travel to germany october 2022

Germany in October – Weather, Places to Visit and Important Festivals

After Oktoberfest, Germany’s autumn calms down, making it a fantastic time for scenic road trips that prioritise leaf-peeping and outdoor activities like hiking and wine tasting. The cities, for their part, have a lot going on, from Berlin’s light festival to Frankfurt’s international book fair. Continue reading to learn more about what to anticipate in Germany in October.

Weather in Germany in October

In October, the air begins to be fresh and cool, with noticeable changes from early September. If your favourite season is autumn, you are lucky. Many consider October to be the most enjoyable time of the year. This is especially true for those who want to see and experience the changing colours of Germany’s stunning natural landscapes. It’s also one of the lightest months of the year, so it gets plenty of sun. It’s important to remember that daylight savings time ends in October, and the clocks move back an hour at the end of the month.

 There are some differences depending on the destination. Berlin, the capital of the country, has an average daily maximum temperature of 14 ° C and a minimum daily temperature of 6 ° C. Frankfurt in the southwest is generally the warmest city in Germany, with average daily maximum and minimum temperatures of 59 ° F (15 ° C) and 46 ° F (8 ° C). Locations in the southern Bavarian Alps, such as Garmisch-Partenkirchen, get colder at higher altitudes, especially at night when minimum temperatures usually reach 3 ° C (38 ° F). In northern Germany, storm winds and moisture can increase from the North and Baltic Seas. 

Visitors might expect calm, bright days to be interspersed with cold, rainy days. Bring a smart layer and fall jacket,  raincoat, umbrella and sturdy walking shoes.

Also Read: Germany in September – Places to Visit, Weather and Festivals!

Top 5 places to visit in Germany in October

1. the black forest.

During your childhood, you’ve probably heard the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Visit the enchanted areas that are claimed to have inspired fairy tales such as Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty. The Black Forest, which borders France in southwestern Germany, contains 11,100 square kilometres of stunning natural scenery. Known for its dense evergreen forests and beautiful lakes and waterfalls, it is an ideal place to return to nature. On foot, by bicycle, or on horseback. 

Also Read: 10 Best National Parks in Germany: Experience Natural Wonders!

2. Schloss Neuschwanstein

Speaking of Sleeping Beauty, Germany also has a stunningly beautiful castle that influenced the Walt Disney version of Disneyland’s palace. Surrounded by the mountains of the Bavarian Alps,  Neuschwanstein Castle is the pinnacle of European fairy tale castles and one of Germany’s most popular attractions. Commissioned by Ludwig II for pleasure in 1869, the impressive palace is famous for its elegant spire that rises from the top of the tree.

Also Read: 10 Best Places To Visit In Germany – The Land of Castles And History

3. Lake Constance

Lake Constance, which borders Germany, Austria and Switzerland, is one of Germany’s most popular vacation destinations, and for good reason. Its special appeal lies in its versatility to provide something that suits every taste. Nature lovers will find many varieties on the islands and nature reserves. Those interested in culture will discover many attractions in the seaside towns of Konstanz, Lindau, Uberlingen and Friedrichshafen. 

4. The Zugspitze

If you want to know what it feels like to be at the top of the world, or at least you want to know, a trip to the majestic summit of  Zugspitze will certainly work. Located on the border between Germany and Austria, it is the highest mountain in Germany at an altitude of 2,962 meters. Surrounded by steep valleys, the view from above covers more than 400 mountains throughout the land. The Zugspitze is also a great option if you like winter vacations and slope action.

Also Read: 10 Adventurous Places To Visit In Germany

5. Bayreuth

The world-famous Richard Wagner Festival is held annually in the northern city of Bavaria, Bayreuth. A popular event in honour of German-born composers turns the city into a hotspot for opera lovers. Even if you aren’t an opera buff, the sumptuous furnishings of the 18th-century Margravial Opera House will wow you. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a masterpiece of Baroque theatre architecture. It can accommodate up to 500 people and often experiences a full-fledged Baroque court opera. Besides this impressive landmark, Bayreuth offers a rich culture and heritage.

Events in Germany in October

German Unity Day

This annual holiday will take place on October 3rd to commemorate the reunification of Germany in 1990. Keep an eye out for the celebration of live music and food and drink stalls across the country, especially near the Reichstag Building and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Please note that grocery stores and shops may be closed on this day. 

Berlin Light Festival

You can Take a long walk in the dark at this free festival. And also, here more than 40 of Berlin’s most famous landmarks and historic buildings will be illuminated from 7 pm to 1 am. 

Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival, Ludwigsburg

If you’ve ever wondered where the world’s largest pumpkin festival takes place, it’s on the grounds of the Ludwigsburg Palace near Stuttgart. The festival, which will be held this fall, will feature 450,000 pumpkins, celebrating all pumpkins related to family activities, competitions, food and drink. 

Frankfurt Book Fair, Frankfurt

Held in mid-October, it is an important international event for publishers, bookstores, agencies and writers. 

Wine Festival, Neustadt Andea Winestraße

During the harvest season, several wine festivals are held. The German Grape Harvest Festival is held in October along the German wine route particularly.

Oktoberfest, Munich

Even if you’re here earlier this month, you can still see some of the action at the world’s most famous beer festival. Another low-tourist beer festival in Stuttgart, the Cannstatter Volksfest, will also be held from September to early October.

Also Read: Best of German Festivals: World-class Food, Music and Culture!

Choosing where to spend your next holiday in Germany might be tough because there are so many places to see. The country has it all, from fairy tale castles and scenic woodlands to bustling towns and many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Hurry up and book your customised Germany holiday at Pickyourtrail and get Germany tour packages at the best prices!

Shrinidhi H

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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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Here’s how we can help you plan your perfect trip in 2024.

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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Faqs - booking germany flights, what child safety seat regulations must i be aware of before renting a car in germany.

Children up to the age of 12 who are shorter than 1.5 meters (59 inches) are required by German law to ride in an authorized car seat or booster. In case all the other restraints in your rented car are being used by other kids, the child may ride in the rear seat of the car, but they must have a seat belt.

What other cities can I access from MUC Airport once I reach Germany from the US?

MUC Airport serves several other nearby cities that can be easily accessed by public bus services, a rented car, or a cab. Some of the nearby cities to MUC that you should consider visiting on your visit to Germany include Freising, Neufahrn, Erding, as well as Eching in addition to Munich.

Are there affordable airport lounges on flight routes between the USA and Germany?

Yes. Travelers who wish to enjoy airport lounges before boarding their preferred airlines from the US to Germany should consider flying from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). This airport features an economy lounge known as the Delta Sky Club in Terminal 1. This lounge is widely affordable for passengers who plan on traveling from the US to Germany on a budget.

How can I catch the first flight at New York Stewart International Airport on the SWF-BRE route to Germany?

You should consider booking a hotel room in a nearby hotel to SWF Airport if you intend to catch the earliest flight to Germany from SWF. One nearby hotel for consideration is Homewood Suites by Hilton Newburgh-Stewart Airport, located 0.61 miles away.

Which airport is most convenient to Berlin?

The city of Berlin is served by two major international airports: Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) and Berlin Tegel (TXL). Flying into either airport can get you to downtown Berlin in less than an hour via the 24/7 S-Bahn trains, but coming from Tegel can shave around 10-15m off your total travel time.

Where should I fly into to visit the Black Forest?

For travelers looking to visit the Black Forest, there are a handful of airports that can be a good option. Frankfurt Airport is one of the closest airports in Germany, but it can also be convenient to fly into Zurich, Switzerland, and travel to the Black Forest from there.

Do I need a visa to visit Germany?

US nationals currently don’t require a visa to enter Germany for less than 30 days. However, in 2021, US citizens will be required to apply for an ETIAS before traveling to Germany and the rest of the Schengen Zone. Official information can be sought on US government websites, as the guidelines are subject to change.

I’ll be flying to Germany to visit the Rhine Valley, which airport should I fly into?

The Rhine Valley is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany. To reach the Rhine Valley, it is most convenient to fly into either Cologne or Frankfurt. If you’re traveling exclusively to Rhine Valley, Cologne is technically the closest air hub; however, Frankfurt is a popular destination and can also provide convenient access.

How long is the flight to Germany?

An average nonstop flight from the United States to Germany takes 9h 27m, covering a distance of 4544 miles. The most popular route is New York - Frankfurt am Main with an average flight time of 7h 40m.

What is the cheapest flight to Germany?

The cheapest ticket to Germany from the United States found in the last 72 hours was $168 one-way, and $332 round-trip. The most popular route is New York John F Kennedy Intl to Frankfurt am Main and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $416.

Which airlines fly to Germany?

Lufthansa, United Airlines & Air Canada fly the most frequently from the United States to Germany. The most popular route is from New York to Frankfurt am Main, and Brussels Airlines, United Airlines and Lufthansa fly this route the most.

What are the most popular destinations in Germany?

The next most popular destinations are Munich (22%) and Berlin (14%). Searches for flights to Düsseldorf (5%), to Hamburg (3%) and to Stuttgart (2%) are also popular.

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Top tips for finding cheap flights to Germany

• Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Germany flight deals.
• Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER) is widely preferred as the arrival airport for most travelers flying from the US to Germany because of its close proximity to Berlin, the country's capital city. Passengers traveling this route have the choice of flying on indirect flights with just one layover at Zurich Airport (ZRH) for SWISS Airlines or Copenhagen Airport (CPH) for Scandinavian Airlines, among others, from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
• A majority of travelers who plan to tour Germany from the USA’s east-coast region depart from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to different destination airports in Germany. Those travelers who wish to take the shortest time possible from the US to Germany should consider following the JFK to Munich International Airport (MUC) route. JFK acts as a hub for Lufthansa airlines, one major airline offering direct flights from the USA to Germany.
• Consider using Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) if you are planning on traveling to Germany from the central regions of the USA. Travelers who fly via this route from the USA to Germany have the option of using connecting flights only as there are no airlines offering direct flights on this route.
• Consider landing at airports like Hamburg Airport (HAM), Hannover Airport (HAJ), or Bremen Airport (BRE), if you are planning on visiting any of the cities located in the northern region of Germany. All major international airports serving flights from the US to Germany use these three airports.
• Travelers coming from the Northwest region of the United States should consider flying out of Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Those who indent to take the shortest time possible from SEA Airport should consider landing at MUC. Even though there are no nonstop flights on this route, there is a considerable number of airlines serving indirect flights with a single layover at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), like Lufthansa and American Airways.
• When you’re booking your flight to Germany, it’s likely that you’ll find yourself with a layover. There are nonstop flights from the US to Germany departing from Baltimore, New Jersey and New Orleans, but those departing from other cities will most likely have at least a single stop along the way.
• If you’ll be making your way through Bavaria, it can be handy to fly into Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to make getting around more convenient. Flying into Frankfurt Airport puts you more readily within reach of Stuttgart and Rothenburg. However, if you’re traveling throughout the entire area, you can book your return flight out of Munich to save time.
• For easy access to both southern Germany and Austria, it can be beneficial to book your flight to Germany via Munich Airport (MUC). Munich is a popular destination on its own, and its proximity to Austria can help you add several areas of interest to your vacation with little extra effort.
• Flying into Prague can be an option if you’re sticking to attractions in eastern Germany and the Czech Republic. Prague is convenient not only to several areas of the Czech Republic, but also Leipzig, Dresden and Nuremberg once you cross over into Germany. A popular route is flying into Prague and returning from Leipzig.
• Oktoberfest, one of the most internationally famous festivals in Germany, generally runs from the last week of September to early October. Flight prices can surge during these few weeks, so unless you’re traveling to Germany specifically for Oktoberfest, it can save you money to book your flights outside of these dates.

Top 5 airlines flying to Germany

Everything was great except for the seat. The backrest would not stay in the upright position.

I usually have a positive experience with Delta. Complimentary upgrades are always nice!

Flight delayed about 2 hrs so it made it a VERY late night

The crew, food, and entertainment were all good. But my screen had some sort of bug where if I turned it off, it would turn back on after 2-5 minutes. At full brightness. It made it very hard to get any shut-eye on the overnight flight. Also, the older Boeing plane, while nicely cared for (and no doors fell off 😅👏) doesn't have the nice air quality of newer planes. So I felt a bit greasy by the time we landed in Sweden.

It was a crowded flight. They did the best they could.

Service was good for such a short flight. Small plane but smooth flight.

Worst flight in my life. Only was scheduled for a 45 min flight to get our connection flight. It was late by 40 minutes and we missed our connection. Delta was totally useless trying to help and unable to get my family on the next flight because they overbooked it Thus had to get a hotel at my expense and lost a day at Disney as a result. Cost me about a $1000 if you add 2 hotels meals shuttles etc to get thru the day Awful customer service by Delta in Detroit totally useless people

The experience was good and the flight departed on time and landed early

The flight was delayed but we got to our final destination.

Boarding was great. The flight landed early. It took the crew over an hour and a half to bring out drinks. I paid to upgrade my seat to Comfort+ only to be near a crying/screaming baby who was seldom quiet. Noise-cancelling earbuds didn’t even help. Waste of money to upgrade.

The delays (5 hrs) were a comedy of errors, and the multiple safety issues encountered were very concerning.

flight delays, staff only communicating when pushed, food service lasting a grand total of 7 minutes, stuck in seat from 45mins into flight until landing

Crew was great and did their best to make us comfortable and captain came out at the beginning to announce why the flight was delayed, weather situation up ahead, and kept us updated throughout the flight.

the flight from Tampa departed with a delay. The food on board was poor, usually on international airlines alcoholic beverages are offered free of charge , but here it was for a fee, the cutlery was wooden, there were no hot drinks (tea, coffee). Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the portions of food, but it wouldn't have been enough for a child either.And in the future, I will try not to use the services of this airline

check-in luggage charge when they send email for free check-in luggage

they made me check my carryon. There was space in the overhead bins.

Good dinner and nice plane.Smootz flight. Breakfast had no sweet option. Seats hardly reclined.

Flight from CLT to DUS via MUC ticketed by United Airlines and operated by Lufthansa. 2nd leg of flight from MUC to DUS was cancelled and no notification provided. At check in , Lufthansa agents at airport were unable to locate record and wanted us to contact United Airlines directly.

Boarding went well, staff was friendly. Food was not goods at all. I had ordered vegan meal. The seat I picked didn’t have storage area in the front and so had to put my small back pack at the top.my flight to Bangalore from Munich, the tv was broken so I got complimentary wifi which never worked. Food there too wasn’t good. I had paid extra for the seats. The only good thing is that the fact we have a flight direct from Charlotte to Bangalore with one stop in Munich!

one hour to board connecting flight from frankfurt trying to beat the far Z gate and with immigration of USA ppus waited for delayed boarding in gare for an hour and fly half gour late worst transit im frankfurt this airlines are for profit passengers are victim of dysfunctional airline frankfurt so crowded restroom are too small

I dropped my wallet under my seat on this flight with all of my money and credit card. I requested to be able to go back and retrieve it but Lufthansa denied my request. I went to the Customer Services and they called Lost and Found but I was told nothing found would be turned in until around 12:00pm. My next flight was leaving so I was unable to check to see if my wallet was turned in. I will never fly with Lufthansa again.

Dinner was good by air travel standards but breakfast was too light and heavy on carbs/sugar.

Used to love Lufthansa, but Rowe are too close together in Economy and passengers are allowed to recline their seats so far back it is impossible for those behind them to even reach for carry-on essentials during flight - except for meal service when flight attendants ask for seat backs to be raised, we can’t sleep on planes so this flight was most uncomfortable ever! Rod Rose

Horrible crowding on the seats, headphones provided did not fit or work in the entertainment center, seriously the most uncomfortable flight I have taken in a LONG time. The people in front of me were literally 5 inches from my face the entire flight. Did they change their seats recently? I remember it being tight but wow this was a whole new level. Also I am a 5'3" small woman so I can't even imagine a larger person dealing with that for 11 hrs.

Seat controls of lights were broken, and only 1 of the 2 seat TVs ever worked on the long flight. On the short flight there were no USB connections, on the long one they were difficult to access. Part of my meal was frozen, though the hot portion was good.

Lufthansa fails at mentioning no luggage when booking through points. We had to pay added fees to take checked bags to Europe for 2 weeks. The staff at check in were not helpful at all. told us "if we don't like it, then book another flight". Food was bad, they ran out of half the options. Vegetarian was terrible. The flight crew was nice, and tried to make it work ok.

My school age daughter was not sat near me. We left almost an hour late. Therefore arriving late and missing another flight. Since it was not a connecting flight there was nothing Lufthansa could do about it. After the selay in take off and arrival we waited almost an hour for baggage claim. There was zero concern for my inconvenience. I asked if we could insure being seated together on the return. They stated no because we booked through Kayak. I typically love Lufthansa. This was very disappointing.

Great seats assigned and comfortable, movies are good, food is delicious, great experience. No delays and they prioritize boarding children with parents which is plus.

they canceled my flight and we’re absolutely atrocious and helping me rebook

My flight was canceled. New flight is 40 hours later and I still didn’t get the flight from Frankfurt to Zagreb.

Terrible! I missed my flight to my final destination and British airlines and American Airlines keep pointing fingers on each other’s. Nobody wants to take responsibility

Terrible. Flight was 3 hours delayed and I missed my other flight to my final destination

Overall, terrific service, accommodations, and experience. Only reason comfort was rated lower was because it was difficult to keep a comfortable sleeping position for the overnight flight, but I also had an economy seat.

Not sure if the crew were experiencing something unknown to me,but the service of passing water was non-existent.In addition,please take consideration when providing yogurt as alternative for breakfast as some of us, could be lactose intolerant.. thanks

Very cramped seats in economy, difficult to get comfortable with your legs and feet and back. The seat width is ok but I’m average size. Food is HORRIBLE. Crew is friendly. Delays and very tight connections made it tough for navigating. We would have missed our connecting flight if it wasn’t delayed too. The terminal transit was slow and normally every 10 minutes before 8pm, after 8 pm is every 30 minutes!!!!! No free wine or drinks!! Below average attitude.

Leg room was better than expected. Lavatory’s were easy to access.crew was grea!

Horrible seat allocation. Boarding was slow. Food was average and so was entertainment. The TV terminal didn't work and so had to use remote.

Lost one checked bag.and wasted 30min waiting and filing missing baggage report. Very unsatisfied.

I’m not happy because I discovered there is something wrong and my miles have not been getting put on my AA account. So this needs to be fixed because I have traveled a lot since October and none of my miles are registered

This was an American Airlines flight. The crew were very unhappy and quite grumpy. Abrupt to the point of being rude. The food was dreadful. Indeed the breakfast was in edible. I will avoid AA at all costs in the future.

Brand new airplane Airbus 330. Great crew. The staff on the ground is always a bit mediocre at Condor.

Some pretty unfriendly check in crew members. This is a no frills airline.

Seat was the worst I ever had in an airplane

I will definitely recommend your service. This is my first experience with Condor and so far it was great!

A flight attendant placed a meal on my tray. I was in 44E. The passenger who was in 44G had gone to the bathroom. I ate the meal. When the passenger in 44G asked where his meal was the flight attendant put the blame on me. She claimed another attendant put the meal on my tray. She then claimed when she gave me the meal she asked me if I had ordered a special meal. She did not Worst experience I have ever had with a crew member.

Entertainment screen was not functioning, there was no effort made by flight attendants to take care of the problem. All I could do was looking at customs forms and watch landing videos for 10 hrs 😁 Bruno Volk

I did not get a flight from JFK to Portland nonexistent Condor flight 308 does not exist and JetBlue knew nothing and someone changed my ticket and eliminated that leg of the flight. I would love to know who’s going to pay for my $750 car rental.

My return flight from JFK to Portland Maine disappeared and it cost me $750 to rent a car and drive home from New York. I don’t even know where to start with who screwed up or what condor blaming the ticket sales or JetBlue JetBlue knows nothing. Everyone giving me the runaround. Gotta say the service all-around sucked.

The flight was fine. We were served a meal and a snack. Boarding was fine.

I don't believe we were given any food... but for the size of the plane, it was pretty comfortable and a nice flight. I dont believe there was any individual onboard entertainment, and the headphone jack was the one with 2 holes, so I couldnt use my headphones... the boarding times were all over the place, and we never really flew on time.

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Travel to Germany in October, 2022 - Train Travel Forum

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I am planning to travel to Germany on 16th. Oct til 23rd. Oct, 2022 for Frankfurt Bookfair event and also a sightseeing in Hanau and Fussen. I will stay in Offenbach and will commute by train if i were to go back and fro to the bookfair event almost everyday till 20th. and will visit Hanau n Fussen later. So, what is possible RailCard for me to buy for a week stay in Germany if i were to commute by local trains and busses? Thanks.

Have a look on http://www.bahn.com Deutche Bahn's website. Some rail passes are regional, so for Fussen, it would come under Bavaria.

Both Offenbach and Hanau are in the state of Hesse, so you cannot use a Bayern ticket to travel to Fuessen.

There is a QDL (Quer-durchs-Land) ticket which allows you to travel cross-border, but ONLY on Regional trains. Info on this ticket here: (cost of ticket for the 1st person is €42)

https://www.bahn.com/en/offers/regional/day-ticket-for-germany

If your days are fixed, you could travel using fast train via Frankfurt and Augsburg, and pay for the Sparpreis discounted ticket for €29.90 (one way), but this ticket would be tied to the particular train/time you booked for (no changes)

Anyone noticed that offenbach - fussen is at least 5.5 hours each way?

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Germany Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 26, 2023, germany - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise increased caution in Germany due to  terrorism .

Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Germany. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, 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 .

Travel Advisory Levels

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Germany Tours in October 2024

• Apr '24
• May '24
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• Sep '24
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• Nov '24
• Dec '24
• Jan '25
• Feb '25
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250+ Germany trips in October 2024

• Hiking & Trekking
• Self Guided Walking Holidays

From Munich into Allgäu

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

• Self-Guided Cycling
• Wine tasting

Winery Tour on the Rhine

Great hotels, the GPS track was enormously helpful and overall it was a great trip. Bikes and equipment all good. We did miss our third wine tasting mainly as we assumed it was at the end of the day like the others, only to find it was 20 k back . Beautiful route.

From Munich to Garmisch

Rhine & Vines with Charm

• In-depth Cultural
• Coach / Bus

Best of Germany (Classic, 12 Days)

• Christmas & New Year

BEST OF GERMANY BY TRAIN

Javier was very helpful all the way. he always answered quickly via WhatsApp. It s necessary to clarify that this is practically a self-guided tour for the most part. you will join some local tours but you travel on your own and you have remote support and guidance. As a recommendation get a SIM card from Aldi and get credit at the store to load and set up a local data service. Overall a very good experience.

Beautiful Views End Berlin

Pedro Repiladoand Mariano, you guys are good ! Thank you !

Berlin Wall Trail Cycle

This was such a great urban adventure and a brilliant way to take in Berlin. I had no idea that the wall was so huge! I rode an e-bike, which made it easy (even though it was mainly flat!) and the directions were great although I did use the GPX files which I could download onto my phone. The trail is well marked most of the way, a few spots a bit tricky but it's all part of the adventure. Highly recommend this trip!

Magical Bavaria

Small tour group with an exceptionally knowledgeable guide. He knew the best places to stop for food/beer and navigated us through any queues! Such beautiful places to explore (Rothenburg & Residenz Wurzburg were a particular highlight... we would never have visited if travelling alone) Hotels were of a high quality... particularly loved the hotel in Nuremberg (facilities & breakfast were awesome) Location of all hotels were perfect. All airport transfers were on time and very professional. Tour transport was very comfortable- Mercedes Bus. We would definitely book with Indus Travel again as they responded quickly to all queries. Miller were their local supplier in Germany we can highly recommend them - a very professional service.

• Sightseeing

Best of Germany (12 Days)

Hello, The 12days the best of Germany were a real success, we visited many interesting cities, I was born in Germany andlived there for 19 years, I had not been back in 30 years,the hotelswere excellent, the food aswell and I found the people very friendly. Our guideswere extremely professional and the road trips were very entertaining with speeches and videos. There were only 29 passengers ,mostly americans, one French canadian from Ottawa andme, I have lived in Montreal since 1965 and am a canadian citizen, Istill speak german, as I was teacher in elementary and high school. This was a wonderful experience, Diana Vega

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Walking Bavaria’s Lakes and Mountains

Altmühltal-Panorama Path

Palatinate Round Trip SPORTY

Romantic Road & Bavarian Lakes

Walking in Southern Bavaria

What people love about germany tours in october.

Really enjoyed this tour. It was exactly what we were looking for, the independence to do what we wanted on some days and some tours organised for us on other days. Communication from Tour radar was great through What’s App. The only thing we would change would be to upgrade the two 3 star motels to 4 star motels.

Destinations

• Rhine October 2024 (85)
• Moselle October 2024 (45)
• Main October 2024 (29)
• Danube October 2024 (14)
• Saar October 2024 (5)
• Elbe October 2024 (4)
• Neckar October 2024 (4)
• Bavaria October 2024 (74)
• Rhine Valley October 2024 (14)
• Romantic Road October 2024 (9)
• Western Austria October 2024 (5)
• Alps October 2024 (20)
• Lake Constance October 2024 (5)

Regions in Germany

• Moselle (45)
• Danube (14)
• Bavaria (74)
• Rhine Valley (14)
• Romantic Road (9)
• Western Austria (5)
• Lake Constance (5)
• Spring 2024 tours (260)
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• Fall / Autumn 2024 tours (346)
• Winter 2024 / 2025 tours (124)
• Spring 2025 tours (121)
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• Fall / Autumn 2025 tours (123)
• Winter 2025 / 2026 tours (69)
• Germany Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• Best 10 Day Germany Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Germany travel advice

Latest updates: The Need help? section was updated.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 15:08 ET

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Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, germany - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in Germany due to the threat of terrorism.

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Petty crime

Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, occurs.

Organized groups of pickpockets often use distraction techniques and are particularly active in:

• major cities
• transportation hubs
• public transportation
• Christmas markets
• tourist attractions

There is a significant increase in stolen passports on trains, particularly during the summer and winter holiday season. 

Ensure that your belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times.

Violent crime

Violent crime is uncommon, but does occur.

Crimes committed by far-right extremists against individuals belonging to ethnic, religious or political minorities occur.

While tourists are not specifically targeted, you could find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings.

Cybercrime occurs. Perpetrators may compromise public Wi-Fi networks to steal credit card or personal information.

• Avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks
• Avoid making purchases on unencrypted websites
• Be cautious when posting information on social media
• Be particularly vigilant when contacting or meeting individuals known over the internet

Overseas fraud

There is a threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorists have carried out attacks in several European cities. Terrorist attacks could occur at any time.

Targets could include:

• government buildings, including schools
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, Christmas markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners

The Government of Germany maintains a public alert system on terrorism. Alert level changes are communicated through local media.

• Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places
• Be particularly vigilant if attending sporting events and during religious holidays and other public celebrations, as terrorists have used such occasions to mount attacks

More information about public security - Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community

Demonstrations

Demonstrations take place regularly. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Strikes occur regularly, particularly in key sectors including aviation and ground transport. These strikes can sometimes complicate travel and disrupt services.

• Consult local media to be aware of strikes that may affect your stay or travel plans
• In the event of a transport strike, plan extra time to get to your destination

Mountain activities

If you intend to go hiking, mountaineering or skiing:

• never do so alone and always hire an experienced guide from a reputable company
• buy travel insurance that includes helicopter rescue and medical evacuation
• ensure that your physical condition is good enough to meet the challenges of your activity
• ensure that you are properly equipped and well informed about weather and other conditions that may pose a hazard
• inform a family member or friend of your itinerary, including when you expect to be back
• obtain detailed information on trekking routes or ski slopes before setting out and do not venture off marked trails or slopes

Road safety

Roads conditions and road safety are excellent throughout the country.

Pedestrians should exercise caution when crossing dedicated bicycle paths, as bicycles have right of way.

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the German authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

• Schengen area

Canadian citizens do not need a visa for travel to countries within the Schengen area. However, visa-free travel only applies to stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Stays are cumulative and include visits to any Schengen area country.

If you plan to stay in the Schengen area for a longer period of time, you will need a visa. You must contact the high commission or embassy of the country or countries you are travelling to and obtain the appropriate visa(s) prior to travel.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada

Temporary border controls

The German government has reintroduced internal border controls at certain border crossings. You may be required to pass through immigration controls when entering Germany, even if arriving from another Schengen area country.

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you expect to leave the Schengen area.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: not required for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period Business visa: not required for stays up to 90 days Student visa: required

Extension of stay

As a tourist, you can’t stay in Germany longer than 90 days. If you wish to stay beyond this 90-day limit, you must apply for a residence permit and provide a valid reason.

If you unexpectedly have to stay beyond the 90-day limit, contact the Foreigners’ Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) in the district you are staying in to regularize your extended stay.

Registration

If you intend to reside in Germany for more than 3 months, you must register at the local Residents‘ Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt), usually within 7 days of your entry into the country.

If you don’t, you may be fined.

Other entry requirements

Customs officials may ask you to show them a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay.

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is not required to enter this country.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.

* It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a risk in some areas of this destination. It is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It is spread to humans by the bite of infected ticks or occasionally when unpasteurized milk products are consumed.

Travellers to areas where TBE is found may be at higher risk  during April to November, and the risk is highest for people who hike or camp in forested areas.

Protect yourself from tick bites . The vaccine is not available in Canada. It may be available in the destination you are travelling to.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

In this destination, rabies  may be present in some wildlife species, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. 

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. 

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who will be working directly with wildlife. 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Medical services and facilities

Health care is excellent. Service is available throughout the country.

Private healthcare is expensive. Care providers usually require upfront payment. If you need a detailed breakdown of expenses for a Canadian insurance claim, make sure you clearly request it, as German hospitals don’t usually provide one.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Transfer to a Canadian prison

Canada and Germany are signatories to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This enables a Canadian imprisoned in Germany to request a transfer to a Canadian prison to complete a sentence. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Germany authorities.

This process can take a long time, and there is no guarantee that the transfer will be approved by either or both sides.

Identification

Local police may ask to see your identification at any time.

• Carry adequate identification at all times, such as your passport or residence permit
• Keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place, in case it is lost or stolen

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences or heavy fines.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Illegal activities

There are strict laws regarding the diffusion of propaganda material and the use of symbols from the Nazi party or other organizations linked to fascism and the Third Reich.

Illegal activities may include:

• diffusing or sharing propaganda, including online
• producing, importing or exporting memorabilia
• publicly wearing, using or display symbols and greetings related to these organizations

Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences or fines.

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in Germany.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of Germany, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and Germany.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Germany, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the German court.

If you are in this situation:

• act as quickly as you can
• contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Germany to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

• List of Canadian Central Authorities for the Hague Convention
• International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
• Travelling with children
• The Hague Convention - Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

You must be at least 18 years old to drive a vehicle in Germany.

You can use your valid Canadian driver’s licence for up to 6 months. After 6 months, you must exchange your Canadian licence for a German one. Allow up to 6 weeks for German authorities to exchange your licence.

You must always carry written permission from the registered owner of the vehicle if the vehicle doesn’t belong to you.

Winter tires are mandatory during icy conditions.

Speed limits

Speed limits vary considerably in Germany. On the highway network (autobahn), limits are generally much higher than the ones in Canada. On certain sections, there are no speed limits.

• Drive carefully
• Be mindful of speed regulations

Low-emission zones

Certain cities have put in place low-emission zones (Umweltzone) to reduce air pollution.

Access to these zones is restricted. You may need to obtain a permit to prove that your vehicle responds to environmental standards.

Personal light electric vehicles

Drivers of light electric vehicles, such as electric scooters and e-skateboards, must follow the rules of the road. Insurance is mandatory.

To drive such vehicles, your blood alcohol limit must not exceed 0.05%. New drivers and individuals under 21 years of age must not have any alcohol in their system. Convicted offenders can face heavy fines and have their licence confiscated on the spot. Authorities may ask for the fine to be paid right away.

You cannot drive on pedestrian walkways and in pedestrian zones.

• More about driving in Germany - European Commission
• Low-emission zones in Germany - German Environment Agency
• Personal Light Electric Vehicles  - Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure

The currency of Germany is the euro (EUR).

If you are carrying €10,000 or more, or the equivalent in other currencies, you must make a declaration to customs when you enter or leave the European Union. It includes sums in:

• banknotes and coins
• bearer negotiable instruments such as cheques, travellers’ cheques, promissory notes and money orders
• bonds, shares
• gold coins with a gold content of at least 90 %
• gold bars, nuggets or clumps with a gold content of at least 99.5 %
• any other convertible asset

This does not apply if you are travelling within the European Union or in transit to a non-EU country.

EU cash controls - European Commission

Flooding and landslides

Heavy rains, particularly in spring and summer, can cause severe flooding and landslides. Roads may become impassable and infrastructure damaged.

• Exercise caution, particularly in areas around major rivers
• Stay informed of the latest regional weather forecasts
• Download the Nina warning app to receive important alerts from German authorities
• Follow the advice of local authorities, including evacuation orders
• Emergency preparation - Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (in German)
• Nina warning app - Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (in German)

Forest fires may occur, particularly during summer months.

The air quality in areas near active fires may deteriorate due to heavy smoke.

In case of a major fire:

• stay away from affected areas, particularly if you suffer from respiratory ailments
• monitor local media for up-to-date information on the situation
• follow the advice of local authorities

There is a risk of avalanches in mountainous regions, especially following heavy snowfalls. Some have resulted in deaths.

Be particularly careful in the alpine areas of Bavaria.

Avalanche forecasting and warnings - European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS)

Local services

In case of emergency, dial:

• police: 110
• medical assistance: 112
• firefighters: 112

Consular assistance

For emergency consular assistance, call the embassy of Canada to Germany, in Berlin, and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

Festivals in Germany in October

What's Happening in Germany in October

Armin Hofen / Getty Images

October is an ideal time to travel in Germany as the weather is usually cooperative, prices and crowds are going down as fall approaches, and there are still plenty of top festivals and attractions

For example, world-famous Oktoberfest continues through the first week. There are also massive pumpkin boat races, the biggest book fair in Germany, and the festival of lights in Berlin...just to name a few highlights.

Check out our list of the best German festivals, events, and holidays in October.

Oktoberfest in Munich

Oktoberfest in Munich is the highlight of Germany's festival calendar. Every September and October, over 6.4 million visitors from around the world mingle with locals to celebrate Bavarian culture, cuisine , and - of course - beer . Editor's note: Because of extraordinary circumstances, Oktoberfest will not take place in 2020.

During Oktoberfest, everyone is a bit German. Sing the beloved beer hall songs, ride the riesenrad (Ferris Wheel), dress in tracht , and dance on the tables.

Where: Theresienwiese (fairgrounds) in Munich

Tag der deutschen Einheit

October 3 is Tag der deutschen Einheit (Day of German Unity) and celebrates the country's reunification in 1990.

This is a national holiday that almost every German city celebrates, but the best open-air festivities are held in a different German city each year. Note that as it is a holiday, banks, grocery stores, and many businesses will be closed.

Where: Throughout Germany

Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival

Courtesy of Kürbisausstellung Ludwigsburg 

Germany has the largest pumpkin festival in the world. There are 450,000 pumpkins on display, plus chainsaw carving competitions, pumpkins on the menu, and giant pumpkins getting weighed and smashed. The highlight of the event is when people in hollowed out pumpkins take to the water in a wild boat race. All of this with the backdrop of an elegant palace and a Märchengarten (Fairy Tale Garden).

Where: Ludwigsburg Castle

Cannstatter Wasen in Stuttgart

The Cannstatter Wasen started as an autumn fair in 1818 and quickly became one of the leading beer festivals in Germany .

Celebrate the season with satisfying Swabian food, beer and wine , and bring the family for Oompah bands, roller coasters , and the world’s largest mobile Ferris wheel. The highlight is the opening street parade with horse-drawn wagons and citizens in local dress.

Where:  Bad Cannstatt in Stuttgart

Deutsches Weinlesefest

The German Wine Route has many wine festivals throughout the year with Deutsches Weinlesefest (German Wine Harvesting Festival) in October. This is the site of Germany's largest wine festival parade with more than 100,000 visitors. It is also the second largest wine festival in the world, after the nearby Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt.

A wine queen and princess are crowned and visitors drink out of goblets known as dubbeglas, regional 50 cl glasses suited for wines of the Palatinate region.

Where: Neustadt an der Weinstraße

Festival of Lights in Berlin

During the Festival of Lights , more than 45 of Berlin's most iconic landmarks and historic buildings are illuminated from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. every night.

The festival features laser light shows and projections that transform sites like the Berlin TV Tower , Museum Island , the Brandenburg Gate, and many more of the city's top sites into mystical visions. Special " lightseeing tours " are offered by bus, boat, or bicycle.

Where: Berlin

Frankfurt Book Fair

Frankfurter Buchmesse is the world's largest trade fair for books. It is the place to be for book lovers, publishers, translators, and authors.

Each year, the book fair sees close to 300,000 visitors from 100 countries peruse over 400,000 books.

During the week, the book fair is only open to accredited trade-visitors, but come on the last weekend of the fair, when everybody can take a peek into the international world of media. Enjoy readings, exhibitions, concerts, and films alongside the presentation of books.

Where:  Trade Fairgrounds in Frankfurt

Reformation Day

On October 31, Germans do not traditionally celebrate Halloween ; they commemorate the religious holiday of Reformationstag ("Day of Reformation").

Reformation Day dates back to 1517 when Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the Wittenberg Castle Church door. This action brought forth the Protestant Reformation and massive changes in the church and society.

Events on Reformation Day are subdued, but the recent 500-year-anniversary was cause for celebration and most of Germany enjoyed the public holiday.

Where: Official holiday in five states: Brandenburg , Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt

The Best Festivals in Germany

Best Time to Visit Germany

October in Europe: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

Autumn in Germany: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

The Best Time to Visit Cologne

Wine Festivals in Germany

September in Germany: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See

New England Fall Festivals

Top Things to Do in the US in September

The Best Time to Visit Nuremberg

Festivals in April in Germany

New England Fall Weekend Events 2020

The Best Time to Visit Frankfurt

The Top 11 Things to Do in Stuttgart, Germany

The Best Time to Visit Berlin

The Top January Festivals in Germany

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Good chances for tourism restart in 2022

Dear reader,

As we ease our way into 2022, we say goodbye to a year that has given us plenty to think about. We know that the current situation remains extremely difficult for many of our partners in Germany’s inbound tourism sector and in the international travel industry.

At the moment, it is difficult to predict how the pandemic will develop, both at home and in our many international source markets. The situation for the global travel industry remains challenging as we look forward to the year ahead.

2021 was the second year in a row that coronavirus was the defining influence on international tourism. Hopes for a swift end to the crisis thanks to the development of vaccines were dashed by the emergence of new virus variants. As a result, any optimism that we might see a rapid recovery of travel during the summer months was met by the harsh reality of the third and fourth waves in the autumn.

Where do we go from here? Has all the hard work of the market players been for nothing? When will the many innovative approaches and ideas for making travel safer again finally reap rewards? Or will further waves keep setting us back?

Will 2022 bring a turnaround out of the crisis and into a future that seamlessly builds on the successes of the past?

In early 2021, we were talking about a year of transition. And it was, but on a significantly broader level. While the forecasts at the beginning of the year were still dominated by the question of when which source market and which travel segment would return to pre-crisis levels, we are now talking about profound changes across the industry that will be critical for our future.

Many studies show that the future of tourism will look different from what we might have imagined not that long ago. The main takeaway from two years of the pandemic is that the huge impact that coronavirus has had on international tourism will not be easily overcome.

The long-term objective has already been outlined in the position paper adopted by the German government in April 2019 to provide a framework for the national tourism strategy:

“We strive for quality tourism that works in harmony with nature and culture to create and maintain spaces worth living in, enhances the quality of life of visitors and local residents alike, and has a positive impact on Germany’s image abroad.

We want to establish a digital infrastructure and modern, accessible, reliable and sustainable transport that take the travellers’ needs and the challenges of growing traffic into account.”

Given the significant fall in revenues in the tourism sector, the aim of the restart is to boost the competitiveness not only of Germany as a travel destination but also of its tourism industry, which predominantly consists of small and medium-sized enterprises, and thus increase value creation at a domestic level.

Today, I would like to share with you an assessment of key trends that have emerged and accelerated over the two years of the pandemic: How is the context in which the international tourism industry operates changing? What consequences and what opportunities might arise from this for inbound tourism to Germany in the coming years?

1. International desire to travel

Market research institutes have been studying the impact of the pandemic on travel behaviour for over two years now. The common thread running through the surveys is that the desire to travel has steadily increased worldwide despite repeated waves of coronavirus infections. Polls carried out by IPK International on behalf of the GNTB in 18 of Destination Germany’s source markets certainly confirm this trend.

27 Top Germany Packing List Items for 2024 + What to Wear & NOT to Bring

Germany is a country rich in fairy tale folklore, a vibrant art scene, and gorgeous countryside — all in addition to a wealthy history as one of Europe’s most influential nations. To navigate this country, where the weather is as diverse as its subcultures, I put together this packing list.

In this guide, you’ll find what to wear in Germany , as well as what NOT to bring, and answers to other key Germany FAQs.

What to Pack for Germany – 27 Essentials

1. neck wallet.

Especially when visiting touristy cities like Berlin and Munich, a neck wallet is an item you won’t want to travel without. Keep your valuable belongings organized and secure by wearing this handy neck wallet beneath your clothes and out of reach for pickpockets. It has RFID-blocking material so e-thieves won’t be able to scan your bag for financial data.

View on Amazon.com ➜

2. Jet Lag Relief

Depending on where you’re coming from, you may experience the unpleasant effects of jet lag upon your arrival in Germany. Prevent and treat those nasty symptoms by taking homeopathic jet lag relief pills and making the most out of your first day in Germany. They are gentle and don’t contain jitter-inducing caffeine like many similar products.

3. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

There have been massive ransomware attacks and billions of dollars stolen in Germany through cyberattacks. The government reported in 2023 that the risk is higher than ever, and you must protect your private data abroad. Anytime you connect to Wi-Fi in public places, such as in hotels, cafes, and airports, you leave yourself vulnerable to potential hackers.

Keep your sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and passwords, safe by using a VPN when you go online. It will encrypt your connection so that hackers, nosy trolls, and government entities cannot monitor your online activity (or price-gouge you due to geo-locating your IP address!) This will result in discounted flight rates, a safer connection, AND give you access to popular websites from home that may be censored in your host country. The internet is not created equally everywhere and a VPN is a serious no-brainer.

View NordVPN.com Options ➜

4. Universal Power Adapter

You will want a lightweight power adapter that will allow you to plug all of your dual-voltage personal electronics, such as mobile phones, tablets, cameras, and laptops, into a German outlet. This highly-rated Universal Adapter is a great option that will not only have you covered in Germany and throughout most of Europe, but also in over 100 destinations around the world.

5. Lipstick-Sized Portable Charger

If you plan to use your smartphone for photos, videos, and navigation, you will need to power up your battery frequently during your time spent in Germany. This one is convenient because it’s lightweight and small enough to carry in your back pocket, which is very fitting with Germany’s minimalist style.

6. Travel Insurance for Germany

Don’t gamble with your coverage. In most cases, your domestic provider does not extend to foreign destinations (including Medicare and Medicaid), and travel insurance is too affordable not to have. It protects your trip investment against the most common mishaps like lost or stolen luggage, flight delays and cancellations, and medical expenses. Germany is an expensive country and you don’t want to risk paying out-of-pocket for a huge hospital bill or bag replacement when it could have easily been reimbursed.

Our go-to is Faye and we are patrons for life! The customer service is top-notch and they somehow turned an unpleasant experience into a painless one. With claims and reimbursements handled through their mobile app, you can enjoy peace of mind that your trip is fully protected. They even have add-ons for “trip cancelation for ANY reason.” Don’t be a fool and go without it!

Get a quote in less than 60 seconds with Faye ➜

7. Packing Cubes

With all the seasonal gear you will be packing, from snow boots to bathing suits, you’ll need to keep all your layers organized by storing your items in packing cubes. This set is great because it comes in a variety of vibrant colors and includes separate cases for shoes and dirty laundry.

8. Comfortable Flats

There’s no question that you’ll be doing plenty of walking on cobblestone streets and hiking paths while in Germany. From strolling through the vibrant cities, visiting museums, and enjoying biergartens – you’ll need comfortable, stylish flats for long days on your feet. These provide comfort and are the perfect breathable shoe to wear all day long.

9. Quick-Dry Travel Towel

A travel towel is one of the most versatile items you can carry with you. This one is light as a feather and 10x more absorbent than cotton. We use them on a daily basis while traveling for things like drying off, wiping away sweat, covering seats, cushioning delicate items, etc.

10. Hanging Toiletry Bag

European bathrooms can be a bit of a shock for those from North America. With a lack of counter space, small quarters, and virtually zero storage room – you’ll be thanking your lucky stars for this hanging toiletries bag! Designed by a travel brand in Hawaii called Eco Sun , it unfolds to expose 4 giant pockets for all beauty and hygiene products, plus 3 external compartments for smaller items that you need to grab without unzipping the whole thing.

It is a surprisingly elegant system for staying organized on the road. You won’t have to worry about scattering things all over the suite or BnB since the 360-swivel hook basically screams “hang me anywhere!” And possibly the best part – your purchase truly matters because this brand gives back to women’s education support in underdeveloped countries. Check out the color options for both women and men.

11. Activated Charcoal

Traveling to foreign countries often results in an upset stomach, whether it’s caused by the traveling itself, the tap water, or eating something that doesn’t agree with you. Either way, activated charcoal is an absolute must-have. The charcoal absorbs toxins in your system and helps you carry on with the many fun parts of traveling.

12. TSA-Approved Luggage Locks

If you’ve ever had anything stolen while traveling, you know the importance of luggage locks. We use this set because they’re 10x more secure than a 3-digit system, you can set it up with your birth year or something easy to remember, and they’re TSA-approved. We use them for suitcases, purses, lockers, etc.

13. Pre-paid German SIM Phone Card

You’ll be glad you thought ahead when you can easily use your phone for navigation, google, uber, and more during your time spent in Germany. Instead of paying outrageous roaming rates or international fees through your cell provider, just purchasing a cheap European SIM card will make things much easier for you throughout your trip. All you need is an unlocked smartphone, and you’re good to go!

14. Windproof Travel Umbrella

The weather in Germany can be unpredictable and sometimes you may experience all four seasons in a single day! In a country where you’ll inevitably be spending a lot of time outdoors, you’ll need to have a sturdy, windproof travel umbrella. This one comes with a lifetime replacement guarantee and will keep you protected from the elements.

15. Discounted Tickets on German Attractions

We book our family tours through Get Your Guide because they offer the most affordable and authentic experiences! When in Germany – take a romantic river boat cruise through Berlin , explore the castles of Potsdam , taste regional beer in Düsseldorf , and taste wine in the Moselle Valley .

Berlin is popular for its Government District and historic art scene , while Munich has fantastic day trips like visiting the fairytale region of Nördlinger Ries , or the castles of Neuschwanstein . When getting around larger cities, it may be easier to book the (cliché but fun!) Hop-On Hop-Off Tours .

See all German attractions at GetYourGuide.com ➜

16. Stylish Backpack

Fashion in Germany is utilitarian and understated without sacrificing elegance or style. A sleek and sturdy backpack will guarantee you will fit in with Berlin’s hip street style and see you through a long day of sightseeing. This one is well-made and designed to prevent theft with an inside zipper. It is practical and fashionable, plus it has tons of storage space for such a small item.

17. Gorgeous Outfit

In cities like Berlin, you may opt for more casual evening attire, but at some point, you’ll want to go out for a nice dinner or evening on the town. In any case, it never hurts to pack at least one gorgeous outfit like this one that can be dressed up or down with the right accessories. It flatters many body types and my wife has it in multiple colors!

18. Water Bottle with Built-in Filter

The tap water is safe to drink in Germany, so you’ll want to remain hydrated by bringing a reusable water bottle with you wherever you go. We like to use a water bottle with a Brita water filter since it purifies water and improves the taste of any chlorine or minerals that have been added.

19. Weatherproof Rain Jacket

Germany has a unique climate, and the weather can be a bit all over the place. Berlin gets hot in July, but it does rain throughout the year. And while September is sunnier, it brings cooler temperatures. With a light jacket in a neutral color, you’ll be prepared for any weather and fit in perfectly with the locals.

20. Gloves + Hand & Foot Warmers

One thing I’ve regretted not having in the past is a pair of well-insulated gloves. This set is made of water-resistant material, which is handy to have in a place like Germany since temps can drop to −45.9 °C (−50.6 °F) . Hand and foot warmers are an awesome addition because they stay toasty for up to 10 hours, making the frigid air feel way less punishing.

21. German Phrasebook

While cities like Berlin and Hamburg are highly fluent in English, it’s not polite to assume. Further in the countryside, you might find yourself relying on your Deutsch to get around. A German phrasebook like this one will cover all the basics for finding your way around, or even making some new friends!

22. Travel Hammock

If you plan to spend time outdoors or camp through the German countryside, a travel hammock is a serious life hack. For casual lounging in the Bavarian Alps or outdoor naps in the Rhine Region – this water-resistant nylon design is easy to set up and a great value (ideal for adventurers that like to stop to smell the frisch air!)

23. Hiking Shoes

Since a lot of the activities in Germany will require great walking shoes, (even in the cobblestone streets of towns), opt for a solid pair of tennis shoes. This pair by Columbia is made for durability and all-day comfort. They are waterproof and have great traction for slippery areas.

24. TSA-Approved Toiletry Bottles

Don’t forget the toiletry bottles that are TSA-approved (under 3.4-ounces per bottle). My wife and I like these because they have a multi-layer leak-proof design. We don’t have to worry about throwing away our favorite products at the security checkpoint, and we’ve also never had a messy luggage spill since buying these.

25. Compression Flight Socks

Getting off a 10-15 hour flight with swollen legs is no fun. If you’ve ever felt pain in your legs or a lack of circulation during long days of flying – I’d recommend bringing some compression socks. Even flight attendants wear these to account for the cabin’s pressure and high elevation.

26. Shawl or Scarf

With changing weather, a scarf or shawl will be useful regardless of the season. Throw it on over your outfit on a cool summer night, cover your shoulders when entering a modest church, or use it to add some style to a winter outfit. This versatile item is a must-bring for any trip to Europe.

27. Packable “Just in Case” Bag

Some destinations have tacky souvenirs… but Germany is not one of them! You’ll definitely want to bring home authentic goods for yourself and loved ones, like German chocolate, spices, pilsners, Birkenstocks, Christmas decor, and more. Use this “just in case” bag for those inevitable purchases. It is super lightweight and counts as your personal item on the flight home.

Other Germany Packing List Items

• Facial cleansing wipes
• Sleeping bag for camping
• Dental floss
• Hand sanitizer
• Mini hairbrush
• Cooling towel
• Rain poncho
• Contact solution
• Insect repellent
• Memory card
• Kindle cover
• Small padlocks
• Germany power adapter
• Noise-blocking headphones
• Passport photos

What to Wear in Germany

From punk rock warehouse parties to the opera, Germany combines music with style to show off its diversity. Whether your taste is classical or avant-garde, functionality and simple elegance pervade across the country. Berlin by far is the most sartorially diverse city in Germany, whereas tastes swing more conservative in Bavaria.

When traveling in Germany, do as the locals do and opt for comfortable items that fit well and easily match. A neutral color palette with a few bold accents here and there goes over well.

With fashion’s emphasis on the functional, you don’t need to bring too much clothing. Dressing in layers will combat seasonal weather changes, and keeping colors and prints consistent will help you mix and match without weighing down your suitcase.

Germany might be known for its understated fashion sense (famed designer Jil Sander hails from the tiny town of Wesselburen), but this country welcomes style in all shapes and colors. Everyone is free to dress in whatever way makes them happy in Germany’s bigger cities. In summer women can’t go wrong with a sundress, denim jacket, and stylish sneakers or flats. For evening, jeans, a sleek blazer, and heels make for an elegant dinner outfit.

Whether you prefer to dress up or dress down, Germany offers something for everyone. Home to brands like Puma and Hugo Boss, this country caters to all tastes. To blend in with the locals, men can’t go wrong with fitted jeans and a comfortable tee shirt with a stylish pair of trainers to match. Leather jackets and black denim are hardly out of place in trendy Berlin or Frankfurt. Clothing should be casual by day, and by night anything goes.

Germany’s weather varies by season and region, so it’s always a good idea to dress according to your main activities (museum visits and city life vs. camping and hiking). Keep the following points in mind:

Weather : Even in the busiest of cities, plan to spend plenty of time outdoors. From biergartens to exploring each city’s unique architecture, you will spend a lot of time in streets or parks. You will spend even more time out in the elements if you venture to the countryside to explore Germany’s stunning forests, mountains, seaside, and lake districts. The opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors are endless. But sometimes, so is the rainfall. Weather varies greatly by season, and sometimes you will see four seasons in a day—so it is always best to come prepared.

Spring – March, April, May

By March, the sun rears its head and people start heading to the parks for a beer. Still, while spring is lively it can remain chilly and rainy. It’s very common for it to start raining suddenly, or for a strong breeze to bring on a chill. To enjoy social activities like grabbing a drink in a local Biergarten, expect to wear a wind-breaking jacket and carry an umbrella in hand.

By April it warms up slightly, and May and June show much milder weather with more consistent sunshine. Bear in mind that average temperatures in the mountains will be a little cooler. Average temperatures in March hover between 33 and 47 (1 to 8 C), rising to 39 all the way to 67 (3 to 19) by mid-May.

Summer – June, July, August

Summer might be just as varied as spring, with bouts of rain and wind here and there. Nevertheless, summer is when you can most reliably expect temperate weather and sunny skies in any part of the country. Temperatures vary significantly in the mountains, but typical of a moderate continental climate, Germany will offer plenty of toasty and sunny days perfect for an afternoon in the park and enjoying the beautiful architecture of Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. Average temperatures in the north hover between 21 and 25 (69 to 77), with two major exceptions: the mountains and the northern coast. Mountain temperatures stay in the single digits, from 2 to 9 (35 to 48) degrees. And the seaside is very warm, with temperatures frequently rising to 30-32 degrees (86-90).

Autumn – September, October, November

September is mild, offering summer’s last leg of sun and warmth before temperatures cool down and it begins to rain again. Expect plenty of sunshine throughout most of the country, with the exception, as always, of the mountains. If you are heading to Oktoberfest, you’ll be wise to wear layers, but keep your sunglasses handy.

By October, temperatures will drop and winds will pick up quickly. By November, the days get quite short and it not uncommon for a bit of frost or snow to fall. To feel comfortable in the city or country, a warm jacket, long trousers, and weather proof shoes are a must.

Winter – December, January, February

Winter in Germany earns its cold and bleary reputation year on year-end. In the north temperatures quickly drop to near freezing, hovering around 1 degree (33 Fahrenheit), but the coast welcomes warm waterfronts that keep these temperatures relatively stable.

Further to the south, temperatures will vary but cities like Berlin and Hamburg stay close to the temperatures range of -2 to 4 degrees (28 to 42), with most days rather grey. Meanwhile, Bavaria, where Munich is located, is reliably colder and greyer—witnessing Germany’s longest winters. Here, temperatures stay much closer to the lower end of the national average, usually between -2 to 0 (28 to 32). The elevated region of Thuringia will also see snowfall and further drops still, which leaves no doubt that a German winter requires thick layers, a hooded coat, and mittens.

What NOT to bring to Germany:

1. fancy evening wear.

Unless you are going to one of Germany’s famed opera houses for a live performance, you don’t need to dress to the nines to have a good time about town. Casual, alternative, or smart—whatever your style, feel free to dress comfortably and be yourself in this diverse fashion capital.

2. Sandals or high heels

Yes, summer is warm in Germany. But unless you are heading to the beach or lakefront, you are more likely to spend your day in sneakers or flats. Spare the extra space in your suitcase for some souvenirs.

3. Electric hairstyling tools

Hair dryers, flat irons, and curlers won’t work as well when plugged in to a European power adapter. To truly blend in with the locals, you’re best off keeping your hairstyle simple. Otherwise, you can request a hairdryer to be loaned to you by your hostel or hotel concierge.

4. Excessive medication

Thanks to the country’s fantastic and affordable healthcare system, you can find most medications at a reasonable price in any pharmacy. Bring the basics (including necessary prescriptions) in your bag and purchase the rest as need.

5. Your credit card

Ok, you might need your credit card—but certainly not more than one. And you are unlikely to need any travelers’ checks either. Surprisingly, Germany remains one of Europe’s more cash dependent societies, with a notable disdain for paying with plastic. To make sure you can smoothly pay for museum entrances, restaurants, and tourist attractions you’re better off with some cash (in Euros). Go to your bank for a more equitable exchange rate.

FAQs for Germany travel

1. what is transportation like in germany.

Germany’s cities and larger towns have excellent public transport systems. Bigger cities, such as Berlin and Munich, combine buses, aboveground trams, underground train networks, and S-Bahn (suburban) commuter rails into a single network. Generally though, people cycle. In bigger cities, you can rent a bike to navigate the city center. Out towards the countryside, the intercity rail network will get you from town to town, but for activities like camping, you may need to rent a car.

2. Do people speak English in Germany?

Germany is one country where English is widely spoken among city dwellers, particularly those aged 40 or under. Tourists will have no problem getting around Berlin or Stuttgart with English. In smaller towns, you may need to learn a few basic German phrases to get around. In all cases, learning how to say please and thank you goes a long way towards making new friends.

3. Is it safe to drink the water?

Yes, the tap water is very clean across Germany, and cities like Berlin or Munich in particular boast that their local supply is high in minerals and quite tasty. However, for some reason or another, among Germans it is very uncommon to drink tap water. Most restaurants serve only bottled water, and some people would consider it bad manners if you were to offer them tap water at home. To blend in, go for bottled.

4. What is the best time of year to visit Germany?

It really depends on the type of activity you would like to do in Germany. If you are an art lover, indoor museums and theatres are enjoyable any time of year—and certainly, the queues to get into popular tourist sites will be shorter. However, as German cities are quite walkable, and the countryside offers incredible opportunities to explore nature, your best bet may be to visit in spring or summer. Especially if you’re a fan of cracking open a cold one in your local Biergarten.

5. What is the German currency? Can I use US Dollars?

Germany uses the euro. As a cash-dependent society, Germany will require you to carry a fair amount of cash in hand. That said, in big cities you can naturally use your credit card in major restaurants, museums, and shops.

6. Do I have to tip in restaurants and bars?

Serve charges, tips, and VAT (a European tax) are all included in the bill in German restaurants, bars, cafes, and clubs—meaning your bill reflects the final price. Servers also earn a living wage, so there is no need to tip. However, it is customary to “round up” the amount to the next euro on a small cafe bill, for example. A rule of thumb is to add 5-10%, generally ending with a full Euro amount.

7. Do I have to tip in restaurants and bars?

8. what do i need to know about oktoberfest.

If you needed an occasion to break out your dirndls and lederhosen, Oktoberfest is the right one. As the world’s largest beer festival, Oktoberfest takes place in September and October in Munich over the course of 16 days. The festival opens with a parade, a twelve gun salute, and a signal to all the restauranteurs attending that they can start serving their food and drink. Expect to explore this massive food festival with cash in hand to purchase beer, snacks, traditional bites like roasted sausage, and even trendy international fare. Make sure you drink water between beers and wear comfortable shoes. Munich is a safe town where provided you drink and eat responsibly, you can let loose and have a great time.

9. What is entertainment and culture like in Germany?

Germany’s art, music, and entertainment spheres are some of Europe’s most diverse. In big cities, there is something for everyone. Germany is a historical capital of opera and classical music, home to both Wagner and Handel. But the country is no stranger to experimentation, with electro music having been popular in German clubs for decades. If you are more of a visual art fan, Berlin and Munich offer a host of classical and contemporary art museums. In summer you will frequently come upon art, music, and food festivals—but don’t forget about football either. This football-loving nation won the last World Cup, and local club matches are very exciting.

10. What is the food like?

Typical dishes include schnitzel, apple strudel, and plenty of sausages and delicious beer. Germany’s traditional dishes can feel quite heavy when you try them all in one sitting. But healthy and experimental eaters need not worry. Germany has a long tradition of adopting Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine, and Berlin is one of the world’s most vegan-friendly cities. Healthy, meat-free, and dairy-free options are often available if you have any health concerns or dietary restrictions.

11. Who is Checkpoint Charlie?

If you have been hearing a lot about Checkpoint Charlie, “he” is one of the most important figures in Berlin’s history. This is the name not so fondly given to the crossing point between East and West Berlin when Germany was divided during the cold war, and “Charlie” represents a sad but important moment in Germany’s history following the Second World War. Through many German cities you will see museums, landmarks, and architectural sites that make a nod to the country’s turbulent and controversial history and find that German society is well-aware of it. Germany is a wonderful place to visit to learn about one’s European roots and see how well a country can incorporate its history into building a brighter future.

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I am planning to travel to Germany on 16th. Oct til 23rd. Oct, 2022 for Frankfurt Bookfair event and also a sightseeing in Hanau and Fussen. I will stay in Offenbach and will commute by train if i were to go back and fro to the bookfair event almost everyday till 20th. and will visit Hanau n Fussen later. So, what is possible RailCard for me to buy for a week stay in Germany if i were to commute by local trains and busses? Thanks.

Have a look on http://www.bahn.com Deutche Bahn's website. Some rail passes are regional, so for Fussen, it would come under Bavaria.

Both Offenbach and Hanau are in the state of Hesse, so you cannot use a Bayern ticket to travel to Fuessen.

There is a QDL (Quer-durchs-Land) ticket which allows you to travel cross-border, but ONLY on Regional trains. Info on this ticket here: (cost of ticket for the 1st person is €42)

https://www.bahn.com/en/offers/regional/day-ticket-for-germany

If your days are fixed, you could travel using fast train via Frankfurt and Augsburg, and pay for the Sparpreis discounted ticket for €29.90 (one way), but this ticket would be tied to the particular train/time you booked for (no changes)

Anyone noticed that offenbach - fussen is at least 5.5 hours each way?

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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