Berlin to Munich: A Week Across Germany — History, Wine & Bavarian Alps
This is the Germany trip that gives you everything — the raw history of Berlin, the music and energy of Leipzig, the perfectly preserved medieval dream of Rothenburg, the fairytale castles of Bavaria, and the alpine majesty of Garmisch. Seven days, one direction, using Germany’s excellent train network as your connective thread. You’ll travel from north to south, watching the landscape change from flat Prussian plains to rolling vineyards to the sudden drama of the Alps. It’s ambitious but not rushed — each stop gets a full day or two, and the Deutsche Bahn ICE trains make the distances feel short. Budget: €850–1,250 per person, all in.
7-Day Itinerary Overview
Route: Berlin (2) → Leipzig (1) → Rothenburg ob der Tauber (1) → Munich (2) → Garmisch-Partenkirchen (1) — one-way south by train
Best for: First-time visitors wanting variety, train lovers, couples, anyone with a full week
Budget: €850–1,250 per person (excluding international flights)
Direction: One-way south — Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Munich Hauptbahnhof via regional connections
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Berlin — History Heart
Arrive in Berlin and check into your Mitte or Prenzlauer Berg accommodation. Start with the Brandenburg Gate (free), then walk to the Reichstag for your pre-booked dome visit (free, book 2 weeks ahead). Walk through the Holocaust Memorial’s stelae field — the underground Information Centre is essential. Grab a quick lunch at the Hackescher Markt food market (€6–10).
Afternoon: Visit Museum Island — choose the Pergamon (Ishtar Gate and Pergamon Altar, €12) and the Neues Museum (Nefertiti bust, €12), or buy the combined pass (€19) for all five museums. Evening: dinner and a local Berliner Pilsner in the courtyard bars of the Hackesche Höfe. Try the Kassler (smoked pork) at a traditional German restaurant.
Accommodation: Berlin Mitte — hostel dorm €25–35, budget double €60–90
Entry costs: Reichstag Dome free (pre-book), Museum Island Pass €19
Day 2: Berlin — Street, Walls & Underbelly
Morning: Start early at the East Side Gallery (free) — the 1.3 km of Berlin Wall murals along the Spree. Walk from Warschauer Strasse to Ostbahnhof, then cross the Oberbaumbrücke into Kreuzberg. Explore the Markthalle Neun for breakfast — the historic market hall is at its best in the morning (€5–10 for a full breakfast spread).
Afternoon: Take the U-Bahn to the Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauer Strasse (free). The preserved section of the Wall with the watchtower and death strip is more affecting than the East Side Gallery. Continue to Checkpoint Charlie (quick photo stop, skip the tacky museum) and the Topography of Terror (free, open until 20:00). Evening: last Berlin dinner at a classic Kneipe (pub) in Prenzlauer Berg — try Zur Haxe for traditional German food in a warm, wood-panelled setting (mains €12–18).
Transport: Day transit pass €9.90, or walk — the distances are manageable
Entry costs: East Side Gallery free, Berlin Wall Memorial free, Topography of Terror free
Day 3: Leipzig — Bach, Art & Revitalisation
Take the 09:14 ICE from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Leipzig Hauptbahnhof (1 hour 15 minutes, €30–40 if booked ahead). Drop your bags and explore Leipzig’s compact, walkable city centre. Start at the Markt with its Renaissance Old Town Hall, then walk to the Thomaskirche where J.S. Bach served as cantor for 27 years — his grave is inside, and the boys’ choir still sings here on Fridays and Saturdays at 18:00 (free to attend).
Afternoon: Leipzig’s Spinnerei district is one of Germany’s most exciting contemporary art scenes — a former cotton mill complex turned into 80+ artist studios and galleries (free entry, most galleries open Tuesday–Saturday 11:00–18:00). Evening: dine in the Plagwitz neighbourhood, known for its industrial-chic restaurants and student energy. Try the region’s culinary speciality: Leipziger Allerlei (a spring vegetable medley) with a local Gose beer — a sour, salty wheat beer unique to Leipzig.
Accommodation: Leipzig Centre — hostel dorm €20–30, budget double €50–80
Entry costs: Thomaskirche free, Spinnerei galleries free, Museum der bildenden Künste €10
Day 4: Rothenburg — Medieval Masterpiece
Take the 08:30 regional train from Leipzig to Rothenburg ob der Tauber via Würzburg (3 hours, €35–45 with regional ticket). The journey through the Tauber valley is beautiful — rolling vineyards, half-timbered villages, and the occasional castle. Arrive in Rothenburg by midday and drop your bags. Walk the 2.5 km of the fully preserved medieval city walls — the covered walkway gives you a continuous view over the red rooftops. Climb the Rathaus (town hall) tower for the classic panoramic shot (€4).
Afternoon: Visit the Medieval Crime Museum (€7) — a fascinating collection of medieval justice artefacts including the infamous iron maiden replica, shame masks, and the lie-detection chair. Walk down the Herrengasse (the most photogenic street in the old town) and stop at a traditional bakery for Rothenburg’s famous Schneeballen pastry (€3–4). Evening: dinner at a traditional Franconian Gasthaus — try Schäufele (pork shoulder with potato dumplings) with a glass of local Franconian wine.
Accommodation: Rothenburg — guesthouse double €60–95, hostel dorm €25–35
Entry costs: City walls free (walk any section), Crime Museum €7, town hall tower €4
Day 5: Munich — Bavarian Welcome
Take the 09:00 regional train from Rothenburg to Munich via Ansbach (3 hours, €30–40 with Bayern Ticket). Check into your Munich accommodation and head straight for the Viktualienmarkt for a market lunch (€6–12). Visit Marienplatz for the Glockenspiel at 12:00, then spend the afternoon at the Residenz (€10, 2 hours) — the magnificent Royal Palace with the Cuvilliés Theatre and the stunning Antiquarium hall.
Evening: Augustiner-Keller beer garden under the chestnut trees. Order a Mass and Schweinshaxe — the quintessential Munich evening (€15–20 for a full meal with beer). If you want a more traditional beer hall atmosphere, Früh am Dom in Cologne is the Munich equivalent (just kidding — Augustiner-Keller is the real deal).
Accommodation: Munich — hostel dorm €30–45, budget double €70–110
Entry costs: Residenz €10, Viktualienmarkt free, beer garden free (pay for what you consume)
Day 6: Munich — Castles & Canals
Rent a bike (€12–15/day) and cycle to Nymphenburg Palace along the canal path (5 km, 20 minutes). Explore the palace grounds (free) and visit the Marstall Museum with its royal carriages (€6). The Badenburg, with Europe’s first heated indoor swimming pool (built 1720s), is a highlight (included in palace ticket). Cycle back via the Hirschgarten beer garden for a mid-day radler.
Afternoon: Explore the Englischer Garten — watch the Eisbach surfers, find the Greek Monopteros temple, and visit the Japanese teahouse. Cycle to the BMW Welt and Olympic Park — the 1972 Olympic stadium and tower offer great views (€7). Evening: farewell dinner in the Glockenbachviertel, Munich’s most creative food neighbourhood. Try the Bavarian interpretation of tapas at a modern Bavarian restaurant.
Transport: Bike rental €12–15/day, or use Munich’s excellent U-Bahn (day pass €8.80)
Entry costs: Nymphenburg grounds free (palace ticket €12), Olympic Tower €7, surfing at Eisbach free (just watch)
Day 7: Garmisch & the Zugspitze — Alpine Finale
Take the 08:30 RB train from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (1 hour 15 minutes, €14 with Bayern Ticket or included in Deutschlandticket). Take the Zugspitze cable car up to Germany’s highest peak (2,962 m) — the view over the Bavarian Alps into Austria, Switzerland, and Italy on a clear day is the perfect final memory of your journey. The cable car climbs 1,945 metres in 10 minutes (€62 return, book online for €10 discount).
Afternoon: After descending, hike (30 minutes) or take the 20-minute bus ride to the Partnachklamm gorge — a dramatic 700-metre ravine with a walkway carved into the rock (€6). For a quicker option, walk 15 minutes from the Garmisch station area through the Ludwigstrasse (the main street with stunning alpine architecture) and have lunch at a traditional Gasthaus. Take the 17:00 train back to Munich, arriving by 18:30 in time for your onward connection or overnight stay.
Transport: Train Munich–Garmisch €14 (regional), Zugspitze cable car €62
Entry costs: Zugspitze cable car €62 (book online), Partnachklamm €6
Budget Summary: 7-Day Germany Itinerary
Estimated Total: €850–1,250 per person (excluding international flights)
- Accommodation (6 nights): €240–400 (mixed hostels and budget doubles)
- Trains: €150–200 (book ICE tickets ahead for best prices)
- Zugspitze cable car: €62
- Other admissions: €60–80
- Food (7 days): €140–210
- Bike rental (Munich day): €12–15
- Miscellaneous: €40–60
Best Season: May–September for hiking; December for Christmas markets (Rothenburg’s is legendary)
Recommended For: First-time visitors wanting a varied Germany experience, train lovers, couples
Disclaimer: Reichstag Dome requires advance registration (book 2 weeks ahead). ICE train tickets are cheapest when booked in advance (Sparpreis from €17.99). The Zugspitze cable car is weather-dependent. The Deutschlandticket (€49/month) covers all regional transport and would save significant money on this itinerary if you already have it.