Visas & Entry requirements

British travellers only require a passport to enter and stay in Germany for up to three months.

Money/Currency

Official currency – Euro (exchange rate is approximately 69p to €1; subject to daily fluctuations)

Change money at banks, post offices, airport or train stations, foreign exchange counters or American Express offices. Local currency can also be obtained through ATMs. Main international credit cards as VISA and Mastercard are widely accepted in most hotels, restaurants, department stores and most shops. However be aware that some smaller businesses may not accept credit cards– always ask first. Travellers cheques are rarely accepted and must be cashed at a bank or foreign exchange.

Climate

Changeable – just like the British weather! Pack for every contingency. Summers are generally warmer and sometimes humid with temperatures averaging 25°C. Winters are colder, and can drop well below 0°C. At higher levels snow can start to fall in November.

Health Care

The E111 form, available free of charge from health centres and post offices, covers UK citizens for most health care in Germany, but not for non-emergencies or emergency repatriation. It is still advisable therefore to take out some form of health insurance when visiting. (Note: The E111 form is being replaced with the European Health Insurance Card during 2005). Vaccinations are not required for travel to Germany, but it is recommended that visitors have had inoculations for diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella, polio and tetanus.

Safety

• Crime rates in Germany are low by international standards, and most crimes occur in the big cities – Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt.
• Watch out for pickpockets in crowds.
• Avoid city parks after dark.

Public Holidays

• New Year’s Day
• Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday
• Ascension Day (40 days after Easter)
• Labour Day (May 1st)
• Whitsunday/Pentecost and Monday
• Day of German Unity (October 3rd)
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day

Predominantly Catholic states also observe

• Epiphany January 6th)
• Corpus Christi (10 days after Pentecost)
• Assumption Day (August 15th)
• All Saints’ Day (November 1st)

Eastern Germany also observes

• Reformation Day (October 31st)

Opening Hours

• Banks: 8.30am – 1pm, 2pm - 4pm Monday to Friday and on Thursdays till 5.30pm. Bureaux de Change at airports and main railway stations are normally open 6am – 10pm.
• Post Offices: 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday. 8am – noon Saturday.
• Shops: 9am – 6.30pm Monday to Friday. 9am – 4pm Saturday. Larger department stores and supermarkets may stay open till 8pm.
• Museums: 9am – 6pm Tuesday to Sunday.
• Offices: 9am – 5pm Monday to Saturday.

Emergency Numbers

• Police: 110
• Ambulance: 112
• Fire: 112

Useful Numbers

• DZT (German National Tourist Board) 069/97 46 40
• ADAC (German motoring organisation) emergency breakdown: 01802 22 22 22
• British Embassy Berlin: 030 20 45 70. Willhelmstrasse 70-71, 10117 Berlin.
• Directory enquiries: 11833
• International directory enquiries: 11834
• To dial Britain from Germany: 00 44 + area code minus first 0 + number
• To dial Germany from Britain: 00 49 + area code minus first 0 + number

Telephones and Internet

• Public phones are found in stations, post offices, restaurants, cafes, and on street corners.
• Most of them are card operated. Cards can be bought from post offices and newsagents.
• Most phone boxes have instructions in English.
• Cyber Cafes are found in most German towns and cities. Many hotels offer Internet access.

Check out the Know Before You Go safer travel campaign from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.