Germany

There are a few locations you can book your tickets:

• Online. The engine will automatically look up the cheapest possible fares according your requirements, including any applicable early-booking discounts. Pay online, print out your ticket, bring it along and you're set.
• At an automat. If you're already at the station, find anew(touchscreen)ticket machine, tap the British/UK flag, and then navigate through the menus. Like the online engine, they will automatically suggest the best routes, and credit cards are accepted. Ticket machines for the local Verkehrsverbund are yellow, white or gray. They can be used on all local transport in the area, including DB trains, but are not valid outside it. DB's ticket machines, which are red or blue, can sell you both local (VB)andregional (DB) tickets. For regional train travel between VBs, you'll have to use a DB ticket machine or buy your ticket at a Reisezentrum. If you're using an old red machine that doesn't have the code for your destination, punch in "9999" to buy aFahrkarte Anfangsstrecke(preliminary ticket), which can be upgraded to the correct fare on board without penalty. The new touchscreen machines accept credit cards, but the old ones do not.
• At a manned ticket counter. Head to any major train station (Hauptbahnhof) and find theReisezentrum. You will need to queue and pay a small surcharge.
• On the train. If you're really in a hurry, just run onto the train and grab any non-reserved seat, then buy a ticket from the conductor. This will cost you about 10% extra. Almost all conductors — and at least every main conductor, called theZugchef("Train Boss") — speak English. However, local tickets are usuallynotsold on local trains, you need to buy them at the station. If in doubt, signs on the platform or on the train itself sayingEinstieg nur mit gültigem Fahrausweismean that you have to have a ticket before you board. Drivers on buses and trams, though, usually do sell tickets.

Now, if you're traveling on local trains, things can gethideously confusingvery fast. The basic unit of confusion is theVerkehrsverbund (VB), or "tariff union", which is basically a region around a large city that has a single tariff system. Examples include VBB[25]aroundBerlinand RMV[26]aroundFrankfurt. Any travelwithina single Verkehrsverbund is "local", and usually quite cheap; but any travelbetweenVerkehrsverbunds requires either a special (within North Rhine-Westphalia) or the full DB fare, and will usually be considerably more expensive. The catch is that DB trains often merrily cross between Verkehrsverbunds with no warning at all, and your "local" ticket stops being valid the instant you cross the invisible line.

Local tickets have to be paid for by cash, and credit cards are not accepted,even on DB machines that do usually accept credit cards. Change in coins is given, but no more than €10. With many local machines and old DB machines, you'll need to figure out thefour-digit codefor your destination, found on a panel of densely packed print nearby. Poke the flag button to switch to English, punch in the code for your destination station on the keypad, then hit the appropriate button in the left ("adult") row below to pick your ticket — the first button is always one-way single (Einzelfahrausweis). A price will be displayed: feed in your money (quickly, since the timeout is quite fast!), and the machine will spit out your tickets and change. For new blue DB machines, select the local tariff union in the top menu, and the rest is easy.

If you buy a local VB ticket, you will usually have to validate it by timestamping it at the bright yellow punch machines located on platforms. If you have no valid ticket, or an unpunched ticket, you will be fined as a fare dodger. Ticket validity varies randomly from one VB to another: usually there is either a zone system (the further you travel, the more you pay), a time system (the longer you travel, the more you pay), or most commonly a combination of these two. Unlimited transfers between trains, buses etc are usually allowed as long as your ticket remains valid. Discounts may be given for return trips, and one-day tickets (Tageskarte) are usually cheaper and much less hassle that single tickets, although zone limits apply to them as well. You can often pick up brochures attempting to explain all this, usually with helpful maps and occasionally even in English, at a local Reisezentrum.

Regional train tickets are point-to-point, with the destinations written on the ticket. They are only valid on trains, although for long-distance tickets, you may have the option to add on a local transport ticket at your destination for a few euro extra.

[edit]Special fares

There are 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:

• If you buy a return ticket at least three days in advance you can get discounts of 25% and even 50% if your trip includes the night from Saturday to Sunday. Unlike standard fare tickets you must use the trains you booked the ticket for and cannot choose an earlier or later one.
• 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 mayconsider getting aBahnCard, valid for 12 months (from the date of purchase), which gives you discounts on all ticket purchases.
• TheBahnCard 25costs €57 (€114 for first class) and gives you a 25% discount on all further ticket purchases. Spouses and kids of BahnCard 25-owners can get additional cards for €5.
• TheBahnCard 50is €225 (€450 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. If you are a student in Germany and under the age of 26, you can get the BahnCard50 for only €113.
• TheBahnCard 100is €3650 (€6150 for first class) and gives you a 100% discount on almost all tickets. An example for the exceptions is theAutoZug, which is a train that allows you to take your car along. You will have to pay some additional fare to use the night trains and theICE Sprinter.

If you don't want to buy the BahnCard, book the train ticket one week in advance, and you also can get half priced tickets, but there is a catch: you have to arrange your itinerary carefully, and you will return back to where you began, and the duration should cover the weekends. Besides the train that you can take is fixed (the train code will be given to you).

• TheSchönes-Wochenende-Ticket(translated as 'Lovely Weekend Ticket') lets you travel anywhere in Germany on a Saturday or Sunday until 3AM the following day. It is, however, valid only on regional trains (IRE, RE, RB, S), many private railways and on most of the other means of public transport, but not express or night trains (ICE, IC, etc.). If you have time on your hands, it is a very inexpensive option at just €35 for up to 5 people. It is not uncommon to be asked by fellow travellers at a major train station if you have such a ticket in order to travel as a group and share the costs. The Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket is potentially an ultra-cheap form of long distance travel: You can get from Munich to Hamburg for €7, taking 12+ hours, however it's still faster and more comfortable than taking the bus.
• If your travel is contained within a singleBundesland(state), then you can buy aLänder-Ticket[27], which is much like a Schönes-Wochenend-Ticket, except that they're valid on weekdays (after 9 AM) and limited to that state (plus, usually, a few short links across the border). Tickets cost around €17 for 1 person and €27 for up to five people.
• The German Rail Pass and the Eurail Pass[28]allow for unlimited travel throughout Germany and Europe on a select number of days. These tickets are available only from travel agencies outside Germany.

[edit]Information for railway fans

There are several railways of special interest in Germany.

• the Rasender Roland on Rügen
• the Mecklenburgische Bäderbahn Molli in Bad Doberan
• the Harzquerbahn
• the Harzer Schmalspurbahn
• Lössnitz Valley Railroad
• the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn inWuppertal, the world's oldest monorail
• the H-Bahn inDortmund
• the SchwebebahnDresden
• the Transrapid[29]maglev test track inEmsland

Cog railways are in Stuttgart, up Drachenfels, up the Zugspitze Mountain and up the Wendelstein Mountain.

For an almost complete list, seede:Sehenswerte Eisenbahnen in Deutschland.

[edit]DB subsidiaries

• Burgenlandbahn[30](Artern - Nebra - Naumburg, Zeitz - Teuchern - Weißenfels / Naumburg, Querfurt - Merseburg, Merseburg - Schafstädt)

• Usedomer Bäderbahn (Usedom/ Baltic Sea)

[edit]Other railway corporations

• ABELLIO Rail[31](Gelsenkirchen - Herne - Bochum (Nokia-Bahn), Essen - Bochum - Witten - Hagen (Ruhr-Lenne-Bahn))
• Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft[32](around Karlsruhe)
• Allgäu Express[33](München - Oberstdorf)
• Altona-Kaltenkirchen-Neumünster Eisenbahn[34](Hamburg-Eidelstedt - Ulzburg - Neumünster, Elmshorn - Ulzburg, Ulzburg - Norderstedt Mitte)
• Bahnbetriebsgesellschaft Stauden[35](Gessertshausen - Fischach - Markt Wald, Günzburg - Krumbach)
• Bayerische Oberlandbahn[36](München - Lenggries / Tegernsee / Bayrischzell)
• Bayerische Zugspitzbahn[37](Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Grainau - Schneefernerhaus/Zugspitzplatt)
• Bodensee-Oberschwaben-Bahn[38](Friedrichshafen Hafen - Aulendorf)
• Borkumer Kleinbahn und Dampfschiffahrt[39](on the North Sea island Borkum)
• Breisgau-S-Bahn-Gesellschaft[40](Freiburg - Breisach, Riegel - Endingen - Breisach, Riegel - Gottenheim, Freiburg - Elzach)
• Brohltal Schmalspur-Eisenbahn[41](Brohl - Engeln)
• Busverkehr Ober- und Westerzgebirge Bahn[42](Cranzahl - Oberwiesenthal, Radebeul Ost - Radeburg)
• Chiemseebahn[43](Prien(DB) - Hafen Stock)
• City Bahn Chemnitz[44](Chemnitz - Stollberg, Stollberg - St. Egidien - Glauchau, Chemnitz - Burgstädt, Chemnitz - Hainichen)
• Connex Sachsen[45](Cottbus - Görlitz - Zittau, Leipzig - Bad Lausick - Geithain, Görlitz - Bischofswerda - Dresden)
• Dessau-Wörlitzer Eisenbahn[46](Dessau - Wörlitz)
• Döllnitzbahn[47](Oschatz - Mügeln - Kemmlitz, Nebitzschen - Glossen)
• NordWestBahn[48]

[edit]By bus

A few long distance bus lines exist within Germany, most of them orientated to/from Berlin. Besides, there is a very useful long distance bus line, the "Neun-Euro Bus". If booked in advance, you can end up paying just nine euro for any trip on the bus line connecting Hamburg (+airport), Hanover (+airport), Kassel, Frankfurt (+airport), Mannheim and Heidelberg. The bus runs during the night. For more information, check[49]

Apart from these, there is a very dense network of regional and local bus lines. In rural areas though, many lines run only once per day. Regional and local express bus line designators usually contain the letter(s) CE (local), E (regional around Hamburg; in other areas, E is used for special runnings), S (regional), SB (regional and local) or X (local within Berlin), city bus line designators may contain the letter(s) BB ("Bürgerbus", not integrated within tariff unions), C or O.Always check the departure boards carefully: sometimes - especially at night or in rural areas - you have to order your bus by phone.

[edit]By car

Germany has a world-famous network of excellent roads and Autobahn (motorway) with no toll or fees for cars (trucks have to pay), but gasoline prices are kept high by taxation. As of July 2009 prices float around €1.30 per litre for petrol (91 and 95 octane), and around €1.10 per litre for diesel. Oddly, normal petrol and "super" is the same price in Germany. At petrol stations you'll have the choice between Diesel, Benzin (91 octane), Super (95 octane) and SuperPlus (98 octane) or Ultimate (100 octane). Also LPG (Liquid petroleum gas) is available with not so much problems on Highways. Here and there you might find "Erdgas", too; this is compressed natural gas not gasoline. In Germany, you may first fill up your tank and pay afterwards (only if the petrol station is staffed, of course). Some stations will not release the fuel to pump unless you pay first or at least hand over a credit card in advance.

[edit]Car Rental and Carpools

All German airports offer car hire services and most of the main hire firms operate at desk locations

Car hire and pool cars are also available in most cities, and one-way rentals (within Germany) are generally permitted with the larger chains without an additional fee. 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 that's what you're used to. Mind that in Germany you´re not allowed to drive a manual transmission car if you got your license on an automatic gearbox car.

Another great way to get around without your own car is using one of the popular car pool services. You can arrange many connections over their respecive websites if you speak some German or have a friend that can help you out. Making contact is free of charge and getting a lift is often the cheapest way to get around. The two most popular hosts are Mitfahrgelegenheit[50]and Mitfahrzentrale[51], for second one you have to pay an extra charge. If you have your own car, taking other people is also a great way of saving money and protecting the environment.

[edit]Traffic rules

Most foreign licenses are accepted for up to a year if you areat least18 years old. After a year, you must obtain a German license. This rule does not apply to driving licences issued in EU member states.

• Traffic Lights: You may not turn right on red traffic lightsexceptif there is a small green right arrow sign affixed to the traffic light. In that case you may carefully turn right, however you must still stop and make sure that there is no traffic or pedestrians approaching. Sometimes instead of a sign there's a light with the same symbol on it, you're allowed to turn right without stopping as long as the light is on; the same applies to left arrow lights.

In many areas traffic lights are not hung over the intersection, but instead placed at the corners. Do not creep into the intersection or else you won't be able to see the lights change. Some intersections (especially in bigger cities) use "self regulating" traffic lights. The inductive sensor device used to determine if there's a car waiting is under the thick white stripe in front of the traffic light. Be sure to stop right in front of (or very slightly on) that stripe or the sensor might not recognise you, the light will still turn green but you might have to wait quite a while longer.

Yellow lights are short in duration and are also used prior to the light turning green. If the yellow light is flashing this means the traffic light either is defective or switched off (for example late at night or during weekends), and you MUST STOP at the intersection as though you were at a stop sign (observe "right before left" or stop signs). Driving through the lights at red carries a fine (up to €200).

• Mobile phones: Using your mobile phone while driving is forbidden, unless you use a hands-free set. This includes using the mobile phone while stopped at a traffic light, etc. It does not matter if you use the phone for making a call or just reading the clock: If you pick it up, you are violating the rule. This also means that using a navigation software on a smartphone is not allowed, unless the phone is mounted in the car. The police are quite strict about this.

• Cyclists and road markings: Normal road markings are white. Yellow road markings invalidate any existing white markings, observe the yellow markings. Watch out for cyclists on sidewalk lanes, sometimes they are allowed to use the "wrong direction" lane (though many drive in "wrong direction" even if they are not allowed to do so). If a road crosses a bicycle lane (Radweg) it might have a red color where it interjects with the bicycle lane or other special markings, if that´s the case cyclists have right of way. If in doubt or there are no markings, its still a good idea to give right of way.

• Traffic Police: The police will show blinking signs reading "Polizei Halt" (police, stop) if they want to stop you. An audible "yelp-signal" is currently being introduced. Stay calm and friendly, hand over the driving license and car papers (if you rent a car, you will have a copy of the rental contract) when you are asked to. In most cases that is all that happens and if you respect traffic signs and speed limits it is very unlikely that you get stopped at all.

The police may routine check vehicle drivers foralcohol; controls will be especially heavy at national holidays or close to mass events where people may consume alcohol. It's illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content of more than 0.05% (0.5‰ (permille)). Even below that limit you may face severe fines if youseem unfit to drive. The limit iszerofor people under 21 and those who have held their license for less than two years. If your license was recently renewed, it might be a good idea, if possible, to have a copy of your previous license.

All accidents, no matter how small, must be reported to the police at the time. You will usually be asked to show your driving licence, some other form of ID and the car papers (Zulassungsbescheinigung- a long green card covered with numbers which is found in all rental cars). The police will fill out an accident report (which is usually needed by most car rental companies for insurance claims), stating where and when the accident took place and the vehicles involved in the accient. There is also usually a fine to pay (approximately €25 if the accident was caused in "stationary" traffic i.e. parking and can be up to €40 if the accident was caused in "moving" traffic) which must be paid either on the spot or at the nearest police station. The fine can be higher if there was an obstruction or hazard to other road users. Hitting-and-running, if caught, is punished with a heavy fine (the German police possess surprising efficiency when it comes to tracking down foreign cars caught breaking the traffic laws).

• Speed limitsare the following in Germany (unless otherwise shown):

• max. 7 km/h on "Spielstraßen" (marked by a blue/white sign showing playing kids)
• max. 30 km/h in most residential areas within cities (marked with a sign "30-Zone Wohngebiet", 20-Zone and 10-Zone also exist)
• max. 50 km/h inside towns and cities (including "Kraftfahrtstraßen" (marked by a sign showing a white car on a blue background))
• max. 100 km/h outside towns and cities
• There is no constant general speed limit on the "Autobahn" or on "Kraftfahrstraßen" if there is any kind of barrier between two or more lanes of different direction. However, it is not an entirely unrestricted roadway as there are sections that are periodically or permanently assigned lower rates of speed. The recommended maximum speed on the Autobahn is 130 km/h and if you drive on the Autobahn for your first time and are not yet used to the usual heavy traffic you should not exceed that speed. In addition, if you are legally travelling in excess of 130 km/h and are involved in an accident you can still be held liable for part or all of the damages, regardless of fault on your part.

Speed cameras are common in Germany (the country has one of the highest speed camera concentrations in Europe) and are found mostly in towns and cities. There are usually no speed cameras on the motorway, even when there is a speed limit in force, however do not abuse this fact. Temporary road works on the motorway are usually a favourite for the police, so obey the speed limit, which is clearly marked. Also be aware that all forms of radar jammers and radar detectors (including satellite navigation systems with a speed camera overlay) are illegal.

The following table gives an overview of the fines for speeding (the speeds below indicate the difference between the speed limit and the actual speed travelled after the 3 km/h allowance has been deducted)

Inside built-up areas

• up to 10 km/h €15
• 11-15 km/h €25
• 16-20 km/h €35
• 21-25 km/h €80 [1 point]
• 26-30 km/h €100 [3 points]
• 31-40 km/h €160 [3 points, 1 month driving ban]
• 41-50 km/h €200 [4 points, 1 month driving ban]
• 51-60 km/h €280 [4 points, 2 months driving ban]
• 61-70 km/h €480 [4 points, 3 months driving ban]
• over 70 km/h €680 [4 points, 3 months driving ban]

Outside built-up areas(e.g. motorway, country roads; also in road works)

• up to 10 km/h €10
• 11-15 km/h €20
• 16-20 km/h €30
• 21-25 km/h €70 [1 point]
• 26-30 km/h €80 [3 points]
• 31-40 km/h €120 [3 points]
• 41-50 km/h €160 [3 points, 1 month driving ban]
• 51-60 km/h €240 [4 points, 1 month driving ban]
• 61-70 km/h €440 [4 points, 2 months driving ban]
• over 70 km/h €600 [4 points, 3 months driving ban]

NB: There are extra fees of €23.50 for any fine over €40.

You have the right to appeal against any traffic violation, however this process is long, complicated and can cost a lot of money.

Vehicles with a maximum speed of less than 60 km/h arenot allowedon the "Autobahn" or "Kraftfahrstraßen".

• 'Green' Measures: All cars driving into anUmweltzone(pollution-free zone) need a special vignette (Feinstaubplakette) according to their pollution category. Signs at the start of pollution-free zones will show which vignette is needed to be allowed to enter (green, yellow, or red), and which cars are not allowed to enter. If a car does not have a vignette at all, its not allowed to enter a pollution-free zone. If you rent a car make sure to ask if it has aFeinstaubplakette.

[edit]Using the Autobahn

• German drivers tend to drive faster and more aggressively than you might be used to, especially on the parts of the highway system without a speed limit, which is taken literally.
• The minimum speed limit on the Autobahn is 60 km/h. Vehicles unable to travel this fast are not permitted to use the Autobahn.
• While most passenger vehicles only have a recommended speed limit of 130 km/h, vehicles with studded tires must not travel faster than 145 km/h, some buses generally have a speed limit of 100 km/h, and any vehicle towing a trailer, along with buses in general and non-passenger vehicles with a gross weight of greater than 3,5 tonnes, is limitedonly to 80 km/h.
• Road signs on the Autobahn show possible destinations (mostly city names). They donotshow the direction of the road (e.g. east/west), like in some other countries. Signs at exits rather show the name of the next exit than destinations.
• You must use the right lane if it's free, even if everybody seems to prefer the left and middle lanes (where they exist). You may stay in the left/middle lane if there are occasional slow vehicles on the right. Overtaking on the right lane is not allowed and can be dangerous as other drivers may not expect it. You must always pass vehicles on the left side, except in a traffic jam (note that passing on the rightisallowed on other streets within city limits). Before using the left lane in order to overtake look carefully behind as there might bereallyfast cars coming.
• Autobahns have an emergency lane where you can stop only in case of a breakdown or when otherwise unavoidable. For everything else,alwaysuse the frequent service areas; it is illegal and dangerous to stop there for other reasons. Running out of fuel on the Autobahn may also incur a small fine if the police happens to notice you, as this is considered to be avoidable. If you have to stop you must set up your warning triangle. The emergency lane is a dangerous place - you should leave your vehicle and stay off the road until help arrives!
• Arrows on the small posts along the Autobahn will guide you to the next orange emergency phone. These will automatically connect you free of charge with an emergency call center which will help you get the police, an ambulance or just a mechanic. These phones should be the preferred choice over using your mobile since they transmit your exact location.
• In some areas emergency tracks are used as extra lanes in times of heavy traffic. But this is always announced by electronic light signs.

In case of a breakdown you may also call theADAC, the world'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 always 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.

[edit]By recreational vehicle and campervans

German campgrounds (like most in Western Europe) usually offer a full range of amenities. You'll always have your own electricity hookup, and water and sewer hookups for each are common, too. Every campground has restrooms and showers as well as kitchens, washing-machines and a spin dryer.

The yellow pages of camping, or, if you like, the German camping bible, is theADAC Campingführer, a campground guide by Germany's largest automobile club ADAC. It lists almost all campgrounds along with prices, type of location, size, opening hours, amenities, you-name-it. Since the guide uses lots of symbols which are explained in a number of languages, it's suitable for travellers from abroad, too.

[edit]By thumb

It is possible tohitchhikein Germany and most Germans speak basic English, so you will be understood if you speak slowly. Drivers rarely expect you to give them any money for the ride. The first letters of the German number plate (before the hyphen) indicate the city in which the car is registered. If you know the code for your destination[52]it will increase your chances of stopping the right vehicle.

It is illegal to stop on theAutobahnitself, but hitchhiking from service areas or petrol stations is a good way of getting long rides (100-200 km). The hard part is getting onto the Autobahn, so it pays off to sleep near the gas stations if you are going far. At the gas stations you can get a free booklet calledTanken und Rastenwith a map of the Autobahn and its gas stations. When getting a lift, agree with the driver where to get off, and make sure there is a gas station. Try to avoid theAuto Hofs.

It is also quite common to arrangea ride in a private vehiclein advance through on offline agency or the Internet. Offline agencies like Citynetz[53]or ADM[54]do have offices in major cities, mostly near the city center or the main railway station. These offline agencies do charge a commission to the cost for fuel you need to pay for the driver.

In the recent years online services to arrange rides in private vehicles became very popular, as both parties do not have to pay the commission to traditional agencies. You need to contribute only towards fuel costs. (example fare: Frankfurt to Berlin €25). You can contact the driver directly by email, phone or sms. As the drivers need to be registered, it is safer than hitchhiking. Hitchhikers[55]is a comparable service, multilingual and free. Mitfahrgelegenheit[56]and Mitfahrzentrale[57]are other well known players with plenty of rides in their databases. Mitfahrzentrale even operates all over Europe. Raumobil[58]is a new player in the market but a more private-run affair. Mitflugzentrale[59]arrangesrides in private planes.

Another form ofhitchhikingavailable in Germany is on the trains. People purchase a Wochenende-ticket (weekend ticket) which allows them to take up to four other people with them on the regional transports for the entire weekend. To hitch a ride with these travelers, first figure out which regional transportation you will need to take in order to reach your destination. You may figure that out online at the German train website[60], making sure to check "regional transportation only", or train stations in major cities have computer terminals in which you can do the same. Then just hop on the train that is going your way. Always, within one car you will find someone willing to let you tag along. "Haben Sie ein Wochenendeticket?"Do you have a weekend ticket?"Kann ich bei Ihnen mitfahren?"Can I travel with you?. Just make sure it is the right train and the weekend.

[edit]Talk

The official language of Germany isGerman. The standard form of German is called "Hochdeutsch" (High German). This is accent-free or better dialect-free German, the "official" form of the language. It is understood by all and spoken by almost all Germans. However, every region has its historical dialect, which might pose a challenge sometimes to those who speak even good German - and even to native speakers as well. This is usually only noticeable in the south and rural areas of the north and east. Thus when traveling in Bavaria, Saxony and Baden you are stepping foot in places where dialect remains a strong part of the local identity. The general rule of thumb is, south of the Main River divides north Germany from the south in both language dialects and local culture.

All Germans learnEnglishat school, so you should be able to get by with English in most places. Many people--especially in the tourism industry and higher educated persons--also speakFrench,RussianorSpanish, but if you can't speak German, English remains your best bet. Even if one member of the staff doesn't speak English, you are likely to find someone who does and is more than willing to help you. In the southeastern part of that area, a small Slavic community of 50,000 also speak theSorbianlanguage, the least spoken modern Slavic language today, but widely protected from near-extinction since 1945.

If you address a German with English, always ask "Do you speak English?" or its German translation "Sprechen Sie Englisch?" It is considered a sign of politeness.

Germans less fluent in the English language often answer questions very briefly (one or two words) because they feel uncertain how to create a complete English sentence. This might sometimes appear impolite but it is not at all meant this way. Germans less fluent in English also 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". Another source of confusion is that Germans call mobile (cell) phones a "Handy" and many of them regard this as an English word.

While Germany uses the 24 hour format for times, people very often 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. Another difference is that when saying the time is 7:30 the English would say "half past seven" where as the Germans say the time half to eight, or "halb acht." 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. It is still better to double-check what is really meant.

See also:German phrasebook.

[edit][add listing]See

[edit][add listing]Do

Germany offers virtually every activity you can imagine. Most Germans are members of a sports club and visit cultural events less often. Due to the federal structure every region has its own specific activities.

[edit]Nature

Due to its size and location in central Europe, Germany boasts a large variety of different landscapes, offering many activities related to nature, from hiking in the forests to exploring the picturesque islands off the northern coasts!

• Seacoasts: Germany's north has coasts to the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The landscape, especially along the North Sea shore is very flat, the climate is rough with strong winds and mild, chilly temperatures. Due to the south-easterly winds that press water into the German Bight, tidal variations are exceptionally high, creating the "Wattenmeer": Vast areas of the seabed are uncovered twice a day, allowing one to walk from one of the numerous islands to another. The North Sea islands just off the coast are very picturesque, although mostly visited by the Germans themselves. Most of the north sea islands are free of car traffic and guarantee a silent holiday. Out in the German Bight lies the country's only off-shore island, Helgoland. Thanks to the strong winds, Wind-Surfing is possible all year round. Do not expect Hawaiian temperatures, though.

• Forests: Germans are fanatic about their forests. While they are much smaller now than they used to be in medieval times, they are still huge compared to forests in other, especially western and southern European countries and only thinly populated. Among others, theBlack Forestand the Bayrischer Wald have been declared national heritage and will, over the course of the next centuries, slowly return into a wild state. Although Germans love to go for long walks and hikes in these dark and humid woods, there's space enough for everyone to get lost. If you take one of the smaller paths you may not meet another person for the rest of the day (this in a country of 230 people per square kilometer). Especially the more remote areas are of an almost mythical beauty. It is no wonder the brothers Grimm could collect all those fairytales among the dark canopies, and a large part of the German poetry circles around trees, fog and those lonely mountain tops. Even Goethe sent his Faust to theBrockenfor his most fantastic scene. Today, wild animals, although abound, are mostly very shy, so you might not get to see many. While a few wolves in Saxony and a bear in Bavaria have been sighted, their immigration from Eastern Europe caused quite a stir. In the course of events "Bruno" (the bear) was shot, and while the wolves are under heavy protection local hunters have been suspected of killing them illegally. The most dangerous animal in Germany's forests is by far the wild boar, especially sows leading young are nothing to joke about. Wild boar are used to humans, since they often plunder trash cans in villages and suburbs and their teeth can rip big wounds. If you see one, run.