Germany rewards curious travelers with a rare blend of world-shaping history, avant‑garde art, and soul-warming cuisine. In Berlin, Napoleonic facades sit beside graffiti-splashed street art; in Munich, rococo churches open onto beer gardens and river surfers. This 7-day Germany itinerary pairs the country’s two great capitals with efficient train travel, neighborhood eats, and cultural experiences that span centuries.

From Prussian grandeur on Museum Island to the glass dome atop the Reichstag, Berlin narrates Europe’s 20th century in walkable scenes. Munich counters with Baroque palaces, the English Garden’s meadows, and a day trip to Neuschwanstein—the castle that launched a thousand fairy tales. Between hearty Bavarian classics and Berlin’s multicultural kitchens, you’ll eat exceptionally well.

Practical notes: book Reichstag Dome and Neuschwanstein tickets in advance, and check museum opening days (many close Mondays). Trains between cities are fast and frequent; aim for an open‑jaw flight—into Berlin and out of Munich. For rail within Europe, compare times and fares on Omio Trains; for flights to or from Europe, use Omio Flights.

Berlin

Berlin is a mosaic: Prussian boulevards, Cold War relics, techno nights, and award‑winning coffee. It’s a place where you can stand inside a 19th‑century museum in the morning and dance under a former power plant’s rafters at night.

• Top sights: Museum Island, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Dome, East Side Gallery, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin Wall Memorial, Tempelhofer Feld.
• Food scene: from Turkish grills and Vietnamese bistros to contemporary German kitchens like Lokal and fine-dining pioneers. Coffee culture is serious—expect expertly roasted beans and immaculate pastries.
• Stay in Mitte for walkability, Prenzlauer Berg for leafy streets and cafés, or Kreuzberg/Neukölln for nightlife and street food.

Where to stay: Browse Berlin stays on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com. Look for places near Hackescher Markt (Mitte), Kollwitzkiez (Prenzlauer Berg), or along the Landwehr Canal (Kreuzberg).

Getting in: Fly into BER. The FEX airport express reaches Berlin Hbf in ~30 minutes. For flight deals to Europe, check Omio Flights.

Day 1: Arrival, Brandenburg Gate, and a Berlin Welcome

Morning: In transit. If you’ve got a connection, fuel up with a simple German-style breakfast: pretzel, butter, and coffee.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs along Unter den Linden to the Brandenburg Gate. Continue to the stark, moving Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Coffee break nearby at Father Carpenter (silky flat whites, excellent banana bread) or The Barn (flagship roaster known for bright, precise profiles).

Evening: Traditional Berlin dinner at Zur Letzten Instanz (since 1621; order the pork knuckle or Königsberger Klopse). For a modern, candlelit option, try Katz Orange (slow-roasted meats, seasonal produce). Nightcap at Green Door (classic cocktails behind a literal green door) or rooftop vibes at Klunkerkranich in Neukölln when weather allows.

Day 2: Museum Island, Reichstag Dome, Tiergarten

Morning: Espresso and a cinnamon bun at Five Elephant or Silo Coffee in Friedrichshain. Head to Museum Island: the Neues Museum (Nefertiti) and Alte Nationalgalerie are standouts. Note: the Pergamonmuseum main building remains closed for renovation; check for special exhibitions.

Afternoon: Stroll to the Reichstag Dome for a free, timed visit with sweeping city views (reserve in advance). Wander the tree-lined paths of Tiergarten to the Victory Column. Quick lunch: grab a currywurst at Curry 36 or a döner at the famed Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap (expect lines).

Evening: Cross the canal to Kreuzberg. If it’s Thursday, graze at Markthalle Neun’s Street Food Thursday (bao, barbecue, handmade pasta). Otherwise, try Adana Grillhaus (charcoal-grilled kebabs) or Hamlet for Levantine plates. Drinks and dancing at Watergate (sprawling river views), or keep it intimate at the speakeasy-style Buck and Breck.

Day 3: Berlin Wall Stories and Neighborhood Hopping

Morning: Walk the murals of the East Side Gallery, a 1.3‑km stretch of the Berlin Wall transformed by artists in 1990 and beyond. Coffee at Bonanza (Kreuzberg roastery) or Distrikt Coffee (famous pancakes).

Afternoon: Visit the open-air and indoor exhibits at the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße. Then browse boutiques and leafy squares in Prenzlauer Berg (Kollwitzplatz). Sunday bonus: the flea market and buskers at Mauerpark. Lunch at Mogg (house-smoked pastrami in a former Jewish girls’ school) or Kanaan (Israeli-Palestinian vegan plates).

Evening: Golden-hour spins on the runways at Tempelhofer Feld (rent bikes or just wander). Dinner at Lokal (modern German—venison, river fish, seasonal veg) or casual Vietnamese at Monsieur Vuong. Craft beer flight at BRLO Brwhouse; if it’s warm, clink steins at Prater Garten, Berlin’s oldest beer garden.

Munich

Munich is Bavaria distilled: baroque palaces, church towers, and convivial beer halls—yet also a tech hub with art museums and Michelin-caliber kitchens. The Alps hover on the horizon, promising day-trip drama.

• Top sights: Marienplatz & Glockenspiel, Frauenkirche, Residenz, Nymphenburg Palace, English Garden, Deutsches Museum, BMW Welt/Museum.
• Taste Bavaria: Weisswurst with sweet mustard before noon, roast pork with crackling, pretzels the size of plates, and lagers poured from wooden barrels.
• Best bases: Altstadt-Lehel for first-timers, Maxvorstadt for museums and cafés, Glockenbach for nightlife and dining.

Where to stay: Compare Munich options on VRBO and Hotels.com. Look near Marienplatz (Altstadt), museum-lined Königsplatz (Maxvorstadt), or along the Isar.

Berlin → Munich travel: Take a direct ICE train (~3h55–4h15). Typical advance fares range ~€24–€89. Search schedules and prices on Omio Trains. Budget buses (~7–8h) also run; compare on Omio Buses.

Day 4: ICE to Munich, Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt

Morning: Depart Berlin on a morning ICE train to arrive by lunchtime in Munich (Omio Trains). Grab coffee and a buttered pretzel from the station bakeries for the ride.

Afternoon: Check in, then head to Marienplatz. Time your visit for the Glockenspiel (11:00 and 12:00 daily; also 17:00 from spring to fall). Climb St. Peter’s Church tower for a skyline of onion domes. Espresso at Man Versus Machine (award-winning roaster) or a sweet stop at Café Frischhut (hot Schmalznudeln doughnuts).

Evening: Graze at Viktualienmarkt: cheese at Tölzer Kasladen, sausages, soups, and seasonal produce. Classic dinner at Augustiner-Keller (lagers from wooden barrels, roast chicken) or Haxnbauer (marinated pork knuckle). Craft cocktails at Zephyr (inventive, bright flavors) or a Maß of Helles at Der Pschorr.

Day 5: Palaces, Science, and the English Garden

Morning: Tram to Nymphenburg Palace, the Wittelsbach summer residence. Tour the main palace, Amalienburg (rococo jewel box), and stroll the park canals. Coffee and cake at the Palmenhaus café amid glasshouse greenery.

Afternoon: Choose your museum: the hands-on Deutsches Museum (science and engineering; allow 2–3 hours) or BMW Welt/Museum (architecture, concept cars, brand history; note the museum is typically closed Mondays). Late lunch at Schneider Bräuhaus (Weisswurst with pretzel and sweet mustard—traditionally before noon, but they’ll serve later) or light bites at Dallmayr delicatessen.

Evening: Sunset through the meadows of the English Garden. If it’s warm, join locals at the Chinesischer Turm beer garden; watch river surfers at the Eisbach wave near the park’s southern edge. Dinner at Spatenhaus an der Oper (classic Bavarian dishes with opera-house views) or modern grilled plates at Theresa Grill.

Day 6: Day Trip to Neuschwanstein

Morning: Board a regional train to Füssen (~2h), then bus 73/78 to Hohenschwangau (10–15 min). A Bayern Ticket is a good value for regional trains (from roughly €29 solo; adds for companions). Hike or shuttle up to Neuschwanstein for a timed tour; pause at Marienbrücke for the postcard view.

Afternoon: Lunch near the castles at Alpenstuben (Bavarian classics) or detour to Schlossbrauhaus Schwangau for hearty fare and house beer. If time allows, tour Hohenschwangau Castle, the royal family’s lived-in residence with a different, warmer character.

Evening: Return to Munich (~2.5–3h total). Celebrate with dumpling-centric Bavarian at Wirtshaus in der Au (try the mixed Knödel plate) or keep it light with seasonal dishes at Occam Deli in Schwabing. Digestif at Bar Gabányi—a pianist’s bar with refined pours.

Day 7: Munich Mornings and Departure

Morning: Quiet start at the jeweled Asamkirche or a neighborhood stroll through Schwabing. Coffee at Standl 20 in Elisabethmarkt or one last pretzel and cappuccino al fresco. Pick up edible gifts at Dallmayr (chocolates, coffee, mustards).

Afternoon: Depart from MUC via S‑Bahn S1 or S8 (about 35–45 minutes). If you’re flying onward in Europe, compare options on Omio Flights. If extending your rail adventure, check Omio Trains for Salzburg, Nuremberg, or Stuttgart.

Optional Upgrades & Tips

• Open‑jaw tickets: Fly into Berlin and out of Munich to save backtracking (Omio Flights).
• Seat reservations: Not mandatory on ICE but recommended on busy routes (search times on Omio Trains).
• Cashless trend: Cards widely accepted, but carry a little cash for markets and beer gardens.

In one week you’ve traced Germany’s story from Prussian splendor through Cold War scars to Bavarian conviviality—museums and memorials by day, rivers and beer gardens by night. Berlin’s creative energy and Munich’s alpine gateway make a pitch-perfect pairing you’ll remember long after your final pretzel crumb.