From traditional hearty meals to nouvelle cuisine and Michelin-starred restaurants, Germany is truly the place to find the perfect dish and location to satisfy every craving. You’ll be surprised by the variety and diversity of regional delicacies throughout the country. Quite a number of its delicacies, such as Lübecker Marzipan, have become protected brands. Locals have enjoyed many dishes for centuries, including the Thuringian Sausage, which has been a classic offering for more than 600 years.
Connect with your Virtuoso travel advisor and embark on a culinary trip through Germany to discover the traditional meals and recipes of each region, which will leave your tastebuds satisfied.
Presented by GLOBUS
Available for departures May 12 through September 15, 2024
Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall, centuries of fascinating history, and more sausage stands than you can count await on this delicious introductory tour of Germany. As you follow the delectable scent of sizzling bratwurst and freshly baked pretzels from bustling Berlin to Bavarian Munich, your eyes will be as pleased as your taste buds.
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- Daily sightseeing
- Seven breakfasts and two dinners
- Guided sightseeing tour of Berlin’s historic sites
- Orientation walk through the medieval town of Rothenburg
- Guided tour of King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein castle
- Stroll picturesque Oberammergau and the outdoor auditorium where the Passion Play is held every ten years
- Guided sightseeing of Munich including Marienplatz
VIRTUOSO EXCLUSIVE AMENITY:
- Complimentary airport transfers
Virtuoso rates FROM $2,379 per person, per package
Book by December 31, 2023
Presented by EXETER INTERNATIONAL
Available for departures September 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024 (excluding Oktoberfest and New Year’s Eve)
Enjoy a custom culinary tour through Munich and Berlin. In Munich’s main open-air market Viktualienmarkt, steps from Marienplatz, you will stop by some of the stands to taste the local delicacies, including Bavarian cold cuts, artisanal breads, cheeses, and marinated snacks. Discover Berlin’s food scene through your food specialist guide with a focus on local neighborhoods like Prenzlauer Berg where you will learn some of Berlin’s history through its food.
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- Eight nights’ accommodation, including Virtuoso exclusive amenities
- Customized private sightseeing with hand-selected specialist guides
- Admissions to select locations
- Private food experiences throughout
Virtuoso rates FROM $9,000 per person, per package
Presented by AVANTI DESTINATIONS
Departures available daily through December 31, 2023
From the bustling urban allure of Munich, the home of the famous beer festival Oktoberfest, to the enchanting historical ambiance of Nuremberg, Bavaria offers a plethora of beer-related experiences. Embark on day trips to picturesque destinations like Regensburg, Bamberg, and Bayreuth, where you can indulge in the exquisite flavors of specialty Bavarian beers. Whether you’re a beer connoisseur or a curious traveler, Bavaria promises an immersive and flavorful journey through its age-old beer traditions.
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- Three nights’ accommodations in Munich
- City tour and one three-course dinner in Munich
- First-class rail between Munich and Nuremberg
- Two nights’ accommodations in Nuremberg
- Culinary walking tour and one three-course dinner in Nuremberg
- Daily breakfast
Virtuoso rates FROM $1,129 per person, per package
"Brotzeit" or "Abendbrot" (literally: bread time, evening bread) is a typical German tradition and exists all over Germany. The choice and variety of bread in Germany are huge. It is usually enjoyed with cold cuts and ham or cheese specialties, as well as pickled cucumbers, fresh radishes, or other fresh vegetables.
Depending on the time of year, Brotzeit can take place on the balcony or terrace – in Bavaria, it’s also very popular in beer gardens, where you are allowed to bring your own food and then get a beer or other beverage to go with it.
It is safe to say Germans love their bread. You can find a traditional bakery on just about every corner, offering a wide variety of rolls and breads. From savory creations such as pretzel sticks topped with cheese and buns with fresh lettuce and “Wurstsalat” (sausage salad) to sweet creations such as Quarkbällchen (fried sugary dough balls) or fluffy vanilla danishes, in Germany everyone can find something. Most of the time even the small family-owned bakeries follow century-old bread-baking techniques and recipes that truly make German bread and pastry variations one of a kind. For that reason, Germany’s bread-baking tradition has been protected as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.
What do Northerners like to eat best?
In the northern states of Bremen, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and in large parts of Lower Saxony, fish and seafood have long been a staple on the menu and still are today. Something to do with the location, we reckon.
In Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, more fish is eaten than anywhere else in Germany. So it’s only natural that many North German recipes involve fish and seafood. One of the most famous specialties are fish or crab rolls, prepared with freshly caught North Sea crab and a homemade remoulade sauce, in a juicy light bun.
Labskaus is another famous dish in the North of Germany. It traditionally consists of boiled potatoes, cucumbers, corned beef or salted meat, all mashed and mixed, and served with matjes or rollmops, onions, beet, and fried egg.
How do people in the heart of Germany dine?
In the western center of Germany, Rhenish, Palatine, Hessian, and Saarland cuisine is particularly popular. Many typical dishes can be found there, such as "Himmel un Ääd" (mashed potatoes and apple sauce, available with fried sausages or warm slices of black pudding), mussels Rhenish style, Rhenish sauerbraten roast or "Halve Hahn" (a rye roll with cheese and herbs).
Seeing on the menu, "Frankfurt Green Sauce" or "Handkäs with Music" will certainly make the hearts of those who love this Hessian city on the River Main beat faster. Add an "Äppelwoi" in the traditional ribbed glass, and the good life is back on track.
In the Palatinate, people traditionally enjoy very rich food, with the "Pfälzer Dreifaltigkeit" (literally: Palatinate Trinity): liver dumplings, bratwurst, and a slice of Saumagen on sauerkraut with gravy.
In the East, specifically in Saxony, people have a sweet tooth: be sure to try the "Dresdner Eierschecke," a fluffy and delicious staple of German baking. Or the "Leipziger Lerchen," a pastry made of shortcrust pastry with marzipan: this is the cherry on the cake of an afternoon spent in a coffee shop. And when you think of Thuringia: the Thuringian Rostbratwurst is a true culinary treasure.
Delicacies from Bavaria, Württemberg and Baden
Some German recipes that are also well-known abroad come from the southern regions of Germany: Bavaria, Baden, and Württemberg to be precise. Last but not least, the Oktoberfest in Munich has contributed to the popularity of these dishes for decades – after all, the international guests want something "typically Bavarian" to enjoy with their Maß (one liter of beer).
For this reason in particular, the Weißwurst, Bratwurst, and Schweinshaxe (ham hock) with sauerkraut and warm Leberkäse (meatloaf) often exemplify German cuisine.
Of course, that doesn’t do it justice, because typical Bavarian cuisine has more to offer than that. It’s not just Maultaschen dumplings and Spätzle, that come from Württemberg. Almost 1/3 of all Michelin-starred restaurants in Germany are located in this state.
In Baden, people are also very fond of good food – and the culture around food and drink is vibrant and enticing. There you can taste the influence of Alsace (or French cuisine in general) and from Switzerland. There is Baden snail soup, tarte flambée, or Ofenschlupfer bread pudding – to name just a few hearty dishes.
Bowls, burgers, burritos, pizza, and pasta: the range of delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes has grown hugely in the last few years. The meat-free culinary landscape has become colorful, sustainable, and delicious – even German classics like bratwurst or schnitzel are now available as vegan versions in almost every restaurant. Why not try a vegan Currywurst in one of Berlin’s many delicious Currywurst stands?
