Western Europe · UN member
Germany: Travel Guide & Requirements
Federal Republic of Germany · Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Germany is a country in Western Europe with its capital in Berlin. It has a population of 83.5 million (#19 in the world) and covers 357,022 km². The official language is German. The currency is the Euro (EUR, €).
Where is Germany? Map of Germany
Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark.
- Region
- Western Europe
- Coordinates
- 51° N, 9° E
- Neighbours
- 9 — see list
- Coastline
- 2,389 km
- Germany
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Germany showing Berlin (capital) and the largest cities: Hamburg, Munich, Köln, Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart, Essen, Dresden and Bremen.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Germany
- Passport
Under the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6(1)(a)), a non-EU visitor's passport must remain valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area (this may be waived in a justified case …
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 93 need no visa, 105 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Germany entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
Under the Schengen Borders Code, the non-exhaustive list of supporting documents a border guard may request (Annex I) includes, as regards return, a return or round-trip ticket.
- Proof of funds
Under the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6(1)(c)), non-EU visitors must have sufficient means of subsistence for the intended stay and for the return, or be in a position to acquire such means lawfully.
- Travel insurance
Schengen visa applicants must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance, valid throughout the Schengen Area for the whole intended stay, with minimum coverage of €30,000.
- Arrival card
The UK Foreign Office says that on short stays in the Schengen Area you may need to register biometric details such as fingerprints and a photo in the EU Entry/Exit System, that on your first visit you may be asked to d…
- Customs allowance
Cash of €10,000 or more (or its equivalent in other currencies) must be declared to customs when entering or leaving the EU.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Germany
- Safety: Germany is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Germany Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: June to August — when daytime highs in Berlin are around 24–26°C.
- Money: the Euro (EUR) — 1 US dollar is about 0.8911 EUR.
- Plugs: type C and F, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110, Ambulance 112, Fire 112.
- Language: German is official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 100 km/h outside built-up areas and no general limit on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC+1 in Berlin.
- Capital: Berlin. About 83.5 million people live in Germany.
- Outdoors: 16 national parks and 292 ski areas.
Key facts
Germany at a glance
Languages spoken: German (official); note - Danish, Frisian, Sorbian, and Romani are official minority languages; Low German, Danish, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, and Romani are recognized as regional languages
Geography & history
About Germany
As Europe's largest economy and second most-populous nation (after Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating world wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key western economic and security organizations, including the EC (now the EU) and NATO, while the co…
Read the full history
As Europe's largest economy and second most-populous nation (after Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating world wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key western economic and security organizations, including the EC (now the EU) and NATO, while the communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War allowed German reunification to occur in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring eastern productivity and wages up to western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.
Location
Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
Climate
temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind
Terrain
lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
Highest point
Zugspitze 2,963 m
Natural resources
coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land
Natural hazards
flooding
National symbols
eagle
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Germany
The default speed limits in Germany are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 100 km/h outside built-up areas and no general limit on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 100100 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- No limitMotorwaysMotorways / freeways130 km/h recommended; many stretches are signposted lower · With a trailer: 80 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1926 ParisCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.5‰ blood alcohol (0.05% BAC)Zero tolerance for young / novice drivers
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)3.3 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Germany safe to visit?
Germany is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Germany Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information on European Entry-Exit System (EES) (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 11 Aug 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Germany
The best time to visit Germany is June to August, when daytime highs in Berlin are around 24–26°C. September is also a good time to go. July is the warmest month (26°C by day), January the coldest (-3°C at night), and July the wettest with about 81 mm of rain.
- Jan2°C-3°C
- Feb4°C-3°C
- Mar8°C-1°C
- Apr15°C4°C
- May20°C9°C
- Jun24°C13°C
- Jul26°C15°C
- Aug26°C14°C
- Sep21°C10°C
- Oct14°C5°C
- Nov7°C2°C
- Dec3°C-1°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Germany
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
112 works from any mobile phone, even without a SIM card in most networks. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
292 ski resorts in Germany
- 835 km of slopes
- 885 lifts
- up to 2,627 m
Biggest: Skigebiet Garmisch-Classic · Sudelfeld - Bayrischzell · Balderschwang – Hochschelpen/Riedberger Horn
National parks
16 national parks in Germany
- 7,452 km² protected
- oldest from 1970
Largest: Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park · Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park · Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Euro exchange rates today
Germany uses the Euro (EUR, €). One US dollar buys 0.8911 EUR; over the last 30 days the EUR has lost 1.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in EUR
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Germany ranks
How Germany compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Germany
1,317 airports and airfields — 22 large, 53 medium and 766 small, plus 473 heliports. 39 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Germany borders 9 countries along 3,694 km of land borders. Coastline: 2,389 km.
Military
German armed forces
Germany ranks #25 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $113.6 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Berlin (3.6 million), Hamburg (1.8 million), Munich (1.6 million), Cologne (1.1 million), Frankfurt (796,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, automobiles, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles
Export partners
USA 10%, France 8%, Netherlands 7%, China 7%, Italy 6% (2023)
Top exports
cars, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, plastic products, vaccines (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Germany
Next public holiday
Christmas Day — Friday, 25 December 2026. Then St. Stephen's Day (26 Dec).
German passport
Ranked #8: 125 countries visa-free, 32 with visa on arrival, 9 with an eTA and 18 with an eVisa.
German passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Germany's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Germany
Dial +49 before the local number. Internet domain .de.
Climate footprint
572.3 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 6.77 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Germany: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Germany
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Frequently asked questions about Germany
What do I need to travel to Germany?
How long must my passport be valid for Germany?
Where is Germany?
What is Germany known for?
What is the capital of Germany?
What language is spoken in Germany?
What currency does Germany use?
What is the calling code of Germany?
Which countries border Germany?
How strong is the German passport?
What is the speed limit in Germany?
Is Germany safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Germany?
What plug type does Germany use?
How many airports does Germany have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.