Germany		Back to table of contents
			Country selection: - all countries - Africa America Asia Australia Europe Albania Andorra Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia ( Hrvatska ) Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland (Republic) Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Moldova, Republic Of Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russian Federation San Marino Serbia Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Ukraine United Kingdom Entry Regulations / General Information Country and People Local Customs / Cuisine Climate / Weather Vaccinations and Health Currency / Exchange Contact Addresses Sightseeing Travel Advice / Safety Precautions Geographical Location Population Language Time Difference Electricity Postal Service Telephone Mobile Phones Internet Public Holidays Opening Hours Clothes

Entry Regulations / General Information
	Geographical Location
	To the north, the Federal Republic of Germany is bordered by the North Sea, Denmark and the Baltic Sea, to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic, to the south-east by Austria, to the south by Switzerland, and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Total area: 357,027 km².
Top of Page
	Population
	Population: approximately 82.5 million. Major cities and capitals of the federal states (approximate numbers): Berlin (capital) 3.39 million; Hamburg 1.74 million; Munich 1.25 million; Cologne 983,300; Frankfurt/Main 651,900; Dortmund 588,200; Essen 585,400; Stuttgart 592,600; Düsseldorf 574,500; Bremen 546,900; Hannover 515,800; Duisburg 501,600; Leipzig 502,700; Nürnberg 499,200; Dresden 495,200; Bonn 312,800; Wiesbaden 274,600; Kiel 234,400; Magdeburg 229,100; Erfurt 202,800; Mainz 194,400; Saarbrücken 178,900; Potsdam 147,600; Schwerin 101,300.
Top of Page
	Language
	German with numerous dialects. Most Germans speak or understand English.
Top of Page
	Time Difference
	Central European Time (CET) with European summer time.
Top of Page
	Electricity
	230V alternating current, 50Hz.
Top of Page
	Postal Service
	Stamps can be purchased in post offices and at its vending machines; in holiday regions stamps are also available in souvenir shops.
Top of Page
	Telephone
	The international dialling code for calls to Germany is 0049 (delete the first "0" of the local dialling code). Public phone boxes operated by coins have become rare, most phone boxes require telephone cards of the "Deutsche Telekom" telephone company, which can be purchased at all post offices. International calls are usually cheaper when made by international prepaid cards, which are offered by several private telephone companies. EMERGENCY NUMBERS: Police 110, ambulance 110, fire brigade 112.
Top of Page
	Mobile Phones
	Mobile network technologies: GSM 900/1800
Top of Page
	Internet
	Country code suffix: .de
Top of Page
	Public Holidays
	The following public holidays are observed throughout the country: 1 January (New Year), Good Friday, Easter Monday, 1 May (Labour Day), Ascension Day, Whit Monday, 3 October (Day of Unity), 25 and 26 December (Christmas). Additionally, there are the following regional public holidays: 6 January (Epiphany) in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt; Corpus Christi in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland as well as in some municipalities in Saxony and Thuringia; 15 August (Assumption) in mainly Roman Catholic municipalities of Bavaria and in Saarland; 31 October (Reformation Day) in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and parts of Thuringia; 1 November (All Souls´ Day) in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and parts of Thuringia; Day of Prayer and Repentance (on the Wednesday before Advent) in Saxony. Shrove Monday and Tuesday are no official public holidays, but the celebrations have a great impact on social life in some regions. Business appointments on these days should accordingly be confirmed in advance. The main holiday season ranges from mid-June to mid-September, varying from one federal state to another.
Top of Page
	Opening Hours
	Banks: Mon to Fri 8:30a.m.-1p.m., 2:30p.m.-4p.m., Thurs until 5:30p.m.; some banks do not close for lunch and stay open until 6p.m.; Shops: larger shops - Mon to Fri 9/10a.m.-8p.m., Sat 9/10a.m.-4/8p.m.; smaller shops - Mon to Fri 9/10a.m.-6:30p.m., Sat 9a.m.-2p.m.; grocer's shops are often open from 7/8a.m.; in smaller towns, shops are frequently closed from 12:30p.m.-3p.m., as well as on Wednesday afternoons.
Top of Page
	Clothes
	Normal European clothes should be worn according to season. A warm pullover should be carried even in summer for the evenings. In winter, warm clothes are necessary. Rainwear should be carried throughout the year.
Top of Page
	© 2001 All rights reserved TIP-Touristik-Informations-Programme GmbH, 73760 Ostfildern Last updated: 28.07.2010 - Proposals, hints and contact - Copyright Lufthansa cannot accept any liability or give any guarantee for the validity, correctness and completeness of the information provided in the following.