Germany facts

Land & people

Area: 357,021 sq km
Population (July 2007 est.): 82.4 million
Capital: Berlin
Language: German. English is widely spoken
Per capita GDP (2006): $31,900

Germany is located in Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark. About the size of Montana and situated even farther north, unified Germany extends 853 kilometres from its northern border with Denmark to the Alps in the south. Germany is the sixth largest country in Europe and, at its widest, it measures about 650 kilometres from the Belgian-German border in the west to the Polish frontier in the east.

With its irregular, elongated shape, the country provides an excellent example of a recurring sequence of landforms found the world over. A plain dotted with lakes, moors, marshes, and heaths retreats from the sea and reaches inland, where it becomes a landscape of hills crisscrossed by streams, rivers and valleys. These hills lead upward, gradually forming high plateaus and woodlands, eventually climaxing in spectacular mountain ranges.

Administratively, the German federation consists of 16 states: Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland, Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt), Schleswig-Holstein and Thueringen (Thuringia).

Germany's natural landscapes offer a wealth of options for an unforgettable holiday.

Useful addresses

- Embassy of Germany,
P.O. Box 2591, Abu Dhabi.
Tel: 02-6446693;
Fax: 02-6446942;
E-mail: info@abud.diplo.de;
Websites: www.GermEmb.org.ae / www.abu-dhabi.diplo.de

- Consulate General of Germany,
P.O. Box 2247, Dubai.
Tel: 04-3972333;
Fax: 04-3972225;
Website: www.dubaí.diplo.de

- German National Tourist Board (GNTB),
Beethovenstraße 69, 60325 Frankfurt/Main.
Fax: +49 (0) 69/75 19 03;
E-mail: info@d-z-t.com;
Website: www.germany-tourism.de

Passports/visas

Foreign nationals require a valid passport or other identification document to enter Germany. For citizens of EU countries a valid identity card is sufficient. Citizens of certain countries require a visa to enter Germany. For more information on entry requirements, please contact the nearest German embassy or consulate.

Credit cards/cash

Credit cards are not universally accepted, particularly in smaller outlets. Modern cash machines accept a variety of German and international debit and credit cards. The airports and major railway stations have electronic currency changing machines that can be used to exchange foreign currency for euros. It is no longer necessary to change money or convert various European currencies' exchange rates if you are travelling either within or to countries within the euro zone.

Banking hours

Opening hours, determined by the individual banks, can vary greatly although no branches stay open later than 6pm and on Saturdays and Sundays all banks are closed. Many banks have a foyer with ATMs that can be accessed 24 hours a day.

When to go

Germany's climate is moderate and generally without sustained periods of cold or heat. Northwestern and coastal parts have a maritime climate caused by warm westerly winds from the North Sea; the climate is characterised by warm summers and mild cloudy winters.

Farther inland, the climate is continental, marked by greater diurnal and seasonal variations in temperature, with warmer summers and colder winters. The country experiences the best weather from May to October.

Getting there

The main arrival/departure points for flights are Frankfurt-am-Main, Munich and Düsseldorf. Frankfurt is Europe's busiest airport after Heathrow. As one of Europe's most punctual airlines, Lufthansa offers convenient connections to destinations in Europe and beyond.

Thanks to the spread of low-cost airlines, it is now often cheaper to fly to Germany from around Europe than to take the train. Though train travel is often more expensive than catching a bus, it's generally faster, more comfortable and more efficient.

GETTING AROUND
Fast and safe

Almost all large and small German cities have airports and numerous carriers operate domestic flights. The rail network is extensive and covers almost every part of the country. The trains are reliable, safe and comfortable.

Long-distance trains are meticulously coordinated with local services, offering excellent connections. A nationwide rail network enables visitors to reach even the smaller historical towns and the holiday regions with ease. InterCity (IC) and InterCity Express (ICE) trains run every hour, connecting more than 50 German towns.

Many destinations within the towns and cities and around the regions can be quickly and easily reached by underground or local suburban railway. Germany's autobahns cover a distance of about 11,000km and form an ultra-modern and efficient transport network. There are no tolls on Germany's autobahns.