Travel to Germany — everything you need to know
When to go to Germany?
- May – Sep — Ideal : Sunny weather, gardens in bloom, outdoor festivals and lively beer gardens.
- Oct — Oktoberfest : Munich hosts the famous beer festival, and forests display splendid autumn colours.
- Nov – Mar — Christmas markets : Germany's Christmas markets are among the finest in Europe, but the cold is sharp.
Weather in Germany
Check the weather city by city, starting with Berlin.
- Berlin: daytime highs from 3 to 25 °C depending on the season, 44 mm of rain per month on average.
- Hamburg: daytime highs from 4 to 23 °C depending on the season, 64 mm of rain per month on average.
- Munich: daytime highs from 4 to 25 °C depending on the season, 78 mm of rain per month on average.
- Cologne: daytime highs from 6 to 25 °C depending on the season, 67 mm of rain per month on average.
- Francfort: daytime highs from 5 to 26 °C depending on the season, 50 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Germany?
Germany is a country of remarkable cultural and scenic diversity, blending dynamic metropolises, deep forests, fairy-tale castles and preserved medieval villages. Berlin, the reunified capital, embodies on its own the turbulent history and creative renewal of the 20th century. Bavaria, with its imposing Alps, legendary beers and baroque architecture, offers a striking contrast with the industrial north and the Rhine valley.
Berlin
Berlin is a city in constant reinvention, marked by the scars of history and animated by an artistic creativity unique in Europe. The remnants of the Wall, the Reichstag, Museum Island and the Holocaust Memorial bear witness to a dense and complex past. The German capital is also renowned for its underground music scene, contemporary art galleries and legendary nightlife.
Highlights : Berlin Wall & Checkpoint Charlie — symbols of the Cold War, Reichstag — seat of the German Parliament with a panoramic glass dome, Museum Island — a group of 5 museums listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Holocaust Memorial — a sober and powerful installation of 2,711 stelae.
Bavaria & Munich
Bavaria is Germany's most popular tourist region, with Munich as its festive and cultural capital. Marienplatz and the Residenz showcase the splendour of the Wittelsbach dynasty, while the nearby Bavarian Alps offer hiking and ski resorts. Neuschwanstein Castle, perched on its rock, is one of the most visited sites in Europe.
Highlights : Neuschwanstein Castle — the fairy-tale castle of Ludwig II of Bavaria, Marienplatz & Rathaus in Munich — the lively heart of the Bavarian capital, Englischer Garten — one of the largest urban parks in the world, Zugspitze — Germany's highest peak at 2,962 m.
Romantic Rhine Valley
The Romantic Rhine between Bingen and Koblenz offers one of the most picturesque landscapes in Europe, with its terraced vineyards, perched medieval castles and half-timbered villages. The Loreley, a legendary rock overlooking the river, embodies all the poetry of this region, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A river cruise is the best way to take in this unique panorama.
Highlights : Loreley Rock — legendary 130 m outcrop above the Rhine, Rheinfels Castle — an imposing 13th-century medieval fortress, Rüdesheim am Rhein — a wine village with its famous Drosselgasse, Koblenz & Deutsches Eck — the monumental confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle.
Black Forest & Heidelberg
The Black Forest is a wild and beautiful mountain range, dotted with traditional thatched-roof villages, waterfalls and glacial lakes. Nearby, Heidelberg is one of Germany's most beautiful medieval towns, dominated by its romantic ruined castle and crossed by the Neckar. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte cakes and cuckoo clocks are the region's culinary and craft emblems.
Highlights : Heidelberg Castle — romantic ruins overlooking the town and the Neckar, Triberg — village of waterfalls and capital of cuckoo clocks, Titisee — a glacial lake at the heart of the Black Forest, Freiburg im Breisgau — a university town with its magnificent Gothic cathedral.
Hamburg
Germany's second city, Hamburg is a port metropolis proud of its Hanseatic past and red-brick architecture. The Speicherstadt, 19th-century warehouses converted into museums and galleries, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Reeperbahn is northern Europe's liveliest entertainment district, and the port — the 3rd largest in Europe — can be explored by boat. It is also the city of the Beatles, who got their start here.
Highlights : Speicherstadt — UNESCO-listed red-brick warehouses, Elbphilharmonie — a concert hall with spectacular design on the Elbe, Port of Hamburg — a boat cruise through Europe's 3rd largest port, Reeperbahn & St. Pauli district — where the Beatles got their start.
Travel budget for Germany
Germany offers good value for money within Western Europe. Berlin is one of the cheapest capitals in Western Europe. Munich and Frankfurt are pricier, but remain affordable compared to Paris or London.
- Backpacker : 60–80 €/j — Hostel, street food and daily specials, public transport
- Comfort : 120–180 €/j — 3-star hotel, mid-range restaurants, cultural activities
Practical tips for travelling to Germany
- Flight from Paris : Paris–Berlin: 1h30 flight. Many low-cost airlines (easyJet, Transavia). Also accessible by night train.
- Visa : No visa for EU/Schengen citizens. An ID card is sufficient.
- Currency : Euro (€). Note: many restaurants and shops in Germany are still cash only.
- Language : German. English is very widely spoken in major cities and tourist areas.
- Electricity : Type F (Schuko, 2 round pins). 230V / 50Hz. Compatible with French plugs.
- Health : Excellent medical care. European Health Insurance Card valid for EU nationals.
- Mobility : Excellent cycling network in all major cities. Public transport is very punctual.
- Shops : Closed on Sundays across almost the entire country. Plan your shopping accordingly.
Compare Germany with other destinations