May to June or September to October is the best time to visit Germany, with mild weather and fewer crowds than peak summer. June to August brings the warmest weather but the busiest crowds, and September sees a further peak in Munich around Oktoberfest. There are highlights year-round: white asparagus season brings festivals and farm-fresh menus across the country every spring, Cologne's Karneval fills the streets with costumes and parades in the run-up to Lent, and classic Christmas markets spring up in cities, including Berlin, Nuremberg and Cologne, from late November.

The best things to do in Germany include exploring Berlin's history and culture, touring Bavarian castles, and hiking the Black Forest.

• Exploring Berlin's Museum Island, Cold War history at the Berlin Wall Memorial in Mitte, and the nightlife of neighbourhoods like Kreuzberg

• Touring Neuschwanstein Castle and other Bavarian landmarks, including Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, Frederick the Great's Rococo summer retreat

• Hiking the Black Forest, and riding the scenic Black Forest Railway through the region

• Wandering the medieval old town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, walking its 14th-century city walls, and joining the after-dark Night Watchman Tour

• Wine tasting in the Rhine and Moselle valleys

• Visiting Dresden's rebuilt old town and the nearby Saxon Switzerland National Park, where a sandstone footbridge crosses towering rock formations at Bastei

• Riding the cable car or cogwheel train to the summit of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak, with views into four countries

• Surfing the standing wave at Eisbachwelle, a permanent river wave in the middle of Munich's English Garden

Germany is reachable from London via Eurostar to Brussels, Paris and Amsterdam, connecting onward into Germany by high-speed rail link via Cologne, Stuttgart, Zurich, or on the direct train from Amsterdam. Within Germany, an extensive high-speed ICE network connects major cities including Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg.

Our price includes all transport, accommodation and a personalized itinerary for your trip. Byway's travel experts are also available on WhatsApp throughout for disruption support and travel tips.

No, flights to Europe aren't included, but all transport and accommodation once you're here is. Short-haul flights are highly carbon-intensive, and traveling around Europe by train, ferry or bus is an easy, enjoyable alternative.

Yes. Different hotel options are available to choose from on the trip page, and any room upgrade requests can be added in the booking form. Our team will then find upgrade options and discuss them with you.

No. If you'd like to leave Europe from a different city, our concierge team can build you a custom one-way trip.

Yes. Prices on our trip pages are shown in your local currency by default, or you can select your preferred currency, including USD, CAD, EUR or CHF, from the dropdown in the top right corner of the trip page. The payment page will always show the price in your chosen currency.

You can generally bring as much luggage as you can carry, as long as it fits in the luggage racks or overhead space. On Eurostar, UK and most European trains, the standard allowance is two large bags and one smaller item, provided you can manage them yourself; let us know in advance if you're planning to bring anything oversized. Since you may need to change stations or walk to hotels, packing light makes the journey more comfortable.

Most European train tickets are digital and sent to you by email. A few, including tickets for Spain, Portugal and some EuroCity trains, require paper tickets, which can be mailed to a hotel on your itinerary.

No, Byway trips are self-guided, not part of a group tour. You'll have on-demand personalized support by WhatsApp, text or phone throughout, so all the planning and booking is done for you, and any disruptions are handled without you having to worry about them.