Germany Custom Tour Packages

Unless you’re planning to visit the country’s atmospheric Christmas markets, it's best to visit Germany between mid-April and early October, keeping in mind that May and September are peak season. Highs in July and August tend to be in the 70s, save for the cooler southern border, but temperatures in the 80s are normal, and air conditioning remains rare outside of higher-end hotels.

One of the safest parts of Europe, since 2017 most crime rates have fallen to levels not seen for at least 25 years. Some of the country's cities are among the safest on the continent, and the violent crimes rate is 1/6 that of the US. Although Germany is generally cosmopolitan, isolated parts of East Germany (which get few visitors) have a reputation for racism. Theft is rare, but pickpocketing is a concern in some major train stations, especially in Frankfurt. Making the Hitler salute, even as a joke, is not tolerated, and every year a few drunken tourists are arrested for making this mistake.

Although stereotyped as heavy, German cuisine is as remarkably diverse as the country itself. Germany is at the center of Europe’s organic foods movement, and food for vegans and other people with special dietary needs is common. Only France has more Michelin-starred restaurants than Germany. In Berlin, all eateries must label all allergens present in food. Fish burgers are most popular in northern Germany, which is also home to Lübeck, the world capital of marzipan. While Berlin is associated with Currywurst, a hotdog in ketchup with curry powder, we recommend the city’s most popular food, the Döner Kebab, a fusion of Turkish and German cuisines similar to Shawarma, a cheap and filling form of fast food. Bavaria in the south is famous for pretzels and Weisswurst, a white veal and pork sausage whose skin is removed before eating, traditionally served with sweet mustard and pretzels. Germans abroad often say they miss their bakeries more than anything else, and we recommend visiting a bakery in each region you visit, to soak up their varied bread and pastries. Sausages are popular street food, and sandwiches are rarely served in restaurants, but are popular at home for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Germany is rightfully famous for its beers, which demonstrate remarkable diversity. Although every region has its take on the drink, most breweries still follow a Bavarian law passed in 1516 limiting beer ingredients to water, barley, and hops. While vineyards are found in much of the country, the upper and middle Rhine, and its tributaries, are home to the country's most famous wineries. Schnapps, a hard spirit, can refer to the Korn distilled from malt in the north, or Obstler, made from fruit in the south. Germany has a strong coffee culture, and cafes are common everywhere. German tap water is universally high quality, although Germans tend to drink sparkling water “with gas.”

German transportation in all its many forms is modern and effective, although the rail system has more delays than it used to thanks to failed cost-cutting measures. Cities generally have useful transport apps, ticket machines in English, and allow you to use one ticket to take all forms of transport (including regional trains making stops within a city) for a certain amount of time. In Berlin, a one-time transit ticket covers travel in one direction for two hours. Cities generally have large streetcar networks, as well as subways (“U-Bahn”) and light rail (“S-Bahn”). Taxi apps aren't so common, other than Uber in Berlin and Munich. Major cities are linked by regular, high-speed trains.





Recent efforts to introduce speed limits on the entire Autobahn failed spectacularly, although a large proportion of the expressways do have speed limits. We tend to recommend against using rental cars in Germany, as Central European rental agencies charge steep fees for drivers picking up a car in one country and leaving it in another, and German city centers are not designed for cars. If renting, take seriously the advice given by a rental agency for driving on the Autobahn. Stay out of the leftmost lane, and if you encounter a traffic jam, join the other cars in driving onto the dotted lines between lanes to create emergency lanes for first responders.

While Germany isn't as cash-centric as it used to be, small establishments still do not typically take cards, and even some larger restaurants still have a minimum amount payable by card, so be sure to keep some euros on hand (we recommend using the ATMs inside bank entrances). We can recommend at least two good centrally-located exchange places in all of our German destinations.

Tipping isn’t obligatory, but it’s common. 5% is what is generally expected at hotels, restaurants and cafes. If you had exceptional service, 10-15% should suffice. When dining, you can round off the bill or tell the waiter how much of a tip you want to give. Locals tend not to leave tips on the table.

Large shops and department stores usually open between 8 and 10 am and close between 7 and 9 pm, from Mondays to Saturdays, while smaller stores close a bit earlier. Grocery stores are open anywhere from 7 am to 11 pm, though many close at 9 pm. Many places have shorter opening hours on Saturdays. Stores, including grocery stores, are closed Sundays (with the exception of "Spätis," the convenience stores that are omnipresent in Berlin's center). Museums and galleries are generally open Tuesday to Sunday from around 10 am to 6 pm (some stay open until 8 pm on Thursdays), while most are closed Mondays.

Germans, especially the young, tend to have good knowledge of English, especially in cities and more touristy areas. Even in more remote areas, you can always find someone who speaks enough English to make themselves understood. We'll also be happy to help you get around the language barrier.