Germany Country Information

You are on holiday in Germany. Toll! Do you have the right clothes with you and do you know which plugs can you use? Read it here.

Facts and numbers

Official name

Federal Republic of Germany / Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Resident

German (m), German (v)

State form

Federal Republic
Germany is divided into 16 states (Bundesländer).

Capital

Berlin / Berlin

European Union

Germany has been a member of the European Union since its foundation in 1952.

Population

2017: 82 million

Surface

357,022 km² 

Income per inhabitant per year

$ 46,700

Average life expectancy

Currency
Euro (EUR)

Country code license plate

D

Language

• Most spoken languages: German (official), along the Danish border also Danish, and along the Polish border Sorbian.
• German belongs to the Germanic branch of Indo-European languages.
• Sorbian, consisting of Upper-Lower Sorbian, belongs to the Slavic branch of Indo-European languages.
• Usually you can also speak English.

Electricity

Voltage

230 volts

Reducer plug

• Outlets have round holes and can be earthed or ungrounded.
• It is not necessary to carry an adapter plug (world plug).

Medical care and safety

• The medical facilities in Germany are excellent, but expensive. Especially treatments in private clinics are very expensive.
• Travelers are advised to take out good travel insurance. Please note that cash payment may be required for the provision of medical care.
• In case of hospitalization or when medical specialist care is required, travelers should contact their insurance company directly.

Medicines

• Pharmacists, recognizable by a large red A, are open from Mon to Fri from 9 am to 6 pm and Sat from 9 am to 12 pm. Outside of these times there is always a reference to a 24-hour pharmacy.
• Take special medicines to a sufficient extent (in the original packaging) or ask the doctor for a prescription.
• It is advisable to bring your own travel pharmacy with regular medicines.

Medical statement

• Passengers who take medicines that fall under the Opium Act (such as certain sleeping pills, ADHD drugs and strong painkillers) must have a so-called Schengen Declaration for these medicines.
• Traveling with these medicines without explanation is punishable.
• The declaration is valid for 30 days after the specified commencement date.
• Request the declaration at least 2 weeks before departure.

Health advice

Ticks

• Pay attention when walking or camping in nature, because ticks can transmit Lyme disease.
• Mark encephalitis (FrühSommerMeningoEnzephalitis, FSME) also occurs in Germany. Encephalitis is a brain inflammation caused by a virus, which can be transmitted by ticks. From April to November the ticks are the most active and the risk of contracting this disease is greatest.

Drinking waterFood

Because encephalitis (see ticks) can also be transmitted via raw milk from cows, sheep or goats, it is advised not to use products made from raw milk (such as some cheeses).

Vaccinations

• Vaccinations are not mandatory for Germany.
• Travelers who walk or camp in nature for more than four weeks in the period from March to November, or who are otherwise at risk of being ticked, are advised to be vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis.

Travel season

• Germany is a destination for all seasons.
• In the spring, the lowlands and the low mountain range lend themselves to active spring getaways.
• In summer it is pleasant to stay on the water of the reservoirs and the East or North Sea coast.
• The autumn is a nice time for a visit to the higher central and southern Germany.
• Winter sports can be enjoyed in the Bavarian Alps and the Allgäu. Closer to the Sauerland, the Black Forest and the Harz. The winter sports options are limited in the Eifel.

Clothing

Bring airy, but also warm clothing for changing weather conditions. A raincoat or poncho can come in handy. You will need a (fleece) sweater or cardigan for the cool evenings. Take comfortable walking shoes with you.

Germany public holidays 2022

• New Year (Neujahr) January 1
• Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige; Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt) January 6
• Carnival Monday (Rosenmontag; North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria) February 28
• Good Friday (Karfreitag) April 15
• Easter (Ostern) April 17 and 18
• Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit) May 1
• Ascension (Christi Himmelfahrt) 26 May
• Pentecost (Pfingsten) June 5 and 6
• Sacraments Day (second Thursday after Pentecost; Fronleichnam; Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland) June 16th
• Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Mariae Himmelfahrt; Saarland and Catholic part of Bavaria) August 15th
• Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) October 3rd
• Reformation Day (Reformationtag; Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia) October 31
• All Saints Day (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland) November 1
• Day of Penance and Prayer (Buß- und Bettag; Saxony) November 16
• Christmas (Weihnachten) December 25 and 26

Camping in Germany

Germany has about 3500 campsites. Most of them are open from April to October. Around 500 campsites, however, remain open during the winter months and offer the necessary facilities.

Booking.com

Types of campsites

• The German campsites do not differ much from the campsites as they are known in most other countries.
• A Naturcampingplatz is an environmentally friendly campsite with attention to nature and tranquility.

Quality of campsites

• The quality of German campsites is generally good to very good, although campsites in the eastern part of Germany can still be found where the facilities are not of sufficient quality in all respects.
• German campgrounds can be classified on a voluntary basis into five classes, indicated by stars, according to a system of the Deutsche Tourism Association. The stars are not for the quality, but for the available facilities.

Glamping

In Germany, luxury camping is a growing phenomenon.

Camping organisations

The most important camping organization in Germany is the Deutscher Camping Club (camping-club.de).

Prices

• The rates depend on the location of the terrain, the comfort, the region and the season.
• Usually the rates are calculated per location, ie including car, camping equipment and two adults.
• The price-quality ratio is better in the west and south of Germany than in the east.
• Access to facilities such as swimming pool, sauna, discotheques and sports competitions is generally included. Some activities require a small contribution, such as equipment for minigolf, tennis and horse riding, organized tours and bicycle rental.

Booking a camping

In general, if you stay in high season (July and August), early reservation may be necessary to ensure a place. This certainly applies to large and luxury campsites.

Wildcamping

It is generally forbidden to camp freely (in nature). There are also all kinds of government regulations that prohibit camping in many places. After permission from the landowner, it is possible to camp on private property.

Campers

• The number of special camper pitches outside the regular campsites is growing. Often these are simple, but well-maintained ‘meadows’ or parking places on the edge of the built-up area, a marina or a tourist attraction with facilities for water, electricity and the discharge of waste water.
• For campers, the same rules apply in Germany that apply to other vehicles.
• The number of special camper pitches outside the regular campsites is growing.

Winter camping

• Germany has a significant number of campsites that are also open in the winter.
• Most winter campsites can be found in the winter sports areas of the Allgau, Schwarzwald, Bavaria and Sauerland.
• On the German winter camping sites each caravan can have a power connection. At some winter sports campsites there is the possibility to get a direct connection to a gas ring network.

Booking.com

Here you will find more information about Germany.