Germany

Visit Germany – Plan Your Trip

Best Time to Visit Germany

The summer months of July and August are the best time to visit Germany, but spring and fall offer a chance to avoid the height of the tourist season. January is a good time to head to Garmisch for winter skiing in the Alps. And don't forget the Christmas markets all over Germany starting in late November.

German Christmas Markets

We have Germany to thank for the origins of Christmas Markets and also the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree. You will find thousands of Christmas markets in cities, towns and villages all over Germany. Check out the video below for a top 7 Christmas markets suggestion. Before the arrival of electricity, German households would light their Christmas trees with candles. Yikes!

Train Travel in Germany

Deutsche Bahn handles train travel in Germany. The DB Navigator app is a convenient way to choose a route between two cities in Germany. Make sure you look for early booking savings called "Sparpreis" too. Unfortunately Deutsche Bahn has not yet seamlessly integrated regional pricing into their destination searches. Many German states (federated lands) have extremely affordable regional passes that are difficult to find. These frequently are inexpensive for small groups traveling together. On a computer you can currently find these on the Deutsche Bahn web site under Regional Offers. States offering regional passes include Bavaria (Bayern), Brandenburg-Berlin, Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony, Thuringia, North Rhine-Westpahlia, Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland.

On the DB Navigator app, the regional pricing for some states will be right there with the standard offers. However for some states you will need to click Departures & Arrivals/Regional Offers on the menu to see a list of states you can select from. The good news is that if it's too confusing, you can always purchase regional tickets at a ticket machine or service desk. These are day passes that are always available at a standard price on the day you need to use them.

Favorite Foods of Germany

Bratwurst – Grilled sausages.
Schnitzel – Breaded and fried meat cutlets.
Pretzels (Brezel) – Traditional soft baked bread.
Currywurst – Sausage with curry-flavored ketchup.
Sauerkraut – Fermented cabbage.
Kartoffelsalat – Potato salad.
Rouladen – Beef rolls stuffed with bacon, onions, and pickles.
Eintopf – Hearty stews with meat and vegetables.
Spätzle – Egg noodles, often served with cheese.
Apfelstrudel – Apple-filled pastry.
Glühwein - German mulled wine, popular at Christmas markets.

Germany – Visa Requirements

Germany participates in the Schengen Zone and Schengen Visa requirements. There are no border inspections by rail or vehicle when traveling from Germany to Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium or the Netherlands. Some countries that are not members of the Schengen Zone require a Schengen Visa to enter Europe. Exemptions include citizens of Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Check your specific country at VisaHQ. For a list of exempt countries, visit Project Visa.

Germany – Currency

Germany uses the Euro for its currency. Neighboring countries that also use the Euro include the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Austria. If you travel to the neighboring countries of Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic or Switzerland they don't use the Euro.

Electrical Adapters for Germany

When you Visit Germany you will need a two prong European Europlug Type C electrical adapter. Your electrical adapter for Germany will work in many European countries, like Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Spain and Eastern Europe.

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