Global Escapes

Germany & Austria

Fairytale castles, alpine lakes, music in Vienna and Salzburg, and a beer garden or café in every town.

By the Global Escapes travel team · Updated

Best time to go
May to October; late November and December for Christmas markets
Trip length
8 to 14 days
From Atlanta
About 9 hours nonstop to Frankfurt or Munich
Time difference
6 hours ahead of Atlanta
Entry
U.S. passport, no visa for stays up to 90 days
Currency
Euro. You’ll need a plug adapter

Why Germany and Austria are easy to love

Great trains, warm hospitality and scenery straight out of a storybook.

A favorite route starts in Munich, with day trips to Neuschwanstein and the Bavarian Alps, then rides the train to Salzburg and the lakes around Hallstatt before finishing in Vienna. Trains are fast and comfortable, so you rarely need a car.

Add Berlin for history and art, a Rhine or Danube river cruise past castles and vineyards, or the medieval walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. In December, the Christmas markets turn every town square into a celebration.

Train times

  • Munich to SalzburgAbout 1.5 hours
  • Salzburg to ViennaAbout 2.5 hours
  • Munich to Füssen (Neuschwanstein)About 2 hours
  • Munich to InnsbruckAbout 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Salzburg to HallstattAbout 1.5 to 2 hours by car
  • Berlin to MunichAbout 4 hours by high-speed train
GermanyAustriaBerlinDresdenRhine ValleyRothenburgMunichNeuschwansteinInnsbruckSalzburgHallstattVienna
Classic rail route Easy add-ons

When to go

The best months, the busy weeks and the quieter windows, so you can choose the trip that fits.

  1. JanSki season in the Alps
  2. FebCarnival season
  3. MarQuiet, early spring
  4. AprBlossoms, Easter markets
  5. MayBeer gardens open
  6. JunLong days, festivals
  7. JulSalzburg Festival begins
  8. AugLakes and the Alps
  9. SepOktoberfest, wine harvest
  10. OctFall color, fewer crowds
  11. NovChristmas markets open
  12. DecChristmas markets

Peak season Shoulder season Low season

Average temperatures and rainfall

Approximate average daily high and low in °F, with average monthly rainfall in inches.

Spring

April and May bring blossoms, beer gardens and Easter markets, with mild weather and fewer visitors. A lovely time for Vienna and the Rhine.

Summer

June through August is high season, with long days, alpine hiking, lake swimming and the Salzburg Festival from late July.

Fall

Oktoberfest runs from mid-September into early October, and the wine regions along the Rhine and Danube celebrate the harvest. October’s color and calmer crowds make it a favorite.

Winter

From late November through December, Christmas markets fill the squares with lights, mulled wine and handmade gifts. January and February are for skiing in the Alps.

Where to go

The places our travelers love most, and what each one does best.

Munich & Bavaria

Beer halls, beer gardens and great museums, and an easy base for castles and the Alps.

Best for First-timers, food and beer

Neuschwanstein

King Ludwig II’s fairytale castle above the Alpine foothills. Timed tickets sell out, so we book ahead.

Best for Families, photographers

Salzburg

Mozart’s birthplace and the setting of The Sound of Music, with a baroque old town below a hilltop fortress.

Best for Music lovers, couples

Hallstatt & the lakes

Lakeside villages, salt mines and mountain views that look like a painting.

Best for Scenery, slow days

Vienna

Imperial palaces, coffeehouses, opera and the Spanish Riding School.

Best for Culture, music, cafés

Innsbruck & Tyrol

An alpine city surrounded by peaks, with cable cars right from town.

Best for Hiking, skiing

Berlin

History, art and nightlife in Germany’s capital, from the Brandenburg Gate to Museum Island.

Best for History buffs, city lovers

Rhine Valley & Romantic Road

Castles above vineyards on the Rhine, and half-timbered towns like Rothenburg along the Romantic Road.

Best for River cruises, road trips

From the travel blog

Munich for Oktoberfest

Tent reservations and hotels go a year ahead. How to plan 2027, and add Salzburg or the Alps on the way out.

Read the guide

Good to know

The small things that make a big difference once you arrive.

Ride the rails

High-speed and regional trains connect nearly everything. We reserve seats on busy routes and plan the scenic connections.

Christmas market timing

Most markets open in late November and close around December 23 or 24, so we plan December trips for the first three weeks.

Oktoberfest books early

Tent reservations and Munich hotels go fast. Many travelers book a year out.

Carry some cash

Many cafés, bakeries and beer gardens still prefer cash, especially in Germany.

Quiet Sundays

Most shops close on Sundays, so we plan museums, walks and long lunches for the weekend.

Try a river cruise

A Rhine or Danube river cruise is a relaxing way to see several cities without repacking.

Questions we hear a lot

Do we need a visa for Germany or Austria?

No. U.S. citizens can visit for up to 90 days with a passport valid at least three months beyond departure. Europe’s new ETIAS travel authorization is expected to begin in late 2026, and we’ll make sure you’re covered.

When are the Christmas markets?

Most open in the last week of November and run until December 23 or 24. A few, like those in Vienna, stay open a little longer.

When is Oktoberfest?

It runs about 16 days, from mid-to-late September through the first Sunday in October. In 2027, that’s September 18 to October 3.

Train or car?

Trains are best between cities. A car or private driver helps for the Romantic Road, the Alps and the Austrian lakes.

How many days should we plan?

Eight to ten days covers Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. Two weeks lets you add Berlin, the Rhine or the Alps.

Let’s plan your Germany & Austria trip

Tell us when you’re thinking of going and who’s coming along. An advisor will take it from there.

Start planning Call 706.549.1164