One week in Germany: a multi-city route
Berlin south to Munich by train, with Dresden's rebuilt old town and Nuremberg's castle in between.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
How do you spend a week in Germany?
A one-way Deutsche Bahn route from Berlin south to Munich, with Dresden and Nuremberg slotted in as the line goes. Only the Dresden to Nuremberg leg needs a change, and even that is a single connection. Berlin's Wayside walking tours are live now; Dresden, Nuremberg, and Munich are researched here with tours on the way.
- Three nights
The capital, at walking pace
Start in Berlin because it holds the densest cluster of walkable ground in the country. The Wayside Imperial Spine walk runs from the Brandenburg Gate along Unter den Linden to Bebelplatz and onto Museum Island's cathedral. The Bernauer Strasse walk is the one place the full Wall system still stands, from the sealed windows to the watchtower. A third walk threads the old Jewish quarter through the Hackesche Hofe courtyards. Near the gate, the Reichstag's glass dome and the Holocaust Memorial sit a short walk apart. Berlin's twentieth century is not locked in one museum; it is written across the streets.
- TransitDirect trains to Dresden take about 1 hour 50 minutes; typical one-way fares run around €22, less with advance Saver tickets.SourceOmio
- Two nights
The rebuilt baroque
Wayside tour coming soonDresden is the route's most concentrated single sight. The Frauenkirche, bombed flat in 1945 and rebuilt from its own salvaged stones, reopened in 2005 and sits steps from the Zwinger, the Semperoper, and the terrace above the Elbe. The whole baroque core is walkable in a long afternoon. Save the extra hours for the Grünes Gewölbe, the Green Vault treasury inside the Residenzschloss, or cross the river to the Neustadt for its courtyards and bars. Give Dresden a full day; it rewards time more than a rushed stop.
- TransitOnward trains to Nuremberg take about 3 hours 15 minutes with one change, usually via Leipzig or Hof; Saver fares start around €18.SourceOmio
- One night
The medieval hinge
Wayside tour coming soonNuremberg is the compact medieval stop between Dresden and Munich. Climb to the Kaiserburg above the half-timbered Altstadt, cross the Pegnitz on its covered bridges, and eat the city's small grilled bratwurst at a cellar near the castle. Albrecht Dürer's house sits just below the fortress. For the harder history, take a tram southeast to the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, where the Documentation Center fills part of the unfinished Congress Hall. One night covers the old town; add a second only if the rally grounds matter to you.
- TransitThe direct ICE to Munich takes about 1 hour 10 minutes; Saver fares run roughly €16 to €20 booked ahead.SourceOmio
- Three nights
The Bavarian finish
Wayside tour coming soonMunich closes the route with the south's scale and comfort. Start at Marienplatz for the Glockenspiel, walk through the Residenz, then drift into the Englischer Garten, larger than New York's Central Park, where surfers ride the Eisbach wave year-round. The Alte Pinakothek holds one of Europe's great old-master collections. From here you can day-trip to Neuschwanstein, Ludwig II's hilltop castle, or to Dachau, the first concentration camp, both reachable on regional rail. End in Munich for the airport and the direct high-speed line back north.
- CostMunich's hotels run high in peak season; budget toward the upper end of the €130 to €200 mid-range daily band there.SourceTravel with Hello
Less time?
Short on time? Cut Nuremberg and run Berlin, Dresden, Munich, still one clean rail line south. Or keep all four and give Dresden a single full day instead of two nights, using the late afternoon train onward.
Planning your route
Which cities should I visit on a first trip to Germany?
Berlin, Dresden, Nuremberg, and Munich make the cleanest first route: one rail line south, four different Germanys. Berlin carries the capital and the twentieth century, Dresden the rebuilt baroque, Nuremberg the medieval old town and the Nazi rally grounds, Munich the Bavarian south. With more time, add Hamburg at the start or the Rhine towns after Munich.
Do I need a German Rail Pass or point-to-point tickets?
For three long train legs, point-to-point Saver fares are usually cheaper than a pass, especially booked early. A pass earns its price only with same-day flexibility or several extra day trips. A 3-day 2nd-class Flexi pass starts at €223 in 2026.
SourceDeutsche BahnCan I do this route without a car?
Yes. Every leg runs on Deutsche Bahn, and only Dresden to Nuremberg needs a change. The four city centers are walkable, and each city has trams or an U-Bahn for the rest.
More of Germany
- Walking toursWalking tours in GermanyGermany'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.
- 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.
Do it yourself
Follow it in the app
Download the Berlin walking tours, then take the same train line south to Dresden, Nuremberg, and Munich.
Provenance · last verified August 19, 2026
Researched and routed by Wayside, with inter-city detail checked against the source.
SourcesTravel with HelloBudget Your TripDeutsche BahnTrainlineOmioOmioOmio
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash