7-Day Germany road trip from Cologne to Hanover, Hamburg, and Bremen

Your road trip adventure in Germany begins as soon as you reach the incredible city of Cologne. You’ll stay in Cologne for 2 nights, experiencing all the best things to do and see in the city.

Cologne has many popular destinations you can explore. You could visit attractions like the incredible Old Market. This attraction is a must-see tourist destination and has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 12,654 visitors.

When you're done sightseeing for the day, you'll check in at one of the best hotels or places to stay in the city. Your stay promises to be a delightful continuation of your exploration, providing comfort and tranquility to recharge for the adventures that lie ahead.

When you’re ready for dinner, we recommend you try one of the best restaurants in the city of Cologne, Craftbeer Corner Coeln. The restaurant is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,165 customers.

Another of the best restaurants in the city of Cologne is Gruber's. This restaurant is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 625 customers.

Cologne also has several great bars that will fit all travel budgets. One of the best bars in the city of Cologne is Toddy Tapper. This bar has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars by 590 customers.

Another of the best bars in the city of Cologne is Gaffel am Dom I Kölsches Brauhaus und Wirtshaus I Brauhaus Köln. This bar is rated an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 6,484 customers.

Locals also enjoy Gilden im Zims. This bar has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 5,823 customers.

Enjoy toasting the start of your 7-day vacation in Germany!

Day 2 of your road trip through Germany gives you the opportunity to experience two places in one day. You'll start your day with some exploring in the city of Cologne and end it at a top-rated hotel in the city of Hanover. You will stay in Hanover for 1 night. Have a hearty breakfast and get excited for a wonderful day ahead!

One of the best places to visit today in Cologne is the amazing Cologne Chocolate Museum. This attraction is a museum that is rated an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 36,145 visitors.

You could also stop at the incredible catholic cathedral, Cologne Cathedral. With an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 68,667 visitors, this attraction is one of the top sights in the area. In fact, Cologne Cathedral welcomes around 5,000,000 yearly visitors.

You can make the most of your new day in Cologne by joining activities and tours that let you discover what else the city has in store for you. There are many top-rated experiences you can include in your travel plan to add flavor to your road trip in Germany. Browse all of your options and reserve your slot before it's too late.

At the end of the day, you will drive to the city of Hanover, where you will access the best hotels and places to stay.

Raise your glass in celebration of your incredible road trip adventure through Germany!

Get ready to experience some of the most famous attractions in the area!

One of the best places to visit in the city of Hanover is the amazing Markthalle Hannover. This attraction is a must-see tourist destination and is rated an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 8,854 visitors.

You could also go sightseeing at the incredible Herrenhausen Gardens. This park and travel destination has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 15,891 visitors.

Joining a top-rated tour in Hanover is another excellent way to spend your new day in Germany. The best tours in this travel destination will take you on an exploration to some of Germany’s most well-known attractions and best-kept secrets.

With this tour, you’ll set out on a journey to Germany’s most interesting sights. As you go along this remarkable tour, you’ll also have the unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of Germany’s scenic spots.

You’ll also have your choice of the best hotels and places to stay in the city of Hamburg.

After a long day of driving and exploring, we recommend you try estancia steaks, one of the best restaurants in the city of Hamburg. This restaurant has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,416 customers.

Locals also recommend Hanoi Deli Rathaus as one of the best restaurants in the city of Hamburg. Hanoi Deli Rathaus is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,380 customers.

After dinner, visit Le Lion • Bar de Paris, which is considered one of the best bars in the city of Hamburg. This bar is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 1,224 customers.

You can also enjoy drinks at a popular bar like The Chug Club. This bar has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 734 customers.

Alternatively, Skyline Bar 20up is one of the best bars that locals recommend in the city of Hamburg. This bar is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 2,995 customers.

Raise your glass in celebration of your incredible road trip adventure through Germany!

On day 4 of your road trip across Germany, you’ll have the perfect day exploring the wonderful city of Hamburg. You’ll stay in Hamburg for 1 night, meaning you have plenty of time to discover the best things to see and do in the area.

We recommend you stay at the Holiday Inn Hamburg - Berliner Tor, one of the best 4-star hotels in the city of Hamburg. This hotel has an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars by 10,801 guests.

The best luxury hotel option in the city of Hamburg is the 5-star HYPERION Hotel Hamburg. The hotel is rated an average of 4.1 out of 5 stars by 12,777 guests.

One of the best hotels we recommend in the city of Hamburg is the 3-star Prizeotel Hamburg St Pauli. This 3-star hotel has an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars by 14,737 guests.

Our flexible booking system will automatically provide you with the best alternatives if these hotels are not available.

You'll have easy access to popular travel destinations like the outstanding St. Michael's Church. This attraction has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 19,893 visitors.

Planten un Blomen is another popular attraction you could visit. This incredible attraction is a park and has been rated an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 21,777 visitors.

One of the best attractions you could visit is the extraordinary Stadtpark. This top-tier point of interest is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars in 20,328 reviews.

Come to Hamburg prepared by adding some tours and tickets to your vacation package. Book a popular and budget-friendly activity you can do on this day in Hamburg.

After a day of exploring, try one of the best restaurants in the city of Hamburg.

We recommend you eat at a delicious restaurant that locals enjoy, like Heimathafen, after your day of exploring the city of Hamburg. This excellent restaurant has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 3,912 customers.

Locals recommend NAGEL Restaurant und Kneipe, one of the best bars in the city of Hamburg, for a refreshing evening drink to finish your day. This bar is rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 2,360 customers.

It's a perfect place to relax and enjoy another amazing evening in Germany.

As you rise to greet the dawn on day 5 of your epic road trip in Germany, you'll awaken to the bustling city of Hamburg. Today, you'll hit the road once again, setting off on a journey towards the stunning city of Bremen. You’ll stay in Bremen for 1 night. But before you begin your drive, we recommend taking the time to explore some of Hamburg’s must-see attractions and local hotspots.

If you’re curious to see more of Hamburg, start your day with a visit to the amazing CHOCOVERSUM by HACHEZ - Hamburgs Schokoladenmuseum. This much-appreciated store and attraction is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars by 11,044 visitors.

You could also stop at another of the best local travel destinations in the area, the fascinating Miniatur Wunderland. This museum and spectacular attraction has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from 86,083 visitors.

We also recommend you spend some time at the popular Elbe Philharmonic Hall to make the most of your road trip across Germany. The spectacular Elbe Philharmonic Hall is a concert hall that has been rated an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 76,719 visitors.

The lovely St. Pauli Piers is yet another attraction you could pay a visit. Around 17,228 visitors have left this top-tier point of interest average ratings of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

If you feel like visiting another type of sight or don’t want to jump into the car quite yet, spend some time at the spectacular Elbe Tunnel. This attraction is a road tunnel rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars in 34,402 reviews.

After soaking up all the sights and sounds that Hamburg has to offer, you'll be ready to hit the open road and continue your unforgettable road trip towards the city of Bremen. Bremen offers plenty of options for top-rated hotels and other places to stay that fit all travel budgets.

After you’ve settled into your accommodation, we recommend a dinner at the popular Restaurant Tendüre Bremen. This popular restaurant is one of the locals’ most recommended restaurants in the city, with ratings of 4.6 out of 5 stars in 1,943 reviews.

After your meal, we recommend you drink at one of the best bars in Bremen, the fantastic Paulaner's a der Schlachte. This bar has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 4,376 customers.

To end your night the best way possible, we recommend going to the wonderful Restaurant ELISA. This bar offers a great variety of drinks and has been rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by 1,972 customers.

Celebrate another amazing vacation day filled with adventure in Germany!

Rise and shine on day 6 of your road trip in Germany. Today, you'll wake up in Bremen and embark on a scenic drive to Cologne, where you'll stay at one of the best hotels for 1 night. Seize the opportunity to explore spectacular attractions in Bremen and Essen before you reach your end destination for the day.

It’s hard not to feel excited about visiting attractions in a destination as lovely as Bremen. When you’re eager to explore the city and nearby areas, we recommend visiting some local favorites, such as the wonderful Schnoor. This attraction is a street that has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 15,953 visitors.

You could also stop at the incredible Town Musicians of Bremen. This attraction, a beloved literary work, has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 9,632 visitors.

If you have time, another site you could explore in Bremen is the stunning Rhododendron-Park Bremen. This botanical garden and travel destination has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 5,915 visitors.

Wave goodbye to Essen and continue your journey by car. If you want to break up today’s drive into two, take the opportunity to stop and discover what the city of Essen has to offer.

One of the most popular attractions you can visit is the remarkable Shaft XII. This attraction is a top-tier point of interest that has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 2,299 visitors.

If you want to explore more, visit the incredible UNESCO-Welterbe Zollverein. This museum and attraction has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from 20,630 reviews.

Another site you could visit today is the top-rated LaserZone LaserTag Essen West - Borbeck. This must-see tourist destination and travel destination is rated an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars by 7,674 visitors.

The lovely Museum Folkwang is yet another attraction you could pay a visit. Around 4,003 visitors have left this art museum an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. This popular attraction gets around 800,000 visits every year.

When you're done with your sightseeing in Essen, it's time to continue your drive to the city of Cologne. When you arrive in Cologne you’ll check in at one of the best hotels in the area.

We recommend you end the day with a dinner at a popular restaurant near your accommodation, like Servus Colonia Alpina. This restaurant offers various delicious and comforting meals and has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 2,757 customers.

Locals also recommend The Little Steakhouse, another of the best restaurants in Cologne. The Little Steakhouse is rated an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars by 2,631 customers.

After dinner, visit Gaststätte Lommerzheim to enjoy a couple of drinks and relax. This bar is one of the best in Cologne, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars by 3,487 customers.

You can also enjoy drinks at a popular bar like Jameson Pub Cologne. This bar is a great spot to meet new friends and celebrate your vacation. Jameson Pub Cologne has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars by 3,308 customers.

End your day by raising your glass in celebration of your incredible road trip adventure in Germany, and look forward to more great days to come!

Day 7 of your road trip in Germany is your departure day. This is your chance to catch one last glimpse of Cologne before saying goodbye to this wonderful destination. When you have time to explore the area before you make your way home, we recommend visiting some of the following attractions.

Rheinpark is an extraordinary attraction you could visit to enjoy your last day in Cologne. This park and popular site of interest has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars by 6,259 visitors.

Take a stroll along the main shopping streets of Cologne and find some souvenirs to remind you of your road trip in Germany.

You’ll then say farewell to Cologne. We wish you a pleasant journey home, with many wonderful memories of your unforgettable vacation in Germany!