Getting Around

Getting to Germany and away

Entering the country is usually a straightforward procedure. Between Germany and other EU countries there are no border checkpoints. If you arrive from any other country, you will have to show your passport and visa if required at clear customs.

You can find many airports in Germany, huge ones as well as really small ones. The Frankfurt/ Main International Airport is the main gateway for transcontinental flights, although Dusseldorf and Munich also receive much of overseas air traffic. Further, there are sizable airports in Hamburg, Cologne/ Bonn and Stuttgart and smaller ones in Berlin (that has three different airports), Dortmund, Hanover, Leipzig and Nuremberg. All these listed airports are relatively close to the final destinations of our tours so that your transport will be pleasant and without difficulties.

Most of the world’s major airlines at the very least serve Frankfurt International Airport, but especially during the last years, budget airlines have proliferated. The main airport for Ryan Air, being one of the most important “no frills” airlines, is Frankfurt Hahn. Situated in the north west of Frankfurt’s city itself, it is definitely not very close to Frankfurt International Airport. But nevertheless, to avoid traffic and connecting flight problems, several transport links have been introduced and allow an easy and good connection to the main airport as well as to different nearby cities and towns.
Low cost tickets must usually be booked directly with the airline, which is best done online. Air Berlin, Easy Jet, German Wings, Hapag Lloyd Express and Ryan Air are the most common and successful ones, also operating in Germany. Travelling to Germany from the UK and Ireland has become very cheap thanks to the low-cost carriers. To find your individual ticket, check discount online agencies and of course the low-cost airlines’ own websites:

Air Berlin – www.airberlin.com
Flights from London to Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hanover, Leipzig/Halle and Nuremburg, also departures from Glasgow and Manchester to selected German cities

Easy Jet – www.easyjet.com
Flights from London to Basel, Berlin, Cologne/Bonn, Dortmund and Munich, also departures from Liverpool, Newcastle and Belfast to selected German cities

German Wings – www7.germanwings.com/index.en.shtml
Flights from London to Cologne/ Bonn and Stuttgart, also departures from Birmingham and Edinburgh to Cologne/Bonn

Hapag Lloyd Express (HLX) – www.hlx.com/en/index.html
Flights from Manchester and Newcastle to Hanover and Cologne/Bonn, also departures from Newcastle to Munich and from Manchester and Dublin to Stuttgart

Ryan Air – www.ryanair.com
Flights from London to Berlin, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt/Hahn, also departures from Glasgow and Shannon to Dusseldorf and Frankfurt/Hahn and from Kerry to Frankfurt/Hahn


The major US cities, offer flights to Germany, mostly come to Frankfurt, Dusseldorf or Munich where you can catch a connecting domestic flight to your individual destination or simply use the train for your onward journey.


Long-distance trains connect major German cities with those in other countries. Taking an overnight train is the most comfortable option. A land link between Britain and the continent had been reached with the Channel Tunnel. The Eurostar-train needs max. two hours and 20 minutes from London to Brussels, where you can continue your journey with regular or high-speed trains (ICE in Germany).

Another way of travelling to Germany is by car. A valid driving licence, your car registration certificate and proof of insurance is all you need. Foreign cars further must display a national sticker unless they have official Euro-Plates (number plates including their own country’s Euro symbol).
In Germany does exist right-hand traffic. That means be careful while driving, especially when turn off. Do not pull the car to the left as a result of traditional habit. Road signs are usually similar to the English ones. There do only exist few roundabouts / rotaries and crossings are regulated with traffic lights. Germany counts a big number of motorways / highways and also a net of smaller, winding country roads. Drive fundamentally defensive. Distance and speed are set in km/h (kilometres per hour). The following ones show the allowed maximum speed:

within towns: 50 km/h = 31,3 mph (unless otherwise marked)
country roads: 100 km/h = 62,5 mph (unless otherwise marked)
motorways / highways no maximum speed but recommended speed of 130 km/h = 81,5 mph

For further information or doubts please contact your individual motoring organisation:

AAA (American/Australian Automobile Association)
CAA (Canadian Automobile Association)

AA (Automobile Association) for UK and Ireland

ANWB (Algemene Nederlandse Wielrijdersbond)

KNAC (Koninklijke Nederlandsche Automobiel Club)


Getting around

You can chose your favourite means of transportation between a huge range of possibilities. Going by train, bus, car, boat or plane, using water-, air- and street ways, it is up to you how to travel around and to go wherever you like.

Train
operated almost only by the ‘Deutsche Bahn’ and with over 40,000 km of track and serving over 7,000 cities, the network is Europe’s most extensive. Smaller ones are the S-Bahnen (suburb) and U-Bahnen (underground / subway) that operate intern in bigger cities,  such as Berlin or Munich.

Bus
a nationwide system does not exist and separate bus companies serve different regions. Consequently the frequency of the service varies dramatically. In cities, buses converge at the central bus station which is usually close to the “Hauptbahnhof” (main or central station) Tickets are available directly from the driver on board or at offices or kiosks of the bus companies at some of the stations.

Car
the most flexible way of moving. Roads are excellent and the 11,000 km of Autobahn (motorways / freeways) bring you to every part of the country. Along you will find service areas with petrol stations every 40 – 60 km, toilet facilities, Raststätten (rest stops) and restaurants. Seat belts are obligatory, also child seats for children under 12 years. For hiring a car you will need to be at least 21 years, holding a valid driving licence and a major credit card (Amex, Diners Club, Master, Visa, Euro card). Liability insurance may be calculated separately from the rental price.

Boat
nothing else can be more relaxing and leisurely sightseeing while going from A to B. Boat operators in several towns and villages on Germany’s rivers and lakes run scenic cruises from April to October, lasting from one hour to all day. Short section boat service of the Rhine and Mosel is scheduled by KD Line. And ferries connect towns on mayor lakes as the Chiemsee and Lake Starnberg in Bavaria.

Planes
carry especially business travellers from the country’s north to its south, from its east to its west. But offering a lot of very cheap flights, always more flights for tourism purpose are booked and realized.