Dos and Don’ts for Your First Day in Germany

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Are you wondering how to plan your first day in Germany after a long international flight? Do you want to minimize jet lag and set yourself up for a successful trip?

After over 35 years of repeatedly flying from the US to Germany and testing every jet lag hack we came across, Aaron and I have our arrival day down to a science.

Today, I’m sharing our exact routine to stay awake, beat jet lag, and kick off the adventure of a lifetime…including the 3 things we never do on day 1!

This article is also available as the Germany Travel Planning podcast episode 44. Use the player below to listen or continue reading the article below. See episode transcript on Apple podcasts

Quick Answer

On your first day in Germany, withdraw 200-300 euros from an airport ATM, grab coffee or snacks, head straight to your accommodation, and spend the rest of the day walking outside in the fresh air and sunlight. Avoid scheduling tours, making restaurant reservations, or lying down until bedtime. Staying active and in the sun is the most effective way to reset your internal clock and beat jet lag after an overnight transatlantic flight.

What Should You Do First When You Land in Germany?

Quick Answer: Find a bank ATM in arrivals and withdraw 200-300 euros, then grab coffee and a snack at an airport bakery or cafe. If you have a long journey ahead, pick up water and snacks at the airport grocery store before heading to the transit station.

After leaving the arrivals area we like to find a bank ATM, withdraw 200-300 Euros, and then split the cash between us. Even though we use credit cards most of time, it’s important to have cash for small purchases, toilets, lockers, and places that don’t accept credit cards.

Then we’ll find a bakery or a little cafe right in the airport where we can get coffee and tea. Sometimes we also grab a sandwich or a pastry.

Other times we like to go to the airport grocery store and get a bottle of water and some snacks, especially if we have a longer journey to get to our final destination. There’s usually a grocery store somewhere between arrivals and the airport train or public transit station.

Then we head to our first destination. Sometimes that means we just need to hop on public transit and head into the city center. Other times we pick up a rental car at the airport or catch a regional or high-speed train.

How Do You Stay Awake When Jet Lag Hits During Travel to Your Hotel?

Quick Answer: Adrenaline keeps you going for the first hour, but jet lag hits hard once you sit down. Keep moving and lean on caffeine for short-term help. If you are driving, take a break every 1 to 1.5 hours and limit total driving to 3 hours on arrival day.

Now at this point, the adrenaline of arrival is what’s keeping us awake. The airport coffee and tea helps, too.

But we know from experience that an hour or so into our drive or train trip, the jet lag will start creeping in. If I can keep moving I don’t usually have a problem staying awake. But as soon as I sit down…whether in a car, a train or on a bench…I will get sleepy quickly. Especially if I didn’t sleep much on the plane.

One time, about 13 years ago, I flew to Germany and I could NOT fall asleep on the plane. I ended up watching movies the whole night because I was wide awake.

It wasn’t until I was standing in line to get my passport checked at Munich airport when I suddenly felt so incredibly sleepy that I thought I was going to fall asleep standing up!

As soon as I was out of the arrivals area I got some tea, but even then, I struggled to stay awake on the S-Bahn and worried I would miss my stop. Fortunately I didn’t and I made it to my accommodation. But it was a huge struggle to stay awake on that arrival day and I ended up scrapping my plans so I could get some much needed sleep!

If you’re planning to drive to your first destination, I highly recommend thinking about how long you feel like you can drive when sleep-deprived. We find we can only drive about an 1 to 1.5 hours before we have to stop and either get more caffeine, take a walk or even a power nap in the car. Three hours total driving on that first day is the max for us.

What Should You Do When You Arrive at Your Accommodation on Day One?

Quick Answer: Check in, drop your bags, and head outside immediately. If your room is not ready, leave luggage with the front desk or a train station locker. The goal is to get into the fresh air and sunlight without delay.

When we arrive at our first destination, we like to go to our accommodation, check in, drop off our luggage, and then head out to explore.

If we’re staying at a hotel we can sometimes check in and get right into our room. That’s the ideal but it’s not always possible. When it isn’t, we still check in and then just leave our bags in their luggage storage room.

If we’re staying in an apartment, we usually can’t check in early. If that’s the case, we’ll leave our luggage in a locker at the train station until we can check in.

What Is the Best Way to Beat Jet Lag on Your First Day in Germany?

Quick Answer: Walk outside in natural sunlight as much as possible. It resets your body clock faster than anything else. Go to bed a little earlier than usual but not so early you wake at 3am. Most travelers feel mostly recovered after one solid night of sleep at local time.

No matter when we can check in to our accommodation, we like to head outside and go for a long walk. We find the fresh air and being in the sun helps us stay awake and reset our internal clocks.

So the best thing you can do on that first day is keep moving, maybe get some caffeine, and get out in the sun and the fresh air!

We usually go to bed a little earlier than usual – but not so early that we’ll wake up too early the next morning (been there, done that). After a good night’s sleep, we wake up the next day feeling pretty rested and mostly over jet lag.

What Should You Avoid Doing on Your First Day in Germany?

Quick Answer: Skip tours, meetups, and restaurant reservations. Delays happen and you will not know how hungry you will be or when. And do not lie down or sit on the bed until you are ready for the night. Even a short sit can turn into a long nap that makes jet lag worse the next day.

Here are 3 things we don’t do on that very first day:

#1 – We don’t schedule anything we’d hate to miss.

Like meeting up with friends or going on a tour. Why? Because you never know if you’re going to have a flight delay, a train delay, if you’ll sit in traffic or if you’ll be overwhelmed by jet lag. One time our plane was 8 hours late and we missed the only window we had to see our friends. It was a huge bummer and not a great way to start off our trip.

#2 – We don’t make restaurant reservations.

We really like to keep that first day flexible because we don’t know when we’ll get hungry, what we’ll be in the mood to eat or how hungry we’ll be.

Also… one time I went to a pizza restaurant in the evening after arriving in Germany. At first I felt surprisingly awake, even though I was severely sleep deprived. But as soon as I had that last bite of pizza in that very warm restaurant, I became so overwhelmingly sleepy that every time I blinked I thought I was going to fall asleep at the table.

After that I started getting takeout or stopping by a grocery store for water and snacks to enjoy in my room before going to bed.

#3 – We don’t lay down on the bed until we’re ready to turn in for the night!

I won’t even sit on the bed because the times we’ve done that, we’ve fallen asleep immediately…and for far longer than we wanted. And long naps always make it SO much harder to get onto a regular sleep schedule. So now we drop our stuff in our room, freshen up a bit, and head outside.

That’s Day 1…Now What About the Rest of Your Trip?

We’re not just here for your arrival…we’re here to ensure your entire journey is sorted with total confidence and excitement.

Your next step is simply deciding which option is best for you:

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does jet lag last after flying from the US to Germany?

Most travelers feel significantly better after the first full night of sleep in Germany. Full adjustment typically takes 2 to 4 days. Flying east (US to Europe) tends to cause more pronounced jet lag than flying west, since you’re moving against your body’s natural rhythm. Spending time in natural sunlight and staying on local time from day one shortens recovery considerably.

Do you need cash in Germany or can you use a credit card everywhere?

Germany has traditionally been more cash-dependent than many other Western European countries. While credit cards are accepted at hotels, larger restaurants, and chain stores, many smaller restaurants, bakeries, markets, public restrooms, and train station lockers prefer or require cash. Withdrawing 200-300 euros from a bank ATM on arrival is a reliable way to cover purchases when you can’t use your credit card.

Is it worth booking a hotel with early check-in for your first day in Germany?

Early check-in can be worth it if you arrive very early in the morning and want guaranteed access to your room to shower and freshen up, take a nap or simply have a secure place to store your luggage while you start your sightseeing. However, it typically costs extra and isn’t always available. A practical alternative is to check in, leave your bags with the hotel luggage storage or in a train station locker, and spend the day outside. By standard check-in time in the afternoon, most travelers are ready for a real night’s sleep anyway.

What’s the best way to get from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) or Munich Airport (MUC) into the city on arrival day?

Both Frankfurt and Munich airports are directly connected to their city centers by S-Bahn (suburban rail). From Frankfurt Airport, the S8 and S9 run to the main station (Hauptbahnhof) in about 15 minutes. From Munich Airport, the S1 and S8 reach the city center in roughly 40 minutes. Both services are frequent, affordable, and straightforward to navigate, making them the easiest option for most travelers arriving for the first time. You can also hop in a taxi at the airport.