Key Takeaways
- Germany recorded 85.3 million international overnight stays in 2024, up 5.4% from 2023. However, it is still below the 2019 pre-pandemic peak.
- European countries dominate Germany’s inbound tourism, driven by proximity and strong transport links.
- The Netherlands is Germany’s largest source market, contributing about 14% of all international overnight stays in 2024.
- Leisure travel remains the main purpose of European trips to Germany (59%), but business travel (21%) also plays an above-average share of Europe’s business tourism.
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Change in international tourists in Germany over time
| Year | Overnight stay of international visitors (in Mil.) | YoY Change (in %) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 85.3 | 5.4 |
| 2023 | 80.9 | 18.8 |
| 2022 | 68.1 | 119.7 |
| 2021 | 31.0 | -3.1 |
| 2020 | 32.0 | -64.4 |
| 2019 | 89.9 | 2.5 |
| 2018 | 87.7 | 4.5 |
| 2017 | 83.9 | |
| 1993 | 34.7 |
Source: German National Tourist Board
In 2024, international visitors generated 85.3 million overnight stays in Germany. That marked a 5.4% increase from 2023. However, the volumes remained below the 2019 peak of 89.9 million.
11 countries that send the most tourists to Germany every year
| Country of origin | Overnight stay of international visitors | |
| In millions | In % | |
| Netherlands | 11.9 | 14.0 |
| United States | 7.2 | 8.4 |
| Switzerland | 6.9 | 8.1 |
| United Kingdom | 5.3 | 6.2 |
| Austria | 4.4 | 5.2 |
| Poland | 4.2 | 4.9 |
| France | 3.7 | 4.3 |
| Italy | 3.5 | 4.1 |
| Denmark | 3 | 3.5 |
| Spain | 2.7 | 3.2 |
| China | 1.8 | 2.1 |
Source: German National Tourist Board
Germany’s inbound tourism continues to be dominated by nearby European markets.
Among the leading source countries, nine out of eleven are European, highlighting the importance of proximity-driven travel.
The Netherlands ranked as Germany’s top source market, accounting for 11.9 million overnight stays.
Meanwhile, non-EU countries such as the United States and China also show long-haul demand, reinforcing Germany’s role as a short-break, repeat-visit destination within Europe.
Why Nearby Countries Dominate
Several structural factors help explain the strong performance of neighboring markets:
- Proximity and accessibility: Short driving distances and high-speed rail connections make weekend and short-break travel easy.
- Strong road and rail networks: Dense Autobahn corridors and cross-border train services support frequent travel.
- Repeat travel behavior: Nearby visitors are more likely to return multiple times a year for city breaks, events, or business-leisure combinations.
Why Do Europeans Visit Germany?
A different mix of motivations shapes European travel to Germany. This include
- Holidays or leisure are the main reasons for tourist visits. Around 59% of European trips to Germany in 2024 were leisure trips.
- Business travel: About 21% of European trips to Germany were for business. It is well above the average share seen across European outbound travel.
- Other private travel, such as visiting friends and relatives, accounted for the remainder.
This combination highlights Germany’s dual role as both a leisure destination and a key business travel hub in Europe.
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