- Top things to do in Germany at a glance
- 1. Marvel at Neuschwanstein Castle
- 2. Dive into Berlin’s history and nightlife
- 3. Drink in Munich and the beer-hall culture
- 4. Cruise the Rhine Valley
- 5. Hike the Black Forest
- 6. See Cologne Cathedral
- 7. Wander the Romantic Road and Rothenburg
- 8. Reach the Bavarian Alps
- 9. Explore Hamburg’s harbour
- 10. Visit rebuilt Dresden
- 11. Browse the Christmas markets
- 12. Eat and drink like a local
- How to get around and when to go
- Frequently asked questions
Quick answer: Germany packs in fairy-tale castles, world-class cities, Alpine scenery and the best beer culture on earth. The essentials: Neuschwanstein Castle, Berlin’s history and nightlife, Munich and the Bavarian Alps, the Rhine Valley’s castles and vineyards, the Black Forest, Cologne Cathedral, and — if you time it right — Oktoberfest and the Christmas markets.
Germany rewards travellers who mix big cities with small towns and mountains. Distances are short and the train network is superb, so you can pair Berlin’s museums with a fairy-tale castle and a Rhine cruise in a single trip. Here are the experiences worth building an itinerary around.
Top things to do in Germany at a glance
| Experience | Where | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Neuschwanstein Castle | Bavaria | Fairy-tale scenery |
| Berlin Wall + museums | Berlin | History, culture, nightlife |
| Oktoberfest + beer halls | Munich | Beer culture (Sept–Oct) |
| Rhine Valley cruise | Rhine Gorge | Castles + wine |
| Black Forest | Southwest | Hiking, spa towns |
| Christmas markets | Nuremberg, Dresden | Festive travel (Dec) |
1. Marvel at Neuschwanstein Castle
The model for Disney’s castle, King Ludwig II’s 19th-century fantasy rises from a forested Bavarian hillside near Füssen. Book timed tickets ahead and walk up to Marienbrücke bridge for the classic view.
2. Dive into Berlin’s history and nightlife
No city wears its 20th-century history like Berlin: the Brandenburg Gate, surviving stretches of the Berlin Wall and the East Side Gallery, the Holocaust Memorial and Museum Island’s five world-class collections. By night it turns into one of Europe’s great music and bar cities.
3. Drink in Munich and the beer-hall culture
Munich is Bavaria’s handsome capital — the Marienplatz glockenspiel, the Englischer Garten, and historic beer halls like the Hofbräuhaus. Come in late September for Oktoberfest, the world’s biggest folk festival.
4. Cruise the Rhine Valley
The UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge between Rüdesheim and Koblenz is castle after castle above terraced vineyards. Take a boat between riverside villages, taste Riesling, and climb to a fortress or two.
5. Hike the Black Forest
Dense pine forest, cuckoo clocks, thermal spa towns like Baden-Baden and the source of the Danube. It is Germany’s most atmospheric region for slow travel, hiking and gateau.
6. See Cologne Cathedral
A Gothic colossus that took over 600 years to finish, Cologne’s twin-spired cathedral towers right beside the train station — climb it for views over the Rhine.
7. Wander the Romantic Road and Rothenburg
This scenic route through Bavaria links walled medieval towns, the prettiest being Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a perfectly preserved town of half-timbered houses and cobbled lanes.
8. Reach the Bavarian Alps
For mountains, head to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Zugspitze (Germany’s highest peak), or fairy-tale Berchtesgaden and the emerald Königssee lake near the Austrian border.
9. Explore Hamburg’s harbour
Germany’s maritime city has the warehouse district of Speicherstadt (UNESCO), the striking Elbphilharmonie concert hall, and the famously rowdy Reeperbahn nightlife strip.
10. Visit rebuilt Dresden
Lovingly reconstructed after WWII, Dresden’s baroque old town — the Frauenkirche, Zwinger palace and Brühl’s Terrace along the Elbe — is one of Germany’s most beautiful.
11. Browse the Christmas markets
From late November, towns fill with Glühwein, lebkuchen and twinkling stalls. Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt and Dresden’s Striezelmarkt are the most famous.
12. Eat and drink like a local
Beyond beer gardens and bratwurst, try Bavarian pretzels and weisswurst, Black Forest gateau, currywurst in Berlin, and the regional wines of the Mosel and Rhine.
How to get around and when to go
Germany’s ICE train network connects every major city quickly — a rail pass or advance tickets make it easy and car-free. May to September is best for cities, castles and the Alps; late September for Oktoberfest; December for the Christmas markets. See our best time to visit Germany guide to plan your dates.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Germany? A week covers Berlin, Munich and a castle or the Rhine; 10–14 days lets you add the Black Forest, Hamburg or Dresden.
What is the must-see in Germany? Neuschwanstein Castle and Berlin’s history sites top most lists, with Munich and the Rhine Valley close behind.
Is Germany easy to travel? Very — the trains are fast and frequent, English is widely spoken in cities, and distances are short.
Planning more of Europe? See our Europe travel guide.
Ready to plan? Follow our 10-day Germany itinerary — Berlin, Bavaria, Neuschwanstein and the Rhine by train.
Still deciding? Read our full comparison: Germany vs Switzerland.
Related: Germany on a Budget.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.