FAST FACTS

Full Name	Federal Republic of Germany
Capital City	Berlin
Area	357,021 sq km (137,846 sq miles)
Population	82,438,000
Administrative divisions	Germany is divided into 16 Federal States
Time Zone	GMT/UTC +1 (Central European Time)
Daylight Saving Start last Sunday in March:	start of summertime (clocks are put forward one hour)
Daylight Saving End last Sunday in October:	end of summertime (clocks are put backward one hour)
Languages	German (official)
Religion	34% Protestant, 34% Catholic, 4% Muslim, 28% unaffiliated or other
Currency	Euro (€)
Country Dialling Code	+49
Emergency numbers	112 for medical emergencies and fires 110 for police emergencies
Electricity	230V 50HzHz
Electric Plug Details	European plug with two circular metal pins
Weights & Measures	System Metric

WHEN TO GO / WEATHER OVERVIEW

As Germany is not prey to dramatic climatic extremes - although there are regional differences – it is a fine destination year-round.

From May to September the most reliably good weather appears, with shorts-and-t-shirt conditions in high summer (mid 20°C / low 70°F), even in the north. Most people visit Germany when sunny skies are most likely and much of life moves outdoors. Beer gardens and cafes bustle at all hours; outdoor events and festivals enliven cities and villages. But please remember that rain is a possibility in any month….

In April and May, when flowers and fruit trees are in bloom, it can be mild and sunny. Also autumn is a good time to visit Germany, when Indian summers, that stretch well into autumn, are not uncommon.

Wintertime is frosty and wet, with snow rarely settling for long except in the high country. With the exception of winter sports, activities between November and early March are likely to focus more on culture and city life. Just pack the right clothes and keep in mind that there are only six to eight hours of daylight.


VISAS

EU citizens can enter on an official identity card. Americans, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders, Japanese and Israelis just need a valid passport (no visa).


MONEY

Credit Cards
Large shops, petrol stations and hotels usually accept major credit cards (Visa / Master Card, AMEX, Diners) but you should also keep a supply of cash on hand.

Currency Notes and Coins
Euro notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. It is often difficult to get change for a € 200.00 or € 500.00 note. One Euro is divided into 100 cents.


OPENING HOURS

Department stores and most shops are open from:

Monday – Friday 10:00h – 20:00h (small shops are often closed from 13:00h – 15:00h)
Saturday 10:00h – 16:00h (big department stores until 20:00h)
Sunday closed


Banks are open from:

Monday – Friday 09:00h – 16:00h (Thursday until 18:00h)
Saturday and Sunday closed


Pharmacies are open from:

Monday – Friday 09:00h – 18:30h (small pharmacies are often closed from 13:00h – 15:00h)
Saturday 09:00h – 13:00h
Sunday closed
(All are closed on public holidays.)

Restaurants are open from:

Every day 11:30h – 23:00h, sometimes longer (many closed during afternoon, some have a day off once a week)


MOBILE PHONES

The GSM 900/1800 system is the network standard for Germany; it is not compatible with North American or Japanese systems, with a few exceptions. GSM coverage by all major carriers is comprehensive.