Germany
Berlin · EUR · German
Hub airports: FRA, MUC, BER, DUS, HAM · Suggested stay: 7–12 days
Germany is a federation of 16 distinct states, each with its own personality — Berlin's edge, Bavaria's tradition, Hamburg's maritime cool, the Rhine's fairy-tale castles. Trains are punctual-ish, English is excellent, and the pricing is fair compared to Western neighbors.
Bavarian biergarten in summer, or a Christmas market in Nuremberg.
Where to go
Best time to visit
May–September for outdoors, biergartens, and the Romantic Road. Late November–December 23 for the Christmas markets — Nuremberg, Dresden, and Cologne are the gold standard. Avoid Oktoberfest dates (mid-Sept to early Oct) unless that's specifically your goal: hotels in Munich 4x normal rate.
Score combines weather, crowds, and price (1–5). See the full matrix across all countries.
US-citizen tips
Cash is more common than you'd expect — many bakeries, biergartens, and small shops are cash-only. Get euros from a Sparkasse or Volksbank ATM. Tipping: round up plus 5–10% for sit-down meals; tell the server the total amount when paying ('25, bitte'). Deutsche Bahn app for trains — Sparpreis fares book early.
Local etiquette
Punctuality is taken seriously. Quiet hours (Ruhezeit) 22:00–07:00 and all Sunday — no laundry, no drilling. Don't jaywalk in front of kids; you'll be lectured. Recycling is intricate and locals notice.
Getting around
Deutsche Bahn ICE trains link major cities. The Deutschland-Ticket (€58/month) gives unlimited regional rail and city transit — ideal for slower trips. FlixBus is cheap for budget routes.
Daily budget (USD)
Common pitfalls
- ⚠Sunday everything closes — stock up Saturday.
- ⚠Cash-only restaurants and bars are still common, especially in Berlin.
- ⚠Don't sit at a 'Stammtisch' table in a Bavarian biergarten — it's reserved for regulars.
🆘 Emergency reference
Works from any phone (locked, no SIM), free, multilingual operators, dispatches police/fire/medical.
US consulates: Frankfurt (largest, handles many citizen services), Munich, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Leipzig.
Lost passport, arrested, hospitalized, victim of a crime → contact embassy first, then home insurer. After hours: the main line routes you to a duty officer.
🗣️ Essential phrases
German