Germany’s story stretches from Roman frontiers and medieval trade guilds to Bauhaus design and reunification. Today, it’s a traveler’s playground where world-class museums, street art, and forested Alps coexist. Expect efficient trains, hearty regional cuisine, and cities that excel at mixing past and present.

Berlin, once divided, now buzzes with galleries, techno clubs, and a serious food scene. Munich, the Bavarian capital, tempers baroque grandeur with convivial beer gardens and easy access to castles and mountains. Together, they make an ideal one-week itinerary.

Practical notes: Most shops close on Sundays; tap water is safe; cards widely accepted but keep some cash for markets. Trains are fast and frequent; reserve ICE seats on busy days. For dining, book popular restaurants (especially in Munich) and arrive early for beer gardens in summer.

Berlin

Berlin wears history on its sleeve—Prussian pomp, Weimar sparkle, Cold War scars—and still manages to feel fresh each season. Stroll grand boulevards, trace the Berlin Wall, and refuel on third-wave coffee and Turkish-German street food.

• Highlights: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag dome, Museum Island, East Side Gallery, Tempelhof Field, Kreuzberg’s canal-side bars.
• Good to know: Many top museums close on Mondays; reserve Reichstag dome slots in advance. Neighborhoods feel like villages—plan by Kiez (district).

Where to stay (Berlin):

• Classic luxury by the Gate: Hotel Adlon Kempinski — polished service and a storied address.
• Design-forward and central: Scandic Berlin Potsdamer Platz — airy rooms near Tiergarten and metro.
• Smart-value hub for sightseeing: Motel One Berlin-Alexanderplatz — steps to TV Tower and transit.
• Hip on a budget: The Circus Hostel — social vibe in lively Rosenthaler Platz.

Browse more stays: Hotels.com Berlin | VRBO Berlin

Getting to Berlin: Fly into BER (Berlin Brandenburg). From North America or Asia, compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From within Europe, check flights and trains on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains).

Day 1: Berlin Arrival, Unter den Linden, and a First Taste

Afternoon: Arrive and drop bags. Shake off the flight with a gentle walk along Unter den Linden to Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial. For a pick-me-up, try flat whites at The Barn (Monbijou) or espresso at Five Elephant (Mitte).

Evening: Dinner in Hackescher Markt: reserve at Katz Orange (modern German, slow-roasted meats, excellent veg sides) or dine at Lokal (seasonal, North German produce). Nightcap at Monkey Bar (zoo views) or the neighborhood Prater Garten if the weather’s kind.

Day 2: Icons of Berlin—Walking Tour, Museum Island, Spree Cruise

Morning: Join a historian-led city walk to orient yourself around the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, and Gendarmenmarkt.

Discover Berlin Half-Day Walking Tour

Breakfast before you go: Father Carpenter (Aussie-style cafe in a courtyard; bircher muesli, sourdough toasts). Quick lunch after at Zur letzten Instanz (classic schnitzel, Berlin’s oldest inn) or Rausch Schokoladenhaus café for cocoa-fueled treats.

Afternoon: Explore Museum Island—Pergamon Panorama and Neues Museum (Nefertiti) are standouts. Then see Berlin from the water:

1-Hour River Cruise with Tour Guide

Evening: Head to Kreuzberg’s canal for dinner: try Doyum Ocakbasi (grilled lamb skewers, lavash, salads) or Tim Raue’s eponymous spot if you’re splurging on Asian-inspired fine dining. Drinks at ORA (apothecary bar) or a craft flight at BRLO Brwhouse by Gleisdreieck Park.

Day 3: Memory and Taste—Sachsenhausen and Berlin Food Tour

Morning: Take a guided visit to Sachsenhausen Memorial for thoughtful context on the Nazi era. It’s a sobering, essential experience.

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Bus Tour in English from Berlin

Afternoon: Return to Mitte for coffee at Distrikt Coffee (pillowy pancakes, seasonal salads). Then eat your way through Berlin’s culinary mash-up—Turkish-German staples, sausages, and artisan bakes.

Berlin Center Food Tour with 8+ Authentic Local Tastings

Evening: Sunset stroll along the East Side Gallery (largest open-air section of the Wall). Casual dinner at Markthalle Neun (check opening days) or Mustafas Gemüse Kebap for a cult-favorite döner. Nightcap at Klunkerkranich, a rooftop garden-bar above Neukölln’s mall.

Munich

Munich balances baroque palaces and tech prosperity with gemütlichkeit—cozy good times in beer halls, river swims, and Alpine day trips. It’s a city for museums by day and hearty plates under chestnut trees by night.

• Highlights: Marienplatz Glockenspiel, Residenz, English Garden surfers, Pinakothek museums, Viktualienmarkt, and easy access to Neuschwanstein.
• Good to know: Many beer gardens let you bring your own picnic if you buy drinks. Museum Sundays often feature €1 admissions—check listings.

Where to stay (Munich):

• Grand and central: Hotel Bayerischer Hof — historic property with rooftop views.
• Solid value in the old town: Motel One München-Sendlinger Tor — modern rooms near Marienplatz.
• Family-friendly and walkable: Novotel München City — pool, near Deutsches Museum.
• Social budget pick: Euro Youth Hotel Munich — close to Hbf with lively common spaces.

Browse more stays: Hotels.com Munich | VRBO Munich

Berlin → Munich travel: Take a morning ICE train (~3h55) from Berlin Hbf to München Hbf. Book on Omio (trains); expect €30–€90 depending on advance purchase. If you prefer to fly, compare on Omio (flights).

Day 4: Train to Munich, Old Town Ramble, and a Beer Garden Welcome

Morning: Depart Berlin on an early ICE. Grab train snacks: Laugenbrezeln, fruit, and coffee from Zeit für Brot. Arrive at München Hbf and check in.

Afternoon: Orient in the Altstadt: Marienplatz, Frauenkirche towers, and the Residenz courtyard. Coffee at Man Versus Machine (brilliant roasts) or Standl 20 inside Elisabethmarkt.

Evening: Dinner at Augustiner-Keller (crisp pork knuckle, Obatzda, and helles from wooden barrels) or Schneider Bräuhaus (wheat beers and bavarian classics). Stroll to Hofgarten or along the Isar for twilight vibes.

Day 5: Munich’s History—Dachau, Museums, and a Third Reich Walk

Morning: Visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial with a guide via train for context and logistics handled.

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Tour with Train from Munich

Afternoon: Reflect over a quiet lunch at Viktualienmarkt—try Caspar Plautz (inventive potato dishes) or grilled fish at Fisch Witte. Explore a museum: the Alte Pinakothek (Old Masters) or the technology-forward Deutsches Museum.

Evening: Delve into Munich’s 20th-century past with an expert-led city walk.

Third Reich Walking Tour Munich

Dinner afterward at Spatenhaus an der Oper (roast duck, views onto the opera) or the gemütlich Zum Dürnbräu for tavern fare.

Day 6: Fairytale Bavaria—Neuschwanstein and Linderhof (Full-Day Tour)

Make a day of Ludwig II’s castles in the Alps with a comfortable coach and guided entries. You’ll visit Neuschwanstein, the world-famous cliffside castle that inspired Disney, plus ornate Linderhof and a photogenic village stop. Expect an early start and a late afternoon return to Munich.

Premium Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof VIP Tour from Munich

Pack a breakfast from Rischart (butter pretzels, apricot pastries). For dinner back in Munich, book Wirtshaus Hohenwart (locals’ favorite, seasonal specials) or settle in under the chestnuts at the Chinesischer Turm beer garden in the English Garden.

Day 7: Markets, Food Tastings, and Departure

Morning: Start at Café Frischhut for schmalznudel (fresh-fried pastry) and coffee. If time allows, join a deliciously paced stroll of Bavarian bites in the Old Town—ending by midday so you can head to the airport or station.

Munich Old Town Food Tour with 10+ Bavarian Specialties

Afternoon: Depart Munich. Compare trains and flights on Omio (trains) and Omio (flights). For long-haul options beyond Europe, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Extra Munich eats and sips: Prinz Myshkin (vegetarian plates), Steinheil 16 (schnitzel legend), Servus Heidi (updated Alpine cuisine), and ice cream at Der Verrückte Eismacher (wild flavors).

Local logistics and tips:

• Public transport: Buy 24-hour tickets on local apps (BVG in Berlin, MVV in Munich); validate paper tickets where needed.
• Museums: Time-entry reservations recommended for blockbusters; pack light for bag checks.
• Dining: Many kitchens close mid-afternoon; for beer gardens, order at the self-serve window and share tables.
• Tipping: Round up or add ~5–10% for table service.

In a week you’ll have traced Berlin’s layered history, sailed the Spree, toasted in Munich’s legendary beer gardens, and gazed up at Neuschwanstein’s turrets. Consider it an elegant sampler of Germany—rich in culture, flavor, and landscapes—with an easy ICE ride in between.