Germany. Lots of beer, plenty of sausages and miles of speed-limit free motorways. But wait, there’s more!
Discover all that Germany has to offer – take in the history and buzzy atmosphere of Berlin, one of the most ‘happening’ cities in Europe or experience German life and traditions at one of the many festivals and events through out the year, such as the internationally renowned Oktoberfest beer festival held in Munich. Whatever you’re into get off the beaten track and really experience Germany, a country which is fast shaking its traditional stereotypes.
Check out my Germany destination guide, giving you the low-down on all the official stuff like visas, currency info and airport ins and out, plus all the fun stuff like sites to see, the best time to visit, top events, and most importantly some key phrases so you can understand the Germans!
Essential Travel Resources
These are my favourite companies to use when I travel.
• Find cheap flights with Skyscanner.
• Get the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
Germany Facts
Population
80,000,000
Languages Spoken
German
Currency
Euro (EUR) €
Electricity
The electric current in Germany is 230V and the cycle is 50Hz. Germany uses a round two pin plug and socket system so you may need an adapter. Note that two pin adapters are not available in Germany so you should pick one up before travelling.
Time Zones
GMT + 1 (Central Europe Time). Daylight saving during the summer means that the clocks go forward one hour on the last Sunday in March and back one hour on the last Sunday in October.
Country Dialling Code
+49
Measurements and Weights
Metric
Weather and Best Time to Visit
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin German summers are hot and the winters are cold and snowy, but it can rain during any season so make sure you pack an umbrella! In winter the temperature can fall as low as -10°C (although the average sits around 3°C) and in summer it can get as hot as 35°C (with the average around 22°C).
Head over between May and October to experience the best of the German climate – but be prepared for the possibility of rain! Autumn is great for getting out and about since the climate is mild, and winter sport fanatics will want to visit Germany from December to March.
Germany Visa and Entry Requirements
Tourism Visa
EU nationals don’t require a visa to travel to Germany, but you will need to register with German authorities within seven days of arrival if you’re intending to stay for three months or more.
Travel to & Around Germany
Travel to Germany, flying from London to Frankfurt takes around 1.5 hours and to Munich or Berlin is 1 hour 40 minutes.
If you’re up for the scenic route you can take a train – the Eurostar can get you to Brussels in just over two hours, then Brussels to Cologne takes 2.5 hours and the onward journey to Frankfurt is another 1-2 hours depending on the speed of train you choose.
There’s always the self-drive or hire car option too (70% of Germany’s highways have no speed limit).
How to Get Around
Flying
Germany is serviced by a number of airlines and all of the main domestic airports are within one hour of each other. This option is best if your trip to Germany is a short one and you just want to hop from site to site.
Self Drive
Driving around Germany is very easy because of the 11,000 km Autobahn (motorway) network – completely toll free and most of it with no speed limit. There are over 700 service areas, many open 24 hours, which provide at least a petrol station, convenience store, phones, and restrooms. Handy!
Autobahns have names that consist of an ‘A’ followed by up to three digits. As a rule of thumb, even-numbered roads connect east to west destinations, and odd numbers indicate mainly a north to south direction.
Public Transport
The national rail network is one of the most extensive and advanced networks anywhere in Europe, and some of the trains can travel up to 198 miles per hour! There are also slower trains which allow you to soak up a bit more scenery if time is on your side.
Most major German cities boast an underground, bus and tram system. Note that on public transport services you should pay your fare prior to boarding the vehicle using the automated ticketing machines at the stop. Your ticket then needs to be date stamped separately using the dating machines on board the vehicle or at the entry gates of major stops.
Taxis
Taxis, available in all the major German cities, are recognisable as cream Mercedes Benz – ride in style! The average taxi fare in Germany is aproximately €1.30 per km with a minimum charge of €2.50.
Tours
Organised small group tours are a great way to see the sites and soak up the local culture – especially if you’re travelling alone or are a first-time traveller. Search small group adventure tours with G Adventures or Contiki – two of my favourite travel companies offering trips in Germany and Europe.
Welcome Cards
While you’re in Germany you might like to pick up a Welcome card. It’s valid for 1-7 days and gives visitors free or discounted travel on local transport, reduced or free admission to local tourist attractions and discounted tickets for events within a city or region.
Attractions in Germany
Check out our list of the best places to see and visit in Germany. This is just a taste of what this great country has to offer!
Berlin is a cosmopolitan city with a turbulent past, Berlin now attracts visitors for its festivals, nightlife, diverse architecture and contemporary arts.
See the mighty Brandenburg Gate or go to the East Side Gallery – the largest remaining evidence of the city’s historical division – where you’ll find an open-air exhibition of art painted directly on the last existing portions of the Berlin wall.
Visit one of the many museums including Museum Island, the Jewish museum, and the German Historical Museum or head to the zoological gardens where you can see around 19,000 animals and 1,400 different species.
With the traditional cry of “Ozapft is” (the barrel is tapped), the Mayor opens the Oktoberfest – the world’s biggest festival – at 12 noon. For two whole weeks, visitors flock to the beer festival to experience the thrill of the fairground rides, both modern and traditional, and to enjoy beer, food and old-fashioned Bavarian music in the beer tents.
Frankfurt
With excellent transport connections it’s hard not to avoid Frankfurt, so don’t! The Museum Embankment Festival is a must-see – three days, eight kilometres down both banks of the Main, and a spectacular cultural event in which the museums present their work to the public.
Stage productions, projects and performances plus other attractions including the “choir and organ mile” organised by the churches, the “Klang im Kloster” music festival, cabaret, variety, music and specialities from all over the world, plus the ever-popular dragon boat races.
Cologne
As well as the legacy from Roman times and the Middle Ages, Cologne has an extremely lively arts and culture scene. Visit the Cologne Cathedral, the world’s largest, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
It took 632 years to complete and is one of the most important pilgrimage churches in Europe, attracting visitors from all over the world. I wrote an article how to spend 24 hours in Cologne which you might want to view.
Hamburg has it all – a great lcoation on the Elbe and Alster rivers, pumping nightlife in St Pauli, fab musicals and the theatre, and Hamburg’s most famous landmark; the ‘Michel’ church. Climb the 453 steps to the viewing platform and be rewarded by fabulous views over Hamburg and the harbour.
Other
These cities are also recommended if you fancy a short break or have more time for a longer overland trip of Germany.
Düsseldorf
More than 260 bars and restaurants in the old quarter give plenty of opportunity for sampling Düsseldorf’s top-fermented altbier and seeing how the people of the Rheinland have a good time. With outstanding museums, theatres, concert halls and galleries, Düsseldorf also has an international reputation as a centre for art and culture.
Stuttgart
A stroll through Stuttgart’s city centre is like taking a journey back through the history of architecture, with masterpieces such as the medieval Old Palace, the baroque New Palace, the beautiful Art Nouveau market hall and the Bauhaus-style Weissenhof housing estate giving the city its distinctive feel. Sample the wine at the many vineyards and lap up the great scenery.
Nuremberg
Mixing the medieval with the modern, Nuremberg is a vibrant city with plenty to offer. Kaiserburg Castle, Nuremberg’s famous landmark, rises above the medieval old quarter which is encircled by a five kilometre town wall with a total of 80 towers. It sits on a sandstone ridge on the northern edge of the old town and, until the 16th century was the occasional residence of German kaisers and kings.
Rüdesheim
Rüdesheim has many attractions, such as the Drosselgasse, a narrow street just 144 metres long lined with wine taverns and gardens, and offering music, singing and dancing from the late morning to the wee hours. You’ll also want to see the Niederwald monument, depicting the mythical figure of Germania, which can be reached from Rüdesheim and Assmannshausen by foot through the vineyards, or by cable car or chair lift.
Dresden
Head to Dresden to see pricessless art treasures and buildings of mesmerising beauty including the Church of Our Lady. Completely destroyed in February 1945, the imposing ruins served as a reminder of war and destruction. Using materials salvaged from the rubble, the chuch was rebuilt in an archaeological reconstruction supported by generous donations from many countries.
Bremen
This industrial city is home town to 26 year old Angelique Kerber, number seven in the singles ranking. Bremen is the 1,200 year old capital of the state of Bremen (confused yet?) in central Germany, and it’s steeped in history and culture – hardly surprising for a medieval city.
Despite 60% being destroyed by bombing in World War Two, everywhere you look you’ll see evidence of Bremen’s past; a 1,000 year old cathedral, Germany’s oldest coffee house and the gothic UNESCO World Heritage Site town hall.
Take a walk down the Cultural Mile and check out its three museums (including the Kunsthalle Bremen built in 1849), the neoclassical Theater am Goetheplatz and an old grocery shop renovated in art deco style and now a listed building. For a drink or bite to eat head to Schnoor, the ex-maritime quarter now full of restaurants popular with tourists and locals alike.
Trier
Germany’s oldest city is a treasure trove of beautiful builds and in 1986 Trier was announced as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The ornate birthplace of Karl Marx and hotspot for historical monuments, Trier is situated in the South Western region of the Moselle wine region on the border of Luxembourg. Historical treasures put it firmly on the ‘beautiful old cities’ list. Why not visit the Roman Amphitheatre close to the Moselle river? Fresh green pastures kiss the waters’ bank and a stunning hillside bounds the city.
A lengthy hike north of the river leads to Eltz castle – a tall ‘fairytale like’ stronghold opens up as you emerge from the woodland terrain. The crown jewel of garden architecture opens the passage to the Kurfürstliches Palais; stroll through a collection of beautiful flowers, perfectly trimmed hedges and sparkling water fountains. In the backdrop lays Aula Palatina – the Basiclia of Constantine.
When tired from city exploring, head to Trier’s quayside for some tasty German dishes washed down some Bitburger, a Pilsener style beer brewed nearby. At just slightly more than Euro a glass, it may fit well with a backpackers budget and offer a thirst quenching end to your historical day.
Money and Budget
Germany is in the EMU – the Economic and Monetary Union – which uses the single currency, the euro. The current exchange rate is approximately €1.10 = £1.
Sample Prices
To help you stick to a budget I have listed some sample prices below, check ’em out:
• Bratwurst sausage = €2
• Small bottle of beer = €2.50
• Official Oktoberfest t shirt = €12
• Bierkrug (beer stein or beer mug) = €20
• A pair of traditional Lederhosen = €150
• Average room prices = anywhere from €40 at the lower end, to €100 mid-range and €150 and up at the high end.
• Average meal prices = €5 for a cheap meal, around €12 for mid-range and €20 and upwards at a classy joint!
These prices are in euros, and are subject to change
Tipping
Service charges are generally added to the bill in Germany, but it’s still considered appropriate to tip. In restaurants go for a 5-10% tip but round up the bill to include the tip rather than leaving any money on the table. Taxi drivers will often get a 10% tip, bell boys will get one euro per bag, and the room cleaner one to two euros per day.
Banking
Opening hours range depending on the bank but as a general rule no branches stay open later than 6pm and on Saturdays and Sundays all banks are closed. Cash machines accept a variety of international debit and credit cards but aren’t universally accepted in shops, the smaller outlets in particular.
Germany Travel Tips
There are a whole heap of clichés about ze Germans – that they are punctual down to the second, thorough, reserved and lack a funny bone. This is only true to a certain extent! There are a couple of guidelines though, that you might find helpful to avoid a culture clash. Check out our handy Germany travel tips and advice below:
Handshake
The Germans enjoy a good handshake! So take your other hand out of your pocket and give them a good dose of eye contact.
Punctuality
The cliché is true – if you’re meeting a German make sure you’re on time, apologise if you’re not, and if you’re going to be more than 15 minutes late try to call ahead.
Reserved vs Direct
The Germans have a nifty way of being both reserved and direct at the same time. They might take a wee while to warm to you but they will speak their mind almost immediately. It’s not an insult so don’t be offended.
Manners
If you’re invited into a German home it’s polite to take a gift (flowers or wine are good). Say ‘Mahlzeit’ or ‘Guten Appetit’ before eating and eat everything on your plate or they’ll think you didn’t enjoy your meal!
Food and Drink
Germans seem to have a penchant for flavoring their beer, and Berliner Weisse is no exception. Ordinarily a bland beer, this treat is lightened up with some flavor, making it a local specialty. The cheapest way to feel like a local, this beverage should be enjoyed sitting in the warm sun with a curry wurst on the side.
Be sure to try local specialities like simple yet tasty Currywurst , (sausage with curry sauce) & Buletten (meatballs) or be tempted by one of the many fine restaurants offering cuisine from around the globe.
Sunday Brunch and Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cakes) are true institutions in cities like Berlin, and cafes vie for the most impressive cake displays, whilst Berliner Weisse is a refreshing wheat beer traditionally mixed with fruit syrup.
Useful German Phrases
Here are a few phrases to help you while on your trip to Germany. Well…let’s be honest they’re a little swayed towards keeping you topped up on German beer, but that’s pretty important, right!
Check out my essential German phrases & words below:
Ja (yes)
Would you like a beer? Ja!
Nein (no)
Have you tried the German sausage? Nein.
Danke (thank you)
Thank your waiter for the beer and sausages.
Wo gibt es hier Bier?
Where do I get beer around here?
Der Kater (hangover)
What you might have after the famous Oktoberfest.
Beer stein (beer mug)
A traditionally Germany beer drinking mug which can be made of pewter, silver, wood, porcelain, earthenware, stoneware or glass. Swankier models may also have an open top or a hinged lid and levered thumblift.
Prost (cheers!)
Raise your glass and shout ‘prost’!
Wurst (sausage)
A visit to Germany wouldn’t be complete without some Wurst!
Zu mir oder zu dir?
My place or yours?
Health & Safety
Every town has an emergency medical service which can provide treatment at night and at weekends. If you need urgent health care, call an emergency doctor on 112.
European visitors have free or reduced-cost treatment available to them for emergencies. Hospitals or clinics require you to produce a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). For non-EU citizens, travel insurance is highly recommended.
Be aware that there is a small risk of contracting Lyme disease or viral meningoencephalitis from ticks during spring and early summer. The following areas are affected; Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, as well as certain regions within Hessen, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia. Not every tick bite leads to infection but it’s best to protect yourself when in and around ground-covering vegetation by wearing clothing that covers as much of the skin as possible.
Take all the normal precautions regarding your personal safety and the safety of your belongings. Most incidents of street crime consist of theft of unattended items and pick-pocketing, and you should also be extra vigilant at airports, railway stations and markets.