Germany

Germany rewards travellers who combine famous cities with smaller discoveries. Build an itinerary around a few contrasting stops: Berlin for contemporary history and nightlife, Munich for museums and Bavarian traditions, Hamburg for harbour atmosphere, and the Rhine Valley for castles and vineyard walks. Add time for places such as Dresden, Freiburg, Lübeck, or the dramatic landscapes of Saxon Switzerland rather than trying to cover the entire country in one trip.

Use Hello’s trip planning tools to organize train times, hotel details, museum bookings, and day trips in one place. Leave breathing room in your schedule: German cities are walkable, while regional excursions often take longer than the map suggests. Reserve popular attractions such as Neuschwanstein Castle, the Reichstag dome, and major museums ahead of time, especially during summer and Christmas-market season. Pack layers and comfortable shoes; weather can shift quickly, and cobbled old towns are best explored on foot.

Germany has an extensive public-transport network, making a car unnecessary for many trips. City systems combine U-Bahn trains, S-Bahn trains, trams, and buses, while Deutsche Bahn connects major destinations. For broad regional travel, the Deutschland-Ticket costs €63 per month in 2026 and covers local and regional public transport nationwide, including buses, trams, underground trains, S-Bahn services, and second-class regional trains. It does not cover ICE, IC, or EC long-distance trains.

Check the ticket’s calendar-month and subscription conditions before buying, and carry the digital ticket with valid identification. For fast intercity journeys, book long-distance trains separately; flexible tickets cost more, while advance fares can be much better value. Download offline maps and save station names in German, since platforms can change. In cities, validate or activate tickets when required and never board without a valid fare—inspections are common. Hello eSIM can keep maps, translation, and live departure information available without roaming charges when activated before you land.

German food varies dramatically by region. In Bavaria, try weisswurst with sweet mustard, pretzels, and hearty käsespätzle. Berlin is known for currywurst and an energetic international food scene, while Hamburg specializes in fish sandwiches and northern seafood. In the Rhineland, look for Sauerbraten; in Swabia, order Maultaschen or käsespätzle. Bakeries are ideal for an inexpensive breakfast of fresh Brötchen, cheese, cold meats, and strong coffee.

Markets and beer gardens make relaxed meals easy, but restaurant customs can surprise first-time visitors. Service is usually more independent than formal, and the bill may not arrive until requested. Tipping is customary but moderate: round up or add roughly 5–10% for good service, stating the total amount when paying. Cash remains useful for smaller cafés, bakeries, market stalls, and some traditional restaurants, although cards are increasingly common. Track meals, museum entries, and transport in Hello’s budget tracking feature using euros, and use expense splitting to settle shared dinners or apartment costs without awkward calculations.

Germany’s appeal lies as much in everyday rituals as in its landmarks. Spend an afternoon in a neighbourhood café, browse a weekly market, or join locals in a park with a takeaway coffee. Sundays are traditionally quiet: many shops close, though restaurants, museums, stations, and bakeries in busy areas may remain open. Check opening hours before planning a shopping or supermarket stop.

Punctuality matters, particularly for tours, appointments, and reserved trains. Stand on the right side of escalators, let passengers leave trains before boarding, and keep voices low on public transport. In crowded tourist areas, stay aware of belongings and keep important documents secure. Learn a few phrases—“Guten Tag,” “Bitte,” “Danke,” and “Sprechen Sie Englisch?”—as they make interactions warmer even when English is widely understood. Carry a reusable water bottle, follow local recycling instructions, and remember that Germany’s bottle deposit system can add value to returned containers.