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Germany Tourism - Travel to Germany

        

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Travel to Germany - Germany Tourism
Quick Facts
CapitalBerlin
Governmentfederal republic
Currencyeuro (EUR)
Areatotal: 357,021 sq km
water: 7,798 sq km
land: 349,223 sq km
Population83,251,851 (July 2002 est.)
LanguageGerman
Country calling code+49

Germany (Deutschland in German) is a country in central Europe and a member of the European Union.

Table of contents

Regions in Germany

Travel to Germany - Germany Tourism
Map of Germany
Germany is a federal republic consisting of 16 states (so-called "Bundesländer" or short "Länder"). Grouped roughly by geography, these are:

North

West

Middle

East

South

Cities in Germany

There are many cities in Germany; these are some of the more prominent travel destination cities.

Other destinations - Travel to Germany

Other popular tourist destinations in Germany:

Understand Germany Tourism

History

Germany as a nation exists only since 1871, when the independent German nations united under Prussian leadership to form the German Empire (Deutsches Kaiserreich). The empire ended in 1918 when Emperor Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate after Germany's defeat in World War I. The Empire was followed by the short-lived Weimar republic, which tried to establish a liberal, democratic regime. However, the young republic was plagued with economic problems, strong antidemocratic forces and inherent organizational problems of the Weimar constitution.

1933 saw the rise of the nationalistic and racist National Socialist Worker's Party and it's leader, Adolf Hitler, to power. Under the Nazi dictatorship, the democratic institutions were dismantled and a police state installed. Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, handicapped people, socialists, communists and other groups not fitting into the Nazi ideology faced persecution, and ultimately murder in concentration camps.

After the devastating defeat in World War II, Germany was divided into four sectors, control by the French, British, US and Soviet forces. With the begin of the cold war, Germany was divided into an eastern part under Soviet control, and a western part which was controlled by the Western Allies. The western part was transformed into the Federal Republic of Germany, with [Bonn] as the capital. The soviet zone became the communist German Democratic Republic. Berlin had a special status, with the eastern part featuring as the capital of the GDR. The western sectors of Berlin were de facto an enclave of the Federal Republic.

Germany was reunited in 1990 after the fall of the GDR's communist regime in 1989. The reestablished eastern states joined the Federal Republic on the 3rd of October, a day which is since celebrated as the German National Holiday (Tag der Deutschen Einheit). Together with the reunification the last post-war limitations to Germany's sovereignty were removed.

Politics

Germany is a federal republic, consisting of 16 states ('Bundesländer'). The federal parliament ('Bundestag') is elected every four years in a fairly complicated system, involving direct and proportional representation. A party will be represented in Parliament if it can gather at least 5% of all votes. The parliament elects the Chancellor ('Bundeskanzler') on it's first session, which will serve as the head of government.

Formal head of state is the President ('Bundespräsident'), who has only ceremonial and representative duties. All true power lies with the chancellor.

The 'Bundesländer' are represented at the federal level through the Federal Council ('Bundesrat'). Many federal laws have to be approved by the council. This can lead to a situation where Council and Parliament are blocking each other if they are dominated by different parties.

The two most important parties are the Christian Democrats ('Christlich Demokratische Union (CDU)') and the Social Democrats ('Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD)'). Due to the proportional voting system, smaller parties can also be represented in parliament. The only "smaller" parties of any importance are the Liberals ('Freiheitlich-Demokratische Partei (FDP)') and the Green party ('Bündnis 90/Die Grünen'). There have been some attempts by right-wing parties to get into parliaments, but they have failed at the 5% requirement. The 'PDS', successor of the GDR's communist party, has also failed to reach 5% of the voters in the last elections. However, there are still two PDS MPs due to a peculiarity of the voting system.

Get into Germany

Germany is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement. European visa policy will be covered in the article about the EU. In brief, a visa to any other signatory state of the Schengen Agreement is valid in Germany too. No visa is required for citizens of other EU member states, and those of some selected nations with whom the European Union or Germany have special treaties. Inquire at your travel agent or call the local consulate or embassy of Germany.

Also, there are no border controls between Germany and other Schengen Agreement nations, making travel less complicated.

There are a number of ways to get into Germany. From neighboring European countries, a drive with the car or a train ride are feasible; visitors from further away will probably be using air travel.

Travel to Germany By Plane

The most important airports are Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC), and Dusseldorf (DUS). Berlin (TXL, SXF and THF) and Hamburg (HAM) have some relevance to international travellers as as well.

Discount airlines land mostly at smaller airports, like Hahn, Baden-Baden, Dortmund, Paderborn or Lübeck. Connections to the nearest cities may be worse than for larger, more established airports - but the details vary greatly with location.

Travel to Germany By Train

Regular train services connect Germany with neighboring countries. The caveat with train travel is that due to incompatible systems, you will not be able to use any of the European high speed trains to cross into or out of Germany and are instead limited to more conventional "intercity" trains. Travel times from Paris to Frankfurt, for example, are about six hours; while a train ride from Paris to Hamburg can take nine hours or even more.

Travel to Germany By Boat

Some international ferry services exist, notably to Scandinavia and Great Britain. An incomplete list of connections follows:

England

Scandinavia

Russia

Baltic States

Get around in Germany

Travel to Germany By car

Germany has a world-famous network of excellent roads and highways (Autobahn). Car rentals are available in most cities, but gasoline prices are kept high by taxation. When renting a car, be aware that most cars in Germany have manual gearbox (stick-shift), so you might want to ask for a car with an automatic gearbox if you're used to that. German drivers tend to drive faster and more aggressively than you might be used to, especially on the parts of the highway system without speed limit, which is taken to be literally.

In case of a breakdown you may call the ADAC, Germany's largest automobile club. The number is (0180) 2 22 22 22 from fixed lines and 22 22 22 from mobile phones. On the Autobahn, the ADAC must come to you free of charge. In other situations, there may be costs involved if you're not a member. If you're a member of an AA or automobile club, you may want to check if the ADAC honours your membership.

Germany Tourism By Train

Germany has a dense railway system, which reaches almost every part of the country. Most of the trains are still run by the Deutsche Bahn, the formerly state-owned railway company. Recently, the reputation of the DB has suffered due to high prices and increased delays. Nevertheless the trains are usually reliable, and a comfortable way of travel. If not otherwise indicated, the information in this section is about DB-run trains.

There are some independent railway companies which run regional trains or aim at specific target markets, like business travellers.

Long distance

All major cities are linked by ICE (InterCity Express) and regular InterCity trains. The ICE are high speed trains, reaching top speeds of 300km/h; travel is faster than by car and quite comfortable. This is the most expensive option, of course. On the major lines, an ICE or IC train will run each hour or so during the day. There are also EuroCity (EC) trains, which connect the larger European cities. For inner-Germany travel, these are virtually identical to the regular ICs.

Regional travel

Apart from the long-distance trains, there is a mind-boggling variety of commuter and regional trains. They tend to run under different names and will take you everywhere the "big" trains don't go. Prices on regular trains will be the same, no matter what they're called. The only real difference is if the line is served by brand-new railcars or 40 year old carriages.

Online information and bookings

All information and an online timetable are available from the Deutsche Bahn homepage. The page is in German, but timetable inquiries can be made in English. You may also book your tickets online with a credit card. The most comfortable option is to take an "online ticket", which you can print out at home. Note that these tickets are non-transferable and that you'll be required to show your BahnCard or credit card as an ID. Currently (2004) seat reservations are free if you buy your ticket online or through a ticket vending machine at a station.

Special fares

The Deutsche Bahn offers special fares if you book in advance. These fares are only valid for return journeys, and you'll have to commit yourself to a specific train. If you miss that train, the ticket will not be refunded.

The current Savings Offer (Sparpreis) requires you to book a return ticket at least three days in advance and commit yourself to a certain train. This gets you a discount of 25%. If your whole voyage takes place on a Saturday or Sunday or has a night from Saturday to Sunday in between, you get 50% off. Anyone travelling with you (up to 4 persons) gets a further 50% discount on the already discounted price. There are contingent restrictions on the saver tickets, so at peak times you are advised to book well in advance. Also note that although you have to commit yourself to a certain train, you have no guaranteed seating unless you make a separate reservation.

Children up to fourteen years travel free when accompanied by at least one of their parents or grandparents.

If you plan to travel by train a lot, you may consider getting a BahnCard, which gives you discounts on all ticket purchases.

The BahnCard 25 costs €50 (€100 for first class) and gives you a 25% discount on all further ticket purchases. Spouses and kids of a BahnCard 25-owners can get additional cards for €5. Until the end of September 2004 you will even get the discount on the savings offer.

The BahnCard 50 is €200 (€400 for first class) and gives you a 50% discount on all tickets. You can get this card for half the price if you're a pupil or student (up to 26 years of age), a pensioner of more than 60 years or disabled. This card cannot be combined with the savings fares.

Germany Tourism By plane

Airlines like Deutsche Lufthansa connect major cities in Germany to each other and foreign destinations. Due to the comparatively short distances and relatively high hassle of air travel - especially when you travel with luggage - domestic air travel is used mostly for business purposes. Recently (2003-2004) many airlines have been offering very low prices due to the high competition in the industry, so it makes sense to compare the prices for plane tickets to those of the railway tickets.

Germany Talk

The official language of Germany is German. The standard form of German is called "Hochdeutsch" (High German). This is accent-free German, the "official" form of the language. It is understood by all and spoken by many Germans. However, most regions have their own dialects, which might pose a challenge to those who speak even good German - and sometimes to native speakers as well.

Most Germans learn English at school, so you should be able to get by with English in most places. Many people in the tourist industry also speak French or Spanish, but if you can't speak German, English remains your best bet. Even if the staff doesn't speak English, you are likely to find someone who does and is more than willing to help you.

If you are speaking English with Germans, you should be aware of the following points:

Germans less fluent in the English language often say "become" instead of "get" because the German word "bekommen" ("get") is phonetically so close to "become". Since it's polite to reply "Bitte" if someone thanks you, Germans may literally translate this with "please" instead of "here you are" or "you're welcome".

While Germany uses the 24 hour format for times, people still use 12 hour times in conversations. There is no real suffix like "AM/PM", though you can add "vormittags" (before noon) and "Nachmittags" (after noon) when it's not clear from the context.

Expressing "fractional hours" differs slightly among various regions of Germany. The "normal" way of doing it is:

In addition, Germans say numbers "backwards": instead of "twenty-two" they say "two and twenty". Numbers below 20 are said the same way as in English. This becomes especially important when you inquire for prices, although most who speak English with you should use the correct form.

The question "How are you?" in German is usually meant as a serious inquiry, so you might get a somewhat lengthy answer half of the time.

For more German, consult the German phrasebook.

Buy

Currency

Germany is part of the European Union and the Eurozone; as such it replaced German Marks with the Euro (symbol: €) in the year 2002.

Since it has been only a few years since the introduction of Euro cash, a few people will still use the old national currency names. For example, it is entirely possible that a German would still refer to "Mark" and "Pfennig". They mean Euros and Cents, so just mentally substitute the two.

Do not expect anybody to accept other types of currency, or to be willing to exchange currency. An exception are shops and restaurants at airports and also - more rarely - fast-food restaurants at major train stations. These will generally accept at least US Dollars at a slightly worse exchange rate. If you wish to exchange money, you can do so at any bank, where you can also cash in your traveller's cheques. Currency exchanges, once a common sight, have all but disappeared since the introduction of the Euro. Again, international airports are an exception to this rule.

Do not accept German Marks from anybody. While you can still exchange them for Euro at some banks, this will mean a lot of hassle for you.

Credit cards are often accepted, but less universally than in many other European countries or the United States. If you want to pay by credit card, it is best to check in advance if your card will be accepted. Most ATMs will allow you to withdraw money with your credit card, but you'll need to know your card's PIN for that.

Tipping

It's common in Germany to round up the bill in restaurants or pubs. Since the introduction of the Euro, a tip of about 10% is customary if you were satisfied with the service. Of course you can tip more, if the service was really good.

However, there is no obligation to tip, especially if the service was bad. Unlike in some other countries, service staff is always paid by the hour (albeit not always that well). A tip is a matter of politeness, and shows your appreciation.

Eat - Travel to Germany

German food is often considered hearty, but fatty. However, the modern German cuisine has become somewhat "internationalised" and has been influenced by other European countries like Italy and France.

A typical German dish will be pork/beef with some form of potatoes and a sauce. Germans tend not to eat very spicy food (curry, for example), but most German dishes are full of flavour.

If you want to get a sample of traditional German cooking, go for a local speciality. In Bavaria this may be Schweinshaxe mit Knödeln (pork's knuckle with knödel, a form of potato dumplings) or Weißwurst (white sausages). The Pfalzer Area has Saumagen (stuffed pork's stomach), Swabia is famous for Spätzle (a kind of noodles) and at the coast there's a variety of fish dishes.

Other common dishes include Sauerbraten (a roast soaked in vinegar), Frikadellen (fried balls of minced meat; called Buletten, Fleischküchle, Fleischpflanzerl or Klopse in some parts of Germany). More exotic fare would include Mett, which is raw, minced pork, usually served in a bread roll with onions and lots or pepper.

Vegetarian cooking hasn't quite caught on in Germany. Most restaurants have one or two vegetarian dishes, or will prepare something without meat; but there aren't many places which are particularly aimed at vegetarian or vegan customers.

Classic German fast food includes the famous Currywurst mit Fritten (a fried sausage with a curry sauce and fries) and grilled chicken. Many places also serve different kinds of Schnitzel. Kebab shops, mostly run by the Turkish population, are ubiquitous. The döner kebab (kebab meat in a bit of bread, with sauces and salad) was invented in Germany, and Berlin is considered the döner capital. Corporate junk food also exists; if you wish to you should have no problem locating a McDonalds or Burger King.

You can also buy Pizza of varying quality through any number of smaller, local pizzerias or delivery services. Many eateries that call themselves "Italian" are actually run by Germans, Turks, Pakistanis or really any other nationality. This of course does not always affect the quality of the food, but it is a little peculiar. Because most of the Italian immigrants living in Germany belong to the first or second generation, the Italian food tends to be more authentic than for example in the United States.

Germans are very fond of their bread, which they make in many variations. This is the food that Germans tend to miss most when away from home. Most people like their bread relatively dark and dense and scorn the soft loaves sold in other countries. Bakeries will seldomly provide less than twenty different sorts of bread and it's worth trying a few of them. In fact, many Germans buy their lunch or small snacks in bakeries instead of takeaways or the like. Prizes for a loaf of bread will range from 0.50 € to 4 €, depending on the size (real specialities might cost more).

Drink

Germans drink coffee. Lots of it. Coffee is always freshly made from ground coffee or beans - no instant. However, persons coming from countries with a great coffee tradition (like Italy, Spain, Turkey, Greece or Austria) might find the coffee that is served in normal restaurants a bit boring.

Tea is also very popular, and a large choice is readily available.

Germans consider their beer to be the best of the world. And although other nations may disagree, the brew is usually very good and far superior to the bland stuff from the "international" brands. For centuries, beer-making was governed by the Reinheitsgebot (purity law), which states that German beer may only be made from certain ingredients. The Reinheitsgebot has come down with the European integration, but traditional breweries continue to stick with it. Specialities include Weizenbier, a refreshing wheat beer which is popular in the south, Alt, a kind of dark ale and Kölsch, another kind of dark beer from the city of Cologne. There are also seasonal beers, which are only made at different times of the year. Beer is usually served in 200 or 300ml glasses (in the northern part) or 500ml in the South. In Bavaria, 500ml is a small beer and a litre is a large one. Except for Irish pubs, Pints are unusual. For Germans, lots of foam is a sign of freshness, thus, beer is always served with a lot of head. Additionally, Germans are not afraid to mix their pure beer with other drinks. "Cocktails" of pils/Altbier and soft drinks like Sprite, Fanta, Coke and so on are very common but seem to have a different name in every town.

Pubs are open in Germany until 2 in the morning or later. Food is generally available until midnight. Germans typically go out after 8pm.

Sleep - Germany Tourism

Many hotel chains have franchises in the major German cities, and a variety of local hotels exist. Young travellers on a budget might also wish to consider youth hostels (Jugendherberge) or staying with members of a hospitality exchange network.

Learn

German universities can compete with some of the best universities in Europe or even the whole world. Since the vast majority of the universities is state-owned, studying in Germany is usually free of tuition fees.

Work

While unemployment in Germany is at a rate of more than 10 % at the moment, there are jobs for those with the right qualifications or connections. Non-EU foreigners wishing to work in Germany should make sure they secure the proper permits. Since this can mean extended acts of bureaucracy for non-EU citizens, it is likely not a good method to help your travelling budget.

If you want to stay in Germany for an extended period of time, but do not speak German, your best bets are large multinational companies in the banking, tourism or high tech industries. Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich are likely the best places to start looking. A good knowledge of German is usually expected, but not always a prerequisite.

Stay safe - Germany Tourism

Germany is a safe country, but there are some districts that should be avoided at night by the unwary, or by lone women. Pick-pockets can be a problem in large cities or at events with large crowds. Big cities also have their share of beggars and punks, but these are hardly ever dangerous.

Germany has a dense network of emergency services, check the next paragraph on how to call them.

Emergencies

The nationwide emergency number is 112 for medical emergencies and fires, while the police emergency number is 110. Even if you call the "wrong" number, your call will be forwarded to the right emergency services. These numbers can by dialled toll-free from any phone boot or (mobile) phone. Mobile phones without a valid SIM card will still allow you to dial the 112 emergency number.

If you're reporting an emergency, the usual guidelines apply: Stay calm and state your exact location, the type of emergency and the number of persons involved. Don't hang up immediately, the operator may have further questions.

Medical emergencies

The hospitals (Krankenhaus) have emergency rooms which are open around the clock. They will deal with all kinds of medical problems, although you may have to wait if your problem is minor. In life-threatening situations do not try to get to the hospital yourself - call an ambulance via 112!

Pharmacies are called "Apotheke" and are marked by a big, red "A" symbol. At least one pharmacy per city or suburb will be open at all times. Each pharmacy will post the name and address of the nearest open pharmacy in the window.

There will also be a dentist on stand-by in each town. The number is usually available from the yellow pages.

Racism

Germany is often considered to be a rather racist country, especially toward non-Europeans/non-Whites/non-Christians. The German history combined with some dramatic television news in the 80s have left a lasting impression with many people around the world. The real situation is far less dramatic and of course much more complex.

Germans in general are not more racist than people of other Western industrialized countries. People in Germany are aware of the issue and will usually be tolerant or at least politically correct. The worst a non-white visitor might expect here are queer looks (often caused by uneasiness or insecurity), some snubbing or - though rare - at worst verbal insults.

In parts of the former East Germany, the situation is slightly different. Higher unemployment rates are a fertile ground for racist ideas. Consequently, there are more incidences of racist behaviour than in the West with somewhat more frequent outbursts of physical violence. When away from large crowds and tourist places, Non-White tourists should be somewhat cautious, but an overly paranoid attitude would be overdoing it.

Papers, please!

In large cities the police are working to control illegal immigration. As a result, it's a very good idea always to carry your passport and visa papers, if applicable - especially if you happen to be dark skinned. If you don't, you could at best face a considerable delay as your story gets checked, and at worst more serious consequences. Again, remember that German police are generally helpful, but they have heard all the stories about "I forgot my papers" before and will likely be very skeptical of your explanation.

Stay Healthy While You Travel to Germany

Sanitary and medical facilities in Germany are very good. The phone book lists telephone numbers for various medical services, many hotlines and services exist that are open during "off hours". The emergency ambulance (for serious accidents and so on) can be reached via the telephone number 112 (the fire brigade). Health care in Germany is a complicated issue, with several types of mandatory public and private health insurances involved. You may wish to check with your insurance about their co-operation with German health insurance companies.

Tap water is usually safe for consumption, you may wish to employ caution with public sources of water (restrooms et cetera) but even these should not be harmful. Exceptions will be labeled ("Kein Trinkwasser", no drinking water).

Many lakes and rivers, as well as both the North Sea and Baltic Sea are generally safe for swimming. This depends on the locale, however. And while there may be no life-threatening pollutants in most bodies of water, you would do very well to inform yourself about local regulations. Finally, if you intend to visit the North Sea, you should inform yourselves about the tide schedules. Getting caught in a tide can be fatal. There are no tides in the Baltic Sea.

Finally, while there is really no dangerous wildlife in Germany, you should be aware of rabies (Tollwut) which has been a problem in some areas in the past. If you want to go to Germany for hiking or camping, you should inform yourself about the situation at your destination and take appropriate precautions. Normally, you won't have to worry about it however. You usually need a permit to camp or make a campfire and German authorities can be quite strict about this.

Respect

There are no real taboos in Germany that don't apply in other western countries. Drinking in public is frowned upon, for those so inclined, but no punishment will ensue (if you become aggressive, that's another matter of course). On German beaches, it's usually okay for women to bathe topless, however full nudity is uncommon and frowned upon - especially for men. Some beaches are specifically reserved for nudists and are labeled "FKK" (Freikörper Kultur, literally free body culture) and in most saunas nudity is compulsory.

Feeding pigeons is prohibited in many cities. It is hard to imagine that you will get fined even if confronted about it by a policeman, but it is entirely possible. You don't feed rats in the street; and likewise, you shouldn't feed pigeons either.

It is important to bear in mind that Germans at first glance seem to be, generally, somewhat less polite than folk in English speaking countries - but it is only the nature of the language: don't be offended by curt remarks, that's simply how you talk in German.

Do not be afraid to approach Germans. They are a very direct and honest people: if they can or want to help you, they will, if not, they will tell you so.

Photography

In Germany it is illegal to film or photograph a person without their permission. The exception are of course crowds or people just happen to stand in front of something else you take a photo of. When in doubt, ask for permission.

Contact

Telephone

The international calling code for Germany is 49, and the prefix for international calls is 00; the area code prefix is 0. Some number blocks are reserved for special use: Number starting with 010 let you choose a different phone provider (see below), 0130 and 0800 are toll-free numbers, 0180 are service numbers (which may or may not be more expensive than a local call). 0190 and 0800 are prefix numbers for commercial services and often very expensive.

Germany has a highly advanced communications network; coverage for mobile phone is generally good unless you go into really outlaying areas between small villages. The vast majority of Germans own mobile phones; the disadvantage of this is that the once-common phone booths have started to disappear except at "strategical" locations such as train stations. If you stay for an extended period of time, consider buying a prepaid phone card from one of the mobile phone companies; you won't have trouble finding a Telekom, Vodafone, E-Plus or O2 store in any major shopping area. Mobile telephony is still comparatively expensive in Germany, depending on your contract you may be charged about €0.10 to €0.50 per minute (and more for international calls).

Since the liberalization of Germany's phone market, there is a multitude of phone providers on the market. If you're calling from a private fixed line, you can usually choose from the different providers (and thus from different pricing schemes) by using special prefix numbers (starting with 010-). There's a calculator on the net where you can compare the prices for different destinations. Hotels usually have contracts with a particular phone provider and won't let you use a different one.

Alternatively, you can also buy prepaid phone cards you can use by calling a toll free number; this is especially a good deal if you intend to make international calls. Cards' quality and prices vary wildly, however, so a good recommendation cannot be made.

Recently, phone shops have sprung up in the major cities, where you can make international calls at cheap rates.

Internet

Internet cafes are common, but usually small, local businesses. You probably won't have a problem finding at least one in even smaller towns or large villages. Phone shops will often offer internet access, too.

Most hotels offer internet access, but this usually takes the form of dialup lines. You should also be aware that many hotels have a contract with Deutsche Telekom which includes the blacklisting of call-by-call numbers. Inquire at your hotel before booking if this matter is important to you.

In several cities, projects exist to provide free "community" hotspots for wireless networking. Passenger lounges at some airports and central railway stations also provide internet access to their customers.

Postal Service

The German postal service is reliable, if still suffering a little from being a state-owned company. Recently privatized, parts of their work force can be testing the patience of the customers at time. Inquire for the rates to your destination country at the local post office. Air mail (Luftpost) doesn't really make sense if you want to send anything to a destination in the European Union. If you want to send packages, there are two options - Päckchen is a small packet. It's cheaper, but includes no insurance and no option for the postal service to track them, so choose wisely. Packets do not usually get lost, but it can happen.

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