Germany: location. According to THESCIENCETUTOR.ORG, Germany is located in the center of Western Europe. Its neighbors are as many as 9 countries: Denmark (north), Poland and the Czech Republic (east), Austria and Switzerland (south), the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Luxembourg (west).
Germany: capital. The capital of the country is one of the largest cities – Berlin. It consists of 12 districts, each of which has many attractions. The most interesting sights of Berlin, which are worth seeing during the tour: the Brandenburg Gate (the symbol and the main attraction of the country) and the famous Reichstag; capital opera; the Berlin TV tower with an observation deck located at a height of two hundred meters; Charlottenburg Palace; Berlin Cathedral.
Germany: language. The official language is German, and most young people also speak English.
Germany: visa. A visa to Germany for Ukrainians is issued through the embassy in Kyiv. It is necessary to submit a number of documents, pay a consular fee of 35 euros and the services of a visa center, costing 25.2 euros. Getting a visa to Germany lasts about 10 days in the usual way, and from 2 to 5 days in case of a fast processing. A tourist visa to Germany is issued for 3 months. Schengen will provide an opportunity to visit the country one or more times within six months (the total duration of stay in the country is not more than 90 days).
Germany: features of customs control. Allowed to import without paying tax: up to 200 cigarettes / 50 cigars (optional), up to 200 grams of tobacco, up to 1 liter of alcoholic beverages with a strength of more than 22% and up to 2 liters with a strength of less than 22%, up to 500 grams of coffee beans or 200 grams of instant coffee . Perfumes are limited to 60 ml, eau de toilette to 250 ml, medicines only with a prescription and a doctor’s seal. Personal care products must be sealed and placed in luggage. Currency without duty up to 15,000 euros. The import of weapons, ammunition, drugs, antidepressants, animal products is prohibited.
Germany: climate and seasonality. The weather in Germany in summer is not hot and without much precipitation – about + 23- + 25. In autumn and spring from +7 in the cold months of the year, up to +18 in the warm months – May, September. Winter in Berlin is not frosty – usually the temperature is from 0 to +3 during the day, and drops a little below 0 at night. In mountainous areas and ski resorts, the temperature is cooler and drops below zero in winter, and rises no more than +18-+20 in summer.
Germany: time. The time difference between Kiev and Berlin is -1 hour (in Kyiv more than an hour).
Germany: currency. The official currency of Germany is the Euro.
Germany: tips. Often, tips are already included in the bill, but tips are accepted in the country, so you can leave 5% to 10% in excess of the check, although this is not necessary. Tips for taxi drivers are not included in the bill, so you can round up to 1 euro.
Germany: telephone and communications. It is worth buying a local SIM card, which will cost approximately 10 euros (all of them will be on the account). Unlimited mobile Internet in Germany for tourists costs about 10 euros, so when calling via the Internet and to local numbers in Germany, you can practically invest up to 15 euros. Germany code 49. Emergency numbers for ambulance, fire and assistance services – 112, for the police – 110.
Germany: electrical network. The sockets in the country are European, and the mains voltage is 230 V.
Germany: clothing etiquette. There are no special requirements for clothing.
Germany: official holidays. The main holidays are the New Year (1.01), Catholic Christmas (25.12), during which many traditional fairs are held in each city, Easter (April-May), German Unity Day (3.10) and Halloween (31.10-1.11).
The following festivals in Germany will also be interesting:
- Spring Festival (in April) or Fruhlingsfest, which takes place in Berlin. A lot of music, dance and theater performances, a lot of delicious local food, various attractions for children and adults.
- Pyrotechnics Festival in Cologne (July) – performances by pyrotechnic masters from Germany and other European countries (at night on the Rhine embankment), music concerts. The Cologne Festival of Lights usually attracts about 2 million tourists.
- Music rock festival Wacken Open Air (in August, lasts about 3-4 days). On several stages for 16 hours a day there are concerts and bright shows of German and European rock and metal bands.
- And, of course, the legendary Oktoberfest – Munich beer festival, held in late September – early October, which attracts millions of tourists (about 6 million on average). Here you will find huge liter mugs of the best German beer of dozens of different varieties, a lot of traditional snacks, especially meat, musical performances – a noisy atmosphere of fun and a lot of beer are guaranteed!
