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Germany

Duration: All Weekend 4-7 days 8-14 days 15+ days Kids: All 👨‍👩‍👧 Kid-friendly
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Germany: from Berlin to Munich
Germany 10 days

Germany: from Berlin to Munich

Berlin to Munich by train: the Wall, Baroque and castles
Romantic Road and Ludwig's castles
Germany 8 days

Romantic Road and Ludwig's castles

On the road from Würzburg to Munich: walled towns, Neuschwanstein and the Alps

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Planning a trip to Germany? Here you'll find our 2 day-by-day itineraries (Berlin and Brandenburg, Bavaria, Saxony and Dresden, Romantic Road, Rhine Valley, Hamburg and the North), plus all the practical info to organise your journey: currency, visa, e-SIM, health, plugs and useful numbers.

When to go to Germany

Continental: very cold winters (often below zero, with snow), mild pleasant summers with very long days. May to September is the best time; December is cold but it is the magical month of the Christmas markets.

Practical info for travelling in Germany

Updated: June 2026

Currency

Euro (EUR). Be warned: Germany still loves cash — bars, bakeries and small venues sometimes do not accept cards. Always keep some banknotes on you.

Language

German. English is widely spoken in the cities and among younger people, less so in small towns and in the east. A 'Danke' and a 'Bitte' open many doors.

Documents / Visa

EU citizens only need a valid ID card or passport: no visa, it's the EU/Schengen area. Visitors from many other countries can enter Schengen visa-free for up to 90 days, but should check the rules for their own nationality.

Health / Vaccines

No vaccines required. Healthcare facilities are excellent. EU citizens can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for public care; all travellers are advised to take out insurance covering medical costs and repatriation.

e-SIM / Connectivity

With an EU SIM, roaming across the EU is included at no extra cost. Visitors from outside the EU should get a local SIM or an eSIM. 4G/5G coverage is good in cities; surprisingly, on trains and in rural areas the signal can vanish — download offline maps.

Electricity

230V, 50Hz, type C/F (Schuko) sockets. Standard European two-pin plugs fit; travellers from the UK, US and elsewhere need a plug adapter.

Time zone

Central European Time (UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer).

Payments

Cards are accepted in hotels, chains and mid-to-upper restaurants, but many venues, market stalls and even some beer halls are cash only ('Nur Bargeld'). ATMs (Geldautomat) are everywhere; withdraw from bank-owned ones, not private-network machines (high fees).

Good to know

  • Trains and public transport — ICE trains are the best way to get around: Sparpreis tickets bought in advance on the DB website cost half price. On city transport always validate your ticket: riding without a valid ticket is a criminal offence in Germany, not just a fine.
  • If you drive — An EU licence and insurance are enough. Motorways are toll-free for cars, but forget the myths: 130 km/h is the recommended general limit and many stretches have strict limits. Alcohol max 0.05% (zero under 21 or with a licence held less than 2 years). Winter tyres are required on snow or ice; cities require an emissions sticker (Umweltplakette) to enter the centre. After an accident, always wait for the police. Unpaid fines follow you home and can become criminal matters.
  • Sundays and opening hours — On Sundays ALMOST EVERYTHING is closed: supermarkets, shops, pharmacies (except the rota ones). Stock up on Saturday. Restaurants and museums stay open. And quiet hours (Ruhezeit) in the evening and on Sundays are taken seriously.
  • Tipping and restaurants — Tip 5-10% by rounding up: say the total amount to the waiter as you pay ('Stimmt so' = keep the change), don't leave it on the table. Water in restaurants is paid for and often sparkling: ask for 'stilles Wasser' if you want still, or 'Leitungswasser' (tap water, not always welcomed).
  • Pfand: the bottle deposit — On bottles and cans you pay a deposit (Pfand, 8-25 cents) refunded when you return them to supermarket machines. That's why you'll see bottles left next to bins: it's small-scale street welfare, not littering.
  • Safety — A very safe country, but in big cities — especially Berlin and around Frankfurt's main station — pickpocketing is on the rise: watch bags and pockets on the metro and in crowds. The alert level for possible attacks remains high at sensitive sites and during holidays: follow the authorities' instructions.
  • Book ahead — The Reichstag (free but reservation-only), Neuschwanstein and Ludwig's castles, Berlin's top museums and tables at well-known restaurants: in Germany, those who don't book stay out. For Oktoberfest and the Christmas markets, lock in hotels months ahead.

Useful numbers

  • 112 — EU single emergency number: ambulance and fire brigade, 24/7
  • 110 — Police
  • +49 89 20 20 4000 — ADAC roadside assistance (paid service; from a German mobile: 22 22 22)
  • +49 30 254400 — Italian Embassy in Berlin — travellers of other nationalities should contact their own embassy

💡 Carry cash and book everything: the two golden German rules. The third is free: if you see an orderly queue, join it — whatever they're handing out, that's how Germany works.