Germany Food, Beer & Wine Tours
Germany is a beer country and a great wine country at once: the beer halls and gardens of Munich, the currywurst and street food of Berlin, the Kölsch of Cologne and the apple wine of Frankfurt, and the steep Riesling slopes of the Mosel and Rhine that make some of the finest white wine on earth. This is our Germany hub. Choose a destination below, compare the top-rated experiences, and read our notes.
Top-rated food, beer and wine experiences in Germany
Why Germany? Because it does two drinking cultures brilliantly — world-class Riesling and a beer tradition governed by a 1516 purity law — alongside a hearty, underrated food scene, in cities that are easy and affordable to visit.
Where to go: Munich for beer and Bavarian food; Berlin for street food; the Rhine and Mosel for Riesling; Cologne for Kölsch; Frankfurt for apple wine; Hamburg for the fish market; and the Black Forest for Pinot and gateau.
What to taste: Riesling and Spätburgunder, Helles and Weissbier, Kölsch and Apfelwein, pretzels and Weisswurst, currywurst and döner, Black Forest gateau, and Sekt.
A beer culture like no other
German beer is protected by the Reinheitsgebot, the 1516 purity law, and each city keeps its own style. Munich and Bavaria drink Helles, Dunkel and cloudy Weissbier in vast beer halls and shady beer gardens, and throw the world’s biggest beer festival, Oktoberfest. Cologne pours only Kölsch, in little 200ml glasses kept coming until you cap yours. Berlin has the sour Berliner Weisse and a big craft scene. See our Munich beer tours.
One of the world’s great wine countries
Germany is the home of Riesling, and its best vineyards are its steepest: the slate cliffs of the Mosel, making light, low-alcohol, thrillingly precise wines, and the Rheingau and Middle Rhine, where Riesling grows below a skyline of castles. The warmer south, Baden around the Black Forest, makes serious Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Pinot Gris. And the whole country makes Sekt, its sparkling wine.
The food, and when to go
German food is regional and hearty: Bavarian pretzels and Weisswurst, Frankfurt’s apple wine and green sauce, Hamburg’s fish rolls, and the sausages and schnitzels everywhere. Late spring to autumn is best for the beer gardens and the wine; the wine harvest is September–October, and Oktoberfest runs from mid-September. Winter brings the famous Christmas markets with mulled Glühwein.
Frequently asked questions
Is Germany better for beer or wine?
Both, genuinely: it has a beer culture protected since 1516 and is the world’s home of Riesling. Munich and Cologne for beer, the Mosel and Rhine for wine.
What German wine should I try?
Riesling above all — light and mineral from the Mosel, richer from the Rhine — plus Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) from Baden. Dry is “trocken”; the sweeter styles are graded Kabinett, Spätlese and up.
When is Oktoberfest?
It runs from mid-September to the first weekend of October in Munich, on the Theresienwiese; see our Munich beer tours.
How we choose
We list only experiences with a strong rating over a meaningful number of reviews and free cancellation where available, and we favour small-group and family-run hosts. FindEatLocal earns a commission when you book through GetYourGuide or Viator links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay. More about how we choose.