Cathedral cities, castle-lined rivers and beer gardens under chestnut trees.
Germany rewards both city breaks and slow travel. Berlin is creative and layered with twentieth-century history, Munich is the gateway to the Bavarian Alps and Neuschwanstein Castle, and Cologne's cathedral towers over the Rhine. The Rhine Valley is lined with castles and vineyards, the Black Forest with half-timbered villages, and Hamburg has a vast port and red-brick warehouse district.
Regional food varies widely, from pretzels and sausages in Bavaria to Rhineland wines and Berlin's international street food. Trains reach almost everywhere, and the autobahn makes road trips simple. May to September is the best stretch for beer gardens and hiking; December is busy with Christmas markets, while January to March tends to be grey and cold.
Best time to visit Germany
May, June, July, August, September.
Places to visit in Germany
Berlin: A sprawling, creative capital where Cold War history, world-class museums and legendary nightlife meet.
Munich: Bavaria's prosperous capital of beer gardens, grand museums and baroque squares, with the Alps on the horizon.
Neuschwanstein Castle: King Ludwig II's romantic hilltop castle in the Bavarian Alps, the model for countless fairytale palaces.
Hamburg: Germany's great port city, with red-brick warehouses, a spectacular concert hall and a famous nightlife district.
Cologne: A lively Rhineland city dominated by its enormous twin-spired cathedral, with Kölsch beer and a famous carnival.
Rhine Valley: The Middle Rhine gorge, lined with castles, vineyards and half-timbered wine towns.
Dresden: Saxony's capital on the Elbe, famous for its baroque skyline, the rebuilt Frauenkirche and outstanding art collections.
Heidelberg: Germany's oldest university town, with a ruined red sandstone castle above the River Neckar.
Black Forest: A forested mountain region in southwest Germany, known for hiking, spa towns, cuckoo clocks and cake.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber: One of Germany's best-preserved medieval towns, with a complete wall, towers and half-timbered houses.
Berchtesgaden: An alpine corner of Bavaria with a national park, the Königssee lake and dramatic mountain views.
Nuremberg: A Franconian city of medieval walls and an imperial castle, with sobering 20th-century history and a famous Christmas market.
Frankfurt: Germany's financial capital, with a skyscraper skyline, a rebuilt old town and a riverbank of museums.
Bamberg: A UNESCO-listed Franconian town of medieval and baroque buildings, famous for its smoked beer.
Essentials
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Language: German; English widely spoken
Plugs: Type C / F, 230 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC+1
Tipping: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total when paying
Getting around: Extensive rail network; a car helps in rural areas
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking