Tyskland

Översikt

Capital: Berlin (pop. 3.574 million)
Population: 84,075,075 (2025 est.)
Other Urban Areas: Hamburg (pop. 1.788 million); Munich (pop. 1.576 million); Cologne (pop. 1.144 million); Frankfurt (pop. 796,000)
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, other, none
Languages: German
Time Zone: UTC+1; daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October
Driving side: Right
Calling code: +49
Electrical plug(s): Type C and Type F

Pengar

The local currency in Germany is Euros (EUR). As of 6 October 2026 100 EUR is equal to 112.17 USD.

Currency exchange can be done at banks and exchange offices.

Travellers should be prepared to use either cash or credit or debit card to make payments. Credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are available in most places.

Round up the bill in a restaurant. If the service is particularly good, you may add a few euros and/or leave a 5-10% tip. Tip taxi drivers 5-10% of the total fare. Tip porters 1-2 euros per bag. Leave 1-2 euros for housekeeping per night.

El

The power supply in Germany is reliable. Electricity operates on 230V at 50Hz using plug type(s) C and F.

Pass

Most travellers will need a passport to enter Germany. The passport must be valid for at least three months after the date of departure, have been issued within the last ten years and have two blank pages.

Nationals of the European Union (EU) can enter the Schengen area with a valid ID.

Visum

Visumfri inresa är tillgänglig för vissa resenärer som uppfyller kraven baserat på nationalitet och resans syfte. Alla andra resenärer måste skaffa visum från närmaste ambassad eller konsulat eller ansöka online (e-visum) före resan.

Inreseregler för visum varierar beroende på nationalitet, resans syfte och andra faktorer. Enskilda resenärer ansvarar för att säkerställa att de uppfyller alla visumkrav, vilka bör bekräftas med myndigheterna på resmålet före resan.

Visumfri resa

Visumfri resa inom Schengenområdet: Medborgare i något land som är del av Schengenavtalet kan fritt resa in och vistas i vilket Schengenland som helst utan visum. Vissa utländska medborgare från icke-Schengenländer har också rätt till inresa utan visum, inklusive medborgare från Storbritannien (UK), USA och Kanada bland andra, som kan resa visumfritt för korta vistelser upp till 90 dagar inom en 180-dagarsperiod.

Visum

Korttidsvisum för Schengen (typ C): Utländska medborgare från utvalda länder behöver Schengenvisum för att få inresa till något land i Schengenområdet.

Resenärer får vistas i något av Schengenländerna med enkel-, dubbel- eller flergångsvisum upp till 90 dagar (tre månader) under varje 180-dagarsperiod, oavsett vistelsens syfte.

Från och med 7 november 2025 utfärdas inga flergångsvisum till ryska medborgare.

Visum som utfärdas för Schengenländer gäller för hela Schengenområdet. Med ett Schengenvisum kan en tredjelandsmedborgare resa in i ett Schengenland och sedan fritt resa inom hela Schengenområdet, eftersom gränskontrollerna för personer som reser över Schengens nationella gränser har tagits bort.

Ansöknings- och handläggningstider kan variera beroende på individ och ambassad.

Lokal resor

Overview

The country has an excellent public transport network that includes boats, ferries, trains, subways, taxis and buses, which are reliable and safe. Air travel is widely available and safe. Vehicular travel is also recommended, as road conditions are excellent nationwide. Dial 112 nationwide in case of emergency.

Travel Safety

Air Travel

Almost all cities in Germany have local airports serviced by several domestic carriers. Frankfurt International Airport (FRA/EDDF) is the largest gateway for international flights into Germany and the third busiest airport in Europe. The terminals are linked by airport shuttles. Germany's national carrier, Lufthansa, is based out of Frankfurt and maintains a very good safety record.

There are two railway stations at Frankfurt Airport. Regional, or S-Bahn, trains depart from the station at Level 1 of Terminal 1 to Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and Hanau. Frankfurt Taunusanlage, Frankfurt Hauptwache and Frankfurt Konstablerwache are the stations in the city's centre. Long-distance trains use the station next to Terminal 1, called the AIRail Terminal.

Bus 61 to Frankfurt departs from outside Terminal 1 and is safe and efficient, but can take longer than the S Bahn train. Bus 62 will take you to Frankfurt' Schwanheim. Rental cars are available near the arrivals halls of Terminals 1 and 2.

Other international airports are situated in Berlin (BER/EDDB), Munich (MUC/EDDM), Düsseldorf (DUS/EDDL), Hamburg (HAM/EDDH), Cologne/Bonn (CGN/EDDK), Stuttgart (STR/EDDS) and Freiburg (EuroAirport). Most airports have taxi and shuttle bus services that offer fast connections to city centres.

From 1 February to 19 July 2027, Eindhoven Airport (EIN/EHEH) in North Brabant province will be temporarily closed to air traffic due to runway renovations. During this period, no flights will depart from or arrive at the airport. Passengers will be able to use alternative airports during the closure.

Airspace

Following the European Union (EU) Commission announcement that all EU airspace will be closed to Russian-owned, Russian-registered and Russian-controlled aircraft, including private planes and for overflights, all flights to and from Russia will be banned until further notice, in line with EU sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Borders and Entry

Border measures: Until at least 15 March 2027, internal border controls are in place at land border crossings with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic due to increased human smuggling threats.

Identification

Most travellers will need a passport to enter Germany. The passport must be valid for at least three months after the date of departure, have been issued within the last ten years and have two blank pages.
Travellers are allowed entry with passports where gender is indicated as "neutral". The country's overall social acceptance of LGBTQ people is good.

Road Travel

Traffic in Germany moves on the right. Road conditions are generally excellent, with the exception of some older roads in eastern Germany. Hazards include the high speeds permitted on the German autobahn (motorway), inclement weather and unfamiliar road markings. There is no general speed limit on the national motorway network where the blue speed limit signs, usually showing 130, are suggested maximum speeds in kilometres per hour. The speed limit on open roads is usually 100kph (62mph), and in towns, it is 50kph (31mph) unless stated otherwise. Near schools, the limit is 30kph (18mph).

If there is no yellow diamond sign at a junction, drivers must give way to traffic from the right, even on a major road. The legal threshold for driving under the influence of alcohol is fairly low at 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood. Penalties for drinking and driving are strict.

Seat belts are compulsory. The use of mobile phones while driving is prohibited unless the vehicle is fitted with a hands-free device. Drivers must carry a warning triangle (Warndreieck) and a first-aid kit in the vehicle (found in the trunk of all rental cars) for use in an emergency. There have been several accidents at railroad crossings involving foreign travellers in recent years. Railroad crossings are marked by signal lights or X-shaped signs. Signal lights indicate that a train is approaching and that all vehicles should stop. Do not stop between barriers under any circumstances.

Rail Travel

Germany's rail network is extensive, punctual and safe. Major cities are linked by InterCity Express trains and by local trains that stop at every station. Beware of pickpockets operating on local trains who may attempt to create a diversion when boarding or alighting from trains. Drug addicts in train stations may harass visitors, especially at night. Red light districts, where crime rates tend to be higher, are often located near train stations. Frankfurt's central train station is near the second-largest European red light district.

Information on domestic train routes and ticket purchasing is available on the BD-Deutsche Bahn official website.

Public Transport

Ferries and Boats: Germany is linked to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, Poland Lithuania, Latvia and Switzerland by ferry. Services are safe and reliable though they may be disrupted during winter due to inclement weather. There is a small risk of pickpocketing and bag theft, particularly on overnight journeys.

Buses: Germany has an extensive and efficient domestic bus network equipped with safe modern vehicles. Some domestic bus operators include Berlin Linien Bus and Touring. Central bus stations (Busbahnhof) are usually located near the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) in most big towns and cities. In Berlin the bus station, Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof (ZOB), is in the west of the city centre.

Information on routes and ticket purchasing for all transportation means in Berlin are available on the official BVG (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe) website and app.

Within cities, buses run regularly and connect most areas. They are generally safe, though rates of petty crime and alcohol-fuelled violence tend to spike after dark.

Metro: Most major German cities operate a metro system (U Bahn). Bag snatchings and pickpocketing is commonly reported.

Taxis: Taxis are a safe but expensive means of transport in Germany. Always use a licensed taxi, identifiable by its cream colour and the black and yellow taxi sign on the roof. Taxis can be flagged down in the street, but it is often faster to find the closest taxi rank at train stations, airports, large hotels and other major activity centres (shopping areas, parks). If there are no taxis waiting, look for a "taxi-phone" (Taxiruf) to contact the central taxi dispatch office.

Ride-sharing apps such as Uber, among others, are available in German cities.

Trams: All major cities in Germany operate safe and efficient tram networks. Many tram lines are separated from roads, reducing the chance of collision with vehicles. Pickpockets can operate at busy times, so pay attention to your valuables and exercise general vigilance.

Vehicle Hire: Rental cars are available in most towns and cities from both international and local firms. Vehicles tend to be new and well-maintained.