Tips for Traveling
Immigration Rules for your vacation in Germany
- EU citizens don’t need a visa
- Citizens of the USA, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and Switzerland do not need a visa for stays up to 3 months (only passport)
- Most nationalities from Africa and Asia need a visa for any purpose
- No matter where you come from – you are required to carry your passport or ID
Credit Cards and the Euro Currency on Vacation in Germany
- Official currency is the Euro “€”
- Credit cards are not very common, use them only for petrol stations, large shops and major hotels
- Carry cash or a Eurocheque card as well
- Change money at banks, post offices, airport or train stations
- Travellers cheques are hardly accepted
Shopping in the Cities of Germany
- Shops in cities are open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm
- Larger department stores and supermarkets may stay open till 8pm
- After hour shopping for basics is possible in petrol stations and train stations
Electricity and Phones
Electricity:
- Electric sockets are 230 volts AC, 50 Hz
- European-style round two-pin plugs are in use
- You need a transformer and a plug that fits the German socket
Public phones:
- Most public pay phones no longer accept coins but only Deutsche Telecom (DT) phonecards, which are available from post offices, newsagents, some tourist offices and public transport offices
Mobile phones:
- Germany operates on a GSM network, compatible with the rest of Europe and Australia
- The coverage is good in Germany
- When Germans talk about their cell phones, they call it “Handy” (You don’t need to understand that – noone does).
Times in Germany
Germany operates on Central European time (CET), 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST) in the United States and 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
For more detailed information, please use this link:
www.germanplaces.com