Germany rewards the curious traveler: Roman frontiers, medieval market squares, avant‑garde art, and some of Europe’s easiest access to mountains and lakes. In one compact week, you’ll hike forest trails to a hilltop monastery, ride past storybook farms to see royal castles, and trace Berlin’s Cold War edges on foot.

Munich and Berlin are a powerful duo: Munich offers alpine day trips, gemütlich beer gardens, and elegant museums; Berlin counterbalances with edgy neighborhoods, thought‑provoking memorials, and a global food scene. Trains are fast and frequent, walking is safe, and card payments are widely accepted.

Practical notes: Sundays can mean limited shopping but open parks and museums. Pack layers—alpine weather shifts quickly. For value, book long‑distance ICE trains early and mix brewery classics with markets and street food. This plan assumes a mid‑range budget (50/100), an avventuroso vibe, and a love for escursionismo (hiking).

Munich

Munich marries alpine spirit with city polish. Within an hour, you can be on forest paths or at a lakeside biergarten; within minutes, you’re in lively markets or grand squares like Marienplatz. It’s a superb base for hikes and castle day trips.

• Top sights: Marienplatz Glockenspiel, Residenz, English Garden’s surfers at the Eisbach, and the food-filled Viktualienmarkt.
• Outdoor highlights: Easy Isar river trails, the Andechs Monastery forest hike from Herrsching, and day trips towards the Alps.
• Where to stay (Hotels.com/VRBO):
  • Motel One München‑Sendlinger Tor – smart design, great value near the old town.
  • Novotel München City – reliable mid‑range, easy for families, close to museums.
  • Euro Youth Hotel Munich – budget favorite by the Hauptbahnhof with a sociable bar.
  • Browse apartments: VRBO Munich or hotels: Hotels.com Munich.
• Getting in: Fly to Munich (MUC). Compare fares on Omio (flights to/from Europe) or Trip.com (global flights). From MUC, S‑Bahn S1/S8 to the center takes ~40–45 minutes.

Day 1 — Arrive in Munich, markets and old town

Morning: Travel day. If you arrive early, drop bags and stretch your legs in the English Garden along the Isar’s leafy paths.

Afternoon: Coffee first: Man Versus Machine (Müllerstraße) pulls excellent flat whites; or espresso at Standl 20 inside the Viktualienmarkt. Snack your way through the market: try Caspar Plautz’s inventive potato plates or Fisch Witte’s rollmops.

Evening: Classic Bavarian dinner at Wirtshaus in der Au (knödel sampler and crispy duck) or Haxnbauer (slow‑roasted pork knuckle). If you prefer craft beer, head to Giesinger Bräustüberl for unfiltered helles and flammkuchen.

Day 2 — Munich on foot + Andechs forest hike (Herrsching)

Morning: Get oriented with a private, flexible city walk:

Munich Walking Tour: Private Highlights & Hidden Gems by a Local

Ask your guide to include Marienplatz, Frauenkirche viewpoints, and the surfers at the Eisbach. Pick up a pretzel at Hofpfisterei for the train later.

Afternoon: Andechs Monastery hike. Take S8 to Herrsching (~49 min; tickets via Omio (trains)). Follow the shaded Kiental trail to Kloster Andechs (about 4.3 km; 1–1.5 hours each way), then reward yourself with the monastery’s own beers, obatzda, and a view over the Ammersee. Return via the same path and S‑Bahn.

Evening: Hearty plates at Schneider Bräuhaus (try the weisswurst before 12, or schweinebraten later). For lighter fare, Loretta Bar serves seasonal small plates and natural wines near Gärtnerplatz.

Day 3 — Full‑day castles in the Bavarian Alps

Spend a day among mountains and storybook palaces. Comfortable coaches and timed entries keep logistics smooth:

Premium Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof VIP Tour from Munich

Typical schedule is ~9–10 hours with photo stops in alpine villages. Bring a light jacket—weather can change quickly near the foothills. Back in Munich, celebrate at Augustiner‑Keller’s beer garden under chestnut trees; the roast chicken and dampfnudel are favorites.

Berlin

Berlin is a constellation of neighborhoods—each with its own personality—stitched together by bike lanes, canals, and a complicated history. It’s excellent for urban wandering and surprisingly green hiking.

• Top sights: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag dome, East Side Gallery, Museum Island, and Checkpoint Charlie’s vicinity for context.
• Urban nature: Grunewald forest and lakes, Teufelsberg hill (Cold War radar site), and the canal‑lined paths of Kreuzberg/Neukölln.
• Where to stay (Hotels.com/VRBO):
  • Scandic Berlin Potsdamer Platz – modern, sustainable, steps from transit and Tiergarten.
  • Motel One Berlin‑Alexanderplatz – value base with quick access to Museum Island and transit.
  • The Circus Hostel – upbeat, social, with private rooms available in Mitte.
  • Hotel Adlon Kempinski – splurge icon by the Brandenburg Gate.
  • Browse apartments: VRBO Berlin or hotels: Hotels.com Berlin.
• Getting there from Munich: Morning ICE trains take ~3:55–4:30. Book on Omio (trains in Europe); advance fares can be ~€30–€60 for saver tickets, flexible fares higher. Buses (Omio buses) are slower but cheaper. Flights also available via Omio.

Day 4 — Train to Berlin, Spree perspectives, historic core

Morning: Grab a quick breakfast at Rischart (butter brezel) and board an early ICE to Berlin (about 4 hours). Once at Berlin Hbf, drop bags.

Afternoon: See the city from the water:

1‑Hour River Cruise with Tour Guide. Bilingual (Ger/Engl)

Glide past Museum Island, the Reichstag, and Berlin’s mix of imperial and modern architecture. Afterwards, walk through the Brandenburg Gate and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe for context.

Evening: Dinner options: Lokal (seasonal, modern German) near Monbijoupark, or the historic Zur letzten Instanz for pork cheeks and potato gratin. Nightcap at Newton Bar or a casual beer at Prater Garten if the weather’s fine.

Day 5 — Grunewald hike to Teufelsberg + lakeside break

Morning: Fuel up at Father Carpenter (granola, poached eggs, great flat whites). S‑Bahn to Grunewald or Heerstraße and hike through the forest to Teufelsberg (about 8–10 km roundtrip with rolling hills). The former radar station sits atop Berlin’s highest rubble hill; check onsite for entry to the art‑covered complex.

Afternoon: Continue to Teufelssee for a woodland lake pause, or hop to Schlachtensee for a loop and lunch at Fischerhütte am Schlachtensee (biergarten classics with lake views). Return on the U3/S‑Bahn.

Evening: Kreuzberg eats: try Adana ocakbaşı grills at Gel Gör or meze at FES. For craft beer, BRLO Brwhouse near Gleisdreieck pours excellent German‑style pils and hop‑forward ales with smoked cheddar spaetzle.

Day 6 — History walk + Berlin food tour

Morning: A concise history primer connects the dots between landmarks:

Berlin Third Reich and Cold War 2‑Hour Walking Tour

See the Reichstag, Unter den Linden, and sites that shaped the 20th century, guided by clear storytelling.

Afternoon: Taste the city’s layers on a small‑group food walk:

Berlin Food Walking Tour With Secret Food Tours

Expect a mix of traditional bites and immigrant flavors—think käsespätzle, döner heritage, and a sweet finish at a beloved bakery.

Evening: If you still have room, share plates at Kanaan (Israeli‑Palestinian, excellent hummus) or grab a late currywurst at Curry 36. Cocktail fans can try Green Door in Schöneberg; beer fans, Vagabund Brauerei’s Wedding taproom.

Day 7 — East Side art, last bites, departure

Morning: Breakfast at Five Elephant (cheesecake is rightly famous) and stroll the East Side Gallery’s open‑air murals to Oberbaumbrücke. If museums call, Neues Museum (Nefertiti) and Altes Museum are close together on Museum Island.

Afternoon: Depart from BER. Trains FEX/RE7/RB14 or S9 connect central Berlin to the airport in ~30–45 minutes. For flights, compare on Omio (flights) or Trip.com. If you prefer slow travel, long‑distance trains across Europe are on Omio (trains).

Optional/Alternate Tours You Can Swap In

• Neuschwanstein & Linderhof - Fairytale Castles Tour from Munich

  

• Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Bus Tour (from Berlin) – a serious, educational half‑day if you wish to prioritize memorial history.

  

Budget and logistics tips (mid‑range, 50/100)

• Transit: Day tickets in Munich and Berlin often beat single fares if you’ll ride 3+ times. Book ICE trains early on Omio for the best savings.
• Food: Mix sit‑down meals with markets—Viktualienmarkt (Munich) and Markthalle Neun (Berlin) keep costs balanced without skimping on flavor.
• Hikes: Trail shoes with grip and a packable rain layer are enough for the routes suggested. Always check last train times back to the city.

Summary: In one week you’ll taste Bavaria’s alpine edge, wander through royal castles, and hike to a hilltop brewery, then pivot to Berlin’s rivers, forests, and compelling history. It’s an active, satisfying loop—equal parts escursionismo and culture—designed to leave you hungry for a longer return.