Travel informed

Germany

SAFETY: excellent
The whole country is generally considered safe. No particular risks are reported apart from petty crime (suburbs, large cities, etc.).

TRANSPORT: excellent
A comprehensive, modern transport system covering the whole country (air, rail, bus, metro, tram, taxi, ferries) makes it possible to reach any destination. Hiring cars, motorbikes, campervans, bicycles and boats is easy and convenient. Very well connected to Italy and to all neighbouring countries.

Main airports: Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne/Bonn, Munich, Münster/Osnabrück, Hamburg, Erfurt, Bremen, Dresden, Leipzig/Halle, Nuremberg, Hanover, Düsseldorf, Saarbrücken and Stuttgart.
Main ports: Bremen, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Mainz.

ACCOMMODATION: excellent
Germany offers an enormous choice of accommodation of every kind, category and price. The international hotel classification (one to five stars) applies, and there are also farm stays, B&Bs, guesthouses, beer-hall inns, hostels and campsites, mountain refuges, characterful accommodation in fortresses and old castles, and wellness or spa centres. There are numerous portals and websites useful for bookings. The restaurant scene is equally varied.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Federal Republic of Germany– Location: Central Europe. Borders: Denmark, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands to the west – Time zone: UTC +1, as in Italy, observes daylight saving time – Area: 357,000 sq km – Capital: Berlin – Population: 82,401,000– Religion: 34% Catholic, 34% Protestant, 3.7% Muslim – Languages: German (official language), English fairly widely understood – Measures: metric system.

CURRENCY: euro – Credit cards: the major credit cards are accepted.

ELECTRICITY: 220 V and 50 Hz (as in Italy) – Sockets: two-pin and Schuko type; bring an adapter.

DOCUMENTS: identity card valid for travel abroad. There are no customs restrictions on personal luggage (Schengen) – Driving: Italian driving licence – Cars: Italian third-party motor insurance is sufficient for Italian vehicles.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 0049 – GSM: extensive network covering the whole country. Standards: GSM 900/1800 and 3G 2100 (as in Italy). Local operators: Vodafone, E-Plus Mobilfunk, O2, Mobile Deutschland – Internet: very widespread and of good average quality – Web domain: .de – Emergency numbers: police 110; fire brigade and ambulance 112.

RULES, LAWS AND CONDUCT: as regards the laws on the use or trafficking of narcotic substances and offences against minors, criminal penalties entirely comparable to those under Italian law are in force. Homosexuality is legal. Same-sex unions have been recognised since 2001.

HEALTH: excellent overall standard, with very efficient public and private facilities. Italian citizens travelling temporarily who hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) receive the treatment provided by the local public health service. Pharmacies are plentiful and well stocked.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, New Year’s Day; 6 January, Epiphany; Good Friday and Easter Monday; 1 May, Labour Day; Ascension; Whit Monday; Corpus Christi; Assumption (Catholic states only); 3 October (national holiday); 1 November (Catholic states only); 25 and 26 December, Christmas.

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: plentiful, Mon-Fri 8.00-18.00, Sat 8.00-12.00 – Banks: very widespread, with ATM service, Mon-Fri 8.30-13.00 and 14.30-16.00, Thu until 17.30 – Shops: Mon-Sat 9.00-18.00 (variable) – Closing day: Sunday.

CLIMATE: continental, with cold winters and hot summers, frequent showers, and snowfall in winter.

Monthly max/min temperatures (in °C)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Hamburg

2/-2

3/-2

7/-1

13/3

18/7

21/11

22/13

22/12

19/10

13/6

7/3

4/0

Berlin

2/-3

3/-3

7/-1

13/3

18/7

21/11

22/13

22/12

19/10

13/6

7/3

4/0

Dresden

2/-4

3/-3

8/0

14/4

19/8

22/11

24/13

23/13

20/10

13/5

8/2

3/-2

Erfurt

2/-3

3/-4

8/-1

13/8

18/8

21/11

23/13

23/12

19/9

13/5

7/2

3/-2

Essen

4/-1

5/-1

9/2

13/5

17/8

21/11

22/13

19/11

14/7

8/3

5/1

Frankfurt

3/-2

3/-1

11/2

16/6

20/9

23/13

25/15

24/14

21/11

14/7

8/3

4/0

Munich

1/-5

3/-5

9/-1

14/3

18/7

21/11

23/13

23/12

20/9

13/4

7/0

2/-4

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain)/monthly rainfall in mm

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Hamburg

11/55

10/50

8/40

10/50

10/55

10/65

12/85

11/65

11/60

12/60

Berlin

10/45

8/40

8/35

8/40

8/50

9/65

8/75

8/70

7/50

8/50

9/45

Dresden

9/40

8/40

9/50

10/65

10/70

11/120

9/65

8/50

9/55

8/40

9/45

Erfurt

8/35

8/30

7/25

8/35

9/60

9/70

10/65

9/55

7/45

8/40

8/30

Essen

13/75

11/65

10/45

11/60

10/65

11/75

12/85

12/90

11/65

12/70

13/65

Frankfurt

10/60

10/45

8/40

9/45

9/55

11/75

11/70

10/75

9/55

9/50

10/55

Munich

11/60

10/55

9/50

10/60

12/105

14/125

13/140

12/105

10/85

9/65

8/55

10/50

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY

Embassy and Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany
Via S. Martino della Battaglia 4
00185 Rome
Tel. 06 492131
Fax 06 4452672
consular section: tel. 06 492131
http://www.rom.diplo.de

Consulates General

Via Solferino 40
20121 Milan
Tel. 02 6231101
Fax 02 6554213

Via F. Crispi 69
80121 Naples
Tel. 081 2488511
Fax 081 7614687

Tourist Office
www.germany.travel/it/index.html

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN GERMANY

Italian Embassy
Hiroshimastrasse 1
10785 Berlin
Tel. 0049 30 254400
Fax 0049 30 25440169
www.ambberlino.esteri.it

Consular Section
Hildebrandstr. 1
D 10785 – Berlin
Tel. 0049 30 25440100
Fax 0049 30 25440189
consolare.berlino@esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy
Universitätstr. 81
D 50931 Köln
Tel. 0049 221 400870
Fax 0049 221 4060350
info.colonia@esteri.it
www.conscolonia.esteri.it

Consulate of Italy
Göbenstr. 14
D 44135 Dortmund
Tel. 0049 231 577960
Fax 0049 231 551379
segreteria.dortmund@esteri.it
www.consdortmund.esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy
Kettenhofweg. 1
D 60325 Frankfurt/Mn
Tel. 0049 6975310
Fax 0049 697531104 / 697531143
segreteria.francoforte@esteri.it
www.consfrancoforte.esteri.it

Consulate of Italy
Augustinerplatz 2
D 79098 Freiburg im Breisgau
Tel. 0049 761 386610
Fax 0049 761 3866161
segreteria.friburgo@esteri.it
www.consfriburgo.esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy
Freundallee. 27
D 30173 Hannover
Tel. 0049 511 283790/9
Fax 0049 511 2837930
consolato@italia-hannover.de
www.conshannover.esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy
Möhlstr. 3
D 81675 München
Tel. 0049 89 4180030 - 31 -34
Fax 0049 89 477999
italcons.monacobaviera@esteri.it
www.consmonacodibaviera.esteri.it

Consulate General of Italy
Lenzhalde, 46
D 70192 Stuttgart
Tel. 0049 711 25630
Fax 0049 711 2563136
consolato.stoccarda@esteri.it
www.consstoccarda.esteri.it

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions about Germany

Which documents do I need to travel to Germany?

Documents required to enter Germany: ID card/passport. Always check the remaining validity required before departure.

What is the currency in Germany?

The currency used in Germany is: euro.

What language is spoken in Germany?

Official or most spoken language in Germany: German.

What is the capital of Germany?

The capital of Germany is Berlin.

How safe is Germany?

excellent The whole country is generally considered safe. No particular risks are reported apart from petty crime (suburbs, large cities, etc.).

Which power plugs are used in Germany?

220 V and 50 Hz (as in Italy) – Sockets: two-pin and Schuko type; bring an adapter.