What to book before you travel to Germany?

Most visits can be booked on the spot. A few sell out days ahead. Here they are, stop by stop, with what you can do without booking underneath. Keep the rest of your time free.

Trip length

Weekend One week Two weeks

10 activities to book · about €173 per person

Berlin

Days 1-2

Days 1-2Museum Island2hFive museums on an island in the Spree, UNESCO-listed. The Pergamonmuseum is closed for restoration until 4 June 2027, so start with the Neues Museum and the bust of Nefertiti.€19Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 1-2Guided walk along the Berlin Wall2h30The course of the Wall and the Cold War sites that survive along it, with the stories of those who crossed it or died trying.€15Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The Brandenburg Gate · East Side Gallery · The Reichstag dome (free, book ahead) · Tiergarten park

All activities in Berlin on GetYourGuide

Hamburg

Day 3

Day 3Elbphilharmonie: the Plaza and a concertEveningThe public Plaza, 37 metres up, wraps around the building with a view over the harbour. A concert in the Grand Hall is the reason to book.€25Book on GetYourGuide →

Day 3Harbour cruise1hAn hour among the container ships, docks and cranes of the busiest port in Germany.€18Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Speicherstadt, the UNESCO-listed warehouse district · The Alster lakes · St. Pauli · The Reeperbahn

All activities in Hamburg on GetYourGuide

Cologne

Day 4

Day 4The cathedral and its south tower1hMore than 500 steps up the south tower to a platform close to 100 metres above the Rhine.€8Book on GetYourGuide →

Day 4Rhine cruise1hAn hour on the river, with the cathedral and the old town seen from the water.€16Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The old town (Altstadt) · The Hohenzollern Bridge and its padlocks · The Rhine promenade

All activities in Cologne on GetYourGuide

Munich

Days 5-6

Days 5-6Beer halls and the Hofbräuhaus, guided2hThe Hofbräuhaus, founded as the royal brewery in 1589, and the beer halls and gardens that grew up around it.€30Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 5-6Nymphenburg PalaceTicketThe summer residence of the Bavarian electors and kings, with a park laid out along its canals.€12Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel · The English Garden · Viktualienmarkt · Surfers on the Eisbach wave

All activities in Munich on GetYourGuide

Neuschwanstein and Füssen

Day 7

Day 7Neuschwanstein Castle (timed ticket)VisitLudwig II's unfinished castle, seen only on a guided tour with a fixed time slot. Book online: summer days sell out.€21Book on GetYourGuide →

Day 7Pöllat Gorge and the MarienbrückeTrailThe iron footbridge over the gorge gives the classic view of the castle. The paths close in winter and after rockfalls, so check before you walk up.€9Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Hohenschwangau village · Lake Alpsee · Füssen old town

All activities in Neuschwanstein on GetYourGuide

Indicative prices per person, checked when written. The button opens the GetYourGuide search for the activity and the town, on the days of the stop once your dates are known. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

How much do the activities to book in Germany cost?

€173 per person if you do them all, across 10 bookings. The most expensive is "Beer halls and the Hofbräuhaus, guided" at €30, the cheapest "The cathedral and its south tower" at €8. Prices checked when written: confirm them when you book.

What can you do in Germany without booking anything?

18 visits on this itinerary need no ticket or time slot, starting with The Brandenburg Gate, East Side Gallery, The Reichstag dome (free, book ahead), Tiergarten park. They make up most of your days: booking ahead only concerns a handful of sites with limited places.

At which stop should you book earliest?

Berlin, with 2 activities to book, against 2 at the quietest stop. That is where slots go first.

How long do these activities take?

From 1h for the shortest to 2h30 for the longest. Fit them into your days before filling the rest: a guided visit often takes half a day.

The rest of the trip

📒 The free printable Germany guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Germany, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book: all our destinations→