Mastering the Art of Vacationing as the Germans Do
In 2024, a record-breaking 56 million Germans took at least one holiday of five days or longer, spending a total of €90 billion on travel.[1] When it comes to choosing their destinations, Germans show a preference for a mix of cultural richness, historical architecture, and scenic beauty, both at home and abroad.
Domestically, popular holiday spots include Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Dresden, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Regensburg, and Neuschwanstein Castle.[3][5] These destinations offer a unique blend of historic architecture, vibrant cultural scenes, and picturesque landscapes, making them favourite choices for domestic travel.
For foreign holidays, Germans frequently visit major European cities and regions known for their cultural, historic, or natural attractions. While exact top foreign destinations for Germans were not explicitly listed, Europe’s hotspots like Spain (Mallorca, Tenerife), Italy (Rome, Venice), France (Paris), and the Netherlands (Amsterdam) are highly popular among travelers in general, including Germans.[4]
However, some of these popular destinations also face the challenge of overtourism, which can lead to overcrowding, resource strain, and a deteriorating visitor experience.[2] As a result, many travelers, including Germans, tend to avoid or limit stays in these overtourism hotspots during peak seasons to seek more sustainable or authentic experiences, turning to lesser-known alternatives or travelling mid-week to avoid crowds.[2]
A study shows a "Green Shift" is taking place in the German travel mind, with 72 percent of Germans seeing overtourism as a real problem.[6] Almost 61 percent of Germans claim they have intentionally avoided destinations suffering from overtourism.[7] This trend is reflected in the choices of German holidaymakers, with 16.4 percent of them choosing to escape Europe altogether, with Southeast Asia being a particularly popular destination for long-haul trips.[8]
In terms of behaviour while on holiday, Germans are more inclined to embrace local cultures. 76 percent of German respondents describe themselves as open to new experiences and cultures.[9] This openness is also reflected in their language efforts, with 64 percent of German travellers making some effort to speak the local language.[10]
When it comes to actually booking their holiday, the majority of holidaymakers still make their decision based on the weather, the price, and reliable Wi-Fi.[1] In 2024, the average German took about 13 days for their main holiday.[8] Package tours and holidays offered by tour operators accounted for about half of the total travel market turnover, while individually arranged trips made up the other half.[11]
Despite efforts to blend in, nearly three-quarters of respondents can still spot their compatriots on the beach with just a glance.[12] However, this doesn't seem to deter Germans from embracing new experiences and cultures, making them a diverse and culturally curious group of travellers.
| Category | Popular Domestic Destinations | Popular Foreign Destinations (Often Visited) | Destinations Avoided or Less Favored due to Overtourism | |--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | Cities/Towns | Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Dresden, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Regensburg, Neuschwanstein Castle | Mallorca (Spain), Barcelona (Spain), Rome (Italy), Paris (France), Venice (Italy), Tenerife (Spain), Amsterdam (Netherlands) | Mallorca, Barcelona, Rome, Paris, Venice, Tenerife, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart | | Reasons for Popularity| Cultural heritage, historic architecture, natural beauty | Iconic landmarks, beaches, cultural experiences | Overtourism leads to overcrowding, worsening visitor experience|
References: [1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1001506/germany-holiday-spending/ [2] https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/may/31/overtourism-crisis-europe-cities-amsterdam-barcelona-venice [3] https://www.travelandleisure.com/destinations/europe/germany [4] https://www.statista.com/topics/1170/tourism-in-europe/ [5] https://www.deutschland.de/en/destinations [6] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347046599_Sustainable_tourism_and_the_German_travel_mind [7] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1178254/germans-avoiding-overtourism-destinations/ [8] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101943/average-length-of-german-holidays/ [9] https://www.germany.travel/en/travel-information/travel-tips/germans-and-travel.html [10] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1178255/germans-speaking-local-languages-while-travelling/ [11] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101942/german-travel-market-turnover/ [12] https://www.thelocal.de/20190710/german-tourists-still-easily-spottable-abroad-survey-shows
Domestically, Germans prefer traveling to destinations like Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, which offer a unique blend of historic architecture, vibrant cultural scenes, and picturesque landscapes. However, some overtourism hotspots, such as Mallorca in Spain or Amsterdam in the Netherlands, are often avoided or less favored due to their overcrowding and deteriorating visitor experience.
