Practical Information for visiting Germany

Germany uses the euro (€) and is, surprisingly for its wealth, notably attached to cash. Card acceptance has improved but remains patchy in bakeries, bars, small restaurants and market stalls, and some places take only German debit cards rather than international credit ones. Always carry cash.

Most drinks containers carry a Pfand deposit, refunded by machines in supermarkets — do not throw bottles away.

Tipping is modest: round up or add about five to ten per cent, and say the total you want to pay as you hand over the money rather than leaving coins on the table.

Coverage for mobile networks is the weak point of an otherwise well-run country, with genuine dead zones on rail lines and in rural areas that Germans complain about constantly. EU roaming covers European visitors.

Wi-fi is standard in accommodation, less common in cafes than elsewhere in Europe.

Rail is extensive and the Deutschlandticket offers cheap unlimited travel on regional services, though long-distance punctuality is poor by German self-image and worth allowing for.

Germany is a very safe country to visit by international standards, with most safety concerns for travelers involving petty crime rather than violent crime.

• Pickpocketing is the most common issue for visitors, concentrated around major train stations, Christmas markets, and crowded tourist sites in cities like Berlin and Munich -- keeping bags zipped and in view in crowds is standard practice.
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• Autobahn driving includes long unrestricted-speed stretches -- unfamiliar drivers should stay out of the left lane unless actively passing, and treat the mirror-check habits of German drivers as the standard to match.
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• Bike lanes are physically separated from sidewalks in most German cities and treated as seriously as a road by cyclists -- walking in one, even briefly, is a common visitor mistake that can lead to a genuine collision.
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• Public demonstrations in major cities are generally peaceful but can disrupt transit -- checking local news before travel through a city center on a weekend is a reasonable precaution.
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• Emergency numbers: 112 for police/fire/ambulance, standard across the EU.

No vaccinations are required and tap water is safe and heavily regulated — often better than bottled.

Healthcare is excellent. EU visitors should carry a European Health Insurance Card and UK visitors a GHIC; both give access on the same terms as residents.

Pharmacies (Apotheke) are strictly separated from drugstores, so ordinary painkillers are sold only in the former, which catches visitors out. A duty rota covers nights and weekends.

Tick-borne encephalitis is present in southern and eastern forested areas and vaccination is worth considering for hikers and campers.

Do not cross against a red pedestrian light, particularly with children present — it is an offence and will be pointed out to you by strangers.

Quiet hours are legally protected at night and on Sundays, and noise complaints are made in earnest.

Nazi symbols, salutes and Holocaust denial are criminal offences, with no exception for jokes or historical curiosity.

Waste separation is taken seriously and bins are colour-coded. Carry identification. On the Autobahn, sections without a speed limit exist but a recommended limit applies and exceeding it affects liability in a collision.

112 reaches fire and ambulance across Germany, and 110 is the police. Both work from any phone and English-speaking operators are usually available.

116 117 is the non-emergency medical service for out-of-hours problems that are not urgent, and using it rather than 112 is the correct choice for minor issues.

In the Alps, mountain rescue is reached through 112; give a marked trail or hut name where possible.