Germany lies in the centre of Europe. It forms the bridge between the maritime West of Europe and the continental East, between the warm South and the cool North. Germany is a triad of lowland plains, upland and mountain ranges. From the South, encompassing part of the Alps, Germany extends via the wooded central upland to the North Sea and the Baltic.

Germany's climate is temperate. From May to October, the prospect of good weather ist generally better. Average temperatures in the summer range from 20 to 30 °C and in winter around 0°C.

Foreign visitors require a valid passport or alternative passport documents on entry into the country. For citizens of most West European countries, a valid ID card is sufficient. Children must be entered in their parents' passport or have their own identification papers. Citizens of certain countries require a visa. For further details, please contact the German diplomatic representation closest to your seat of residence.

Germany is served by over 100 international airlines. Germany's international airline, Deutsche Lufthansa together with their Star Alliance partners, provide a global route network with coordinated flight schedules to Germany covering over 700 destinations around the world. (Lufthansa information and seat resevations world- wide: Tel. ++49 (0) 18 03-80 38 03).
Germany has the following international airports: Berlin (Tegel and Schoenefeld), Bremen, Dresden, Duesseldorf, Erfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Hannover, Cologne/Bonn, Leipzig/Halle, Munich, Muenster/ Osnabrueck, Nuremberg, Saarbruecken and Stuttgart. There are addi-tional airports in Augsburg, Bayreuth, Berlin-Tempelhof, Bielefeld, Braunschweig, Dortmund, Friedrichshafen, Hof, Kiel, Magdeburg, Rostock-Laage, Siegerland and Westeriand (Sylt). All the airports are well connected to the respective city transport networks. With over 40 million passengers per year, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is the largest airport in continental Europe. 110 passenger airlines connect FRA directly with approximately 280 cities around the world. The airport is connected to the ICE, 1C and EC network of Deutsche Bahn (DB) by means of the new high-speed railway station - the AIRail Terminal - of Frankfurt Airport. From here you can reach all major cities in Germany and in the neighbouring countries. Germany's second largest airport and the modern gateway to romantic Europe is Munich International Airport (MUC) with more than 200 direct connections worldwide and over 20 million passengers per year.

The nationwide rail network enables passengers to reach their destination in comfort. Long-distance and local train timetables are coordinated so as to provide good connections. There are around 60 departures per day connecting Germany with neighbouring countries. Border formalities are generally taken care of on board the train as you are travelling. Informaton is available at all ticket counters of Deutsche Bahn AG, in all travel agencies and via a standard, nationwide telephone number in Germany: ++49 (0) 18 05-99 66 33
The EUROPABUS service by Deutsche Touring complements the rail service. This service offers tourist special connections on routes of particular interest. Information is available in any travel agency and via a standard, nationwide telephone number on Germany:++49 (0) 18 05-25 02 54.

International ferry services to Germany are available from the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Russia, Latvia and Estonia. There are scheduled services for traveling around Germany on all the major rivers, lakes and along the coast. Information about passenger travel on the Rhine, Main and Moselle is available from: Koln-Dusseldorfer Rheinschiffahrt AG (KD). Information about passenger travel on the Elbe, Saale, Oder or in the Baltic Sea is available from: Weisse Flotte Dresden GmbH.

Koln-Dusseldorfer Rheinschiffahrt AG (KD)
Frankenwerft 15 D-50667 Koln (Cologne)
Tel.++49(0)2 21-20 88 01 or 20 88 02 Fax++49 (0)2 21-20 88-3 45 or 20 88-2 31

If you are traveling by car, you will experience a highly modern, efficient autobahn network. Over 700 service stations, gasoline stations, motels and kiosks provide a round- the-clock service for motorists on Germany's approximately 11,000 km of autobahn network. The following grades of lead-free gasoline are available there:

Normal (91 octane)
Super (95 octane)
Super Plus (98 octane)
Diesel

The following speed restrictions should be observed:
Autobahn 130 km/h (recommended) outside built-up areas 100 km/h within built-up areas 50 km/h

The automobile associations have information for tourists travelling by car, which you should obtain before starting your journey. In the event of breakdown on the autobahn, Road Patrol Assistance can be called from the emergency telephones. The breakdown services can also be contacted directly:

ADAC: Info-Service: Tel.++49(0) 18 05-10 11 12
Pannendienst (Breakdown Service): Tel.++49(0) 1802-222222
AvD: Lyoner Str. 16 D-60528 Frankfurt/Main
Info-Service: Tel. ++49 (0) 69-66 06-3 00
Notruf (Emergency number): Tel.++49 (0)1 30-9903
ACE: Schmidener Str.233 D-70374 Stuttgart
Info-Service: Tel.++49(0) 1805-336677
Notruf (Emergency number): Tel.++49(0) 1802-343536

In Germany this is easy. On all long-distance trains it is possible to reserve compartments for parents with small children and at motorway service areas there are special babycare rooms. Many hotels and restaurants provide special menus for children.

You will find all categories of accommodation in Germany, from private rooms to vacation homes to luxury hotels. Standards are laid down and controlled even in the lower price categories. Hotel associations, regional tourism associations and local tourist offices publish their own Hotel Accommodation Directories. You can reserve rooms directly through the reservation systems of hotel chains, hotel associations and airlines or through tourist offices. Also travel agencies collaborate closely with the hotels.

Approximately 600 youth hostels throughout Germany accept members of any youth hostel association that is affiliated with the International Youth Hostel Federation. It is also possible to obtain an international pass for a fee.
Information: Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk Bismarckstr. 8 D-32756 Detmold Tel.++49 (0)52 31-9 93 60

320 officially recognized spas and health resorts provide a wide range of sports and entertainment options with state of the art facilities for therapy.
Information: Deutscher Heilbaderverband (German Health Resort Association) Schumannstr. 111 D-53113 Bonn Tel.++49 (0)2 28-20 12 00

When shopping, look for stores displaying the Tax-Free sign. On making your purchase, you will receive a tax-free voucher from these stores. Before checking in your luggage on departure, have the voucher stamped by German customs to confirm that the goods have been duly exported. Europe Tax-Free Shopping has payment offices at all the major border crossings, airports, ferry ports and railroad stations, where you can redeem the vouchers. Exemption from customs duty depends on the quantity of goods being carried in the traveller's personal luggage.

Tourist information offices are open during normal business hours and sometimes even longer. Stores open between 9.00 a.m. and 10.00 a. m., pharmacies at 8.00 a. m. Stores close between 6.00 p. m. and 8.00 p.m. Banks and post offices close by 6.00 p. m. at the latest. On Saturdays, shops and pharmacies are open until 4.00 p. m. and on the four Saturdays before Christmas until 6.00 p. m.

The most important telephone numbers in an emergency: 110 for general emergencies 112 for the fire brigade and in case of accidents.

In the event of medical emergencies, the local emergency medical service can be reached after 6 p. m.