Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Germany

A photograph of Germany
Photograph · Llez · CC BY-SA 3.0

Germany runs from the Baltic and North Sea coasts in the north down to the Alps in the south, and its 16 states have kept enough separateness that the country reads as a set of destinations rather than one. Over 83 million people live in them, more than any other European Union member. Berlin is the capital and the largest single city, Frankfurt is the financial centre, and the largest urban area is neither - it is the Ruhr, a belt of western towns that have grown into each other. Choosing between the Bavarian south, the Rhine, the Hanseatic north and the eastern cities is the actual planning decision; the distances are short and the places are not variations on one another.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
German
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+49
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112 medical/fire · 110 police
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
Public drinking water is regulated under national drinking-water rules

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Alte Pinakothek Alte Pinakothek
    02 2 hours

    Alte Pinakothek

    The Alte Pinakothek is Munich's gallery of Old Master painting, covering the fourteenth to the eighteenth century, and it is one of the oldest purpose-built picture galleries anywhere.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Munich
  2. Glyptothek Glyptothek
    03 1 hr 30 min

    Glyptothek

    The Glyptothek occupies the north side of Königsplatz and is Munich's oldest public museum; its operator describes it as the only museum in the world devoted exclusively to ancient sculpture.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Munich
  3. Neues Museum Neues Museum
    05 1 hr 30 min

    Neues Museum

    The Neues Museum is a museum building on Museum Island in Berlin, Germany. It was constructed between 1843 and 1855 according to plans by Friedrich August Stüler.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  4. Nikolaikirche (Berlin) Nikolaikirche (Berlin)
    06 1 hr 30 min

    Nikolaikirche (Berlin)

    Nikolaikirche

    Nikolaikirche is the oldest church in Berlin, located in the historic Nikolaiviertel district near the Spree River. The twin-towered structure holds significance as a landmark of medieval Berlin's origins.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  5. BMW Museum BMW Museum
    07 1 hr 30 min

    BMW Museum

    The BMW Museum is a corporate museum dedicated to the history and heritage of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the Munich-based automobile and motorcycle manufacturer.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Munich
  6. Altes Museum Altes Museum
    08 1 hr 30 min

    Altes Museum

    The Altes Museum is a neoclassical museum building on Museum Island in Berlin. Designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and opened in 1830, it was originally constructed to house the Prussian royal collection of classical antiquities.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  7. Bode Museum Bode Museum
    09 1 hr 30 min

    Bode Museum

    Bode-Museum

    The Bode-Museum stands on the northern tip of Museum Island in Berlin, its domed structure visible across the Spree river. Opened in 1904 and originally named the Kaiser-Friedrich-Museum, it was renamed in 1956 after its first director, Wilhelm von Bode.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  8. Alte Nationalgalerie Alte Nationalgalerie
    10 1 hr 30 min

    Alte Nationalgalerie

    The Alte Nationalgalerie is a prominent art museum on Berlin's Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its neoclassical temple design, completed in 1876, houses nineteenth-century paintings and sculptures.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  9. Haus der Kunst Haus der Kunst
    11 1 hr 30 min

    Haus der Kunst

    Haus der Kunst is a prominent art museum in Munich, Germany. The building was originally constructed in the 1930s and has served various cultural functions over its history.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Munich
  10. Pinakothek der Moderne Pinakothek der Moderne
    12 1 hr 30 min

    Pinakothek der Moderne

    The Pinakothek der Moderne is a major museum of modern and contemporary art in Munich, Germany. It forms part of the city's museum quarter, located in the Maxvorstadt district near the other Pinakothek museums.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Munich
  11. Neue Pinakothek Neue Pinakothek
    13 1 hr 30 min

    Neue Pinakothek

    The Neue Pinakothek is an art museum in Munich, Germany. It forms part of the city's museum quarter alongside the Alte Pinakothek and Pinakothek der Moderne.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Munich
  12. Deutsches Museum Deutsches Museum
    14 3 hours

    Deutsches Museum

    The Deutsches Museum stands on an island in the Isar in central Munich, at Museumsinsel 1, and is a museum of science and technology rather than of art or of city history.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Munich
  13. Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial
    15 1 hr 30 min

    Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial

    Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen

    The Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial is a museum and memorial site located in the Lichtenberg district of Berlin. It occupies the grounds of a former Soviet and later Stasi remand prison that operated during the German Democratic Republic period.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  14. Martin-Gropius-Bau Martin-Gropius-Bau
    16 1 hr 30 min

    Martin-Gropius-Bau

    Gropius-Bau

    The Martin-Gropius-Bau, known locally as Gropius-Bau, is a prominent exhibition hall in Berlin. The building stands as a significant cultural venue in the German capital, hosting temporary exhibitions of international scope.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  15. Gemäldegalerie Berlin Gemäldegalerie Berlin
    17 1 hr 30 min

    Gemäldegalerie Berlin

    Gemäldegalerie am Kulturforum

    The Gemäldegalerie Berlin, locally known as Gemäldegalerie am Kulturforum, is a major art museum in Berlin, Germany.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  16. Märkisches Museum Märkisches Museum
    18 1 hr 30 min

    Märkisches Museum

    The Märkisches Museum is a museum in Berlin dedicated to the history and culture of the city and its surrounding Mark Brandenburg region.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  17. Villa Stuck Villa Stuck
    19 1 hr 30 min

    Villa Stuck

    Villa Stuck is a historic villa in Munich, Germany, originally built as the residence and studio of the painter Franz von Stuck.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Munich
  18. Jewish Museum Berlin Jewish Museum Berlin
    20 1 hr 30 min

    Jewish Museum Berlin

    Jüdisches Museum

    The Jewish Museum Berlin is a major cultural institution dedicated to two millennia of German-Jewish history and culture.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  19. Lenbachhaus Lenbachhaus
    21 1 hr 30 min

    Lenbachhaus

    Lenbachhaus is an art museum in Munich, Germany. It occupies the former Italianate villa of the painter Franz von Lenbach, which was expanded with modern additions.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Munich
  20. Schönhausen Palace Schönhausen Palace
    22 1 hr 30 min

    Schönhausen Palace

    Schloss Schönhausen

    Schönhausen Palace, known locally as Schloss Schönhausen, is a historic palace in Berlin, Germany. The building is recorded on OpenStreetMap under way/24315051 and documented on Wikidata as Q681355.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  21. German Museum of Technology German Museum of Technology
    23 1 hr 30 min

    German Museum of Technology

    Deutsches Technikmuseum

    The Deutsches Technikmuseum is a technology museum in Berlin, Germany. It is the local name for the German Museum of Technology. The institution documents technological development across multiple fields.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  22. Museum of Photography Museum of Photography
    24 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Photography

    Museum für Fotografie

    The Museum of Photography, known locally as Museum für Fotografie, is a photography museum in Berlin. It occupies a prominent cultural position in the city's museum landscape.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  23. Neue Nationalgalerie Neue Nationalgalerie
    25 1 hr 30 min

    Neue Nationalgalerie

    Neue Nationalgalerie is a modern art museum in Berlin, Germany. The building was designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and opened in 1968.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  24. Humboldt Forum Humboldt Forum
    26 3 hours

    Humboldt Forum

    The Humboldt Forum occupies the rebuilt Berlin Palace on Schlossplatz, at the eastern end of Unter den Linden and across the Lustgarten from the Berlin Cathedral.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  25. Archenhold Observatory Archenhold Observatory
    27 1 hr 30 min

    Archenhold Observatory

    Archenhold-Sternwarte

    Archenhold Observatory, known locally as Archenhold-Sternwarte, is a public astronomical observatory located in Berlin's Treptower Park. It was established in 1896 and houses what was once the world's longest movable refracting telescope.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  26. Ephraim-Palais Ephraim-Palais
    28 1 hr 30 min

    Ephraim-Palais

    Ephraim-Palais is a Rococo-style palace building located in Berlin, Germany. Constructed in the 18th century, it represents an important example of bourgeois architecture from that period.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  27. Stasi Museum Stasi Museum
    29 1 hr 30 min

    Stasi Museum

    Stasimuseum

    The Stasimuseum occupies the former headquarters of the East German Ministry for State Security, known as the Stasi.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  28. Schwules Museum Schwules Museum
    30 1 hr 30 min

    Schwules Museum

    Schwules Museum *

    The Schwules Museum is a museum in Berlin dedicated to LGBTQ+ history and culture. Founded in 1985, it emerged from a groundbreaking exhibition and has since developed into a significant institution for preserving and presenting queer heritage.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  29. Bavarian National Museum Bavarian National Museum
    31 1 hr 30 min

    Bavarian National Museum

    Bayerisches Nationalmuseum

    The Bavarian National Museum, known locally as Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, stands as one of Munich's principal cultural institutions. Located on the Prinzregentenstraße, this museum occupies a substantial purpose-built structure designed in historicist style.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Munich
  30. Haus der Kulturen der Welt Haus der Kulturen der Welt
    32 1 hr 30 min

    Haus der Kulturen der Welt

    Haus der Kulturen der Welt is a cultural institution in Berlin, Germany, locally known by the same name. It serves as a venue for international contemporary arts and discourse.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  31. Allied Museum Allied Museum
    33 1 hr 30 min

    Allied Museum

    Alliierten-Museum

    The Allied Museum documents the history of the Western powers in Berlin from 1945 to 1994. Located in the former American sector of Dahlem, it occupies a distinctive site that includes a former U.S.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  32. Brücke Museum
    35 1 hr 30 min

    Brücke Museum

    Brücke-Museum

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  33. Lemke House
    36 1 hr 30 min

    Lemke House

    Mies van der Rohe Haus

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  34. Museum Brandhorst Museum Brandhorst
    37 1 hr 30 min

    Museum Brandhorst

    Museum Brandhorst is a contemporary art museum in Munich's Maxvorstadt district. It opened in 2009 and houses the collection of Udo and Anette Brandhorst, featuring works from the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Munich
  35. DDR Museum DDR Museum
    39 1 hr 30 min

    DDR Museum

    DDR-Museum

    The DDR Museum is an interactive museum in Berlin dedicated to everyday life in the former German Democratic Republic. Located on the Spree River near Museum Island, it presents the history and culture of East Germany through immersive exhibitions.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  36. Wall Museum
    40 1 hr 30 min

    Wall Museum

    Mauermuseum

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  37. Biesdorf Palace
    41 1 hr 30 min

    Biesdorf Palace

    Schloss Biesdorf

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  38. Berlin Musical Instrument Museum Berlin Musical Instrument Museum
    42 1 hr 30 min

    Berlin Musical Instrument Museum

    Musikinstrumenten-Museum

    The Berlin Musical Instrument Museum, known locally as Musikinstrumenten-Museum, is a cultural institution in Berlin dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of musical instruments.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  39. Museum of Decorative Arts Museum of Decorative Arts
    43 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Decorative Arts

    Kunstgewerbemuseum

    The Kunstgewerbemuseum, or Museum of Decorative Arts, is one of Berlin's significant cultural institutions dedicated to applied arts and design. It forms part of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, the national museum complex.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  40. BMW Welt BMW Welt
    44 1 hr 30 min

    BMW Welt

    BMW Welt is a major visitor destination in Munich associated with the Bavarian automaker. The facility serves as a delivery center, exhibition space, and brand experience venue.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Munich
  41. Museum Berlin-Karlshorst Museum Berlin-Karlshorst
    45 1 hr 30 min

    Museum Berlin-Karlshorst

    The Museum Berlin-Karlshorst occupies the historic building where German military forces signed the unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945, ending World War II in Europe.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  42. James Simon Gallery James Simon Gallery
    46 1 hr 30 min

    James Simon Gallery

    James-Simon-Galerie

    The James Simon Gallery serves as the main entrance building for Berlin's Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Named after Jewish art patron James Simon, the structure was designed by British architect David Chipperfield.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  43. Topography of Terror Topography of Terror
    47 1 hr 30 min

    Topography of Terror

    Topographie des Terrors

    The Topography of Terror is an outdoor and indoor history museum in Berlin, Germany. It stands on the former site of the Gestapo and SS headquarters, the central instruments of Nazi persecution.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  44. NS-Dokumentationszentrum NS-Dokumentationszentrum
    50 1 hr 30 min

    NS-Dokumentationszentrum

    The NS-Dokumentationszentrum is a documentation centre in Munich dedicated to the history of National Socialism.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  45. Schack Collection Schack Collection
    51 1 hr 30 min

    Schack Collection

    Sammlung Schack

    The Schack Collection, known locally as Sammlung Schack, is an art museum in Munich. It ranks as a notable visitor destination within the city's cultural offerings.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  46. State Museum of Egyptian Art State Museum of Egyptian Art
    53 1 hr 30 min

    State Museum of Egyptian Art

    Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst

    The State Museum of Egyptian Art, known locally as Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst, is a museum in Munich dedicated to ancient Egyptian art and culture.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  47. Palaeontological Museum Palaeontological Museum
    54 1 hr 30 min

    Palaeontological Museum

    Paläontologisches Museum

    The Palaeontological Museum Munich is a natural history museum dedicated to fossils and ancient life forms. It operates as part of the Bavarian State Collection for Palaeontology and Geology.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  48. Berggruen Museum Berggruen Museum
    55 1 hr 30 min

    Berggruen Museum

    Museum Berggruen

    The Berggruen Museum is an art museum in Berlin, Germany, known formally as Museum Berggruen. It houses a significant collection of modern art, particularly works by Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, and Alberto Giacometti.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  49. Jewish Museum Munich Jewish Museum Munich
    57 1 hr 30 min

    Jewish Museum Munich

    Jüdisches Museum

    The Jewish Museum Munich, known locally as Jüdisches Museum, is a cultural institution in Munich dedicated to Jewish history, art, and culture in the city.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  50. Hemp Museum
    61 1 hr 30 min

    Hemp Museum

    Hanf Museum Berlin

    • High
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  51. Bröhan Museum Bröhan Museum
    63 1 hr 30 min

    Bröhan Museum

    Bröhan-Museum

    The Bröhan-Museum is a Berlin museum dedicated to Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and functionalist design. It occupies a historic building in Charlottenburg, near Schloss Charlottenburg.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  52. Kupferstichkabinett Berlin Kupferstichkabinett Berlin
    64 1 hr 30 min

    Kupferstichkabinett Berlin

    Kupferstichkabinett

    The Kupferstichkabinett Berlin is the Museum of Prints and Drawings, forming part of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. It ranks among the world's most significant collections of graphic art, housing works on paper spanning multiple centuries.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  53. MVG Museum MVG Museum
    66 1 hr 30 min

    MVG Museum

    MVG-Museum

    The MVG Museum is a transport museum in Munich dedicated to the history of public transit in the city.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  54. Bavarian State Archaeological Collection Bavarian State Archaeological Collection
    73 1 hr 30 min

    Bavarian State Archaeological Collection

    Archäologische Staatssammlung

    The Bavarian State Archaeological Collection, known locally as Archäologische Staatssammlung, is a museum institution in Munich. It serves as a central archaeological repository for Bavaria, preserving and presenting material culture from prehistoric periods through early historical eras.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  55. Beer and Oktoberfest Museum Beer and Oktoberfest Museum
    74 1 hr 30 min

    Beer and Oktoberfest Museum

    Bier- und Oktoberfestmuseum

    The Beer and Oktoberfest Museum occupies a historic townhouse in Munich's old town, housed in one of the city's oldest preserved residential buildings dating from the 14th century.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  56. Five Continents Museum Five Continents Museum
    75 1 hr 30 min

    Five Continents Museum

    Museum Fünf Kontinente

    The Five Continents Museum, known locally as Museum Fünf Kontinente, is an ethnographic museum in Munich. It houses extensive collections representing cultures from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and parts of Europe.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  57. Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München
    77 1 hr 30 min

    Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München

    Staatliche Graphische Sammlung

    The Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München is a major art museum in Munich dedicated to graphic arts. It ranks among Germany's most significant collections of drawings and prints.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  58. Munich City Museum Munich City Museum
    81 1 hr 30 min

    Munich City Museum

    Münchner Stadtmuseum

    Munich City Museum, known locally as Münchner Stadtmuseum, stands as a cultural institution dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of Munich.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  59. Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum
    84 1 hr 30 min

    Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum

    The Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum is a hunting and fishing museum located in Munich. It occupies a former Augustinian church in the city centre, near the pedestrian zone.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  60. Haidhausen-Museum Haidhausen-Museum
    87 1 hr 30 min

    Haidhausen-Museum

    Haidhausen Museum

    The Haidhausen Museum is a local history museum situated in Munich's Haidhausen district. It occupies a building in this former working-class neighbourhood that underwent significant transformation from industrial quarters to a desirable residential area.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  61. Alpine Museum Alpine Museum
    95 1 hr 30 min

    Alpine Museum

    Alpines Museum

    The Alpine Museum in Munich is a museum dedicated to the history, culture, and exploration of the Alpine region. It serves as a repository for mountaineering heritage, preserving artifacts and narratives related to the Alps across multiple countries.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  62. Das Kartoffelmuseum Das Kartoffelmuseum
    97 1 hr 30 min

    Das Kartoffelmuseum

    Pfanni Museum

    Das Kartoffelmuseum, locally known as Pfanni Museum, is a museum in Munich dedicated to the potato and its cultural significance. The institution explores the history, agricultural importance, and culinary versatility of this staple crop.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  63. Museum für Abgüsse Klassischer Bildwerke Museum für Abgüsse Klassischer Bildwerke
    98 1 hr 30 min

    Museum für Abgüsse Klassischer Bildwerke

    Museum für Abgüsse klassischer Bildwerke

    The Museum für Abgüsse Klassischer Bildwerke is a Munich museum dedicated to plaster casts of classical sculptures. It houses reproductions of ancient Greek and Roman masterpieces, allowing visitors to study iconic works without travelling to multiple countries.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  64. The New Collection The New Collection
    99 1 hr 30 min

    The New Collection

    Die neue Sammlung

    The New Collection, known locally as Die neue Sammlung, is a design museum located in Munich. It holds significance as one of the world's leading institutions dedicated to design and applied arts.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Germany be?

Seven to ten days works for Berlin plus one connected region, or for a focused Rhine, Bavaria or northern-city route. Germany’s rail network makes multi-city travel practical, but changing bases every night still reduces useful time.

What entry documents are needed for Germany?

Germany’s Federal Foreign Office is the official visa reference. Review its nationality-specific entry rules and the Schengen application guidance for the passport and route being used.

What is the best way to travel around Germany?

Intercity and high-speed trains connect Germany’s major cities, with regional services completing shorter journeys. Deutsche Bahn publishes the integrated timetable; airport choice should follow the route rather than defaulting to one national gateway.

When is a practical time to visit Germany?

May through September favours outdoor city and countryside travel, while December has a distinct seasonal-market pattern. Alpine, North Sea and urban conditions differ enough that the intended region should determine clothing and reservations.

What money and payment basics apply in Germany?

Germany uses the euro (EUR). Cash and card practices are not stated as a single national rule in the cited source, so travellers should carry a backup and check the payment method before ordering or boarding.

What practical safety details should I save for Germany?

For Germany, 112 reaches medical and fire services and 110 reaches police. Type C and F plugs use 230 V, and mains tap water is recorded as safe.