Germany — find the right stay, from deciding to booking
“Fairy-tale castles, beer, and historic cities”
Germany is a land of fairy-tale castles and world-class engineering — Neuschwanstein Castle, the capital Berlin where history turned, Munich and Oktoberfest, the Romantic Road and the Black Forest, paired with beer, sausages, and the best Christmas markets in Europe.
Germany at a glance
Choose a city in Germany
Each city has its own things-to-do and food guides plus in-depth ranked hotel reviews with real photos and price comparison — start with the city that fits your trip.
Decide — is Germany right for you?
Why people love Germany, how it compares to its neighbors, and which travel style suits you
Fairy-tale castles
Neuschwanstein, the model for the Disney castle, and the castles along the Rhine.
Modern history
Berlin with the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, and its war memorials.
Beer culture
Munich's Oktoberfest, beer gardens, and centuries-old breweries.
Christmas markets
The Christmas markets of Nuremberg and Dresden — the most festive atmosphere in Europe.
Nature and old towns
The Black Forest, the Romantic Road, and medieval towns like Rothenburg.
Germany vs its neighbors
| Germany | Austria | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily budget (per person) | $80–145 | $70–130 | $130–230 |
| Visa (Thai passport) | Schengen | Schengen | Schengen |
| Getting around cities | U-Bahn + very punctual ICE · DB links every city | Vienna's U-Bahn is excellent · OBB is convenient | Swiss trains are the most convenient in Europe, but pricey |
| English | Decent in big cities · young people very good | Decent in tourist areas | Very good · many languages spoken |
| Known for | Beer · Christmas · castles · history | Classical music · Sachertorte · Hallstatt | Snowy mountains · watches · chocolate · lakes |
Figures are rough per-person, per-day estimates — your real budget depends on your travel style.
How do you travel?
First time in Germany
Munich-Romantic Road-Berlin, three cities that cover every highlight — Neuschwanstein Castle, the history of the Berlin Wall, and beer halls.
See this plan → 🍺Beer & Christmas-market fans
October to December is best — Oktoberfest in Munich, and the Christmas markets of Nuremberg and Cologne, the real European atmosphere.
See this plan → 🎨Arty Berlin
Museums, galleries, street art and clubs — Berlin is a city of modern culture, and far better value than Paris.
See this plan →Plan — stay, eat, see
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then add food and sights, and gauge your daily budget.
Find the stay you want
1 ranked reviews
No reviews match these filters — try removing some.
- 1🌭
Bratwurst
Many kinds of grilled sausage, eaten with mustard and bread.
📍 Nationwide - 2🥨
Brezel
A twisted, salted bread, perfect with beer or at breakfast.
📍 Bavaria - 3🍖
Schnitzel
Breaded, crisp-fried meat, served with potatoes.
📍 Nationwide - 4🍺
German beer
Quality beer brewed to the purity law, best enjoyed in a beer garden.
📍 Nationwide - 5🍰
Black Forest cake
A chocolate, cherry and cream cake — a famous dessert.
📍 Baden
- 1🏰
Neuschwanstein
A fairy-tale castle on a hill, the model for Disney's princess castle.
📍 Bavaria - 2🧱
Berlin
The Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall, and world-class museums.
📍 Berlin - 3🍺
Munich
Marienplatz square, beer gardens, and Oktoberfest.
📍 Bavaria - 4⛪
Cologne
The Gothic Cologne Cathedral on the Rhine — vast and spectacular.
📍 North Rhine - 5🏘️
Rothenburg
A walled medieval town with the most charming half-timbered houses.
📍 Bavaria - 6🌲
Black Forest
Dense green pine forest, cuckoo-clock villages, and Black Forest cake.
📍 Baden
🚆 Getting around Germany
ICE trains
Deutsche Bahn's high-speed trains link the big cities — book ahead and it's cheaper.
U-Bahn/S-Bahn
City rail covers Berlin, Munich and Hamburg thoroughly.
Autobahn
Some stretches have no speed limit; renting a car makes the Romantic Road easy.
Deutschland-Ticket
A flat monthly pass for regional and city transport nationwide — worth it for longer trips.
🛂 Etiquette & culture in Germany
Schengen / euro
Germany is in the Schengen zone and uses the euro.
Carry cash
Many places, especially small shops, still prefer cash — keep some euros on hand.
Orderly
Germans are strict about rules and punctuality — they'll wait for the green light to cross even with no cars coming.
Schengen visa
Thai travelers need to apply for a Schengen visa in advance.
💸 Daily budget — a rough guide
Budget
🛏️ Hostel / 2–3★ hotel $25–50
Buy DB Sparpreis tickets in advance for big savings, and eat sausage and pretzels from the markets — far better value than tourist restaurants.
Comfortable
🛏️ 3–4★ hotel near the center $50–100
Germany's food prices are reasonable; local restaurants beat tourist spots and cost half as much.
Premium
🛏️ Luxury hotel in the center $145+
Stay in a boutique hotel on the Rhine, take a private tour of Neuschwanstein, and catch a Berlin Philharmonic concert.
🗓️ When to visit Germany
Spring
May – JunLovely weather, flowers in bloom, and the crowds haven't arrived yet — a great time to visit.
Summer
Jul – AugWarm with long days and plenty of outdoor festivals, but also the busiest.
Early autumn
Late Sep – OctMunich's Oktoberfest and the turning leaves — a hugely popular season.
Winter
DecChristmas markets across the country bring a warm, festive feel despite the cold.
Book — hotels our team picked
Hand-picked from the highest guest-rated hotels we've reviewed in Germany — compare prices across 3 sites.
★ 9.6👑 Great for your trip
★ 9.6👑 Great for your trip
★ 9.2💼 Great for your tripWant to see every option in Germany?
Browse all our ranked stay reviews — every budget and area, with real photos and price comparison.
View the top city guide →FAQ — visiting Germany
Which German cities should I visit?+
Berlin (history), Munich plus Neuschwanstein (Bavaria), and the Romantic Road / Black Forest in the south — pick by interest.
When is Oktoberfest?+
It runs in Munich from late September to early October (about two weeks). Book accommodation well ahead, as it gets very busy.
Do Thai travelers need a visa?+
Yes — apply for a Schengen visa in advance, which covers several European countries in the same zone.
Tips before you go to Germany
- Apply for a Schengen visa in advance.
- Book ICE train tickets early (Sparpreis) for cheaper fares.
- Carry euros in cash — many small shops don't take cards.
- Visit Oktoberfest in late September, or the Christmas markets in December.