Best of Germany Guidebook

In Rick Steves Best of Germany you'll find essential Rick-tested information on the following top destinations, plus condensed coverage of several "Best of the Rest" cities and regions:

• Munich
  • ​Nearby: Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial
• Southern Bavaria
  • Füssen and the King's Castles
  • Wieskirche
  • Oberammergau
  • Linderhof Castle
  • Zugspitze
• Salzburg (Austria)
• Rothenburg ob der Tauber
  • Nearby: The Romantic Road
• Rhine Valley
  • Bacharach
  • St. Goar
  • Marksburg Castle
  • Nearby: Burg Eltz
  • Nearby: Cologne
• Berlin
• Best of the Rest
  • ​Nürnberg
  • Würzburg
  • Frankfurt
  • Baden-Baden
  • Dresden
  • Hamburg
• Extras
  • Self-guided walks and museum tours
  • Easy-to-follow color maps
  • Gorgeously illustrated destination overview
  • ​Trip planning: Pre-trip checklist, festivals and holidays, recommended two-week itinerary
  • City/region-specific advice on planning your time and avoiding lines
  • Transportation: Trains, buses, city transit, and driving
  • German history, culture, language, and cuisine
  • Handy German survival phrases
  • Advice on managing money, communicating, reserving rooms, handling emergencies, and other helpful hints

What's the difference between this Best of Germany guidebook and Rick's complete Germany guidebook?

Rick Steves Germany, the complete guide, offers more coverage of more destinations in a mostly black-and-white format.

The shorter Best of Germany guidebook focuses on Germany's top destinations and sights, is in full color, and is updated a little less frequently than the complete guide.

Both books are packed with hand-picked recommendations and Rick's travel advice and tips for saving time, money, and hassle.

Should I get Rick's Berlin guidebook in addition to the Best of Germany guidebook?

If you're spending only a few days in Berlin, Rick Steves Best of Germany is all you're likely to need.

If, however, you're spending four days or more in Berlin, the extra information in Rick Steves Berlin can be worthwhile. It offers much more in-depth sightseeing information and logistical advice, several additional self-guided city walks and museum/sight tours, and more specifics on shopping and entertainment. The city guide also includes significantly more hotel and restaurant listings than the Berlin chapter of Rick Steves Best of Germany, as well as coverage of three day-trip options (none of which are included in Best of Germany).

Should I get Rick's Munich Pocket guide in addition to the Best of Germany guidebook?

Nope! The Munich and Salzburg chapters of the Best Of guidebook already include all the information that's in Rick Steves Pocket Munich & Salzburg — and then some.

Should I get Rick's Snapshot: Rothenburg & the Rhine guide in addition to this Germany guidebook?

That depends on how deeply you want to dive into the region. Rick Steves Best of Germany includes lightly condensed coverage of Rothenburg, the Romantic Road, and the Rhine, as well as brief coverage of Frankfurt, Würzburg, Cologne, and the Mosel Valley's Burg Eltz — enough for a quick trip. But if you'd like more comprehensive coverage of the region, including information on the Mosel Valley's Cochem and Beilstein, the Snapshot guide is worthwhile.

Latest updates: When we learn of critical changes to the information in our guidebooks on Germany, we post them. (Of course, it's still smart to reconfirm critical transportation and sightseeing details locally.) Armed with a Rick Steves guidebook and these late-breaking updates, you're set for a great trip!

Submit feedback: Once you've used this book in Europe, we'd love to hear your feedback — good or bad — about our advice on sights, hotels, restaurants, and travel tips. We're also interested in any tips or discoveries you made while in Europe. Your comments help us improve our guidebooks for future travelers.