Germany travel guide
Germany offers a travel mix of layered history, fairy-tale scenery and a lively food and beer culture. In one trip you can walk past the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, see the half-timbered streets of Rothenburg, visit Neuschwanstein castle near Füssen and sip Riesling or Kölsch in the Rhineland. The country is easiest to approach region by region. Berlin and Dresden carry the story of the east, Munich and Nuremberg anchor Bavaria, Hamburg brings the northern port atmosphere, and Heidelberg, Freiburg and Baden-Baden show the south-west's castles, forests and spas. Trains link most of these cities efficiently, so combining two or three in a single journey is straightforward and rewarding. Late spring to early autumn is best for walking and beer gardens, while December brings Christmas markets. Germany suits families, history lovers and independent travellers. Plan your itinerary city by city with Zippy Trips.
Capital: Berlin.
Visa for Indian passport holders
Visa required, apply before you fly.
Before you go to Germany
- Currency
- EUR €
- Emergency number
- 112 / 110
- Plug type
- Type F
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe
- Tipping
- Optional
- Bargaining
- Not expected
- eSIM
- Available
- Card networks
- Visa, Mastercard
- ATM fees
- Usually free at bank ATMs; avoid Euronet
Cities in Germany
- Berlin Germany's reunified capital is one of Europe's most layered, dynamic and creatively charged cities. The Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag's…
- Munich Bavaria's glittering capital reconciles prosperity and good-humoured beer-garden charm. The neo-Gothic Rathaus on Marienplatz anchors a…
- Hamburg Germany's second-largest city and its greatest port. The Speicherstadt (UNESCO) is the world's largest warehouse complex, home to Miniatur…
- Cologne Home to the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral (UNESCO, 157 m tall) — took 632 years to complete, Germany's most visited building at six million…
- Frankfurt The financial heartbeat of continental Europe — home to the European Central Bank and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The rebuilt Römerberg…
- Heidelberg Germany's most romantic city — a Renaissance dream of red-sandstone castle ruins brooding over a Baroque old town on the Neckar River,…
- Dresden The Florence of the Elbe — a Baroque jewel whose royal showpieces were largely destroyed in the 1945 firebombing and painstakingly rebuilt.…
- Nuremberg Bavaria's second city: the grandeur of the Kaiserburg fortress, the dark chapter of Nazi rally grounds, and the 1945–46 Nuremberg Trials…
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber The most completely preserved medieval walled city in Germany, on a promontory above the Tauber River on the Romantic Road. Its intact town…
- Freiburg im Breisgau Germany's sunniest city and gateway to the Black Forest. Its medieval Bächle water channels run through the cobblestoned streets. The…
- Füssen A small Alpine town of 15 000 residents and gateway to Germany's most photographed castle. Neuschwanstein — King Ludwig II's 19th-century…
- Baden-Baden Europe's most elegant spa resort in a wooded northern Black Forest valley. The Romans exploited the 68°C springs here first; Napoleon III,…
Frequently asked questions about Germany
- Do Indian citizens need a visa for Germany?
- Visa required, apply before you fly.
- What currency is used in Germany?
- The currency in Germany is the Euro (€). €1 is about ₹107.
- Can I use cards and ATMs in Germany?
- Accepted card networks: Visa, Mastercard. Typical ATM fees: Usually free at bank ATMs; avoid Euronet. Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card machines.
- Should I tip in Germany?
- Tipping in Germany: optional. Typically about 10% in restaurants.
- Is tap water safe to drink in Germany?
- Tap water is safe.
- What plug type does Germany use?
- Germany uses Type F plugs.
- What is the emergency number in Germany?
- Emergency: 112. Police: 110. Ambulance: 112.
- Can I get a SIM or eSIM in Germany?
- SIM and eSIM available in Germany.
- What is the capital of Germany?
- The capital of Germany is Berlin. Time there: IST - 3 h 30 min.