a group of people standing in front of a large building

Europe

Germany

Visit Germany for big cities, Rhine castles and vineyards, the Bavarian Alps and Christmas markets, all linked by fast trains.

Start with the essentials Where to stay Plan a trip to Germany

Germany is a federal republic in Central Europe with 16 states. Berlin is its capital and largest city, and nine countries border it. From the North Sea and Baltic coasts in the north to the Alps in the south, the country crosses forested uplands. The Zugspitze, on the Austrian border, is the highest point at about 2,962 meters. The Rhine, one of Europe's busiest waterways, flows from Switzerland to the North Sea past castles, old towns and vineyards.

The ICE high-speed network links major cities and neighboring countries, with trains reaching up to 300 km/h. Berlin has the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag, and Munich is a base for day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle and the Bavarian Alps. Trier and Cologne began as Roman legion camps and towns, and Roman ruins are still visible in several of them. Winters are overcast with little precipitation, while summers can be hot and dry or cool and rainy, so pack for changeable weather. Late spring to early autumn suits hiking, and December brings Christmas markets.

Five things to know before Germany

Consider the Deutschlandticket
One monthly ticket covers regional trains, buses and city transport nationwide. It is a subscription, so cancel it before the next month starts. Getting around
Book ICE saver fares early
Long-distance saver fares on DB rise as trains fill. A seat reservation costs extra and is worth it on Fridays and Sundays.
Carry some cash
Cards work in most places now, but bakeries, market stalls and some bars still prefer cash.
Shops close on Sundays
Supermarkets in big stations stay open; museums and beer gardens do too.
Book December and Oktoberfest rooms early
Oktoberfest ends in early October and the Christmas markets open in late November. Rooms go months ahead for both. Christmas markets

Germany travel guides

Practical guides from writers who live there.

Berlin

History, museums and the Reichstag dome

Read the guide Munich

Beer halls, day trips and the Alps nearby

Read the guide Hamburg

Harbor ferries and the Elbphilharmonie

Read the guide Black Forest

Guest-card transit, Freiburg and Titisee

Read the guide EES at the German border

What registration involves on arrival

Read the guide Trains, buses and cars

Getting around Germany beyond the ICE

Read the guide eSIM and data

Staying online on trains and in cities

Read the guide

Top places to visit in Germany

See all attractions in Germany

Sight · Black ForestKloster Lichtenthal

Sight · Black ForestVogtsbauernhof

clear glass perfume bottle with black background

Church · CologneBasilika St. UrsulaCheck the church’s opening times before setting out; it is open for limited hours.

Sight · CologneLandschaftspark Duisburg-Nord

Destinations in Germany

An aerial view of a city with a river running through it

Where to stay in Germany

Neighborhood first, hotel second.

All stay guides

CologneWhere to stay in Cologne: four bases from the Old Town to Deutz

a group of people standing in front of a tall building

DresdenWhere to stay in Dresden: Altstadt, Neustadt, station or Loschwitz

Itineraries

2 daysDresden in 2 days: Altstadt, museums, Neustadt and an Elbe eveningA two-day Dresden itinerary: Frauenkirche, Zwinger and the Green Vault on day one, the Neustadt, the Elbe and an optional Saxon Switzerland swap on day two, with timing and booking tips.

2 daysCologne in 2 days: cathedral tickets, museums and a Kölsch eveningA 2-day Cologne plan: the cathedral with its new ticket rule, the Rhine bridges and brewhouses on day one, then museums or a day trip to Bonn or Brühl on day two.

ItineraryMunich to Neuschwanstein day trip by train: timings and a planMunich to Neuschwanstein by train takes about 2 hours to Füssen plus a bus. A timed one-day plan, which tickets to buy, tour or solo, and when to go home.

What a day costs in Germany

Per person, in EUR

Work out your trip

Budget€70a day≈ $78 · per person

Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.

Bed a night: €35
Food: €25
Transport: €10
Sights: Free

Mid-range€173a day≈ $193 · per person

A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.

Bed a night: €75
Food: €60
Transport: €18
Sights: €20

Comfort€350a day≈ $391 · per person

A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.

Bed a night: €120
Food: €120
Transport: €50
Sights: €60

Checked Oct 3, 2026 by Jonas BrandtA source for every line on the trip cost page. Flights not included. Rates By Exchange Rate APIWork out your trip

When to go

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best

JanuaryRain14 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh4°Low0°Cold, dark
FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low1°Berlinale
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low2°Chilly
AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Spring
MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Warm, green
JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Long days
JulyPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Lakes, open air
AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh25°Low16°Warm
SeptemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Mild, clear
OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Autumn color
NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Grey
DecemberCloudy12 rainy daysHigh5°Low2°Christmas markets

Average daily high and low in Berlin, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to GermanyPut the places you like in Germany on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Right now in Germany

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 8°
Humidity: 50%
Wind: 5 km/h
Chance of rain: 3%

Berlin

09:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today9°7°3%Monday: Rain. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 3%.
Tue9°5°5%Tuesday: Rain. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 5%.
Wed10°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu9°3°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri8°2°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat6°2°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun3°2°7%Sunday: Fog. High 3°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 7%.

Updated 06:50 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Germany

Big events, festivals and concert tours

Events calendar

a crowd of people walking down a street at night

NovemberNuremberg ChristkindlesmarktNov 27 – Dec 24, 2026

aerial view of city buildings during sunset

SeptemberOktoberfestSep 18 – Oct 3, 2027

A crowd of people standing around a christmas market

Munich Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz

Festivals by month

JantransmedialeBerlin
FebMainz carnivalWiesbadenCologne CarnivalCologne
MarLuminaleFrankfurtHamburger DomHamburg
AprSchwetzingen FestivalHeidelberg
MayInternationale Maifestspiele WiesbadenWiesbadenBerliner TheatertreffenBerlin
JunKiel WeekKielRock am RingKoblenz
JulNibelungenfestspiele WormsMannheimZelt-Musik-FestivalFreiburg
AugRheingauer WeinwocheWiesbadenBerlin AtonalBerlin
SepOktoberfestMunichCannstatter VolksfestStuttgart
OctJazzFest BerlinBerlinFreimarktBremen City
NovNuremberg ChristkindlesmarktNuremberg
Dec

On tour in Germany: Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour Hamburg, Cologne, Nov 17 – 25, 2026 · Muse The Wow! Signal Tour Berlin, Düsseldorf, Nov 18 – 25, 2026 · Rush Fifty Something Tour Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Feb 21 – Mar 4, 2027 · ENHYPEN World Tour 'BLOOD SAGA' Berlin, Mar 5, 2027 · Olivia Rodrigo The Unraveled Tour Munich, Apr 1 – 2, 2027 · Sabaton The Legendary Tour Part 2 Nuremberg, Düsseldorf, Mannheim, Leipzig, Hamburg, Apr 22 – 28, 2027 · Rod Stewart The Final Encore Berlin, Düsseldorf, Munich, Hannover, Jun 1 – Jul 24, 2027 · Nickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027 Cologne, Hannover, Stuttgart, Munich, Jun 9 – 19, 2027 · Oasis Live '27 Munich, Jul 2 – 6, 2027 · Harry Styles Together, Together 2027 Berlin, Jul 2 – 10, 2027 · Karol G Tropitour Düsseldorf, Jul 17, 2027

Before you go to Germany

Train tickets for GermanyICE saver fares fill up on FridaysRead the guide

Stays in German citiesBerlin, Munich and Rhine townsCheck availability

eSIM for GermanyGaps on rural train linesRead the guide Insurance for Germany tripsCover for strikes and missed connectionsRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Germany, checked

Germany is in the Schengen area, so non-EU visitors must check whether they need a visa on the Federal Foreign Office site, auswaertiges-amt.de.

Schengen entry requires a passport valid for at least three months after your planned departure. EU citizens can enter with a valid ID card.

Most shops close on Sundays and public holidays, so plan groceries for those days.

Return bottles and cans marked with a Pfand deposit to shops or reverse vending machines to get the deposit back.

Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Germany.

Germany FAQ

Is the Deutschlandticket worth it for visitors?

If you use regional trains and city transport for most of a month, yes. It does not cover ICE or IC trains, and it is a subscription you must cancel.

Are German trains on time?

Less often than their reputation suggests. Long-distance trains run late regularly, so leave a buffer before flights and tight connections.

When are the Christmas markets?

Most open in late November and run until just before or just after Christmas. Munich's and Nuremberg's are the busiest on weekends.

What is the best way to see Germany without a car?

By train. ICE links the big cities, regional trains reach towns such as Rothenburg and Füssen, and the Deutschlandticket covers regional lines. Pick two or three bases and make day trips.

How many days do you need in Germany?

A first trip fits in 7 to 10 days: three in Berlin, three in Munich with a Neuschwanstein day trip, and the rest on the Rhine or in Saxony. Each extra city adds a train day.