Germany in a week: road-trip itinerary with prices (2026)
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A week is enough to see a genuine cross-section of Germany, from the capital's history to Bavaria's Oktoberfest city, using the country's fast ICE train network rather than a hire car — nowhere on this route is more than about 4 hours from the next stop.
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The table below is the route at a glance; the sections under it cover each stop with its standout paid sights and 2026 fees, and link to the full city guides.
The route at a glance
| Days | Base | Don't miss | Headline fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Berlin | Reichstag Dome, Museum Island, Berlin Wall Memorial | Free / ~€19 |
| 3 | Dresden | Frauenkirche, Zwinger Palace, Brühl's Terrace | ~€8–€10 |
| 4 | Frankfurt | Römerberg, Main Tower, Museumsufer | Free / ~€8 |
| 5 | Cologne | Cologne Cathedral, the Rhine-side Old Town | Free / ~€6 |
| 6 | Hamburg | Speicherstadt, Elbphilharmonie, the Reeperbahn | Free / ~€10 |
| 7 | Munich | Marienplatz, the Residenz, Frauenkirche towers | ~€9 |
Days 1–2 — Berlin (the capital)
Start in the capital: the Reichstag Dome (free, book ahead), Museum Island (~€19 combined) and the Cold War sites — the Berlin Wall Memorial and East Side Gallery, both free. Two days covers it comfortably.
Day 3 — Dresden (Baroque Elbe)
A short ICE ride southeast to Dresden for the rebuilt Frauenkirche (~€8 for the dome gallery), the Zwinger Palace museum complex (~€10) and a walk along Brühl's Terrace, free, above the Elbe.
Day 4 — Frankfurt (the skyline city)
Head west to Frankfurt: the reconstructed Römerberg square (free), the Main Tower observation deck (~€8) for the skyline, and the Museumsufer museum row along the river.
Day 5 — Cologne (the Rhine)
A short hop to Cologne for the UNESCO-listed cathedral (free to enter; ~€6 to climb the tower) and an evening in the Rhine-side Old Town over a round of Kölsch.
Day 6 — Hamburg (the harbour)
North to Hamburg: the UNESCO-listed Speicherstadt (free to walk; Miniatur Wunderland inside it is a separate ~€22 ticket), the Elbphilharmonie's free Plaza viewing platform, and an evening on the Reeperbahn.
Day 7 — Munich (Bavaria)
Finish in Munich: Marienplatz and the glockenspiel (free), the Frauenkirche towers, and the Residenz royal palace (~€9) — or time this leg for late September and stay on for Oktoberfest.
Practical notes
- Book ICE train tickets in advance for the cheapest fares — a Bahncard or a rail pass can be worth it if you book close to travel.
- Base yourself in each city for one or two nights rather than day-tripping from a single base — this route already keeps every hop under about 4 hours.
- Total core entrance fees for the week are modest — well under €60 per adult if you stick to one paid museum or palace per stop.
FAQ
- How many days do you need to see Germany?
- A week covers a genuine cross-section — Berlin, Dresden, Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich — by fast train. Five days is enough if you skip either Dresden or Cologne.
- Is Germany good for a rail-based road trip?
- Yes — the ICE high-speed network connects all six of these cities in under about 4 hours each, making a car unnecessary and letting you read or work between stops.
- What does a week in Germany cost in entrance fees?
- Very little — most headline sights are free or under €10, and the two priciest single tickets on this route (Museum Island in Berlin and the Deutsches Museum in Munich) are around €15–€19. Total core admissions for the week are well under €60 per adult.