If there’s any single country I could credit with sparking my obsession with Europe, it’s Germany. It was here that I first found myself outside of an English-speaking country. Germany quickly affirmed that my, up to that point, lifelong armchair fascination with foreign cultures and languages would likely stick around.
Even as my travel infatuations moved further east, I’m sure that this country, at the heart of Central Europe, will play a part in my travel plans for the rest of my days. Every time I set foot in Germany—from moving to Munich for a summer to dragging my family to Berlin to let them experience it for themselves—it feels as if I’m doing it with new eyes. Everything changes, yet it still always feels like a small slice of home.
No traveler can leave Germany disappointed. Spend time walking through modern history in Berlin, castle-hopping in Bavaria between sips of Weißbier, or exploring medieval towns along the Romantic Road. You’ll quickly realize that Germany is what European travel dreams are made of.
Not sure how to start planning your trip? Get started with our quick & easy Germany travel guide, including our recommendations for when to visit, what to see & do, what to eat, and how to get around!
When to visit Germany
Before I spout off what a fantastic travel destination Germany is, there’s one thing we need to get out of the way: the weather. Spoiling an otherwise near-perfect European experience, the weather in Germany isn’t exactly all sunshine and rainbows.
But it’s not truly that bad either.
Germany sports a four-season continental climate, swaying between hot & humid summers to cold & wet winters. Throughout the year, expect the unexpected. At seemingly any given moment, sunny skies can turn to rain showers (or snow in winter) and back in no time flat.
Overall, the best time to go to Germany is in the spring and fall, particularly May and October. During both these months, you’ll get to experience warm weather without the crowds and the heavy rainfall of the peak summer months or the chilly, windy days of winter. The spring and fall shoulder seasons also provide the best value to travellers in terms of both airfare and accommodation deals.
Where to go in Germany
There’s a silly notion out there that a backpacking adventure to Europe should mean hitting up every possible place on a massive time crunch. If there’s any country that could prove just how wrong this approach is, it’s Germany.
As you make your way through the country—from its biggest cities to its smallest countryside towns—you’ll quickly realize just how much there is to see in this vast Central European country.
Whether you’re craving fairytale castles built by mad kings, quaint villages ripped straight from medieval legends, or cities beset by ghosts of modern history, let Germany transport you there.
Need some ideas? Here are some featured Germany trip planning resources to help you plan your adventure:
Berlin
It’s no secret around here: I love Berlin. Sure, Germany’s capital is hardly the prettiest city in Europe. (I mean, it is Europe we’re talking about here! The competition is kinda stiff.) But, in my opinion, there’s hardly a more intriguing place on the planet than Berlin
Perhaps it’s because I grew up in the Cold War era that Berlin always has such a profound impact on me whenever I visit. Whether it’s seeing the famous mural “The Kiss” at the East Side Gallery, watching a Trabi tour chug by or walking past the few remaining graffitied slices of the Berlin Wall strewn about the city, Berlin always take me back to those few impactful childhood moments of witnessing the fall of an era and the dawn of a new one.
Even beyond its reputation as the (arguably) most important city of the twentieth century, Berlin is one of the hippest cities I’ve seen in Europe. It’s ripe with eye-popping street art, cool cafés, trendy restaurants & bars, and more than its fair share of quirky venues for relaxation and entertainment.
Simply put, Berlin isn’t a city you should take lightly or gloss over. Spend at least a few days here on your trip to let the city’s alternative charms slowly unfold. I can guarantee you’ll want to be back for more.
Ready to start planning a trip to Berlin? Here are some featured resources to help you out:
Cologne
No, it doesn’t crack cross-Europe itineraries as often as other German cities. But Cologne, backed up by over 2,000 years of history, isn’t a place where you’ll ever run out of ideas for exploring.
The experience of letting the immensity of Cologne Cathedral overtake you as you emerge from the Hauptbahnhof is reason enough to visit. Nearly anywhere you walk in the city, the church’s 157-metre-high spires seem to poke their way into view. It’s simply spectacular.
And if carving out time to revel in one of Europe’s bonafide must-sees isn’t quite enough, Cologne offers a barrage of interesting museums (umm chocolate, anyone?), Roman ruins, postmodern quirks, and typical traditional German architectural charms in its lovely Altstadt—all washed down with a crisp mug of wonderful Kölsch alongside the Rhine River.
Ready to start planning a trip to Cologne? Here are some helpful resources:
Dresden
If there’s any destination in Germany that’ll surprise you in the best way possible, it’s Dresden. Famous for the WWII firebombing that left it razed to the ground, Dresden pushed forward in the postwar years with a reconstruction project that’s been nothing short of epic.
The first time I wandered around Dresden’s atmospheric Altstadt, I found it hard to believe that a half-century earlier, it was little more than rubble. Under the leadership of the DDR, many of the city’s most exquisite old palaces, churches, and grand towers were restored, brick by brick. It resurrected a skyline that, today, is nothing short of swoon-worthy.
For those who are tired of German old towns (although, trust me, this one’s in a league of its own), Dresden’s Neustadt provides an interesting counterweight to Altstadt’s elegance. It’s chock-full of vintage clothing and record shops, street art, edgy bars, and hip restaurants, along with a handful of historical sites worth a peek.
Ready to start planning a trip to Dresden? Here are some helpful resources:
Frankfurt
Hosting one of Europe’s busiest airports, Frankfurt is a destination that most travelers quickly get in and out of rather than savor.
It’s a huge mistake. Despite its reputation as a boring city where money rules the roost, there’s plenty of charm around Frankfurt when you go searching for it.
Buried amidst the glass skyscrapers that define Central Europe’s finest modern skyline is a delightful Altstadt (Old Town). It’s got all the traditional German architectural prowess you’ve come to know and love in this country. The Sachsenhausen area on the south side of the Main offers much of the same atmosphere with a little twist of hosting the world’s highest concentration of apple cider taverns for your drinking pleasure.
Elsewhere in Frankfurt, you’ll find a slew of interesting museums—some of Germany’s best—covering everything from film to dinosaurs to modern art, along with one of Europe’s top botanical gardens.
Ready to start planning a trip to Frankfurt? Here are some helpful resources:
Hamburg
Even if it doesn’t get the same name recognition as other German destinations, Hamburg isn’t a place you should leave out of your itinerary. It’s been one of the world’s most important port cities since its medieval heyday as the Hanseatic League’s beacon of progress. Today, Hamburg is full of unique corners that reflect its maritime past and present.
Hamburg’s ever-international outlook has made it one of Germany’s most important cultural centers. Hamburg has spawned the likes of famous classical composers, such as Johannes Brahms and Felix Mendelssohn, and played a pivotal role in catapulting The Beatles into rock royalty.
Even if its musical history doesn’t tickle your eardrums, Hamburg’s modern-day cultural scene might. Hamburg is one of Germany’s top cities for gastronomy and nightlife. In its unique neighbourhoods, you’ll never have a problem finding a raucous nightclub or a chilled-out place to enjoy a pint of local beer or marvel at a culinary creation that’ll make you second-guess the country’s reputation for bland & boring food.
Ready to start planning a trip to Hamburg? Here are some helpful resources:
Munich
In contrast to edgy Berlin, the Bavarian capital of Munich feels more subdued at first glance. That is, of course, until you recall the city’s beer-swilling reputation and its world-famous Oktoberfest.
Munich’s penchant for beer is inescapable. One of the things I love most about this city is that nearly anywhere you turn, you’ll stumble upon a bräuhaus or beer garden serving litres upon litres of perfect German brews.
Of course, there’s more to Munich than just drinking.
The city’s oldest quarter, Altstadt, is full of superb architecture, from the stunning Gothic stylings of Neues Rathaus at Marienplatz to the distinctive double domes of Frauenkirche.
As a city notorious for giving birth to the Nazi movement and the former seat of Bavarian royalty, Munich has a whole lot of history to uncover, too, ranging from regal palaces to a somber concentration camp located just beyond the city limits.
Ready to start planning a trip to Munich? Here are some resources:
What to eat in Germany
No one would dare argue that German cuisine is as refined as other European culinary destinations like Italy, Spain, or France.
Nonetheless, on my many trips here, I’ve discovered a handful of must-try dishes in Germany. Most tend towards heavy and hearty rather than light and springy. (If you want to cheat on your keto diet, this is your chance.)
Here are a few German foods to look out for while exploring the country.
- Currywurst: This German street food favorite consists of a sausage topped with curry ketchup and curry powder. The Turkish restaurants in Berlin’s Kreuzberg neighborhood have some of the tastiest I’ve tried in the country.
- Leberkäse: Its literal translation of “liver cheese” doesn’t do much to inspire a taste test, but the popular street food of leberkäse is far more flavorful than it sounds. It’s closer to a bologna meatloaf than either liver (thankfully) or cheese. My recommendation for first-timers is to grab a slice of leberkäse on a bun at Viktualienmarkt in Munich.
- Käsespätzle: Quite possibly my favourite German meal overall, this next-level mac-and-cheese dish combines soft egg noodles with Emmentaler cheese and caramelized onions for creamy, savory goodness that’s out of this world. The first time I tasted this at the Augustiner in Munich, it changed my tune on local German foods.
- Döner kebab: Although hardly German, the Turkish döner kebab is one of the most famous late-night snacks in Germany. This street food delight consists of a pita stuffed with juicy lamb meat and your choice of toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. Oh, and don’t forget to douse it with their special garlicky sauce; it almost defines the experience.
- Schwarzwälder kirschtorte: I couldn’t leave this list without mentioning one of Germany’s favorite desserts, Black Forest Cake. Featuring layers of chocolate cake, cherry torte, whipped cream, and topped with cherries and chocolate shavings, this Bavarian classic is a must-have.
Transportation in Germany
Getting there
By air
There are several important international airports scattered throughout Germany, including:
- Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA)
- Munich Airport (MUC)
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
- Düsseldorf Airport (DUS)
- Hamburg Airport (HAM)
- Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN)
Several airlines operate flights from abroad to these destinations, including the German flagship carrier Lufthansa, Condor, Air Canada, United Airlines, Ryanair, and easyJet.
By land
Germany shares land borders with several countries, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland.
In most cases, traveling to Germany by train is the quickest and most convenient option.
Getting around
By train
With Germany’s incredibly efficient and extensive train network, it’s hard for me to recommend any other way of getting around Germany. High-speed intercity routes operate between major German cities, cutting down travel times significantly over equivalent bus routes—albeit at slightly higher prices.
If you plan to travel extensively by train in Germany, I would recommend picking up a German Rail Pass. It will save you some serious Euros on your trip.
