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Travel guide · Berlin and Bavaria

Travelling to Germany

Berlin, Bavaria, fairy-tale castles, Christmas-market towns and beer: a country made for the train. We tell you when to go, what to see and what to eat.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • All year round
  • Where to eat: the Gasthaus
Photo: Unsplash

Germany in 30 seconds

  • Any time of year is good to travel to Germany: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.
  • BVG in Berlin.
  • To eat like a local: the Gasthaus. Don’t leave without trying: Bratwurst, Currywurst, Pork knuckle (Schweinshaxe).

Germany in November

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Germany. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month. In November: Christmas markets.

More destinations for November

When to travel to Germany

Any time of year is good to travel to Germany: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

Festivals and special moments

  • November, December

    Christmas markets

    Stalls with vin chaud, crafts and lights in the squares of the centre.

  • September, October

    Oktoberfest

    Beer tents and atmosphere in Munich (late Sep–Oct). Book a table and your train.

What to see in Germany

The cities and areas most worth your time, with their highlights. Open each one for all the places, where to stay and its day trips.

  • Berlin
    Berlin

    Berlin

    History on every corner: the Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island and neighbourhoods full of life.

    • Brandenburg Gate
    • East Side Gallery
    • Museum Island
    • Tempelhof
    Berlin guide
  • Munich
    Bavaria

    Munich

    Bavaria’s capital: Marienplatz, beer halls, gardens and the Alps close by.

    • Marienplatz
    • Englischer Garten
    • Nymphenburg
    • Neuschwanstein
    Munich guide
  • Hamburg

    Hamburg

    A port, canals, red-brick warehouses and a spectacular concert hall.

    • Speicherstadt
    • Elbphilharmonie
    • Miniatur Wunderland
    • Fish market
    Hamburg guide
  • Cologne

    Cologne

    A giant Gothic cathedral by the Rhine and Christmas markets at its feet.

    • Cologne Cathedral
    • Hohenzollern Bridge
    • Chocolate Museum
    • Old town
    Cologne guide
  • Frankfurt

    Frankfurt

    Skyscrapers next to a rebuilt old town, on the banks of the Main.

    • Römerberg
    • Main Tower
    • Museumsufer
    • Goethe House
    Frankfurt guide
  • Dresden

    Dresden

    The Florence on the Elbe, with Baroque palaces and one of the oldest Christmas markets.

    • Frauenkirche
    • Zwinger
    • Semperoper
    • Striezelmarkt
    Dresden guide
  • Nuremberg

    Nuremberg

    A medieval city with a castle, sausages and the most famous Christmas market in Germany.

    • Christkindlesmarkt
    • Imperial Castle
    • Albrecht Dürer’s House
    • Documentation Centre
    Nuremberg guide
  • Heidelberg

    Heidelberg

    A romantic university town with a ruined castle above the Neckar.

    • Heidelberg Castle
    • Old Bridge
    • Philosophers’ Walk
    • Hauptstrasse
    Heidelberg guide
  • Füssen

    Füssen

    A Bavarian town at the foot of the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles.

    • Neuschwanstein
    • Hohenschwangau
    • Marienbrücke
    • Alpsee
    Füssen guide
  • Rothenburg ob der Tauber

    Rothenburg ob der Tauber

    The most famous medieval town on the Romantic Road.

    • Plönlein
    • City walls
    • Market Square
    • Christmas Museum
    Rothenburg ob der Tauber guide
  • Black Forest

    Black Forest

    Dark forests, villages of timber houses, cuckoo clocks and the gateau that bears its name, in south-west Germany.

    • Freiburg im Breisgau
    • Triberg Waterfalls
    • Cuckoo clocks
    • Lake Titisee
    Black Forest guide
  • Leipzig

    Leipzig

    The city of Bach and the 1989 demonstrations, with historic shopping arcades and a young, lively feel.

    • St Thomas Church
    • Church of San Nicolás
    • Mädlerpassage
    • Monument to the Battle of the Nations
    Leipzig guide
  • Aachen

    Aachen

    Charlemagne’s city, with its cathedral, Germany’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and hot springs.

    • Cathedral
    • Town hall
    • Cathedral Treasury
    • Thermal baths
    Aachen guide
  • Bamberg

    Bamberg

    A medieval UNESCO World Heritage city, with a town hall in the middle of the river and smoked beer.

    • Old Town Hall
    • Cathedral
    • Little Venice
    • Rauchbier
    Bamberg guide
  • Lübeck

    Lübeck

    The queen of the Hanseatic League: the Holsten Gate, brick churches and the best marzipan.

    • Holsten Gate
    • Church of Santa María
    • Buddenbrook House
    • Niederegger marzipan
    Lübeck guide
  • Potsdam

    Potsdam

    The palaces and gardens of the Prussian kings, with Sanssouci, a short hop from Berlin.

    • Sanssouci Palace
    • New Palace
    • Dutch Quarter
    • Cecilienhof Palace
    Potsdam guide
  • Düsseldorf

    Düsseldorf

    Fashion, art and the “longest bar in the world” in its old town, by the Rhine.

    • Altstadt
    • Rhine promenade
    • Königsallee
    • MedienHafen
    Düsseldorf guide

Day trips and activities

What’s most worth booking from each city. We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

From Berlin

From Munich

From Hamburg

From Cologne

From Frankfurt

From Dresden

From Nuremberg

From Heidelberg

From Füssen

From Rothenburg ob der Tauber

From the Black Forest

From Leipzig

From Aachen

From Bamberg

From Lübeck

From Potsdam

From Düsseldorf

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What to eat in Germany

To eat like a local: the Gasthaus, and order schnitzel or the house beer. And don’t leave without trying:

  • Bratwurst

    A grilled sausage; Nuremberg’s are small.

  • Currywurst

    Sausage with curry ketchup, very Berlin.

  • Pork knuckle (Schweinshaxe)

    Roast pork knuckle, typical of Bavaria.

  • Pretzel

    A knot of bread with coarse salt.

  • Sauerkraut

    Fermented cabbage, the classic side dish.

  • Lebkuchen

    Spiced Christmas biscuits from Nuremberg.

The typical dish of Germany, at home

German potato salad
Photo: Kobako · CC BY-SA 2.5

German potato salad

Kartoffelsalat, the side dish for sausages and schnitzel all over Germany. In the south it’s dressed warm with stock, vinegar and onion; in the north, with mayonnaise and gherkins.

  • Serves 4
  • 45 min

Ingredients

  • 1 kg waxy potatoes
  • 1 onion
  • 250 ml hot meat or vegetable stock
  • 4 tablespoons of white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon of mustard
  • 4 tablespoons of sunflower oil
  • 1 teaspoon of sugar
  • Chives, salt and pepper
  • 100 g bacon (optional)

How to make it at home

  1. Boil the potatoes in their skins until tender but firm. Peel them while hot and slice them thinly.
  2. Chop the onion very finely and boil it for a minute in the stock with the vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.
  3. Pour the hot stock over the potatoes and let them soak it up for 20 minutes.
  4. Add the mustard and oil and mix gently.
  5. Finish with chives and, if you like, fried bacon. Serve it warm.

The trick: The hot stock is the southern trick: the potatoes drink it up and turn creamy without mayonnaise.

The typical food of each city, with a recipe

Curious facts about Germany

What guidebooks don’t tell you and will help you understand the country better.

  • Its Christmas markets are a centuries-old tradition: Dresden’s is one of the oldest.
  • Neuschwanstein Castle inspired the one in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
  • There are more than 1,300 breweries.
  • Parts of the motorway network have no speed limit.
  • On Sundays almost all shops are closed.
  • Munich’s Oktoberfest starts in September.

Traditions of Germany

Customs and celebrations that will help you experience the country like a local.

  • Late November to 24 December Christmas markets

    Wooden stalls, mulled wine (Glühwein) and crafts in every city.

  • Late September to early October Oktoberfest

    Munich’s great beer festival.

  • February Cologne Carnival

    One of the biggest in Europe.

  • Biergarten

    Open-air beer gardens, in summer.

What not to do in Germany

First-trip mistakes that are easy to avoid.

  • Don’t cross on a red light, even if nothing’s coming.
  • Don’t walk in the cycle lane.
  • Don’t forget to validate your ticket on public transport if it’s a paper one: there are inspectors.
  • Don’t expect to pay by card everywhere: many bars only take cash.
  • Don’t make the Nazi salute or joke with Nazi symbols: it’s a crime.
  • Don’t throw away returnable bottles (Pfand): you get money back at the supermarket.

Before you go

Entry requirements depend on your passport and change: always check them with official sources before travelling.

Tickets worth booking ahead

  • Sells out · 30 days ahead Neuschwanstein · Munich

    Entry is by guided tour only, with an allocated time. At the ticket office they sell out by mid-morning.

    Official ticket office

Frequently asked questions about Germany

What people search for most before travelling to Germany.

What’s the best time to travel to Germany?

Any time of year is good to travel to Germany: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

What to see in Germany in a week?

The essentials of Germany: Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne and Frankfurt. How many places fit into your days, and in what order, depends on your dates and how you get around: the Bagintravel app plans your trip day by day in a minute.

What to eat in Germany?

Bratwurst, Currywurst, Pork knuckle (Schweinshaxe), Pretzel, Sauerkraut, Lebkuchen. To eat like a local: the Gasthaus.

What is the typical dish of Germany?

German potato salad. Kartoffelsalat, the side dish for sausages and schnitzel all over Germany. In the south it’s dressed warm with stock, vinegar and onion; in the north, with mayonnaise and gherkins.

What should you not do in Germany?

Don’t cross on a red light, even if nothing’s coming. Don’t walk in the cycle lane. Don’t forget to validate your ticket on public transport if it’s a paper one: there are inspectors.

What are the best Christmas markets in Germany?

Nuremberg (Christkindlesmarkt), Dresden (Striezelmarkt, one of the oldest), Cologne, with several markets next to the cathedral, and those in Munich, Berlin and Rothenburg. They usually open from late November to 23 or 24 December.

Is it worth travelling to Germany in November?

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Germany. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month. In November: Christmas markets.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Seasonal data, places and areas: the same ones the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Photos: cover, Unsplash. Berlin, File:Museumsinsel Berlin Juli 2021 1 (cropped).jpg: Kasa Fue derivative work: Ge (CC BY-SA 4.0). Munich, Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de (CC BY-SA 3.0 de). Hamburg, Dietmar Rabich (CC BY-SA 4.0). Cologne, Martin Falbisoner (CC BY-SA 4.0). Frankfurt, Dr. Thomas Liptak (CC BY-SA 4.0). Dresden, JopkeB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Nuremberg, Andreas Flohr (CC BY-SA 2.5). Heidelberg, Miholz (CC BY-SA 3.0). Füssen, Wilfredor (CC0). Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Berthold Werner (Public domain). Black Forest, Mrunal Sompura (CC BY-SA 4.0). Leipzig, Frank Vincentz (CC BY-SA 3.0). Aachen, CEphoto, Uwe Aranas (CC BY-SA 3.0). Bamberg, Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0). Lübeck, Christian Wolf (www.c-w-design.de) (CC BY-SA 3.0 de). Potsdam, Carsten Steger (CC BY-SA 4.0). Düsseldorf, Anil Öztas (CC BY-SA 4.0).