Germany

Germany’s regions feel almost like separate countries. Berlin is creative and open, a city of museums, memorials and late nights, with Potsdam’s palaces half an hour away. Munich is the heart of Bavaria, with beer halls, baroque churches and the Alps on the horizon, and the road south leads to Neuschwanstein Castle. Along the Rhine, Cologne’s twin-spired cathedral dominates the skyline, while Düsseldorf and Frankfurt balance business with old-town charm.

Smaller places are often the highlight. Heidelberg has a ruined castle above a university town on the Neckar, Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a walled medieval town that looks barely changed, and Nuremberg and Dresden have rebuilt their historic centres with great care. Hamburg, with its harbour and the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, brings a maritime feel, and Baden-Baden is a spa town of thermal baths and elegant villas.

Food and drink

Regional cooking is hearty and varied: pretzels and white sausage in Bavaria, Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte in the Black Forest, currywurst in Berlin and fish sandwiches in Hamburg. Beer is brewed everywhere, from Munich’s lagers to Cologne’s Kölsch, and the Rhine and Mosel valleys produce excellent Riesling. In winter, Glühwein and gingerbread take over the market squares.

How to travel

Germany’s rail network makes multi-city trips simple, and our rail tours link it with the Netherlands, Austria, Czechia, Poland and Hungary. Self-drive itineraries suit the Romantic Road and the Rhine valley, while private van tours handle the luggage and the planning. City breaks in Berlin or Munich, day tours and, from late November, our Christmas market walks in Berlin, Nuremberg and other cities complete the picture.