Travelling to Germany from Canada: the complete guide

Canadian citizens do not need a visa to visit Germany: a valid passport covers tourist stays of up to 90 days. Air Canada and Lufthansa fly nonstop from Montreal to Frankfurt in about 7 hours 5 minutes, Lufthansa serves Munich daily in 7 hours 25 minutes, and direct flights are also offered from Toronto to both cities. Since July 3, 2026, Air Canada has added a seasonal nonstop from Montreal to Berlin. The best months to go are May through September, with temperatures of 15 to 25 C and long daylight hours. Budget roughly $900 to $1,200 CAD for a return flight in low season, and $1,400 to $1,700 in summer.

The essentials at a glance

Why Germany

Germany is one of the easiest European countries to explore without a car. The Deutsche Bahn network is among the densest on the continent, and the high-speed ICE train links Berlin and Munich in about 4 hours, so you can pair the capital with Bavaria in a single trip. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, a real advantage for Canadian visitors. Eating well stays affordable: a döner or a currywurst runs $10 to $15 CAD, and a public transit ticket costs $6 to $7. Two events are worth building a trip around: Munich's Oktoberfest, whose 191st edition runs September 19 to October 4, 2026, and the Christmas markets that fill town squares from late November until December 24.

When to go

May through September delivers Germany's best conditions: 15 to 25 C and long daylight hours that stretch sightseeing into the evening. Winter is cold and grey (0 to 8 C), but the Christmas markets make up for it; Munich's Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz runs November 20 to December 24, 2026. If Oktoberfest is on your list, book accommodation months ahead — Munich hotel prices climb sharply during the festival.

How to get there from Canada

From Montreal (YUL), Air Canada and Lufthansa both fly nonstop to Frankfurt in about 7 hours 5 minutes, with roughly two evening departures per day — you leave after supper and land in the morning, local time. Lufthansa also operates the daily LH475 to Munich on an Airbus A350-900, a flight of about 7 hours 25 minutes.

New for 2026: Air Canada flies nonstop from Montreal to Berlin from July 3 to October 11, three times a week on an Airbus A321XLR, about 7 hours 40 minutes in the air. Outside those dates, Berlin requires one connection through Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich or Amsterdam, for a total travel time of 9.5 to 12 hours.

Direct flights are also offered from Toronto: Air Canada and Lufthansa serve both Frankfurt and Munich nonstop from YYZ. Whichever gateway you land in, Frankfurt and Munich connect to the rest of the country by fast, frequent trains.

The regions worth your time

Berlin

The capital carries the history of the twentieth century in its streets: the Brandenburg Gate, remnants of the Wall, Museum Island. It is also a city of neighbourhoods, where a Kreuzberg café and a Prenzlauer Berg market sit a few subway stops apart. With the new seasonal nonstop from Montreal, Berlin makes a logical starting point for a summer itinerary. Our Berlin travel guide breaks down the districts and sights to prioritize.

Bavaria and Munich

Munich pairs first-rate museums and traditional beer halls with quick access to the Alps. The city hosts Oktoberfest from September 19 to October 4, 2026, then the Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt from November 20 to December 24. The surrounding Bavarian countryside adds castles and old villages. See our Munich travel page to build your Bavarian itinerary. Hikers, take note: tick-borne encephalitis is present in the wooded areas of the south from April to November, so wear long pants and check your skin after forest walks.

The Rhine Valley and the Black Forest

To the west, the Rhine unrolls terraced vineyards, medieval castles and wine villages, all easy day trips by train from Frankfurt. Farther south, the Black Forest draws hikers and scenic-drive enthusiasts; it is the region best suited to a rental car, international driving permit in hand.

Hamburg and the north

Germany's second city lives around its port: the brick warehouses of the Speicherstadt, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, canals best explored on foot. Less visited by North Americans, the north pairs well with Berlin by train.

The budget, in Canadian dollars

With the euro at roughly $1.60-$1.62 CAD in July 2026, here are the ranges to plan for. These amounts are provided as a guideline only and vary with the season, the city and the exchange rate.

Entry requirements and health for Canadian citizens

• No visa required for tourist stays of 90 days or less within any 180-day period in the Schengen area.
• Passport valid at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area.
• Entry/Exit System (EES) in effect: your photo and fingerprints are registered on first entry into the Schengen area.
• ETIAS is not yet required: the travel authorization is expected to launch in late 2026, followed by a transition period. Check travel.gc.ca before departure.
• Travel.gc.ca advises exercising a high degree of caution due to the threat of terrorism in Europe; petty crime occurs in tourist areas.
• Keep routine vaccinations up to date. Tick-borne encephalitis is present in wooded and rural areas of the south (Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg) from April to November: take tick precautions if you hike.
• Travel insurance is strongly recommended, including out-of-country medical coverage.

A few habits make the trip smoother: pack a type F adapter (230 V current), get an international driving permit through CAA if you plan to rent a car, and rely on the train for long distances — the ICE covers Berlin to Munich in about 4 hours, with no security lines or check-in. The 6-hour time difference works in your favour on evening departures: sleep on the plane, push through to local bedtime on arrival, and the jet lag fades faster.

Ready to plan your trip to Germany? Our travel advisors know the flights, the trains and the addresses worth booking. Contact Voyages AquaTerra: 450-628-6241 | 1-866-628-6241 | info@voyagesaquaterra.com