How Big Is Germany? Size in km², Square Miles, Compared

This guide is part of our Germany Travel Guide — start there for the overview, when to go and how to get around.

Germany covers 357,683 km² (about 138,100 square miles), according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis, 31 December 2024). That makes it almost exactly the size of Montana or Japan, about one and a half times the size of the United Kingdom, and the 7th-largest country in Europe. It stretches roughly 876 km (544 miles) from north to south and 640 km (398 miles) from east to west.

Germany's Size at a Glance

How Big Is Germany in Square Miles?

Germany's total area of 357,683 km² converts to about 138,100 square miles. Older references often quote slightly lower figures (such as 357,022 km² or 137,847 sq mi) because they use earlier survey data; the Destatis figure above is the current official total.

Total Area vs Land Area

The total includes inland waters such as lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Destatis records 18,152 km² as water, which leaves roughly 339,500 km² of land; other sources that count water differently put Germany's land area at around 348,700 km². Either way, about 95–97% of the country is land.

How Long and How Wide Is Germany?

Germany is longer than it is wide. From List on the island of Sylt in the far north to the Alps near Oberstdorf in the far south is about 876 km in a straight line, and from the Dutch border in the west to the Polish border in the east is about 640 km.

• Driving north to south: plan on 9–10 hours behind the wheel from the Danish border to the Bavarian Alps, before traffic and stops.
• By train: Hamburg to Munich takes about 5 hours 45 minutes on the fastest ICE services.
• Flying: domestic flights such as Hamburg–Munich take about 1 hour 15 minutes in the air, though the train is often as quick door to door.

Germany's Size Compared

Compared to US States

Compared to Other Countries

Where Germany Ranks in Europe

Counting only the European part of Russia, Germany is the 7th-largest country in Europe:

1. Russia (European part) – about 3.97 million km²
2. Ukraine – 603,550 km²
3. France – 551,695 km²
4. Spain – 505,992 km²
5. Sweden – 450,295 km²
6. Norway – 385,207 km²
7. Germany – 357,683 km²

Which Countries Border Germany?

Germany has more neighbours than any other country in the European Union. Its 9 bordering countries are Denmark to the north; Poland and the Czech Republic to the east; Austria and Switzerland to the south; and France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands to the west.

Germany's 16 Federal States by Size

Germany is a federation of 16 states (Länder). Bavaria alone covers about a fifth of the country, while the three city-states of Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen together make up less than 1%.

Source: Destatis, area by Land as of 31 December 2024.

What Germany's Size Means for a Trip

Germany is compact enough to cross in a day by train, but too big to see properly in a week. The practical answer is to pick two or three regions rather than trying to cover the whole map.

Travel Times Between Major Cities

By car, allow 5–6 hours from Berlin to Munich, 4–5 hours from Hamburg to Frankfurt and about 2 hours from Frankfurt to the Black Forest. Many Autobahn sections have no general speed limit, but roadworks and congestion make those times realistic rather than generous.

How Much Can You See in a Week or Two?

• 7 days: Berlin (2 days), Dresden (1 day, about 2 hours by train), Munich (2 days, about 4 hours further), with a day trip to Neuschwanstein.
• 14 days: add Cologne and the Rhine Valley, the Black Forest and Hamburg.

Daily Budget

• Deutschland-Ticket: €63 a month for unlimited regional trains and local transport nationwide (not ICE/IC long-distance trains).
• German Rail Pass: from about €200 for 3 travel days within a month (adult, second class).
• Book long-distance trains early: saver fares on ICE routes are often far cheaper a few weeks ahead than on the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is Germany in square kilometres?

357,683 km² in total, according to Destatis (31 December 2024).

How big is Germany in square miles?

About 138,100 square miles.

Is Germany bigger than the UK?

Yes. Germany is roughly 1.5 times the size of the United Kingdom (243,610 km²).

Is Germany bigger than California?

No. California (423,970 km²) is about 1.2 times the size of Germany. Montana is the closest match among US states.

How long does it take to drive across Germany?

From the Danish border to the Alps is about 9–10 hours of driving without stops; west to east is around 6–7 hours.

How many countries border Germany?

Nine: Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.