In a stunning display of national introspection, Germans took a record 169 million domestic trips in 2025, a 3.9% bump from 2024 and a 5% rise over pre-pandemic 2019, according to the Federal Statistics Office. Meanwhile, trips abroad plummeted to 105 million - an 8.3% drop from last year and 5.4% below 2019 levels. It seems the call of the Vaterland's own scenic vistas was louder than any foreign shore.

Italy remains the top foreign destination, with Austria, Spain, France, and the Netherlands trailing behind - a top-five lineup that's held steady for a decade, though the order occasionally shuffles like a game of musical chairs.

The statistics office also noted that multi-day trips took a hit, but private trips soared 6.2% above 2019 figures. Business trips, at 41 million, still lag 0.2% behind pre-pandemic levels, despite a valiant effort by the nation's conference-goers.

And as for getting around, the car still rules the road, capturing 60.2% of trips, followed by rail at 19.2% and planes at 15.2%. Apparently, the autobahn remains the asphalt ribbon of choice, even when the destination is just a few exits away.