I’m planning a trip to Germany and Switzerland next year. Which cities should I definitely check out? I’m looking at about 20 days total, starting and ending in Paris.
My route is: Paris - Berlin - Munich - Zurich - Lucerne - Bern - Paris.
Are there any other nearby cities I should include? I was thinking about places like Heidelberg, Freiburg in Germany, Basel, and Geneva. What are your thoughts?
How many days do you suggest I stay in each city? The focus will be mainly on urban tourism.
Would you recommend changing the route, like starting in Paris, then Heidelberg, Berlin… or Paris - Heidelberg - Zurich, finishing in Munich and Berlin before heading back to Paris?
My budget is tight, so I want to stick to the 20-day limit and minimize moving between cities.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Feel free to share any tips.
If your budget is limited, be cautious with Switzerland.
Is this a once-in-a-lifetime trip where you want to see the major highlights in Germany? If so, prioritize Berlin and Munich as they are essential cities that everyone should visit.
However, if this isn’t your only chance, those cities are far from Paris, and it might be better to stay in western Germany this time. Look into spots like the Black Forest, Baden-Baden, Trier, Aachen, Freiburg, or Heidelberg. They’re all beautiful and much closer to the French border.
Don’t forget about Strasbourg, it’s a wonderful mix of German and French culture.
You might be trying to do too much in too little time. I usually like to spend around 5 days in each city. This way, you can get a feel for the culture, try some local food, and reduce travel time.
My favorite city in Germany is Dresden because it’s incredibly beautiful, and I’ve been to many places there.
I enjoy old streets, buildings, art, and museums, so that’s what I love.
If nightlife and shopping are more your style, I might not be the right person to ask.
One of my favorite spots is Zeche Zollern near Dortmund; it’s a fascinating museum showing Germany’s mining history. Even though Bochum isn’t great, I heard it has an even better mining museum! I don’t care much for mining, but based on my time at Zeche Zollern, it’s definitely worth it.
Dortmund is a non-touristy city but surprisingly lively with lots of hidden gems. As a football fan, the football culture there is fantastic.
I’ve also enjoyed Hamburg, and Lübeck nearby is nice too. Bremen was good, and Leipzig was pleasant as well. Still on my list are Munich, Köln, and Freiburg.
In Switzerland, I’ve only been to Basel. Some say it isn’t as great as other Swiss cities, but I found it captivating and one of my favorite places in Europe. I can’t really say why; perhaps the vibe was just fantastic.
Southern Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are delightful, with good train connections even if they’re a bit slow. They have charming towns and could be perfect between Munich and Zurich.
