Walking tours in Germany
Germany's best first trip is a straight rail line south, not a loop. Berlin anchors the start with live Wayside walks from the Brandenburg Gate down Unter den Linden to Museum Island, along the preserved Wall on Bernauer Strasse, and through the old Jewish quarter of the Scheunenviertel. From Berlin the train runs to Dresden, whose baroque old town was rebuilt stone by stone after the 1945 firestorm, then to Nuremberg's imperial castle and half-timbered lanes, and finally to Munich's Marienplatz, Residenz, and beer gardens. Every leg is a train ride; a car only slows you down. Berlin carries the twentieth century. The three southern cities carry the older Germany of electors, guilds, and Bavarian kings.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
When is the best time to visit Germany?
Spring
- Months
- March to May
- Weather
- Mild and changeable; bring layers and a light jacket, with rain possible in any month.SourceDW Travel
- Crowds
- Shoulder season. Cities are comfortable, and the weeks around the Easter school holidays can spike hotel prices and queues at the big sights.
Summer
Autumn
- Months
- September to November
- Weather
- Mild turning cool; bring sweaters and a light jacket, and expect rain.SourceDW Travel
- Crowds
- Shoulder season again. Munich is packed for Oktoberfest in late September and early October, then the rest of the country goes quiet through October and November.
| Season | Months | Weather | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | March to May | Mild and changeable; bring layers and a light jacket, with rain possible in any month.SourceDW Travel | Shoulder season. Cities are comfortable, and the weeks around the Easter school holidays can spike hotel prices and queues at the big sights. |
| Summer | June to August | Warm, sometimes hot, with afternoon thunderstorms possible in July and August; shorts and a T-shirt are the norm.SourceDW TravelFrommer's | Peak season. Rates and queues are highest from late June through August, and festivals fill city weekends. |
| Autumn | September to November | Mild turning cool; bring sweaters and a light jacket, and expect rain.SourceDW Travel | Shoulder season again. Munich is packed for Oktoberfest in late September and early October, then the rest of the country goes quiet through October and November. |
| Winter | December to February | Cold and often below freezing, with snow possible inland and in the south; days are short and grey.SourceDW TravelFrommer's | Low season in January and February, with December busy in the Christmas market cities and ski areas. |
Highlights across Germany
- The Brandenburg Gate and the Quadriga above it, where Unter den Linden begins.
- Museum Island's five museums on the Spree; the Pergamonmuseum stays closed for renovation until June 2027 while the others remain open.
- The preserved Berlin Wall strip on Bernauer Strasse: inner wall, death strip, watchtower, and outer wall in one block.
- The East Side Gallery, the longest surviving stretch of the Wall, painted by 118 artists in 1990.
- The eight Art Nouveau courtyards of the Hackesche Hofe in the old Barn Quarter.
- The Reichstag's glass dome and, a short walk away, Peter Eisenman's field of 2,711 concrete stelae at the Holocaust Memorial.
- Dresden's Frauenkirche, rebuilt from its own rubble and reconsecrated in 2005.
- Nuremberg's Kaiserburg above the half-timbered Altstadt and the Hauptmarkt below.
- Munich's Marienplatz Glockenspiel and the Englischer Garten, with its Eisbach surfers.
Where to walk in Germany
Planning a trip to Germany
Do I need a visa for Germany?
US, UK, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand passport holders can enter Germany without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period for tourism. The EU's ETIAS entry authorization for visa-exempt visitors is expected to launch soon; check the official portal before you book flights.
Is Germany expensive?
Germany sits in the middle for Western Europe. A mid-range traveler spends roughly €130 to €200 per person per day in 2026, with Munich and Hamburg at the top of that band and Nuremberg and Dresden below it. Bakeries, kebab shops, and city day passes keep food and transport down; hotels and museum entries do the most damage.
SourceTravel with HelloWhen is the best time to visit Germany?
May, June, and September have long daylight and mild weather without July and August's peak prices. December brings the Christmas markets, strongest in Nuremberg and Dresden, but with short days and cold. Book early for Munich during Oktoberfest, which runs from late September into early October.
How do I get around German cities?
A city day pass is the workhorse. Berlin's day ticket runs roughly €9 to €12.30 depending on zones, and Dresden, Nuremberg, and Munich have similar all-day options on their trams and U-Bahn lines. For the long legs between cities, book train tickets ahead.
SourceTravel with HelloMore of Germany
- ItineraryOne week in GermanyBerlin south to Munich by train, with Dresden's rebuilt old town and Nuremberg's castle in between.
- Know before you goGermany essentialsGermany's know-before-you-go: entry rules, the euro and cash, fast trains between cities, Autobahn driving, plugs, and the nine national holidays that close the shops.
Plan your visit
Take Germany with you.
Download the Berlin walking tours, then take the same train line south to Dresden, Nuremberg, and Munich.
Provenance · last verified August 19, 2026
Researched by Wayside, with every operational fact checked against the source.
Sourcesdeutschland.dedeutschland.deDAADDW TravelFrommer'sTravel with Hello
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Photo by Florian Wehde on Unsplash