German Food | The Ultimate Food Lover’s Guide to German Cuisine

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There are a lot of things Germany is famous for, the sights, the cities, and the language are the most talked about. However, an aspect that is subconsciously brushed under the carpet is food. German food is rich and hearty, making itself one of the best comfort foods. Plus, it is incredibly diverse, influenced both by the local agricultural traditions and elements introduced by immigrants. These factors complement each other fantastically and mark the German cuisine as the one you cannot afford to miss at any cost. So, if you are on a Europe trip to Germany and want to know which local foods to try, go through the list below, for it identifies people’s top picks.

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1.   Schweinshaxe

Photo credit: Take Two Bottles Into The Food

Schweinshaxe (roasted pork knuckle) is a classic Bavarian item, which you can find in almost all of Munich’s best restaurants. This dish is the highlight of German food, for it is known to be incredibly hearty. Served with crackling skin, a side of bread or potatoes and sauerkraut, and a generous amount of beer, Schweinshaxe is truly a fulfilling dish that you must not miss.

2.   Wurst

Photo credit: German Butchery

Wurst is an extremely ubiquitous dish in Germany and is loved by people of all ages. You can find it everywhere, from local food street vendors to fine German eateries – such is its worth in the eyes of German people. The sausage dates to 1313, and since then, has undergone several additions and improvements. Today, you can find a diverse array of flavors available, from bratwurst to currywurst to weisswurst, each exceptionally delicious and usually served with a side of fries.

3.   Maultaschen

Photo credit: Good Mood

If you’re on a Europe trip to Germany and miss the chance of eating Maultaschen, you have missed experiencing Germany in your mouth. Although they look like ravioli, they are a lot bigger and different from the traditional ones. Germany adds its flavor to this classic dish, combining it with minced meat, breadcrumbs, onions, spinach, and parsley. They have a tender and creamy texture that will treat your tastebuds how they have never been treated before.

4.   Bretzels

Photo credit: Francesca

It is hard to be on a Europe trip to Germany and walk around, not coming across Bretzels. They are sold literally everywhere in the country, from stands to train stations to high-end bakeries. Regarding it as a German food classic won’t be wrong. It is freshly baked bread served hot, often covered in cheese. Sometimes, it is split and filled with butter, which accentuates the Germanness in the flavor.

5.   Königsberger Klopse

Photo credit: Lecker in Osnabrück

Königsberger Klopse is the German version of meatballs. It is another classic German favorite that one cannot afford to miss while visiting Germany. Although this dish is very fulfilling and satiates appetite completely, you cannot stop eating. Its unique flavor- anchovies, lemons, and capers in a rich, creamy, slow-cooked sauce- makes your heart want more. Königsberger Klopse is usually served with a side of boiled potatoes, which excellently complement its taste.

6.   Käsespätzle

Photo credit: Bella Pearson

Käsespätzle is another extremely popular German dish. It may be regarded as a variant of pasta, with its noodles being a simple combination of eggs, flour, and salt. However, it is much more than being just pasta. Grated granular cheese is usually added between layers of hot spaetzle, and the dish is topped off with fried onions to accentuate the flavors. It is then heated to allow the cheese to melt and become creamier. While you can consume it as a side to meat dishes, it on its own is a fulfilling and delicious snack.

7.   Sauerbraten

Photo credit: Edelweiss Biergarten – German/Hungarian Restaurant

Sauerbraten is as German as a dish can get. As one of Germany’s national foods, it has all the key elements that distinguish German food from cuisines around the world. It is flavourful; it is hearty, and it is delicious. Although traditionally prepared with horse meat, today, alternate types of meat are being used t prepare this pot roast. While the meat type may have changed, the procedure remains similar, with the meat being marinated in a mixture of red wine vinegar, herbs, and spices, for several days before it is cooked. This lends the dish the richness it is known for. Sauerbraten is served with boiled potatoes or potato dumplings and is the highlight of German family dinners.

8.   Rouladen

Photo credit: Reid Hagelin

The best way to think of Rouladen is to imagine rolled up vegetables wrapped in bacon and steak. This German food is as delicious as it sounds and requires exceptional effort to prepare, for the meats and vegetables must be allowed to simmer for three to four hours together. Rouladen is generally served with potato dumplings and a thick, delicious gravy, which acts as an exceptional food complement. It is again a German delight that you must treat your mouth with.

9.   Wiener Schnitzel

Photo credit: A Wandering Web: Travels with Charlotte

While it may be argued that wiener schnitzel does not have its origins in Germany and is instead an Austrian food, it must not be forgotten that Germany has added to the food its unique elements. The German influence has given wiener schnitzel a distinct and explosive taste, with a hint of lemon. The dish consists of breaded, thinly pounded meat, usually pork, and is complemented with a side of cabbage, salad, or potatoes.

10. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

Photo credit: Who’s For Dinner?

If you are after some mouth-watering cakes, you should try Schwarzwälder kirschtorte. This cake consists of many layers of chocolate sponge cake. Sandwiched between the cake layers are sour cherries and whipped cream. Kirschwasser is then drizzled onto the cake, and final decorations are done using maraschino, chocolate shavings, cherries, although people do get creative in this department.

11. Kalbshaxe

Photo credit: Marcel Bauer

Kalbshaxe is a cooked veal knuckle, whose meat is incredibly tender and stringy. The moment you put a bit of it in your mouth, the food seems to explode into divine and heavenly meat juices that transport you to another dimension altogether. Obviously, Kalbshaxe is another German food you must eat while you are in the country.

Video Guide: 10 Must-Eat German Food | The Ultimate Guide to Germany Cuisine

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Travel Resources for Planning a Food Trip to Germany:

Search and find the best flights, hotels to stay in, food experiences, and other activities you can do during your German food trip to Germany below.

Flights: CheapOAir, Agoda

Hotels: Agoda, Hotellook

Transportations: Trainline or RailEurope (Train), Flixbus (Bus), EconomyBookings(Car Rental), BikesBooking (Bikes), GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver), Omio (search, compare and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)

Food experiences & Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links, MultiCityTrips may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Need help planning a German food trip?

Want to visit Germany and enjoy German food experience as part of your multi-city trip to Europe but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of multi-city trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!

At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city vacations (with the most amazing German food experience of course!) at the best price.

Don’t want to start from scratch and need some trip inspiration? Check out our marketplace for customizable pre-designed packages available right now for many amazing destinations.

To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “How It Works” page or check out our video on “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in  5 Easy Steps”  here.

Have questions for us? Schedule a FREE Call with us here or contact one of the travel experts/destination specialists at [email protected], call/text us at (888)223-2316 today.

Private Travel Coaching & Consulting Call

Want to plan and book your upcoming trip yourself? If this is your first time traveling to any of the European destinations or you are new to multi-city, multi-country travel but prefer to manage every part of your trip on your own, this option is for you! 

For just $150 per hour, our destination expert can answer any questions you might have as you plan and book your dream trip. From assisting with route planning, and destination selection, recommending the best areas or places to stay, the best transportation options, things to do and see, saving tips and so much more! 

Ready to plan your trip with our help? Book your private coaching session with our destination expert now and we’ll confirm your appointment within 24 hours!

Travel Resources for Planning Your Own Trip

To make planning your European trip on your own easier, in addition to what already mentioned in our travel guide, we included some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in any destination using these travel resources:

European River Cruises:

Uniworld River Cruises: The world’s best and most awarded luxury river cruise line—offers itineraries in spectacular destinations throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt, Asia, and Peru. The company’s European fleet features luxurious ships with an average capacity of 120 guests, the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry, enticing shore excursions, world-class gourmet cuisine, impeccable hospitality, and numerous other all-inclusive benefits.

Pre- and Post-cruise/Tour Extensions: Uniworld curated pre-and post-cruise/tour extensions make it easy to add a few days to the front or back end of your trip while leaving the planning to them

The packages include a variety of hotel options, transfers, and a dedicated destination expert to escort you along the way.

Flights: 

Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.

CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!

Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.

JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.

Hotels

Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.

Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.

Airport Transfers & Transportations: 

Airport Transfers: GetTransfer offers both airport transfers & car rentals with a personal driver. Other airport transfer options are KiwiTaxi and Viator.

TrainEuroRailTrainline, or RailEurope are all great sites for train tickets as well as Rail Passes if you would like to add more flexibility to your trip. They are good for most trains throughout Europe. For trains in Italy, we like and recommend ItaliaRail. As for Portugal, you will need to go to the official website for Comboios de Portugal (the Portuguese train company) to book your train tickets when traveling in Portugal.

BusFlixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.

CarRentalsAutoEuropeEconomyBookings, or  GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)

Bike RentalBikesBooking is a great site for bikes & scooter rentals

Transportation ComparisonOmio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)

Tours & Activities:

TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.

Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.

Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.

GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities

Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.

Travel Insurance:

Travel Guard:  Their comprehensive travel insurance programs, starting at $30, include per-trip & annual plans, coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, medical expenses, baggage loss & more! Travel Guard provides 24/7-customer service with a personal touch through its World Service Center.

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links, MultiCityTrips may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Trip by Travel Experts

Need help planning a trip and find the best vacation package for your multi-city trip to Europe? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!

At MultiCityTrips, multi-city, multi-country European vacations, and complicated itineraries are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize an amazing multi-city trip to your dream destinations in Europe.

Ready for a trip? Check out our planning options and get in touch with us today!

Featured Pre-Designed Packages

These air-inclusive, pre-designed multi-city European vacation packages can be personalized to suit your needs!

Private Travel Coaching & Consulting Call

Want to plan and book your upcoming trip yourself? If this is your first time traveling to any of the European destinations or you are new to multi-city, multi-country travel but prefer to manage every part of your trip on your own, this option is for you! 

For just $150 per hour, our destination expert can answer any questions you might have as you plan and book your dream trip. From assisting with route planning, and destination selection, recommending the best areas or places to stay, the best transportation options, things to do and see, saving tips and so much more! 

Ready to plan your trip with our help? Book your private coaching session with our destination expert now and we’ll confirm your appointment within 24 hours!

Schedule a FREE Consultation

Not sure or can’t decide which planning option is right for you? Schedule a free 30-minute call with one of our travel experts to discuss your travel needs today!