VISIT GERMANY

Serious people, magnificent castles, fantastic hiking and crazy techno parties are all synonymous with this enormous and diverse nation.

Currency

€ - Euro (1€ ≃ 1,05$ ≃0,86£)

POPULATION

83 millions

MAIN LANGUAGES

German

AREA

357,592 km²

TIME ZONE

UTC+1 / UTC+2

FLAG

🇩🇪

Germany is a country whose landscape consists of forests, rivers, mountain ranges and beaches on the North Sea. With an artistic vibe and lively nightlife, Berlin, its capital, is home to the Brandenburg Gate and many sites related to the Second World War. Other famous German towns include Hamburg and its gigantic harbour, Munich, known for its Oktoberfest, and Frankfurt, home to the European Central Bank.

There are a couple of things to know before travelling to Germany:

Water: Tap water is considered safe to drink in Germany.

Driving: Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows: 50 kph / 30 mph on main roads within built-up areas, and 100 kph / 62 mph on main roads outside built-up areas. On motorways ('autobahn'), there is no overall speed limit but many stretches are limited up to 130 kph / 80 mph.

Plugs: Two plug types are used in Germany: C and F. They both have two grounding holes. Germany operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.

Tipping: As a general rule, it is common to 'round up' the amount by adding up 5 to 10% in restaurants and cafés in Germany.

Payment: Most transactions in Germany are made in cash. Bank cards - either debit or credit cards - may often also be used, but smaller shops and cafés might only accept cash payments.

Basic language: Hallo = Hello; Guten Tag = Good day; Auf Wiedersehen = Goodbye; Ja = Yes; Nein = No; Danke schön = Thank you; Bitte = Please; Gerne geschehen = You're welcome; Entschuldigen sie = Excuse me; Tag = Day; Nacht = Night; Guten Abend = Good evening; Gute Nacht = Goodnight; Herr = Mister; Frau = Ma'am; Straße = Street, Road

Holidays and closing days: Sunday is a closing day for most stores (restaurants, museums and transportation centres usually stay open). There are 9 national public holidays in Germany: New Year's Day (January 01), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day (May 01), Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Germany Unity Day (October 03), Christmas Day (December 25), St. Stephen's Day (December 26). On these days, most businesses and offices will be closed, and many attractions may be shut or have limited opening hours.

Important note: The information below is provided merely as an indication and applies for short-term tourism visa purposes only. Before your trip to Germany, or if you are planning to come to Germany for another purpose (work, studies, ...), check the official information on the German Federal Foreign Office website: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/.

No visa is needed if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:
Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg, Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland

Visa-free but limited to a maximum of 90 days if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Albania; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brazil; Brunei; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominica; El Salvador; Georgia; Grenada; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong; Israel; Japan; Kiribati; Macao; Malaysia; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Moldova; Monaco; Montenegro; New-Zealand; Nicaragua; North Macedonia; Palau; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; San Marino; Serbia; Seychelles; Singapore; Solomon islands; South Korea; Taiwan; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay: Vatican; Venezuela

Visa required (Schengen visa) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Comoros; Congo; Congo (Dem. Rep); Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Maldives; Mali; Mauritania; Mongolia; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian territories; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe

December – February: Being the birthplace of modern Christmas, Germany is an obvious choice for many winter vacationers. Every German city hosts at least one Christmas market, which typically runs from the final weekend in November until Christmas. Germany is home to world-class winter sports destinations, such as the German Alps and the Black Forest. Snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and downhill skiing are all available, and they are often much less expensive in Germany than they are in neighbour countries. During winter, the temperatures in Berlin usually range from -2°C (28F) to 5°C (41F); in Hamburg, temperatures usually don't get negative but don't exceed 5°C either.

March – May: Germany experiences a long, bitter winter, so when the first balmy days of spring arrive, the residents are prepared to take off their bulky winter jackets. When the lingering winter finally melts, the days grow longer, and the cherry blossoms begin to bloom, locals celebrate by getting together with friends in outdoor 'biergartens' - outdoor areas in which beer and food are served, typically at shared tables shaded by trees - and with other seasonal festivals.

June – August: With its long, bright days, and landscapes covered with blossoming trees, Germany in the summer is a delight for the senses. There's no better time to enjoy some hiking in the Bavarian Alps, now that the snowy slopes have transformed into lush alpine meadows. Cities like Munich, Dresden, Dusseldorf, and Frankfurt are some of the greatest destinations to visit in Germany during the summer since they are all brimming with markets, museums, festivals, and outdoor entertainment. During summer, the temperatures in Berlin usually range from 11°C (52F) to 25°C (77F); and the temperatures in Hamburg are similar.

September – November: Germany is wonderful to visit in the fall. The summer crowds have returned home, regional wine festivals are underway, and the weather is still pleasant. Additionally, the deciduous forests that cover a large portion of the nation put on stunning displays of fall colour. There is one exception to this autumnal slowdown: every year, from late September to early October, Munich hosts Oktoberfest, the biggest celebration of the year, for around two weeks.

Prepare your trip

Pick a (German) destination

Make your choice from the list below or the map to access all the articles related to specific cities or regions of Germany.

GERMANY HIGHLIGHT ATTRACTIONS

PARTY IN BERLIN

The hipster capital of Germany is home to top-notch museums, interesting neighbourhoods, and some of Europe's best nightlife.

EXPLORE BLACK FOREST

The Black Forest is a mountain range renowned for its dense evergreen forest and picturesque villages, often associated with the tales of the Brothers Grimm.

STROLL ALONG THE BERLIN WALL

With over 100 murals from international artists, the East Side Gallery stands out among the locations where you can still see remnants of the Berlin Wall.