Germany Travel Guide
At a glance
Germany Travel Guide 2026: Honest Guides From Castles to Christmas Markets
Planning a trip to Germany and not sure whether to start with castles, Christmas markets, or a hike in the Black Forest? Germany was home when I was a military kid, and now that we’re stationed in Belgium, it’s an easy drive away, so I keep going back.
The guides on this page come from my own trips: a November weekend in the Black Forest for the Ravenna Gorge Christmas market, a December weekend at the Hamburg Christmas markets, a week around Lake Constance the following December, and an October road trip from Belgium through the Black Forest to Oberammergau, where I finally saw Neuschwanstein for the first time.
Every post covers what I actually did, where I stayed, what things cost, and what I’d do differently, so you can decide what fits your trip before you book.
Planning Germany? A few quick things:
- Christmas market season starts in the last week of November in most cities, and hotels in small towns like Titisee fill up early. Book your room before you plan anything else.
- German trains are often delayed. Build in buffer time, especially if you’re connecting to a tour or a flight.
- Book Neuschwanstein tickets ahead on the official ticket site. I booked mine four days out for an October visit, and the interior is only open on timed tours.
- Not sure where to start? Skip down to the next section, where I’ve sorted every guide by region.
Not sure what to pack? My Europe packing list covers Christmas markets, summer, and hiking, plus a free printable checklist.
Where Should I Start in Germany? Pick Your Region.
Twelve guides across five regions is a lot. Find the part of Germany you’re planning for and start there.
Bavaria: Castles, the Alps, and Munich
If this is your first trip to Germany, Bavaria is the version most people picture. These two guides come from my October week based in Oberammergau.
- 4-Day Bavaria Itinerary: Castles, Alps and Munich from Oberammergau: My four-day plan with a day trip to Munich, Garmisch, and the castles, with tips for arriving by car or by train.
- Neuschwanstein and Linderhof in One Day: How I booked tickets, where I parked, and how a rainy day sent us to Linderhof Palace, which I loved.
The Black Forest: Christmas Markets and Hiking
Southwest Germany is where I go for small towns, forest trails, and one of the most unusual Christmas market settings I’ve seen.
- Ravenna Gorge Torchlight Hike: Is It Actually Worth It?: My most-read post, with an honest answer on whether the torchlight hike is worth planning a trip around.
- Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market: Is It Worth It?: The market held under a railway viaduct in the gorge, and whether it’s worth the trip.
- Where to Stay for the Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market: Titisee vs. Hinterzarten vs. Freiburg, plus my two-night Black Forest weekend.
- Schnapsbrunnenweg: How to Hike the Schnapps Trail: The schnapps trail above Sasbachwalden, and a warning about the vending machines that wouldn’t accept our US IDs.
Lake Constance (Bodensee)
Lake Constance sits where Germany, Austria, and Switzerland meet, which makes it easy to see three countries in one trip. These come from my December week around the lake.
- A 7-Day Lake Constance Itinerary at Christmas: My route through Lindau, Konstanz, Friedrichshafen, Bregenz, St. Gallen, and Vaduz.
- Lindau Christmas Market Guide (Hafenweihnacht): The harbor market on Lindau’s island old town.
- Is the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen Worth a Stop?: My honest take on whether to fit it into your day.
Hamburg
- Hamburg Christmas Markets: Which Ones Are Worth It: From Santa Pauli to the Marche de Noel at the Stadthoefe (my favorite), here’s which markets I’d plan around and which to skip.
Düsseldorf
- 2 Days in Düsseldorf: A First-Timer’s Itinerary: Food, art, and the Rhine waterfront, including the city’s Little Tokyo.
Stationed in Germany? For Military Families
If you’ve just arrived at a duty station in Germany, start small. A few easy outings close to base make it much easier to settle in.
- 5 Short and Easy Outings for Military Families Near Ramstein and Kaiserslautern: Low-effort day outings for families getting their bearings.
- For more about life overseas as a military spouse, see my Military Life posts.
Planning a Christmas Market Trip?
Germany is only part of the story. My European Christmas Market Guide covers markets in Italy, Poland, and beyond, sorted by the kind of trip you want.
Germany Travel FAQs for 2026
Book timed tickets ahead on the official ticket site, especially in peak season. I booked mine four days ahead for an October visit. You can only see the interior on a timed tour, so plan the rest of your day around your entry time.
Most German Christmas markets open in the last week of November and run until a day or two before Christmas, with some staying open later. Dates vary by city, so check each market’s official page before you book.
Deutsche Bahn trains are often delayed, so give yourself a buffer, especially before a tour or a flight. They’re still an easy way to get around. I’ve taken the train from Oberau to Munich and from Basel to Titisee.
No, but it helps. Oberammergau, Garmisch, and Titisee all have train connections, while a car makes it easier to reach trailheads, Linderhof Palace, and smaller villages.
I stayed in Titisee at Pension Bergseeblick, about a 10-minute walk from the train station, and paid about US$145 for two nights in November 2024. Hinterzarten is closer to the gorge, and Freiburg is the better pick if you want a city base.
