10 Days in Germany The Perfect Itinerary (2023)

If you plan to visit Germany for just 10 days, here I have put together for you a two 10 days perfect itineraries that you can choose from:

10 Days Itinerary In Germany 1: Romantic Ramblings – Frankfurt to Freiburg

10 Days Itinerary In Germany 2: Historical Highlights – Dresden to Munich

10 Days Itinerary In Germany 1 – Romantic Ramblings: Frankfurt to Freiburg 

This trip provides the gold mine of picture-book scenery you’ve been longing for. Follow Germany’s most powerful river, experience the gravity of its oldest institution, relax in calming waterways, and see settings that served as the inspiration for timeless fairy tales.

Frankfurt 

The Main River reflects Frankfurt’s stunning skyline, you may explore renowned works of art at the Städel Museum, sip apple wine in a restaurant in Sachsenhausen, and peek into the Goethe-Haus, the family home of poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

From Frankfurt to Koblenz you get by the romantic Rhine in 2 hours by car via A66, A60 & B9 or in 1 hour and 45 minutes by train (change in Mainz). You can also go by boat in 4 hours from Rüdesheim.

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Romantic Rhine

The breathtaking beauty along the Rhine River between Koblenz and Rüdesheim begs to be savored rather than swallowed down, like a fine wine. Slow down to pay your respects to the legendary Loreley, sip delicious rieslings in quirky towns like Bacharach, and tremble at the Marksburg in Braubach’s depiction of medieval life. Spend a stay in a castle hotel for more romance.

From Koblenz to Heidelberg you get by train or by car via A61 in 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Heidelberg

William Turner and Mark Twain both fell in love with it, and you will too. While strolling along the Philosophenweg, take in the iconic Heidelberg view, which includes the boldly decaying Schloss, the vivacious Neckar River, and the Alte Brücke. Don’t leave without trying a Studentenkuss (student’s kiss) confection and a beer in one of the cosy student taverns.

From Heidelberg to Baden-Baden you get by car via A5 in 1 hour or by train in 1 hour and 15 minutes (change in Karlsruhe).

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Baden-Baden

The grand dame of German spa towns, Baden-Baden is an aging but still elegant city with mansions from the Belle Époque era and streets lined with trees. Since ancient times, its opulent bathing temples have provided relief for aching muscles to royalty, celebrities, politicians, and common people. In the opulent casino where even Dostoevsky lost his shirt, emulate them and then take in the aristocratic atmosphere.

From Baden-Baden to Triberg you get by car via L96 & B500 in 2 hours or by train in 1 hour and 15 minutes

Black Forest

Go cuckoo for the Black Forest, a legendary mélange of forest-cloaked hills, glacial lakes, cozy valleys, and half-timbered treasures like Schiltach. The Black Forest Open-Air Museum in Gutach and the cuckoo-clock battles in Triberg are great places to learn about the area’s long-standing customs before devouring a slice of schnapps-drenched Black Forest cake.

From Triberg to Freiburg you get by car via L109 & B294 in 1 hour or by train in 1 hour and 45 minutes (change in Offenbach).

Freiburg

Freiburg was created by combining stunning countryside with a medieval Altstadt, adding students, and sprinkling it a dash of cool. Take the 3.6-kilometer cable car ride to the Schauinsland peak for a bird’s-eye perspective. In the breathtaking Wutachschlucht (also known as the Wutach Gorge), hiking is a lot of fun, and wine enthusiasts may indulge in premium vintages in the nearby town of Breisach.

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10 Days Itinerary In Germany 2 – Historical Highlights – Dresden to Munich

This tour should more than please you if you have a soft spot for charming medieval villages, enchanting palaces, noisy beer halls, and proud cities that have shaped history.

Munich

Marienplatz in Munich, Germany - close up of a huge building and two big towers and clear blue sky in the background
Munich – 10 Days Itinerary In Germany

The capital of Bavaria is too charming to resist. Spend a few days exploring iconic locations like the Residenz, storied breweries like the Hofbräuhaus, and world-class artwork in the Pinakothek museums. After a long day on the metro, seek solace in the enormous Englischer Garten.

From Munich to Füssen you get via A96 & B17 in 2 hours by car, 2.5 hours by bus or by train in 2 hours.

Ludwig II’s Castles

Bavaria’s most revered king sought refuge in his fantasy palaces from encroaching modernism south of Munich, among the powerful Alps. Of these, Schloss Neuschwanstein, a sweet confection perched atop Schloss Hohenschwangau, the family’s ancestral home, is undoubtedly the most well-known. The seclusion of Schloss Linderhof, just a short drive away, is, if anything, even more charming.

From Füssen to Rothenburg ob der Tauber you get by car in 4 hours or by bus in 8 hours via B17 and B25.

Romantic Road

The Romantic Road travels through a pastorally stunning terrain while connecting some of Germany’s most charming medieval villages. Get your last city fix in the Roman-founded city of Augsburg before moving on to the immensely thick town walls of Nördlingen and Dinkelsbühl. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a charming parody of Hansel-and-Gretel mansions, tangles of cobblestone streets, and quiet nooks.

From Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Nuremberg you get by car in 4 hours vi B17, B25 and A6 or by train in 1.5 hours (with changes in Steinach and Ansbach).

Nuremberg

Nuremberg Germany - closeup from Albrecht Dürer’s House
Nuremberg – 10 Days Itinerary In Germany

Emperors’ residences, Albrecht Dürer’s birthplace, and the location of a Nazi mass rally—Nuremberg has undoubtedly seen its share of historical events in Germany. Take the city’s pulse around the Hauptmarkt, home of the renowned Christkindlesmarkt, and chow down on the world-famous Nuremberg sausages.

From Nuremberg to Weimar you get by car in 3 hours via A73, A71 and B85 or by train in 3.5 hours (change in Jena).

Weimar

In the 18th century, a pantheon of giants of German intellectualism called this modest Thuringian town home. Compare Friedrich Schiller’s very modest Schiller Haus to Goethe’s opulent quarters (today’s Goethe Nationalmuseum). Sadly, the neighboring Buchenwald Concentration Camp, which was established by the Nazis, marred the wonderful heritage of Weimar.

From Weimar to Dresden you get by car in 2.5 hours via A4 or by train in 2.5 hours (change in Leipzig).

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Dresden

There isn’t much that can prepare you for Dresden’s jaw-dropping silhouette as it stands tall and regal on the Elbe River in its restored baroque splendor. The magnificent dome of the restored Frauenkirche in the city’s historic district serves as a glowing example of the community’s tenacity. The magnificent treasures held at the Grünes Gewölbe and the Zwinger, both of which were once royal palaces, are sights-seeing must-sees.

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