Practical information — Germany

Basic information

Currency: Euro (EUR). ATMs everywhere, cards accepted in most places — but cash is still common in bakeries, cafés and small shops. Keep some cash on you.
Dial code: +49
Time zone: CET (UTC+1), summer CEST (UTC+2)
Visa: Schengen area. EU/EFTA citizens: no visa. Others: 90 days visa-free (ETIAS from 2025) or Schengen visa.
Languages: German official. English widely spoken in hotels and cities, younger generation. Less on the countryside.
Electricity: 230V/50Hz, Type F (Schuko) sockets — standard in continental Europe.

Deutsche Bahn (DB): Excellent rail network. ICE fast trains connect major cities. Sparpreis fares from €20 on bahn.de booked 6 weeks ahead.
Autobahn: Toll-free for cars. Many sections have NO speed limit (recommended 130 km/h). Winter tyres compulsory October–April.
U-Bahn / S-Bahn: Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt — dense metro networks. Day pass around €10.
Deutschland-Ticket: €58/month for unlimited local transport nationwide (excludes ICE).
Cycling: Bike lanes everywhere. Berlin and Munich particularly cycle-friendly.

Spring (April–June): Pleasant, blooming gardens, festivals begin. Ideal time.
Summer (July–August): 20–28 °C, long days. Baltic beaches (Rügen, Usedom), Alpine hiking, beer gardens.
Autumn (September–October): Oktoberfest in Munich (late September–early October), golden autumn in Alps and Black Forest.
Winter (December–February): Christmas markets in every city, skiing in Bavarian Alps, New Year at Brandenburg Gate.

Sunday closing: Most shops closed on Sundays. Shop on Saturday. Open: petrol stations, station shops, bakeries in the morning.
Punctuality: Central to German culture. 5 minutes early = on time. Late = disrespectful.
Tipping: 5–10% in restaurants, round up to whole euros. Tell the waiter the amount: "15 Euro bitte" for a €13.50 bill.
Beer: Reinheitsgebot (Purity Law) from 1516 — only water, hops, malt, yeast. Each region has its own: Kölsch (Cologne), Alt (Düsseldorf), Weißbier (Bavaria), Pilsener (nationwide).
Waste sorting: Paper, Bio, yellow bag (packaging), residual waste — mandatory. Also in hotels.

Emergency: 112 (European, fire/ambulance), 110 (police). Free from any phone, even without SIM.
Pharmacies: Green "A" sign. 24-hour emergency service (Notdienst) — displayed in window.
Safety: Germany is among the safest countries in Europe. Cities safe day and night.
Tap water: Drinkable throughout Germany — best quality.
Health insurance: EU citizens: European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Others: private travel insurance.

EU roaming: "Roam Like at Home" for EU customers — no extra fees.
Prepaid SIM: Aldi Talk (€16/month 10GB), Congstar, o2 — available in supermarkets and kiosks.
Wi-Fi: Hotels, cafés, ICE trains (WifionICE), libraries. Free in many cities (e.g. berlin.freifunk).