Germany
From Imakoopedia
| Flag | |
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| Quick Facts | |
| Capital | Berlin |
| Government | federal republic |
| Currency | euro (EUR) |
| Area | total: 357,021 sq km water: 7,798 sq km land: 349,223 sq km |
| Population | 83,251,851 (July 2002 est.) |
| Language | German |
| Country calling code | +49 |
| Internet TLD | .de |
| Time Zone | UTC +1 |
Germany (Deutschland in German) is a country in Western Europe and a founder member of the European Union. It is bordered to the north by Denmark, to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic, to the south by Austria and Switzerland, and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.
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Regions
Germany is a federal republic consisting of 16 states (so-called "Bundesländer" or short "Länder"). Grouped roughly by geography, these are:
North
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
- Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen)
- Hamburg
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Bremen
West
- North Rhine-Westfalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen)
- Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz)
- Saarland
Middle
East
- Brandenburg
- Berlin
- Saxony (Sachsen)
- Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt)
South
- Baden-Wuerttemberg (Baden-Württemberg)
- Bavaria (Bayern)
Cities
Germany has numerous cities of interest to tourists; these are the top five travel destinations.
- Berlin - the reunified and reinvigorated capital of Germany; known for its division during the Cold War - and the Berlin Wall
- Frankfurt - Germany's leading financial center, site of Europe's largest Book Fair and the largest airport hub in continental Europe
- Hamburg - Germany's second city; famous for its harbour as well as its liberal and tolerant culture
- Heidelberg - considered to be among the most beautiful cities of Germany
- Munich (München) - Southern Germany's leading city and capital of Bavaria, site of the famous Oktoberfest and the gateway to the Alps
Other destinations
Other popular tourist destinations in Germany from north to south:
- North Sea coast (Nordseeküste)
- North Frisian Islands (Nordfriesische Inseln)
- Baltic Sea coast (Ostseeküste)
- Lueneburg Heath (Lüneburger Heide)
- Rhine Valley (Rheinland)
- Black Forest (Schwarzwald)
- Lake Constance (Bodensee)
- Bavarian Alps (Bayrische Alpen) (Berchtesgaden, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, Neuschwanstein castle)
Understand
While relatively small by world standards, Germany's attractions tend to be bigger than in the surrounding European neighbour countries, which is no surprise as Germany is the biggest country in Central Europe, runs Europe’s biggest economy, and has the largest population on the continent (excluding Russia).
The country's financial capital (Frankfurt) features a for Germany unusal skyline with it's many high-rise buildings, including the continent's tallest office tower.
Berlin, though not as dominant in Germany as London in England or Paris in France, has been touted as one of the world's coolest big cities since the early 90s.
The world's most famous beer culture is centered around Southern Germany's leading city (Munich), where beer is traditionally served in 1 liter mugs; Munich is also the site of the annual Oktoberfest, Europe's most visited festival.
German cars such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and Volkswagen (VW) are famous internationally for their quality. This quality is matched by Germany's excellent network of roadways including the famous Autobahn network, which has no speed limits and lots of speed hungry drivers on it. Germany also features an extensive network of high speed trains - the InterCityExpress (ICE).
History
Germany as a state has existed only since 1871, when a large number of previously independent German kingdoms united under Prussian leadership to form the German Empire (Deutsches Kaiserreich). The empire ended in 1918 when Emperor (Kaiser) Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate after Germany's defeat in World War I (1914-1918). The Empire was followed by the short-lived Weimar republic, which tried to establish a liberal, democratic regime. However, the young republic was plagued with massive economic problems, strong antidemocratic forces and inherent organizational problems of the Weimar constitution.
1933 witnessed the final rise to power of the nationalistic and racist National Socialist German Workers' (Nazi) Party and its charismatic leader (Führer), Adolf Hitler, to power. Under the Nazi dictatorship, democratic institutions were dismantled and a police state installed. Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, handicapped people, socialists, communists and other groups not fitting into the Nazi ideology faced persecution, and ultimately murder in concentration camps. Hitler's militaristic ambitions to create a new German Empire in central and eastern Europe led to war, successively, with Poland, France, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States - despite initial dazzling successes, Germany was unable to withstand the combined attacks of the Allies.
After devastating defeat in World War II (1939-1945), Germany was divided into four sectors, control by the French, British, US and Soviet forces. With the beginning of the Cold War, Germany was divided into an eastern part under Soviet control, and a western part which was controlled by the Western Allies. The western part was transformed into the Federal Republic of Germany, with [Bonn] as the capital. The Soviet-controlled zone became the communist German Democratic Republic (GDR). Berlin had a special status, with the eastern part featuring as the capital of the GDR. The western sectors of Berlin were de facto an enclave of the Federal Republic.
Germany was reunited in 1990 after the fall of the GDR's communist regime in 1989. The reestablished eastern states joined the Federal Republic on the 3rd of October, a day which is since celebrated as the German National Holiday (Tag der Deutschen Einheit). Together with the reunification the last post-war limitations to Germany's sovereignty were removed.
Politics
Germany is a federal republic, consisting of 16 states ('Bundesländer'). The federal parliament ('Bundestag') is elected every four years in a fairly complicated system, involving direct and proportional representation. A party will be represented in Parliament if it can gather at least 5% of all votes or at least 3 directly won seats. The parliament elects the Chancellor ('Bundeskanzler') on it's first session, which will serve as the head of government.
Formal head of state is the President ('Bundespräsident'), who has only ceremonial and representative duties. All true power lies with the chancellor.
The 'Bundesländer' are represented at the federal level through the Federal Council ('Bundesrat'). Many federal laws have to be approved by the council. This can lead to a situation where Council and Parliament are blocking each other if they are dominated by different parties.
The two most important parties are the Christian Democrats ('Christlich Demokratische Union (CDU)') and the Social Democrats ('Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD)'). Due to the proportional voting system, smaller parties can also be represented in parliament. The only "smaller" parties of any importance are the Liberals ('Freiheitlich-Demokratische Partei (FDP)') and the Green party ('Bündnis 90/Die Grünen'). There have been some attempts by right-wing parties to get into parliaments, but they have failed at the 5% requirement. The 'PDS', successor of the GDR's communist party, has also failed to reach 5% of the voters in the last elections. However, there are still two PDS MPs due to a peculiarity of the voting system.
Get in
Germany is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement. European visa policy will be covered in the article about the EU. In brief, a visa to any other signatory state of the Schengen Agreement is valid in Germany too. No visa is required for citizens of other EU member states, and those of some selected nations with whom the European Union or Germany have special treaties. Inquire at your travel agent or call the local consulate or embassy of Germany.
As of May 2004 only the citizens of the following countries do not need a visa for entry into Germany. Note that citizens of these countries (except EU nationals) must not stay longer than three months in half a year and must not work in Germany: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela
Also, there are no border controls between Germany and other Schengen Agreement nations, making travel less complicated.
There are a number of ways to get into Germany. From neighboring European countries, a drive with the car or a train ride are feasible; visitors from further away will probably be using air travel.
By plane
The most important airports are Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC) and Dusseldorf (DUS). Berlin (TXL, SXF and THF) and Hamburg (HAM) have some relevance to international travellers as well.
Low-cost airlines mostly use smaller, out of the way airports, like Hahn, Baden-Baden, Dortmund, Paderborn or Lübeck. Connections to the nearest cities is more cumbersome than for larger, more established airports - but the details vary greatly with the location, of course.
By train
Regular train services connect Germany with neighboring countries. The downside with train travel is that due to incompatible systems, you will not be able to use any of the European high speed trains to cross into or get out of Germany; you have to use the more conventional "intercity" trains. There are exceptions, however. The Thalys brings you from Cologne (Köln) to Paris in approximately fours hours. (See http://www.thalys.de/) Or you could take the ICE from Dusseldorf to Amsterdam, in two hours and 15 minutes you will have arrived. The train journey from Frankfurt to Paris using the ICE will take about six hours; going from Hamburg to Paris can take eight and a half hours.
- see http://www.bahn.de - website of the German railway corporation. Click on "Int. Guests" to see the site in english.
By Boat
Some international ferry services exist, notably to Scandinavia and Great Britain. An incomplete list of connections follows:
England
Scandinavia
- From Rodby, Denmark to Putgarden
- From Gedser, Denmark to Rostock
- From Trelleborg, Sweden to Rostock, Travemuende and Sassnitz
- From Malmo, Sweden to Travemuende
- From Gothenburg, Sweden to Kiel
- From Oslo, Norway to Kiel
- From Helsinki, Finland to Rostock and Travemuende
- From Hanko, Finland to Rostock
Russia
- From Kaliningrad, Russia to Sassnitz and Luebeck
- From St. Petersburg, Russia to Kiel, Sassnitz and Luebeck
Baltic States
Get around
By car
Germany has a world-famous network of excellent roads and highways (Autobahn). Car rentals are available in most cities, but gasoline prices are kept high by taxation. When renting a car, be aware that most cars in Germany have manual gearbox (stick-shift), so you might want to ask for a car with an automatic gearbox if you're used to. German drivers tend to drive faster and more aggressively than you might be used to, especially on the parts of the highway system without speed limit, which is taken to be literally. Although German car makers had agreed to limit the speed of their cars to 250 km/h. Be aware that Germans drive fast and they adhere pretty much to rules, but that doesn't mean they have the car always under control. You have good chances to see serious accidents. Never ever reverse on a highway when you missed exit, go to next exit and make a U-turn. Use the right side if it's free, even if everybody seems to like the middle (if exist) and the left track. But be careful if you overtake another car left to you, it is allowed only within cities, in traffic jams or at low speed.
In case of a breakdown you may call the ADAC, Germany's largest automobile club. The number is +49 180 2222222 from fixed lines and 22 22 22 from mobile phones regardless of network. On the Autobahn, the ADAC must come to you free of charge. In other situations, there may be costs involved if you're not a member. If you're a member of a foreign AA or automobile club, you may want to check if the ADAC honours your membership. If you have to stop along the Autobahn, leave your car and jump behind the crash barrier, even if it's cold and rainy. It is really dangerous to stay in the car, it is more and more common to use the emergency track for driving, although it's strictly forbidden!
By train
Germany has a dense railway system, which reaches almost every part of the country. Unless you travel by car, the train will be your major mode of transportation.
The trains are operated by Deutsche Bahn ("German Rail"), the formerly state-owned railway company privatized a few years ago. In the last few years, the reputation of the DB has suffered due to higher prices and increased delays. Nevertheless the trains are usually reliable, and a comfortable and safe way of travel. If not otherwise indicated, the information in this section is about DB-run trains.
There are some independent railway companies which run regional trains or aim at specific target markets, like business travellers.
- http://www.bahn.de - German railway corporation
Long distance
All major cities are linked by ICE (InterCity Express) and regular InterCity trains. The ICE are high speed trains, reaching top speeds of 300km/h; and even though they rarely cruise at such high speeds travel is faster than by car and quite comfortable. Be sure to get a reservation - it's not mandatory, but you may end up standing or sitting on the floor without one.
The high speed ICE is the most expensive option, of course. On the major lines, an ICE or IC train will run each hour or so during the day. There are also EuroCity (EC) trains, which connect the larger European cities. For inner-Germany travel, these are virtually identical to the regular ICs.
Regional travel
Apart from the long-distance trains, there is a vast network of regional trains ("Regionalbahn"). The service will take you almost everywhere the intercity trains won't go or stop. Trains include 40 year old cars as well as brand-new carriages. Many are used by commuters - if you wish to have a relaxed travel, avoid the early mornings or later afternoons. Don't hesitate to inquire at the ticket counter at what times the trains are usually packed.
Online information and bookings
All information and an online timetable are available from the Deutsche Bahn homepage. The page is in German, but timetable inquiries can be made in English. You may also book your tickets online with a credit card. The most comfortable option is to take an "online ticket", which you can print out at home. Note that these tickets are non-transferable and that you'll be required to show your BahnCard or credit card as an ID. (Note that you do have to print them on paper - a PDF export or something similar is invalid.)
Currently (2004) seat reservations are free if you buy your ticket online or through a ticket vending machine at a station.
Fares
Soon after the introduction of a quite complex structure of fares and prices public protest led to a significant re-simplification. Though, there are still some special promotions and prices the rail company offers at various times. Your best course of action is to check their website, or to ask at a train station or their telephone hotline for current details. However, some general points to keep in mind are:
- Children up to fourteen years travel free when accompanied by at least one of their parents or grandparents.
- If you plan to travel by train a lot, you may consider getting a BahnCard, which gives you discounts on all ticket purchases. The BahnCard 25 costs €50 (€100 for first class) and gives you a 25% discount on all further ticket purchases. Spouses and kids of a BahnCard 25-owners can get additional cards for €5.
- The BahnCard 50 is €200 (€400 for first class) and gives you a 50% discount on all tickets. You can get this card for half the price if you're a pupil or student (up to 26 years of age), a pensioner of more than 60 years or disabled.
By plane
Airlines like Deutsche Lufthansa connect major cities in Germany to each other and foreign destinations. Due to the comparatively short distances and relatively high hassle of air travel - especially when you travel with luggage - domestic air travel is used mostly for business purposes. Recently (2003-2004) many airlines have been offering very low prices due to the high competition in the industry, so it makes sense to compare the prices for plane tickets to those of the railway tickets.
Talk
The official language of Germany is German. The standard form of German is called "Hochdeutsch" (High German). This is accent-free German, the "official" form of the language. It is understood by all and spoken by many Germans. However, most regions have their own dialects, which might pose a challenge to those who speak even good German - and sometimes to native speakers as well.
Most Germans learn English at school, so you should be able to get by with English in most places. Many people in the tourist industry also speak French or Spanish, but if you can't speak German, English remains your best bet. Even if the staff doesn't speak English, you are likely to find someone who does and is more than willing to help you.
If you are speaking English with Germans, you should be aware of the following points:
Germans less fluent in the English language often say "become" instead of "get" because the German word "bekommen" ("get") is phonetically so close to "become". Since it's polite to reply "Bitte" if someone thanks you, Germans may literally translate this with "please" instead of "here you are" or "you're welcome".
While Germany uses the 24 hour format for times, people still use 12 hour times in conversations. There is no real suffix like "AM/PM", though you can add "vormittags" (before noon) and "nachmittags" (after noon) when it's not clear from the context.
Expressing "fractional hours" differs slightly among various regions of Germany. The "normal" way of doing it is:
- Quarter past one - Viertel nach eins also Viertel zwei
- Half past one - Halb zwei (half two)
- A quarter to two - "Viertel vor zwei" also Dreiviertel zwei
In addition, Germans say two-digit numbers "backwards": instead of "twenty-two" they say "two and twenty". Numbers below 20 are said the same way as in English. This becomes especially important when you inquire for prices, although most who speak English with you should use the correct form.
The question "How are you?" in German is usually meant as a serious inquiry, so you might get a somewhat lengthy answer half of the time.
For more German, consult the German phrasebook.
Buy
Currency
Germany is part of the European Union and the Eurozone; as such it replaced German Marks with the Euro (symbol: €) in the year 2002.
Since it has been only a few years since the introduction of Euro cash, a few people will still use the old national currency names. For example, it is entirely possible that a German would still refer to "Mark" and "Pfennig". They mean Euros and Cents, so just mentally substitute the two.
Do not expect anybody to accept other types of currency, or to be willing to exchange currency. An exception are shops and restaurants at airports and also - more rarely - fast-food restaurants at major train stations. These will generally accept at least US Dollars at a slightly worse exchange rate. If you wish to exchange money, you can do so at any bank, where you can also cash in your traveller's cheques. Currency exchanges, once a common sight, have all but disappeared since the introduction of the Euro. Again, international airports are an exception to this rule.
Do not accept German Marks from anybody. While you can still exchange them for Euro at some banks, this will mean a lot of hassle for you.
German banks have agreed on a standard debit card called "EC card" this is far more accepted as plastic payment methods than credit cards from American Express, VISA and others. Nevertheless, credit cards are often accepted, but to a lower extend than in other European countries or the United States. If you want to pay by credit card, it is best to check in advance if your card will be accepted. Most ATMs will allow you to withdraw money with your credit card, but you'll need to know your card's PIN for that.
Tipping
It's common in Germany to round up the bill in restaurants or pubs. Since the introduction of the Euro, a tip of about 10% is customary if you were satisfied with the service. Of course you can tip more, if the service was really good.
However, there is no obligation to tip, especially if the service was bad. Unlike in some other countries, service staff is always paid by the hour (albeit not always that well). A tip is a matter of politeness, and shows your appreciation.
Eat
German food sticks pretty much to its roots and a dish will be pork/beef with some form of potatoes and gravy accompanied by vegetables or salad. However, the modern German cuisine has been influenced by other European countries such as Italy and France and it gets a little bit lighter. Dishes show a great local diversity and it might be interesting to discover those. Most bigger employers have a “Kantine” for their employs and therefore you will find much less sandwich shops and takeaways than in the Anglo American world and therefore the eating out culture in Germany is dominated by the Gasthaus/Gasthof and Restaurants to have proper food. Putting places to eat in 6 categories gives you a hint about the budget/taste kicking of from the cheaper end:
Imbiss
Is a place to have a sausage and fries, “Döner Kebab” sells Turkish fast food, classic American fast food (McD, BB and Wendy): Coca Cola and burgers, Pizza Hut is a ever growing pizza retailer. Nordsee is classic German seafood chain: “Rollmops” and other stuff. You will get what you pay for and you don’t have to come to Germany to enjoy most of them either.
Bakeries and butcheries
Germans have no tradition for sandwich shops, but you will find that bakeries / butcheries sell quiet nice take away food and are serious competition for the fast food chains.
Biergarten
You will get here the obvious drink and in Bavaria you can bring your own food and most places will cater simple meals.
Brauhaus
Microbreweries sell their products straight to the customer and you will find some nice food their as well.
Gasthof/Gasthaus
Probably 50% of all eating out places falls into this group. They are mainly family run business and are often owned since generations. You can go there to have a drink only, but if you want you can eat German food often with a local taste.
Restaurant
Place to have dinner in many flavours (German, Italian, Greek, Turkish ….)
Typical dishes
Rinderroulade mit Rotkraut und Knodeln: this dish is quite unique to Germany. Very thin sliced beef rolled around a "pickled gherkin" until it looks like a mini barrel (5cm diameter) flavoured with tiny peaces of onion, German mustard, ground black pepper and salt. The meat gets fried shortly and is then left to cook slowly for an hour, meanwhile red cabbage and potato dumplings are prepared and then the meat is removed from the frying pan and gravy is prepared in the frying pan. Knodel, Rotkraut and Rouladen are served together with the gravy in one dish.
Schnitzel mit Pommes frites: there are probably as many different variations of Schnitzel as you have restaurants in Germany. They have in common a thin sliced piece of pork often covered in egg and bread crumbs that is fried for a short period of time and it is often served with fries aside. Variations of this are usually served with different types of gravy: such as Zigeuner Schnitzel, Zwiebelschnitzel, Holzfaller Schnitzel and Wiener Schnitzel and you can find in the south that you will get Spatzle instead of fries with it (typical German noodle – most Restaurants do them freshly). It is very common to find Schnitzel on the menu of a German restaurant, if it is not the most common dish in German restaurants.
Rehrucken mit Spatzle: Germany has maintained huge forests such as the famous black forest, Bayrischer Wald and Odenwald. In and around these areas you can enjoy the best game in Germany. Rehrucken means venison tenderloin and it is often served with freshly made noodles such as Spatzle and a very nice gravy based on a dry red wine.
Bratwurst “fried sausage”: there is no country in the world with a greater variety of sausages than Germany and it would take a while to mention them all. Here is the shortlist version: “Rote” beef sausage, “Frankfurter Bratwurst” pork sausage made in the Frankfurt style, “Pfalzer Bratwurst” sausage made in palatinum style , “Nurnberger Bratwurst” Nuremberg sausage – the smallest of all of them, but a serious contender for the best tasting German sausage,” grobe Bratwurst” Feldjager, Thuringer Bratwurst, Currywurst …….. this could go on till tomorrow. If you spot a sausage on a Menu this is often a good choice, because that is food were the German cuisine is really good. Obviously this can be served with potato mash, fries, potato salad and it can be very nice.
Pfalzer Saumagen: known for a long time in Palatinate, but difficult to find outside of this area. The dish became well known to the general public in Germany as Chancellor Kohl’s favorite dish, especially when this was enjoyed by him and the Russian president M. Gorbatchow on a State visit in Germany in Deidesheim. Pictures of the feast are shown in the restaurant “ Deidesheimer Hof” in Deidesheim. Literally this is pig stomach filled with a mash of potato and meat, cooked for 2-3 hours and then cut in thick slices often served with sauerkraut.
Local specialities
Starting from the north of Germany going south you will find a tremendous variety of food and each region sticks to it origins. The coastal regions are fond of seafood and famous dishes include “Finkenwerder Scholle”, going south to the region of Cologne you will find Sauerbraten (a roast marinated in vinegar). Labskaus is a dish from the north and the opinions about this dish are divided, some love it others .... It is a mash of potato and meat decorated with rollmops and a fried egg and gurken on top.
The Pfalzer area has Saumagen (stuffed pork's stomach), Swabia is famous for Spätzle (a kind of noodles), "Maultaschen" (noodles stuffed with spinach and mince meat) and at the coast there's a variety of fish dishes.
In Bavaria this may be Schweinshaxe mit Knödeln (pork's leg with knödel, a form of potato dumplings), "Fleischkase mit Kartoffelsalat" (kind of meat pie and potato salat), "Nurnberger Bratwurst" (probably smallest sausage in Germany), Weißwurst (white sausages).
The south is also famous for its nice tarts such as the "Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte" (tart with lots of cream and spirit made from cherries). Vegetarian cooking hasn't quite caught on in Germany. Most restaurants have one or two vegetarian dishes, or will prepare something without meat; but there aren't many places which are particularly aimed at vegetarian or vegan customers.
Seasonal specialities
White “Spargel” asparagus floods the restaurants in April/June all over Germany and it is delicious especially in and around Baden-Baden and the small town of Schwetzingen as well as in teh area southwest of Berlin, especialy in the town Beelitz. Many vegetables can be found all around the year and the are often imported from far away. Whereas asparagus can be found only for 2 months from mid April to mid June and is best enjoyed freshly after harvest it stays nice for a couple of hours or till next day. The asparagus is treated very carefully and it is harvested before it ever is exposed to daylight and only then it remains white. When exposed to daylight it changes its color to blue and it might taste bitter. Therefore is the best asparagus the white one.
White asparagus soup: one of the hundreds of different recipes that can be found with white asparagus is soup. Often it is made with cream and has some of the thiner asparagus peaces.
Lebkuchen: Germany has many nice Christmas biscuits. The ones in and around from Nuremberg are very famous in Germany.
Miscellaneous
Germans are very fond of their bread, which they make in many variations. This is the food that Germans tend to miss most when away from home. Most people like their bread relatively dark and dense and scorn the soft loaves sold in other countries. Bakeries will seldomly provide less than twenty different sorts of bread and it's worth trying a few of them. In fact, many Germans buy their lunch or small snacks in bakeries instead of takeaways or the like. Prizes for a loaf of bread will range from 0.50 € to 4 €, depending on the size (real specialities might cost more).
Drink
Beer
Germans consider their beer to be the best of the world. And although other nations may disagree, the brew is usually very good and far superior to the bland stuff from the "international" brands. For centuries, beer-making was governed by the Reinheitsgebot (purity law), which states that German beer may only be made from certain ingredients. The Reinheitsgebot has come down with the European integration, but traditional breweries continue to stick with it. Specialities include Weizenbier, a refreshing wheat beer which is popular in the south, Alt, a kind of dark ale and Kölsch, another kind of dark beer from the city of Cologne. There are also seasonal beers, which are only made at different times of the year. Beer is usually served in 200 or 300ml glasses (in the northern part) or 500ml in the South. In Bavaria, 500ml is a small beer and a litre is a large one. Except for Irish pubs, Pints are unusual. For Germans, lots of foam is a sign of freshness, thus, beer is always served with a lot of head. Additionally, Germans are not afraid to mix their pure beer with other drinks. "Cocktails" of pils/Altbier and soft drinks like Sprite, Fanta, Coke and so on are very common but seem to have a different name in every town.
Pubs are open in Germany until 2 in the morning or later. Food is generally available until midnight. Germans typically go out after 8pm.
Cider
Undisputed capital of "Apfelwein" cider in Germany is Frankfurt. Locals love their cider and it is very popular around here. It is often served in a special jug called "Bempel". The taste is slightly different from Ciders in other countries and it tends to quiet refreshing. In autumn when apples are turned into cider you might find "Frischer Most" signposted at some places. That means this is first product in the chain of "Apfelein" production and one glass of it is nice. Two or three glasses and you will have a problem.
Coffee
Germans drink coffee. Lots of it. Coffee is always freshly made from ground coffee or beans - no instant. However, persons coming from countries with a great coffee tradition (like Italy, Spain, Turkey, Greece or Austria) might find the coffee that is served in normal restaurants a bit boring.
Glühwein
Visiting Germany in December? Then go and see one of the famous Christmas markets and this is the place where you find Glühwein, a spiced wine served very hot. Just to comfort you in the cold winter.
Spirits
“Kirschwasser” literally means cherry water, it certainly tastes to cherry but on the other hand it is not exactly water what you drink. There is a long lasting tradition in making spirits in Baden and the “Kirschwasser” is probably the flagship product and it might encourage you to taste other specialities such as Himbeergeist, Schlehenfeuer, saurer Fritz and Apfelkorn.
“Enzian” Bavarians like their beer as well their Enzian. A spirit high in alcohol that suits you well after a big dinner.
Tee
Tea is also very popular, and a large choice is readily available.
Wine
In the same that German think that their beer is the best in the world they are passionate about their wines. The similarities don't stop here, both products are often produced by small companies and the best wines are consumed locally and only the remaining ones are exported. The production of wine has a 2000 year old history in Germany as learned from the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier, but of course this was a roman settlement at this time. Sunshine is the limiting factor for the production of wines in Germany and therefore is the win production limited to the countries in the south. White wine plays a main role in the wine production, but some areas produce red wines (Ahr, Baden Wurttenberg). White wines are produced from Riesling, Kerner and Muller-Thurgau grapes (there are a lot more, but to name them all would be to much) and produce generally fresh and fruity wines. German wines can be rich in acid and are quit refreshing. It is generally accepted that Riesling grapes produce the best German wines, but they demand a lot of sunshine and they grow best in very exposed areas such the Mosel, Rheingau, Bergstrasse, Kaiserstuhl and Pflalz.
The best way to learn about wines is go to the place were they are grown and taste them on spot. This is called "Weinprobe" and is generally free of charge though in touristic areas you have to pay a small fee. Good wines go usually together with good food and therefore it is well worth to visit some of those places.
Wine producing areas are:
Ahr
Ahr is the paradise of German red wines. Half of the production is dedicated to red wines and it is densely populated with “Gaststatten” and “Strausswirten”. A saying says: Who visited the Ahr and remembers that he was there, hasn’t actually been there.
Baden
Franken: don't think Bavarians make only beer. In the northern part of Bavaria you can find a very nice wine. The wine of often sold in a special bottle called "Bocksbeutel".
Hessiche Bergstrasse: located on the slopes of the Rhine valley it is a quiet small wine producing area and wines are usually consumed within the area in and around Heppenheim.
Mosel: the steepest vineyards in Germany can be seen when driving in the Mosel valley from Koblenz to Trier.
Rheinpflalz: biggest wine producing area in Germany. Has some excellent wines to taste and a lot nice villages embedded in vineyards. Tasting wine in Deidesheim is a good idea and several prime producer of German wine are all located on the main road. Want to see the biggest wine barrel in the world then go to Bad Durkheim.
Rheingau: is the smallest wine producing area, but it produces the highest rated Riesling wines in Germany. Visit Wiesbaden and make a trip on the Rhine to Rudesheim.
Rheinhessen
Wurtenberg If it was mentioned before, here the rule strictly applies the wine production is consumed by the locals. The wine consumption is twice as high as in the rest of Germany and regardless if it is the red or the white wines. The speciality of the region is the red wine called Trollinger and it can be quit nice by German standards.
Saale-Unstrut: located in the state Saxonia-Anhalt at the banks of the rivers Saale and Unstrut it is most northern wine area in Europe.
Sleep
Germany provides a lot of options for accommodation, including hotels, B&B's, hostels, and camping. You might also consider staying with members of a hospitality exchange network.
Hotels
Many hotel chains have franchises in the major German cities, and a variety of local hotels exist.
B&B's
B&B's ("Pensionen" or "Fremdenzimmer") provide less comfort than hotels for cheaper prices.
Hostels
Hostels provide simple, budget accommodation primarily in shared rooms. They are good places to get to know other travellers. In Germany, as in many countries, two flavors exist: international youth hostels and independent hostels.
International Youth Hostels ("Jugendherbergen") are owned and run by the association "Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk" (DJH), which is part of the Hostelling International (HI) network. Their more than 600 hostels are spread all over Germany in big and small cities as well as in the country side. Not only individual travellers are guests, but also by school classes and other youth groups. To sleep there, you have to be or become a member in a youth hostel organisation belonging the HI network (http://www.hihostels.com). Detailed information about this and each of their hostels can be found on the DJH's Website (http://www.jugendherberge.de/international/).
Privately run independent hostels are an attractive alternative for a similar price. More than 60 already exist in Germany, getting more and more every year. They are located in bigger cities, especially in Berlin, Munich, Dresden, and Hamburg. Only few are in the country side. Sometimes run by former travellers, hostels refrain from having strict rules. Especially small ones are frequently places where you can feel at home. There is no need to be a member in some organisation to sleep there. About half of the hostels have organized themselves in a "Backpacker Network" (http://www.backpacker-network.de/), which provides a list of their members hostels. A more complete list is Marcus's hostel list (http://www.hostel-list.de/). If you are interested in other traveller's opinions about hostels try www.hotelz.com (http://www.hostelz.com/).
Camping
There are many campsites in Germany.
Some travellers just put up their tents somewhere in the country side. In Germany this is illegal, unless you have the landowner's permission.
Learn
German universities can compete with some of the best universities in Europe or even the whole world. Since the vast majority of the universities is state-owned, studying in Germany is usually free of tuition fees.
- German Academic Exchange Service (http://www.daad.de/)
- Goethe-Institute (http://www.goethe-institut.de/) offers German language courses
Work
While unemployment in Germany is at a rate of more than 10 % at the moment, there are jobs for those with the right qualifications or connections. Non-EU foreigners wishing to work in Germany should make sure they secure the proper permits. Since this can mean extended acts of bureaucracy for non-EU citizens, it is likely not a good method to help your travelling budget.
If you want to stay in Germany for an extended period of time, but do not speak German, your best bets are large multinational companies in the banking, tourism or high tech industries. Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich are likely the best places to start looking. A good knowledge of German is usually expected, but not always a prerequisite.
Stay safe
Germany is a safe country, but there are some districts that should be avoided at night by the unwary, or by lone women. However recent statistics show a significant drop in major crimes like murder or robbery. Pick-pockets can be a problem in large cities or at events with large crowds. Big cities also have their share of beggars and punks, but these are hardly ever dangerous.
Germany has a dense network of emergency services, check the next paragraph on how to call them.
Emergencies
The nationwide emergency number is 112 for medical emergencies and fires, while the police emergency number is 110. Even if you call the "wrong" number, your call will be forwarded to the right emergency services. These numbers can by dialled toll-free from any phone booth or (mobile) phone. Mobile phones without a valid SIM card will still allow you to dial the 112 emergency number.
If you're reporting an emergency, the usual guidelines apply: Stay calm and state your exact location, the type of emergency and the number of persons involved. Don't hang up immediately, the operator may have further questions.
Medical emergencies
The hospitals (Krankenhaus) have emergency rooms which are open around the clock. They will deal with all kinds of medical problems, although you may have to wait if your problem is minor. In life-threatening situations do not try to get to the hospital yourself - call an ambulance via 112!
Pharmacies are called "Apotheke" and are marked by a big, red "A" symbol. At least one pharmacy per city or suburb will be open at all times. Each pharmacy will post the name and address of the nearest open pharmacy in the window.
There will also be a dentist on stand-by in each town. The number is usually available from the yellow pages.
Racism
Germany is often considered to be a rather racist country, especially toward non-Europeans/non-Whites/non-Christians. Germany's history combined with some dramatic television news in the 1990s have left a lasting impression with many people around the world. The real situation is far less dramatic and of course much more complex.
Germans in general are not more racist than people in other Western industrialized countries. Most large cities in Germany are extremely cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic with large communities of foreigners including non-whites and religious minorities. People in Germany are aware of the issue and will usually be tolerant or at least politically correct. Most foreign visitors do not deal with issues of open discrimination or racism. The most common forms of racism against non-white visitors include here are queer looks (often caused by uneasiness or insecurity), some snubbing and very rarely at worst verbal insults.
In parts of the former East Germany, the situation is slightly different. Higher unemployment rates are a fertile ground for racist ideas. Consequently, there are more incidences of racist behaviour than in the West with somewhat more frequent outbursts of physical violence, although such events remain quite rare and out of ordinary even in eastern Germany. It is important to remember that Germany is in general an extremely safe country with a very low violent crime rate. When away from large crowds or tourist areas, Non-White tourists should be somewhat cautious, but an overly paranoid attitude would be overdoing it.
Papers, please!
In large cities the police are working to control illegal immigration. As a result, it's a very good idea always to carry your passport and visa papers, if applicable - especially if you happen to be a man of non-European descent. If you don't, you could at best face a considerable delay as your story gets checked, and at worst more serious consequences. Again, remember that German police are generally helpful, but they have heard all the stories about "I forgot my papers" before and will likely be very skeptical of your explanation.
Stay healthy
Sanitary and medical facilities in Germany are very good. The phone book lists telephone numbers for various medical services, many hotlines and services exist that are open during "off hours". The emergency ambulance (for serious accidents and so on) can be reached via the telephone number 112 (the fire brigade). Health care in Germany is a complicated issue, with several types of mandatory public and private health insurances involved. You may wish to check with your insurance about their co-operation with German health insurance companies.
Tap water is usually safe for consumption, you may wish to employ caution with public sources of water (restrooms et cetera) but even these should not be harmful. Exceptions will be labeled ("Kein Trinkwasser", no drinking water).
Many lakes and rivers, as well as both the North Sea and Baltic Sea are generally safe for swimming. This depends on the locale, however. And while there may be no life-threatening pollutants in most bodies of water, you would do very well to inform yourself about local regulations. Finally, if you intend to visit the North Sea, you should inform yourselves about the tide schedules. Getting caught in a tide can be fatal. There are no tides in the Baltic Sea.
Finally, while there is really no dangerous wildlife in Germany, you should be aware of rabies (Tollwut) which has been a problem in some areas in the past. If you want to go to Germany for hiking or camping, you should inform yourself about the situation at your destination and take appropriate precautions. Normally, you won't have to worry about it however. You usually need a permit to camp or make a campfire and German authorities can be quite strict about this.
Respect
There are no real taboos in Germany that don't apply in other Western countries. Drinking in public is frowned upon, for those so inclined, but no punishment will ensue (if you become aggressive, that's another matter of course). On German beaches, it's usually okay for women to bathe topless, however full nudity is uncommon and frowned upon - especially for men. Some beaches are specifically reserved for nudists and are labeled "FKK" (Freikörperkultur, literally free body culture) and in most saunas nudity is compulsory.
Feeding pigeons is prohibited in many cities. It is hard to imagine that you will get fined even if confronted about it by a policeman, but it is entirely possible. You don't feed rats in the street; and likewise, you shouldn't feed pigeons either.
It is important to bear in mind that Germans at first glance seem to be, generally, somewhat less polite than folk in English speaking countries - but it is only the nature of the language: don't be offended by curt remarks, that's simply how you talk in German.
Do not be afraid to approach Germans. They are a very direct and honest people: if they can or want to help you, they will, if not, they will tell you so.
Be very tactful with regards to the subject of the Second World War. The legacy of that war is well understood by Germans and it can a very shameful burden shared even by people born forty years after its end. What might appear from an outsider's perspective to be "an innocent joke" might actually go down in a much more awkward way.
Note that technically it is against the law to insult others, so swearing at someone or "giving him the finger" in public is rare and could lead to unforeseen complications.
Photography
In Germany it is illegal to film or photograph a person without their permission. The exception are of course crowds or people just happen to stand in front of something else you take a photo of. When in doubt, ask for permission.
Contact
Telephone
The international calling code for Germany is 49, and the prefix for international calls is 00; the area code prefix is 0. Some number blocks are reserved for special use: Number starting with 010 let you choose a different phone provider (see below), 0130 and 0800 are toll-free numbers, 0180 are service numbers (which may or may not be more expensive than a local call). 0190 and 0900 are prefix numbers for commercial services and often very expensive.
Germany has a highly advanced communications network; coverage for mobile phone is generally good unless you go into really outlaying areas between small villages. The vast majority of Germans own mobile phones; the disadvantage of this is that the once-common phone booths have started to disappear except at "strategical" locations such as train stations. If you stay for an extended period of time, consider buying a prepaid phone card from one of the mobile phone companies; you won't have trouble finding a Telekom, Vodafone, E-Plus or O2 store in any major shopping area. Mobile telephony is still comparatively expensive in Germany, depending on your contract you may be charged about €0.10 to €0.50 per minute (and more for international calls).
Since the liberalization of Germany's phone market, there is a multitude of phone providers on the market. If you're calling from a private fixed line, you can usually choose from the different providers (and thus from different pricing schemes) by using special prefix numbers (starting with 010-). There's a calculator on the net (http://www.billiger-telefonieren.de/) where you can compare the prices for different destinations. Hotels usually have contracts with a particular phone provider and won't let you use a different one.
Alternatively, you can also buy prepaid phone cards you can use by calling a toll free number; this is especially a good deal if you intend to make international calls. Cards' quality and prices vary wildly, however, so a good recommendation cannot be made.
Recently, phone shops have sprung up in the major cities, where you can make international calls at cheap rates.
Internet
Internet cafes are common, but usually small, local businesses. You probably won't have a problem finding at least one in even smaller towns or large villages. Phone shops will often offer internet access, too.
Most hotels offer internet access, but this usually takes the form of dialup lines. You should also be aware that many hotels have a contract with Deutsche Telekom which includes the blacklisting of call-by-call numbers. Inquire at your hotel before booking if this matter is important to you.
In several cities, projects exist to provide free "community" hotspots for wireless networking. Passenger lounges at some airports and central railway stations also provide internet access to their customers.
Public libraries often offer free internet access.
Postal Service
The German postal service is reliable, if still suffering a little from being a state-owned company. Recently privatized, parts of their work force can be testing the patience of the customers at time. Inquire for the rates to your destination country at the local post office. Air mail (Luftpost) doesn't really make sense if you want to send anything to a destination in the European Union. If you want to send packages, there are two options - Päckchen is a small packet. It's cheaper, but includes no insurance and no option for the postal service to track them, so choose wisely. Packets do not usually get lost, but it can happen.
External links
- German Tourism Board Web site (http://www.germany-tourism.de/)
- Interactive streetmaps of German cities (http://stadtplandienst.de/home.asp?lang=en)
- Schedules of public country-wide transportation (http://www.delfi.de/html/50_fahrplanauskunft.htm) - German only at this time, but should be useable
- a manual for Germany (http://www.handbuch-deutschland.de/)
- facts about Germany (http://www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de/389.0.html)
