The most beautiful cities in Germany

Germany’s most beautiful cities and towns stand among the best places to visit in the European Union. They span almost the full range of European variety.

There are cities with Roman origins and remains such as Trier, Cologne, Regensburg and Mainz.
Medieval cities such as Nuremberg, Erfurt, Bamberg and Worms and the half-timbered Harz region towns of Goslar, Quedlinburg and Wernigerode.
Renaissance showpiece cities such as Lübeck, Augsburg or Bremen.
Cities with Baroque survivals, including Dresden, Heidelberg or Passau.
Plenty of German cities have beautiful palaces on their streets or nearby, like Potsdam, Munich, Stuttgart, Würzburg and Weimar.
The great cathedrals such as Cologne, Regensburg, Bamberg, Mainz, Erfurt, Worms, with countless other churches, sometimes in Romanesque but more commonly in the Gothic style. The münster of Ulm has the tallest spire of them all.
Museums of culture and art among world’s best, including Deutsches Museum, Deutsches Nationalmuseum, Alte Pinakothek and the Pergamonmuseum.

All these places can be reached by train and bus (Quedlinburg is on a branch line). All offer a range of hotels, hostels, guest houses and other types of accommodation. All are very walkable and, like most German towns and cities, are really best seen on foot. But trams and buses help get people to and from hotels or attractions and for the bigger centres, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf and Nuremberg, there are fast regular options in the form of S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains and light-rail transport.

Money

Travellers should keep in mind their home exchange rate situation relative to the euro (€ or EUR). But they need to remember published daily middle rates will be better than the commercial exchange rates offered to a visitor to Europe.

Informing home banks about foreign travel plans will prevent any blocking of German transactions. Make sure contact details for the home bank, as well as notification numbers for lost cards, are kept handy and secure.

The details below are for information only. They should not be considered recommendations or financial advice. Banks can provide advice on travel strategies and government departments of foreign relations regularly issue warnings on financial security to travellers.

Currency

Germany uses the euro and is the leading economy of the 20-nation Eurozone.

Coins are issued separately by eurozone member countries but have a common side showing the value of the coin. Generally there is a ‘national’ side designed by and reflecting the issuing country. But all coins, irrespective of the nation of issue, are legal tender throughout the Eurozone. The euro is made up of 100 euro cents – officially the terms ‘euro’ and ‘cent’ are also used in the plural in languages other than English. German prices are expressed with the comma where most English-speaking countries use the decimal point.

The coins are €2 (with a variety of commemorative obverse sides, including classic buildings of each of the federal states) and €1 (with a stylised German eagle on the obverse), 50, 20 and 10 cents (with the Brandenburger Tor shown on the obverse) and five, two and one cents (with oak leaves on the obverse). Banknotes are €500, €200 (both rare), €100, €50, €20, €10 and €5.

There are no limits on foreign currency coming into Germany, but more than €10,000 from from outside the EU should be declared in Customs). It may be worthwhile bringing some cash euros from home, but buying them there is unlikely to be cheaper unless the purchase is online.

Cash

Cash (bar is the German adjective or adverb, Bargeld the usual noun) is the first choice in Germany for small transactions. Convenience stores, cafes, pubs, small restaurants, post offices and businesses outside cities are some of the places where cash payment is likely to be preferred (or surcharge-free). Some small accommodation houses also specify cash payment.

Contactless payment is more common since the arrival of COVID-19 and rose to almost 60% of all transactions during the pandemic. But cashless transactions are still nowhere near as common as in Nordic countries, the Netherlands, Switzerland or the UK.

Exchange

Thanks to the euro, travellers crossing German borders won’t need to worry too much about exchange (Geldwechsel). Germany shares the euro with its neighbours France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg and Austria. Further afield, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania also use the euro.

Switzerland and Liechtenstein share the Swiss franc, the Czech Republic uses the koruna, Poland the złoty and Denmark the krone. Other currencies in use in northern and eastern Europe, just a train or ferry trip away, include the Swedish krona, the Norwegian krone, and the Hungarian forint.

The large German and international banks are well represented at and around travel hubs. ReiseBank, specialising in exchange, usually maintains a currency booth (Wechselstube) at airports and large city rail stations, open long hours and generally seven days. However the bank’s trading spread of buy and sell rates can be very wide. For large amounts, it's advisable to shop around when possible.

Banks

Large city bank branches keep long weekday hours (commonly M-F 8.30-16) but can stay open to 18.00 on Thursdays, often closing early on Wednesdays or Fridays by local convention. Small branches might be open M-F 9-15.30 and it is common to close for lunch.

Cash machines

Banks and automatic teller machines (Geldautomat or Bankomat) are easy to find in cities. Some 24-hour ATMs (or those open M-Su 5-24) are in street locations or subway passages, shopping plazas and malls. Some banks have secure video-monitored areas for their cash machines where users can gain access by inserting recognised bank cards in the entrance slot. Cash machines, usually multilingual, are connected to Germany’s Girocard interbank network.

For Mastercard/Eurocard and Diners Club users, the Cirrus network should provide ATM access to accounts. For Visa users, the PLUS network is the equivalent. But, whatever your card, make sure before departure that it will be accepted at a range of German cash machines and check any limits on the size of daily withdrawals.

Somewhere, somehow, cash withdrawals cost the consumer. There are a few types of fees:

A foreign exchange transaction fee for cash withdrawals at the ATM.
A fee for withdrawing at a machine that is not part of a network allied to the issuing bank.
A surcharge levied by the bank hosting the withdrawal.

It costs travellers less to make as few withdrawals as possible.

Fees to the issuing bank are up to 3%, although direct withdrawals at German ATMs can be cheaper. Account fees charged periodically or at the time of opening are a further cost. Cash advances direct from credit cards are expensive and start incurring interest straightaway. This interest is often at a higher rate than for ordinary purchases. The user cannot always expect an ATM receipt to help monitor all this.

Travellers should check whether their usual bank is widely represented in Germany or has a reciprocal arrangement with a German bank for cash withdrawals. This could minimise extra bank fees on withdrawals. Knowing any international alliances your bank might have is helpful in uncovering charges at the withdrawal point.

When an ATM withdrawal is made in euros, the exchange rate used is based on the daily wholesale or interbank currency rate – itself an advantage. Sometimes the calculated rate offered by the bank issuing the card compensates for the lack of a transparent fee.

Inquire about fees with the issuing bank, decide which German banks to use and plan accordingly.

Best of all, pay by debit card where possible, and in euros. Minimise the number of withdrawals by keeping in mind about 5% of funds could go on exchange and withdrawal charges. These have to be put down to convenience.

Rules of thumb for using ATMs: If it is not possible to pay by debit card – often the case in Germany – try to minimise the number of ATM withdrawals (and therefore fees).

Withdraw from a bank ATM where possible, avoiding terminals operated by other retail networks, where fees tend to be higher.
Know the current bank exchange rate. Your smartphone has a calculator and you can use a bank app to keep up to date on rates.
Avoid hurried decision-making at the ATM, because there is a cost.
Know how much you need – if the amounts offered on screen seem high, look for a button labelled "other amount" (or similar) and select an unrounded figure. This will minimise exchange rate losses at the terminal and hopefully deliver a selection of smaller bills.
Always choose to withdraw in euros, not your home currency.

Cards

Card carriers should ensure their PIN number will be usable in Germany. Four-digit PINs should not present a problem. Chip-and-pin cards, also called IC cards, have become the norm, though using magnetic strip cards is still possible in some places, including ATMs.

The internationally recognised Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club cards are widely accepted, although Germany enthusiastically embraced the swing to debit cards such as the Girocard (see below) in shops and some restaurants. It’s best to check before offering a credit card at any business and wise to carry enough cash to cover the transaction.

Debit cards: The advantages of a debit card, linked to the holder’s bank account, are predictability and reducing levels of fees. Although the card should attract low fees, it is important to know what overseas charges a debit card might incur from the issuing bank or the bank hosting the withdrawal. The ideal account is operable in euros without high cost. Germans often use the term Kreditkarte for debit cards, so clarification might be needed.

Prepaid travel money cards: These are slightly different from debit cards in that they are preloaded. Funds can be transferred to these as euros by the issuing bank at a one-time conversion cost and then withdrawn as needed at German ATMs as local currency. This removes volatility by locking in the exchange rate at the start. The up-front fee might be 1% for issue or reloading, but as always, the exchange rate is important. There will likely be no transaction fees, but it’s always important to check.

Fees charged by issuing banks will vary according to law and practice in the country of issue. All cards are a little different and there is no substitute for research – decide on needs before approaching banks and check with consumer organisations’ websites for local, independent advice. The best solution for many users is likely to be two different cards that can be chosen to suit various situations, while providing backup. Some issuers supply two cards with different PINs in case of loss.

Girocard: The Girokarte (formerly EC-Karte) is like a debit card – attached to a bank account – that can be used for cash withdrawals or at small businesses or ticket or vending machines. This is an option for EU citizens with German residency. It has long been Germany’s preferred debit card, so there is a convenience benefit, and most contactless payments under €50 do not need a PIN. Small discounts can apply when buying transit tickets from machines. It is bank-issued and remains popular with businesses because of its lower cost for transactions. Girocards have been co-branded for Visa, Mastercard and JCB payment systems, but the world is changing. The Maestro payment system ends in mid-2023 and Girocard payments or withdrawals will likely become less simple outside Germany. Girocard does not have a CVV number and online payments, where possible, have to be authorised through the user’s banking portal and password. The card requires age verification at issue in Germany because of its use at cigarette machines.

Travellers’ cheques

These have gone out of fashion for transaction purposes and are no longer regarded as a serious option. They are also harder to cash than was once the case. Fees and exchange rates – which tend to be poor – combine to make up the cost. Both tend to be higher than for most cash withdrawals by card.

Traveller cards can also usually be replaced if lost or stolen.

Money transfer

This option should be reserved for emergencies. Types of money transfer fees are:

Transfer fees for sending or receiving funds, sometimes at both ends.
Fees charged by any intermediary banks. Fees for payments at branches tend to be especially high.
In-person transfer fees, online fees, and any related bank fees.

Bank-based transfers can be expensive. Before initiating a money transfer, check with your financial institution to get a quote for the payout to recipient and what fees you may incur.

Agencies such as Western Union are faster for international transfers than banks, but exchange rates tend to be on the low side. A direct-to-account option is available and an online calculator allows a quick estimate of the overall cost. Payouts can be handled by an accredited bank but Deutsche Post Postbank Finanzcenters are useful outlets for handling these.

MoneyGram can offer low rates for some amounts but exchange rate fees apply. There is a card-based option for fast delivery and slower transfers may be slightly cheaper – costs and offerings vary by country. Some bank-affiliated transfers will process amounts for non-business clients for more competitive fees at interbank exchange rates. But minimum amounts may be necessary to qualify. Bank-affiliated transfers might be faster than for WU.

Instant transfer possibilities using PayPal are worth exploring in urgent situations where an email address or mobile phone number is available for the receiver. App-based transfers are also available. Fees are up to 1% for international transfers, but currency conversion fees may be added. Using linked credit or debit cards attracts a flat fee plus much higher rates.

Other fast options, with minimal but varying fees depending on the home country, are offered by the Wise network, Revolut or XE.

Whatever the medium, there are no limits to the amounts transferable to and from Germany, although larger sums may have to be notified to Germany’s Bundesbank and limits may apply in the other country.