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Speyer Cathedral above town street at sunset

Germany travel guide

City breaks across Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and beyond, best from June to September

Best: Jun, Aug, Sep

Photo: Roman Eisele / Wikimedia Commons

Capital
Berlin
Language
German
Currency
Euro
Time zone
UTC+01:00
Plugs
Type C, F · 230 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
112
Entry
EU and Schengen area

Why visit Germany

Germany suits travellers who like cities. You can base a trip in Berlin, the capital, then add Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Dresden, Nuremberg or smaller Heidelberg. The best months to go are June, August and September. Germany uses the euro, and the emergency number is 112. One honest limit: all the main cities on this list are inland. If a beach is the main point of your trip, look at other places first.

  • Berlin, a large capital

    Berlin is Germany's capital and its largest city, with 3,782,202 people. It is a good base for a first trip. The official language is German.

  • Several cities of over a million

    You can plan a trip around more than one major city. Hamburg has 1,910,160 people, Munich 1,510,378 and Cologne 1,024,621. Frankfurt is smaller, with 775,790.

  • Smaller cities at a slower pace

    If big cities are not for you, try Dresden (564,904 people) or Nuremberg (529,508). Heidelberg is much smaller, with 162,960 residents, so it suits a quieter stay.

  • Clear best months to travel

    The data points to June, August and September as the best months to visit. September comes out on top, so plan around it if your dates are flexible.

  • Easy practical basics

    Germany uses the Euro and has a single time zone, UTC+01:00. Plugs are types C and F at 230 V. Cars drive on the right, and the emergency number is 112.

Is Germany right for you?

Great for

  • City-break travellers who want big cities like Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Cologne
  • Summer walkers and cyclists: June to August highs of 21.4 to 23°C, rarely too hot
  • Autumn visitors in September: highs of 18.6°C and the fewest rain days, 9.7
  • Travellers who dislike heat: even August, the warmest month, averages a 23°C high
  • Visitors from other euro countries, who can pay in Euro without changing money

Less ideal for

  • Beach holidays: none of the main cities in our data is on the coast
  • Winter sun seekers: December averages 2.4 sun hours a day and January highs reach 3°C
  • Travellers who want dry weather: rain falls on 9.7 to 15.7 days every month
  • People who hate cold: January and February lows drop to -1.5°C and -0.8°C

Germany right now: October

4.6/10
Avg high
13°C
Avg low
7°C
Rain days
12

Averages for Germany.

Weather by month

These figures cover Germany as a whole for 2015–2024, not one city: June, August and September are best, with highs of 18.6–23°C, up to 11.6 hours of sun a day and only 9.7 rain days in September. Avoid November to March, when highs stay between 3 and 8.6°C and December gets just 2.4 hours of sun a day.

Average highs and lows in Germany by month January: high 3°C, low -2°C , 16 rain days . February: high 5°C, low -1°C , 12 rain days . March: high 9°C, low 1°C , 13 rain days . April: high 12°C, low 3°C , 11 rain days . May: high 17°C, low 8°C , 11 rain days . June: high 21°C, low 12°C , 12 rain days . July: high 23°C, low 14°C , 13 rain days . August: high 23°C, low 14°C , 12 rain days . September: high 19°C, low 10°C , 10 rain days . October: high 13°C, low 7°C , 12 rain days . November: high 7°C, low 2°C , 13 rain days . December: high 5°C, low 0°C , 14 rain days . 3°C -2°C JAN 16d 5°C -1°C FEB 12d 9°C 1°C MAR 13d 12°C 3°C APR 11d 17°C 8°C MAY 11d 21°C 12°C JUN 12d 23°C 14°C JUL 13d 23°C 14°C AUG 12d 19°C 10°C SEP 10d 13°C 7°C OCT 12d 7°C 2°C NOV 13d 5°C 0°C DEC 14d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Germany (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Germany: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Berlin to Munich via Dresden and Nuremberg

  1. Day 1–3

    Berlin

    Start in the capital and the largest city on this list. Use your days to explore different neighbourhoods on foot and by public transport, and leave time for museums.

  2. Day 4

    Dresden

    Head south to Dresden, a smaller city that is easy to see in 1 day. Walk the old centre and slow down after busy Berlin.

  3. Day 5

    Nuremberg

    Continue to Nuremberg. Its compact centre suits a single day, so spend it walking the old town and trying local food.

  4. Day 6–7

    Munich

    End in Munich, the largest city in the south on this route. Take 2 days to see the centre, visit a museum or two, and relax in a beer garden.

10 days

Berlin, Hamburg and the west to Heidelberg

  1. Day 1–3

    Berlin

    Begin in the capital. It is the largest city on this list, so give it 3 days to cover the main districts, museums and food scene.

  2. Day 4–5

    Hamburg

    Move north-west to Hamburg, the second-largest city on this list. Spend 2 days walking its central districts and eating out in its many neighbourhoods.

  3. Day 6–7

    Cologne

    Travel south to Cologne. Use 2 days to explore the old town, visit museums and spend an evening in a traditional pub.

  4. Day 8

    Frankfurt

    Stop in Frankfurt for 1 day. Walk the centre and compare its modern side with the older streets.

  5. Day 9–10

    Heidelberg

    Finish in Heidelberg, the smallest city on this route. Its calm pace suits the last 2 days, with time for walks through the old town.

Food to try in Germany

Currywurst

Sliced pork sausage covered in a ketchup sauce with curry powder, often served with fries. It is a common street snack, closely linked to Berlin, and sold at stands and snack bars.

Brezel (pretzel)

A knotted bread with a dark, shiny crust and coarse salt. You find it in bakeries across the country, but it is most common in the south, especially Bavaria.

Weißwurst

A mild white veal and pork sausage from Bavaria. Locals traditionally eat it in the morning with sweet mustard, a pretzel and often a wheat beer.

Spätzle

Soft egg noodles from Swabia in the southwest. They are served as a side dish with meat and gravy, or baked with cheese and fried onions as Käsespätzle.

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

Black Forest cake: chocolate sponge layered with cream and cherries, flavoured with cherry brandy. Order it with coffee in a café during the afternoon, a common German habit.

Glühwein

Hot red wine with spices such as cinnamon and cloves. It is the classic drink at Christmas markets in winter, usually served in a mug that you return for a deposit.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Sockets take plug types C and F, and the supply is 230 V. Bring an adapter if your plugs are different. Check that your chargers and devices can handle 230 V before you plug them in.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right in Germany. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and when you first pull out.
  • Emergency number: Call 112 in an emergency. Save it in your phone before you travel so you do not need to look it up.
  • Currency: Germany uses the Euro. If you arrive from another Euro country, you will not need to change money.
  • Language: The official language is German. Learning a few basic German phrases, such as greetings and thank you, will help in daily situations.
  • Time zone: Germany is on UTC+01:00. Check the time difference with home before you book calls or plan your first day.
  • Phone calling code: The country calling code is +49. Use it when you call a German number from a phone registered abroad.

Germany: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Germany?

September is the best month to visit Germany, followed by June and August. September scores 8.1 out of 10. Days reach about 18.6°C and nights stay near 10.2°C. It also has the fewest rain days of the year, at 9.7. June and August both score 7.6. May (7.2) and July (7.4) are also good choices.

Is Germany good in August?

Yes, August is one of the 3 best months to visit Germany. It is the warmest month, with highs of 23°C and lows of 13.9°C. You get about 10.9 hours of sun a day. But it is not dry. August has 71 mm of rain over 12.1 rain days, so pack a rain jacket.

Should I visit Germany in winter?

Not if good weather matters to you. November to March are all rated months to avoid. January scores just 0.8 out of 10, with highs of 3°C, lows of -1.5°C and 15.7 rain days. December has only 2.4 hours of sun a day, the least of the year. Expect cold, grey and often wet days.

Is April or October a good time to visit Germany?

Both are acceptable but not ideal. April scores 5 and October 4.6. April is cool, with highs of 12.4°C and lows of 3.4°C, but gets 9.8 hours of sun a day. October is slightly warmer at 13.1°C by day and 6.8°C at night, but has only 5.7 hours of sun a day. Bring warm layers for either month.

What plugs and voltage does Germany use?

Germany uses plug types C and F, with a voltage of 230 V. If your devices use a different plug, bring an adapter. Check that your chargers work at 230 V before you plug them in.

What do I need to know about money, driving and emergencies in Germany?

Germany uses the Euro. People drive on the right side of the road. The emergency number is 112. The country calling code is +49. The main language is German.

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