Germany Travel Guide
Marcus Chen· City Break Editor
Updated September 12, 2026 · 8 min read
Germany runs on rails and regional pride: Berlin's century of history, Munich's beer gardens, the Rhine's castles, Cologne's cathedral, and the Christmas markets that define December. Planning figures: Berlin ~€130/day, Munich ~€150, the regions ~€100.
The classic route: Berlin (3–4) → the ICE south → Munich (3) with Neuschwanstein and the castles as day trips.
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Berlin is the history-and-nightlife capital. Munich is the beer-garden-and-Alps city. The Rhine's castles run by boat from Mainz; Cologne's cathedral and Hamburg's port round out the north.
- Classic: Berlin 4 → Munich 3.
- Markets: Berlin 2 → Nuremberg 1 → Munich 2 (December).
- Rhine: Frankfurt 1 → the castles 2 → Cologne 1.
The ICE Arithmetic
Berlin–Munich by ICE in 4 hours from €40 booked ahead. The Deutschland-Ticket (€49/month) covers all regional transit — worth it for two weeks of regional travel.
Berlin & Munich
North to south by ICE.
Day 1 · Berlin — the Wall
Bernauer Straße and the East Side Gallery.
Day 2 · Berlin — museums
Museum Island and the Reichstag dome.
Day 3 · Berlin — Kreuzberg
Tempelhof, the markets, the night.
Day 4 · ICE to Munich
Marienplatz and the first beer garden.
Day 5 · Munich — gardens
The Englischer Garten and the Residenz.
Day 6 · Neuschwanstein day
The fairytale castle and the Alpsee.
Day 7 · Farewell
The Viktualienmarkt; MUC.
Practical planning info
Money
- Berlin ~€130/day, Munich ~€150, regions ~€100.
- Book ICE fares 2–3 months out.
When
- May–September is beer-garden season.
- December's markets are the alternate highlight reel.
Frequently asked questions
Berlin or Munich?
Berlin for history and nightlife; Munich for beer and the Alps. The ICE makes both a one-week trip.
Is Germany expensive?
Mid-priced: €100–150/day, with beer cheaper than water in places.
How many days for Germany?
A week does Berlin and Munich; ten adds the Rhine and the Christmas markets.
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