City trip travelers in Germany 2018-2021

In 2021, 10 million people went on city trips in Germany. Numbers have shown a steady increase over recent years, except for during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2021, its second year.

City trips

With numerous cities to choose from in its 16 federal states, each city with its own distinct character, it’s no wonder that city trips in Germany are on the rise. Both rail and flight connections between various destinations are well-developed and continue to expand, plus it’s also often possible to drive, which gives travelers even more room to flexibly plan a city break, sometimes even on short notice. Based on the number of tourist arrivals, the three most popular city trip destinations are Berlin, Munich and Hamburg. More than a third of the population prefers city trips as a vacation.

Contributing factors

Many factors contribute to the positive development in city trip numbers in Germany. Among them, just to mention a few, is the stable urbanization rate, as well as an active travel accommodation industry. Online travel bookings have made it perhaps easier than ever before to organize a trip.