Welcome to Germany! Willkommen in Deutschland!

A guide to customs, daily life and travel in Deutschland

If you are traveling to or within Germany, we have information, resources and photos to help you have better experience. Germany (called Deutschland in German) is Europe’s largest nation, both in population and the size of its economy. Geographically it offers everything from North Sea and Baltic beaches to Bavarian Alpine splendor. Germany’s rivers are legendary, and you can cruise many of them on special river ships, or explore them by rail or car.

NEW! Lake Constance (der Bodensee) – Our three-part guide to Europe’s third largest freshwater lake, shared by Austria, Germany, and Switzerland – called the Bodensee in German. Learn about the lake and its many attractions, including three key islands and scenic cities along its shores.

Munich’s international airport is where many travelers begin their Germany experience. PHOTO: Hyde Flippo

We also have guides to many of Germany’s most interesting cities, from Berlin in the north to Munich in the south.

More > Germany: Facts and Figures

Getting Started
So you’re off to Germany. Willkommen! (That’s German for “Welcome!”) Here are some things that can help before you get there:

• Know Before You Go – Passports, money, customs and more
• How to get to Germany > By Air | By Car | By Rail
• Public Transport in Germany – A Guide: S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus, tram
• What to See – See “Destinations” below.
• Hotels, Apartments and B&Bs in Germany – Where to stay: Accommodations in Germany

Frankfurt International Airport (FRA): Official Website
Munich International Airport (MUC): Official Website

Also see: Austria for Tourists and Switzerland for Tourists

Destinations in Germany

• Germany’s Route 66: A Road Trip on Bundestraße 3 – Yes, Germany’s autobahns are great, but try a slower, more scenic alternative: the B3 highway that runs from Buxtehude in the north to Weil am Rhein (near Basel, Switzerland) in the south. You’ll discover aspects of Germany that aren’t seen from the autobahn. You can even follow the path that Thomas Jefferson took in 1788!
• City Guides: Germany – What to see and do in selected German cities
• Berlin & Potsdam – What to see in the German capital and surroundings – history, sights, photos
• Dresden – What to see in Saxony’s second largest city: The Zwinger, the Marienkirche, and more!
• Düsseldorf – An expat shares “My Düsseldorf” – what to see in her adopted city, the capital of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The seventh most populous city in Germany is an international business and financial center, noted for its fashion and trade fairs.
• Frankfurt am Main – Germany’s financial capital (“Bankfurt”) also has attractions for travelers – History, sights, photos
• NEW! Lake Constance (der Bodensee) – Our three-part guide to Europe’s third largest freshwater lake, shared by Austria, Germany, and Switzerland: the lake, the cities, the islands, plus other attractions.
• Munich – What to see in and around the Bavarian capital – history, sights and Oktoberfest!
• Oberammergau, Bavaria – Famous for its Passion Play, Oberammergau is worth a visit even at other times. The 2020 Passion Play was postponed until 2022.
• Trier – Roman ruins and the birthplace of Karl Marx – history, sights, photos

Schloss Montfort at Langenargen on Lake Constance. Learn more: Lake Constance: The Cities. PHOTO: JoachimKohlerBremen, CC-BY-SA-4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Topics: Germany for Tourists

Interesting and helpful information related to traveling in Germany:

• Germany – History and culture
• History of Germany with notable Germans, past and present
• The Euro – About the currency that first went into circulation in Austria and Germany in January 2002.
• Cell Phones in Germany – Advice concerning taking a mobile phone to Germany and Europe
• The iPhone in Germany – Advice on buying an iPhone for Germany and Europe
• Air Travel – Airports, airlines, advice
• Hotels, Apartments and B&Bs in Germany – Where to stay: Accommodations in Germany
• Driving in Germany – Things you need to know about getting behind the wheel in Germany and Europe
• Driving on the Autobahn – Fast and furious!
• Public Transport in Germany – Getting around locally via S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus, and tram
• Rail Travel in Germany – Taking the train in Deutschland
• Dialects – The German you hear in Germany is often a regional variation
• Notable Germans include:
  • Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) was West Germany’s very first chancellor.
  • Wernher von Braun (1912-1977) was a charismatic German-American rocket scientist (and former Nazi) who helped put Americans on the moon.
  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was Germany’s greatest author, dramatist and poet.
  • Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-1886) was the famous King of Bavaria (1864-1886) who built Neuschwanstein Castle and other palaces. Learn more about the king and his Wittelsbach dynasty.
  • Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a German philosopher, writer and journalist who published the “Communist Manifesto” in 1848.
  • Leni Riefenstahl (1902-2003) was a controversial film director during the Nazi era.
  • Konrad Zuse (1910-1995) invented the first digital, programmable computer.
  • More…
• Holidays and Celebrations – Key holidays and other official and unofficial observations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• Germans in Hollywood – German, Austrian and Swiss people – past and present – in Hollywood

Next | Switzerland for Tourists