So much to see, so little time. How to choose? To help you get started, I've listed my top picks for where to go in Germany, my plan for your best three-week trip, and tips on when to go.
Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographic proximity into account, here are my recommended priorities:
- 3 days: Munich, Bavarian castles
- 5 days, add: Rhine Valley, Rothenburg
- 7 days, add: More of Bavaria and Tirol, side-trip to Salzburg
- 10 days, add: Berlin
- 14 days, add: Baden-Baden, Black Forest, Dresden
- 17 days, add: Nürnberg, Mosel Valley, Trier
- 21 days, add: Würzburg, and slow down
- More time: Choose among Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg, Leipzig, and the Martin Luther towns (Erfurt and Wittenberg).
Germany's Best Three-Week Trip (by Car)
Day 1: Fly into Frankfurt, pick up car, drive to Rhine Valley (sleep in Bacharach)
Day 2: Rhine Valley (sleep in Bacharach)
Day 3: To Mosel Valley (sleep in Beilstein or Trier)
Day 4: Mosel Valley and/or Trier (sleep in Beilstein or Trier)
Day 5: To Baden-Baden (sleep in Baden-Baden)
Day 6: Relax and soak in Baden-Baden (sleep in Baden-Baden)
Day 7: Drive through the Black Forest (sleep in Freiburg or Staufen)
Day 8: To Bavaria and Tirol (sleep in Füssen or Reutte)
Day 9: Bavaria/Tirol and castles (sleep in Füssen or Reutte)
Day 10: More Bavaria/Tirol, then to Munich (sleep in Munich)
Day 11: Munich (sleep in Munich)
Day 12: More Munich, or side-trip to Salzburg (sleep in Munich)
Day 13: To Dachau, then follow Romantic Road to Rothenburg (sleep in Rothenburg)
Day 14: Rothenburg (sleep in Rothenburg)
Day 15: To Würzburg, drop off car*, then train to Nürnberg (sleep in Nürnberg or Würzburg)
Day 16: Nürnberg (sleep in Nürnberg)
Day 17: Train to Dresden (sleep in Dresden)
Day 18: Train to Berlin (sleep in Berlin)
Day 19: Berlin (sleep in Berlin)
Day 20: Berlin (sleep in Berlin)
Day 21: Fly home
*After Day 15, you're visiting well-connected cities, making a car unnecessary. Drop the car in Würzburg to save several days of car-rental costs and parking fees.
Smaller Towns vs. Bigger Towns: This itinerary (especially the first half) is heavy on half-timbered villages — a German specialty. But for some, a little cuteness goes a long way. Depending on your preference, plan your overnights to maximize or reduce quaintness..
With Less Time: If I had to pare this trip down to two weeks, I'd make the following changes: Skip the Mosel (a sleepier version of the Rhine), and go directly from the Rhine to Baden-Baden. From Baden-Baden, head straight for Füssen/Reutte instead of overnighting in Freiburg/Staufen. Skip the Salzburg side-trip; choose between Würzburg and Nürnberg, and stay just one night there; and reduce the stay in Berlin to two nights.
With More Time: Salzburg is each easily worth another day; Berlin merits several days more. Depending on your interests, you could stay a day in Frankfurt (upon arrival) and add another day for the Rhine to visit Cologne from Bacharach. The Martin Luther towns (Erfurt and Wittenberg) and Leipzig fit well between towns to the west and south (Frankfurt, Nürnberg) and those in the north and east (Berlin, Dresden). Hamburg isn't on the way to anything in Germany, but it's a worthwhile detour for those headed north to Denmark.
Germany's Best Three-Week Trip (by Car)
A road trip from Stockholm, Sweden to Berlin, Germany via Denmark crossing the resound Bridge. Then took a ferry from Rodby, Denmark to Puttgarden, Germany, travelling time of the ferry is 45 minutes. The distance covered from Stockholm to Berlin is 1084 KM.
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