“The best education is found by a clever person when travelling.”
Over 150 million tourists flock to Germany each year, making it the eighth-most visited country on the planet. And it’s clear to see why. One of the most culturally vibrant destinations in the world, Germany has become renowned for its festivals, history, arts, nightlife, and cuisine. It is also one of the most picturesque tourist hotspots, with its stunning natural landscapes ranging from pristine sand beaches to dense alpine forests plucked straight out of a fairytale. With transportation to and around Germany superb and the cost of everything, from a Bratwurst to an Erdinger beer, remaining excellent value, join us at What We Reading as we guide you through the country with the best travel books for your next trip!
Lonely Planet Germany – Lonely Planet
Kicking off our list of the best Germany books for all travellers and nomads looking to uncover all the country has to offer is Lonely Planet’s comprehensive guide. As the world’s number one travel guide company, Lonely Planet has the expertise and the trust of the travel world. In their Germany edition, they blend practical travel trips with wanderlust-inspiring descriptions to bring together a resource that both inspires and guides readers through a visit to the country.
From steep castles rising out of the Bavarian forests to the vibrancy of Berlin’s art scene, Lonely Planet Germany comes with highlights, itineraries, coloured maps, high-quality photographs, a translation dictionary, cultural insights and a wealth of handy information ranging from opening hours, transport links, phone numbers and budgeting guides. From taking in the top sights to discovering the country’s best-kept secrets, Lonely Planet Germany is the ultimate travel companion.
Berlin: Imagine A City – Rory MacLean
Berlin is one of the most enigmatic, lively cities in the world. From being devastated by Allied bombs, split in half by a wall to emerging re-united and reborn as one of the most progressive and creative centres in the world, Rory MacLean’s Berlin: Imagine a City is the ultimate lens into all things that make Germany’s capital a place like no other.
Through a cast of five Berliners living across five centuries ranging from medieval balladeers to Communist functionaries, MacLean lifts the lid on the rich, varied and unseen parts of the city’s history. As much a tour through history as it is through the city itself, Imagine a City is a beautifully constructed biography of one of Europe’s most incredible cities, and is sure to fuel the wanderlust of any traveller thinking about giving it a visit.
The Ultimate Guide To Oktoberfest – Munich Germany Travel Guide – Marion Kummerow
What list of the best Germany books would be complete without a spotlight for Oktoberfest? Arguably the country’s most famous holiday, Marion Kummerow gives readers the lowdown on the biggest folks and beer festival in the world in her Ultimate Guide to Oktoberfest.
Having lived in Bavaria for over two decades, Kummerow condenses all of her experiences and knowledge into one updated and revised guide to ensure readers enjoy all that Oktoberfest has to offer. From background insights on the origins and development of the festival, information on how to get to it, reserve spots in all the tents, where to stay, what to wear and, most crucially, what to eat and drink, it is the only book on Oktoberfest any beer-lover needs!
Rick Steves Germany – Rick Steves
Rick Steves has established himself as one of the most trusted voices when it comes to European travel, and his edition on Germany remains one of the most treasured works for those looking to get the most out of their trips.
Steves takes readers through the cobbled streets in off-beat picturesque villages, through sprawling alpine forests and into the upper reaches of fairytale castles, covering all the sights and attractions every visitor to Germany has to see. He employs a personalized approach and provides practical guides, making his travel book on Germany an invaluable resource for checking off everything on the bucket list without draining the wallet.
Ghosts On The Shore: Travels Along Germany’s Baltic Coast – Paul Scraton
Having been inspired by his wife’s collection of family photographs dating back to the 1930s and her memories of growing up in East Germany, Paul Scraton takes readers along a stunning journey across Germany’s Baltic coast in Ghosts on the Shore.
Beginning in the gothic-filled streets of Lübeck and ending on the island of Usedom touching the Polish border, Scraton unveils a region of the country swirling in mythology and still reeling from some of the most turbulent events in Germany’s history. From gentrified fishing villages, Socialist summer camps to Hanseatic trading towns, Ghosts on the Shore is a travel memoir about Germany where stories, history, folklore, politics and lost legends all collide.
DK Eyewitness Back Roads Germany (Eyewitness Road Trips) – DK Eyewitness
Looking for a Germany travel book that specialises in the lesser-walked parts of the country? Look no further than DK’s Germany edition of their Eyewitness Road Trips series. This guidebook comes with twenty-four uniquely-themed drives, each one lasting between one and five days.
These stunning road trips reveal breathtaking views, hidden gems and overlooked authentic experiences. DK utilises local insider knowledge to present ideas on what to fill an itinerary with, with suggestions ranging from short and long hikes, wine tasting, spa days and watersports. With all routes and attractions hand-picked by expert authors, Back Roads Germany also comes with a host of practical tips and resources such as full-colour maps, opening times, road conditions and zip codes.
Along The Wall And Watchtower: A Journey Down Germany’s Divide – Oliver August
The German partition profoundly impacted the social, political, and cultural fabric of the country, and people can still feel its legacy to this day. In Along the Wall and Watchtower, Oliver August traces the path of the Berlin Wall, documenting the remnants of the Iron Curtain’s border, and exploring the lasting imprint it had on Germany as a whole.
Incorporating a variety of his observations, interviews with locals and historical insights from the watchtowers and barriers that kept Germany’s capital divided, August’s book sheds light on the experiences of those on both sides of the fortified border, and the wider-stretching consequences. A skillfully crafted travelogue, narrated from a historical perspective, awaits any traveller seeking to immerse themselves in the spirit of Berlin.
Check Out These German Books Before Your Visit
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
