “Köln Bonn” and Airport “Düsseldorf”) close by for those coming from far away.

If you want to rent a car for this itinerary, it should be pretty easy to get one in Cologne since it’s quite an international city with lots of visitors.

— Compare prices from rental car companies in Cologne here

Cologne is a pretty spread-out city so you won’t be able to see the whole city in a day or two. However, the highlight of the city is certainly the Cologne Cathedral which is located right next to the central station and the Rhine River.

Make sure to plan some time to visit this impressive building – we always spend much longer in there than we originally plan. It’s free to enter so it can get very crowded depending on the day and time you’re visiting.

Accommodation in Cologne : Cologne is a very big city with multiple areas to stay in. As such, there are lots of accommodation options across the city. Wherever you book, remember to book your accommodation for two nights since you will go on a day trip and then return to Cologne on the second day. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Cologne .

We have stayed in the Lindner Hotel City Plaza and loved it. The floors all have themes (we got Cologne Zoo with animals), the breakfast buffet is absolutely fantastic, and it’s a short walk to the Cathedral along one main street. There’s also parking available at/near the hotel for those with a car.

If you want to stay more in the heart of the city centre, check out something like the CityClass Hotel Residence am Dom . It’s popular, centrally located with shops and restaurants around, and only a short walk to the train station.

If you are looking for a hostel in Cologne, Eric once stayed at Cologne Downtown Hostel and it was honestly excellent. There’s a grocery store right below it and it’s located in the city centre. It also has a large balcony to enjoy the sunshine from!

Must-see Attractions in Cologne:

• Cologne Cathedral
• Cologne Chocolate Museum

Day 2: Day Trip to Monschau/Aachen

On the second day of this Germany itinerary, you have a few different option: you can either spend another day in Cologne if you feel like you haven’t seen enough of the city yet or take a day trip to Monschau or Aachen. Both of these are two places not too far from Cologne.

Monschau is a popular day trip in the area mainly because of its picturesque buildings in the old town. In fact, you probably have already seen photos of it on social media. To get to Monschau from Cologne, you can either drive or take a combination of trains and buses.

Getting to Monschau takes around 1 hr 40 minutes by car and approx. 2 hours by public transport . To visit Monschau by public transport, you can take the regional train from Cologne to Aachen-Rothe Erde and then take Bus #66 from there to Monschau.

Must-see Attractions in Monschau:

• Monschau Castle

If you want to go on a day trip but don’t want to venture that far, then Aachen would be another great option. This city is actually Germany’s most western city very close to the borders of The Netherlands and Belgium.

We’ve lived close to Aachen for a while and have written a whole guide full of things to do in Aachen that you should read if you want more information. In our opinion, one day is the perfect amount of time to explore the city since it doesn’t have that many attractions and the old town in the city centre is quite compact (but still very pretty).

Getting from Cologne to Aachen is also very easy. It takes approx. 1 hr 20 minutes by car and just around 50 minutes by regional train . You should look into getting a “Schönes Tag Ticket NRW” for the day if you’re travelling with more people as this can save you some money.

Must-see Attractions in Aachen:

• Aachen Cathedral
• Elisenbrunnen

Day 3: Koblenz

From Cologne, your journey continues to Koblenz – another city on the Rhine River. Koblenz is a smaller German city with a population of slightly over 110,000 inhabitants.

There are quite a few castles and nice hikes in the area which are easy to reach from Koblenz – just in case you decide that you don’t want to spend the day in the city. Depending on the time of year, you could also look into booking a boat tour on the Rhine river. This way, you get a unique perspective of the beautiful region.

Getting from Cologne to Koblenz is pretty easy and will take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by car and between 50 minutes and 1 hr 10 minutes by train . We really like this train journey since the tracks follow the river for a majority of the trip. As a result, you get some really nice views – and might even spot some of the beautiful castles in the area!

Accommodation in Koblenz: Koblenz is certainly not a huge city – but you’ll still find a good number of places to stay for a night or two. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Koblenz .

For a hotel right in the city centre, check out the Sander Hotel . This lovely hotel is super popular and close to shops and the rivers. If you are arriving to Koblenz by car, there is onsite parking at the hotel. However, since the city is smaller you can also easily reach the hotel by walking from the central train station.

Must-see Attractions in Koblenz:

• Deutsches Eck
• Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
• Koblenz Cable Car

Day 4: Frankfurt

The next stop on your itinerary is Frankfurt, arguably one of the country’s most popular transport hubs due to the busy Frankfurt airport. Frankfurt is an interesting city that divided people: some people really enjoy it while other people don’t like it at all. To be fair, we haven’t spent enough time in the city to really solidify our opinion.

Either way, we do believe that Frankfurt is a stop that you shouldn’t miss if you are trying to get to know different areas of Germany. Known as the financial hub of Germany, this city with its many skyscrapers can feel quite a bit more modern than other German cities. However, the city also has a beautiful, historical market square that you should visit.

The journey from Koblenz to Frankfurt is another easy one – and if you are taking the train (we would recommend that!), you’ll once again follow the Rhine River for big parts of the journey and be rewarded with some great views.

The train ride will probably be between 1 hr 25 minutes and 2 hrs 12 minutes long – depending on the connection you choose. By car , the trip will take around 1 hr 30 minutes . Of course, this can vary depending on traffic.

Accommodation in Frankfurt : There are loads of places to stay in Frankfurt given its popularity and size. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Frankfurt .

A great option in Frankfurt is the Motel One Frankfurt-Römer . Located very much in the heart of the city centre close to the old town and river, this cool hotel has underground parking if you are arriving to Frankfurt by/with a car. It also serves up a great breakfast!

If you are arriving by train to Frankfurt, you should check out Fleming’s Express Hotel Frankfurt . Located literally right beside the central station (which is in the city centre), this upscale hotel is very popular because it’s very affordable and also has a great breakfast.

Must-see Attractions in Frankfurt:

• Palmengarten

Day 5: Heidelberg

After your day in Frankfurt, you’re heading to Heidelberg which is actually one of our favourite German cities. The highlight of the city is certainly the castle on top of the hill which is visible from many different parts of the city.

Heidelberg is smaller than Frankfurt so you can see quite a bit in just 24 hours. The Old Town is beautiful and lots of attractions are located there. Our highlight was probably the tower climb of the Church of the Holy Spirit. From up there, you get a beautiful view of the Old Town. A very close second was the cable car ride up to the Königstuhl which was lots of fun – even in the rain.

Getting from Frankfurt to Heidelberg won’t take too long. The journey will be approximately one hour by car and between 45 minutes and 1 hr 30 minutes by train – depending on which type of train you are taking.

Accommodation in Heidelberg: If you’re heading for Heidelberg (good choice), there are lots of great places to stay. You can check here for hotels and accommodations in Heidelberg .

We stayed a little outside the old town – but close to the train station – at NinetyNine Heidelberg City . This hotel was really, really great. The beds were comfy and the decor has animals everywhere – you have to see it to understand!

There’s onsite parking (paid) and street parking (free, but not guaranteed) if you are travelling with a car. There’s also a tram stop right outside the hotel to get directly into the city centre in minutes.

If you are looking to stay in the historic old town, then check out colourful hotels like  Hotel Holländer Hof  which overlooks the river or Hotel Zum Ritter St.Georg which is literally overlooking the main Marktplatz.

Must-see Attractions in Heidelberg:

• Heidelberg Palace
• Church of the Holy Spirit (mainly tower climb)

If you want to learn some more about Heidelberg and what there is to do, you can read our detailed Heidelberg Guide here .

Day 6: Stuttgart

The next day you will drive to Stuttgart, a city that we’ve already mentioned in one of our Germany itineraries for 5 days. As we have already mentioned, you’ll probably really enjoy Stuttgart if you are interested in cars.

Even if you aren’t, there is still lots for you to explore. Did you know that wine also plays a huge role in Stuttgart and the surrounding region? If this is something that interests you and you’re there in the summer (specifically around the end of August), then you should stop by the “Stuttgarter Weindorf” (“wine village”) – but obviously, please don’t drink and drive.

As for getting from Heidelberg to Stuttgart, the journey will take you approximately 1 hr 20 minutes by car and between 40 minutes and 1 hr 30 minutes by train . As mentioned before, the time differs depending on the type of train you are choosing.

Accommodation in Stuttgart: Stuttgart has many places to stay so you can check here for accommodations and hotels in Stuttgart .

Be sure to see the Abalon Hotel ideal if you have a car. This hotel has underground parking available and a tasty breakfast. It’s also in the city centre which makes sightseeing easy.

Those coming to Stuttgart by train should look at the Pension am Heusteig . It’s a guesthouse that is located not too far from the first hotel here and it’s a doable walk or metro ride from the central station.

Day 7: Stuttgart / Day Trip to Freiburg im Breisgau

For this itinerary, you can decide how you would like to spend your last day. You could either spend another day to explore more of Stuttgart (and maybe relax for a bit) or you could head farther south and spend a day in Freiburg im Breisgau. We really enjoyed spending time in this small city in the south of Germany during our visit.

We are currently still in the process of writing our Freiburg guide, but we’ll link it here once it’s done. However, a good way to start your exploration of the city is by wandering the old town.

In Freiburg, you’ll find that many of the cobblestoney streets have small water-filled runnels – called Bächle – running alongside it. Sometimes they even have small yellow ducks in them!

The journey from Stuttgart to Freiburg im Breisgau is slightly longer than most other parts of this itinerary. It takes approximately 2 hrs 30 minutes by car and around 2 hours by train . Since this train journey will probably include at least one ICE (the fast train), we’d recommend that you book your train tickets early if you can to save some money.

Must-see Attractions in Freiburg:

• Freiburger Münster (Cathedral)
• Schlossberg + Tower
• New + Old Town Hall

Germany Travel Itinerary 7 Days – East

If the other week-long Germany itinerary doesn’t interest you and/or you really want to visit the German capital Berlin, then you might prefer this eastern route instead.

The driving time would be just slightly over 10 hours and would be approximately 900 km driving distance – including the day trip to Potsdam (which would honestly be easier with public transport, though)!

Day 1: Berlin Day 2: Berlin / Day Trip to Potsdam Day 3: Dresden Day 4: Erfurt Day 5: Bamberg Day 6+7: Munich

Day 1: Berlin

Once again, this itinerary begins in Berlin since it is one of the big cities that is easier to get to for people coming from overseas. Similar to the five day itinerary that started in Berlin, you’ll stay two nights in the German capital. There is just too much to see to spend only one day – and even in two days you wouldn’t be able to explore everything.

In case you’ve already been to Berlin on a different trip and/or aren’t a huge fan of big cities, we also give you the option of a day trip to Potsdam (a city close by) on the second day. More on that below.

Accommodation in Berlin : Finding a place to stay in Berlin can be tough because there are just so many options. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Berlin .

If you have a car, check out Park Plaza Wallstreet Berlin Mitte . Located right in the middle of the city close to Museum Island, this hotel has a great breakfast and free parking on the street behind the hotel. Otherwise, parking is paid but for a decent price for the city centre.

Those without a car travelling by train should see the NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie . If you want a hotel close to a top attraction that is easy to get to with public transport, this is definitely one of them!

Across the city, PLUS Berlin is a really good hostel/hotel that Eric stayed at a few years ago. It’s a big place but it was a great stay over by the East Side Gallery (part of the Berlin Wall with the graffiti on it).

As already mentioned above, if you want to read some more about Berlin, check out our articles on Things to do in Berlin and How to spend one day in Berlin .

Day 2: Berlin / Day Trip to Potsdam

On your second day, you can choose between spending another day in Berlin to see more of the German capital or going on a day trip to Potsdam – which is a smaller city not far from Berlin.

Potsdam is actually the capital city of the German state called Brandenburg. It’s most popular attraction is probably Sanssouci Palace with the beautiful Sanssouci Park surrounding it.

During our visit, we also enjoyed walking through the Dutch Quarter with its small shops and cafes. Since the city isn’t too big, one day gives you a chance to get a good impression and check out some of the more popular sights.

It is also very easy to get to Potsdam from Berlin. If you decide to drive , it’ll take you approx. 40 minutes , but it could be longer – traffic depending. We would honestly recommend that you do this day trip by taking public transport. This way, you don’t have to worry about traffic and/or finding a parking spot.

For trains, you can take the S-Train #7 (S7) from Berlin Central Station (as well as other train stations) straight to Potsdam Central Station. The journey will take around 35 minutes with trains running very frequently throughout the day.

Must-see Attractions in Potsdam:

• Sanssouci Palace
• Dutch Quarter
• Cecilienhof

Day 3: Dresden

The third day of this Germany itinerary will take you from Berlin to Dresden which is a German city close to the Czech border. To be honest, we haven’t spend that much time in Dresden yet – and it’s certainly on our list of places to visit this year.

One of the city’s main attractions – the Zwinger – is known across the country and a sight that you shouldn’t miss during your visit. It’s a beautiful palace built in a baroque style.

Fun fact: When Lisa was a kid, she didn’t actually know that the “Zwinger” was a palace. Since that word can also mean “dog kennel” in German, she was always confused as to why people would want to visit it during their time in Dresden!

As for getting from Berlin to Dresden, the drive will take you around 2 hrs 10 minutes by car  and  around 2 – 3 hours by train.  Once again, this depends on which connection you choose.

Accommodation in Dresden:  There are a number of accommodations in the compact “Innere Altstadt” close to the River Elbe for you to choose from. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Dresden .

For a great hotel option right in the old town, look no further than the Star Inn Hotel Premium Dresden im Haus Altmarkt . You’re a short walk to the train station, the river, and all the best old sights in Dresden if you stay here and arrive by train. If you come to Dresden by car, the hotel has discounted underground parking available.

Another option right in the old town (and even closer to the river) is Aparthotel am Schloss . Since this is an apartment-style hotel, it’s a great option if you are looking for more of a base to relax in a “home away from home”. It’s a very popular choice, too – and also has onsite parking.

Must-see Attractions in Dresden:

• Frauenkirche

Day 4: Erfurt

Erfurt is a popular city to visit in the middle of Germany – and it’s also the capital city of the German state Thuringia. We’ve spent some time in Erfurt a few months ago and instantly fell in love with the city. Its size is perfect (in our opinion) – giving you enough things to do without feeling overwhelming.

Maybe you’ve seen photos of one of the city’s most popular attractions, the Krämerbrücke. This bridge is not only pretty to look at and photograph, it’s also unique in the sense that there are buildings on the bridge and when you’re walking on it, you can’t actually see the water running below.

Visiting the bridge and climbing the tower of the Ägidienkirche, a church at one end of the bridge, is something we’d certainly recommend during your time in the city. We actually filmed a short video of our time exploring Erfurt. If you are interested in seeing what parts of the city look like, then you can find our video here .

Getting to Erfurt from Dresden won’t take you too long. It will take approx. 2 hours 20 minutes by car  and between 2 and slightly over 3 hours by train .

Accommodation in Erfurt:  Since Erfurt isn’t a huge city, there aren’t a ton of accommodations – but certainly more than enough to find one that works for your style and budget. You can check here for hotels and accommodations in Erfurt .

We stayed at  Gästehaus in der Gotthardtstraße  and really liked our stay. It’s located in a quiet neighbourhood just north of the city centre – a short walk to the Krämerbrücke. The host was lovely, the room was cozy, and there was secure onsite parking for those driving to Erfurt.

If you want to stay RIGHT in the city centre then you should check out  Hotel Krämerbrücke Erfurt which is right beside the famous bridge. This might be a good place to stay if you are travelling to Erfurt by train and you’re on-foot.

Must-see Attractions in Erfurt:

• Krämerbrücke
• Erfurt Cathedral
• Citadel Petersberg

For more details, have a look at our Things to do in Erfurt article .

Day 5: Bamberg

Bamberg is a small city – or larger town – in the German state called Bavaria. It’s actually located in a region called Franconia, which is noticeably different from the Bavaria that you might know in the area surrounding Munich, etc.

We’ve been to Bamberg multiple times over the years (it’s also close to the part of Germany where Lisa grew up) and are always happy to come back. Bamberg is known for its cute, historic old town which is actually a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One of the most popular buildings the city has to offer is the Old Town Hall (shown above) which is built on an artificial island. The story behind it is quite interesting.

The drive from Erfurt to Bamberg is doable and will take approx. 2 hrs by car and around 3 hrs by train . On the way, you’ll drive through quite a few tunnels since you’ll drive through an area known as “Thuringian Forest”.

Accommodation in Bamberg: Bamberg is a small place to visit so there aren’t a ton of options but still enough to find what you’re looking for. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Bamberg .

Anywhere you stay is basically in or close to the old town/city centre. For a place to stay with parking (for those arriving by car), check out Welcome Hotel Residenzschloss Bamberg . It’s located right on the river.

You might also want to see Palais Schrottenberg  to stay right in the middle of the Old Town! For reference, the train station is a short walk to the north of the river – not far from these places in the centre.

Must-see Attractions in Bamberg:

• Bamberg Cathedral
• Old Town Hall
• Alte Hofhaltung

If you want some more information about Bamberg, please read our detailed Bamberg, Germany Guide .

Day 6+7: Munich

From Bamberg, your journey will continue to Munich which will be the last stop on this 7 day eastern itinerary. Not only is this the third biggest city of the country, it is also one of the most internationally known destinations in Germany.

Whenever we come back to Munich, we always enjoy our time there. For some reason, the atmosphere always feels more laid back than in other big German cities and the people are usually quite friendly. We might also be a little bit biased, though, since Lisa grew up in this part of the country and is more used to the mentality, dialect etc. than in other parts of Germany.

For this itinerary, you’ll spend two days in Munich since there is quite a lot to see. Next to the obvious attractions like the Marienplatz with the New Town Hall and the Frauenkirche close by, there are also lots of museums and other things that you can explore.

If you’ve already been to Munich before and/or decide that one day in the city is enough for you, you could also opt for a day trip on one of these days. We’ve just recently written a whole Day Trips from Munich Guide , which you can browse through to get some inspiration!

Driving from Bamberg to Munich will take about 2 hrs 20 minutes by car and between 2 and 3 hrs by train . If you decide to only take regional trains instead of the ICE (fast train), you should look into getting the Bayernticket. This can save you some money, especially when you’re travelling with more people.

Accommodation in Munich:  Since Munich is so large and popular to visit, there is definitely no shortage of places to stay! You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Munich .

That said, we loved our stay at H2 Hotel München Olympiapark . Located up by the famous Olympic Park, we’d highly recommend it since it was amazing value for money. The breakfast was huge and delicious and there’s a metro station outside the lobby door that takes you into the heart of the old town in minutes. There’s also parking if you are arriving by car.

For a hotel that is a little more central, you should see the Platzl Hotel Superior this hotel is really popular – and for good reason. It’s located around the corner from attractions like Marienplatz and the famous beer hall, Hofbräuhaus.

For more help looking into accommodations and neighbourhoods in Munich, check out our where to stay in Munich guide .

(Check out our guide to one day in Munich if you want more details on things to do and see.)

Germany Itinerary 10 Days

Although we have tried to create short itineraries that allow you to see more than just the standard cities, it is no doubt easier to see more of Germany if you are able to travel for longer than one week. To give you a couple different options that you could look at (and then potentially modify), we have created two 10-day Germany itineraries.

Once again, we believe that ten days would not be enough time to see the whole country – and even if you managed to do that it would be too stressful (in our opinion). Both of the following itineraries give you a good mix of bigger and smaller cities as well as a few interesting day trips. So, have a look and see which one you like better!

Germany Itinerary 10 Days – North

If you’re interested in seeing more of the northern part of Germany and experiencing the mentality and way of life of people in the flatter part of the country, closer to the sea, then have a look at the following 10-day itinerary!

The total driving time would be slightly less than 17 hours with a distance of approx. 1470 kilometres. For these calculations, we have included the day trips to Schloss Drachenburg, Lübeck, and Flensburg. So, if you decide to skip any of these, your driving time and distance would obviously be slightly lower.

Day 1: Frankfurt Day 2: Bonn Day 3: Day Trip to Schloss Drachenburg / Cologne Day 4: Münster Day 5: Hanover Day 6: Hamburg Day 7: Day Trip to Lübeck Day 8: Day Trip to Flensburg Day 9+10: Berlin

Day 1: Frankfurt

Similar to some of the other itineraries mentioned in this article, we start this 10-day itinerary in Frankfurt. By now you should probably already know why – Frankfurt has the biggest airport of the country which should make it easier for people coming from overseas to get to Germany and start their adventure.

Furthermore, Frankfurt is quite centrally located so it is easy to get to many different cities from here. So even if you decide against following our itineraries step-by-step, Frankfurt would be a good starting point!

— Compare prices from rental car companies in Frankfurt here

Accommodation in Frankfurt : You’ll find plenty of places to stay in Frankfurt. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Frankfurt .

One really popular hotel in Frankfurt is the Motel One Frankfurt-Römer . This Motel One is near the river and walking distance to lots of things in the city centre. If you are coming to Frankfurt with a car, Motel One has underground parking which can make life easy! They also have a nice breakfast.

A hotel option closer to the train station is Fleming’s Express Hotel Frankfurt . This hotel is just to the north of the main station which makes it a great option if you are arriving by train and have no car. It’s popular because it has a great breakfast and is good value for money.

Day 2: Bonn

On the second day, you’ll head from Frankfurt to Bonn. As you might know, Bonn used to be the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany during the time that Germany was split into two countries. Later, the capital was relocated from Bonn to Berlin.

If you are interested in learning more about the history of Germany during your time in the country, then Bonn would be a good city to do that in. For example, you could visit the so-called “Haus der Geschichte” which is a museum about the history of the Federal Republic of Germany.

It won’t be difficult to get from Frankfurt to Bonn since the two cities are not too far apart. The journey will take approximately 1 hr 50 minutes by car and between 1 hr 20 minutes and 2 hrs if you take the train . Once again, we’d recommend that you book your train ticket in advance if possible.

Accommodation in Bonn: There are a number of accommodation options in Bonn which you can choose from – many are right in the city centre/old town. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Bonn .

Keep in mind to book your accommodation for two nights for this itinerary. (You could also spend the following night in Cologne if you day tripped to there, though).

For a great hotel in the heart of the old town, check out BrauHotel Bonn . You can easily walk here from the central train station but they also have a and parking garage close by if you arrive by car. There’s also a craft beer bar on the ground floor!

Another option is the Hilton Bonn . This hotel offers you amazing views of the Rhine River. It’s a bit north of the city centre but still very much close to it. There is parking but it can be expensive so keep that in mind when you book.

Must-see Attractions in Bonn:

• Bonn Minster
• House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany (Haus der Geschichte)

Day 3: Day Trip to Schloss Drachenburg / Cologne

On day three of this itinerary, you can choose to stay in Bonn, or go on one of two day trips: to Schloss Drachenburg (a castle not far from Bonn) or to Cologne which is also close by.

Schloss Drachenburg is actually a private villa/mansion that was built to look like a castle in the 19th century. Today, it is a popular attraction in the area.

From Bonn, you can either drive to Königswinter by car (and then leave your car at the car park) or take public transport to the Königswinter/Clemens-August-Straße station. You can find more information about that and opening hours etc. on the offical website .

If you are not a huge fan of castles, then you might opt for a day trip to Cologne instead. In this case, you might even decide to change your base and spend the night in Cologne instead of returning to Bonn at the end of the day. That is definitely an option that you can choose since there are lots of accommodation options in Cologne as well.

Getting to Cologne from Bonn will take you around 40 minutes by car (this can obviously depend on traffic) and only approx. 25 minutes by train . Just a quick warning: Trains can get very full if you are travelling during rush hour traffic – so try to avoid that if you don’t like being surrounded by lots of people in a small space.

Day 4: Münster

The next day you’ll head from Bonn – or Cologne – to Münster. Since Bonn and Cologne are so close, the journey wouldn’t really differ much from either city.

Münster is a smaller German city that we really enjoy. To be honest, it sometimes reminds Lisa of Copenhagen – mainly because of the many bikes that you can see all around the city. The University of Münster plays a big role in the city and the vibe – depending on which part of the city you are in – is noticeably younger.

One of the highlights of the city – for locals and visitors alike – is the lake Aasee which is located quite centrally. When the weather is nice, there are always people sitting on the grass enjoying the sun and maybe even out on the water (depending on the time of year). You can rent a small paddle boat to explore the lake from a unique perspective.

The journey from Bonn to Münster should take you slightly less than 2 hrs by car and between 2 hrs and slightly more than 3 hrs by train . If you want to save some money and are travelling with other people, then you should look into getting an “NRW Schönes Tag Ticket”. With this ticket, you wouldn’t be allowed to travel on ICE’s (the fast train), but the connections using only regional trains wouldn’t be much longer.

Accommodation in Münster: Münster might feel small but it’s actually pretty spread out and offers accommodations for all styles and budgets. You can  check here for accommodations and hotels in Münster .

If you want a popular hotel option right in the centre, the  H4 Hotel Münster  is a short walk to the heart of the historic centre. It also has onsite parking for those travelling to Münster by car – but you can easily walk there from the train station in the south of the city centre.

Must-see Attractions in Münster:

• Münster Prinzipalmarkt
• Historic Town Hall
• Münster Cathedral

For a more detailed guide, have a look at our Things to do in Münster, Germany article .

Day 5: Hanover

The following day you are travelling from Münster to Hanover. In German “Hannover” is actually written with two “n”, so don’t be surprised if you see it being written slightly differently.

Hanover is the biggest city and the capital of the German state called Lower Saxony. Compared to some other cities on this itinerary it is a less popular tourist destination. To be fair, even we haven’t spent that much time in Hanover yet. Hopefully we’ll be able to change that soon. However, that’s not to say that Hanover is not worth a visit.

Not only can you explore some beautiful gardens and interesting museums in the city, but it is also located pretty much halfway between Münster and Hamburg. That makes it a great stop to break up the journey and spent another day in a city that allows you to explore without too many other (international) tourists around.

By car , the journey from Münster to Hanover will take you around 2 hrs . If you choose to travel by train instead, it will take you approximately the same amount of time .

Accommodation in Hanover: Hanover is a larger city but the accommodation are still relatively packed together in and around the historic city centre. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Hanover .

For a stay right in the city centre, check out the Hotel Loccumer Hof . This popular hotel is a very short walk from the central station which is perfect if you are arriving to Hanover by train. That said, they also have parking onsite so this hotel works well if you arrive by car!

For another hotel option, check out the Arthotel ANA Prestige am neuen Rathaus . This boutique hotel is directly across from the beautiful New Town Hall in the south end of the city centre by the greenspace and water! They also have a really nice breakfast and parking available.

Must-see Attractions in Hanover:

• New Town Hall
• Marktkirche
• Herrenhausen Gardens

Day 6: Hamburg

On day six of this 10-day itinerary you’re on your way to Hamburg. If you’ve read the details of any of the shorter itineraries in this article, you’ll know that we really like Hamburg.

The city offers modern areas, such as “HafenCity”, mixed with historic (e.g. “Speicherstadt”) and alternative areas (“Sternschanze”) . This makes exploring the city all the more interesting – there is truly something for everyone. During your time in the city, we’d also recommend that you climb the tower of the St. Michael’s Church. From up there, you get a beautiful view of most parts of the city.

The journey from Hanover to Hamburg won’t be long. Depending on the route you are taking (Highway A7 or A1), it’ll take between 1 hr 30 minutes and 2 hrs by car . If you opt for the train , you can expect the journey to take between 1 hr 15 minutes and 1 hr 30 minutes . This depends on the connection you choose.

Accommodation in Hamburg : Hamburg has many, many places to stay. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Hamburg .

The Mövenpick Hotel Hamburg might be a good option if you have a car while you travel around Germany. This cool hotel is inside an old water tower which gives guests stunning views of the city around. There’s also parking onsite and it’s close to a transit stop for getting around the city.

Located not too far from the central train station, ARCOTEL Rubin Hamburg makes for a good hotel option if you don’t have a car. It’s located in St. Georg which is a lively area within walking distance of the city centre.

Those that need hostel for their stay in Hamburg might be happy with Generator Hamburg . It’s a popular hostel in the city and is close to the train station for easy getting around. If you’re unsure about where to stay, you can always check out our detailed guide on where to stay in Hamburg .

Once again, if you’d like to read our (very) short Hamburg guide, you can find our Things to do in Hamburg article here .

Day 7: Day Trip to Lübeck

For the next couple of days, we decided to include some day trips from Hamburg. This allows you to stay in one accommodation for longer than just one night and gives you the option to see some more of Hamburg as well. If you don’t want to visit any other cities and want to spend more time in Hamburg instead, then feel free to skip one or both of the day trips mentioned.

Lübeck is the closer one of the two day trips mentioned from Hamburg. Within Germany the city is mainly known for its delicious “Lübecker Marzipan” (Lübeck Marzipan) – but of course there is much more to the city than just that. One of the highlights is the Holsentor, a red-brick city gate dating back to the 15th century.

The journey from Hamburg to Lübeck will take you slightly over 1 hr by car and just around 45 minutes by train . In our opinion, that’s great for a day trip since it gives you lots of time to actually see the city instead of spending a lot of time in the car/on the train.

Must-see Attractions in Lübeck:

• Marienkirche
• Heilig-Geist-Hospital

Day 8: Day Trip to Flensburg

For the following day, we have another day trip option for you. The journey to Flensburg is slightly longer than to Lübeck – but it would be worth it. Flensburg is a smaller German city in the north of Germany, very close to the Danish border.

Since it is located close to the water, shipping plays an important role in the city to this day. If you’re interested in learning more about that, then the Maritime Museum would be a good place for you to visit.

Another thing we would recommend is a walk along the Rote Straße. Here you’ll find different “Hinterhöfe” (similar to backyards) with cute cafes and small shops.

Getting to Flensburg from Hamburg should take slightly less than 2 hrs by car and the same amount of time by train . As already mentioned, it would be a longer journey than to Lübeck, but if you want to experience a smaller, maritime city, the trip would be worth it!

Must-see Attractions in Flensburg:

• Historischer Hafen (Historic Harbour)
• Flensburger Schifffahrtmuseum (Maritime museum)
• Museumsberg Flensburg

Day 9+10: Berlin

On the second to last day of this itinerary, you’ll head from Hamburg to Berlin where your journey ends. This allows you to spend two days in the German capital. Since there is so much to do in Berlin, we’d recommend that you do some research beforehand to narrow down which attractions you’d like to visit.

If you’ve never been to Berlin before classics like the Brandeburg Gate and the Reichstag would be a good place to start. We’ve written a few different articles about Berlin – one about classic attractions (link below). Maybe these will be a good starting point to gather some more information!

The drive from Hamburg to Berlin will be one of the longest mentioned as part of this itinerary – so you should keep that in mind. It’ll take approximately 3 hrs 20 minutes by car (with traffic it could be longer), but just 1 hr 50 minutes by train .

It’s a popular train route since it connects the two biggest German cities so trains run frequently throughout the day. Once again, we’d recommend to book your train ticket in advance to get one of the discount tickets and save some money.

Accommodation in Berlin : As the capital city, there are lots of accommodation options for Berlin. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Berlin .

Those travelling to Berlin with a car should look into the Park Plaza Wallstreet Berlin Mitte for a hotel in the city centre with free street parking available. There’s always paid parking for a reasonable fee if those are full and you’ll be close to top attractions.

The NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie is a popular hotel option for those coming to Berlin by train since it’s close to attractions in the city centre and you can get there very easily with the metro.

Finally, if you need a hostel/hotel, check out PLUS Berlin . This is where Eric stayed a few years back and really enjoyed it. You’ll be close to the East Side Gallery – the part of the Berlin wall with the artwork on it. It’s also easy to get in and out of the city centre from here.

Also feel free to have a look at our guide on Berlin Attractions and tips for a day in Berlin .

Germany Itinerary 10 Days – South

This 10 day Germany itinerary begins and ends in Frankfurt – so it’s pretty much a small loop through the southern part of the country. If you want to be closer to the mountains (for part of the trip at least) instead of the sea, then this itinerary might be better suited for you than the other 10 day version.

For this itinerary, the total driving time would be slightly over 17 hours with a total distance of approx. 1330 kilometres. This includes the day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and Tübingen. So depending on if/how you modify the itinerary, these estimates could differ.

Day 1: Frankfurt Day 2: Würzburg Day 3: Nuremberg Day 4: Munich Day 5: Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle Day 6: Day Trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen Day 7: Ulm Day 8: Stuttgart Day 9: Day Trip to Tübingen Day 10: Frankfurt

Similar to the northern version of this itinerary for 10 days, you begin your adventure in Frankfurt. During your day in the city, you shouldn’t forget to visit the Römerberg with the beautiful half-timbered houses. If you want to get a nice few of the city from above, then you should look into visiting the Main Tower as well.

Frankfurt is also a great place to pick up your rental car – if you decide to complete this itinerary by car instead of using public transport. You can either pick up a car at the airport or at different spots in the city centre. This obviously also depends on the rental company you choose.

Accommodation in Frankfurt: Frankfurt is full of accommodation options – from the city centre to the airport. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Frankfurt .

For a hotel in the heart of the city, check out the Motel One Frankfurt-Römer . Complete with underground parking, good breakfast, and a top location in the centre and close to the river, this hotel is a decent option if you are travelling around with a car.

For those not travelling with a car (and taking the trains around Germany), check out Fleming’s Express Hotel Frankfurt . This nice looking hotel is really popular for its breakfast, price, and the fact that it’s steps from the central train station.

Day 2: Würzburg

On day two of this itinerary, you’ll be on your way to Würzburg, a small German city that we’re always happy to return to. Similar to Stuttgart, Würzburg is located in a region that is known for its wine.

As such, it comes as no surprise that a highlight in Würzburg is to drink a glass of (white) wine on the Old Bridge across the Main river. We’ve done that multiple times and would especially recommend it during the evening when it gets dark.

Another thing you shouldn’t miss in Würzburg is the short walk up the hill to Marienberg Fortress. Up there you can not only explore the old fortress, but you also get a beautiful view of the old town and other parts of the city.

We actually wrote a whole guide about Würzburg (link below) where we not only talk about things to do but also mention some great cafes and restaurants!

The drive from Frankfurt to Würzburg will be a short one. It should only take you around 1 h 20 minutes by car and between 1 h 07 minutes and 1 hr 50 minutes by train depending on the type of train you’re taking (ICE vs. regional train).

Accommodation in Würzburg: Würzburg isn’t a huge city so you’ll find a number of places to stay packed together in the city centre and a number of other hotels and guesthouses around. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Würzburg .

On a recent trip, we stayed at the  Best Western Hotel Würzburg-Süd . It’s a little south of the city centre but the tram stop is right outside the hotel so you’re into the historic city centre in minutes. There is also an onsite parking lot if you’re arriving to Würzburg by car. We booked this one last minute but we would stay again.

If you want to stay a little more central, then you can check out Hotel Strauss . With a location close to the river, the train station, and the city centre – it’s a great option fo those arriving by train.

We also once stayed at  Hostel Babelfish for a budget accommodation and it was honestly not too bad, either. It’s right across from the train station for easy access in and out of the city.

Must-see Attractions in Würzburg:

• Marienberg Fortress
• Würzburg Residence

If you want more tips for visiting Würzburg, have a look at our detailed Things to do in Würzburg Guide (+ insider tips) .

The next day you’ll be on your way to Nuremberg, which is another city in Bavaria that we really like. In German, Nuremberg is actually written/called “Nürnberg” – just an FYI, so you’re not confused when you see this written somewhere.

As we have already mentioned in the description of one of the shorter itineraries, there is a lot of history to be found in the city. Not only can you explore an old castle in the middle of the city, you can also learn a lot about Germany’s dark history if you’re interested.

Getting from Würzburg to Nuremberg will take approx. 1 hr 20 minutes by car and between 53 minutes (ICE) and 1 hr 13 minutes (regional) by train . If you’re travelling with more people and decide to just take a regional train, look into getting a “Bayernticket” as that could save you some money.

Accommodation in Nuremberg : Nuremberg is a larger and well-travelled city in Germany so you will have no problem finding a place to stay! You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Nuremberg .

We ended up staying in the very popular Five Reasons Hotel and Hostel and we enjoyed our stay. The room was bright with new furnishings. It’s also located just inside the old city walls so we were close to the metro, a short walk to central train station, and also close to the heart of the old town!

Very nearby was the Sheraton Carlton Nuremberg – we had friends stay there. They really liked this hotel which had a swimming pool with city views and other great perks. If you are arriving to Nuremberg by car, there’s a parking lot across the street from the hotel as well as street parking around. The train station is very close as well so it’s a great location overall.

• Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds

Day 4: Munich

On day four of this Germany trip, you’ll be on your way to Munich. As you might know Munich is the capital of the German state called Bavaria and there are lots of things to do in this city.

That’s why you’ll spend three nights in Munich. This way you can explore the city in more detail if you want or go on a couple of day trips from Munich to see other popular attractions as well. It’s really up to you.

The journey from Nuremberg to Munich won’t be overly long and it’s a route Lisa has driven many times. It’ll take you around 2 hrs by car (of course traffic depending) and between 1-3 hrs by train.

Since this is a popular train route, there are lots of different connections of varying length – some are quick and others are slower trains with more stops. Since that’s the case, we’d recommend that you plan in advance and try to catch a better connection to avoid an unnecessarily long train ride!

Accommodation in Munich: Since Munich is such a popular and large city, there are plenty of accommodation options for you to choose from. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Munich . Just remember to book your accommodation for three nights if you are following this itinerary!

We stayed at the H2 Hotel München Olympiapark which is a very popular hotel because of the price and the value. It was a prefect stay. The breakfast was amazing, they had parking, and the location was great – only a quick metro to the heart of the city centre. You also have the Olympic Park and BMW Museum as top attractions nearby!

If you’re itching to stay right in the heart of the action in Munich, check out the Platzl Hotel Superior . This is a hotel around the corner from Marienplatz in the old town with the famous beer hall Hofbräuhaus just steps away. The central train station is also walkable from here.

Of course, you can learn all about the best areas to stay in more detail with our Munich accommodation and neighbourhood guide .

Learn more about Munich with our one day in Munich post!

Day 5: Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle probably doesn’t need a lot of introduction – it is arguably one of the most popular day trips from Munich. If you want to see this fairy-tale castle with your own eyes, then this day trip might be for you.

However, it is such a popular attraction that depending on the time of year it can get incredibly crowded. So if you are planning this itinerary for the middle of summer, we’d honestly recommend that you think twice about whether you really want to do this day trip. A second day in Munich wouldn’t be so bad either, would it?

If you are set on visiting Neuschwanstein Castle, then have a look at our Day Trips from Munich Guide . In that article – under the Neuschwanstein Castle section – we talk about all the different ways you can get to the castle.

In case you don’t want to stress too much about logistics and are not travelling with a rental car, you could always look into a day tour that brings you to Neuschwanstein Castle and then back to Munich. Here are some examples:

• Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Palace  – A very popular tour to check out two castles in one day!
• Just Neuschwanstein Castle  – Grab your live guide and check out the classic castle you came to see!
• Neuschwanstein Castle and Füssen   – Explore the surrounding area on this day trip + see that great castle!

Day 6: Day Trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Another popular day trip from Munich – and the one we would recommend for Day 6 of this itinerary – is a trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the south of Bavaria, close to the Austrian border.

We have been to Garmisch-Partenkirchen recently and really enjoyed our day there. However, that was during the shoulder season, so we can’t really say much about how busy it gets in the summer or during the ski-season.

There are a few good reasons for visiting Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The obvious one is that the town is super close to the mountains and it is very easy to reach the “Zugspitze” (Germany’s highest mountain) from here.

Of course, you don’t have to go that high up – there are also lots of other mountains and great hiking trails in the area if you’re looking for a day in nature.

Other reasons why people come to Garmisch-Partenkirchen is to visit the Partnach Gorge which is quite beautiful and/or the old town where you can admire the decorative paintings found on many houses.

It’s actually quite easy to get from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. By car , it should take you around 1 hr 10 minutes and by train the journey would be approx. 1 hr 22 minutes . It’s actually a nice drive/train ride since you’ll get some great views of the mountains as you get closer to your destination.

Must-see Attractions in/close to Garmisch-Partenkirchen:

• Partnach Gorge

The following day you’ll travel from Munich to Ulm, a small city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is actually located right by the border with Bavaria – “Neu Ulm” in fact is a city on the Bavarian side. When you’re there, it sometimes feels like it is just one bigger city. For you as a visitor, this doesn’t really matter – just an interesting side note.

Ulm is mainly known for having the church with the tallest steeple in the world – so that is something you shouldn’t miss during your visit. Other than that, we’d also recommend that you check out the Fishermen’s Quarter where you can find some beautiful, half-timbered houses.

Getting from Munich to Ulm won’t take you long. The journey will take approx. 1 hr 40 minutes by car and between 1 hr 19 minutes and 2 hrs by train. Once again, this depends on which type of train connection you choose (ICE vs. regional trains).

Accommodation in Ulm: It’s best to stay in the centre of Ulm since it’s not huge and the attractions can mostly be found there. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Ulm .

For a boutique hotel option right in the city centre, check out Boutique 005 Ulm City . This hotel is super walkable to the train station if you are arriving by train but also offers an option for parking. It’s location makes it really close to all the top attractions in the city.

For a stay closer to the river, you can check out the Hotel am Rathaus – Hotel Reblaus . With onsite parking available and a really good breakfast, this more “authentic” hotel is an experience not to be missed in Ulm.

Must-see Attractions in Ulm:

• Ulmer Münster
• Fishermen’s Quarter

Day 8: Stuttgart

From Ulm, you’ll head to Stuttgart on the next day. Stuttgart is a city that we have mentioned a few times in this article already. If you’ve read some of the other itineraries, you’ll know that Stuttgart is known for both cars and wine.

Of course, there’s more to see in the city than that. If you’re interested in architecture, you might enjoy visiting the New Palace at the “Schlossplatz” and if you’re into art, the Staatsgalerie (an art museum) might be for you.

Getting to Stuttgart from Ulm will only take slightly over 1 hr by car and approx. the same amount of time by train . There are slower trains – called RB instead of RE which stands for “Regional Express” – that take longer than that. However, if you plan ahead, you shouldn’t have a problem catching an RE or ICE Train since they run frequently throughout the day.

Accommodation in Stuttgart: Since there are a number of places to stay in, you can check here for accommodations and hotels in Stuttgart .

Those with a car can check out the Abalon Hotel ideal because it has an underground parking garage while those travelling to Stuttgart by train can check out the Pension am Heusteig since it’s easy to get to walking or with the metro.

Day 9: Day Trip to Tübingen

On day 9 of this itinerary, you have the choice between either spending a second day in Stuttgart or taking a day trip to Tübingen, a university town not far away.

Tübingen is a popular day trip from Stuttgart and is mainly known across the country for its old university. In fact, some of Lisa’s friends have studied there. When in town, you shouldn’t forget to visit the market square with its 15th century town hall. Another popular attractions is the Hohentübingen Castle on the hill which nowadays is home to a museum.

It won’t take you long at all to get to Tübingen from Stuttgart. That makes it great for a (half-)day trip. The journey should only take around 42 minutes by car and between 43 minutes and 1 hr 30 minutes by public transport – depending on the connection you choose.

Must-see Attractions in Tübingen:

• Hohentübingen Castle
• Market Square with Town Hall
• Hölderlinturm

Day 10: Frankfurt

On the last day, you’ll make your way back to Frankfurt. This is where your itinerary ends since it will hopefully be easy for you to get back home from here.

The journey from Stuttgart back to Frankfurt will probably be the longest one for this trip – but it’s still easily doable. It should take you approx. 2 hrs 25 minutes by car and between 1 hr 17 minutes and 3 hrs 30 minutes by train. Once again, this is dependent on the connection you choose (ICE vs. regional trains).

Accommodation in Frankfurt: Since you’re back in Frankfurt, we already went over accommodations in Day 1 of this same itinerary. That said, you can check here for accommodations and hotels in Frankfurt and specifically check out the Motel One Frankfurt-Römer for a central hotel with parking.

Germany Itinerary 14 Days

This Germany itinerary is the longest one that we have for you – for now. If anyone is interested in a 21 day version, please let us know!

The distance you’d cover with this 14 day itinerary would be around 1960 kilometres . The driving time would be approx. 22.5 hours – but of course, this varies depending on traffic and the exact route you decide to take.

As you’ll see below, sometimes the driving time between two cities is longer than 3 hours. So, while this itinerary is totally doable in two weeks – if you wanted to slow down the pace a bit, you could just as easily spend more time in some of the cities and complete the itinerary in more days.

Since you have probably already read about most of these places in some of the itineraries above, we’ll try to keep the descriptions short and not get too repetitive.

Our version here is written as an “incomplete route” from Frankfurt to Munich. However, as with most of our itineraries, you are welcome to reverse the direction if that works better for you and/or start and end in the same city. So, to see a big part of the country, your 14 day Germany itinerary could look something like this:

Day 1: Frankfurt Day 2: Koblenz / Eltz Castle Day 3: Cologne Day 4: Hanover or Celle Day 5+6: Hamburg Day 7+8: Berlin Day 9: Erfurt or Weimar Day 10: Nuremberg Day 11: Stuttgart Day 12: Augsburg Day 13+14: Munich

Once again we begin this itinerary in Frankfurt since it is an easy city to get to. As we have mentioned before, there are a few things to see in the city so you can start exploring on day one!

Frankfurt is also a great city to pick up a rental car. Since many international (business) travellers fly into Frankfurt, there should be many cars available with automatic transmissions. In smaller German towns you’ll find that this is not always the case.

Accommodation in Frankfurt:  If you are making a stop in Frankfurt, you can check here for accommodations and hotels in Frankfurt .

As for accommodation options, the Motel One Frankfurt-Römer has parking available and is located in the city centre close to the Main River. That’s important if you have a car with you but it’s also walkable to the train station, so you know.

Another great hotel option that is even closer to the train station is Fleming’s Express Hotel Frankfurt . This hotel is known for its prime location to the north of the station, its tasty breakfast, nice decor, and fair price. This is definitely a popular place you should at least look into if you are travelling by train around Germany.

Day 2: Koblenz / Eltz Castle

On day two of this itinerary, you’ll be on your way to Koblenz, a small German city on the Rhine river. You can either explore the city or use it as a base to visit one of the many castles close by.

Our suggestion would be a visit to Eltz Castle which is a beautiful medieval castle surrounded by a forest. Please keep in mind that the castle is not open year round. You can check opening hours here .

You could also visit Eltz Castle as a day trip from Frankfurt but then you’d have to return to Frankfurt at the end of the day. This wouldn’t make much sense unless you want to spend some more time in Frankfurt anyway, as Cologne (your next destination) is closer to Koblenz and Eltz Castle than Frankfurt.

The drive from Frankfurt to Koblenz should take around 1 hr 30 minutes by car . If you want to take the train , the journey would take between 1 hr 30 minutes and 2 hrs 15 minutes . From Koblenz, it is only about a 30 minute drive to Eltz Castle.

Accommodation in Koblenz: Since Koblenz isn’t that large, you should have no problem finding and choosing an accommodation that works for you. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Koblenz .

If you want a popular option right in the heart of the city centre, you should see the Sander Hotel . This hotel is located within walking distance to the rivers as well as restaurants and shops in the centre. If you travel by car to Koblenz, they have onsite parking which is handy. That said, you can also easily walk from the hotel to the train station in minutes.

Day 3: Cologne

The next stop on your 14 day Germany itinerary is Cologne, a city we have mentioned already in some of the previous itineraries. As you might know, the highlight of the city is the Cologne cathedral which is quite an impressive sight. As the city is located on the Rhine river, a boat tour might also be a great activity depending on the time of year you are visiting.

Getting to Cologne from Koblenz takes around 1 hr 15 minutes by car  and between 50 minutes and 1 hr 15 minutes by train . The train tracks follow the Rhine river for part of the journey which allows for some beautiful views!

Accommodation in Cologne : There are lots of great places to stay in Cologne. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Cologne .

We recently stayed at the Lindner Hotel City Plaza which was great value for money. The breakfast buffet is incredible and it’s an easy, short walk into the city centre near the Cathedral. It also has parking available for those with a car.

If you want to stay a little closer to the river and the Old Town, check out the CityClass Hotel Residence am Dom . With many things around to keep you busy – like attractions, food, and/or drinks – you’re just a short walk to the central train station if you stay here.

For those looking for a hostel, Cologne Downtown Hostel was a great stay for Eric a number of years ago. It’s really popular, in a great location, and has a nice rooftop balcony to enjoy.

Day 4: Hanover or Celle

Day 4 of this itinerary will take you to either Hanover or Celle depending on your preference. Celle is a noticeably smaller city/town than Hanover and the two places are only a few minutes apart.

Getting from Cologne to Hanover will take approximately  3 hrs 10 minutes by car  and between  2 hrs 40 minutes and 3 hrs 5 minutes by train .

Accommodation in Hanover: Since Hanover is a well-travelled city for people moving around Germany, there are a number of accommodation options in and around the city centre. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Hanover .

To stay very close to the central train station in the city centre, you should see the Hotel Loccumer Hof . The location makes it great if you are travelling by train and on foot. They also have onsite parking if you are arriving to Hanover with a car!

To the south of this hotel, the Arthotel ANA Prestige am neuen Rathaus is an option right across from the New Town Hall. This hotel has a beautiful, light style and is also close to the water/parks. Complete with breakfast and onsite parking, you can’t go wrong here!

If you want to spend a night in a smaller German city instead, then Celle is a good option as it is not far from Hanover. That will make it easy to reach the next stop on your itinerary without too much of a detour. The journey from Cologne to Celle would be slightly longer and take around 3 hrs 30 minutes by car and 3 hrs 19 minutes by train .

Accommodation in Celle: Celle isn’t that big at all – so there are only a handful of places to stay. That said, there are still some great options. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Celle .

Of note, check out Hotel Borchers . This hotel – one of only a handful located in the heart of “city centre” is a top pick with a tasty breakfast and an underground car park. You can also walk there from the Celle train station which is located not too far across town.

Must-see Attractions in Celle:

• Celle Castle
• Bomann Museum
• French Garden

Day 5+6: Hamburg

An itinerary across a large part of the country wouldn’t really feel complete without including Hamburg. Since there is quite a bit to see in this hanseatic city, you’ll spend two nights in the city to give you more time to explore.

Getting from Hanover to Hamburg will take you approx. 1 hr 45 minutes by car and between 1 hr 15 minutes and 2 hrs 30 minutes by train . As mentioned before, this varies depending on the type of train connection you choose.

The journey from Celle to Hamburg will be approximately 15 minutes shorter at 1 hr 30 minutes by car . If you opt for the train, you can expect travel times between 1 hr 10 minutes and 2 hrs .

Accommodation in Hamburg : Since Hamburg is a well-travelled city, it makes sense that there are loads of places and areas to stay in. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Hamburg .

The Mövenpick Hotel Hamburg might work for those with a car since they have onsite parking. This old water tower is a different hotel than you might be used to but it’s a great experience overall.

Something closer to the central station to get to on foot would be the ARCOTEL Rubin Hamburg which is located in St. Georg. This is an area with shops and restaurants and is very much part of the city centre.

Those looking for a budget accommodation can check out Generator Hamburg which is a popular hostel close to the train station. If you’re ever unsure or want more advice, we have a detailed guide on where to stay in Hamburg .

Day 7+8: Berlin

Of course, we couldn’t forget to include a stop in the capital of the country when planning a longer trip through Germany. Since there is so much to do and see in Berlin you will spend two nights there.

This will also give you some more time to recover from all the driving you have done so far on this journey. Getting from Hamburg to Berlin takes approximately 3 hrs 20 minutes by car (obviously traffic depending) and just about 1 hr 50 minutes by train .

Accommodation in Berlin : There are lots of hotel options in Berlin. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Berlin .

The Park Plaza Wallstreet Berlin Mitte is a good option in the city centre for those coming to Berlin with a car while the NH Collection Berlin Mitte am Checkpoint Charlie is located right at the attraction “Checkpoint Charlie” in the city centre.

A great option for a hostel/hotel where Eric stayed a few years back is PLUS Berlin . You can find it near the famous East Side Gallery which is a very popular attraction to check out.

As mentioned a few times now, we also have more articles on t hings to see in Berlin and a one day Berlin itinerary .

Day 9: Erfurt or Weimar

For the following day you have the choice between Erfurt or Weimar as your next destination. Both are small cities in the state of Thuringia with Weimar being smaller than Erfurt. If you know anything about Martin Luther, an important figure in the Protestant reformation, then you might have heard of one or both of these places before.

If you’re looking for a place with a beautiful old town and some nice churches as well as buildings for you to explore, then we’d really recommend Erfurt. We had a great time during the days we spent there. The city also has some really nice, cozy cafes if that is something that you care about.

Getting to Erfurt from Berlin will take a while – but it is a great stop on the way to the south of Germany. You can expect the journey to take approx. 3 hrs 40 minutes by car and just around 1 hr 50 minutes by ICE (fast train) .

Accommodation in Erfurt:  With Erfurt being a smaller city with a smaller central area to explore, finding a place to stay isn’t too difficult. You can check here for hotels and accommodations in Erfurt .

When we visited Erfurt, we booked the Gästehaus in der Gotthardtstraße . This was a simple guesthouse with a nice host and cozy rooms located just a short walk north of the Krämerbrücke. There’s also a small parking lot onsite if you’re coming to Erfurt with a car.

For a stay that is more central, check out Hotel Krämerbrücke Erfurt . It’s located basically right beside the Krämerbrücke making it a great option if you are travelling by train and you’re on foot.

Once again, if you want to learn some more about Erfurt before you visit the city, check out our detailed Erfurt Guide here .

If you instead preferred to learn some more about the well-known German writers Goethe and Schiller – or about Germany’s dark past – then you should plan to visit Weimar instead.

Two of the highlights there are Goethe’s and Schiller’s House – now turned into museums. Close to Weimar there’s also the Buchenwald Memorial which was a former Nazi concentration camp. This was the first KZ-Memorial Lisa ever visited. It was a somber experience, but also an important one in regards to understanding more about Germany’s past.

The journey from Berlin to Weimar will be slightly shorter than to Erfurt – at least by car. It’ll take approx. 3 hrs 15 minutes by car and around 2 hrs 20 minutes by train .

Accommodation in Weimar : There are a handful of places to stay in Weimar since it’s a smaller city – but you still have good options. You can check here for accommodations in Weimar .

In particular, check out Amalienhof Hotel und Apartment . This classic and very popular hotel is just south of the heart of the city centre. It features parking onsite and an excellent breakfast. It’s also not too far to walk to the train station if you are arriving on foot.

Must-see Attractions in/close to Weimar:

• Buchenwald Memorial
• Goethe’s House
• Schiller’s House

Day 10: Nuremberg

On day 10 of your itinerary, you’ll drive – or take the train – from Erfurt/Weimar to Nuremberg. This Franconian city has also been mentioned in some of the shorter itineraries.

The journey from Erfurt to Nuremberg will take approx. 2 hrs 40 minutes by car in a southern direction. The drive from Weimar to Nuremberg will just be a couple minutes longer.

If you decide to take the train, the journey would take between 1.5 hrs and 2 hrs from Weimar and between 1 hr 10 minutes and 1 hr 30 minutes from Erfurt .

Accommodation in Nuremberg : Nuremberg is a city with loads of history and attractions so it’s very popular. As such, you will find hotels and accommodations all over the city – from the old town to the surrounding areas. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Nuremberg .

We booked a stay at Five Reasons Hotel and Hostel and we would recommend it. You can find the place inside the massive old city walls so the location was great – walkable to the central train station and also to go find top attractions.

On the same trip, friends of our stayed at the Sheraton Carlton Nuremberg . It was close to where we stayed and they really enjoyed it. There’s this great pool on an upper floor with city views as well as a parking lot across the street if you travel to Nuremberg by car. The train station is close as is the old town by walking so it’s great option overall, too.

Day 11: Stuttgart

The following day you will be on your way from Nuremberg to Stuttgart – once again, a city we have mentioned multiple times now during this article. From Nuremberg, it’ll take you around 2 hrs 15 minutes by car  and  between 2 hrs 10 minutes and 2 hrs 30 minutes by train to get to Stuttgart.

As we’ve mentioned before, if you are driving and have the time, you could take a small detour and stop in Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a stroll through its beautiful old town. We’ll leave that up to you!

Accommodation in Stuttgart: You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Stuttgart .

The Abalon Hotel ideal has parking for those with a car while the Pension am Heusteig is a guesthouse close by but is easy to get to by the metro system if you arrive by train to central station and you are walking.

Day 12: Augsburg

On day 12 you’ll be on your way from Stuttgart to Augsburg, a small city in Bavaria and one of Germany’s oldest cities. Around Germany, most people have heard of Augsburg because of its “Fuggerei” – a historic social housing complex where rent has increased very slowly over the centuries. It’s certainly worth a visit!

It’ll take you around  2 hrs by car to get from Stuttgart to Augsburg. If you opt for the train , then you can expect the journey to take approx. 1 hr 40 minutes .

Accommodation in Augsburg: In Augsburg, you will find a number of places to stay around the city centre. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Augsburg .

For a reliable stay, check out Hotel Augusta . This popular hotel – located right in the city centre – features breakfast and has parking available if you are travelling to Augsburg by car.

The nice thing about Augsburg is that because it’s a smaller city, you can easily walk to the hotel from the train station if you are arriving by train.

You might also check out City Hotel Ost am Kö which is another hotel in the heart of the centre walkable to the station. It also has breakfast and parking garage right nearby.

Must-see Attractions in Augsburg:

• Augsburg Cathedral
• Perlach Tower

Day 13+14: Munich

On your second to last day of this itinerary you will drive from Augsburg to Munich. That’s the last stop on your two week Germany adventure. In Munich, there is more than enough to see to spend two days in the city.

Munich also has an airport with good international connections in case you’re coming from overseas and need to take a plane to get back home. If that’s not the case, we’d encourage you to see whether the train would be an alternative to get you back home as well.

The journey from Augsburg to Munich should take just less than  1 hr by car  and  between 30 and 48 minutes by train.  So it’s certainly one of the shortest transitions mentioned in this article.

Accommodation in Munich:  If you’re exploring Munich while in Germany, there is no shortage of places to stay and areas to check out. You can check here for accommodations and hotels in Munich . For this itinerary, remember to book your Munich accommodation for two nights.

We really liked our stay at the H2 Hotel München Olympiapark . From the really good breakfast, nice rooms, and excellent location with metro access nearby – you cannot beat the price for Munich. There’s also parking available if you’re travelling with a car to Munich.

For a spot right in the heart of Munich’s charming old town, check out the Platzl Hotel Superior . This is a trendy hotel that puts you super close to all the action at busy Marienplatz and is steps from Hofbräuhaus, the beer hall made famous decades ago. You can also catch the metro or walk to the central train station from here.

If you are looking for more details on accommodations in this city, we wrote a detailed guide on where to stay in Munich .

To learn more about the city – as we have mentioned before – check out our post on Munich in a day if you want more details about the city!

And there you have it – one massive Germany guide with more than one Germany itinerary to suit your travel needs! Whether you’re looking for a short 5 day or a wild 14 day itinerary – we’re sure you’ll have a great time exploring Germany. We’re actually really happy to have created this post – Lisa especially. It’s always fun to help others explore your home country!

As always, Happy Germany Itinerary Waddlin’, – L&E

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21 Things to Know Before Traveling to Germany: Tips & Advice for First-Timers

Last Updated on: 19th June 2023, 06:40 pm

Germany is a fabulous place to travel, but there are a few things you need to know before you arrive to make your trip as marvelous and smooth as possible.

Included are my best pieces of advice for traveling to Germany: tips to avoid getting yelled at by a teenager at three am when checking into your hostel, how to make sure your taxi driver doesn’t try to have you arrested, and how to save money by returning your recyclables when you go grocery shopping.

My Favorite Travel Booking Sites for 2023

These are my favorite companies that I use on my own travels.

Protect Your Trip via Safety Wing

Find the best city tours, day tours, bus tours, & skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide and Viato r .

Find the best deals on hotels & vacation rentals on Booking.com .

For English-speaking private airport transfers, book through Welcome Pickups.

For road trips and independent travel, rent a car through Discover Cars .

Find information and cruise reviews on Cruise Critic.

For packing and travel essentials order via Amazon .

Book an affordable family or romantic photography session on your trip through Flytographer (Use the code HISTORYFANGIRL for 10% off your first photoshoot).

For travel guidebooks to have with you during your trip, I always pick one or two from Rick Steves and Lonely Planet.

Germany Travel Tips

Here we go!

Wifi & Internet

Internet in Germany is pretty good (although if you’re used to traveling Eastern Europe then you’ll be disappointed).

Like most of Western Europe, the internet speeds are decent but sometimes frustrating. I’d put the German internet I’ve used as better than Spain and France, way better than Greece, and far below the magical lightning speeds, you can achieve in Bulgaria and Serbia.

This is just based on my personal opinions from my experiences. Speedtest.net currently lists Germany mobile internet as #42 globally and their broadband as #25.

Free Wifi is available in many restaurants, cafes, and train stations. It’s not nearly universal, but I could generally find something when I needed it.

German Sim Cards

Getting a sim card in Germany was beyond frustrating. T-Mobile told me they only sell to people with EU passports.

Vodaphone charged fifteen euros to activate. Medimax charged ten euros but gave you the option to self-activate.

Which I tried to do, but the app to activate the sim card didn’t work and directed me to go to the post office to activate my sim card. At which point I gave up.

Bottom line, pay to have the sim activated or you literally won’t ever get it to work and it will be still sitting in your day bag by the time you get to Crete. Or maybe that’s just me. 

Taxis & Uber

Taxis in Germany are pricey compared to what I’m used to in Eastern Europe, but they’re on par with taxis in the rest of Western Europe.

I spent thirteen euros to get from the train to my hostel in Dresden, eleven euros to get to Dresden Neustadt, and fifteen euros in Berlin to get from the train to my friend’s apartment.

Essentially, public transportation is so good in Germany that I only took taxis in emergencies, to get to my accommodations if it was already dark out, and one time when I was having a particularly bad day.

If you need a taxi, know that you won’t need to negotiate with them since they are going to turn the meter on.

It’s good common sense to check that the meter is turned on and running normally no matter where you travel, but I think Germany is probably the country where you are the least likely to run into a scam taxi in the world.

If you want to use a taxi app, Uber is available in Berlin and Munich, but it only orders you a taxi. Otherwise, you can use the MyTaxi app to order a cab.

If you want to use a credit card in a taxi and you’re not using an app with the credit card information stored, make sure you arrange it ahead of time.

Not every German taxi driver has a pos in their taxi. I learned this the hard way when I asked my hostel to order me a taxi that takes credit cards.

This request was lost in translation, and it resulted in my taxi driver threatening to have me arrested and the worst Dresden tour experience of my entire trip.

Public Transportation 

Part of the reason that taxis in Germany are so expensive is that the public transportation options are so good that locals don’t use taxis very often.

Local trains and buses are plentiful and easy to use, especially in the larger cities.

Make sure you have the cash to buy your ticket. Some stations take credit cards, but not all do.

After you purchase your ticket, you’ll need to validate it by punching it into the machine. Otherwise, you risk a large fine if you get caught riding without a validated ticket.

Check which zone you’ll be traveling to. For example, in Berlin, everything I saw was in Zone A/B, but the airport was Zone C.

This is pretty common across the country, so double-check if your destination is in the outermost zone and thus costs more.

Otherwise, you also risk the dreaded fine. Plus being yelled at by German transit authorities is not the most pleasant way to spend your vacation time.

When buying your tickets, you can switch the machines to English. Just hit the little Union Jack/British flag.

Getting Between Cities

The great thing about traveling in Germany is how many different, cool cities you can explore that are within just a few hours of each other.

Even better, intercity transportation is easy to use and goes frequently, making Germany one of the friendliest day trip countries I’ve ever been to.

My personal preference for the trips I used was to travel by FlixBus, which was cheaper than the trains when traveling from Berlin to Dresden and Dresden to Berlin .

However, you can price bus companies, trains, and even check carpooling options on BlaBlaCar

Another option is to rent a car.

I rented a car in Dresden so that I could visit multiple cities in a single day. In this situation, the public transit was more economical, but it would have taken up simply too much time.

Packing for Germany

I have an entire Germany packing list , but here are five things you absolutely need to bring with you to Germany:

The   Lonely Planet Germany   guidebook for your trip. I’ve been looking for a hard copy here since I don’t like getting stuff delivered to me in Bulgaria, and I can’t find one. Definitely get your guidebook ahead of time.

Backup Charging Bank for your cell phone since you’ll be using it as a camera, GPS system, and general travel genie.

A Camera  since Germany in fall is super photogenic. I used a mix of my  Nikon D810  and my   Samsung8  smartphone.

A Full Sized Travel Towel   for anyone taking advantage of Germany’s plethora of good hostels or shared accommodations. This is the  best travel towel in the world , and you’ll need it if you are staying in hostels or anywhere that requires you to bring your own towel.

Travel Insurance Policy  information, because things happen on the road. I pay for  World Nomads,  and I happily recommend them. It’s especially important to get travel insurance if you’re going to be doing any hiking, road tripping, or outdoor activities in Germany.

I have been a paying customer of  World Nomads  for travel insurance for two years, and I happily recommend them.  

It’s especially important to get travel insurance when participating in outdoor activities.

Even in the big cities like Berlin, though, you’ll be happy when you’re able to replace your stuff if it’s lost or stolen.

Get a travel insurance quote for your trip to Germany.

Food & Dietary Restrictions

If you’re going to be in larger cities, you’ll be able to easily eat within any dietary restrictions.

Berlin is packed with Vegan and Vegetarian restaurants and friendly menus. While allergies are marked on many menus (and many places have English menus), it’s always a good idea to have important allergies and restrictions written out on a card that can be taken to the kitchen in case of any misunderstandings.

I’ve traveled with friends who have life-threatening allergies, and the waitstaff visibly changes demeanor when presented with an official-looking card that explains the allergy and the seriousness of it.

Because I was staying in an apartment for almost a month on my last trip, I saved a ton of money on food by shopping at local Berlin grocery stores.

Grocery prices in Germany are very low compared to the overall cost of living.

Make sure to bring your own shopping bags or prepare to pay a small fee for bags.

Germany is recycling obsessed, to a level I haven’t seen anywhere else in the world. The country uses an incentive system, called the Pfandsystem, to help ensure bottles are returned to be recycled.

You can save money by bringing your own bottles back to the grocery store for a credit that you can use at the register.

I saved about fifteen euros by doing this with my plastic bottles throughout my time in Berlin.

If you aren’t going to return your bottles yourself, especially if you don’t think you’ll get enough glass bottles to turn in at once, then leave your bottles outside next to trash cans instead of putting them in the bins.

Locals in need of cash and with time to spare, like the homeless, students, and the retired, will come by and collect them to turn them in. This way your bottle still ends up getting recycled.

Driving in Germany

I love driving in foreign countries , and I found driving around Saxony to be delightful.

A few things to know before setting off though. First, watch out for speed traps in small towns. I got a speeding ticket that cost me about $35 when I transitioned into a small town and the speed limit dropped dramatically.

This was snapped on a camera rather than by a local policeman.

Second, don’t even think about drinking and driving.

The Blood Alcohol Limit here is .05, lower than the .08 and .1 many North Americans are used to. This is about two small beers for an averaged size man. Couple that with stronger drinks than back home, and it’s a recipe for a DUI for North Americans traveling here for the first time.

Third, I found that most of the places I wanted to visit, like parks and other tourist spots, had a parking fee of a couple of euros that could only be paid in cash.

Another thing to note: Germans drive on the righthand side of the road, like the rest of continental Europe and North America. The best thing about driving in Germany? No highway tolls!

If you do plan a Germany road trip, make sure you map out your route ahead of time so you can more easily navigate during your trip!

Renting a Car

The process of renting a car here was stress-free.

The deposit, which can vary dramatically from country to country, was about seven hundred euros.

They dropped this to six hundred euros for me as a favor (not sure what I did to deserve the favor, but it was appreciated).

The deposit was back on my card four business days after I returned the car. To rent the car, I only needed my credit card, the deposit, my passport, and my US driver’s license.

Get a rental car quote for your trip to Germany.

First-time travelers to Germany might have heard about violent incidents and wonder if Germany is safe to travel to.

While tourists almost always feel safer than locals, I have never felt like I was in any danger in Germany.

In fact, Germany is ranked as the sixteenth safest country in the world, ahead of Ireland, Sweden, and the UK. For reference, the USA is ranked fifty-seventh.

You should always exercise basic caution when you travel. Pickpockets operate in the cities, especially in busy places, transportation hubs, and tourist sites.

My Germany packing list includes an awesome day bag that has great anti-theft features to help ease my mind when I travel to big cities.

Solo Female Travel

Safearound.com lists the dangers for women traveling to Germany as low, and that’s true in my own experience as well.

I felt very safe walking around in Berlin and Dresden, even when I was alone at night.

Catcalling was non-existent, especially compared to when I’m traveling solo in Latin America and the US.

There are two areas to be aware of as a solo female traveler in Germany.

First, I drank more in Germany than I typically do. Between the pub crawls, beer tours, and general deliciousness of German beer, I found myself tipsy way more often than I generally am when I travel solo.

This is something to think about when you book your accommodations.

The closer you are to public transit, the less this will pose a problem.

You might also want to budget in the money for taking a taxi home if you need to avoid public transit if you have one too many.

The second issue is that I found that there were times when I was alone in smaller train stations at night, where only one or two other male passengers were waiting and no one else.

While I always felt safe, I stayed extra vigilant and positioned myself so I could exit the station if I needed to.

Just keep your wits about you.

Unfortunately, things happen to women everywhere.

The bottom line is that Germany is safer for solo female travelers than many countries, but the world still isn’t safe enough for us to let our guard down.

Using English

I studied German in high school for four years, but I speak like three words.

I don’t find this to be an issue most of the time; however, see the information about taxis above to know how annoying a misunderstanding can be while in Germany.

While English is spoken widely, especially by folks working in the tourism and service industries, you will still want to have Google Translate downloaded on your phone to avoid almost getting hauled off to a German jail over ten euros.

Germany uses Euros, and it can be a hard place to travel without some Euro bills and coins on you at all times.

The first couple weeks of my last trip to Germany I only had a credit card. This could have been a disaster since so many places only take cash.

To get around this, I booked my tours and accommodations online, and I avoided places that were cash-only.

You’ll need cash for many public transit options, bars, small shops, parking, and many tourist attractions. Credit cards are accepted in many places, but they definitely aren’t universal yet.

The cheapest way to get cash in Europe is to take money out at the ATM. You will get the best conversion rates this way.

Just make sure you have a bank that doesn’t charge ATM fees. I like Charles Schwab for this. You also want to make sure that your credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, as those little 3% dings really add up!

Tipping in Germany is different than the US and some parts of Europe.

According to a recent study , Germans tip on average 5-10%, while servers generally expect to receive closer to 10%.

Check to make sure you haven’t been charged a service fee automatically. If not, then tip in this range.

You’ll need to leave the tip in cash, as it’s rarely an option to tip on your credit card.

Expect Everything You Want to Do to Be Closed on Sundays

Things shut down in Germany on Sundays.

While you can typically find a spaeti open in Berlin, you may have a hard time finding things you need in other cities.

Luckily for tourists, most museums operate under the globally approved “museums are to be closed on Monday’s rule,” meaning Sundays are a great day to hit up some of Germany’s world-class museums.

Find tours and other things to do in Germany on Sunday through GetYourGuide

Electrical Outlets

Germany uses type F plugs, the same as the rest of continental Europe. You can also typically use a type C and E plug when needed. The voltage is 230V.

If you are traveling from North America, your appliances like laptops, cell phone chargers, and camera chargers will typically handle 110V-220V.

This means you can plug them into a German socket with just an outlet converter. I like to travel with two  Universal Outlet Adapters  with USB Ports in Europe.

If you want to bring a smaller appliance like a hairdryer or a curling iron, you’ll need a voltage converter that actually changes the voltage to your appliance.

Otherwise, your appliance will fry. I don’t bother with voltage converters after one fried a hairdryer anyways.

I would personally not buy an expensive voltage converter. If you absolutely need a hairdryer or other small appliance and you don’t think your hotel will supply it, it’s cheaper to buy a European version once you’re here.

German pharmacies, Apotheke,  are where you need to go for any medical need since even something as minor as Tylenol won’t be available in a general grocery store. According to How To Germany :

There are thousands of Apotheken in Germany and German law requires that an Apotheke be owned and operated by a pharmacist.

An individual pharmacist is only allowed to own up to three locations.

Consequently, there are not any large drugstore chains that are found throughout countries like the USA. In fact, a “drug store” in Germany (Drogerie) sells toiletries and other consumer items, but not medicines.

Note that hours at pharmacies are pretty restricted. There’s no such thing as a twenty-four-hour chemist here.

They typically aren’t open on Sundays, holidays, during the evenings, or even on Saturday afternoons.

That’s why you should bring your medications with you and any OTC meds you regularly use, like pain pills or antacids.

I buy common essentials before my trips on Amazon

Contracts & Fine Print

The stereotype that Germany and Germans love rules is just that, a stereotype. It’s definitely not universal.

However, Germany is the only country where a teenager has yelled at me to read contracts better at 3 am when checking into a hostel because I refused to pay a fee that actually wasn’t in my contract.

I won that fight, but only because I knew exactly what my agreement said ahead of time.

So read the fine print of any agreements before signing, especially for tours, accommodations, etc.

The companies will expect you to know the rules, regulations, and stipulations in anything you sign, and they will more than likely enforce anything considered enforceable.

I find booking through a third-party app like GetYourGuide is helpful because there’s a built in customer service mechanism that’s used to understanding foreign tourists.

There are federal smoki*g laws, but each of Germany’s sixteen states also has a say in the smoki*g laws enforced locally.

That’s why most places in Germany do not allow smoking in restaurants or bars, but you will occasionally find small restaurants with smoking sections and entire smoking bars.

It feels a little retrograde, but smoking is more popular in Germany is actually places third in Europe for smok*rs per capita.

More Germany Travel Resources

Here are my posts about traveling to Germany to help you plan your trip.

General Germany Travel Resources

What to Pack for Germany

10 Reasons to Travel to Germany in Autumn

The 50 Most Beautiful Castles in the World

11 Stunning Catholic Monasteries

Berlin Travel Resources

Exploring Wartime Berlin (Podcast Episode)

13 Perfect Berlin Souvenirs & Gifts Plus Berlin Shopping Tips

How to Get from Berlin to Dresden on the Cheap & Hassle-Free

How to Get from Dresden to Berlin

Dresden Travel Resources

27 Pictures of Dresden to Inspire Your German Wanderlust

13 Quirky & Enchanting Things to Do in Dresden Neustadt

The Best & Worst Dresden Tours

Dresden Street Art: 15 Famous Pieces and Offbeat Gems

Pin This Article for Your Trip to Germany

In this Article:

5 thoughts on “21 Things to Know Before Traveling to Germany: Tips & Advice for First-Timers”

Really amazing blog, very well written and interesting. Please keep on writing blogs like this.

Thanks! Will do!

Next year I plan to visit Germany. This will be my first trip. Thanks for the exchange and your advices.

Have a fantastic trip!

This summer I am going to visit Germany with my friends. And very much in time I came across your article. Now when traveling, we will follow your notes! Before leaving, you will definitely need to prepare a common essay format . I am closing the last session and can be free the whole summer. Oh, how many countries I still have to visit.

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• 8 Germany Travel Tips That...

Things to Know Before Visiting Germany

It’s always good to learn about local customs when you’re exploring a new country. With this in mind, we have put together tips on travelling in Germany . Customs might vary slightly in different areas, but most of these tips should help you – whether you’re heading to Berlin for business or to Bavaria for bratwurst and beer.

Respect the rules.

Germans generally like to play by the rules , and when you’re on their turf, so should you. For starters, always wait for the pedestrian crossing to go green before crossing the road – even if it seems safe, with no cars in sight. People will disapprove and shake their heads at jaywalking, and you might get a lecture about setting a good example to children nearby. If you’re planning to ride a bicycle (and you should), you always need to have a functioning back and front light for safety reasons. Being caught in the dark or running red lights both result in hefty fines.

Don’t walk in the bike lane

As long as you stick to the rules, cycling is a great way to get around. Berlin has twice as many bikes per head as cars, and an estimated half a million of them traverse the city every day, with new superhighways in the pipeline. But this can make things slightly more challenging if you’re on foot. Look out for the Radweg signs, a white bike outline on a blue background, which designates a cycle path – sometimes surfaced in red or some other distinctive colour. The Radweg is only for bikes, and pedestrians should try to keep out of it – obeying this rule is definitely in your own interests, as collisions can be painful. If a pedestrian zone has a sign saying Frei with a bike picture, take care, as it’s also open to cyclists.

Pay for AND validate your train tickets

Most newbies in Berlin are surprised, even giddy, upon discovering the absence of security gates or ticket inspectors as you enter train stations. Be warned, this is not a free pass to ride the underground, as plain-clothes officials also ride the subway and could pounce at any moment, costing you at least a €60 (£52) fine and a lot of embarrassment. You can buy tickets (which are good value compared to lots of other countries) at the station or at a sales outlet. There are also endless stories of people who diligently bought a train ticket, but forgot to validate it by putting the ticket in the machine (Entwerter), which stamps your ticket with the date and time. A ticket without an Entwerter stamp is not valid, and the ticket checkers will have no sympathy – you will still be fined. If you’re going to use public transport regularly, it is a good idea to get an even cheaper weekly ticket, which only needs validating the first time you use it.

Know your transport zone

You need to get the right ticket for the area where you’re travelling. Generally, moving away from a city centre will mean crossing into a different zone. Always check the zonal maps in the station if you are not sure. For example, Schönefeld Airport in Berlin is in ticket zone C, and, if you’re travelling around the centre of the city with an AB ticket, that won’t be enough. Munich recently simplified its zones but still has about 20 types of tickets for public transport, so it’s easy to get confused. Most tourist sights are in the central Innenraum (now known as Zone M), but to visit nearby towns and attractions, such as Schleissheim Palace, you’ll need a Zone M-1 ticket and Zone M-5 to get to the airport. Again, pleading touristic ignorance will cut no ice with the authorities, no matter how sorry you are.

Be punctual

Fünf Minuten vor der Zeit ist des Deutschen Pünktlichkeit (Five minutes early is German punctuality) is one of many German expressions about time. The saying might sound comic to people from more leisurely cultures, but it’s actually a good rule of thumb in Germany. Arriving promptly for social and business appointments is part of German etiquette; there is no such thing as being fashionably late here, and you’ll soon come to appreciate the joys of knowing people will turn up the minute they said they would. Another time-related Sprichwort (proverb), Pünktlich wie die Maurer (Punctual as bricklayers) is used – not always positively – about people who not only turn up on time but also finish exactly on time, too.

Other countries are starting to catch up, but Germans were pioneers in the matter of sorting glass, paper, plastic and so on into different-coloured containers for recycling. Putting a bottle in the paper bin or vice versa is definitely not on. And glass is sorted by colour, too. If glass or plastic bottles have a deposit (Pfand), you can get a small refund (up to 25 cents/22p for the latter) by returning it to a supermarket. (This doesn’t need to be the same one you bought it from.) If you don’t care about the Pfand, then put your refundable bottle next to or on top of the bin, instead of throwing it away, as someone else might be happy to claim the money.

Until recently, many small-business shops, bars and restaurants didn’t have card machines. But the coronavirus pandemic changed the picture, and you can now pay with plastic in almost every Bäckerei (bakery) and kiosk. It’s still useful to have cash, too, though, as shops can’t always accept all cards. And it’s worth working out which cash machines charge less to withdraw money, as some have quite high fees. Cafes are often open all weekend, but most shops, supermarkets and pharmacies are closed on Sundays, so make sure you have everything you need before the Sabbath rolls around. Shops do not all have the same opening hours; they differ from land to land, but are often open from 9am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday. Some kiosks and shops in railway and petrol stations sell basic supplies, even on Sundays, and are sometimes open 24/7.

Despite anti-smoking laws, there is generally a slightly more tolerant attitude towards the habit in Germany than elsewhere. Smokers have now been forbidden to light up in cafes or restaurants for some years – a rule widely accepted, although the situation in pubs and bars is a bit more complicated. Some have separate indoor smoking rooms or a smoking patio, while bars smaller than 75sqm (807sqft) can restrict entry to over-18s and declare themselves private smokers’ clubs. As a rule, German smokers are less willing to accept entirely non-smoking establishments, and non-smokers are less fussy when it comes to smoking in party-style environments or outdoors. And you are not allowed to smoke in a playground.

Veggies and vegans

No matter where you are in Germany, you’ll probably find a place to eat, but in smaller towns it might be tricky to get decent veggie food. Bigger cities – say, Berlin – have a thriving vegetarian and vegan culture with up-to-the-minute plant-based food sold everywhere, from Michelin-starred restaurants to market stalls. This is spreading rapidly across the country, but could take longer to catch on in rural areas. As you might expect, Mediterranean restaurants have more choice, while farmers’ markets (with great seasonal and organic produce) can be perfect places to pick up a picnic, and most supermarkets now cater amply for non-carnivorous tastes.

Eating out on a budget

If travelling on limited means, look out for an Imbiss: these are cheap snack bars, found in almost any busy street, train station and market – even in car parks. There is some truth in the sausagey stereotypes. Yes – Germans do eat a lot of wurst , with regional specialities including Blutwurst (black pudding) in Cologne and Currywurst (sausage with curry sauce) in Berlin. Another great source of reasonably priced food in expensive cities are places serving various global cuisines. No longer is it just kebab shops and Chinese takeaways. Ask around, and you might be pointed to a tiny outlet serving chilli and basil-flecked bowls of pasta arrabbiata or subtly spiced Thai curries, fresh from the wok, for just a couple of euros.

German beer

Ah, the joys of travelling in a hops-loving nation, where it’s fine to drink in public, having a cold one during your lunch break is completely normal, and the Weg-Bier (a beer to go as you make your way to the next pub or party) is immensely popular. The most controversial restrictions – among the first to be revoked, too – during the coronavirus lockdowns were temporary bans on alcohol in public places. With so many brews on offer, it might take a while to find your perfect match. Don’t imagine Bavaria is the only place for quality – Munich’s Paulaner and Löwenbräu brands are now international. Further north in Alpirsbach, Erfurt, Bamberg and Görlitz, smaller companies are creating gold in a glass, while Berlin is at the centre of a craft beer revolution, with new microbreweries experimenting with organic, unfiltered sour beers and stouts. Pioneers include Hops & Barley, in Friedrichshain and, more recently, Strassenbräu, near Ostkreuz.

While Berlin is full of the world’s tongues, from Spanish to Arabic, and most people speak English, it’s not always true in the rest of the country. You’ll benefit from knowing some basic phrases, so you don’t feel entirely lost. Phrase books and phone apps come in handy here. Of course, signs are written in German , so it’s useful to know a few staples, for instance, Damen (ladies), Herren (gents), Apotheke (pharmacy) and Polizei (police). A word of warning: it’s not a great idea to have a loud conversation in English, thinking people around you won’t understand. Plenty of Germans may be able to follow what you’re saying quite easily and may not appreciate your commentary.

Keep the noise down

Es gibt vielerlei Lärm. Aber es gibt nur eine Stille. (“There are many kinds of noise, but only one silence”), wrote German satirist Kurt Tucholsky. With the obvious exceptions of punk bands, motorbikes and carnivals, Germans love peace and quiet. Lots of areas of the country have traditionally had Quiet Hours, when there is supposed to be less noise, between about 10pm and 6am, all day on Sundays and, in some regions, after lunch (Mittagsruhe). Noisy parties, violin practice or DIY during these hours might be problematic and can mean complaints from neighbours. Perhaps even more importantly for most tourists, German travellers also tend to have a lower tolerance for noise on trains or buses (even if you’re not in a designated quiet carriage). Laughing and talking loudly, especially in a foreign language, might get you some stares and even direct comments.

Get out of town

Big cities such as Berlin and Munich are great if you want to immerse yourself in nightlife, creativity and beer festivals. But Germany is also a land of off-the-beaten-track idylls and hidden beauties . From the mystical Black Forest to fairytale castles dotted around the countryside, there is a whole heap more to explore than just the novelty of being allowed to drink beer on the street. If you have a valid EU or other accepted driver’s licence, you could rent a car; citizens of most countries are legal for six months with their existing licence after registering residence in Germany. Alternatively, plan your trip using the fast, efficient German railway system. A cheap half-hour train ride from Berlin will carry you through the lakes and forests of the Grunewald to Potsdam, with its photogenic palaces, and a couple of speedy hours by rail from Munich bring you to half-timbered, Medieval Bamberg, which is idyllic.

Book trains in advance

With speeds of up to 300kph (186mph), high-speed ICE (InterCity Express) trains are popular, and the quickest way to travel between major cities. They are not cheap, and reservations can cost extra (as well as sometimes being compulsory, with limited seats for Eurail pass holders). If you’ve got plenty of time and want to save money, you might find a cheaper slower train or bus. But you’ll find better fares (up to 50 percent off standard rates) by booking longer journeys at least a week in advance: tickets have limited availability, so the earlier you book, and the greater flexibility you have, the better. You’ll spend your trip(s) gazing out of the window, for Germany has some fabulous scenery: through the Black Forest and the Bavarian Alps or along the Rhine. Der Weg ist das Ziel, as they say in Germany, meaning roughly “the journey is the destination”.

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Warnings and insurance

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide as well as support for British nationals abroad which includes:

• advice on preparing for travel abroad and reducing risks
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Everything you need to know about traveling to Germany

Berlin is full of life again, bustling with tourists trying to capture the best picture for their Instagram feeds. The clubs the city is famous for are open again, with tourists and locals alike dancing to techno into the wee hours of the morning.

“Berlin is open and is as vibrant and dynamic as it used to be before covid-19,” says Ralf Ostendorf, the director of market management of VisitBerlin .

Your guide to planning a European vacation

Susan Choi, owner of cocktail bar Mr. Susan , depended on locals to keep the doors open during the height of the pandemic. Now that travel is back, Choi has noticed the influx of international guests through her doors, especially visitors from the United States.

“You can see at the bar all the Americans are back drinking margaritas and dirty martinis,” Choi says.

With the easing of coronavirus restrictions in the past few months, there has been a clear sign of pent-up travel demand as visitors slowly return to Germany for a little European holiday. Here are a few tips if you also decided to go.

How to get there

Travel to Germany is open for all, regardless of vaccination status. As of June 11, travelers no longer need to show a negative test or proof of recovery for entry. But there are other restrictions: Although the European Union has recommended lifting the mask mandate when flying, FFP2 or medical-grade masks are required for flights taking off or landing in Germany. In German airports, masks are recommended but not required.

Everything you need to know about going to France

Airports in Europe are seeing the same crowds and chaos as U.S. airports because of labor shortages, so be sure to give yourself enough time to check baggage, get through security and immigration checkpoints, and eat before a long flight.

What to know about restrictions

You no longer need to show proof of vaccination or wear a mask to enter shops, hotels, bars and restaurants in Germany. A mask — specifically an N95, KN95 or FFP2 — is required on public transportation. Since regulations easily can change, Ostendorf recommends regularly checking for updates in Berlin and other regions you will visit.

Getting around

To ease the rise of the cost of living, the German government is offering a 9-euro monthly transit pass valid anywhere in the country for June, July and August. This ticket is available to everyone, including visitors, and can be used for local and regional trains, buses and trams. Tickets can be purchased at Deutsche Bahn ticket machines or local public-transport stations.

While the discount ticket encourages people to use public transportation, trains throughout the country have been packed with travelers taking advantage of the deal. Deutsche Bahn warns that if you are planning a trip along touristy routes with the 9-euro ticket, expect a higher number of passengers, especially on the weekends and sunny days. To avoid crowds, travel on the weekdays if possible.

How to dine and explore

Katherina Klimke, vice president of operations of 25hours Hotels , said bookings from Americans have doubled compared to last year, but they are not at pre-pandemic level. She advises visitors to book their hotel stay early to secure the best rates and availability.

“While leisure destinations fill up more quickly and reservations two to three months in advance would be advisable, some city destinations might also have last-minute availability,” Klimke adds.

Everything you need to know about going to Italy

Sebastian Riewe, director of sales and marketing of the Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin , also has noticed an increase in bookings from Americans. They have had some last-minute booking requests that they were unable to accommodate.

“So ideally, we would recommend that clients go back to the old booking patterns — i.e., a lead time of at least six to eight weeks, or ideally two to six months for international trips,” Riewe says.

Hotels and restaurants are not the only ones seeing an increase in bookings; tours around Germany are on the rise again. Since March, BottleStops founder Jerome Hainz has gotten many inquiries and bookings for his wine tours and tastings for Mainz and the surrounding German wine regions. The one significant difference is that more people are opting for private tours.

“This has to do with people wanting to be careful about sitting in a car with strangers,” Hainz says.

Because of this demand, Hainz suggests booking private tours three to four weeks in advance, but he said public tours are more flexible and can sometimes be arranged at the last minute.

How to find tests before returning home

As of June 12, it is no longer required to show a negative coronavirus test to enter the United States. You still might want to get tested before your flight home for peace of mind.

You should still test for travel, health experts say

You can find testing sites at any major airport in Germany, but expect to book an appointment and pay a premium. The easiest and cheapest way to test is to buy an at-home coronavirus test, which can be found in most grocery stores and pharmacies for less than $2.

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

Update May 10, 2024

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Germany Travel Advisory

Travel advisory may 1, 2024, germany - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued after periodic review with minor edits

Exercise increased caution in Germany due to  terrorism .

Country Summary:  Terrorist groups keep planning attacks in Germany. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. They target tourist locations and transportation hubs. They also target markets/shopping malls and local government facilities. They target hotels, clubs, and restaurants. They also attack places of worship, parks, and major sporting and cultural events. They target schools, airports, and other public areas.

Read the  country information page for additional information on travel to Germany.

If you decide to travel to Germany:

• Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues.
• Follow the instructions of local authorities.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter . 
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Germany.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

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Germany’s football factory: a travel guide to the Ruhr

All eyes will be on Germany’s industrial heartland next month as Euro 2024 kicks off. We explore the region’s heritage, renewal and sporting history

I n 1961, future West German chancellor Willy Brandt declared: “The sky above the Ruhr must be blue once more.” His words were greeted with what sounded like applause but was actually his audience falling off their chairs. Because the Ruhrpott, or Ruhrgebiet, an agglomeration of industrial cities that includes Gelsenkirchen (where England will play their opening match of the European Championship this summer), Dortmund (which hosts group matches as well as a semi-final), Essen and Duisburg was a place where the chimneys of the coal, iron and steel industries poked up above the smog like candles on a giant grey birthday cake. You were more likely to slip in unicorn droppings than breathe clean air in the Ruhrpott.

Today the notion of the Ruhr as a tourist destination may provoke as many German sniggers as Brandt’s prophecy back in 1961. But while this region of more than 5 million people may lack the fairytale castles of Bavaria or the coolness of Berlin, there’s plenty to divert the thousands of fans who will pour into the region in June and July. And that’s even if you leave aside the rich football heritage of the mighty Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04, and perennial battlers such as Rot-Weiss Essen, Bochum and Duisburg.

The deeds and personalities of the region’s great players are commemorated everywhere with wall plaques and massive murals. One is devoted to Dortmund’s 1950s hero Max Michallek, a title-winning veteran defender whose curt reply to Hamburg star Uwe Seeler’s crack about his age, “Even when I’m 70 I’ll stop you!” is the stuff of local legend.

The Ruhrgebiet is accurately described as the industrial valley of the kings. Everything here was built on an epic scale, whether it’s the steel and brick edifice of Zeche Zollverein, once the biggest coalmine in Europe and now a Unesco world heritage site; or Villa Hügel, 19th-century industrialist Alfred Krupp’s 399-room mansion; or the glowing “U” that tops the 75-metre high tower that housed the Dortmunder Union brewery.

Even the Lichtburg, Essen’s classic 1920s cinema (such a model of pre-war German movie-star elegance it’s a surprise not to find Marlene Dietrich propping up the bar) is the largest in Germany.

Much of the heavy industry has gone (the last coalmine closed in 2018), but there’s still an impressive amount left. From the Alsumer Berg (like most of the mound-like hills that dot the Ruhr, it’s a former waste dump), where on a fresh spring morning snowy blossom drips from blackthorn trees and thrushes trill beneath a sky which – fulfilling Brandt’s prediction – is as clear and blue as a baby’s eyes, you can look down on the ThyssenKrupp iron and steel plant. It’s a metal metropolis of rolling mills, cooling towers, conveyors and serpentine lengths of pipework wide enough to drive a car through.

On the swirling Rhine, huge barges push up towards the works from Rotterdam, humping coal and iron ore. Railway trucks laden with limestone rattle over bridges and viaducts. Periodically the coking plant is fired, then doused. Clouds of steam spew and excess gas combusts in flare stacks. The sulphurous dragon-breath whiff tickles your nostrils. All this effort is to feed the monstrous appetites of a pair of blackened blast furnaces known locally as “the two dark giants”. To those for whom heavy industry is wreathed in romance and mythology, ThyssenKrupp is a hard hat Middle-earth.

An hour after descending the Alsumer Berg, I’m standing on top of another massive blast furnace, the decommissioned behemoth at the centre of the Duisburg-Nord landscape park. Below, families sit beneath the cherry trees eating currywurst with chips and dollops of mayonnaise. This spicy, sticky mix is one of the Ruhr’s great culinary delicacies. The Dönninghaus in Bochum claims to make the best bratwurst in the world.

Duisburg-Nord is a masterpiece of imaginative repurposing. The gasometer is now a scuba diving pool and the great concrete storage bins have become climbing walls. More surprisingly, it has become a popular photographic backdrop for those with more niche interests. During my visit I saw a man dressed as an intergalactic warlord brandishing a ray gun, a couple decked in full rubber fetish gear and a manga-style schoolgirl being menaced by a mutant creature with chainsaws for arms. It’s not the sort of thing you’d come across at, say, Beamish Open Air Museum on a Saturday morning, but it suggests that the public have embraced the place.

The same holds true – albeit without the cosplay – of the Oberhausen Gasometer. Standing close to 120 metres in height, the 24-sided steel tower once stored coal and blast furnace gases. Today it’s an exhibition centre that attracts up to 100,000 visitors a day. For all of 2024 the halls are given over to a show about the oceans. On the 40-metre-high projection screen that lines one wall, giant luminous jellyfish float upwards into the darkness.

Further east is Duisburg’s inner harbour, where rows of towering Victorian grain stores and flour mills once supplied workers’ daily bread. Now they are art galleries and restaurants. I survey canvases by Anselm Kiefer and Gerhard Richter before demolishing a big slab of sour-sweet plum streusel cake on a terrace overlooking the water.

West along the canal and outlined against the grassy mounds of spoil heaps (all topped by works of art, including Genth and Mutter’s vertigo-inducing rollercoaster staircase the Tiger and Turtle – Magic Mountain) is the pale, rounded outline of the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, home of Schalke. The stadium is named after the sponsor, a brewery whose beer is pumped directly into the stadium via a three-mile pipeline.

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Schalke left its original ground, the Glückauf-Kampfbahn ( Gl ück auf was the traditional miners’ greeting) in 1973. It’s still standing, preserved for its elegant 1920s entrance and main stand, and is a pre-match meeting place for fans. At one time many of the players were pitmen at the city’s Consol mine, whose winding tower is a monument. The teams used to go for post-training beers to Bosch, the atmospheric bar next to the Glückauf: its walls are decorated with photos of greats of the past, including scoring phenomenon Ernst Kuzorra.

A greater measure of the place Schalke holds in the local imagination can be found in St Joseph’s church. No longer used for services, its altar is decorated in the royal blue and white Schalke colours, and scarves are plastered across its walls. A stained-glass window features Saint Aloysius dressed as a renaissance prince, except for his sturdy football boots. His cloak is blue and white; a ball rests at his feet. He appears ready to run on to the field, though even in the rumbustious 1950s it’s hard to imagine the referee would have allowed him to play while carrying such a big dagger.

Franz Beckenbauer called the Ruhr “the beating heart of German football”. (It’s a measure of regional influence that Toni Turek from Duisburg was the goalkeeper when West Germany won their first World Cup in 1954, Manuel Neuer from Gelsenkirchen when they won their fourth.) So it’s fitting that the national football museum is up the road in the home of Schalke’s rivals, Borussia Dortmund. Here fans of a certain age can get a sweet, misty-eyed hit from vintage Adidas shirts, pose beside the giant photo of Helmut Rahn from Essen (goal-scoring hero of West Germany’s surprise World Cup final victory in 1954) and vote on whether Geoff Hurst’s infamous goal in 1966 (the keeper, Hans Tilkowski, came from Dortmund) actually crossed the line.

On Bochumer Straße in Gelsenkirchen, a revitalised quarter is clustered around the imposing 1920s Heilig-Kreuz church. Now a performance space, it’s entered through doors designed to resemble the entrances of pit shafts. The massive, pillar-less interior feels like the belly of a whale. In the streets around it are artists’ studios, cafes, vintage stores, restaurants and bars including the excellent Trinkhalle Am Flöz.

Like football, beer is integral to life in the Ruhrpott. In Frohnhauser Sudwerkstatt, a microbrewery and one-room bar in Essen, owner-brewer Peter is an evangelist for British ale. He opened his doors in February uncertain of what to expect. “I didn’t know if people here would like my beer, but you see …” he gestures to a bar whose every square foot is occupied by a German glorying in their first experience of chocolate porter or dark mild.

Later, in Essen’s Holy Craft Süd, drinking unfiltered export pilsner made by brewery Mücke (named after a heroic pit pony from the Zollverein mine), a local bemoans the changes he has seen over his lifetime. “Young people now, they don’t know how it was. When the blast furnaces were working here in the city, at night they turned the whole sky orange.”

Where heavy industry is gone, nostalgia is sure to move in. But it doesn’t have to be all that is left. Rebuilding is tough, but in the Ruhr, a land filled with the skeletons of industrial giants, maybe there are growing signs that a compromise can be reached, that you can merge tradition with modernity, pairing currywurst with a hazy IPA beneath a smokeless sky.

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What you need to know when traveling for taylor swift’s eras tour.

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US singer and songwriter Taylor Alison Swift, also known as Taylor Swift performs on stage at the ... [+] Paris La Defense Arena as part of her The Eras Tour, in Nanterre, north-western France, on May 9, 2024.

Taylor Swift thrilled fans with the addition of performances from her latest album The Tortured Poets Department when she kicked off the European leg of The Eras Tour in Paris on Thursday, May 9, 2024. She jokingly called that section of the show Female Rage: The Musical . Most concertgoers already knew and sang along to every word of all the songs she sang from the album even though it was released just a few weeks earlier on April 19. Such is the power of Swift.

In her long career of riveting live shows, her stunning performance of “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” may very well be her masterpiece so far. Swift is enjoying unprecedented success with her latest albums and tour, which showcase how she can tell a story like no other artist. Both her singing voice and her literary voice are stronger than ever, and it’s joyful to watch Swift embody and embrace her mightiness as a performer.

It's no wonder many fans are willing to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles for the chance to see Taylor Swift perform live. Since tickets sold out so quickly for the few remaining U.S. tour dates and resellers are aware of the intense demand, some fans discovered it was more doable to attend one of her international shows.

So, many fans in the U.S. and other countries have decided to make a vacation out of going to The Eras Tour in Europe this summer. If you are among them, here’s some advice on how to make the most of your international adventure.

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PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 09: Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at La ... [+] Defense on May 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management )

Consider Your Lodging and Transportation Choices First

Before buying a ticket, be sure that you will have accommodations available. If you can book a hotel that’s within walking distance of a stadium and know the area is safe, that is ideal. Otherwise, check bus and train schedules for the night of your venue, then look at hotels that might be close to bus or train stops.

With tens of thousands of fellow concertgoers leaving at the same time, transportation can get tricky. If you book a room that’s farther from the venue, try to get a rental car instead of vying for a taxi or rideshare after the show. If you do that, just be sure parking will be available. You may need to buy a parking pass from the venue.

Also be aware that hotel room prices skyrocket when Swift is in town because there is such a high demand. If you are renting a car and don’t mind a longer drive, you can save a lot of money by booking a hotel room that’s a longer drive from the venue.

Enjoy The Moment

Amy Wilkinson, a 49-year-old Swiftie from Tucson, AZ, went viral in December 2023 for her reenactments of The Eras Tour performances using Elf on the Shelf dolls. She posted them to her Instagram, @Tswizzle_Momma , and found thousands of people watching each time she posted her videos. Like many other Swifties in the US, she is flying to Europe for The Eras Tour.

Wilkinson told me she had this advice for fellow fans going to the show abroad, “Enjoy the entire experience, from the moment you get on the plane until the morning after. You may be going for the concert, but the memories are made in the details. See the sights. Enjoy the food. Meet other Swifties. This is at the heart of what international travel is about.”

Make The Friendship Bracelets

Rebecca Bartley, a Swiftie from Nova Scotia, Canada, is going to Sweden to see The Eras Tour. She advises bringing friendship bracelets to share with fellow concertgoers on the night of your show. Wilkinson suggested making friendship bracelets in the language of the country where you’ll be seeing the show.

MARINA DEL REY, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 13: A Taylor Swift fan, friendship bracelet detail, attends the ... [+] opening night theatrical release of "Taylor Swift : The Eras Tour" at AMC Marina Marketplace 6 on October 13, 2023 in Marina del Rey, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

It’s easy to learn how to make friendship bracelets. I had never dabbled in making jewelry before, but now I find great joy in creating friendship bracelets. I created dozens and handed them to fans at The Eras Tour movie.

To make friendship bracelets, I start by choosing the colors I want and which word or phrase I want the bracelet to express. Then I choose colorful beads and pick out all the necessary letter beads.

Next, I cut off elastic string. I find it’s best to use Stretch Magic elastic string because of its strength and durability. To make the bracelets, I cut off a piece of string that’s twice as long as I need so that there is ample room for cutting and tying multiple knots.

Then I tape one end of the string to my workspace, string the beads I have set aside until I feel like the bracelet is complete. Being careful to not let any of the beads slide off the string, I then wrap it around my wrist to see how it fits and then consider whether I am making the bracelet for a wrist that’s likely larger or smaller than mine. (Also, with elastic string, there’s room for a flexible fit.) I adjust accordingly.

As a last step, I make four to five knots in the string to tie off the bracelet. Many fans choose to add a dab of fabric glue to the end of the knot, but I found that got really messy and wasn’t necessary if you make multiple knots. Then I tuck the knots into one of the beads so that it doesn’t show on the bracelet. Then the bracelet is concert-ready!

Keep in mind that there are a lot of other ways to make friendship bracelets that are for more involved and creative that mine. And, if the idea of making friendship bracelets doesn’t sound fun to you, don’t worry. You can buy premade friendship bracelets on Etsy. Some Etsy shops like RainFoxx13 and BonniesBracelet have elaborate, beautiful friendship bracelets that you may want to keep for yourself. Others sell packs of friendship bracelets in bulk.

If you don’t want to trade friendship bracelets, that’s okay, too. The Swiftie community is accepting and supportive, and you still may get several bracelets as gifts.

What To Wear To The Eras Tour

There are no rules for what you should wear to Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour beyond the guidelines from the venue. Some fans go casual, and others choose to dress to the nines for the show. Some fans choose to wear merch from Taylor Swift’s official store . Many fans choose to dress up in costumes inspired by Swift’s songs and lyrics.

With the release of The Tortured Poets Department and its video “Fortnight,” some fans are choosing to imitate some of her looks from the video. Others are wearing their interpretation of the incredible costumes she wears during The Eras Tour concert. Others look at past eras for inspiration. You are likely to see every era represented in fan costumes at a show.

What You Should Bring To The Eras Tour In Europe

Wilkinson advised me that the number one thing to bring is a portable phone charger. If you plan on recording video and taking photos, your phone’s battery may die down quickly, and a phone charger can ensure you can keep capturing the memories all night.

Earplugs are a good idea if you’re sensitive to loud noise. If you’re bringing kids along, they are a must. They ensure you can enjoy the music while protecting your ears.

Bring along a cardigan or jacket. Layering is a good idea for a concert during the summer. Although it may be hot in the stadium, you might be chilly on the way home from the show.

You can’t go wrong bringing along hand sanitizer and a travel pack of tissues. Even if you can get through “All Too Well” without tearing up, you may cry at the sheer excitement of the experience. It can be intense in the best way.

If you have tickets that are far back, bring along binoculars to see close-up details.

What To Avoid At The Eras Tour

Don’t come to the stadium with a big bag. If you haven’t attended stadium concerts before, you may not know that you need to carry a clear bag if you want to bring a purse. It also has to fit within the measurements allowed in the stadium, so you can’t just buy a clear backpack and expect to get in the show. Check with your show’s venue to make sure you follow their rules for what you can bring.

What Are The Dates Of The Eras Tour 2024 In Europe?

Taylor Swift started the European leg of The Eras Tour in Paris on May 9, 2024. Here are all the dates for The Eras Tour that are scheduled for the rest of 2024.

Thursday, May 9, 2024 – París La Défense Arena - Paris, France

Friday, May 10, 2024 - París La Défense Arena - Paris, France

Saturday, May 11, 2024 - París La Défense Arena - Paris, France

Sunday, May 12, 2024 - París La Défense Arena - Paris, France

Friday, May 17, 2024 – Friends Arena - Stockholm, Sweden

Saturday, May 18, 2024 - Friends Arena - Stockholm, Sweden

Sunday, May 19, 2024 - Friends Arena - Stockholm, Sweden

Friday, May 24, 2024 - Estádio da Luz – Lisbon, Portugal

Saturday, May 25. 2024 - Estádio da Luz – Lisbon, Portugal

Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - Estádio Santiago Bernabéu – Madrid, Spain

Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Estádio Santiago Bernabéu – Madrid, Spain

Sunday, June 2, 2024 - Groupama Stadium - Lyon, France

Monday, June 3, 2024 - Groupama Stadium - Lyon, France

Friday, June 7, 2024 - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium - Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Saturday, June 8, 2024 - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium - Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Sunday, June 9, 2024 - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium - Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Thursday, June 13, 2024 - Anfield Stadium - Liverpool, United Kingdom

Friday, June 14, 2024 - Anfield Stadium - Liverpool, United Kingdom

Saturday, June 15, 2024 - Anfield Stadium - Liverpool, United Kingdom

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 - Principality Stadium - Cardiff, United Kingdom

Friday, June 21, 2024 - Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom

Saturday, June 22, 2024 - Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom

Sunday, June 23, 2024 - Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom

Friday, June 28, 2024 - Aviva Stadium - Dublin, Ireland

Saturday, June 29, 2024 - Aviva Stadium - Dublin, Ireland

Sunday, June 30, 2024 - Aviva Stadium - Dublin, Ireland

Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Johan Cruijff Arena - Amsterdam, Netherlands

Friday, July 5, 2024 - Johan Cruijff Arena - Amsterdam, Netherlands

Saturday, July 6, 2024 - Johan Cruijff Arena - Amsterdam, Netherlands

Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Stadion Letzigrund Zurich - Zürich, Switzerland

Wednesday, July 20, 2024 - Stadion Letzigrund Zurich - Zürich, Switzerland

Saturday, July 13, 2024 - San Siro Stadium - Milan, Italy

Sunday, July 14, 2024 - San Siro Stadium - Milan, Italy

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 - Veltins-Arena - Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Thursday, July 18, 2024 - Veltins-Arena - Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Friday, July 19, 2024 - Veltins-Arena - Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Tuesday, July 23, 2024 - Volksparkstadion - Hamburg, Germany

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 - Volksparkstadion - Hamburg, Germany

Saturday, July 27, 2024 - Olympiastadion - Munich, Germany

Sunday, July 28, 2024 - Olympiastadion - Munich, Germany

Thursday, August 1, 2024 - PGE Narodowy - Warsaw, Poland

Friday, August 2, 2024 - PGE Narodowy - Warsaw, Poland

Saturday, August 3, 2024 - PGE Narodowy - Warsaw, Poland

Thursday, August 8, 2024 - Ernst-Happel-Stadion - Vienna, Austria

Friday, August 9, 2024 - Ernst-Happel-Stadion - Vienna, Austria

Saturday, August 10, 2024 - Ernst-Happel-Stadion - Vienna, Austria

Thursday, August 15, 2024 - Wembley Stadium - London, United Kingdom

Friday, August 16, 2024 - Wembley Stadium - London, United Kingdom

Saturday, August 17, 2024 - Wembley Stadium - London, United Kingdom

Monday, August 19, 2024 - Wembley Stadium - London, United Kingdom

Tuesday, August 20, 2024 - Wembley Stadium - London, United Kingdom

Friday, October 18, 2024 – Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, Florida, United States

Saturday, October 19, 2024 - Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, Florida, United States

Sunday, October 20, 2024 - Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, Florida, United States

Friday, October 25, 2024 – Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Saturday, October 26, 2024 - Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Sunday, October 27, 2024 - Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Friday, November 1, 2024 – Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Saturday, November 2, 2024 - Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Sunday, November 3, 2024 - Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Thursday, November 14, 2024 – Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada

Friday, November 15, 2024 - Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada

Saturday, November 16, 2024 - Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada

Thursday, November 22, 2024 - Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada

Friday, November 22, 2024 - Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada

Saturday, November 23, 2024 - Rogers Centre – Toronto, Canada

Friday, December 6, 2024 – BC Place – Vancouver, Canada

Saturday, December 7, 2024 - BC Place – Vancouver, Canada

Sunday, December 8, 2024 - BC Place – Vancouver, Canada

For more information about the forthcoming shows, see the tour page of Taylor Swift’s official website .

How To Get Taylor Swift Tickets In 2024

Tickets have already gone on sale for the rest of the currently confirmed dates of The Eras Tour for 2024. However, you can get secondhand tickets from resellers. It’s usually not a good idea to buy from individuals in Facebook groups offering to sell tickets. That’s hard to verify, and many are scammed that way. Instead, check with the individual venue to see how their resell process works. It varies throughout Europe depending on the country and the individual stadium.

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What to Know About Xi Jinping’s Trip to Europe

The Chinese president this week will be visiting France, Serbia and Hungary. His trip comes at a time of tensions with many European countries over trade and accusations of Chinese espionage.

By Emma Bubola

This week, for the first time in five years, President Xi Jinping of China is visiting Europe, with stops in France, Serbia and Hungary.

Mr. Xi’s trip comes at a time of tensions with many European countries over China’s support for Russia in the face of its war in Ukraine, its trade practices and its apparent espionage activities . The trip will also test Europe’s delicate balancing act between China and the United States.

Mr. Xi hopes to head off a trade war with the European Union as frictions rise over exports of Chinese electric vehicles and diminished market access for European companies in China. Mr. Xi will also encourage President Emmanuel Macron of France to pursue greater autonomy from the United States in a bid to weaken Washington’s global dominance.

Here is what we know about Mr. Xi’s trip, which began Sunday.

What is the significance of Mr. Xi’s itinerary?

The three countries Mr. Xi will be visiting, experts say , to varying degrees embrace China’s push for a redefined global order. All have to some extent questioned America’s postwar ordering of the world, and are eager to bolster ties with Beijing.

Hungary has close ties to China and is keen to attract Chinese investments in areas like electric car and battery manufacturing as Chinese producers expand beyond Asia. Serbia, too, has warm relations with Beijing and has secured billions of dollars in Chinese investment.

Mr. Xi’s first stop is France, where Mr. Macron recently said that Europe “must never be a vassal of the United States,” and has cast France as a bridge between the “Global South” and Western powers.

Despite his courting of Beijing, Mr. Macron has said he is still closer to its ally, the United States, than to China.

“I prefer to choose my relationship with the United States, with China, rather than have it imposed on me by one of the two parties, either pushing me in one direction or pulling me in the other,” he said in an interview with The Economist magazine. But, he added: “Very clearly, we are not equidistant. We are allies of the Americans.”

Before Mr. Xi’s visit, Chinese diplomats expressed hopes that ties between France and China would be at the forefront of China’s relations with the West .

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, the E.U.’s executive branch, joined talks on Monday with Mr. Xi and Mr. Macron in Paris.

This year is also a symbolic one for China and the three countries.

It is the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France and the 75th of those with Hungary.

This year is also the 25th anniversary of the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, during the Kosovo war, which killed three Chinese journalists and set off angry protests at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Chinese authorities have continued to point to the bombing as a sign of NATO aggression and an example of why Russia was justified in feeling threatened before it decided to invade Ukraine.

When was the last time Mr. Xi visited Europe?

Mr. Xi’s last European visit was in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, which he spent hunkered down in China, leaving the country’s borders for the first time in the fall of 2022 .

The 2019 trip included a flashy ceremony in Rome to celebrate Italy’s participation in China’s Belt and Road global infrastructure project, which is aimed at expanding China’s influence abroad. France rolled out the red carpet for Mr. Xi in Paris and signed more than a dozen commercial and governmental treaties worth billions of euros, even as Mr. Macron warned that “China plays on our divisions” and that “the period of European naïveté is over.”

Mr. Xi also visited Greece , where he pledged his support to the country in its struggle with Britain to obtain the Parthenon sculptures known as the Elgin Marbles .

How is the relationship between Europe and China?

Since Mr. Xi’s last visit, there has been a widening rift in the relationship between China and much of Europe. The coronavirus pandemic , Beijing’s embrace of Russia and its repression of ethnic minorities, and a surge in Chinese exports have generated backlashes against China in many European countries.

China has quintupled car shipments to foreign markets in recent years, and the European Union has recently adopted a more confrontational tone over China’s trade practices. E.U. authorities have opened an investigation that could result in limits on Chinese solar exports, and have taken preliminary steps toward restricting trade with Chinese goods that include electric cars, wind turbines and medical devices.

Italy has also told China that it would no longer participate in its Belt and Road Initiative, and last month, six people in Europe were charged with spying for China in the span of a week, in a sign that European countries are stepping up their response to Chinese espionage.

At the same time, European nations vary in their views on how to engage with Beijing and benefit from economic opportunities there, and some are fearful of any imposition of European tariffs.

Mr. Macron and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany also think that China’s leverage will be critical in bringing an end to the war in Ukraine.

David Pierson contributed reporting from Hong Kong, and Aurelien Breeden from Paris.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in London, covering news across Europe and around the world. More about Emma Bubola

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Four Boise State students will travel the globe on prestigious Fulbright scholarships

Four Boise State students have been named scholars of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, and they join dozens of past winners who’ve received support from the Honors College’s Fellowship Advising Office. These students will travel abroad for graduate studies or primary and secondary school teaching assistantships.

Lauren Rod to Finland

Lauren Rod is an international business major with a Spanish for business minor. She will head to Finland to attend Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology where she’ll work towards a Master in International Marketing Management degree. Upon completing the program, Rod hopes to return to Idaho to advocate for sustainable business practices in local operations.

“My primary focus will be identifying market entry and expansion prospects for businesses within the state,” she said. “While my initial emphasis is on Idaho, my long-term aspiration is to contribute at the international level, facilitating global expansion across diverse cultures and markets.”

Rod grew up in Coeur d’Alene near a Superfund site – a polluted area designated for governmental cleanup. Her family instilled in her a respect for nature and environmental responsibility, and she became more aware of and concerned about the impacts of poor mining practices on the community.

“Through courses in international business and public health, my involvement in sustainability clubs and my experiences abroad, I advanced my understanding and increased my knowledge of the ethical decision-making opportunities in global business,” she said. “I had always wondered if it was possible for business and the environment to be in harmony. I see myself fostering global collaborations, advocating ethical conduct and promoting sustainable solutions.”

Frances Shafer-Coffey to Uruguay

Frances Shafer-Coffey is an Honors College member majoring in Spanish with a creative writing minor. She’s off to Uruguay for an English teaching assistantship.

“I’ve had a fascination with Uruguay since hearing my cousin’s stories of the country – about the food and the wildlife and the fun fact that there are more cows in Uruguay than people,” she said. “Since then, my interest in Uruguay has grown and changed. As a country with a 98% literacy rate, I want to be part of and learn from their public schools, while sharing my own educational background.”

Shafer-Coffey is pursuing a career teaching English as a second language, and she attributes this passion to her challenges learning to read when she was younger, as well as learning Spanish.

“My struggle goes hand-in-hand with my love of language and my desire to share that with others. I love a challenge.”

Branda Siharath to Laos

Branda Siharath is an international business major minoring in Chinese studies with a Mandarin certificate and a member of the Honors College. She will head to Laos to be an English teaching assistant.

“I am excited to help students not only advance various critical skill sets like teamwork, leadership and the comprehension of English, but also develop their global awareness and cross-cultural skills,” Siharath said. “As an Asian-American of Lao descent, I would like to help Lao students become more globally connected.”

She adds that because English has become a necessary tool for global relations in today’s society, providing Lao students with the resources and support they need to learn the language will help them make valuable advancements in their country. Siharath’s experiences abroad, which will provide a better understanding of cross-cultural communication, will prepare for a career in government or international business.

“Although I have always been a blend of two cultures, I now understand how culture and ethnicity are so uniquely diverse that categorizing individuals into one box is impossible. It is my hope that this assistantship will allow me to share this concept with Lao students, and that I will further my knowledge of cultural identity and diversity through hearing their perspective as well.”

Reagan Solomon to Germany

Reagan Solomon has been awarded an English teaching assistantship in Germany, working in North Rhein Westfalia classrooms. She is an Honors College member majoring in German with a creative writing minor.

“My enthusiasm for this opportunity stems from having experienced so much growth and connection through my journey learning German. I want to open up doors for students personally and professionally by helping them develop their English proficiency,” she said.

Solomon attributes her experiences at Boise State with preparing her for this opportunity. Over the past three years, she’s participated in German labs where she’s taught the language to other students, making it fun and engaging by using games and music. She hopes to teach German at a university or enter an international career like aviation.

“I want to share my excitement for teaching and encourage German students to make connections across the world. Maybe one of them will choose to study abroad or host a student, and maybe someone who thinks they only want to learn Spanish will find belonging and friendship somewhere unexpected.”

Semifinalists

Several students and an alum were recognized as semifinalists, which are non-selects who made it through the first stage of competition. They are:

• Margo Lane, a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Education, Curriculum and Instruction program.
• Soledad Negrete, an Honors College member majoring in biology with a creative writing minor.
• Eloise Mitchell, an Honors College member majoring in philosophy with an environmental studies minor.
• Monica Potts, an Honors College member majoring in psychology with minors in American Sign Language, visual art and family studies.
• Jackie Sizemore, an alum of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program.

Learn more about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program .

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Dozens of passengers on 12-hour-long flight suddenly fell ill with vomiting and nausea

Passengers onboard a Condor flight from Mauritius to Frankfurt, Germany, earlier this month mysteriously “ became ill ,” needing airsick bags during the flight, the airline said. Upon arrival, the plane was met with emergency vehicles and medical staff.

During the Germany-based carrier’s nearly 12-hour-long flight on May 2, 70 of the 290 passengers reported feeling nausea and vomiting, according to German media outlet Bild . The crew was not affected. 

“The crew cared for these passengers by providing additional liquids and airsick bags as required until further medical assistance was available,” a spokesperson for the airline told USA TODAY in an emailed statement on Friday.

“As a precautionary measure, Frankfurt airport and the relevant authorities on the ground were informed to ensure medical care was made available upon arrival in Frankfurt,” the airline continued. 

Air travel smells worse than ever. Here's how to fix it.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

The airline is investigating to determine the cause of the incident and is working closely with relevant partners and authorities, the spokesperson said. No cause was identified as of Friday.

In the meantime, Condor said it has adjusted its cleaning and loading processes for its flights from Mauritius with “additional and more intensive cleaning measures for all objects and surfaces.” The airline also said it is only serving meals from a completely new batch.

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

Ukraine is getting a prototype artillery shell that can strike 3 times as far as regular rounds: report

• Germany plans to send Ukraine a prototype artillery shell that can travel 62 miles, Handelsblatt reported.
• They'd be part of a planned package of hundreds of thousands of conventional rounds. 
• Germany previously announced a $5.3 million military aid package for Ukraine.

Germany is gearing up to send Ukraine a prototype artillery shell that can travel up to 62 miles, German newspaper Handelsblatt reported .

That would more than triple the reach of the conventional 155 mm artillery rounds Ukraine is heavily reliant on, depending on what system is used to fire it. Shells fired by a Howitzer can travel around 20 miles, per the Associated Press .

It's not clear what the prototype munition actually is. The manufacturer, Rheinmetall, declined to provide further information to BI, citing Ukraine's security interests.

Rheinmetall, Germany's largest arms manufacturer, is currently focusing heavily on artillery production for Ukraine, with a plan to send hundreds of thousands of rounds — including some of the new prototype — within the year, Handelsblatt reported.

The longest-range munition supplied by Germany to Ukraine so far is the Vulcano, according to Ukrainian military news site Defense Express . Berlin has sent an unconfirmed quantity of this munition to Ukraine since the start of the conflict.

According to its manufacturer , the Vulcano is highly compatible with existing artillery systems and its guided version can travel up to 43 miles.

Related stories

Before Russia's full-scale invasion, Rheinmetall was producing 70,000 rounds a year — a figure that is expected to balloon to 700,000 this year, Handelsblatt reported.

That figure would likely lead to a significant increase compared to Germany's ammunition supplied to Ukraine thus far. As of late April, the country had sent 81,500 155mm rounds in total.

Ukraine gets through a reported 6,000-8,000 rounds a day, per the AP.

But much of the company's capacity to ramp up production in the future depends on investment from the German government, Rheinmetall's CEO Armin Papperger told Handelsblatt.

Earlier this year, Germany announced a $5.3 million military aid package for Ukraine, including 10,000 artillery rounds from its own stocks, Politico reported .

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz has trod a careful line in his country's provision of military aid.

Behind only the US and European institutions as a bloc in terms of the dollar value of aid, Scholz has nonetheless hesitated to provide more-lethal weapons to Ukraine.

Germany only allowed the transfer of Leopard tanks after months of international pressure, and it now faces continued calls to follow the UK and France's example in sending long-range cruise missiles.

Watch: Inside the US Factory making Ukraine's most important ammo

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