Overview

'Fast cars and fairytale castles'

Through the turmoil of the twentieth century, Germany has emerged as a powerful, confident nation and, with the memory of the wall that divided Berlin into east and west still fresh in the national consciousness, continues to be the driving force towards greater European integration.

The German people enjoy a reputation for accuracy, precision and efficiency – words often used to describe their excellent cars – although an equally enduring image is of lederhosen-clad Bavarians hoisting beer steins at Munich’s famous Oktoberfest. Neither of these stereotypes reflects the diversity of Germany’s towns and cities, though. From romantic Heidelberg, the medieval Nuremberg of Dürer and the Weimar of Goethe and the Bauhaus, to the lively port cities of Bremen and Hamburg, the financial centre of Frankfurt and revitalised cities of the former east like Dresden. Overshadowing them all is the cosmopolitan decadence of Berlin, where bureaucrats of the new capital rub shoulders with artists and techno club-goers.

The German landscape is similarly varied. In the south, the Alps attract ski-lovers in winter and hiking enthusiasts in summer, who come to explore the scenic lakes and atmospheric castles here and in the Black Forest. Watersports are another summer pastime, and in the north, the island of Rugen with its majestic white cliffs and coastal towns like Wilhelmshaven offer terrific facilities for adventures on the North Sea.

Sylvia Huber


General

Area: 357,021 sq km (137,847 sq miles).
Population: 82,057,379 (1997).
Population Density: 229.8 per sq km.
Capital: Berlin. Population: 3,446,600 (1997).

Geography: The Federal Republic of Germany shares frontiers with Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. The northwest of the country has a coastline on the North Sea with islands known for their health resorts, while the Baltic coastline in the northeast stretches from the Danish to the Polish border. The country is divided into 16 states (Bundesländer) including the formerly divided city of Berlin. The landscape is exceedingly varied, with the Rhine, Bavaria and the Black Forest being probably the three most famous features of western Germany. In eastern Germany the country is lake-studded with undulating lowlands which give way to the hills and mountains of the Lausitzer Bergland, the Saxon Hills in the Elbe Valley and the Erzgebirge, whilst the once divided areas of the Thuringian and Harz ranges in the central part of the country are now whole regions again. River basins extend over a large percentage of the eastern part of Germany, the most important being the Elbe, Saale, Havel, Spree and Oder. Northern Germany includes the states of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania and the city states of Bremen and Hamburg. The western area of the country consists of the Rhineland, the industrial sprawl of the Ruhr, Westphalia (Westfalen), Hesse (Hessen), the Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz) and the Saarland. In the southern area of the country are the two largest states, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria (Bayern), which contain the Black Forest (Schwarzwald), Lake Constance (Bodensee) and the Bavarian Alps. Munich (München), Stuttgart and Nuremberg (Nürnberg) are the major cities. The eastern part of the country is made up of the states of Thuringia, Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin. The major cities in eastern Germany are Dresden, Leipzig, Erfurt, Halle, Potsdam, Schwerin and Rostock. Apart from Leipzig and Rostock these are also all recently reconstituted state-capitals.

Government: Federal Republic. Head of State: President Johannes Rau since 1999. Head of Government: Chancellor Gerhard Schröder since 1998.

Language: German. English is widely spoken and French is also spoken, particularly in the Saarland. In the north of Schleswig-Holstein, Danish is spoken by the Danish minority and taught in schools. In Brandenburg and Saxony, Sorbic is spoken by the ethnic minority called the Sorbs and is also taught in about 50 schools. Regional dialects often differ markedly from standard German.

Religion: Approximately 34% Protestant, 33% Roman Catholic with Jewish, Muslim and other non-Christian minorities.

Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style round 2-pin plugs are in use. Lamp fittings are screw type.

Communications:  

Telephone: Full IDD is available. Country code: 49. Outgoing international code: 00. National and international calls can be made from coin- or card-operated telephone booths. Calls can be made from post offices. Cheap rate applies Mon-Fri 1800-0800 and all day Saturday and Sunday. Discount phonecards from private companies can be bought from shops and kiosks.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 and 1800 networks cover the whole country. It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving.

Fax: Facilities are increasingly available in eastern Germany.

Internet/E-mail: There are many cybercafés all over the country. Large Internet access centres are opening in main cities. Hotels also provide facilities. ISPs include Data Online (website: www.d-online.com).

Telegram: These can be sent during opening hours from all post offices.

Post: Stamps are available from hotels, slot machines and post offices. A 5-figure postal code is used on all internal addresses. Poste Restante mail should be addressed as follows: recipient’s name, Postlagernd, Hauptpostamt, post code, name of town. Post office hours: 0900-1800 Monday to Friday and 0900-1200 Saturday. Smaller branches may close for lunch.

Press: The most influential dailies include the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Welt and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The most widely read of the weekly publications are Der Spiegel and Die Zeit. Some new or revamped newspapers, such as Berliner Kurier, have emerged out of eastern Germany and are competing well with western German papers. Most major English newspapers and international magazines are also available in Germany.
 

Passport/Visa

Note: Germany is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement. For further details about passport/visa regulations within the Schengen area see the introductory section How to Use this Guide.

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond length of stay required by all except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card;
(b) holders of national ID cards issued to nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland.

VISAS: Required by all except the following for periods not exceeding 3 months:
(a) nationals referred to in the chart and those referred to under passport exemptions above;
(b) nationals of American Samoa, Andorra, Argentina, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Chile, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Israel, Korea (Rep. of), Latvia, Lithuania, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela and US Virgin Islands for stays of up to 3 months;
(c) passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft, provided holding confirmed onward tickets and travel documents. However, certain nationals always need a visa even if transiting by the same aircraft; please check with the Embassy (or Consular section at Embassy).

Note*: A transit visa is not required by some nationals if in possession of a residence permit or visa for an EU country.

Types of visa and cost: A uniform type of visa, the Schengen visa, is issued for tourist, business and private visits. Short-stay: £14.00 for 1-30 days and £24.00 for 31-90 days (single-entry); £34.00 for1 year. Transit: £7.00 (single- and multiple-entry). Fees may vary according to exchange rates.

Note: Spouses and children of EU nationals (providing spouse’s passport and the original marriage certificate is produced), and nationals of some other countries, receive their visas free of charge (enquire at Embassy for details).

Validity: Short-stay (single- and multiple-entry): valid for 6 months from date of issue for stays of maximum 90 days per entry or for 1 year from date of entry for stays of maximum 90 days in one half-year. Transit (single- and multiple-entry): valid for a maximum of 5 days per entry, including the day of arrival. Visas cannot be extended and a new application must be made each time.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see address section. Travellers visiting just one Schengen country should apply to the Consulate of that country; travellers visiting more than one Schengen country should apply to the Consulate of the country chosen as the main destination or the country they will enter first (if they have no main destination).

Application requirements: Tourism: (a) Passport with at least 3 months validity beyond period of visa, with one blank page to affix visa stamp. (b) Application form(s); number dependent on nationality of applicant. (c) Photo(s); number dependent on nationality of applicant. (d) Proof of adequate means of support during stay (at least £20.00 per day). (e) Proof of medical insurance. (f) Proof of purpose of visit and/or a hotel reservation and/or a return ticket. (g) Fee (payable in cash or by postal order). (h) Letter from employer or place of study. (i) Self-addressed, special delivery envelope (if passport is not to be collected in person). Applicants under 18 years of age must submit a letter from their place of study or legal guardian.
Business: (a)-(i) and, (j) Letter from employer; if self-employed a letter from a solicitor, accountant, bank manager or local Chamber of Commerce.

Working days required: For UK residents applying in the UK, visas will normally be issued within 2 days; however, applications from some nationals can take up to 8 days to process. If the stay is likely to be for more than 3 months, applications should be made at least 10 weeks in advance of the intended date of departure. Visa applications by non-residents have to be referred to the German Embassy in the applicant’s home country, and may take several days or weeks to be issued.

Temporary residence: Nationals of EU and EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and nationals of the USA may apply for a permit from the local immigration office in Germany, no later than 3 months after entry. For further details on temporary residence in Germany, enquire at the Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy).

Work permits: EU nationals do not need a visa or a work permit to work in Germany. A residence permit must, however, be obtained for stays of over 3 months (see above). Non-EU nationals must obtain a visa/residence permit before entering Germany. There are special regulations for nationals of EU countries, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the USA. An information sheet, Residence and Work in Germany, is obtainable from the German Embassy (see address section).

Money

Currency: EURO

Single European currency (Euro): The Euro is now the official currency of 12 EU member states (including Germany), although it is currently only used as ‘written money’ (cheques, bank transactions, credit cards, etc). The first Euro coins and notes will be introduced in January 2002; the German Deutschmark will still be in circulation until December 31 2001, but in line with the 'Joint Declaration' the use of Deutschmark notes and coins is permitted until February 28 2002, when it will be completely replaced by the Euro. 1 Euro = DM1.95583.
Currency exchange: Foreign currencies and travellers cheques can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change, post offices, airports, railway stations, ports and major hotels at the official exchange rates.

Credit & debit cards: These are accepted in approximately 60% of all shops, petrol stations, restaurants and hotels. Nationals of other Western European countries, Canada and the USA will find less credit card availability than they are used to in their own countries and it is advisable to carry cash, Eurocheques or a Eurocheque card as well. All major credit cards are accepted. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Eurocheques: are accepted up to a value of DM400. They can be exchanged in building societies, banks and post offices.
Note: As from the end of 2001, Eurocheques will cease to be guaranteed and can no longer be accepted for encashments. However, they may still be useable for payments without the guarantee in certain places.

Travellers cheques: Generally provide the best rate of exchange. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.


Banking hours: Generally Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri 0830-1300 and 1430-1600; Thurs 0830-1300 and 1430-1800 in main cities. Main branches do not close for lunch.

Health

1: Tap water is considered safe to drink. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.
Rabies is present; look out for ‘Tollwut’ signs. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health appendix. Tick-borne encephalitis is present in forested areas of southern Germany. Vaccination is advisable.

Health care: There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK. On presentation of the form E111 (obtainable from post offices in the UK), UK citizens are entitled to free medical and dental treatment. Prescribed medicines may, in some cases, have to be paid for. The cost of treatment in public hospitals (on referral from a doctor, unless in emergencies) is covered by the public health authorities, except for a small daily charge from the start of hospital treatment up to a maximum of 14 days. Private insurance is recommended for specialist medical treatment outside the German National Health Service, which can be very expensive. Surgery hours are generally 1000-1200 and 1600-1800 (not Wednesday afternoon, Saturday or Sunday). The emergency telephone number is 112; additionally, there is an emergency call-out service out of surgery hours (1800-0700). Chemists are open 0900-1800 Monday to Friday and 0900-1200 Saturday. All chemists give alternative addresses of services available outside the normal opening hours. There are 350 officially recognised medical spas and watering places with modern equipment providing therapeutic treatment and recreational facilities for visitors seeking rest and relaxation. A list of the spas and health resorts and various treatments can be ordered from the German National Tourist Office, or directly from Deutscher Heilbäderverband e.V. (German Spas Association), Schumannstrasse 111, 53113 Bonn (tel: (228) 201 200; fax: (228) 201 2041).
 

Travel - International

AIR: The national airline is Lufthansa (LH). Many other airlines serve the country, including an increasing number of low-cost airlines (such as Go, Buzz and Ryanair) operating from the UK.

Approximate flight times: From London to Hamburg, Bremen or Hannover is 1 hour 20 minutes; to Cologne/Bonn is 1 hour 10 minutes; to Frankfurt/M is 1 hour 25 minutes; to Nuremberg is 2 hours 30 minutes (with one stop); and to Munich is 1 hour 40 minutes. From Los Angeles to Frankfurt/M is 14 hours 50 minutes, from New York is 8 hours 20 minutes, from Singapore is 14 hours 5 minutes and from Sydney is 24 hours 55 minutes.

International airports: Berlin-Tegel (TXL) (Otto Lilienthal) (website: www.berlin-airport.de/bbf/txl) is located 8km (5 miles) northwest of the city (travel time – 20 minutes). Bus nos. 109 and X9 go to the city every 5-10 minutes from 0500-2400; return is from Bahnhof Zoo, Budapester Strasse, Charlottenburg station or Kurfürstendamm underground station. Airport facilities include duty-free shop, banks/bureaux de change, left luggage (0530-2200), 24-hour medical facilities, post office (Mon-Fri 0630-2100), restaurant (0600-2200), bars (0600-2300), snack bar (0515-2300), shops, tourist information, conference rooms, hotel reservation and car hire.
Berlin-Schönefeld (SXF) (website: www.berlin-airport.de/bbf/sxf) is 20km (12 miles) southeast of the city (travel time – 1 hour). The AirportExpress train departs for the city centre every 30 minutes (0430-2300). S-Bahn no. S9 departs to the city (to Westkreuz) via Alexanderplatz and Bahnhof Zoo; S45 (every 20 minutes, to Westend). Further connections with the regional train services R1, R2 and R12 are available at the same tariff as the S-Bahn. Bus no. 171 runs between U-Bahn Station Rudow (Line 7) and the airport. 24-hour taxi service is available to the city. Airport facilities include duty-free shop, banks/bureaux de change, post office (Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat 0800-1200), restaurant (Mon-Fri 0730-2200, Sat and Sun 0600-2200), 24-hour left luggage, medical facilities (0600-2200), 24-hour nursery, 24-hour snack bar, 24-hour hotel reservation, 24-hour tourist information and car hire. A main line railway station is a 10-minute walk from the airport; from here connections to major German cities and to Basle, Budapest, Prague and Vienna are possible. A free shuttle bus is available from the airport to the station.
Berlin-Tempelhof (THF) (website: www.berlin-airport.de/bbf/thf) is 6km (4 miles) southeast of the city centre (travel time – 20 minutes). Bus no. 119 departs every 10 minutes to the city. The underground lines 6 and 7 run every 2-10 minutes (travel time – 15 minutes). Taxis are available. Airport facilities include duty-free shop, left luggage (0600-2200), 24-hour medical facilities, banks/bureaux de change, snack bar, other shops and car hire.
Bremen (BRE) (Neuenland) (website: www.airport-bremen.de/) is 3km (2 miles) from the city (travel time – 10 minutes). Tram no. 5 takes approximately 12 minutes to the city centre (main railway station). Services run every 5-15 minutes Monday to Saturday, and every 15-30 minutes Sunday. There is a 24-hour taxi service. Airport facilities include a duty-free shop, bank, bureau de change, conference centre, car hire and hotel reservation.
Cologne (Köln/Bonn) (CGN) (Konrad Adenauer) (website: www.airport-cgn.de/) is 14km (9 miles) southeast of Cologne, and 21km (13 miles) northeast of Bonn (travel time – 25 and 35 minutes respectively). Express bus no. 170 goes to Cologne every 15-30 minutes. Express bus no. 670 goes to Bonn every 20 minutes. Return is from Stadthaltestelle am Hauptbahnhof (bus stop near the main railway station). There is a 24-hour taxi service at the airport. Airport facilities include a duty-free shop, tourist information, conference centre, car hire, restaurant (0630-2000), bar (0600-2300), bank/building society and shops.
Dresden (DRS) (Klotsche) (website: www.dresden-airport.de) is 10km (6 miles) from Dresden (travel time – 25 minutes). Daily bus services are available to the city. Airport facilities include left luggage, bank/bureau de change, car hire, bars, restaurants, shops and tourist information.
Düsseldorf (DUS) (Lohausen) (website: www.dusseldorf-airport.de) is 8km (5 miles) north of the city; new terminal opened July 2001. Trains depart to the city every 20 minutes (the airport station is under the arrival hall). Return is from Hauptbahnhof (main railway station) every 30 minutes. An S-Bahn connection (S7) every 20-30 minutes and bus no. 727 are available as well. Taxis run a 24-hour service to Düsseldorf. Airport facilities include a duty-free shop (0430-2130), bank (0630-2130), medical facilities, post office (Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat 0800-1200), restaurant (0600-2359), bars, snack bar (0430-2130), tourist information, car hire and conference rooms.
Frankfurt/M (FRA) (Rhein/Main) (website: www.frankfurt-airport.de) is 9km (6 miles) southwest of the city. Travel to and from the city is by buses no. 61 and 62 every 20 minutes, returning from Hauptbahnhof (main station). Line S8 goes to the city (the station is underneath the arrival hall). S-Bahn S8 also goes directly to Mainz and Wiesbaden (travel time – 40 minutes). There is a 24-hour taxi service to Frankfurt. The airport has its own InterCity train station which also offers international services (Switzerland, Austria and Hungary). The Lufthansa Courtesy Airport Bus connects with Mannheim (travel time – 1 hour), Heidelberg (travel time – 1 hour) and Talheim (travel time – 2 hours). Japan Airlines also operates a bus service, to Düsseldorf (travel time 2 hours 30 minutes). Long-distance bus services from the airport include the T271 to Ostrava in the Czech Republic (travel time 4 hours) and the CHECK LINE bus to Strasbourg in France (travel time–3 hours). Airport facilities include left luggage, 24-hour medical facilities, duty-free shops, banks, restaurants, bars, snack bars, shops, Airport Conference Centre (23 conference rooms), post office (0600-2200), tourist information and car hire.
Hamburg (HAM) (Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel) (website: www.ham.airport.de) is 9km (5 miles) north of the city centre (travel time – 25 minutes). Coaches go to the city every 20 minutes, returning from Zentral Omnibus Bahnhof Kirchenallee. The Airport City Line bus runs every 20 minutes to the railway station from 0500-2300. Express bus no. 110 runs every 10 minutes to Ohlsdorf station (travel time – 9 minutes). A taxi service is available. Airport facilities include duty-free shop, banks (0600-2200), shops, restaurants (0530-2200), snack bar, post office, tourist information and car hire.
Hannover (HAJ) (Langenhagen) (website: www.flughafen.hannover.de/) is 11km (7 miles) north of the city (travel time – 30 minutes). Express bus no. 60 goes to the city every 20-30 minutes, returning from the city air terminal at the main railway station (Ernst-August-Platz). A 24-hour taxi service runs to Hannover. Airport facilities include a duty-free shop, 24-hour luggage lockers, 24-hour medical facilities, banks/bureau de change (0630-2100 Mon-Fri, 0900-1730 Sat-Sun), bars (0600-1900), snack bar, post office, restaurants, tourist information and car hire.
Leipzig/Halle (LEJ) (website: www.leipzig-halle-airport.de) is 12km (7 miles) northwest of the city (travel time – 30 minutes). Coaches depart to the city. Return is from the main railway station and major hotels. 24-hour taxi services are available to the city. Airport facilities include duty-free shop, conference centre, bank (0800-2000), post office (Mon-Fri 0600-2200, Sat and Sun 0600-2000), snack bar (0600-2200), medical facilities (0600-2230), tourist information and restaurant (0700-2100).
Munich (MUC) (Franz Joseph Strauss) (website: www.munich-airport.de) is 28.5km (18 miles) northeast of the city (travel time – 38 minutes). Direct link with the S-Bahn S8 runs every 20 minutes from Hauptbahnhof (main station) (0313-0042; return 0355-0115). The Airport City Bus runs every 20 minutes from 0650-1930 to the Hauptbahnhof and every 30 minutes from 0755-2055; further bus services are available. Coach Oberbayern runs every 10 minutes to the city centre. Airport facilities include duty-free shop, 24-hour left luggage, 24-hour medical facilities, snack bar, restaurants, post office, banks, conference centre, car hire and bars. The airport also has a Visitors' Park. Attractions include Dimension M (interactive information centre), Viewing Hill (a vantage point to view airport activity), a display of historical aircraft, an aircraft simulator movie theatre, play area and restaurant.
Münster-Osnabrück (FMO) (website: www.flughafen-fmo.de) is 25km (16 miles) from the city. Buses go to Münster (travel time – 30 minutes) and Osnabrück (travel time – 35 minutes). Taxis take 40 minutes. Airport facilities include a duty-free shop.
Nuremberg (NUE) (website: www.flughafen-nuernberg.de/) is 7km (4 miles) north of the city centre. The Airport Express runs every 30 minutes to the Hauptbahnhof 0500-2330. There is a 24-hour taxi service. Bus no. 32 goes to Thon with interchanging bus no. 30 to Erlangen (travel time – 20 minutes) as well as trams no. 4 and 9. Taxis are available. Airport facilities include a duty-free shop, 24-hour luggage lockers, business centre, 24-hour medical facilities, bars (0500-2000), snack bar (0430-2000), post office (Mon-Fri 0630-1730, Sat 0630-1200), restaurants (1100-2300) and car hire.
Saarbrücken (SCN) (Ensheim) (website: www.flughafen-saarbrueken.de) is 16km (10 miles) from the city centre. There is an hourly bus service to the city and taxis are also available.
Stuttgart (STR) (Echterdingen) (website: www.stuttgart.airport.de) is 14km (9 miles) south of the city (travel time – 35 minutes). Express bus connection (Line A) goes direct to the main station every 20 minutes. Return is from the city Air Terminal. An S-Bahn link (lines S2 and S3) is available with trains running at 10-minute intervals. Bus nos. 33, 7600 and 7556 also connect with the city. There is a 24-hour taxi service to Stuttgart. Airport facilities include duty-free shops (0430-2359), 24-hour luggage lockers, conference centre, 24-hour medical facilities, bank/bureau de change (0730-2100), bars (0530-2359), post office, restaurant (0530-2300) and car hire.

SEA: The following shipping lines serve routes to Germany from the UK:
DFDS Seaways: Harwich–Hamburg.
Stena Line: Harwich–Hook of Holland.
P&O Stena Line: Dover–Calais.
P&O European Ferries: Portsmouth–Le Havre, Portsmouth–Cherbourg.
P&O North Sea Ferries: Hull–Rotterdam, Hull–Zeebrugge.
Hoverspeed: Dover–Calais, Newhaven–Dieppe, Dover–Ostend.
Ferry connections also exist from Germany to The Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the Russian Federation, Latvia and Lithuania.

RAIL: Train/ferry routes from London are from London Victoria via Dover and Ostend, or London Liverpool Street to Hook of Holland via Harwich. Travel time to Cologne/Bonn is around 10 hours.

The channel tunnel: Eurostar is a service provided by the railways of Belgium, the UK and France, operating direct high-speed trains from London (Waterloo International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and to Brussels (Midi/Zuid). There is now a through railway fare to Cologne (£89 return) by Eurostar to Brussels with a connecting train to Cologne. The ticket, available from the German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) is only issued if the trip to Germany includes a Saturday night. For further information and reservations contact Eurostar (tel: (01233) 617 599 (travel agents) or (08705) 186 186 (public; within the UK) or (01233) 617 575 (public; outside the UK); website: www.eurostar.com). Travel agents can obtain refunds for unused tickets from Eurostar Trade Refunds, 2nd Floor, Kent House, 81 Station Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PD. Complaints and comments may be sent to Eurostar Waterloo Station, London SE1 8SE (tel: (020) 7928 5163). General enquiries and information requests must be made by telephone. There are excellent connections between the Federal Republic of Germany and other main European cities. In 1998, Deutsche Bahn extended their international network eastwards and it now connects with 13 European countries, including Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia. For more information, contact Deutsche Bahn in the UK at Passenger Services, UK Booking Centre, PO Box 687A, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 6UB (tel: (0870) 243 5363; fax: (020) 8339 4700; e-mail: sales@deutsche-bahn.co.uk; website: www.bahn.de). A number of scenic rail journeys begin in Germany and go to Austria or Switzerland, such as the routes through the Black Forest: Frankfurt/M–Offenburg–Singen–Schaffhausen and Würzburg–Zürich.

ROAD: Germany is connected to all surrounding countries by a first-class network of motorways and trunk roads. For regular coach services from the UK to Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt/M, Dortmund, Hannover, Munich and other destinations in the Federal Republic of Germany contact: Eurolines (tel: (020) 7730 8235 or (01582) 404 511; fax: (01582) 400 694). Agents in the UK are National Express (tel: (08705) 80 80 80 or 08701 595959 (holiday reservations); fax: (121) 456 1397; website: www.nationalexpress.co.uk); or Transline (tel: (01375) 396 677; fax: (01375) 394 488; e-mail: coaches@harris-travel.com; website: www.translineuk.com).
In every major city there are Mitfahrerzentralen (car sharing agencies, see Yellow Pages) which offer shared car travelling to all European cities on the basis of shared costs; an agency fee is charged. See Travel - Internal section for information on documentation and traffic regulations.


Travel - Internal

AIR: Internal services are operated by Lufthansa and several regional airlines. Frankfurt/M is the focal point of internal air services and all airports in the Federal Republic of Germany can be reached in an average of 50 minutes flying time. There are several airports in the country apart from those listed above which offer internal air services. Helgoland, Sylt and some other Friesian Islands are served by seasonal services operated by regional airlines or air taxi services. Connections by air are run daily from Berlin, Bremen, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/M, Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and Westerland/Sylt (summer only). The majority of western airports offer daily flights to Leipzig and several flights a week to Dresden.

SEA/RIVER: Regular scheduled boat services operate on most rivers, lakes and coastal waters, including the Danube, Main, Moselle, Rhine, Neckar and the Weser, and also on Ammer See, Chiemsee, Königssee and Lake Constance. Ferry services are operated on Kiel Fjord and from Cuxhaven to Helgoland and to the East and North Friesian Islands as well as to Scandinavian destinations. Besides these scheduled services, special excursions are available on all navigable waters. The KD German Rhine Line covers the Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers, and has comfortable ships which operate daily from April to late October. Tours with entertainment on board and excursions are arranged as well as cruises between The Netherlands and Switzerland and on the Moselle. In conjunction with the ‘White Fleet’ Dresden, the KD also organises cabin cruises on the Elbe between Dresden and Hamburg. The ‘White Fleet’ offers 30 scheduled services and short trips around Berlin. Further routes include the rivers Saale and Elbe, several lakes and the Mecklenburger Lake District. Hapag-Lloyd operates cruises of 7-21 days from Bremerhaven, Hamburg and Kiel in summer. Lake Constance (Europe’s third-largest inland lake) is served by regular steamers, pleasure boats and car ferries between the German, Swiss and Austrian shores. The Bodensee Pass gives 50% reductions to visitors throughout the Lake Constance area. This includes scheduled ferry services offered by the German, Swiss and Austrian railways as well as some bus, local train and mountain railway routes. The pass is valid for either 7 or 15 days. Children up to 6 years of age travel free. In addition to the pass, there is a Family Ticket which is available free of charge and allows children between 6-16 years of age free travel; unmarried young persons between 16-26 years of age pay half. In both cases they have to be accompanied by a parent. The Family Ticket is only valid on boats together with the Bodensee Pass.

RAIL: Several InterCity and ICE connections are on offer running every 1-2 hours on the following routes: Berlin–Frankfurt/M–Karlsruhe, Berlin–Cologne–Basel, Munich–Frankfurt/M–Berlin and Hamburg–Berlin–Dresden with direct links to Prague. The ICE-Business-Sprinter runs non-stop on the following routes: Frankfurt/M–Hannover, Wiesbaden–Hannover, Frankfurt/M–Hamburg, Wiesbaden–Hamburg, Mannheim–Hamburg, Karlsruhe–Hamburg and Frankfurt/M–Munich. Seats on these services have to be booked in advance; yearly ticket holders can use the Sprinters without surcharge. Generally, reservations are advised on all services. Children under 6 years of age travel free of charge; those aged 6-11 pay half fare; young people aged 12-26 pay 75% of the standard fare. For latest information leaflets, contact German Rail in the UK (see Travel – International section).
German National Railways (Deutsche Bahn) operates some 32,684 passenger trains each day over a 40,800km (25,500-mile) network and many international through services. Work on the 3200km (2000-mile) fast-train network has already started and should be completed by 2010. The network does not radiate around the capital as the federal structure provides an integrated system to serve the many regional centres. InterCity Express, InterCity, EuroCity and InterRegio departure and arrival times are co-ordinated with each other. More than 50 cities, including Berlin, Leipzig, Erfurt and Dresden, are served hourly by InterCity trains - and increasingly by InterCity Express trains; regional centres are connected every two hours (west Germany), or every 2-4 hours in the eastern part of the country, through the InterRegio system. Details of up-to-date prices, and where tickets can be bought, are available from German Rail or the Tourist Office.
Deutsche Bahn and Lufthansa introduced an innovative project from March 2001 aimed at replacing internal German flights with more environmentally friendly rail transport. For travellers using Frankfurt airport wanting to transfer to or from Stuttgart, train and flight timetables will be coordinated, one ticket will cover the whole journey and check in/check out will take place at Stuttgart station. Boarding the train with just hand luggage, the travellers can pick up their suitcases at the flight destination or Stuttgart station. This offer is currently available for every airport Lufthansa flies to from Frankfurt (except tel Aviv).
With a railway network as complex, modern and sophisticated as that in the western part of the Federal Republic of Germany, it is obviously impossible to give all the details of the main routes, facilities, timetables, fares and reductions which are available. The following section gives brief descriptions of the major special fares and tickets which are currently on offer. Some of these can only be obtained in Germany. Other new schemes, or modifications to existing ones, may be introduced in the future.
The introduction of the new high-speed InterCity Express, travelling at 280kph (175mph), reduced travel times between the major centres immensely. The service is operating hourly only on some connections at the moment, but this number is increasing; a supplement is payable. The extensive InterCity network (300 trains per day) connects the major centres at hourly intervals, and ensures swift interchange between trains. A supplement is charged for first- or second-class on InterCity and EuroCity trains. Smaller towns are linked by the 26 InterRegio lines at 2-hour intervals. Supplementing the system of these longer-distance trains are several commuter networks in larger cities.

Facilities and services: Buffet cars with some seating for light refreshments and drinks are provided on InterRegio (IR) trains. Most InterCity and EuroCity trains carry a 48-seat restaurant, offering a menu and drinks throughout the journey. The newer generation InterCity Express trains combine both of the above-mentioned facilities, offering a selection of snacks and menu in their restaurant cars. First-class passengers are provided with ‘at-your-seat’ service. The InterCity Express also provides a service car with conference compartment, card telephones and fully equipped office (photocopier, fax, etc). LuggageSleeping cars: Many have showers, and air-conditioning is provided on most long-distance overnight trains. Beds can be booked in advance. Some trains provide couchettes instead. Sleeping-car attendants serve refreshments. Seat reservations should be made for all long-distance trains well in advance. When reserving a seat on InterCity, EuroCity and InterCity Express trains, specify Grossraumwagen, which is a carriage with adjustable seats and without compartments, or Abteilwagen, which is made up of compartments. Bicycle hire: At approximately 260 stations in areas suited for cycle tours, the DB operates a bicycle hire service (ticket holders have special reduced rates). Mountain railways: Cable cars, chairlifts or cogwheel railways serve all popular mountain sites.

Rail passes: The following is a selection of rail passes available on German railways. Details may change and travellers are advised to check with Deutsche Bahn. Some passes can only be purchased outside Germany (see Note below).

Saverticket: Available for a return journey on one weekend or within one month.

Supersaverticket: Available for a return journey on a Saturday or within one month (not valid Friday, Sunday and during peak days).

TWENTICKET: Available for second-class single or return journeys for regional and long-distance travel between the ages of 12 and 25. The ticket gives up to 20% discount on the regular fare.

Happy Weekend Ticket: Available for up to five persons travelling together at a weekend, from Sat-Mon (0200).

Euro Domino: These tickets enable holders to make flexible travel arrangements and are valid in 27 European countries including the ferry service from Brindisi (Italy) to Igoumenitsa (Greece). They have to be bought in the country of residence for which a valid passport or other form of ID has to be shown. First- and second-class tickets are available for travellers over 26 years of age; for passengers under 26, only second-class is available (at £94 for 4 days, £102 for 5 days and £126 for 8 days). The tickets for travellers over 26 years of age are also valid for any 3 (at £186 first-class, £126 second-class), 5 (at £201 first-class, £138 second-class) or 8 days (at £247 first-class, £172 second-class) within a month. They also entitle holders to a discount of 25% on rail travel in the country of origin or in all countries which comply with the system. Discounted Euro Domino tickets are on offer for persons under 26 years of age. Children between 6-11 years get a 50% discount, children under six travel free. The German variety of the ED-ticket is valid on the complete network of the DB; all InterCity trains, including the InterCity Express, can be used without paying a supplement. Motorail is exempt. Where seat reservation is required, a reduced fee is charged; the usual rates apply for couchette and sleeping-cars.

Inter: -Rail: Available to all, but for those aged over 26, tickets are approximately 40% more expensive. Four different tickets are available. Europe is split into eight zones (A-H) and the pass is valid for an unlimited number of train journeys in the zones chosen, which now include Bulgaria, Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Romania. The Global Pass is valid for one month in all eight zones (32 countries, including Morocco, Turkey and the ferry connection Brindisi–Patras, £324 adult). Other tickets cover just one zone (2-7 countries, 15 days validity, £184 adult), two zones (6-10 countries, one month validity, £242 adult) and three zones (9-15 countries, one month validity, £274 adult). Reductions of 50% are offered in the country of residence for travel to the border and back as well as transit journeys. The Inter-Rail ticket is only available for second-class travel and does not include the use of certain services such as the X2000 in Sweden, the Pendolino in Italy or the AVE in Spain.

BahnCard: The BahnCard ticket offers half-price rail travel with a choice of first- or second-class travel and is valid for one year. It costs £180 for first class or £90 for second class. In addition, there are reduced versions for married couples, families, senior citizens, young people and children.

Euro-Mini-Group: A return ticket for groups of 2-6 people with at least one person under 16 years of age and one adult among them. The first adult pays the full fare, while all others pay 50 per cent; children pay just 25 per cent.

Good Evening Ticket: This ticket is available only in Germany. It offers travel on nearly all routes within Germany for a flat fare between 1900-0300 daily except Christmas, Easter and other major travelling dates. The ticket has to be bought at the station of departure.

Motorail: The German Railway has a fully integrated motorail network, connecting with the rest of the European motorail network. Trains run mostly during the summer and at other holiday periods; most have sleeper, couchette and restaurant/buffet cars (for details see the website: www.dbautozug.de).

Note: There are certain discount rail passes that can only be purchased outside Germany. The following rail passes can only be purchased through German Rail offices and travel agencies outside Europe: German Railpass (valid for 5, 10 or 15 days for either first- or second-class travel); German Rail Youthpass (second-class travel for travellers under 26 years of age); and German Rail Twinpass (for two persons travelling together, first- or second-class, for 5, 10 or 15 days).

ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. The western part of the Federal Republic of Germany is covered by a modern network of motorways (Autobahnen) extending over 10,500km (6563 miles). There are over 487,000km (303,000 miles) of roads in all, and every part of the country can be reached by motorists. Use of the network is free at present, but the introduction of a road toll is being discussed. Lead-free petrol is obtainable everywhere. The breakdown service of the German Automobile Association (ADAC) is available throughout the country, though in the eastern part of the country, the Auto Club Europa (ACE) and the Allgemeiner Deutscher Motorsportverband (ADMV) also provide a service. Help is given free of charge to members of affiliated motoring organisations, such as the AA, and only parts have to be paid for. Breakdown services, including a helicopter rescue service, are operated by the ADAC. In the event of a breakdown, use emergency telephones located along the motorway. When using these telephones ask expressly for road service assistance (‘Strassenwachthilfe’). In almost all cases, the number to dial for emergency services is 110; if in doubt dial the fire brigade, 112.

Note: Although motorways in eastern Germany are of a reasonable standard, many secondary roads are still being improved to match West German standards. Bus: Buses serve villages and small towns, especially those without railway stations. Operated by the Post, German Railways or private firms, they only tend to run between or to small places and there are few long-distance services. Europabus/Deutsche Touring runs services on special scenic routes such as the Romantic Road (Wiesbaden/Frankfurt to Munich/Füssen) and the Castle Road between Mannheim/Heidelberg to Rothenburg and Nuremberg.

Taxi: These are available everywhere. Watch out for waiting-period charges and surcharges. All taxis are metered.

Car hire: Self-drive cars are available at most towns and at over 40 railway stations. Chauffeur-driven cars are available in all large towns. Rates depend on the type of car. Some firms offer weekly rates including unlimited mileage. VAT at 16% is payable on all rental charges. On request, cars will be supplied at airports, stations and hotels.
Several airlines, including Lufthansa, offer ‘Fly-drive’. Contact the National Tourist Office for details.

Motoring organisations: The Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club (ADAC) based in Munich and the Automobilclub von Deutschland (AvD) based in Frankfurt/M have offices at all major frontier crossings and in the larger towns. They will be able to assist foreign motorists, particularly those belonging to affiliated motoring organisations. They also publish maps and guidebooks, which are available at their offices. German Automobile Association (ADAC) operates an emergency service to relay radio messages to motorists. In both winter and summer there are constant radio reports on road conditions and traffic.

Regulations: Traffic signs are international. Speed limits in western Germany are 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas and 100kph (62mph) on all roads outside built-up areas. Motorways (Autobahnen) and dual carriageways have a recommended speed limit of 130kph (81mph). Speed limits in eastern Germany vary according to the condition of the road. Although officially the same as in western Germany since January 1993, some motorways and dual carriageways still carry a 100kph (62mph) speed limit. Children under 12 must travel in a special child seat in the back. Seat belts must be worn in the front and back. All visitors’ cars must display vehicle nationality plates. Fines can be imposed for running out of petrol on a motorway. The warning triangle and a first-aid box are compulsory. The nationwide alcohol limit is 0.5‰. Disabled drivers should be warned that, although Germany is well-organised for disabled travellers, an orange badge as used in the UK will not entitle the disabled motorist to park freely in Germany.

Documentation: Foreign travellers may drive their cars for up to one year if in possession of a national licence or International Driving Permit and car registration papers. Insurance is legally required. EU nationals taking their own cars are strongly advised to obtain a Green Card. Without it, insurance cover is limited to the minimum legal cover; the Green Card tops this up to the level of cover provided by the car owner’s domestic policy.

URBAN: A high standard of public transport services is available in all towns. All urban areas have highly efficient and well established bus services. These are supplemented in a number of larger cities by underground and suburban railway trains. In many towns, block tickets for several journeys can be purchased at reduced rates and unlimited daily travel tickets are available. In many larger cities tickets for a local transport journey have to be purchased from ticket machines before you board the suburban train (S-Bahn), underground (U-Bahn), bus or tram. There are numerous sophisticated vending machines which service all the main boarding points and a wide range of relevant maps and leaflets is available to travellers. Although there is often no conductor on trams and underground trains, inspections are frequent and passengers without valid tickets will be fined on the spot. Timetables and brochures are available at stations.

Berlin: The city’s excellent public transport includes an extensive network of buses, underground and S-Bahn which is supplemented by the regional services of the Deutsche Reichsbahn (lines R1-14). In the eastern part of the city, tram services and the ferries of the Berliner Verkehrs-Betriebe, BVG (Berlin Public Transport), in conjunction with east Berlin’s ‘White Fleet’, provide further services. The underground lines 1 and 9 run a 24-hour service Friday night to Saturday and Saturday night to Sunday. The Berlin-Ticket is valid for 24 hours for unlimited travel on bus, underground, S-Bahn and the BVG ferries. The special BVG-excursion coaches are exempt. Holders of the Combined Day-Ticket enjoy unlimited travel with bus, underground and S-Bahn as well as on the complete ferry network of either organisation. A special Weekly Ticket with a validity of 7 days can only be obtained at Zoo station. Further details are available from the information desks of the BVG.

Note: Pedestrians should be aware that it is an offence to cross a road when the pedestrian crossing lights are red, even if there is no traffic on the road. On-the-spot fines for offenders are common.

(1): The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Berlin to other major cities and towns in the Federal Republic of Germany.

 

(2): The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Bonn to other major cities and towns in the Federal Republic of Germany.

 

[a]: There is a hydrofoil service (not daily) between Cologne and Mainz via Koblenz and Bonn which takes about 3 hours 30 minutes.

[b]: Cologne and Bonn share the same airport; see the Air section in Travel – International for details.

Note: All the above times are average times by the fastest and most direct route, by motorways in the case of road journeys, and by the quickest hydrofoil service for the time by river. The slow boat from Bonn to Cologne, for instance, takes three hours.
 

Climate

Temperate throughout the country with warm summers and cold winters, but prolonged periods of frost or snow are rare. Rain falls throughout the year.

Contact Addresses

Location: Western/Central Europe.

Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus e.V. (DZT)
Beethovenstraße 69, 60325 Frankfurt/M, Federal Republic of Germany
Tel: (69) 974 640. Fax: (69) 751 903. E-mail: gntofra@d-z-t.com
Website: www.germany-tourism.de

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
23 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PZ
Tel: (020) 7824 1300. Fax: (020) 7824 1435.
E-mail: mail@german-embassy.org.uk
Website: www.german-embassy.org.uk
Consular section: (0990) 100 420 (recorded passport information: calls cost 60p per minute) or (0906) 833 1166 (recorded visa information; calls cost 60p per minute). Fax: (020) 7824 1449. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200; 1400-1600 (telephone enquiries only).

Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
16 Eglington Crescent, Edinburgh E12 5DG Tel: (0131) 337 2323. Fax: (0131) 346 1578. E-mail: german-consulate@ukgateway.net. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200.

British Embassy
Wilhelmstraße 70, 10117 Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany
Tel: (30) 204 570. Fax: (30) 204 57 574. E-mail: info@berlin.mail.fco.gov.uk (information department).
Website: www.britischebotschaft.de
Consulates General in: Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/M, Hamburg, Munich and Stuttgart.

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
4645 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20007-1998
Tel: (202) 298 4000. Fax: (202) 298 4249.
Consulates General in: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco.

Embassy of the United States of America
Neustädtische Kirchstraße 4-5, 10117 Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany
Tel: (30) 238 5174. Fax: (30) 238 6290.
Website: www.us-embassy.de
Consulates in: Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/M, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich.

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
1 Waverley Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0T8
Tel: (613) 232 1101. Fax: (613) 594 9330.
E-mail: 100566.2620@compuserve.com
Website: www.GermanEmbassyOttawa.org
Consulates General in: Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver.

Canadian Embassy
Friedrichstraße 95, 10117 Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany
Tel: (30) 203 120. Fax: (30) 2031 2590. E-mail: brlin@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Consulates in: Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich and Stuttgart.


Country dialling code: 49.