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From beerhalls and boat trips to wine tours and World War history, Germany offers a wide range of experiences for the visitor. There are lots of ways to explore the country, its culture, and its history. For example, you could drive a Cold War-era Trabant around Berlin, take a Jewish heritage tour to explore life in the city during World War II, or visit Munich’s beerhalls and Oktoberfest museum.

Outside the cities, you can hike along lush mountain trails in the Bavarian Alps, discover castles, walled cities, and medieval towns as you drive the Romantic Road, tour Rhine Valley vineyards, or explore fairy-tale castles that became the inspiration for Hollywood classics.

In Germany, you can stay in medieval castles, historic spa hotels, sleek urban hideaways, and traditional Bavarian guesthouses. You might choose to start your trip with a stay in a historic mansion in Frankfurt or a stylish apartment in Berlin, then follow it with time at a lakeside, family-run hotel in the Black Forest, or a Belle Époque spa hotel in Baden-Baden, a city long dedicated to wellness.

Or you could choose a chic, contemporary hotel in Dresden, modern, minimalist design in Nuremburg, or an Art Deco retreat with a Michellin-starred restaurant in Munich.

To get some more ideas and to start planning your trip, take a look at our collection of places to stay in Germany.

Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg are some of Germany’s most popular destinations, but you’ll also find plenty of interest in Bavaria, the Black Forest, and the Rhine Valley. Germany’s capital, Berlin, is a progressive, cultural city with a poignant past and is a great place to explore everything from World War II history to edgy street art.

Munich offers medieval castles, baroque churches, and access to the Romantic Road, while Hamburg has an ultra-modern riverside concert hall and a clamorous fish market. For pastoral mountain valleys and heavenly hiking head for the Black Forest, or for thermal baths and wellness retreats Baden-Baden is the place to go.

Bavaria is awash with castles, beer gardens, and medieval cities and is home to the whimsical, fairy-tale castle of Neuschwanstein, while you could finish a trip by relaxing on Sylt, an island retreat known for its long sandy beaches, oyster farms, and pastoral beauty.

It takes around seven and a half hours to fly from the East Coast of the US to Germany, and around 11 hours from the West Coast.

The time zone in Germany is UTC+1 hour. Daylight Savings Time is observed from the last Sunday of March through the last Sunday of October.

The best way to get around in Germany is by train and car. The German rail network is extensive and reliable and makes getting between major destinations easy. You can also rent a car for complete freedom, or we can arrange for a private vehicle with a driver-guide to take you between destinations.

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for Germany. Enter where you’re traveling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

• Entry requirements travel tool

Speak to your doctor about immunizations needed for travel to Germany and make sure you’re up to date with routine vaccinations at home. You can also check the recommended vaccinations by visiting the .