Germany

Germany is in both the European Union and the Schengen Area, so whether you need a visa depends on your nationality — confirm the rules for your own passport before booking. Travellers from many countries (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) can enter visa-free for short stays; visa-exempt visitors may stay up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen Area combined.

Your passport generally must have been issued within the last ten years and stay valid at least three months beyond your departure from the Schengen Area. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is now in force — most non-EU visitors have their fingerprints and a facial photo registered at the border on first arrival, instead of a passport stamp.

A separate authorisation, ETIAS, is expected later in 2026 for visa-exempt travellers (a roughly €20 fee, valid up to three years) and is not yet required. Always verify the current rules for your nationality with the German Federal Foreign Office and your own government's travel advisory before booking.

Germany uses the euro (€). Despite being a modern country, it remains noticeably cash-friendly — many small businesses, bakeries, cafés, bars and market stalls still prefer or only accept cash, so always carry some. Card acceptance is reliable at hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets and chains, and contactless works wherever cards do.

ATMs (Geldautomat) are widely available; use bank-operated machines (Sparkasse, Volksbank and similar) rather than standalone 'Euronet' machines, which charge poor rates. When a terminal offers to convert the charge to your home currency, decline and pay in euros.

Tipping (Trinkgeld) is appreciated but modest — nothing like US norms. In restaurants and cafés, round up or add roughly 5–10% for good service, telling the server the total you want to pay as you settle the bill. Round up for taxis; a euro or two is a kind gesture for housekeeping or porters.

Germans value punctuality highly — arriving on time, or a few minutes early, is a sign of respect. Greetings are straightforward: a firm handshake with eye contact, and 'hallo' when entering a shop, 'tschüss' when leaving. Address people as Herr or Frau plus surname until invited to use first names.

A few rules catch visitors off guard: jaywalking is frowned upon — Germans wait for the green pedestrian light even with no cars — and watch for bike lanes on the sidewalk. Germany also observes quiet hours (Ruhezeit) — typically 10pm to 6am on weekdays, and all day Sunday, when most shops close by law and loud activity is avoided.

At the table, wait for 'Guten Appetit' and keep both hands visible. Dress is practical and tidy. Learn a few phrases — 'bitte', 'danke', 'Entschuldigung' — and ask 'Sprechen Sie Englisch?' before launching into English. Directness is a cultural trait, not rudeness.

Germany's largest hubs are Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC), with Berlin Brandenburg (BER), Düsseldorf and Hamburg also well connected; most airports link directly to the rail network. Between cities, Deutsche Bahn runs an extensive network — the high-speed ICE trains connect major cities quickly. Book ahead on the DB Navigator app for cheaper 'Sparpreis' fares.

For regional and local travel, the Deutschland-Ticket is excellent value — a monthly subscription giving unlimited travel on all regional and local public transport nationwide (regional trains, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses), though not valid on ICE/IC long-distance trains.

Within cities, the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses are excellent — buy and validate a ticket before boarding, as fare inspectors are frequent and fines steep. Taxis are metered; rideshare apps (Uber, Bolt, FreeNow) operate in major cities, though Uber in Germany typically dispatches licensed taxis.

EU 'Roam Like at Home' rules mean a mobile plan from any EU country works in Germany at no extra charge. Travellers from the UK should check their carrier, as some have reintroduced EU roaming fees post-Brexit; visitors from outside Europe should check their home plan's international rates.

For most non-EU visitors, a local SIM or eSIM is cheapest. Germany's main networks are Telekom, Vodafone and O2; prepaid plans are inexpensive and include EU roaming. Travel eSIM providers let you buy and activate a plan before you land; German prepaid SIMs require ID registration.

Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels, cafés and many public spaces, and is generally free. As anywhere, avoid sensitive transactions on open public networks.

Germany is a safe country for travellers — violent crime is rare. The main risk for visitors is petty theft — pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded tourist areas, major train stations, public transport and busy events such as Christmas markets and festivals. Keep valuables secure and stay aware in crowds.

Advisories note a general terrorism risk that exists across Europe — the US State Department places Germany at 'Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution' specifically because of that Europe-wide threat, while crime levels remain low.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout Germany. The EU-wide emergency number is 112 (110 for police directly). A pharmacy is an Apotheke (look for a red 'A') — note that ordinary drugstores like dm and Rossmann do not sell medicines, even basic painkillers. Travel health insurance is strongly recommended; EU/EEA visitors should carry an EHIC/GHIC card.

Power: Germany uses 230V / 50Hz with Type C and Type F plugs (two round pins). Travellers from the UK, US and elsewhere need a plug adapter; visitors from 110–120V countries should check that devices are dual-voltage (most chargers are).

Language: the official language is German. English is widely spoken in cities, by younger people and in tourism, though far less universal in rural areas. A few German phrases are appreciated everywhere.

Best time to visit: late spring and early autumn (May–June and September–October) are ideal — mild weather, lighter crowds and lower prices. Summer is warm and lively but busiest and priciest; December is special for Germany's Christmas markets. Many shops close on Sundays year-round.

Time zone: Germany is on Central European Time (UTC+1), switching to Central European Summer Time (UTC+2) from late March to late October.