How to Plan a Germany Itinerary

Because Germany's big cities sit on the same fast rail network, building an itinerary is largely a question of how much time you have and how much country you want to cover. Here's a framework that scales from a long weekend to a fortnight.

Three to four days (one city)

With a long weekend, pick a single city and go deep. Berlin (3-4 nights) is the best first choice — Cold War and WWII history, Museum Island, markets and nightlife easily fill the time, and it's the basis of our 3-Day Berlin for First-Timers route. Munich or Hamburg work just as well for a focused city break.

One week (two cities)

The classic pairing is Berlin (3-4 nights) and Munich (3 nights), the contrasting hearts of modern and traditional Germany, linked by a 4-hour ICE. Use a Munich day to reach Neuschwanstein castle or the Bavarian Alps. This covers the country's two essential cities without rushing.

Ten to twelve days (add the north or the Rhine)

Keep Berlin and Munich, then add Hamburg (2 nights) in the maritime north — or detour west to the Rhine valley and Cologne for castles, a river cruise and a great Gothic cathedral. Either gives your trip a third dimension beyond the two big cities.

Two weeks (the grand tour)

String it all together: Berlin → Hamburg → the Rhine and Cologne → the Romantic Road → Munich at a relaxed pace, mixing cities, river scenery and the Alps. This is the full sweep our Grand Tour of Germany trip follows, and a fortnight lets you slow down and ride the most scenic rail legs.

Tips for sequencing

Fly into one end and out of the other to avoid backtracking — Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt all have major international airports. Travel in one direction along the rail line, and book ICE Sparpreis fares for the long legs as soon as your dates are fixed. Allow at least three nights in Berlin; it's bigger and slower to see than people expect.

Quick recommendation

With five to seven days, do Berlin and Munich. With ten or more, add Hamburg or the Rhine; with two weeks, link them all on a grand tour through the cities, the river and the Alps.