Germany greets you with a cheerful “Hallo,” and over seven days you’ll feel its rhythm—from Berlin’s layered history and creative scene to Munich’s old-world squares and beer garden camaraderie. This itinerary blends iconic sights with local favorites, letting you taste regional cuisine, browse world-class museums, and slow down under chestnut trees with a stein in hand.

Berlin’s story is etched into its streets: Prussian grandeur, wartime scars, Cold War divisions, and reunification. You’ll walk the Berlin Wall’s remnants, climb the Reichstag’s glass dome, and drift along the Spree by boat. In Munich, painted façades and onion-domed churches set the stage for market grazing at Viktualienmarkt, afternoons in the English Garden, and a day trip to the fairytale spires of Neuschwanstein.

Practical notes: card payments are widely accepted, tap water is safe, and many shops close on Sundays (museums/restaurants usually open). Book top attractions (Reichstag dome, Neuschwanstein) in advance. For flights to Europe and trains within Europe, compare options on Omio (Flights) and Omio (Trains); if you’re flying from outside Europe, also check Kiwi.com (Flights).

Berlin

Berlin is Europe’s living timeline—imperial boulevard one minute, avant-garde gallery the next. Its neighborhoods feel like distinct villages: elegant Mitte, leafy Prenzlauer Berg, gritty-cool Kreuzberg, and waterside Friedrichshain. You’ll eat incredibly well here: modern German tastings, family-run Turkish grills, third-wave coffee, and street food legends.

• Top sights: Reichstag dome, Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island (Neues/Altes Museum), Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin Wall Memorial, East Side Gallery, Topography of Terror, Tempelhofer Feld.
• Where to stay (central base = Mitte/Prenzlauer Berg): Browse apartments on VRBO Berlin or compare hotels on Hotels.com Berlin.
• Getting there: Fly into BER; check fares on Omio (Flights) or Kiwi.com. From BER, S‑Bahn/Regional trains reach central Berlin in ~30–40 minutes.

Day 1: Arrive, Settle In, and A Golden-Hour Stroll

Morning: Travel day. If you land early, drop bags and revive with specialty coffee at The Barn (roastery-fresh, minimalist) or Father Carpenter (courtyard café with excellent sourdough and poached eggs).

Afternoon: Check in, then orient yourself along Unter den Linden. See Bebelplatz (site of the 1933 book burning) and the Berlin Cathedral’s dome across the Spree. Pop into the Humboldt Forum’s courtyard, then pause for cake at Zeit für Brot (warm cinnamon buns).

Evening: Classic Berlin dinner at Zur letzten Instanz (since 1621; crispy Eisbein, königsberger klopse). For a nightcap, ride the elevator to Klunkerkranich, a rooftop garden bar in a Neukölln parking garage with skyline views; or sip cocktails at ORA, a former apothecary bathed in lamplight.

Day 2: Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and Museum Island

Morning: Reserve a free timeslot to walk the glass dome of the Reichstag—Sir Norman Foster’s design symbolizes transparent government. Stroll to Brandenburg Gate and the poignant field of stelae at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Coffee and cardamom croissant at Sofi Bakery nearby.

Afternoon: Explore Museum Island. While the Pergamonmuseum is under long-term renovation, the Neues Museum (Egyptian/Nefertiti) and Altes Museum (Classical antiquities) reward unhurried browsing. Lunch at Mogg (legendary house-smoked pastrami in a former Jewish girls’ school) or Katz Orange (slow-roasted pork shoulder, seasonal veg).

Evening: Chef’s-counter adventure at Nobelhart & Schmutzig (ingredient-driven, one Michelin star; book ahead), or go modern German at Lokal (short, seasonal menu). End with a twilight Spree boat cruise from Friedrichstraße for floodlit façades and calm water reflections.

Day 3: Berlin Wall Stories and Kreuzberg Flavor

Morning: Walk the East Side Gallery, the longest surviving stretch of the Wall, painted after 1989. Cross the photogenic Oberbaumbrücke. Espresso and cheesecake at Five Elephant (beans roasted in-house).

Afternoon: Head to Bernauer Straße’s Berlin Wall Memorial, the city’s most informative open-air site with a preserved death strip and chapel of reconciliation. Lunch at Markthalle Neun: try Big Stuff Smoked BBQ or Sironi for Roman-style pizza; on Thursdays, the hall hosts Street Food Thursday into the evening. Alternatively, grab Berlin icons: Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap (grilled chicken with herbed veg) or Curry 36 (currywurst).

Evening: Dinner at Horváth (inventive Central European tasting, two Michelin stars on the canal) or Fes (DIY Turkish mangal with meze). Drinks at Prater Garten (Berlin’s oldest beer garden) in warm months; otherwise, slip into Green Door for classic cocktails behind a literal green door.

Day 4: Topography of Terror, Design Shops, and Contemporary Art

Morning: Tour the Topography of Terror, an unsparing account of the Nazi regime on the former Gestapo/SS grounds. Brunch near Hackescher Markt at House of Small Wonder (Japanese‑inflected comfort plates in a greenhouse setting), then browse the interlinked courtyards of Hackesche Höfe for boutiques and galleries.

Afternoon: See contemporary art at Hamburger Bahnhof (a former terminus turned museum) or the free Urban Nation Museum for street art. Coffee at Bonanza Roastery (airy, industrial-chic) and a sweet stop at Princess Cheesecake.

Evening: Go vegetarian fine dining at Cookies Cream (one Michelin star, hidden entrance) or, if you want a splurge, Rutz (three-star temple to local producers). Night views from Monkey Bar over the zoo, music humming and lights twinkling.

Munich

Munich pairs royal heritage with relaxed, outdoorsy living. Mornings begin with warm schmalznudel pastries; afternoons drift under chestnut canopies with Helles beer; evenings glow around ornate churches and opera façades. The Alps are your horizon, and markets are your pantry.

• Top sights: Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel, Frauenkirche, Residenz, Viktualienmarkt, English Garden (Eisbach surfers), Nymphenburg Palace, BMW Welt/Museum.
• Where to stay (Altstadt/Maxvorstadt/Glockenbach): Browse apartments on VRBO Munich or compare hotels on Hotels.com Munich.
• Getting from Berlin to Munich: High-speed ICE train ~4 hours. Saver fares often ~€30–€90; book via Omio (Trains). Morning departures make the most of your Munich afternoon.

Day 5: Travel to Munich, Viktualienmarkt, and Bavarian Beer Culture

Morning: Board an early ICE from Berlin Hbf to München Hbf (~4h, comfortable, Wi‑Fi). Grab a window seat for windmill-dotted plains that give way to rolling Bavaria. Coffee and a pretzel on board keeps you fueled.

Afternoon: Check in, then head straight to Viktualienmarkt. Graze on potato creations at Caspar Plautz, a fish plate at Fisch Witte, or soup at Münchner Suppenküche. Espresso at Man versus Machine (award-winning roaster) before a gentle loop: Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, and the ornate Asamkirche.

Evening: Classic dinner at Schneider Bräuhaus (sausages, schweinsbraten, tangy Obatzda) or Augustiner-Keller (leafy beer garden, gravity-poured wooden barrels). Nightcap at Zephyr Bar (citrus-forward cocktails) or Bar Gabányi (low-lit, vinyl, and Vienna‑café vibes).

Day 6: Neuschwanstein and Alpine Edges (Full-Day Tour)

Catch an early train from Munich to Füssen (~2h; book on Omio (Trains)) and bus to Hohenschwangau village. Walk or shuttle up to Neuschwanstein; time your ticket so you can also see Hohenschwangau Castle if interested. For lunch, try Schloss Bräustüberl (hearty Bavarian plates) or Alpenstuben (regional dishes). Don’t miss the Marienbrücke viewpoint for the postcard shot of towers and cliff. Return to Munich by early evening. Tip: tickets sell out weeks ahead in peak season; pre-book your preferred timeslot.

Day 7: English Garden, Residenz, and Departure

Morning: Start with a warm schmalznudel at Café Frischhut or a market breakfast at Standl 20 (excellent coffee and sandwiches). Stroll the English Garden: watch river surfers at the Eisbach wave, then wander to the Chinese Tower beer garden if it’s open. If you prefer indoors, tour highlights of the Residenz (treasure rooms and rococo grotto).

Afternoon: Depart from Munich. If time allows, enjoy a last plate of schnitzel at Spatenhaus an der Oper overlooking the National Theatre. For flights or trains onward, compare on Omio (Flights) and Omio (Trains); long-haul options also on Kiwi.com.

Additional Tips:

• Neighborhood eats in Berlin: Monsieur Vuong (zesty Vietnamese in Mitte), Kanaan (Israeli‑Palestinian vegan comfort in Prenzlauer Berg), Masha (modern Georgian khachapuri and khinkali).
• Munich snacks and sweets: Dallmayr Delicatessen (historic food hall), Café Luitpold (Austrian‑style tortes), Viktualienmarkt’s juice stands for quick vitamins between sights.
• Transit: Day tickets are good value in both cities. In Berlin, the U‑/S‑Bahn grid is intuitive; in Munich, trams conveniently crisscross the center.
• Reservations: Book top tables (Nobelhart & Schmutzig, Horváth, Cookies Cream) and Reichstag/Neuschwanstein slots well ahead, especially summer and weekends.

For stays steps from the action, compare centrally located options on VRBO Berlin, Hotels.com Berlin, VRBO Munich, and Hotels.com Munich. For flights and trains, start with Omio (Flights), Omio (Trains), and, for long-haul, Kiwi.com.

This 7-day plan balances Berlin’s history and creative pulse with Munich’s market culture and Alpine romance. You’ll leave with stories—from the hush of the Wall memorial to the clang of beer steins—and a camera roll of domes, bridges, and castle turrets.