Leading city destinations in Germany 2018-2023
Berlin attracted the most tourist arrivals in Germany in 2023, which is perhaps to be expected. But the country has other city destinations with a lot to offer as well. Among them Hamburg in the north with the largest port in Germany and Munich, the capital of Bavaria, in the south. All three cities also have busy airports and railways.
The top three
Berlin recorded a significant drop in travel accommodation numbers in 2020, the year the COVID-19 pandemic began. Figures began to pick up again later, with 724 establishments open in 2024, though this was still less than in previous years. The numbers may also have to do with competition from such accommodation platforms as Airbnb. Hamburg is also catching up after the pandemic in terms of tourism, with noticeably more travel arrivals recorded recently. While 2021 saw around 3.3 million arrivals, there were already roughly 6.4 in 2023. Meanwhile, the average occupancy rate in Munich travel accommodation was also noticeably higher in 2022 than in previous years, with an almost 48 percent total.
City tourism
As of 2023, around 33.7 million people in Germany preferred city trips as a vacation. Numbers decreased somewhat in recent years. Various factors contribute to making a city attractive for tourists, among them mobility options, the ease of getting around, and spending time outside. In 2022, Germany’s largest cities were evaluated in terms of walking and cycling space availability. Munich scored highest at 51 percent, followed by Cologne with 46 percent and Hamburg with 42 percent. That same year, these cities were also evaluated in terms of traffic safety for pedestrians and cyclists. This time, Hamburg came first at 74 percent, and Berlin followed with 72 percent.
