Germany Travel Guide

Visitors can also enjoy a diverse range of cultural riches, several truly cosmopolitan cities, a famous beer and wine industry, and 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Most foreign visitors to Germany choose to visit vibrant Berlin or cheerful Munich, but there are a wealth of other prime tourist destinations as well. Several themed tourist routes take in the gorgeous countryside featuring notable cultural assets such as Germany’s wine routes, historic castles, the famous Black Forest and more. The capital lies in the east and is home to the Brandenburg Gate, Germany’s most iconic landmark.

Tourists can stroll past the historic Berlin Wall and admire the world’s largest open-air art gallery. To the west sits Cologne Cathedral, a prime example of gothic architecture. The north of the country houses the bridges and canals of Hamburg as well as the resorts of the North Sea. Bavaria and the world’s favourite beer festival, Oktoberfest, attract visitors to the south.

For those seeking high culture, Germany abounds with jazz clubs, concert halls and art galleries (such as Berlin’s Gemäldegalerie). For a more sobering and poignant experience tourists can visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site.

With something to offer everyone, from independent backpackers to discerning older travelers, family vacationers and everyone in between, Germany is a sure bet for an unforgettable European holiday.

Best time to visit Germany

There is no bad time of year to visit Germany as each season has it’s own charms and drawbacks. Spring (March – May) is a lovely time of year, full of warm days and a blooming countryside. Summer (June – August) is magnificent, with resplendent sunshine and long days, although this is high tourist season, and so airfares and accommodation prices are at their highest and queues for tourist attractions are long. Autumn (September – November) is great for festivals, including Oktoberfest; while in winter (December – February), airfares and accommodation prices plummet and Germany’s famous Christmas Festivals provide warmth and cheer to stave off the snowy temperatures.

What to pack

When packing for Germany, tourists should bear in mind that German weather can be highly changeable. Make sure you pack clothes for all eventualities: a good coat, an effective raincoat, and some lightweight clothes for when the sun is out.

What to buy

Cuckoo clocks, chocolate and Bavarian beer mugs.

Eat

Wursts [sausages], crispy potato pancakes, a cabbage based side dish and pretzels.

A Final Word

Whether you’re looking for fun or trendy cities, gorgeous countryside, or significant cultural sites, Germany has it all.

DISTANCE FROM AIRPORT TO CITY CENTRE: Dusseldorf: 7 kilometres, Frankfurt International Airport: 12 kilometres, Hamburg: 8.5 kilometres, Munich: 29 kilometres
TIME ZONE: Summer: GMT +2 hours, Winter +1 hour
CURRENCY: Euros (EUR). Credit cards are widely accepted
LANGUAGES: German. English is widely spoken