Germany travel guide

Getting there

Frankfurt and Munich are the main international hubs, with Berlin Brandenburg, Düsseldorf and Hamburg also well connected. Excellent rail and road links connect Germany with all nine neighbouring countries.

Best time to visit: May–Sep – warm days and beer gardens; late Nov–Dec for Christmas markets.

Tougher months: January to March – cold, grey and short days, though it is quieter and good for skiing in the Alps.

Weather by month in Berlin

• 3°J●
• 5°F●
• 9°M●
• 15°A●
• 19°M●
• 23°J●
• 25°J●●
• 24°A●
• 20°S●
• 14°O●
• 8°N●
• 4°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Europe/Berlin, Europe/Zurich. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 93 of 198 other passports can enter Germany without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 105 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of the Schengen Area (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2025-05-13). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Germany travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Germany are based around Berlin, Munich or Hamburg. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$55–80 for a backpacker and US$140–240 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Germany page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +49.

Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Berlin (Northeast · capital): A creative, historic capital packed with museums, street art, nightlife and Cold War landmarks.
• Munich (Bavaria · city): Elegant squares, beer halls and great art collections, with the Alps within easy reach.
• Hamburg (North · port city): Canals, red-brick warehouses, a lively waterfront and a buzzing music scene.
• Cologne (Rhineland · city): Home to a soaring Gothic cathedral, a famous carnival and a friendly pub culture.
• Dresden (Saxony · baroque city): A rebuilt baroque skyline along the Elbe, with superb art galleries.
• Heidelberg (Baden-Württemberg · university town): A romantic castle ruin overlooking an old town and the Neckar river.
• Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Bavaria · medieval town): Walled lanes and half-timbered houses that feel frozen in time.
• Black Forest (Southwest · forest & villages): Dark pine forests, cuckoo-clock villages, spa towns and hiking trails.

Things to do

• Walk the Berlin Wall memorials. Trace the line of the Wall at Bernauer Strasse and the East Side Gallery's painted murals.
• See Neuschwanstein Castle. Gaze at the fairy-tale castle perched above the Bavarian Alps that inspired countless storybook images.
• Cruise the Rhine Valley. Glide past vineyards, castles and the legendary Lorelei rock on a river boat.
• Raise a stein in a beer garden. Join locals at a shady Munich beer garden for pretzels, sausages and a frothy Mass.
• Browse a Christmas market. Sip mulled wine among twinkling stalls in Nuremberg, Dresden or Cologne.
• Climb Cologne Cathedral. Tackle hundreds of steps up the spire of a Gothic masterpiece for views across the Rhine.
• Hike in Saxon Switzerland. Cross the Bastei Bridge among dramatic sandstone pillars above the Elbe.
• Drive the Romantic Road. Follow a scenic route of medieval towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Dinkelsbühl.

Source: full Germany guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Bratwurst – grilled sausage with mustard
• Brezel – large soft pretzel
• Schnitzel – thin breaded and fried cutlet
• Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte – Black Forest cherry cake

Source: RoamSun Germany guide

Talk

Twenty basic German phrases with a simple sound guide. Say them slowly; a smile does the rest.

Basic phrases: pronunciation is approximate and the list has not yet been reviewed by a native speaker. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable where that applies. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Money and safety

Currency: Euro (EUR). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Round up or add 5–10%, telling the server the total when you pay.

Emergency numbers: 110 police · 112 fire & ambulance.

• The currency is the euro.
• Cash is still popular – some cafés, bakeries and small shops do not accept cards, so carry some euros; ATMs are everywhere.
• Germany is very safe, but watch for pickpockets in crowded stations, markets and festivals.
• Do not walk in marked bike lanes – cyclists move fast and expect a clear path.

Source: RoamSun Germany facts