Things to do in Germany

Germany became one country only in 1871. Today it is a federation of sixteen states, and dialect, beer and architecture change by region. Tours in Germany follow that map, so a week means two or three regions.

Where the tours go

The offer is thickest around Munich and Berlin. Berlin to Munich is about 585 km by road, and four hours by ICE.

• Bavaria. Munich and the Alps in the south, Nuremberg and Franconia to the north, Passau on the Danube in the east. It is the largest state by area, and it takes the biggest share of what is sold.
• Berlin and the east. Potsdam, Dresden and Leipzig are the day trips.
• Frankfurt. Germany's busiest airport. Heidelberg, the Rhine valley and the Black Forest are the day trips.
• Cologne and the lower Rhine. The cathedral has drawn about six million visitors a year, more than any other German landmark. Bonn, Düsseldorf and Aachen sit close by.
• Hamburg and the north. Hamburg is the second-largest city, with Bremen and Hanover within two hours by road.

What people come for

History carries the offer: the Cold War and the Nazi years in Berlin and Munich, and Ludwig II's palaces. Museum and palace tickets round it out.

How the days are built

Walking tours handle the old centres, which are compact. Private cars take the day trips, priced per car rather than per head.

A one-way transfer starts at a few hundred euros. It can carry a sightseeing stop of two to four hours. In smaller towns, from Aachen to Würzburg, the product is a walking game on your phone.

Practical

• Weather. July highs run from 23C in Hamburg to 25C in Berlin and Munich and 26C in Frankfurt. January highs sit between 3C and 5C.
• Season. May to September suits the Alps and the castles. Most Christmas markets open between mid and late November.
• Trains. ICE links the big cities. A Sparpreis fare is cheap but tied to one train. The monthly Deutschlandticket covers regional trains, trams and buses countrywide, but not ICE.
• Cash. Cash is still 45% of all payments, and the norm at markets. Carry some.
• Sundays and holidays. Shops are shut by law, apart from stations, airports and petrol stations, so shop on Saturday. Holidays vary by state: 1 November counts in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, 31 October in Hamburg and Bremen.
• Borders. Germany has reinstated temporary checks on all its land borders. Carry a passport or ID card for Salzburg, Prague or Strasbourg days.
• Tipping. Say the total as you pay. Round up, or add 5 to 10 per cent.