• Blue buildings on cobbly street, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

September Tour News

Hi from Rick: Totally Yodel-y Germany

It's mid-September, and thousands of Germans and tourists alike are about to strap on their lederhosen, lace up their dirndls, and head for Munich and the planet's biggest kegger: Oktoberfest.

Everyone knows Oktoberfest — and rightfully so. It's a frothy, oompah-serenaded, pretzel-powered, quintessentially Bavarian blast. But Oktoberfest is just a boisterous springboard into the many wonders of Germany. (And, if you know where to venture, you can enjoy that frothy beer-hall fun in Munich any day of the year.)

Just 90 minutes south of Munich, the jagged peaks and flower-filled meadows of the Bavarian Alps can have anyone dancing among the cows and singing, "The hills are alive…" Drive a couple of hours north to half-timbered Rothenburg and you can ramble the ramparts, time-traveling back to the Middle Ages… Read more

In This Issue


Girl with pretzel, Rothenburg, Germnay

Slideshow: Best of Germany, Day by Day

Our Best of Germany tour begins with the sound of seagulls in Hamburg, a city that tickles tourists with its people-friendly harbor and a nearly Nordic vibe… Read more


Hofbräuhaus, Munich, Germany

Raves About Touring Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

This Germanic slice of Europe is blessed with so much variety: spectacular scenery, fairy-tale castles, Baroque cathedrals, half-timbered villages, gleaming cities… Read more


Tour guide Jim McDonough

Meet Germany Guide Jim McDonough

Jim was milking cows and bailing hay in Minnesota when he up and moved to Berlin. He assumed he'd return home before long, but his love for German history and culture got the best of him… Read more


Happy group of people at the Hofbräuhaus, Munich, Germany

Video: Munich’s Hofbräuhaus

You can enjoy Oktoberfest fun any time of year at Munich's Hofbräuhaus. Join Rick as he tours Germany's ultimate beer hall, complete with rivers of beer, cheap food, boisterous atmosphere… Watch the video


man on left mountains on right

Monday Night Travel in October

We're off until Oct. 5, when Rick kicks off the next season with his Fall Trip Report, followed by Rotterdam Oct. 12, Beyond the Best of Ireland Oct. 19, and Travel Horror Stories Oct. 26… Register


Tours 101

Is a Rick Steves Tour Right for You?

Ask your questions, get answers from our tour experts, and find out if a Rick Steves' Europe tour is right for you at one of our upcoming Tours 101 sessions: Oct. 7 and Nov. 10… Register