How to Talk About Visitors in German

The main German word for “to visit”, the act of going to see a person or place, is besuchen.

Ich möchte dich am Wochenende besuchen.

I would like to visit you on/at the weekend.

Ich besuche meine Oma. I’m visiting my grandma.

Note that “besuchen” can also be used in the sense of “to attend”, as in a school or a course.

A “visitor” is Besucherin (f.) or Besucher (m.)

Wir hatten letzte Woche viele Besucher*innen.

We had a lot of visitors last weekend.

“Company” (in the sense of “we’re having company”) is Besuch (m.).

Ich kann nicht. Ich habe Besuch. I can’t. I’m having company.

Specifically for visiting landmarks in order to see them, the verb is besichtigen.

In Berlin kann man viele Sehenswürdigkeiten besichtigen.

In Berlin, one can visit many sights/places of interest.