Welcome to Germany

Germany offers an exceptional density of landscapes and culture on 357,000 km² — from the North Sea to the Alps, from world-class cities to medieval towns:

• 54 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — one of the highest numbers per country worldwide. Including Cologne Cathedral, Wadden Sea, Augustusburg and Falkenlust Palaces, Museum Island Berlin, Regensburg's Old Town, Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Classical Weimar, Quedlinburg, Luther sites, and more.
• 16 National Parks — from the Bavarian Forest National Park (the oldest, founded in 1970) to the Wadden Sea National Park
• Over 25,000 castles and palaces — from Neuschwanstein to Sanssouci Palace to Eltz Castle
• World culture cities — Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Dresden, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Stuttgart each have their own character
• 1,600 thermal baths and spas — more than any other country in Europe
• 1,500+ breweries and one of the oldest beer traditions in the world (Purity Law since 1516)
• Dense rail network — ICE connects all major cities; good public transport system in cities
• Winter sports in the Alps (Garmisch, Oberstdorf, Berchtesgaden), summer vacations at the North and Baltic Seas, hiking in the Black Forest, Harz, Saxon Switzerland, Eifel

Germany is the most visited domestic travel destination for German vacationers — and for neighbors from Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, as well as for Asian and American guests, one of the most exciting destinations in Europe.

Germany is located in the temperate climate zone — all four seasons are distinct, with regional differences due to topography.

Spring (March–May)

Mild (5-18 °C), blooming landscapes. Asparagus season from mid-April. Easter in many regions with traditional Easter fountains (Franconian Switzerland) or Easter fires (north). May is often the best time for cities and hiking.

Summer (June–August)

Peak season for North/Baltic Sea and Alps. 20-28 °C (increasingly also heatwaves with 35 °C+). School holidays vary by federal state. Beer gardens, street festivals, wine festivals. North and Baltic Sea are the busiest in July/August.

Autumn (September–November)

The underrated favorite: grape harvest in the Rhineland and Franconia, autumn forest in the Harz and Black Forest, milder temperatures and less crowded cities. Oktoberfest in Munich (16 days, late September to early October).

Winter (December–February)

Cold (mostly 0-5 °C, significantly below 0 in the Alps/mid-mountains). Christmas markets from late November to Christmas — Dresden, Nuremberg, Cologne, Berlin are particularly well-known. Ski resorts in the Alps, Black Forest, Harz, and Ore Mountains.

Recommendation

• Cities (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg): May-June, September-October
• North/Baltic Sea: June-September
• Alps / Hiking: June-September
• Skiing: December-March (depending on snow conditions)
• Christmas Markets: Late November to December 23
• Oktoberfest: Mid-September to early October

Flight

Main hubs: Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC), Berlin (BER), Düsseldorf (DUS), Hamburg (HAM), Stuttgart (STR), Cologne/Bonn (CGN).

Train

ICE (Intercity-Express) connects all major cities. Examples: Berlin-Munich about 4 h, Hamburg-Frankfurt about 3.5 h, Cologne-Berlin about 4 h. Operator: Deutsche Bahn (DB). Saver fares with early booking, BahnCard 25/50/100.

Car

Autobahn network: about 13,200 km. On many sections no speed limits (recommended speed 130 km/h). Environmental zones in many cities — green environmental badge required. No toll for cars.

Long-distance bus

Liberalized since 2013. Main provider: FlixBus. Inexpensive, dense connections, usually slower than trains.

Public Transport

Well-developed in every city: subway, suburban train, tram, bus. The Deutschlandticket (€49 monthly) is valid nationwide in local transport and is often a savings model for travelers from 2-3 cities.

Entry

EU and Schengen member. For EU citizens: ID card. For third-country nationals: valid travel document, possibly Schengen visa.

Germany is mid-range in price in Western Europe — cheaper than Switzerland or Scandinavian countries, more expensive than Eastern European countries.

Daily Budget per Person

• Backpacker: €50-80 (hostel, supermarket food, public transport)
• Mid-range: €100-180 (3-star hotel, restaurants, 1-2 admissions)
• Comfort: €200-350 (4-star, upscale dining)
• Luxury: from €400 (5-star, fine dining)

Typical Prices

• Beer (0.5 L) in a restaurant: €3.50-5.50 (Munich/Berlin); similar nationwide
• Lunch menu: €10-18
• Main course in the evening: €15-25
• Currywurst + fries: €5-8
• Museum admission: €8-16
• Day ticket for public transport: €5-8 (depending on the city)
• 3-star hotel: €80-140, in Munich/Frankfurt often €200+ during trade fairs

Savings Tips

• Deutschlandticket for nationwide local transport journeys
• Bakery lunches (sandwiches, snacks) are very cheap
• Beer gardens are usually cheaper than restaurants
• Free museum days in many cities (e.g., first Thursday)
• Hostels in Germany are often very good and have single rooms (Meininger, a&o)