7-Day Germany Itinerary: Berlin, Munich, Dresden & Rhine Valley

Morning: Arrive in Berlin and explore Unter den Linden and the Brandenburg Gate. Visit the Reichstag Building (book the dome visit in advance) and walk through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.

Afternoon: Discover Museum Island (Museumsinsel), a UNESCO World Heritage site. Choose the Pergamon Museum or Neues Museum to see the bust of Nefertiti. Stroll along the Spree River.

Evening: Dinner in Mitte or Prenzlauer Berg — try currywurst, schnitzel, or modern German cuisine. Optional evening walk to Alexanderplatz and the TV Tower for city views.

Morning: Walk the East Side Gallery, the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall covered in murals. Visit Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror documentation center.

Afternoon: Explore Charlottenburg Palace or the Jewish Museum Berlin. Relax in Tiergarten park or visit the Victory Column (Siegessäule).

Evening: Experience Berlin's creative food scene in Kreuzberg. Sample craft beer at a local Brauhaus or enjoy dinner at a traditional German beer hall.

Morning: Take an ICE train to Dresden (about 2 hours). Check in and visit the Frauenkirche, rebuilt after WWII, and the Procession of Princes (Fürstenzug) porcelain mural.

Afternoon: Tour the Zwinger Palace complex and the Semper Opera House. Cross the Elbe to Neustadt for street art, independent cafés, and the Kunsthofpassage courtyards.

Evening: Enjoy Saxon cuisine — try Sauerbraten or potato soup at a traditional restaurant in the Altstadt. Walk along the Brühl Terrace at sunset.

Morning: Travel to Munich by train (about 2.5 hours). Explore Marienplatz and watch the Glockenspiel at the New Town Hall. Visit Viktualienmarkt for Bavarian snacks and fresh produce.

Afternoon: Tour the Residenz, former palace of Bavarian monarchs, or the Deutsches Museum if you prefer science and technology. Stroll through the English Garden (Englischer Garten).

Evening: Experience a classic Bavarian beer hall at Hofbräuhaus or Augustiner-Keller. Pair pretzels and Weisswurst with local beer.

Morning: Day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle (2 hours from Munich). Book timed entry tickets online in advance. Tour the fairy-tale castle that inspired Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Afternoon: Visit nearby Hohenschwangau Castle or hike to Marienbrücke bridge for the iconic castle panorama. Stop in the village of Füssen for lunch.

Evening: Return to Munich. Light dinner near your hotel or enjoy Bavarian desserts like Apfelstrudel and Schokolade.

Morning: Travel to the Rhine Valley (Koblenz or Rüdesheim area) by train. Take a Rhine river cruise past Lorelei Rock, vineyard-covered hills, and medieval castles.

Afternoon: Ride the cable car to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz or explore Bacharach, a half-timbered wine village. Sample Riesling at a local Weingut if time allows.

Evening: Dinner overlooking the Rhine. Try Rheinischer Sauerbraten or Flammkuchen at a riverside Gasthaus.

Morning: Visit Heidelberg, home to Germany's oldest university. Walk the Philosopher's Walk (Philosophenweg) for views of the Old Bridge and Heidelberg Castle ruins.

Afternoon: Explore Heidelberg Altstadt and the Church of the Holy Spirit. Continue to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) or return to Berlin by train for departure.

Evening: Farewell dinner in Heidelberg's old town or at the airport before your flight. Pick up last-minute souvenirs — Ritter Sport chocolate, local wine, or cuckoo-clock miniatures.