Travel Tips For European Countries: Germany

About the country

The Federal republic of Germany is the most influential country in Europe. It has been witness to the most controversial facts of history like Nazism, Holy Roman Empire and the building and demolition of the Berlin wall. With the many magnificent castles, it has an abundance of art and culture. German is the widely spoken language in Germany, but don't worry, you'll be able to find a lot of English speaking locals, especially in the popular tourist destinations.

Weather

Weather in Germany can be quite unpredictable since there is a possibility of rain on any given day, so it's pack your clothing with this in mind. In the spring, April and May brings in a full bloom of fruits and flowers. The months from May to September are known for their impeccable weather. These months are often the best time for traveling and site-seeing. People who have a passion for sports like swimming, hiking, and cycling would benefit from traveling during this time. Winter sports can be enjoyed at the resorts from November to early March. The temperatures are below freezing and the days are too short (comprise of only six to eight months) in winter.

Local Customs

Locals greet each other by handshaking and saying Guten Tag. To say goodbye, people use Auf Wiedersehen. When you are to be a guest in someone's home, roses are the best choice. But, it is customary to bring them uncovered and an odd number of flowers. The guests are welcomed with either food or refreshments. At the table, hosts say 'Guten Appetit' to which the guests should reply with 'Ebenfalls'. If you're a smoker, you would be better off to avoid it as much as possible in public areas. The dress is informal but obviously certain occasions like opera, theatre, certain restaurants and social functions call for formal wear.

Electricity

220 V, 50 Hz

Moving Around

The best way to get around is to buy the Welcome cards or the city passes that will allow the customer to access unlimited buses in many different cities. It also gives special offers on certain tourist attractions. For flexibility, you can rent-a-car or go for chauffer driven cars. Along with the rent, VAT of 16% is payable. Car insurance should be available before hand in case of any accident. The speed limit within the cities is mostly 50kph and 100kph on the highways.

Nine stars

The nine stars of Southwest Germany comprise of Baden-Baden, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Heilbronn, Mannheim, Pforzheim Stuttgart, and Ulm. They are considered to be some of the most breathtaking cities of Europe. Each of these cities play a vital role in the culture of Germany. Baden-Baden has some of the finest resorts and has Europe's second largest opera and concert hall. Freiburg is known as the historic city center and is famous for cobblestone mosaics, open streams and ancient alleys. Heidelberg has world famous castles and Germany's oldest university. Karlsruhe has the famous museum Center for Art and Media. Look out for various amusements along the Nectar river of Heilbronn. Pforzheim is the capital for watches and jewelry. Stuttgart is famous for theatres and opera. Ulm is the birth place of Albert Einstein and is also home to the world's tallest hurch spire.

Travel

The national airline that serves Germany is Lufthansa. Bwelin-Tegel airport is 8 km away from the city and it takes about 20 minutes to get to. There is a provision of duty free shops, banks, post office, eateries, conference hall, and car hire and tourism information for the passengers.

Another busy airport is the Frankfurt airport which is located 13km away from the city. Buses take about 20 minutes to get there and taxis are available any time. The Intercity railway network located in the airport will also provide international services to Hungary, Switzerland and Austria. The facilities provided here are duty free shops, lost luggage, restaurants, banks, conference halls, post office, car hire and tourism information. No departure tax is levied on the passengers.

If your planning to travel by ferry, connections are to Finland, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Latvia, and Norway.

Eurostar provides railway service to and from Belgium, France and the UK and you can book your reservations over the phone. The Eurailpass offers unlimited first class train travel within 17 European countries. The Inter-Rail offers unlimited second class train travel within 29 European countries.

EuroCity and InterCity trains have a restaurant on board, providing food and drinks. InterCity Express target the business class and provides services such as a fully equipped office, conference compartments, etc. Any tourist over 17 years of age can carry alcohol and tobacco with them within permissible limits.