Canadian travel to Germany surged past pre-pandemic levels last year, but 2026 is shaping up to be a much quieter climb.
Canadian overnight stays reached 748,581 in 2025, a 6% increase over 2024, according to the German National Tourist Office (GNTO). Growth has inched upward so far in 2026, said the GNTO - stays from January to August were up 0.4% over the same period last year. Over the longer term, Canadian overnights are up 20% since 2016.
OpenJaw reported earlier this year that 2025’s total topped the 735,000 nights Canadians spent in Germany in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Germany ranked fifth among European destinations for Canadian outbound trips in 2025, according to IPK International’s World Travel Monitor.
How Canadians are travelling
Touring holidays accounted for 56% of Canadian holiday trips to Germany in 2025, according to IPK International, while 23% were city trips or visits to events, suggesting travellers are more likely to string several stops together than to stay in one place.
The GNTO said it is leaning into that trend, pitching itineraries that pair museums, castles and historic towns with wine regions and regional food, while Christmas markets remain the seasonal hook.
“Culture, food and local traditions are often what make a trip memorable. We want to inspire Canadians to explore that variety and experience more of what Germany has to offer,” said Anja Brokjans, Director, Marketing & Sales Canada, German National Tourist Office.
Germany's international visitor numbers are up worldwide, said Brokjans. Preliminary figures from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office show international overnight stays rose in each peak summer month compared with 2025: 1.3% in June, 3.2% in July and 1.3% in August. August alone brought 9.9 million international overnight stays, and the January to August total reached 57 million, up 1% year over year.
“The positive development during the peak travel season underlines Germany’s strong appeal and competitiveness as a travel destination,” said Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB).
Hedorfer added that the summer results point to further growth opportunities for the autumn and Christmas season.
