ReZoom

Ludwig II's old digs, check point Charlie and Oktoberfest all make Germany a great tourist destination.

From the romance of Bavaria to the historic Berlin Wall, Germany offers a wide array of itineraries that are affordable even in the high season.

Getting there: Lufthansa flies directly to Frankfurt from more than a dozen American cities and also offers great promotional deals, such as round-trip fares as low as $480 from New York to Munich during Oktoberfest. For travel within Germany, Die Bahn (German Railways) is one of most comfortable and reliable train systems in Europe and serves both domestic and international routes. To explore some of Germany's neighbors, consider Die Bahn trains from Berlin to Prague, which offer fares as low as 29 euros one-way, and fares from Frankfurt to Amsterdam or Brussels for 39 euros.

Accommodations: Mid-range hotels in German cities will run from 60 to 100 euros, while accommodations in rural areas are in the 30-to-60-euro range. Hotel rates usually include a full breakfast. Room rates are slightly higher during the summer months but are still quite reasonable. For those interested in exploring Germany's wilderness areas, there are more than a thousand campgrounds available in the summer months that can be booked via local tourist offices.

Activities: Consider starting your journey in Munich, the true embodiment of Bavarian culture. Be sure to experience the city's traditional beer gardens and sample their proud local brews; a liter of beer costs around six euros. You can also bring your own food to beer gardens, so pack your own snacks as a money saver. Stroll down to the Marienplatz to view historic buildings and stop at a traditional Bavarian restaurant to sample various wursts for around 7-15 euros a meal.

Munich is also an ideal location for local day trips. Pay your respects to the victims of the Holocaust at nearby Dachau, which has free admission; the round-trip bus ride will cost around 6.50 euros. Another day-trip option is the lovely town of Füssen, nestled in the Alps on the Austrian border, where you can access the impressive castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, the former homes of King Ludwig II. You can walk to the summit of the mountain to tour the castles or consider taking a horse-drawn carriage for five euros.

From Munich, work your way toward Berlin via the "Romantic Road," a route that highlights many picturesque Bavarian villages. The cost for the entire length of the 220-mile tour is quite expensive, but you can do a segment of the tour for around 30 euros.

The Romantic Road will take you north, where you can continue on to Berlin, a city with a fascinating and tragic history that is absolutely worth the visit. Most sightseeing in Berlin can be done free-of-charge, such as the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, the Berliner Dom and Checkpoint Charlie. Berlin's open-air exhibit on Berlin's World War II history, the Topographie of Terrors, also has free admission. Be sure to end a long day of sightseeing in the hip Freidrichshain district at one of many outdoor restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines for very affordable prices.