Roavina

Country guide

Germany

A photograph of Germany
Photograph · Llez · CC BY-SA 3.0

Germany runs from the Baltic and North Sea coasts in the north down to the Alps in the south, and its 16 states have kept enough separateness that the country reads as a set of destinations rather than one. Over 83 million people live in them, more than any other European Union member. Berlin is the capital and the largest single city, Frankfurt is the financial centre, and the largest urban area is neither - it is the Ruhr, a belt of western towns that have grown into each other. Choosing between the Bavarian south, the Rhine, the Hanseatic north and the eastern cities is the actual planning decision; the distances are short and the places are not variations on one another.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
German
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+49
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112 medical/fire · 110 police
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
Public drinking water is regulated under national drinking-water rules

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Frauenkirche Frauenkirche
    02 30 min

    Frauenkirche

    The Frauenkirche, or Church of Our Lady, stands as Munich's cathedral and one of its most recognizable landmarks. Its distinctive twin domes, visible across the city skyline, have become symbolic of Munich itself.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Munich
  2. New Synagogue Berlin New Synagogue Berlin
    03 30 min

    New Synagogue Berlin

    Neue Synagoge

    The Neue Synagoge, or New Synagogue Berlin, stands on Oranienburger Straße as one of the city's most significant Jewish heritage landmarks.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Berlin
  3. Berlin Mosque Berlin Mosque
    04 30 min

    Berlin Mosque

    Wilmersdorfer Moschee

    Berlin Mosque, also known as Wilmersdorfer Moschee, is an active Islamic place of worship in Berlin’s Wilmersdorf district. It serves a local Muslim community and forms part of the city’s diverse religious landscape.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Berlin
  4. St. Peter's Church St. Peter's Church
    05 30 min

    St. Peter's Church

    St. Peter

    St. Peter’s Church, known locally as St. Peter, is a historic church in Munich’s city centre. The building is one of the city’s notable religious landmarks and forms part of the architectural character of Munich’s historic core.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Munich
  5. Rykestrasse Synagogue Rykestrasse Synagogue
    06 30 min

    Rykestrasse Synagogue

    Synagoge Rykestraße

    Rykestrasse Synagogue is an active Jewish house of worship on Rykestraße in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin. Its red-brick architecture and substantial scale make it a prominent landmark in the neighbourhood.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Berlin
  6. Zion Church Zion Church
    07 30 min

    Zion Church

    Zionskirche

    Zion Church, known locally as Zionskirche, is a historic Protestant church in Berlin. The building stands as a significant landmark within the city's urban fabric, reflecting 19th-century ecclesiastical architecture.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Berlin
  7. Mater Dolorosa Mater Dolorosa
    08 30 min

    Mater Dolorosa

    Mater Dolorosa is a Catholic church in Berlin, named for the Latin title meaning “Sorrowful Mother,” a reference to the Virgin Mary’s grief.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Berlin
  8. Zwölf-Apostel-Kirche Zwölf-Apostel-Kirche
    09 30 min

    Zwölf-Apostel-Kirche

    Zwölf-Apostel-Kirche is a Protestant church in Berlin whose name refers to the twelve apostles of Christian tradition. It is a functioning place of worship and part of the city’s religious and architectural landscape.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Berlin
  9. Kirche Zur Frohen Botschaft (Berlin-Karlshorst) Kirche Zur Frohen Botschaft (Berlin-Karlshorst)
    10 30 min

    Kirche Zur Frohen Botschaft (Berlin-Karlshorst)

    Ev. Kirche Zur frohen Botschaft

    Kirche Zur Frohen Botschaft is an Evangelical Protestant church serving the Karlshorst community in eastern Berlin.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Berlin
  10. Zwinglikirche Zwinglikirche
    11 30 min

    Zwinglikirche

    Zwingli-Kirche

    Zwinglikirche, also called Zwingli-Kirche, is a church in Berlin named after Huldrych Zwingli, the Swiss Reformation leader. It is a place of worship within Berlin’s varied religious architecture.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Berlin
  11. Kirche Zum Guten Hirten Kirche Zum Guten Hirten
    12 30 min

    Kirche Zum Guten Hirten

    Zum Guten Hirten

    Kirche Zum Guten Hirten, or Church of the Good Shepherd, is a church in Berlin.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Berlin
  12. Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche
    13 30 min

    Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche

    Neue Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche

    Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche stands on Breitscheidplatz as a memorial church where a damaged historic tower meets a modern blue-glass sanctuary. The wartime ruin was preserved rather than rebuilt, allowing the broken structure to remain a visible reminder of destruction.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Berlin
  13. Ludwigskirche
    14 30 min

    Ludwigskirche

    Sankt Ludwig

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Berlin

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Germany be?

Seven to ten days works for Berlin plus one connected region, or for a focused Rhine, Bavaria or northern-city route. Germany’s rail network makes multi-city travel practical, but changing bases every night still reduces useful time.

What entry documents are needed for Germany?

Germany’s Federal Foreign Office is the official visa reference. Review its nationality-specific entry rules and the Schengen application guidance for the passport and route being used.

What is the best way to travel around Germany?

Intercity and high-speed trains connect Germany’s major cities, with regional services completing shorter journeys. Deutsche Bahn publishes the integrated timetable; airport choice should follow the route rather than defaulting to one national gateway.

When is a practical time to visit Germany?

May through September favours outdoor city and countryside travel, while December has a distinct seasonal-market pattern. Alpine, North Sea and urban conditions differ enough that the intended region should determine clothing and reservations.

What money and payment basics apply in Germany?

Germany uses the euro (EUR). Cash and card practices are not stated as a single national rule in the cited source, so travellers should carry a backup and check the payment method before ordering or boarding.

What practical safety details should I save for Germany?

For Germany, 112 reaches medical and fire services and 110 reaches police. Type C and F plugs use 230 V, and mains tap water is recorded as safe.