Germany is bigger than first-timers think. 7 days = 2 main cities + 1 region. Here are the honest options.
Option 1: Berlin + Munich (most-common)
- Day 1-4: Berlin (4 nights)
- Day 5-7: Munich (3 nights, with Neuschwanstein day-trip)
- Train: 4h ICE between cities
- Best for: first-time Germany, history-focused.
Option 2: Berlin + Dresden (East focus)
- Day 1-4: Berlin
- Day 5-7: Dresden + day-trip to Saxon Switzerland
- Best for: WWII + Cold War + baroque trips.
Option 3: Munich + Bavarian + Salzburg
- Day 1-3: Munich
- Day 4-5: Neuschwanstein + Bavarian Alps
- Day 6-7: Salzburg (cross-border, 1h 30min train)
- Best for: alpine-and-Sound-of-Music focus.
Option 4: Christmas Markets (December)
Option 5: Rhine + Hamburg (river focus)
- Day 1-2: Cologne
- Day 3-4: Rhine cruise (Koblenz to Mainz)
- Day 5-7: Hamburg
- Best for: river-focus, ports-focus.
What doesn't work in 7 days
- Berlin + Munich + Frankfurt + Cologne: Half is travel.
- Bavaria deep-dive without flying into Munich: Avoid driving from Berlin south.
- Black Forest in 1-2 days: Worth its own 5-night focus.
Strategy
Pick 2 cities + 1 region. Train infrastructure is excellent. Save Bavarian Alps for separate ski-or-summer trip if focused.