Germany travel guide

7 places Flewaway plans in Germany, with what's free, where to stay, getting around and what a day usually costs.

Plan a trip to Germany

Places

BerlinCold War history, free memorials, big parks and nightlife till dawn
CologneA giant Gothic cathedral, Rhine-side taverns and a carnival like nowhere else
DresdenA baroque old town rebuilt on the Elbe, with palaces, treasures and great art
FüssenNeuschwanstein, mountain lakes and a painted old town at the foot of the Alps
HamburgA harbour city of red-brick warehouses, ferries and a famous concert hall
HeidelbergA castle ruin, a stone bridge and Germany's oldest university on the Neckar
MunichBeer gardens, palaces, river surfers and great museums at €1 on Sundays

Good to know in Germany

Emergencies: 112. 112 reaches ambulance and fire, and police too, from any phone, in English; 110 is the police directly. For small things, a pharmacy ('Apotheke').
Tipping: Round up or add about 5–10% for table service, and say the total as you pay rather than leaving coins on the table. No cover charge. Tap water is safe, but restaurants usually serve bottled water; ask for 'Leitungswasser'.
Cards and cash: Cards are taken in most shops and cities now, but some cafés, bakeries, beer gardens and small restaurants are cash only. Euros. Carry some cash. Use bank ATMs ('Geldautomat') and avoid stand-alone ones with high fees.
Phone: An eSIM bought before you go is usually the cheapest data; most 'Europe' plans include Germany (check). Telekom, Vodafone and O2 sell prepaid SIMs, also at supermarkets and drugstores; you need ID to register one.
Plugs: Type C, F, 230 V. Two round pins (Type C and F). Australian and NZ plugs are Type I, so bring an adapter.
Tourist tax: Many cities charge a tourist tax on beds: Berlin about 7.5% of the room, Hamburg and Cologne a few euros a night (check).
Shops shut on Sundays: Almost all shops and supermarkets close on Sundays and public holidays; stations and airports have some open. Shop on Saturday.
Museums on Mondays: Many museums close on Mondays (Berlin's Museum Island differs by museum). Flewaway plans around the days it knows; check before you go.
Book long trains early: Deutsche Bahn's 'Sparpreis' fares on fast ICE trains are much cheaper booked weeks ahead and tied to that train; the full fare is dear.
Bottle deposit: Most bottles and cans carry a deposit ('Pfand', 8–25 cents): return them to a supermarket machine for your money back.
Carry some cash: Beer gardens, bakeries and small restaurants may not take cards; keep €20–40 on you.
Christmas markets: From late November to Christmas, cities fill with Christmas markets; beds cost more and fill up at weekends.

Also worth exploring

Good to know in Germany

Emergencies

112. 112 reaches ambulance and fire, and police too, from any phone, in English; 110 is the police directly. For small things, a pharmacy ('Apotheke').

Tipping

Round up or add about 5–10% for table service, and say the total as you pay rather than leaving coins on the table. No cover charge. Tap water is safe, but restaurants usually serve bottled water; ask for 'Leitungswasser'.

Cards and cash

Cards are taken in most shops and cities now, but some cafés, bakeries, beer gardens and small restaurants are cash only. Euros. Carry some cash. Use bank ATMs ('Geldautomat') and avoid stand-alone ones with high fees.

Phone

An eSIM bought before you go is usually the cheapest data; most 'Europe' plans include Germany (check). Telekom, Vodafone and O2 sell prepaid SIMs, also at supermarkets and drugstores; you need ID to register one.

Plugs

Type C, F, 230 V. Two round pins (Type C and F). Australian and NZ plugs are Type I, so bring an adapter.

Tourist tax

Many cities charge a tourist tax on beds: Berlin about 7.5% of the room, Hamburg and Cologne a few euros a night (check).

Shops shut on Sundays

Almost all shops and supermarkets close on Sundays and public holidays; stations and airports have some open. Shop on Saturday.

Museums on Mondays

Many museums close on Mondays (Berlin's Museum Island differs by museum). Flewaway plans around the days it knows; check before you go.

Book long trains early

Deutsche Bahn's 'Sparpreis' fares on fast ICE trains are much cheaper booked weeks ahead and tied to that train; the full fare is dear.

Bottle deposit

Most bottles and cans carry a deposit ('Pfand', 8–25 cents): return them to a supermarket machine for your money back.

Carry some cash

Beer gardens, bakeries and small restaurants may not take cards; keep €20–40 on you.

Christmas markets

From late November to Christmas, cities fill with Christmas markets; beds cost more and fill up at weekends.