A photograph of Germany

Country guide

1 to 2 hours in Germany — page 4

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 r...

Photograph · Llez · CC BY-SA 3.0

21,822 Places
2Cities

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

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.

Checked 2026-08-25

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

Top things to see

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

  1. Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contempory Art Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contempory Art
    76 1 hr 30 min

    Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contempory Art

    Urban Nation

    Urban Nation is a Berlin museum devoted to urban contemporary art, street art and graffiti culture. It gives art forms associated with public walls, neighbourhoods and alternative scenes a formal exhibition setting.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  2. Britzer Garten Britzer Garten
    77 2 hours

    Britzer Garten

    Britzer Garten is a large landscaped park in Berlin’s Britz district, created for the 1985 Federal Garden Show and preserved as a major green space.

    • High
    • Entertainment venue
    • Berlin
  3. Valentin-Volkssänger-Musäum Valentin-Volkssänger-Musäum
    78 1 hr 30 min

    Valentin-Volkssänger-Musäum

    Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum

    The Valentin-Volkssänger-Musäum, locally known as the Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum, is a museum in Munich dedicated to the Bavarian comedian and folk singer Karl Valentin and his collaborator Liesl Karlstadt.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  4. Gardens of the World Gardens of the World
    79 2 hours

    Gardens of the World

    Gärten der Welt

    Gardens of the World, known in German as Gärten der Welt, is a landscaped park in Berlin’s Marzahn-Hellersdorf district.

    • High
    • Entertainment venue
    • Berlin
  5. Berlin Wall Memorial Berlin Wall Memorial
    80 2 hours

    Berlin Wall Memorial

    Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer (Dokumentationszentrum)

    The Berlin Wall Memorial preserves the central historical site of German division along 1.4 kilometres of Bernauer Straße. It combines original border remains, archaeological traces, reconstructed elements and public interpretation across the former frontier.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Berlin
  6. Erwin von Kreibig Museum Erwin von Kreibig Museum
    81 1 hr 30 min

    Erwin von Kreibig Museum

    Erwin von Kreibig Museum is devoted to the life and artistic legacy of Erwin von Kreibig. It gives travellers a focused way to explore one figure within Munich’s wider cultural history.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  7. Kunstbau Kunstbau
    82 1 hr 30 min

    Kunstbau

    Kunstbau is an exhibition space in Munich dedicated to contemporary art. The venue occupies a distinctive above-ground structure that serves as a platform for modern artistic expression.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  8. Staatliche Münzsammlung München Staatliche Münzsammlung München
    83 1 hr 30 min

    Staatliche Münzsammlung München

    Staatliche Münzsammlung

    The Staatliche Münzsammlung München is a state-administered numismatic collection in Munich. It presents the material history of money through coins, medals, banknotes, and related objects from different periods and regions.

    • High
    • Museum
    • Munich
  9. Delphi Filmpalast Delphi Filmpalast
    84 2 hours

    Delphi Filmpalast

    Delphi Filmpalast is a Berlin cinema and a recognised part of the city’s film culture. Its appeal lies in the experience of seeing a carefully selected film in a dedicated cinema setting rather than in a collection of exhibits.

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Berlin
  10. Heimatmuseum Karlsfeld Heimatmuseum Karlsfeld
    85 1 hr 30 min

    Heimatmuseum Karlsfeld

    Heimatmuseum Karlsfeld is a local history museum situated in the Karlsfeld district northwest of central Munich. The museum occupies a purpose-built or adapted structure serving as a repository for regional heritage.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Munich
  11. ZEIT+RAUM Museum ZEIT+RAUM Museum
    86 1 hr 30 min

    ZEIT+RAUM Museum

    Zeit+Raum

    ZEIT+RAUM Museum offers a specialised cultural experience in Munich centred on the ideas of time and space. Its subject separates it from conventional museums organised around a single historical period, artist or collection type.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Munich
  12. Deutsches Skimuseum Deutsches Skimuseum
    87 1 hr 30 min

    Deutsches Skimuseum

    The Deutsches Skimuseum is a museum in Munich dedicated to the history and culture of skiing. It preserves and presents equipment, artifacts, and documentation relating to the development of skiing as a sport and recreational activity.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Munich
  13. Feringer Sach Feringer Sach
    88 1 hr 30 min

    Feringer Sach

    Feringer Sach is a named museum in Munich for travellers who enjoy focused cultural places beyond the city’s most familiar landmark circuit. Its identity is established by the museum’s own visitor pages and Bavarian museum listings.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Munich
  14. Toy Museum Toy Museum
    89 1 hr 30 min

    Toy Museum

    Spielzeugmuseum

    Spielzeugmuseum is a toy museum located in Munich, Germany. It is housed within the Old Town Hall building at Marienplatz, placing it at the historic heart of the city.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Munich
  15. Cineplex Alhambra Cineplex Alhambra
    90 2 hours

    Cineplex Alhambra

    Cineplex Alhambra is a Berlin cinema operated within the Cineplex network. It provides a straightforward indoor entertainment option for travellers who want to see a current film during their stay.

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Berlin
  16. Naturtheater Friedrichshagen Naturtheater Friedrichshagen
    91 2 hours

    Naturtheater Friedrichshagen

    Freiluftkino Friedrichshagen

    Naturtheater Friedrichshagen, also known locally as Freiluftkino Friedrichshagen, is an open-air cinema and theatre venue in Berlin’s Friedrichshagen district near Müggelsee. Its appeal comes from combining programmed entertainment with an outdoor setting.

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Berlin
  17. Kulturbrauerei Kulturbrauerei
    92 2 hours

    Kulturbrauerei

    Kino in der Kulturbrauerei

    Kulturbrauerei is a cultural complex in Prenzlauer Berg, set within a former brewery whose brick buildings and courtyards retain a strong industrial character. Today, the site brings together cinema, performance spaces, event venues, and cultural organisations.

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Berlin
  18. Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen
    93 2 hours

    Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen

    Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen is a Berlin museum devoted to the history of cinema and television. It combines public exhibitions with an archive that preserves Germany’s moving-image heritage.

    • Notable
    • Entertainment venue
    • Berlin
  19. Kinder- und Jugendmuseum München Kinder- und Jugendmuseum München
    94 1 hr 30 min

    Kinder- und Jugendmuseum München

    Kindermuseum München

    Kinder- und Jugendmuseum München, also known locally as Kindermuseum München, is a children’s and youth museum in Munich. The museum is designed around interactive educational experiences for younger visitors, making participation central to the visit.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Munich

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.