When the then-Soviet Union in 1948 choked off West Berlin from any supplies, the Allies started the massive Berlin Airlift supply operation to Tempelhof. You can visit Tempelhof’s history.
Germany
Where will your dreams take you?Germany is a modern and cosmopolitan country steeped in history (countless museums, castles, quaint villages and cobblestone roads) and rich in amazing natural beauty (the country boasts 16 national parks, 104 nature reserves and 15 recognized biosphere reserves). Between the North Sea and Baltic coasts in the north and the peaks of the Alps in the south there are checkerboard agricultural areas, vineyards, forests, rolling hillsides and craggy mountains. Use our many stories below to begin planning your next visit to Germany.
PASSPORTS: Citizens of European Union countries simply need a valid identity card. Citizens of any other country seeking to enter Germany will need a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date from Germany with at least two blank pages. Click on the banner below to determine if you will also need a visa for your visit.
By Plane – Most international flights will arrive and depart from one of five major international airports – Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, and Berlin.
By Train – It is easy to get to almost anywhere in Germany on either the fast train (InterCityExpress) or the other lines (InterCity, EuroCity, and InterRegio). For booking information, go to the Deutsche Bahn website here.
By Bus – FlixBus / MeinFernbus offer affordable and convenient intercity bus service connecting many towns and cities in Germany, as well as other international European destinations.
By Car – Travel by car is very easy in Germany and renting a car relatively uncomplicated. But there are a few things to keep top of mind. First, many German towns and cities have designated low emission zones, meaning only certain vehicles meeting established low emission standards and bearing a color-coded sticker are permitted. Learn more about the emission stickers here. Second, while the autobahn has suggested speed limits in places, in other places and most certainly on most roads, speed limits are strictly enforced. And those speed limits can change in a blink of an eye, typically right before a speed-trap camera catches you flying by. If you rent a car, stay within the speed limits at all times and drive carefully!!!
Language – The main language in Germany is Deutsch (German). Many Germans, especially younger ones and those living in larger cities speak English sufficiently well that tourists and visitors who do not speak German and those whose Deutsch is “nicht sehr gut” (not so good) will be able to communicate just fine. Still, it’s always a good idea to learn a few German language basics so that you feel more comfortable shopping and in a restaurant.
Learn to speak a bit of German so you can get around more easily and don’t stand out as a tourist! Read our story Start to learn languages – Top language learning apps and websites.
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Time Zone — UTC (+01:00)
Currency — Euro (€)
Best time to visit — May through September.
Country Code — +49
Health – Ticks are prevalent in many forested regions in Germany and carry Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Be sure to use insect repellent and wear insect repellent clothing when walking in forests and fields. Ask your doctor about needing a TBE vaccination if you plan to spend significant time walking in forested areas.
For over-the-counter medications and seeking minor health issue advice (sore muscles, cough, cold, etc.) you will go to an Apotheka. Should you need a doctor or emergency care while in Germany, be sure your health insurance will cover you internationally — and at what level. We strongly advise purchasing travel insurance that that has emergency medical coverage sufficient enough to cover you in the event of an emergency.
Emergencies – To reach the police, fire department or ambulance service, dial 112. Calling 112 is free from any landline or mobile phone. This is throughout Europe.
Late spring to early autumn (think May through early October) are the best times to visit if you are seeking warmer, sunnier weather — this is also the most crowded time to visit as a result.
To check the latest weather for any destination you are thinking of heading to in Germany, visit our weather page complete with weather radar and minute-by-minute forecasting.
Time travel through German history in the Deutschlandmuseum Berlin
The Deutschlandmuseum Berlin is like no other museum we have ever experienced. You get 2000 years of German history presented interactively and educationally as 12 epochs. You leave feeling as if you’ve truly lived the history.
Dresden Christmas market guide: historic Striezelmarkt plus seven more
Dresden Germany prides itself on its Christmas markets, holiday cheer, bright lights, and festive spirit. And well it should as the Striezelmarkt is thought to be the oldest Christmas market in the world. These are eight of what we think are the best Dresden Christmas markets to help you plan your European Christmas market visits.
20 top things to do in Dresden: a weekend travel guide
There are so many things to do in Dresden, a weekend is hardly enough. Food, wine, river views, art galleries, WWII history, and architecture, Dresden should be a must-visit for anyone traveling to Germany.
The 8 best Christmas Markets in Germany you must visit
Christmas markets in Germany offer warmth and good cheer during the holiday season. Dreaming of visiting some of the best Christmas markets in Germany on a winter holiday? Here are a few of the top ones to add to your travel list.
The ultimate guide to finding the best Berlin views
Germany’s capital city of Berlin is not lacking in high places for great views of the Berlin skyline. 17 places top our ultimate list of scenic Berlin views for you to enjoy.
The ultimate guide to the 12 best Christmas markets in Berlin
When it comes to Christmas in Berlin, there are dozens of Christmas markets – so many that it can be difficult to choose the best Christmas markets in Berlin. Here are our top picks to experience among the best Berlin Christmas markets.
Best Berlin museums highlighted during Long Night of Museums Berlin
Imagine staying up all night going in and out of any number of Berlin museums. When the annual Long Night of Museums in Berlin rolled around, we joined in the fun — wandering through museums until 2 a.m. It is a great way to explore some of the best Berlin museums.
Potsdam Palace Night with artists, food, fun in Park Sanssouci
Potsdam Palace Night lets you stay out late with your friends in Park Sanssouci enjoying artists, illuminations, food, and drink – sans curfew – just fun in the dark at a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Iconic Berlin TV Tower promises best views in Berlin
The Berlin TV Tower’s distinctive needle and giant sphere is visible throughout Berlin, and it is still the tallest building in Germany. From the panoramic floor or restaurant inside the sphere high above Berlin, visitors enjoy some of the best views in Berlin.
Gulliver in Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg, the world’s largest model railway
Travel around the world in under a day at Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg – the world’s largest model railway. Stride like Gulliver through an ever-expanding miniature world that includes Europe, the United States, and soon South America.
Danube cycle path – biking the Danube from Regensburg to Vienna
The Danube cycle path from Regensburg, Germany to Vienna, Austria, is a very popular and classic cycling route for a reason – mostly flat bike paths beside a very scenic section of the Danube River.
Cozy Henri Hotel Hamburg: best boutique hotel in Hamburg
Nestling into the Henri Hotel in Hamburg, Germany, just feels warm and cozy. The Henri Hotel is truly one of the best boutique hotels in Hamburg – casual luxury with a touch of attitude and humor.
Berlin gasometer: best sunrise to sunset views of Berlin
Travel with us on a Berlin gasometer tour to experience what could arguably be one of the best views of Berlin, sunrise to sunset. View a photo gallery and video of our gasometer tour to get a look at an adventure of a lifetime. The 360-degree views of Berlin from the top of the gasometer were stunning, night or day.
Put St Nikolai Kirche memorial in Hamburg on your list
The St Nikolai Kirche has been a part of the Hamburg skyline since the 12th century. In ruins since World War II, just its spire remains standing. The spire and restored crypt below serve as a haunting and moving memorial to the horror of war’s devastation.
Christmas Garden Berlin at the Botanical Garden: 2021 photo tour
The beloved Christmas Garden Berlin, closed due to the pandemic in 2020, returned in 2021, for its magical, illuminated journey through the Botanical Garden Berlin. Enjoy a photo and video tour of the 2021 trail of lights and music.
Seelow Heights museum memorializes Battle of Berlin horrors
In the last days of World War II, the Battle of the Seelow Heights to the east of Berlin was a bloody massacre. The small Seelow Heights museum and memorial features exhibits, artifacts, and graves documenting the Battle of Berlin and the tens of thousands of lives lost in just three days.
Best Berlin Photos – Our favorite Berlin Instagram photos
Berlin is endlessly fascinating and remains one of our favorite cities in the world to photograph and explore. We’ve included a few of our top Berlin photos in this Best Berlin Photos – Our favorite Berlin Instagram photos post. Scroll through to discover what to see on your Berlin visit.
Visiting the Reichstag Dome – Amazing Berlin views and history
If you are planning a trip to Berlin, then visiting the Reichstag dome is an absolute must, not only for the Berlin views, but for the amazing history. The Reichstag dome and the Reichstag building along with the celebrated TV tower have become iconic symbols of Germany’s capital, Berlin.
Christmas at the Tierpark in Berlin – a shining Christmas wonderland
While we can’t promise falling snow, Christmas at the Tierpark in Berlin (also known as Christmas at the Zoo and Weihnachten im Tierpark) comes as close as you can get to a perfectly illuminated Christmas wonderland.
Understanding German Christmas market drinks – a short guide
German Christmas market drinks, options and choices. Having a Gluhwein at a German Christmas market seems an easy choice: hot mulled red wine in mug. But do you want a shot with that? Or a different flavor? German Christmas market drinks have become big business. So many choices. We’ll help you decide and know how to ask for what you want.
Christmas Garden Berlin – Christmas lights and mulled wine
There is something very magical about Christmas lights at the Christmas Garden Berlin. Add in equal parts of Christmas music and servings of hot glühwein (German spiced mulled wine), and you have the recipe for an enchanting evening at the Berlin Botanic Garten.
Fall of the Berlin Wall 30th anniversary celebration
Berlin commemorated the fall of the Berlin Wall with a 30th anniversary celebration in 2019. We have complete Berlin Wall links and information for your next visit to Berlin.
Berlin October days filled with a festival of lights
The Festival of Lights in Berlin and Berlin Leuchtet (Berlin Illuminated) provide a delightful bright diversion for anyone visiting Berlin in October. The two light festivals illuminate hundreds of Berlin buildings, parks, monuments and facades with dancing lights, often moving to music.
Enchanting Botanical Nights at the Berlin Botanical Gardens
Botanical Nights in the Botanical Garden Berlin make visiting a botanical garden something full of mystery, magic, intrigue, musicians, lightshows and fun. Plants, trees, greenhouses and ponds come alive during Berlin’s Botanical Nights. The cover photo for this story was awarded a Gold Medal by the North American Travel Journalists Association for travel photography.
What to do in Regensburg: The ultimate Regensburg city guide
Regensburg is Germany’s “best-preserved” with plenty do do and see. Things to do in Regensburg include wandering along medieval streets in Old Town (Altstadt), walk across the Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge) spanning the Danube, and see Roman walls, tour churches, towers and even a torture chamber.
What to do in Munich: The ultimate Munich city guide
Munich is more than Oktoberfest, and we’ll tell you what the city offers: Englischer Garten, Marienplatz city square, museums, architectural gems, amazing food, and even surfing. Our ultimate Munich city guide will inspire you.
Things to do in Hamburg: The ultimate Hamburg city guide
Looking for things to do in Hamburg? Hamburg is one of the must-see destinations in Europe. Our Hamburg city guide highlights nightlife, the Elbphilharmonie, restaurants, and historic sites.
Things to do in Berlin: The best travel guide to Berlin sights
Wondering what to do in Berlin? Berlin is cosmopolitan, worldly, quirky, exotic, bohemian, evolving, vibrant, alive. Watch a sunset from the TV Tower, visit the Reichstag, the Berliner Dom, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall Memorial, the East Side Gallery, or simply walk along the Spree.
Great carnival parades in Europe: Think small (Updated February 2019)
Known in the United States as Mardi Gras (actually French for “Fat Tuesday), the traditions of excessive celebrations and outrageous carnival parades prior to the pre-Easter fasting during Lent date back many centuries in Europe. But you don’t have to head to the crowd-filled streets of big towns like Germany’s Cologne or Dusseldorf, France’s Nice, or Switzerland’s Basel to experience some great carnival parades in Europe. And you don’t even have to indulge in excess!
Stasi sights in Berlin not to miss
No visit to Berlin should be without a closer look at history – specifically the horrific history of East Germany’s former secret police, the Stasi. These Stasi sights in Berlin should find a place on your to-do list.
Berlin open-air exhibit traces fall of the Berlin wall
As a part of the developing “Campus for Democracy” at the former headquarters of East Germany’s state security or Stasi in Berlin, an open-air exhibit details the fall of the Berlin Wall and the peaceful revolution Berlin that helped bring about German unity.
Stasi archives Berlin – Stash of secret police records now open
For more than three decades, the dreaded state police (Stasi) in East Germany kept reams of secret files on its citizens. As of 2018, the Stasi archives Berlin are open for public tours.
Stasi Museum Leipzig – Inside the Stasi reign of terror
The Stasi Museum Leipzig in “Runde Ecke,” or “round corner,” is where the Stasi had its headquarters in one of former East Germany’s important industrial cities. It is one of a number of Stasi museums and sights that are scattered across former East Germany.
Urban Nation Berlin street art museum reopens with new exhibits
After being open just a year, the Urban Nation Berlin street art museum re-opened with a reinvention that truly speaks to its roots. A new street art exhibit, redesigned interior with an authentic street feel, and a number of street artists residences make this museum in Berlin a must to visit for art lovers of all kinds.
Hohenschönhausen Memorial – Reliving the Stasi prison Berlin horrors
Many hundreds died in the Hohenschönhausen Stasi memorial prison in Berlin during its operation, with several hundred thousand spending time there as prisoners over its 40+ years. You can only visit Hohenschönhausen with a guide, many of whom were former prisoners.
Stasi Museum Berlin brings alive Stasi terror
The Stasi Museum Berlin brings alive the terror lived by GDR’s residents for 41 years before the Berlin Wall fell. Inside the Stasi museum walls a visitor is reminded why the Stasi secret police force of former East Germany was one of the most feared agencies in Europe.
Teufelsberg Berlin: Abandoned spy post a Berlin street art gallery
Teufelsberg Berlin is at once bizarre, haunting, edgy, eerie, beautiful, inspiring, and unnerving. Which makes the ruins of the former National Security Agency listening post a perfect haven for street and urban artists.
Urban Nation museum showcases street art in Berlin
Urban Nation museum showcases street art in Berlin is like no other, uniting not only the nation but also the world as it turns the German capital into a giant international open-air street art gallery. Urban Nation is just the beginning of your tour for great street art in Berlin.
Prenzlauer Berg Wasserturm: history, wine, and Berlin’s underground
The Prenzlauer Berg Wasserturm, an eye-catching round tower in the middle of Berlin, is for most simply a city park with a couple of nice-looking structures. If your timing is good, travelers can time-travel with area experts to the cisterns underground, plus learn more about Berlin’s water supply history.
Munich Peace Church a treasure built of garbage
The East-West Peace Church is hidden in a grove of trees in Munich’s busy Olympic Park. Most visitors will walk right past the little forest, but you should in fact make a beeline for the historic homestead.
Munich NS Documentation Center teaches terror of Nazi reign
Not all museums are pretty, happy places. The NS Documentation Center in Munich takes a hard, sometimes painful, often horrifying look at the rise of Hitler’s National Socialist party (NS), the Nazi terror, and indeed how this relates to today’s world events.
White Rose Museum a haunting memorial to anti-Nazi movement
Next time you are in Munich, be sure to plan a visit to the White Rose museum. Given the Nazi terror and influence in Munich during World War II, it is not surprising that the White Rose resistance group and the likes of Sophie Scholl came from the university in Munich.
Hamburg Elbphilharmonie a city icon on the Elbe River
At a promontory on the Elbe River in Hamburg the glistening Elbphilharmonie concert hall is a distinct landmark in HafenCity since its opening in January 2017, becoming a Hamburg city icon in the process.
5 great Berlin street food markets
As the burgeoning and bustling capital of Germany, Berlin offers an addicting restaurant scene with any international or trendy cuisine you may desire. But in keeping with its gritty, artistic ways, Berlin has a superior street food market scene. We show you 5 great Berlin street food markets you won’t want to miss.
Thai Park Berlin a feast for eyes and tummies
Germany’s capital of Berlin offers every international food imaginable, in restaurants, street markets or, in the case of the most authentic Thai food in the city, spread across a park. Thai Wiese (Thai Park) comes alive every weekend with arguably the best Thai food in Berlin.
Q110 Bank of the Future in Berlin by Deutsche Bank is now Quartier Zukunft
Open since 2016, this remarkable Deutsche Bank branch in Berlin has been called “Q110 Bank” or “Bank of the Future.” Now just known as Quartier Zukunft, we remain enthralled by the unique banking space with a cafe, greenhouse, meeting spaces and, of course, banking.
Haunting history on Berlin Underground tours
Underground city tours always seemed to be a tourist come-on to me, but then I discovered Berlin Underground tours. Not a for-profit business, not a tour that drops you off in a gift shop, not a tour that starts in a bar and highlights raucous partying, this is the real deal in Berlin’s Underground.
Quick Prenzlauer Berg travel guide to a Berlin hotspot
One of our favorite areas in Berlin is the artsy cool Prenzlauer Berg. Our Prenzlauer Berg travel guide will point you to the top things to do in this Berlin hot spot. Kollwitzplatz and Kastanienallee are particularly beautiful Prenzlauer Berg streets. Farmers markets, street festivals and more are regular occurrences.
Artist’s Diary – A colorful market near Cafe Anna Blume
As we sat at dinner at Café Anne Blume sipping wine on the patio on a warm summer evening, I became entranced by the colors of a small market across the street. I just had to “paint and draw” the scene using my iPad for this watercolor view from Café Anna Blume.
Artist’s war memorial at Berlin Bethlehemkirchplatz
The memorial on the Berlin Bethlehemkirchplatz (Bethlehem Church Square) is actually the work of Spanish artist Juan Garaizabel to commemorate the Bohemian Bethlehem Church. This small church was built for Bohemian evangelical refugees in about 1735 and was a center of the community. It was destroyed by bombing in 1943.
Busy bee in Hamburg’s Planten un Blomen garden
A visit to the Planten un Blomen Garden on your Hamburg tour is a must, whether you are a flower and garden lover, adore open spaces, enjoy dancing water fountains, or just want a nice place for a stroll or picnic. Now, not many non-Germans head there – obvious in the fact that the official Hamburg tourism website doesn’t have the garden’s page translated into English!
Small historic Munich chapel worth a side trip
Bigger is not always better. Sometime small, like a historic Munich chapel, can be a travel must-see. The Marienklause Chapel in Munich is worth a close look.
Berlin Bank of the Future by Deutsche Bank
A concierge? A gift and trinket store? A bar and coffeehouse? Waiters and fine décor? This is a bank? Yes, this is Germany’s “Deutsche Bank” — the so-called “Bank of the Future” in central Berlin, the company’s one-and-only concept bank where it tests ideas for the world.
Tiny German town answers letters to Santa for over 50 years
It takes dedication to answer children’s letters to Santa Claus, whether he’s known as St. Nick, Father Christmas or Kris Kringle. But a few namesake towns around the world do just that – letters by the many thousands every year, year after year. There is one special town that answers letters to Santa Claus: Nikolausdorf (Nicholas village) in Lower Saxony in Northern Germany. With a population that barely brushes 1,000, it has its work cut out for it to answer nearly 8,000 letters each year.
Kellerwald Forchheim beer gardens: a Franconian forest secret
“Off to the cellar” is what you’ll hear from Forchheim locals when they disappear into the forest on trails (“auf die Keller”). What that means in local slang is that they are headed to a beehive of popular beer gardens — the Kellerwald Forchheim beer gardens — nestled deep in the Upper Bavarian forest dubbed Franconian Switzerland.
Berlin Turkish Market: flavors, food, deals in oriental bazaar setting
I visited the Berlin Turkish Market for the first time when you bumped into the graffiti-covered Berlin Wall after walking its length, and the Kreuzberg area of town was one of the few where Turkish guest workers were allowed to live.
Discover Berlin walking tour: shortlist of top sites
Berlin is one of our favorite cities in the world. And we want to lead you on a walking tour of its top sites. Follow along as we send you on a self-guided walk of some of the top sights in Berlin.
Englischer Garten in Munich: a magical urban escape
The Englischer Garten in Munich, Germany, is one of the largest city parks in the world. It provides for a magical escape from Munich’s busy urban streets.
Sophie Scholl Memorial: tribute to White Rose student resistance
The Sophie Scholl memorial in Munich looks like loose pieces of paper scattered on the ground in front of the University of Munich building. In actuality, the Sophie Scholl papers are attached permanently to the ground in front of the main entrance on the “Geschwister Scholl Platz.” A fitting tribute to the White Rose Movement.
Berlin Wall 25th anniversary commemorates fall and freedom
It’s been 25 years since the Berlin Wall came tumbling down … suddenly, surprisingly, peacefully. Memories of the wall’s horrors seem like yesterday to those of us old enough to remember it and to have personally seen the wall and its “death zone.” The Berlin Wall 25th Anniversary remembrance reminds us to never forget.
Harz Mountains Brockenbahn railway – an awesome narrow gauge train
No visit to the Harz Mountains in Germany should be considered complete without riding on the historic and thoroughly magical “Brockenbahn” railway. The Brocken narrow gauge Harz Mountain train is powered by steam engines and winds its way to the peak of the Brocken, the highest point in the Harz.
Walking the Berlin Wall by following the bricks
The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 but walking the Berlin Wall is a reminder of an era that remains frightening and unbelievable. Walking the Berlin Wall is a way to see Berlin history.
Hike to the Quedlinburg Old Watch Tower in the Harz Mountains
The Quedlinburg Old Watch Tower (“Altenburgwarte”) is located approximately 0.5 miles from the southwest edge of Quedlinburg in the Harz mountains. Nearby there are wonderful views over Quedlinburg and the surrounding area.
Visit a Packaging Museum in quaint Heidelberg?
Folks usually end up in Heidelberg, Germany, in awe of the medieval castle looming over the city, but we’re writing about a Packaging Museum? Yep, its worth a visit!
Quedlinburg: An ubercute village in Germany’s Harz mountains
Even many Germans haven’t heard of Quedlinburg in the Harz Mountains when we first visited in 2013. Yet we found Quedlinburg to be beyond-cute, chock full of history, surrounded by beautiful landscapes, and wonderful for wandering or simply hanging out over cafe and cheesecake.
Dine, Wine, Dawdle and Doze when visiting Berlin
When visiting Berlin, live like a local … with an apartment in the trendy “Mitte” area on the edge of the rather cool, somewhat gritty, but fascinating “Prenzlauer Berg” area (former East).
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