Germany's know-before-you-go: entry rules, the euro and cash, fast trains between cities, Autobahn driving, plugs, and the nine national holidays that close the shops.
This is what to know before you go to Germany: entry rules and passport validity, the euro and how cash still works, trains between cities, Autobahn driving, plugs, national holidays, and when the weather and crowds line up. These are the load-bearing national facts a first visit runs on, kept separate from what each city page covers.
Germany's currency is the euro (€). 1 euro is 100 cents, and prices on menus and shelves already include tax.Sourcedeutschland.de
Tap water is safe to drink throughout Germany.Sourcedeutschland.de
Mains power is 230 volts at 50 Hz, with type C and type F (Schuko) sockets. Pack an adapter for US and UK plugs.Sourcedeutschland.de·deutschland.de
Call 110 for the police and 112 for fire or medical emergencies anywhere in Germany.Sourcedeutschland.de
Cash still matters for small purchases. Many bakeries and small cafés take cash only, so keep euro notes and coins on you.SourceDAAD
When to go
When is the best time to visit Germany?
Spring
Months
March to May
Weather
Mild and changeable; bring layers and a light jacket, with rain possible in any month.SourceDW Travel
Crowds
Shoulder season. Cities are comfortable, and the weeks around the Easter school holidays can spike hotel prices and queues at the big sights.
Summer
Months
June to August
Weather
Warm, sometimes hot, with afternoon thunderstorms possible in July and August; shorts and a T-shirt are the norm.SourceDW Travel·Frommer's
Crowds
Peak season. Rates and queues are highest from late June through August, and festivals fill city weekends.
Autumn
Months
September to November
Weather
Mild turning cool; bring sweaters and a light jacket, and expect rain.SourceDW Travel
Crowds
Shoulder season again. Munich is packed for Oktoberfest in late September and early October, then the rest of the country goes quiet through October and November.
Winter
Months
December to February
Weather
Cold and often below freezing, with snow possible inland and in the south; days are short and grey.SourceDW Travel·Frommer's
Crowds
Low season in January and February, with December busy in the Christmas market cities and ski areas.
When to visit Germany, by season
Season
Months
Weather
Crowds
Spring
March to May
Mild and changeable; bring layers and a light jacket, with rain possible in any month.SourceDW Travel
Shoulder season. Cities are comfortable, and the weeks around the Easter school holidays can spike hotel prices and queues at the big sights.
Summer
June to August
Warm, sometimes hot, with afternoon thunderstorms possible in July and August; shorts and a T-shirt are the norm.SourceDW Travel·Frommer's
Peak season. Rates and queues are highest from late June through August, and festivals fill city weekends.
Autumn
September to November
Mild turning cool; bring sweaters and a light jacket, and expect rain.SourceDW Travel
Shoulder season again. Munich is packed for Oktoberfest in late September and early October, then the rest of the country goes quiet through October and November.
Winter
December to February
Cold and often below freezing, with snow possible inland and in the south; days are short and grey.SourceDW Travel·Frommer's
Low season in January and February, with December busy in the Christmas market cities and ski areas.
The practical guide
Everything to sort before you go
Visa and entry
Most visitors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the EU enter Germany without a visa for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, counted across the whole Schengen area. Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the day you plan to leave and issued within the last 10 years. If you do need a visa, it is a Schengen visa for short stays, and you apply before you fly.
US, UK, Canadian, and Australian passport holders may stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for tourism; that window is shared across the entire Schengen area. SourceGerman Missions in the US·Auswärtiges Amt
Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from Germany and must have been issued within the last 10 years. SourceAuswärtiges Amt
If you need a visa, the standard Schengen visa fee is €90, and missions may take up to 15 calendar days to decide a complete application; you can apply up to six months before travel. SourceAuswärtiges Amt
The visa waiver applies only to holders of biometric passports. SourceAuswärtiges Amt
Getting in from the airport
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is Germany's main intercontinental hub, with Munich (MUC) and Berlin Brandenburg (BER) carrying most other long-haul traffic. All three sit on the ICE network, so the train into the city or on to the next one often beats a connection flight.
Travellers flying between two Schengen countries cross the internal border without passport checks, but you still need valid travel documents with you. SourceAuswärtiges Amt
Germany has domestic flights, but its compact size makes trains and long-distance buses the practical choice between most cities. Sourcedeutschland.de
Getting around between cities
Deutsche Bahn's ICE trains link the large cities at least hourly on the core routes, and advance fares cost far less than buying on the day, so book the long legs early. A full rail pass rarely pays off on a short trip. The €63-a-month Deutschland-Ticket is the budget tool for regional and local travel, but it never covers ICE, IC, or EC services.
The Deutschland-Ticket costs €63 a month and covers all regional and local trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams, and buses nationwide in second class, but not ICE, IC, or EC trains. SourceDeutsche Bahn
The Deutschland-Ticket is a monthly subscription; cancel by the 10th of the month to stop it at the end of that month, and later cancellations run one more month. SourceDeutsche Bahn
The German Rail Pass Flexi starts at €178 and gives 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, or 15 travel days within one month. SourceDeutsche Bahn
Seat reservations and pass surcharges are required on some international long-distance connections, such as ICE/TGV services to France. SourceDeutsche Bahn
Getting around
Germany drives on the right. On many Autobahn stretches there is no general speed limit, though 130 km/h is the advised pace, and the limits of 50 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h on ordinary roads are enforced. Passenger cars pay no motorway toll, and service stations on the Autobahn run around the clock.
There is no general speed limit on many Autobahn sections; the recommended speed is 130 km/h, with 50 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h elsewhere unless signs say otherwise. Sourcedeutschland.de
Passenger cars pay no toll on German motorways; only some tunnels and private stretches charge. Sourcedeutschland.de
Seatbelts are compulsory for everyone, and children up to 150 cm tall must travel in a child seat. Sourcedeutschland.de
Money and payments
Germany runs on the euro, and every price shown already includes VAT, so the menu price is what you pay. Cash is still a daily tool: many bakeries, markets, small cafés, and some restaurants take cash only. Tipping is a small round-up rather than a fixed percentage. Non-EU residents can reclaim the 19% VAT on qualifying purchases.
The euro is legal tender in Germany; 1 euro is 100 cents, and shown prices include tax. Sourcedeutschland.de
Cash is still widespread, especially for small amounts, and many restaurants and bars do not accept credit cards, so keep euros on you. Sourcedeutschland.de·DW Travel
Tip by rounding up or adding about 5 to 10% in restaurants and taxis, and tell the server the total you want to pay. SourceDW Travel·deutschland.de
The standard VAT rate is 19%, with a reduced 7% rate on food, books, and medicines. SourceGlobal Blue
Non-EU residents can shop tax free on purchases over €50 per receipt; keep the receipt and the Tax Free form and have them validated by customs before leaving the EU. SourceGerman Customs (Zoll)·Hessian Portal
Safety and common scams
Germany is a low-crime country, and the main risk for visitors is pickpocketing in crowded stations and on busy trains, the same urban caution as anywhere in Western Europe. Storms and river flooding can also disrupt travel in some seasons. The two emergency numbers work nationwide.
Call 110 for the police and 112 for fire or medical emergencies anywhere in Germany. Sourcedeutschland.de
Germany has a low crime rate, and police are visible in public places and can be approached for help. SourceDAAD
Watch your belongings in crowds, and check forecasts before mountain or river trips, where storms and flooding can change plans. SourceDW Travel
Health and emergencies
No vaccinations are required for Germany, and tap water is safe to drink everywhere. Medical care is excellent but not free for visitors, so a clinic visit without insurance gets expensive. EU and UK residents should carry their EHIC or GHIC card; everyone else should buy travel health insurance before departure.
Tap water is safe to drink throughout Germany; avoid untreated water from mountain streams. Sourcedeutschland.de·Frommer's
Tourists are advised to take out travel health insurance for the duration of their visit, since treatment is not automatically free for non-residents. Sourcedeutschland.de
Staying connected
Mobile coverage is strong in cities and along main rail and road corridors, but it can thin out in rural valleys and forests. Free public WiFi is patchier than many visitors expect, so download maps and tickets before you leave the hotel. An eSIM or a local prepaid SIM is the cheap way to keep data for navigation and train apps.
Free public WiFi is not available everywhere in Germany, and where it exists it can be slow. SourceDAAD
Mobile coverage is good in cities and along major transport routes; international roaming or a local SIM keeps data costs down. Sourcedeutschland.de
Etiquette and tipping
A few habits smooth a first trip. Greet shop staff with a quick Hallo or Guten Tag, and say goodbye when you leave. Germans take recycling seriously: many drinks bottles carry a Pfand deposit you reclaim at the return machine. Quiet hours run from 10 pm to 6 am on weeknights and all day Sunday, so keep the volume down in residential areas.
Many shops close on Sundays and public holidays, with limited hours outside major cities. SourceFrommer's
Germany runs a bottle deposit system (Pfand); look for the deposit label and return bottles at the machines in supermarkets. SourceFrommer's
A simple Hallo or Guten Tag is the right greeting; punctuality and a direct, polite tone are the norm. SourceFrommer's
The language
German is the official language, and signs and menus come in German first, with station announcements usually in German before English. English is widely spoken in cities and hotels, and among younger people, though it thins out in rural areas and on some regional transport. A few words, bitte (please) and danke (thanks), go a long way.
German is the official language; English is widely spoken, especially in cities, tourist areas, and among younger people. SourceDW Travel
Public holidays and hours
Germany has nine nationwide public holidays, when shops, banks, and many attractions close: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day (1 May), Ascension Day, Whit Monday, German Unity Day (3 October), and both Christmas days. Each state adds its own on top, so check the calendar for the states you are crossing.
The nine nationwide public holidays are New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, 1 May, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, German Unity Day (3 October), and Christmas on 25 and 26 December. SourceDAAD
Some states add more holidays, including Epiphany (6 January), Corpus Christi, Assumption (15 August), All Saints' Day (1 November), and Reformation Day (31 October). SourceFrommer's
Many shops also close on Sundays, so stock up on groceries before the weekend. SourceFrommer's
What to book ahead
Book the big things early: long-distance train tickets for the lowest fares, the free but ticketed Reichstag dome, and hotels during trade-fair and festival weeks. The Deutschland-Ticket runs as a subscription with a monthly cancellation deadline, so set it up before you arrive if you plan to use it for a month of regional travel.
The cheapest ICE tickets are the advance-purchase fares, so book online before you travel. SourceDeutsche Bahn
The Deutschland-Ticket is a monthly subscription; cancel by the 10th of the month to stop it at the end of that month. SourceDeutsche Bahn
