7 Days in Germany: Berlin’s History and Munich’s Bavarian Magic
Germany is a country where layers of history meet inventive cuisine and design-forward urban life. In Berlin, marvel at landmarks that shaped the 20th century, then duck into third-wave coffee bars and street markets that define its present. Munich offers a softer tempo—grand boulevards, leafy parks, and access to Bavaria’s mountains and storybook castles.
Expect excellent public transport, punctual trains, and card payments accepted most places (though a bit of cash still helps for kiosks and markets). Many shops close on Sundays; plan museum days accordingly. For intercity travel, high-speed ICE trains are fast and comfortable; reserve seats for peace of mind.
This 7-day Germany itinerary focuses on two cities—Berlin and Munich—to keep travel time low while packing in culture, food, and unforgettable day trips. You’ll arrive in Berlin on Day 1 and depart Munich on Day 7, with a scenic ICE hop between.
Berlin
Berlin wears its turbulent history openly: the Brandenburg Gate, surviving sections of the Wall, and sober memorials. Yet it’s also a capital of experimentation—art squats turned galleries, pop-ups in courtyards, and a food scene that ranges from Michelin to the perfect döner on a street corner.
Top sights cluster around Mitte and Tiergarten, with diverse neighborhoods like Kreuzberg, Neukölln, and Prenzlauer Berg offering café culture and nightlife. Museum Island remains essential (note: Pergamon Museum is closed for long-term renovation), while the Humboldt Forum and DDR Museum give fresh context.
- Don’t miss: Reichstag Dome (pre-book the free visit), Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, East Side Gallery, Museum Island, Tempelhofer Feld.
- Cafés and bites: Father Carpenter (filter-forward brunch), Five Elephant (cheesecake legend), The Barn (roastery icon), Zeit für Brot (cinnamon rolls), Markthalle Neun (Thursday Street Food), Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap or Curry 36 (queues, but classic).
- Dinner ideas: Katz Orange (seasonal, slow-roasted meats), Nobelhart & Schmutzig (radically regional), Cookies Cream (inventive vegetarian), Lokal (modern German), Monsieur Vuong (lively Vietnamese).
Where to stay (Berlin): Luxe icon by the Gate: Hotel Adlon Kempinski. Stylish, sustainable near Potsdamer Platz: Scandic Berlin Potsdamer Platz. Smart-budget near Hauptbahnhof: Motel One Berlin-Hauptbahnhof or MEININGER Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Family-friendly in Mitte: Novotel Berlin Mitte. Social vibe in a prime area: The Circus Hostel. Browse more stays on VRBO (Berlin) or Hotels.com (Berlin).
How to get to Berlin: Fly into BER; from within Europe, compare flights/trains on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains). Long-haul flights: check Trip.com (flights). From BER to the center: ~30–35 minutes by FEX/RE to Hauptbahnhof.
Day 1: Arrival, Museum Island Stroll, Spree at Sunset
Morning: In transit.
Afternoon: Arrive and drop bags. Shake off jet lag with an easy loop: Berlin Cathedral exterior, the colonnades of the Altes Museum, and the Lustgarten. Coffee at Five Elephant (Mitte) or The Barn Roastery on Alte Schönhauser Straße.
Evening: Early dinner at Lokal (seasonal German plates) or Katz Orange (book ahead). Then a gentle city intro on a one-hour Spree cruise: 1-Hour River Cruise with Tour Guide. Bilingual (Ger/Engl).
Day 2: Berlin’s Icons and Memory
Morning: Reserve the Reichstag Dome in advance and go early for city views. Walk to Brandenburg Gate and the nearby Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe—take time in the underground information center for context.
Afternoon: Head down Ebertstraße to the Topography of Terror (free, heavy but essential), then Checkpoint Charlie. Late coffee and a sweet roll at Zeit für Brot. If energy allows, visit the Neues Museum for the Egyptian collection and Nefertiti bust.
Evening: Dinner in Kreuzberg: try Turkish meze at Fes—Turkish BBQ, or modern Israeli plates at Layla. Nightcap at Buck and Breck (hidden speakeasy near Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz) or Schwarze Traube in Kreuzberg.
Day 3: Street Art, Markets, and a Food Tour
Morning: Start at the East Side Gallery to walk the longest surviving strip of the Wall. Cross the Spree to Kreuzberg for coffee at Bonanza Coffee Roasters. Wander the canals of Landwehr before lunch.
Afternoon: Dive into Berlin’s flavors on the Berlin Food Walking Tour With Secret Food Tours.
Evening: Watch sunset from Klunkerkranich, a rooftop garden-bar atop a Neukölln mall. Dinner nearby at Industry Standard (creative plates) or Korean comfort at YamYam (Mitte) if you head back. If you prefer beer gardens, Prater Garten in Prenzlauer Berg is the city’s oldest.
Day 4: Palaces, Courtyards, and Culture
Morning: U-Bahn to Charlottenburg Palace for a Baroque fix; stroll the formal gardens and the carp-filled ponds. Coffee and German deli classics at Rogacki (smoked fish counter is beloved by locals).
Afternoon: Return to Hackescher Markt to explore artful courtyards (Hackesche Höfe) and indie boutiques. Pop into the Anne Frank Zentrum or the Designpanoptikum (quirky machines) if you like offbeat museums.
Evening: Elegant dinner at Cookies Cream (vegetarian fine dining) or the hyper-local Nobelhart & Schmutzig (counter seating, narrative cooking). If classical music calls, check the Berlin Philharmonie’s evening program; otherwise, sip natural wines at Freundschaft on Mittelstraße.
Munich
Munich is Bavaria’s capital of gemütlichkeit—easygoing good life. Its Altstadt radiates from Marienplatz, where the Rathaus-Glockenspiel performs daily. Beyond the center lie leafy neighborhoods, river surfers on the Eisbach, and grand museums like the Alte and Neue Pinakothek.
Beer culture is both tradition and craft: historic halls such as Hofbräuhaus and Augustiner share the stage with sun-dappled beer gardens. Munich is also your gateway to Alpine day trips, from lakeside villages to King Ludwig II’s fantastical castles.
- Highlights: Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt, Residenz, English Garden, Pinakothek museums, Nymphenburg Palace.
- Food stops: Cafe Frischhut (schmalznudel and rohrnudel pastries), Man Versus Machine (specialty coffee), Viktualienmarkt (Schlemmermeyer for sausages, Caspar Plautz for potatoes), Wirtshaus in der Au (dumplings), Haxnbauer (pork knuckle done right), Tantris (gastronomy temple).
- Beer gardens: Augustiner-Keller (locals’ pick), Hirschgarten (deer park setting), Chinesischer Turm (English Garden icon).
Where to stay (Munich): Classic five-star: Hotel Bayerischer Hof. Reliable mid-range: Novotel München City or Novotel München City Arnulfpark. Great value: Motel One München-Sendlinger Tor or Motel One München-Campus. For social stays: Euro Youth Hotel Munich or Meininger Hotel Munich City Center. Also see VRBO (Munich) and Hotels.com (Munich).
Berlin → Munich: Take the ICE high-speed train (~3h55, ~€25–€95 depending on advance purchase) via Omio (trains). Morning departures around 7:30–10:00 get you to Munich by late morning/early afternoon. Buses are cheaper but slower; also compare on Omio (buses).
Day 5: Train to Munich, Old Town Essentials
Morning: Board an early ICE to Munich. Grab a seat-reservation and a pretzel-coffee combo at the station. Check in, then walk to Marienplatz for the noon Glockenspiel (11 a.m. in winter).
Afternoon: Get oriented with a private, flexible walk: Munich Walking Tour: Private Highlights & Hidden Gems by a Local.
Evening: Classic Bavarian dinner at Wirtshaus in der Au (dumplings galore) or Schneider Bräuhaus (wheat-beer pairings). If you prefer a garden vibe, head to Augustiner-Keller; order an Edelstoff and roast chicken under the chestnuts.
Day 6: Neuschwanstein & Linderhof—Bavarian Fairytales
Full-day tour: Leave Munich for the Alps on the Neuschwanstein & Linderhof - Fairytale Castles Tour from Munich.
Day 7: Parks, Art, and Departure
Morning: Coffee at Man Versus Machine (Müllerstraße) followed by a stroll through the English Garden to the Eisbach wave to watch surfers. If museums call, choose one Pinakothek (Alte for Old Masters, Neue for 19th-century stunners, Pinakothek der Moderne for design and art).
Afternoon: Early lunch near the Opera at Spatenhaus an der Oper (veal schnitzel, terrace if weather allows). Pick up lebkuchen or pralines around Marienplatz, then head to the airport or station for your afternoon departure. For flights within Europe, check Omio (flights); for long-haul, see Trip.com (flights). If continuing by train, compare times on Omio (trains).
Optional add-ons if you swap a day
- Somber history: Consider a half-day to the Dachau Memorial (plan ~5 hours round trip) via an organized tour on another visit.
- Salzburg by rail: A culture-packed day across the border is possible; leave early and return late.
Practical tips: Book Reichstag Dome and popular restaurants ahead. Carry a light scarf/jacket—weather turns quickly, even in summer. For intercity journeys, earlier rail bookings are cheaper; seat reservations are small add-ons worth purchasing. Many museums close on Mondays—double-check hours.
In one week, you’ll trace Berlin’s fault lines of history and taste its neighborhood creativity, then lean into Munich’s grand squares, leafy parks, and Alpine daydreams. This Berlin–Munich itinerary balances depth with ease—and leaves just enough mystery to bring you back.