Hi friends! I’m so happy you’re here.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that one of my favorite ways to explore Europe is by train. There’s something so romantic and relaxed about watching the countryside go by from your window seat, and not having to deal with airport stress? 10/10 recommend.
In today’s post, I’m taking you along on our late summer trip through Germany—just me, my husband, our daughter, and of course, Oreo the Frenchie—traveling entirely by train and soaking up as much as we could over nine days. From historic towns and lush green parks to city views, dog beaches, and SO much room service (because honestly? Love it), this was one of those trips that felt just right.
You can watch the full vlog here if you’d rather travel with me in real-time:
Now let’s break it all down.
Day 1: Düsseldorf — Altstadt, Rhine Views & Oreo’s River Swim
We kicked off our trip in Düsseldorf, Germany’s seventh-largest city and a total surprise in the best way. The name actually comes from Dussel (a small river) and dorf (village). The old town—Altstadt—is on the east side of the Rhine, full of charm, historic buildings, cute shops, and so many parks.
But my favorite moment? Watching Oreo jump into the Rhine to cool off. It was HOT, and she was absolutely living her best life.
That night, we kept things cozy: room service, early bedtime, and letting the travel day melt away.
Day 2: Cologne — Cathedrals, Parks & Cooling Off in the Shade
We took an early train to Cologne (Köln), and wow… it’s stunning. The cathedral here is the tallest in the world—and somehow survived WWII bombings, which is just wild to think about.
We walked, we wandered, we found green spaces (the Innerer Grüngürtel is a gem), and we melted a little in the sun. German summers don’t mess around. By the end of the day, we were back in Düsseldorf, exploring the modern harbor area and—yes—ordering room service again. No shame.
Days 3–5: Falling in Love with Hamburg
Okay, full disclosure: we were not ready for how obsessed we’d be with Hamburg. I still can’t believe we waited this long to visit.
We stayed in HafenCity, explored the Maritime Museum and Chilehaus (which literally looks like a ship made of bricks), wandered around the Rathaus (Town Hall), and took full advantage of the parks and green spaces. Dammtorpark was a personal favorite.
Day 4 brought nonstop rain, but we made the most of it with public transport, lakeside walks, and a visit to Stadtpark and the Hamburg Planetarium. The views from the Philharmonic building at sunset? Unreal.
On our last day in Hamburg, we did a boat tour through the canals and Outer Alster Lake, then took a ferry across the Elbe River and walked the historic Elbe Tunnel. It was such a unique way to end our time in one of our new favorite cities.
Day 6–7: Binz — A Seaside Break in the North
Next stop: the charming seaside town of Binz on Rügen Island. The weather didn’t give us a beach day (cold and cloudy, classic northern Europe), but it was still so peaceful. Oreo got to run wild on the town’s dog beach, which made her day, and we stayed at the most beautiful hotel—Villa Salbe—which I’d absolutely recommend.
Waking up to ocean views was such a treat before catching our train to the last stop on our trip.
Days 7–9: Berlin — Familiar Favorites & New Finds
Berlin was the only place on this trip we had already visited, so we took it slow. We revisited the Brandenburg Gate and Große Tiergarten, had dinner at the Sony Center, and spent our last full day exploring neighborhoods we hadn’t seen before, including brunch spots north of the Spree River and the busy streets of Alexanderplatz.
And yes… one final round of room service before heading to Munich and wrapping up our train adventure.
Final Thoughts
If you’re planning a trip to Germany, I can’t recommend this route enough. Trains were efficient, clean, pet-friendly (huge plus), and gave us the freedom to see so much without ever having to rent a car.
Every city had its own vibe—Cologne felt historic and grounded, Hamburg was modern and open, Binz was peaceful and pretty, and Berlin was a perfect mix of old and new. And while we didn’t go into museums every day or cram our schedule with tours, we soaked in the feeling of each place. That’s the kind of travel I’m all about these days.
Thanks for coming along on this trip with me! Let me know in the comments or on Instagram if you’ve ever done a train trip like this—or if you’re planning one soon. And don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube if you want to keep traveling with us.
Talk soon 💛
Flor.
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