Germany
I’ve now lived in Germany for over 5 years, so I have a lot to share about this influential Western European country! It’s a very large country, with a lot to offer–many big cities, famous festivals, the Black Forest and even a portion of the Alps! You could spend a year traveling Germany and never run out of things to do!
Planning a trip to Europe? Check out these helpful articles –
10 Practical Packing Tips, 7th one is the Easiest
Places to See
Berlin
Munich
Cologne
Ludwigsburg
Dresden
Aachen
Moselle Valley
Baden Baden
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Leipzig
Heidelberg
Dortmund
Stuttgart
Bad Wimpfen
Nuremberg
Hamburg
Wurzburg
Freiburg im Breisgau
Activities to Do
Wasen or Oktoberfest
Karneval in Cologne
Wine tasting in Moselle Valley
Ski Garmisch & Zugspitze
Spa trip to Baden Baden
Walking tour in Berlin
Neuschwanstein Castle
Europa Park
Christmas Markets
What to Eat & Drink
Döner Kebab
Goulasch
Bratwurst
Currywurst
Käsespäztle
Maultaschen
Schnitzel
Spargel (white & green asparagus)
Christmas markets
Places to Stay
Cologne Hotel
Cochem Hotel
Cochem Airbnb
Baden Baden Hotel 1
Baden Baden Hotel 2
Baden Baden Hotel 3
Garmisch Hotel
Hinterzarten Hotel
Füssen Hotel
Planning Resources:
Accommodation – I always check these three websites to see my options when booking hotels or apartments to stay in : Booking.com, Airbnb.com and Expedia.com (includes VRBO & Hotels.com)
Tours – When searching for activities and tours, I use Viator and Get Your Guide
Transportation – I stalk Google Flights for both domestic and international flights. For trains, Eurail for multi-day passes and Trainline for one-off train tickets. I often use Enterprise for rental cars, but will go with any reputable company that offers a good deal.
Germany’s Best Hidden Gem – Cannstatter Wasen, aka Stuttgart’s version of Oktoberfest. It takes place at roughly the same time (end of September to beginning of October). The reason it’s a gem is that it is smaller, much easier to get a table reservation at, more full of locals and overall just a better experience than Munich’s version. Note: it is worth it to visit both, but personally I’m a bigger fan of Wasen!
Alex’s Insider Tips
1
Trains Aren't Punctual-
does this surprise you? While Germans are very punctual people, the trains...not so much. Therefore, I would recommend booking train routes with long transfer times to eliminate travel day stress.
2
Wasen-
not Oktoberfest, is the way to go when it comes to beer festivals. There is even a spring version in Stuttgart called Frühlingsfest!
3
49 Euro Ticket-
if you want to travel around Germany on a budget, the 49 Euro ticket is for you! This ticket costs 49 euro/month (no min. length) and allows you to travel on all local and regional transport. You can get anywhere in Germany, but pack your patience...because you can't take the high-speed trains with this pass.
4
Ice-
this one is so hard for the American in me, but Germans don't use ice. If you order a pop/soda there will be NO ice in it. Even cocktails have very minimal ice (except at craft cocktail spots).
My Must Have Guides For European Travel
Everything you need to know about visiting Europe
What can I expect from Germany?
A safe and clean Western European country, that is very large and offers so many different places to visit! Most Germans speak English so it is easy to get around as an English-speaker, but learning a few basic phrases is appreciated. Don’t forget to always have cash on hand because Germans love their cash and you will find many places only accept cash. There is something for everyone in Germany!
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September 13, 2023
