Cheap flights to Germany

Germany Travel Guide

After long periods of war, conflict and discord, Germany today is a fascinating place for travelers. From the port city of Hamburg and the quiet beaches of the Baltic Coast, down through the capital Berlin and financial capital Frankfurt, to Bavaria in the lush south and on to Munich, travelers booking airline tickets to Germany will be spoiled for places to visit. Germany is so rich in history and culture – from centuries ago and to more recent – that you’ll need weeks to even experience a fraction of it.

A flight to Germany often conjures up images of fairytale castles, built long ago when emperors and princes ruled, that are as welcoming as its picturesque villages, as well as gardens maintained by Europe’s most elite. You’ll surely want to visit as many of these beautiful castles as you can. There are also many museums for history buffs to spend a day in, World War memorials to reflect at, old buildings and hidden stairways to get lost in, and one can even stand in the same spot where the Berlin Wall once stood. Or, grab a brat and a beer and simply kick back in one of the many pubs dotted throughout the country. The German passion for perfection even filters down to its favorite drink. In fact, Germany has a Purity Law that dates back to the 1500’s, ensuring the very highest standards when it comes to the amber nectar. From pagan festivals to Oktoberfest, and lots of lederhosen in between, there’s a different reason for everyone to book a flight to Germany.

The sights of Germany are mainly dependent on what time of year you travel. The summer season hosts hundreds of outdoor festivals and concerts. Then of course you have the world famous Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival, which is held in mid to late September and runs to the first weekend in October. If you book airline tickets to Germany in the winter, you’ll see its little villages are lit up like a Christmas tale. Its exciting cities with world-famous museums and galleries have charming, and meticulously restored, old towns where they host the centuries-old Christmas markets. Germany’s snow-covered mountains, seaside resorts, nature reserves and national parks provide plenty of opportunities for recreation throughout the year.

Germany is also undoubtedly one of Europe’s most diverse locations, consisting of different regions and sharing its borders with a number of countries including Switzerland, Poland, France and Austria. This diversity is reflected upon its people and also informs its cuisine. In general, the fare is hearty and simple. Favorite snacks during Oktoberfest are sausage, chicken, käsespätzle, sauerkraut, and beer of course.

For many, flights to Germany mean pilsners of beer and late-night clubs, while for others it means a chance to experience centuries worth of history. For the more relaxed traveler, there’s sidewalk cafes to lounge at and conversations to be had with locals in one of the country’s many magnificent squares. No matter why you book a flight to Germany, it’s bound to be an experience you’ll never forget. Here are some tips to help you plan your trip to this charming land.

How to get around Germany

There are multiple international airports in Germany, including Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL), Berlin Schonefeld Airport (SXF), Munich Airport (MUC), and Frankfurt Airport (FRA). All offer efficient rail and bus services for reaching the city centers, as well as other options. Travelers can also obtain a Rail & Fly ticket at the same time they book their flight to Germany. This is a stress-free option for when you land and depart as it offers connecting rail services to and from any German airport free of charge. Here are a few other tips for getting to where you need to go from each of these airports.

Berlin Tegel Airport:

Berlin Tegel Airport is the airport that most passengers will use when flying into Berlin currently. It’s conveniently located only five miles from the city. As the fourth-busiest airport in Germany, Berlin Tegel handles more than 20 million passengers per year. A newer airport (Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport) is currently being built adjacent to Berlin Schönefeld Airport, and Tegel Airport is scheduled to close sometime in 2018.

In the meantime, the fastest way to get to the city center from Tegel Airport is to take the Airport Express bus. The bus stop is located outside of Terminal A/B, and tickets can be purchased on-board, from the ticket machines outside the terminal building, or the ticket counter near the exit of Terminal A/B. Prices are very affordable. The bus service has numerous routes and runs very frequently from the airport, however. Due to the high number of routes and choices available it might be wise to ask someone at the airport which bus would be the best option for you, depending on where you need to go exactly. You can also grab a taxi, but it will cost significantly more than the bus will. However, it can be a quick and efficient method if you don’t want to try and navigate the public transport options. You can also rent a car if you’d like; the car rental center is located on the lower floor near Terminal E. Lastly, be aware that U-Bahn (underground transit) and S-Bahn (urban rail) trains do not service Tegel directly.

Berlin Schonefeld Airport:

Berlin Schonefeld Airport is situated in what was previously East Berlin and is 11 miles southeast of the city center. The airport is a popular gateway into Berlin and the eastern side of Germany. Although currently the smaller of Berlin’s two international airports as it mostly handles charter flights and low cost carriers, it is undergoing a major upgrade. Originally, the new Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport that is scheduled to open sometime in 2018 was supposed to replace both Tegel and Schonefeld airports, becoming one single commercial airport serving Berlin and the surrounding area of Brandenburg. However, because of the rising number of passengers flying into the area, it was decided that the new airport would only replace Tegel, and that Schonefeld would be expanded. The new airport is being built adjacent to Schonefeld, and the plan is to incorporate part of the airport’s existing infrastructure into the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Also part of the plan is to use Schönefeld’s terminals until at least 2023 to handle low-cost carriers as part of the new airport.

From Schoenefeld Airport, you have three public transportation options to get to the city center: the regional train (Airport Express), the S-Bahn, and the bus. The fastest way to get into the city center is by taking the Airport Express train, which run every half hour from Flughafen Berlin-Schoenefeld station, very close to the airport terminal. The S-Bahn trains operate between every ten minutes and half an hour, but take a little longer than the regional train to get to the city center due to the number of stops they make. The bus service has numerous routes and runs very frequently from the airport. Due to the high number of routes and choices available to travelers, it might be a good idea to ask someone at the airport which bus would be the best option for you. Buses can also take you to U-Bahn stations, Berlin’s underground rapid transit railway, where you can then travel to where you need to go. If you’re not on a budget, taxis are also available for you to take and are parked right outside the arrivals hall. Just understand that it’s not the cheapest option. Like at Berlin Tegel, rental cars are also an option.

Munich Airport:

The S-Bahn rail service is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get into the city especially if you are carrying luggage. It runs directly from the airport every twenty minutes so you don’t need to worry about rushing too much. You can also take a Lufthansa bus from the arrivals Terminal of the airport. Taxis are available but they are a lot more expensive than the other options available. That said if you can split the fare with some friends then it could be a viable choice.

Frankfurt Airport:

The city is easily accessible from the airport and is only about 7 and a half miles away. Again the S-Bahn trains are the easiest and most convenient ways to travel and it runs around every fifteen minutes. The AirLiner Bus makes multiple journeys to the city too. It runs every thirty minutes and the journey shouldn’t last longer than half an hour either. You can opt to get a taxi but it will cost you a lot more than the S-Bahn train. If you happen to have some friends traveling with you and can split the cost, then it can work out as the best option out of the three.

After you’ve gotten to where you need to go, as you’ve probably realized by now, Germany has an excellent rail and bus network for getting around the country, as well as major and regional airports if you’d rather fly. Another option is a cruise on the Rhine or Main River.

Germany has an excellent rail and bus network for getting around the country, as well as major and regional airports. Another option is a cruise on the Rhine or Main River. Some cities have areas that are best explored on foot, such as the historic districts in Berlin and Frankfurt. Public transportation is the best way to get around a city, however. Berlin in particular has an excellent public transportation system. Taxis are also available, but will of course cost a bit more.

Although driving is possible in the cities, public transportation is better as the rush-hour traffic is frustrating. In Berlin, parking is a problem, especially since parking restrictions are not always clearly marked. When parking in a garage, pay before going to your car. Insert the ticket into the machine, pay the amount, then retrieve the ticket. Go to your car and when you exit insert the ticket in the slot to raise the barrier. While many rural general sections of the Autobahn have no posted speed limits, other parts as well as many other freeway-style highways have a speed limit of 80 MPH as recommended by the German government. Drive carefully in order to not get a speeding ticket.

Finding Flights from Germany

Thanks to its wealth of international airports, flying out of Germany is a breeze. Whether you’re flying a domestic airline such as American or Delta, or an international carrier such as British Airways or Lufthansa, Cheapflights can help you find the perfect itinerary. Visit https://www.cheapflights.co.uk for the top flight deals for routes out of Germany.

Buses and taxis serve most major German airports, so it’s easy to make your flight. Staying near a rail station? Consider taking the train. Most major airports in Germany, including Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Munich, offer convenient on-site train stations. If you’re traveling on weekends or Monday mornings, allow extra transit time in larger cities such as Frankfurt and Berlin. Beware of airport locations — Frankfurt Hahn Airport, for example, is located nearly two hours by bus from the city center.

Once you choose a destination and departure city, be sure to check out our Germany airport guides for more detailed travel information and helpful tips.