The Land of Speed A lot has been written in the past about the German motorway system – the infamous Autobahns. It is true that on certain stretches of the motorway there is no speed limit but that is not an excuse to put your foot to the floor of your hire car. Most of the cars that will fly past you when you are doing 130Km per hour will be the higher performance variety of BMW’s, Mercedes and Porsches, capable of doing these speeds. If in doubt then stick to the nominal limit of 130km per hour on a dual carriage way, and 100km on an equivalent of our single file A –roads. Also, bear in mind that to legally drive in Germany, you have to pay up to €2000 for your license via a minimum of 25 hours of professional instruction – lessons from Mum & Dad are not considered worthy enough here and this gives them a good idea of how to drive safely and fast – one thing you wont see here is tailgating. Speed limits in built up areas are 50Km unless indicated otherwise.
Also, on the Autobahn’s, lorries are not allowed to overtake unless the overhead signs expressly permit them. Vehicles entering the Autobahn from the right have right of way. There are no toll roads operating in Germany and so you are free to travel around as you please. Ausfahrt means exit, and Einfahrt means entry. Distance markers appear 1km after a junction.
When you leave the motorway network for the stadiums, you will see plenty of signs directing you to the ground. If you want to go to the town/city centre then follow signs for either Zentrum or Städt Mitte.
You can park on the side streets in the town centres unless it is prohibited by a yellow painted pavement or by a no waiting sign. If your car has a cardboard clock in the glove box then you can use this in time limited areas to signify your time of arrival. Multi story car parks are well signposted in the city centres, normally with an indication of how many spaces are currently free. Most stadiums will be using a park and ride system on match days – follow signs for Football P & R. For more information on driving in Germany then check out Germany Online’s website – http://www.germany-info.org
If you intend to hire a car then remember that you need both parts of your driving license. It is worth shopping around before you travel – although for peace of mind in terms of coverage and breakdowns, Hertz (http://www.hertz.co.uk) and Europcar (http://www.europcar.com) offer good deals, especially if you are travelling with Ryanair for Hertz and Easyjet for Europcar.
Please remember that German beer is more potent than the version we find in this country and so please do not drink and drive – any offenders will be severely punished, including a ban that will be carried back to the UK and even a spell in custody.
Let the train take the strain If you ever need to check a train time for anywhere in Europe, go to Germany’s national railway website http://www.bahn.de. This displays all the information you need for your travel in Germany. The main train station in any town or city will be referred to as the Hauptbahnhof. All stations feature numerous timetable boards with display arrivals (in white) and departures (in yellow) by time and not by destination.
The pride of place of the railway network is the InterCity Express (ICE) train. These runs between the major cities in speeds up to 300km per hour in smooth air conditioned comfort. The train fare is not cheap but does offer an alternative to taking internal flights. InterCity (IC) are slightly less luxurious but still cover the ground in speeds up to 200km per hour. Both of these train services offer passengers a buffet car and a restaurant. InterRegio (IR) trains runs between regions, stopping at some of the smaller towns along the way and cost less although journey times are significantly longer. For local services then you will need to catch either a Regional Express (RE) or where available, the S-Bahn trains (RB). U-Bahn networks in cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich and Stuttgart run underground in addition to the S-Bahn trains.
You must purchase a ticket before you travel on any public transport in Germany. Tickets are available from the Reisezentrum (ticket office) or from the Fahrkarten machines on the platforms. Remember to validate any tickets either before entering the platform or on the trains by stamping your ticket in the yellow boxes. Fines for fare evaders vary from town to town, but the minimum is an on the spot €40 fine.
If you want to travel around a particular town or city, then it may be worth purchasing a Tageskarte – a one day travel card. Most towns also offer a Welcome card, purchased from the tourist information office which allows free public transport travel as well as cut price entry into some of the museums.
Will the real Policeman please stand up? One of the things you will see in abundance at the matches during the tournament is groups of Police dressed in their green riot gear. Don’t be alarmed – German policing (The Länder Police) is all about showing their power to act as a deterrent. On non-match days they shed their Robocop accessories and can be seen in the city centres in their green and white cars. They deal with everyday law enforcements including issuing parking tickets, monitoring drunk and disorderly behaviour and investigating robberies and murder.
If you need to contact the police then you can dial 110 from any phone, or track down the local Polizeipräsidium (Police Station). Almost every Policeman in the country speaks perfect English. There is also a separate division, the Bundeskriminalamt (the BKA) who are akin to the FBI, and will only investigate state-wide crimes.
It is a legal requirement in Germany to carry you Passport at all times – if you are stopped and do not have official identification then you may be detained until your identity can be verified. Please also bear in mind that Jaywalking is illegal in Germany, and if you are caught then the minimum you can expect is a good telling off.
If you do run into trouble, then the British Consulate will do what it can to help. They have offices in Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich.
What to do if you’ve had too many sausages EU Citizens are entitled to free medical treatment in Germany as long as you have an up to date E111 Card. However, it is also worthwhile taking out private medical insurance to cover all eventualities. If you have a minor ailment then you should head for one of the many Apotheke stores, recognisable by the flashing Red sign outside that you will see in the city centres. The Apotheker doubles up as a doctor and a pharmacist and will normally speak excellent English.
If you need to go to a hospital then these are well signposted in each town centre. If you need to call an ambulance then dial 112 from any telephone. Bear in mind that temperatures can hit the high 80’s in the summer when the tournament will be played. Sunshine and beer do not tend to mix very well so please take precautions.
When Plastic isn’t your friend Amazingly, Germany does not rank in the top 5 countries in Europe that accept Credit Cards. The situation has changed for the better in the last few years, but you will still be frustrated by the places where you wont be able to use your MasterCard, Visa or Amex. For instance, at the railway station, very few automated ticket machines will take our Credit Cards. Lots of small hotels and restaurants also wont accept your card – so check before you book anything.
The network of ATM machines has grown significantly, and you should not have any problems tracking down a machine to get some money. This is often the better option that changing money at Foreign Exchanges at the airport or hotels. All machines have instructions in English.
Germany is firmly in Euroland now, with the central bank located in Frankfurt. Whilst you will probably see plenty of small notes (€5, €10, €20 and €50) it is not wise to carry around many of the larger denomination notes (€100, €200 and €500). Most shops and restaurants will not take kindly to be presented with such a note for small purchases. Banks will be able to change these notes for you.
Mobile Magic As long as you have a dual band mobile handset, and you have set up international roaming with your network provider then you will be able to make and receive calls almost everywhere. Unlike the UK where you are tied to one network, in Germany your phone will roam between networks giving you the best coverage all of the time. The major network provider in Germany is T-Mobile, owned by the huge German telecoms company Deutsch Telekom. Other networks from Vodafone will also be common in the built up areas.
However, remember that you will be charged significantly more for making AND receiving calls in Germany. Deutsch Telekom (often refered to as D-Tag) are the main supplier of payphones – T-Punkt - that can be found everywhere. All payphones take coins and calling cards (Telefonkartens) which are available from post offices, newsagents and convenience stores.
If you need to contact Directory enquiries then ring 11837 for the English speaking service. International Directory enquiries number is 11834 and the Operator can be reached by just calling 03.
If you are calling any of the numbers listed in this guide then remember to omit the +49 and to insert a 0 at the start of the number – for instance +49 1805 33344 becomes 01805 333444.
What’s with all these Würsts ? Sausages are the staple food of Germans. You will see them being sold everywhere in the city centres and within the grounds. Brautwürst, Bockwürst and Currywürst are eaten in Germany as the US eats Burgers. You will see people standing round the Imbiss stalls, chatting and enjoying their sausages. The most popular is Currywürst which is a grilled pork sausage, chopped up and served in a curry sauce. Other sausages you will see on the menu are Weisswürst (Veal sausage), Mettwürst (pork and beef sausage) and Brägenwürst (sausage made with brains!!).
They tend to be eaten with a hard crusty roll and a big dollop of German Mustard. Dip your würst, take a bite and then eat some bread. Don’t be tempted to make a Hot Dog!! The German sausages are nothing like the ones we find in the UK. They are full of good quality meat and are very tasty indeed – to participate in this German ritual is a must for any visitor.
Beer, Beer and more Beer Germany has over 1,200 local and regional brewers, making it a beer drinkers paradise. There is nothing more pleasant on a hot and sunny day than sitting in a German beer garden (Biergarten) with a couple of long cold beers. UK chains such as All Bar One are now wising up to the popularity of German beer and serve well known brands such as Pauliner, Weissbeer and of course Becks.
Most cities have a number of Beer Gardens, Kellers or Breweries where you can go and enjoy some local brews. Köln is one city that is famous for its beer, and beer drinking in one of the Old Town taverns is considered to be one of the must do things in the city. Each city also has its own speciality in terms of beer. Dortmund for its famed for its Pils beer such as Bock, Berlin brews darker beers such as Pauliner, and in southern cities such as Stuttgart then Weissbeer (White beer like Belgium’s Hoegaarden) is very popular.
Beer is served in three sizes – 0.25l, 0.5l and the large 1 litre glasses. Beer can be Helles or light beer, Dunkel – dark beer or Schwarzbier – black beer. If you want an authentic beer drinking experience then head to the Beer Kellers such as Haufbraühus or Augustiner in Munich where you can sit at the long wooden benches and be served by the famous German buxom beer maids, who can make the job of carrying up to 10 litre sized glasses at any time look easy. You can also get some excellent hearty dishes in these beer halls – including spit roast chickens and roast pork knuckle. Normally you are not expected to pay for each individual round of beer – the waiter or waitress will mark your beer mat with the number of drinks you have had and then you pay when you are ready to leave.
Drinking in public is also a norm – especially when using public transport to get to a game. You will see plenty of fans on the trains, trams and buses with large bottles of beer. Be warned though that public toilets are rare, and the police take a dim view to anyone who is caught urinating in public.
Beer should be available in the stadium, as it is a FIFA governed tournament, who do not have a blanket ban on alcohol that UEFA impose for major tournaments. Budweiser are one of the main tournament sponsors, so expect the choice to be limited to one beer.
Remember that drinking and driving do not mix at all in Germany, so avoid all beer if you intend to any driving.
Some important things to know Germany is in the Central European Time Zone which means it is always one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
During the summer in Germany, expect long sunny days with temperatures on average around 22 degrees in the north, and 1 or 2 degrees cooler in the south. Temperatures can hit the 30’s on some days so don’t forget your hat and suntan lotion. Rain is not uncommon so pack a waterproof just to be sure.
Banks tend to open from 8.30am to 1pm, and then again from 2pm to 4pm on weekdays only. Shops tend to open from 9am until 6pm, although larger shops open until 8pm. On Saturdays they will open until 4pm, and are closed all days on Sundays.
Post Offices are found throughout the city centres and main train stations. They tend to be open on weekdays from 8am until 6pm, and during the mornings only on Saturdays. Stamps can be bought from vending machines in the post offices.
Tourist offices can be found in the centre of all towns. They generally open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, and then Saturdays from 9am until 2pm. The website for the German Tourist organisation is http://www.germany-tourism.de.
Public toilets are hard to find in Germany. Most big department stores such as Kaufhaus and Karstadt have toilets but you will be expected to tip the attendant around 20cents.
