Germany Travel Guide: Fairytale castles, palaces & old towns

Explore Germany with this handy travel guide and wonder why you haven’t visited this wonderful country with stunning nature and cities earlier: simply inspiring!

GERMAN CASTLES/PALACES EXPLORED

GERMANY UNESCO SITES VISITED

GERMANY NATIONAL PARKS VISITED

Why should you travel to Germany?

If you want to bathe in history, visit numerous fairytale castles, royal palaces, and strongholds, like strolls through romantic little villages and sustainable cities, Germany is the country you’re looking for.

The Federal Republic of Germany, located in Central Europe (West Europe according to the UN) is home to amazing natural and cultural heritage. Eight routes allow you to explore all 46 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Alongside these world heritage treasures, Germany also has breath-taking natural landscapes to explore across 16 National Parks, 16 UNESCO-Biosphere Reserves, and 104 Nature Parks. Expect spectacular views, amazing cycling routes, and hiking trails.

Germany has it all, whether it be medieval castles like Eltz Castle and Neuschwanstein, cool industrial buildings, big cities like Berlin and Munich, historic old towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, wine fields in the Mosel region, and the Wadden Sea on Germany's North Sea coast.

Don't forget to attend the famous 'Oktoberfest' or visit one of the many Christmas markets in various cities of Germany, like the huge Christmas market around the UNESCO 'Kölner Dom' in Cologne.

From Germany, you can easily travel to 9 border countries: The Netherlands, Denmark, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, and Poland.

With this handy German travel guide, you can find more information about things to do in Germany, the best time to visit Germany, the most stunning places, and many more!

Interesting Facts Germany

Flag of Germany

National Animal Germany

Federal Eagle (national coat of arms)

German National Dish
Sauerbraten served with Kartoffelklöße

Currency in Germany

Euro (€)

Germany Time Zone
Central European (Summer) Time or CET (GMT+1) and CEST (GMT+2)

Berlin by night, Germany

Walchensee Germany

Munich region Germany

Castle Neuschwanstein

Best time to visit Germany

For comfortable temperatures with sunshine, lower prices, and fewer crowds, the best time to visit Germany is late spring (May) and early autumn (September, early October). However, there is no best time to explore Germany. It depends on what temperatures you like and what you want to see and do.

The high season is in June, July and August. These are the warmest months, but also the time with rainfall and lots of tourists. Expect higher rates and book well in advance.
Christmas Day (Weihnachtstag) is also very popular in Germany; the most important national holiday of the year. The many Christmas markets are a top reason to visit Germany in the cold winter. The mulled wine will keep you warm.
If you're fond of skiing then you’ll have to go in winter to the Alps in the south of Germany (Bavaria). The ski season is between Christmas and the end of March.
October is a popular month because of the 'Oktoberfest': the most famous beer festival in the world with great traditional cuisine.
February is the cheapest month to visit Germany, also regarding flights to Germany.

Things to know before you travel to Germany

Safety in Germany

Germany is a very safe country according to the Global Peace Index. It ranks in the top 20 out of 163 countries when it comes to safety and peace in the country. However, pick-pocketing can occur, so take care of your valuables. Unfortunately, Germany has also been linked to terrorist attacks as the leaders of the 9/11 attacks in the US were students based in Germany and there was f/e a shooting rampage in Munich and a Berlin Christmas Market attack. Sad to say, but these are risks every country faces nowadays, therefore there's no need for travelers to be scared. Germany is safe to travel, even for women and solo travelers.

Visa requirements for Germany

All foreign citizens, except those belonging to the European Union, require a visa to travel to Germany. A (Schengen) visa is not required for visits of up to 90 days in any 180‑day period for nationals of those countries for which the European Community has abolished the visa requirement. For more details or a visa application, visit the official website of the Federal Foreign Office of the Republic of Germany or the embassy of Germany in your country. For European Union nationals, a Passport is not necessary. You can travel with your ID card. For others, a Passport is mandatory.

Responsible Travel and Tourism in Europe

Responsible Travel in Germany

Worldwide, Germany ranks in the top 10 as the most environmentally friendly country according to the World Economic Forum in Travel & Tourism Competitiveness. Also 4 big German cities - München, Frankfurt am Mein, Hamburg and Berlin, rank in the top 20 of the most 100 sustainable world cities. acording to Arcadis. The German National Tourist Board has a Green Globe certification for sustainable tourism. Membership is reserved for companies and organizations who are committed to making positive contributions to people and planet. Germany is a sustainable country, please be a responsible traveler in Germany to do good for the environment. For example, explore the German countryside with over 130 protected natural landscapes, amazing hiking trails, spas and health resorts. Travel environmentally friendly by train (Deutsche Bahn), choose eco-friendly stays, enjoy regional cuisine, use reusable drinking bottles to refill drinking water for free from the tap or public refilling stations, and so on.

Vaccinations & anti-Malaria tablets for Germany

Vaccinations are not mandatory for the citizens of the European Union. However, the CDC and WHO recommend Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines. They also advise vaccines for Polio, Influenza, Meningitis, Pneumonia, Measles, etc. Malaria isn't prevalent in Germany, so you don't need to take any malaria pills.

Spoken languages in Germany

German is the official language of Germany. Most people communicate in German. However, most of them speak and understand English as well. You could use Google Translate when English isn't an option or learn some essential German words before your trip to Germany.

Things to do in Germany to cross off your bucket list

Visit the cities of Berlin & Potsdam

Berlin, the capital city of Germany, is a must-visit! A week is not enough to unfold most of the city's highlights. My travel tip for you is to buy the Welcome Berlin card, with which you can use all public transport Berlin offers: train, bus, tram, commuter railways, and subway Berlin has an efficient underground transport system which makes exploring the city quite easy.

It’s a good idea to discover Berlin by boat tour on the river Spree. You can explore lots of historic places in the center of Berlin from the water. And on land, you may consider a sightseeing tour with a Hop on-hop off bus.

Just a few kilometers further, you can take the S- or U-Bahn to go to Potsdam. A very important city in the history of Prussia and the whole of Germany. If you like palaces, Rococo buildings, gardens, and parks don't miss out on Potsdam. Well-known is the palace of Sanssouci and the New Palace, along with other historic buildings.

Germany elbsandsteingebirge saxon switzerland

Trip to the Elbsandsteingebirge and Dresden

The Elbsandsteingebirge mountain range is part of the Saxon Switzerland National Park at the border of Germany and the Czech Republic. The nature reserve is one of the most enchanting landscapes in Europe. Very characteristic are the many rock pillars, which together seem to form a stone forest.

Between the steep rock walls, lie fairytale valleys and gorges. Clear rivers flow through a misty landscape of surreal rock formations and green moss walls. It is a beloved area for hiking.

The city of Dresden is not far away and is really a must-see city, completely damaged in WW2, but beautifully restored.

Visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber has a medieval town center where you can literarily breathe history. Another city worth visiting because of its historical town center is Bamberg.

Maybe you want to spend a night in one of many hotels so you have all the time to stroll through the middle ages via winding alleys in this picturesque village. And don’t forget to walk on the ancient wall that surrounds the whole village. You will love it.

Road tripping in the Mosel Region

Spending a midweek or week road tripping along The River Mosel promises to stroll along half-timbered houses with windowsills full of flowers, chilling on some of the numerous cozy terraces, and drinking some of the best wines of Germany’s oldest wine region. Visit the stunning villages of Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues, Traben-Trarbach. Take a short evening Mosel-cruise in Cochem. And don’t forget to visit Burg Eltz and the Geyerlay Hanging Bridge, with 360 meters the longest pedestrian hanging bridge of Germany.

Trier, Germany’s oldest city (together with Worms), founded in 16 BC by the Roman Emperor August, is another must-see.

Not far away, at the river Rhine, you may visit the City of Koblenz, where Rhine and Mosel come together, at the ’Deutsches Eck’. Take the cable car here to the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, in the 19th century Germany’s strongest fortress that never has been conquered.

Explore Munich & several lakes in the South Bavarian region

A MUST-visit in Germany is the South Bavarian region, with multifaceted Munich and its lovely lakes towards the Alps. Enjoy the mint green colored Tegernsee and visit the must-see-villages of Oberammergau, Füssen, and Burghausen. The latter is very famous because of Burghausen Castle: the world’s longest castle complex of 1051 meters, stated by Guinness World Record. You can also pay a visit to the well-known Austrian city of Salzburg within reach of 55 km.

Relax and exhale at the Bodensee

Last but not least you may enjoy your stay at the Bodensee, where Germany, Switzerland, and Austria come together. The little charming island of Mainau will certainly tempt you to stay a day longer.