Germany — where to go and when
2 destinations covered
Two cities carry Germany on this site, and they pull in opposite directions. Berlin is flat, spread out and cheap for a capital, a place where the twentieth century is still legible on the pavement and where an evening can begin at midnight without anyone finding it odd. Munich is tidier, dearer, closer to the Alps, organised around beer halls, state collections and a river people actually swim in. Between them lies a country whose prices sit almost exactly level with French ones, which unsettles travellers expecting either a bargain or a premium. What you save in Germany, you save through structure rather than through low tariffs: public transport dense enough to remove any need for a car, guesthouses in real neighbourhoods rather than tourist quarters, market halls that make self-catering painless, and museums priced far below what they hold. The country suits people who walk, who stop at plaques, who would rather change district than tick off a compact old town. It rewards depth, not speed.
When to go
June to September is the window our figures point to, and the two cities behave differently inside it. Berlin reaches 25.8 °C by day in its warmest month and records 117 days a year above 1 mm of rain, which is a good deal wetter than its reputation. Munich matches that summer maximum at 25.8 °C but counts 127 rainy days, and August is its wettest month at 133.7 mm. Winters diverge less than you would guess: 2.3 °C by day in Berlin's coldest month against 4.9 °C in Munich. Pack for showers in the south and for grey light in the north.
The places we cover, side by side
| Place | Favourable months | Warmest month, avg. high (°C) | Coldest month, avg. high (°C) | Rainy days a year (≥ 1 mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | June, July, August | 25.8 | 2.3 | 117 |
| Munich | September | 25.8 | 4.9 | 127 |
Figures measured at the weather station nearest each place, then averaged over the warmest and the coldest months of the year — not over a fixed calendar season. Each destination page carries its own month-by-month table, its station and its sample size.
Getting around
Long-distance trains link the two cities several times a day, comfortably enough that flying between them makes little sense. Regional services and intercity coaches fill the gaps, and both are markedly cheaper booked ahead than bought on the platform. Within each city a single ticket covers underground, suburban rail, trams and buses, and has to be validated before you board. Airports are close in: BER lies 19 km from central Berlin, MUC 29 km from Munich, both reached by rail.
Budget
Country price level compared with France : +2 %
Price index for restaurants and hotels, France = 1000, from European purchasing power parities. It is a country average: it says nothing about one hotel in particular.
Destinations in Germany
BerlinBerlin is a flat, sprawling capital built around the Spree and rebuilt after every rupture of the twentieth century. Museum Island, the Wall memorials and a working club…
MunichBavaria's capital organises itself around squares, inner courtyards and beer gardens rather than boulevards, with the Alps close enough to fill a day trip. It also rains more…Frequently asked questions
Is Germany cheaper than France?
Barely. Our cost index puts German prices within a couple of points of French ones, so the saving never comes from the country itself. It comes from decisions: a district two stops out instead of the centre, a transport pass instead of taxis, a market hall instead of a third restaurant meal. Berlin is the cheaper of the two cities, Munich the more expensive.
Can I see Berlin and Munich in one week?
Yes, and the split works well. Three nights in each leaves room for the journey and still gives both cities enough time to stop feeling like station forecourts. Resist adding a third stop. Berlin alone spreads over distances that swallow half-days, and part of Munich's value lies in the mountains and lakes just beyond it.
Updated on 21 September 2026