Germany

Discover the wonders of Germany with our simple travel guide! Learn about Germany's weather and the best times to plan your trip. Find out how to get around easily and which top cities and destinations you shouldn't miss. Taste delicious German foods recommended by locals. Explore hidden gems that most tourists never find.

Weather and Best Time to Visit

Bavaria (South): May to October offers pleasant weather for exploring Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle, and the Alps. September brings Oktoberfest celebrations.

Rhine Valley (West): June to September provides ideal conditions for river cruises and vineyard tours. August features numerous wine festivals.

Berlin & Brandenburg (Northeast): May to September offers warm temperatures, perfect for city exploration. August hosts many cultural festivals.

North Sea & Baltic Coast: June to August delivers the warmest temperatures for beach activities. May and September provide fewer crowds with mild weather.

Black Forest (Southwest): April to October is ideal for hiking and outdoor activities. Cherry blossoms appear in April, while autumn colors peak in October.

Saxony (East): May to September offers comfortable conditions for visiting Dresden and Leipzig. December features beautiful Christmas markets.

How to Get to Germany

Germany has several major airports that connect travelers to cities throughout the country. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is Germany's busiest airport and serves as the main hub for Lufthansa. It provides convenient access to Frankfurt and connections to destinations worldwide.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is the primary airport serving Berlin, where visitors can explore historical sites and the city's vibrant cultural scene. Munich Airport (MUC) offers efficient service to travelers visiting Munich in southern Germany.

Düsseldorf Airport connects travelers to Düsseldorf, while Hamburg Airport serves as the entry point to Hamburg with its famous harbor. Stuttgart Airport provides access to Stuttgart, and Cologne Bonn Airport serves both Cologne with its historic cathedral and the city of Bonn, Germany's former capital.

Each of these airports provides good transportation links to its respective cities and surrounding regions.

How to Get Around

When people arrive in Germany, they discover a country where movement feels effortless. 

The Deutsche Bahn train system connects the entire nation like a well-designed web. The high-speed ICE trains zip between Frankfurt and Berlin in just four hours, with passengers reading books or watching the countryside blur past their windows at 300 km/h. Meanwhile, smaller regional trains chug through valleys and stop at stations where you might be the only person getting off.

Inside cities like Munich, the U-Bahn and S-Bahn systems work like clockwork. Commuters stand on platforms where electronic boards count down the minutes, usually just two or three, until the next train arrives. Buses fill the gaps, reaching neighborhoods where rails don't extend, with drivers who often wait a few extra seconds if they see someone running for the stop.

In Hamburg, ferries aren't just for tourists. Locals use them as regular transportation while enjoying the water views of the harbor. Along the Rhine, boat trips serve as both transportation and a chance to see medieval castles perched on hillsides.

Germans love their bicycles, and visitors can join in. Bike paths run alongside most roads, through forests, and along riverbanks. Many hotels provide rentals, and city bike-sharing programs only require a quick app download to unlock a set of wheels.

Taxis cost more than public options, but drivers know every shortcut in town. For airport connections, services from the Lufthansa Express Bus offer reliable transfers without the stress of figuring out multiple train connections with luggage.

Transportation options in Germany include:

• -High-speed and regional trains connecting major cities and small towns
• -Efficient U-Bahn and S-Bahn systems within cities
• -Comprehensive bus networks
• -Ferries in coastal cities and along rivers
• -Extensive bicycle infrastructure
• -Taxis and airport shuttle services

Food Scene

In Berlin, locals line up for the city's beloved currywurst, a sliced sausage doused in curry-spiced ketchup that warms you on cold German days. 

Journey to the Black Forest region, and you'll find cafés serving slices of the famous cake named after the area, layered with cherries and chocolate that tell the story of generations of bakers. 

When in Munich, follow the sounds of clinking glasses to Viktualienmarkt, where people break soft pretzels with their hands and wash them down with cold beer, a daily ritual rather than a tourist activity. Every Thursday, Berliners gather at Markthalle Neun, where old factory halls fill with the smell of food from dozens of small stands. 

Hamburg's Fischmarkt opens as the sun rises, with fishmongers calling out their catches while visitors eat fish sandwiches on the waterfront. In Frankfurt, the covered Kleinmarkthalle becomes a meeting point where office workers and families alike come to taste both German classics and foods brought by people who've made Germany their new home.

Regional Highlights:

-Northern Germany serves seafood straight from the water to your plate.

-Bavaria offers weisswurst sausages, eaten before noon, as tradition dictates, and schweinshaxe, pork knuckle with crackling skin that people order to share.

-Swabia's kitchens turn out spätzle, hand-scraped egg noodles, and maultaschen, pasta pockets that tell the story of clever monks hiding meat during fasting periods.

-The Rhineland brings sauerbraten, meat marinated for days, and himmel und erde, "heaven and earth," a dish of apples and potatoes that speaks to the region's farming roots.

Hidden Gems

1. Quedlinburg
In Quedlinburg, more than 1,300 half-timbered houses tell stories spanning eight centuries. Walking the cobblestone streets feels like turning pages in a history book, with each corner revealing architectural details from different eras. 

Above the town, the castle and abbey stand on Schlossberg Hill, keeping watch as they have for a millennium. In December, the marketplace comes alive with wooden stalls selling handcrafted ornaments, and the scent of cinnamon and roasted almonds fills the air. 

Travelers can reach this time capsule via regional trains from Berlin (3 hours) or connect through Hannover.

2. Saxon, Switzerland
Water and wind shaped the sandstone formations of Saxon, Switzerland, over millions of years, creating a landscape that feels almost otherworldly. Hikers follow paths that weave between towering rock pillars, while the Bastei Bridge spans across a deep gorge, offering views that stretch for miles along the Elbe River valley. The light in early autumn turns the rocks golden, and the crowds thin out. 

The park sits less than an hour from Dresden by S-Bahn train, and in summer, boats add another way to experience the landscape from below.

3. Bamberg
In Bamberg, canals wind through a section of town nicknamed "Little Venice," while the Altes Rathaus stands in an impossible spot right in the middle of the river. The medieval streets remain much as they were centuries ago, protected by UNESCO status, and local breweries continue making the distinctive smoked beer using techniques passed down through generations. On spring weekdays, the town's atmosphere feels relaxed and authentic. 

The journey takes just 45 minutes by train from Nuremberg.

Scenic Routes

The German countryside tells stories through its landscapes, from ancient castle ruins watching over river bends to forests that inspired fairy tales. 

These journeys show Germany beyond city limits:

• Berlin to Dresden: The train windows frame Saxon villages and fields as they pass. In spring, yellow and purple wildflowers dot the meadows along the Elbe. Passengers often lower their books when the first castle appears on a distant hill. Ask for a window seat; the right side catches most river views.

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• Cologne to Koblenz: The Rhine tells Germany's story here. Medieval castles stand where they've guarded the river for centuries. Come in autumn when grapevines turn orange-gold on terraced hillsides. The train follows the water so closely that you'll spot boats passing below while villages appear and disappear around each bend.

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• Mosel Valley — Trier to Koblenz: Wine grows on impossibly steep slopes here, with villages tucked into riverside pockets. Summer brings locals and visitors alike to outdoor tables at riverside cafés. The train takes the same winding path as the Mosel itself, revealing a new village around each curve.

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• Black Forest — Freiburg to Konstanz: This is where cuckoo clocks originated and where the forest grows thick enough to block the midday sun. In early autumn, green gives way to gold and red. The train climbs through tunnels and emerges to reveal valleys that seem untouched by time.

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• Lake Constance — Lindau to Konstanz: From the ferry deck, three countries unfold at once. The water shifts from turquoise to deep blue as you cross the lake. Summer days often end with the Alps glowing pink in the distance. Bring a camera, the shoreline castles and mountain backdrop create memories worth keeping.

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Events, Festivals and Local Markets

At Oktoberfest in Munich, locals and travelers sit shoulder to shoulder on long wooden benches, raising one-liter steins of beer while accordion music fills the air. For 16 days from mid-September to early October, the festival grounds transform into a small city of tents, each with its own personality and brass band. The smell of roasting chicken and pretzels drifts through the air as people from all corners of the world make new friends over traditional Bavarian food.

When winter comes, the Nuremberg Christmas Market turns the old town into a wonderland of red and white striped stalls. From late November until Christmas Eve, the market square fills with the scent of gingerbread and the sound of children laughing. Craftspeople sell ornaments made using techniques passed down through generations. Sip hot mulled wine from a special ceramic mug while watching the light catch on the gold angel decorations overhead.

At Stuttgart's Cannstatter Volksfest, families and friends gather from late September to mid-October for what locals call their own version of Oktoberfest. The 35-meter fruit column, decorated with a harvest of apples, grapes, and other produce, stands at the center of fairgrounds filled with roller coasters and spinning rides. In the evening, beer tents become concert halls where people dance on benches to both traditional and modern music.

February in Cologne means Karneval, when the typically orderly Germans let loose completely. The streets fill with people in costumes, from elaborate historical outfits to simple funny hats. On Rose Monday, giant floats parade through town, with figures that poke fun at politicians and current events. People call "Kölle Alaaf!" (Cologne Above All!) and throw candy to the crowds. Even the most reserved visitors find themselves swept up in the cheerful chaos.

Best Places to Visit

1. In Frankfurt, modern glass skyscrapers stand next to half-timbered medieval houses. Bankers in suits walk the same streets where Goethe once roamed. The Main River cuts through the city, where locals gather on summer evenings to share wine and watch boats drift by.

Come in spring or fall when apple trees bloom in the city's gardens or when leaves turn golden. During these seasons, you can explore without bumping elbows with other visitors. In December, the smell of roasted chestnuts and spiced wine fills the air as wooden stalls pop up in the old town square.

The Frankfurt Book Fair transforms the city each October, filling hotels with publishers and writers from across the world. Every two years, Luminale turns buildings into canvases for light artists, with installations glowing throughout nighttime streets.

How to get to Frankfurt

-Frankfurt Airport is one of Europe's busiest hubs with connections worldwide

-Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) connects to Germany's excellent rail network

-Autobahn connections (A3, A5) make it accessible by car from major European cities

2. In Munich, Bavarian kings and traditions meet BMWs and cutting-edge technology. In the old town, church bells ring out over cobblestone streets. A few miles away, engineers design tomorrow's cars and computers.

From May through September, locals practically live outdoors. They cycle through the English Garden, swim in the Isar River, and gather at wooden tables in beer gardens under chestnut trees. In winter, the scent of gingerbread and pine fills Christmas markets as the Alps loom white on the horizon.

When summer arrives, opera music drifts from the National Theater during the Opera Festival. Twice yearly, the Tollwood Festival creates a small village of tents where musicians play, artists display their work, and cooks serve food from around the world. When FC Bayern plays at home, the entire city seems to wear red.

How to get to Munich

-Munich International Airport connects to major global destinations

-Munich Hauptbahnhof serves as a major rail hub for domestic and international trains

-Well-connected autobahn network makes driving convenient from other German cities

3. Berlin wears its history on its sleeve. Cold War barriers stand as open-air galleries covered in colorful paint. Former power plants now pulse with electronic music until sunrise. Streets where tanks once rolled now host Sunday flea markets and food trucks.

Summer fills the city's many parks with picnickers and musicians. Spring sees cherry blossoms frame historic monuments. Fall brings golden leaves to the Tiergarten and crisp air perfect for museum-hopping. Even winter has its charm, when snow occasionally dusts the Brandenburg Gate.

The calendar never stays empty in Berlin. February brings film stars to the Berlinale, when cinema lovers line up despite the cold. Art Week turns the whole city into a gallery each September. That same month, thousands of runners pound the pavement during the Berlin Marathon, cheered on by locals offering water and encouragement.

How to get to Berlin

-Berlin Brandenburg Airport serves international and domestic flights

-Berlin Hauptbahnhof offers excellent rail connections throughout Germany and Europe

-Extensive autobahn network makes Berlin accessible by car from all directions

Tips for Traveling to Germany