Germany is a country of beautiful nature and colourful cities. No two cities are alike, from Berlin, the capital of Germany, to Munich, home of the Oktoberfest beer festival, to sophisticated Frankfurt, with its mix of modern and historic buildings, to Hamburg, home of the world’s largest warehouse, Landhaus.
1. Germany Quick Facts
Language German
Religion Protestant
Currency EURO (€, EUR)
Visa 90 days visa-free, Shengen Area rules apply
Power Plugs 230 V 50 Hz (C,F Type)
Capital Berlin
ATM
ATM are also readily available, allowing you to withdraw local currency using credit or debit cards. Withdrawing cash from an ATM using a credit card is the cheapest option in terms of fees.
Use card
Credit cards are not universally accepted in Germany, but they are becoming more and more common, especially for internet payments. They are accepted at luxury hotels, fine dining establishments, shopping centres and petrol stations. However, credit cards are often not accepted in ordinary shops, supermarkets, markets, and restaurants. This is especially true when you leave urban areas. Most Germans prefer to use cash or an EC-Card. If you have access to a credit card, it can be advantageous in terms of exchange rate if you don’t have enough local currency.
APP
Google Maps
HVV
My taxi
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Munich International Airport Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Transportation
3-1. Berlin
Public transport in Berlin Metro S & U-Bahn, trams, buses
BVG app transport tickets
If you’re only going to be travelling within the city center of Berlin, you can buy the AB zone, or if you’re going to be travelling outside of the city, such as to Berlin Airport, you can buy the
you can buy a transport ticket that includes all ABC zones.
Single ticket: AB zone 3.5 euros, ABC zone 4.40 euros, BC zone 4 euros
Single ticket (4-pack)€10.80 for AB zone, €15 for ABC zone, €13.80 for BC zone
24-Hour Ticket AB zone €9.90, ABC zone €11.40, BC zone €10.40
3-2. Hamburg
Public transport in Hamburg Bus, Train, Ferry
Hamburg Transport Card (also available with the HVV app)
Unlimited travel on buses, trains and ferries (HVV, zones A to B) (2nd class only)
Extended version also available for zones A to E
Discounts at over 150 attractions (up to 50% off)
Single: 1 day ticket € 11.9 , 2 days € 20.9 , 3 days € 29.9 , 4 days € 39.9 , 5 days € 46.9
Group (2-5 people): 1 day € 19.9 , 2 days € 35.9 , 3 days € 49.9 , 4 days € 66.9 , 5 days € 82.9
3-3. Munich
Munich Public Transport Subway Tram Bus
Single Ticket: stamped and available, validity varies depending on the selected zone
Single Day Ticket: Unlimited travel within the selected validity zone (valid until 6am the following day)
Group Day Ticket: Unlimited travel for up to 5 adults within the selected validity zone (valid until 6am the following day)
Group Day Ticket (for max. 30 adults): Unlimited travel for up to 30 adults within the selected validity area (valid until 6am the following day)
Children Day Ticket (for 6-14 years old) : Unlimited travel within the selected validity area, valid until 6am the following day
**Two children (aged 6-14) count as one adult and travel free on public transport until the age of 6.
*In addition to the transport ticket, you can also purchase a Munich City Card
3-4. By taxi
Taxis are available by reservation or on demand in the city center, main station, airport, major hotels and university areas, with the exception of taxi waiting areas. In recent years, the app My taxi has become the most popular. Most taxis arrive within 4-15 minutes of your call. The problem with hailing a taxi from the side of the road is that most taxis do not come. If you tell the taxi that you have a lot of luggage, they will send you a larger vehicle, such as a family van.
If you have children in the car, you’ll need to provide a child seat, and if they’re under 12 years old or under 150cm tall, the taxi will refuse to take them if they don’t have a car seat. Uber is currently available in five cities – Berlin, Munich, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Cologne. Fares are time and distance based, with a base fare of around €4, although this varies from city to city. Depending on the distance traveled, €2.40 per kilometer is added. Example.) A trip from Frankfurt Airport to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof will cost around €40.
3-5. Renting a car
Cars are also available for rent, with compact and semi-mid-sized vehicles costing around€ 50 to € 120 per day (automatic gearbox). To do so, you will need to present an international driving licence, credit card and passport.
4.Safety
Germany is safer than Paris, France. Germany is economically stable and has a stable society, so the incidence of theft and other crimes is low, and the risk of terrorism is low compared to other European countries. Recently, pickpockets have become more common around airports and stations in large cities, and there are occasional incidents of people losing their belongings in hotels and restaurants that are often used by large groups of travellers. Pickpockets are known to be common on night trains.
Useful phone numbers for tourists
Police: 110
General emergency number: 112
5. Climate
Most of Germany has a temperate climate with humid westerly winds. Winters are mild in the north and northwest, and summers are warm but not hot, although summer highs can exceed 30°C (86°F). In the south, closer to the Alps, temperatures are cooler throughout the year and winters are much colder, with heavy snowfall and bitter winds.
Weather conditions in eastern Germany are characterized by a continental climate. In large cities such as Berlin and Munich, winters can be very cold and summers hotter,especially in the city center of Berlin, where temperatures are up to 4°C (39°F) higher and rainfall is less than in other parts of the country due to the urban heat island phenomenon.
6. price
It is cheap compared to neighbouring Western European countries. Local markets are also affordable, and supermarket staples are particularly cheap.
Petrol (1 litre)€ 2.00
McDonald’s combo meal: € 9.00
Water (1.5 litres): € 0.57
Milk (1 litre)€ 1.00
7. Travel precautions
Sauna or bath culture in Germany is a mixed bath and you have to be naked to enter.
Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony, and other former East German states are dangerous, but due to xenophobia and the recent IS terrorist attacks, the whole of Europe is in a bad mood, so you should avoid walking around late at night in these areas and avoiding places where young people gather.
If you are approached on the street or at a train station and offered a favour, it is best to refuse. Most of these people are refugees or immigrants and will try to do small favours and then ask for money.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
In formal meetings, men and women greet each other with a firm handshake and maintain eye contact. When shaking hands, the other hand should not be in a pocket or behind the back as this is considered impolite.
Table manners are basic, and slurping, slurping, and slurping can be very offensive to others. Avoid talking with food in your mouth, and avoid touching your glass when pouring alcohol or water.
It is impolite to fill someone’s glass without asking, and if you offer food or drink and they say no, you shouldn’t press them further.
If you are accompanied by a woman, pull your chair back to allow her to sit on your right, and sit down after all female guests have been seated. It’s okay to touch your wrists during a meal, but don’t raise your elbows, cross your arms, or play with your hair.
It is also considered very rude to be constantly fiddling with your mobile phone during a meal.
Tip
It’s polite to remove change from your bill at restaurants, cafes, taxis, etc. or give a small tip of between € 2 and € 5.
10. Holidays
The following are the national public holidays for 2024:
1 Jan Mon New Year’s Day National
6 Jan Sat Epiphany BW, BY & ST
8 Mar Fri International Women’s Day BE
29 Mar Fri Good Friday National
31 Mar Sun Easter Sunday BB
1 Apr Mon Easter Monday National
1 May Wed Labour Day National
9 May Thu Ascension Day National
19 May Sun Whit Sunday BB
20 May Mon Whit Monday National
30 May Thu Corpus Christi BW, BY, HE, NW, RP, SL,SN & TH
15 Aug Thu Assumption Day BY & SL
20 Sep Fri Children’s Day TH
3 Oct Thu Day of German Unity National
31 Oct Thu Reformation Day BB, HH, MV, NI, SH, SN, ST & TH
1 Nov Fri All Saints’ Day BW, BY, NW, RP & SL
20 Nov Wed Repentance Day SN
25 Dec Wed Christmas Day National
26 Dec Thu 2nd Day of Christmas National
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January : New Year’s Day National
Monday, 6 January : Epiphany BW, BY & ST
Saturday, 8 March : International Women’s Day BE & MV
Friday, 18 April : Good Friday National
Sunday, 20 April : Easter Sunday BB
Monday, 21 April : Easter Monday National
Thursday, 1 May : Labour Day National
Thursday, 29 May : Ascension Day National
Sunday, 8 June : Whit Sunday BB
Monday, 9 June : Whit Monday National
Thursday, 19 June : Corpus Christi BW, BY, HE, NW, RP, SL, SN & TH
Friday, 15 August : Assumption Day BY & SL
Saturday, 20 September : Children’s Day TH
Friday, 3 October : Day of German Unity National
Friday, 31 October : Reformation Day National except BW, BY, BE, HE, NW, RP & SL
Saturday, 1 November : All Saints’ Day BW, BY, NW, RP & SL
Wednesday, 19 November : Repentance Day SN
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day National
Friday, 26 December: 2nd Day of Christmas National
*States of Germany
BW : Baden-Württemberg
BY : Bavaria
BE : Berlin
BB : Brandenburg
HB : Bremen
HH : Hamburg
HE : Hessen
NI : Niedersachsen
MV : Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
NW : North Rhine-Westphalia
RP : Rhineland-Palatinate
SL : Saarland
ST : Sachsen-Anhalt
SN : Sachsen
SH : Schleswig-Holstein
TH: Thüringen