What You Need To Know About - Germany Travel

Germany has always one of the centers of attractions on the globe. The place is as beautiful as the fantasy of an artist and the imagination of a poet. It has a rich history that's speaks through the archaic and bewitching architecture and monuments, the culture and the convivial attitude of the locals. There are royal castles, magnificent castles and handmade houses that take you to the roads of the country's glorious past. The wonderful cities of Germany like Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Frankfurt etc. treat you with an ecstatic unity in diversity.

The best time to visit Germany is summer season. When the sun is shining above your head during the months of April to September, Germany is an ideal place with mild weather and sunshine. Once you reach Germany, it is a pleasure and delight to explore the place via a train. These trains take you from town to town providing you the best of all amenities and an opportunity not just to explore the interior but also the enthralling outskirts of each city.

A Little about the Cities- Berlin, the capital city of Germany is a city full of life and passion that never lets your spirits down. Besides the entertaining and unforgettable nightlife of Berlin there are other attractions too. The Brandenburg Gate and the remains of the Berlin Wall in Berlin sing the saga of the time of Second World War when Hitler reigned over Germany, are remarkable things to watch. While you are in Berlin be sure to visit the Checkpoint Charlie Museum that throws more light on the history of Berlin Wall and has a collection of the relics related to unbeaten escape attempts across its borders. Apart from this you should also visit the Germaldegaleire or the traditional Picture Gallery that has an exotic collection of the 13th to 18th century art.

There are several good hotels to make your stay comfortable in Berlin. The archaic Adlon Hotel is quite a renowned hotel in Berlin. You can ask either ask your travel agency to reserve the lodging for you or search the internet.

The city of Munich is bustling with all sorts of people from students to musicians, artists and the like. The place is known for its nightlife and for the love for fashion. The season to visit Munich is from June to October when you can actually enjoy and taste the fun and flora of the city. The popular tourist spots are the Englischer Garden which has a Chineese Pagoda along with beautifully trimmed landscape parks. Then there are also the Residenz palace and Klostergasthof Andechs well known for its chilly beer. Konigshof Hotel and Stachus Plaza are recommendable places to stay.

The city of Hamburg also known as the 'gateway to the world' is situated between the Lake Alster and River Elbe. The place has a horde of museums and historical buildings with a bubbling nightlife and delectable cuisine. Hotels like Kempinski Hotel Atlantic Hamburg located alongside Lake Alster can be opted to stay. If you want to take a look at old timber houses along with skyscrapers then the city of Frankfurt is the right choice. The place has lots of attractions like Palmengarten (1869) -a home to thousands of wonderful plants, events of the sort Nokia Night of the Proms, the Frankfurt zoo and so forth.

Apart from these cities there are other celebrated cities are Cologne known for German architecture, long winding roads, restaurants and the hot favorite of children as well as kids-the Chocolate Museum, the city of Saarburg resting in the hills of Saar river valley and also the city known for giving birth too auto companies- Stuttgart.

All in all Germany is a perfect destination for your vacations!
About the Author

Mansi gupta writes about germany travel topics.

Written by: Mansi gupta

Travel And Make Mistakes In Germany

Learning another foreign language which is widely used on more than one country helps increase a person’s full career potential and social development. It’s also a great advantage to learn speaking another language as a second (or third) since this attracts career prospects on foreign lands not only in Germany but other countries as well such as Belgium, Switzerland and others.

The United States of America alone has many citizens which originally speaks the German language since it’s also where most of the families have come from. The German language in the U.S falls third from the widely spoken language after Spanish and French.

If traveling is one of your hobbies, there’s a high chance of traveling to German speaking countries and one of the things about countries speaking on their own tongue is that citizens of these countries appreciate it more if you know how to exert effort in saying at least a basic German greeting or asking something the German way. Once you’ve warmed up your basic knowledge of the language no matter how inarticulate you are; the locals just love to hear a foreigner strike a conversation using the local language of the place. Usually, when you’ve done the initial (and difficult part in talking to a local), they’d be appreciative enough to talk to you using your own language. It’s the effort that counts so it’s always useful to prep yourself even with just a small set of grammar and vocabulary of the language.

Of course, you can still travel to Germany even when you didn’t know any German sentence. Immersion is still the best way to go to learn how to say the things you want to say in the most local way. The good thing about it is the first hand experience you get from local Germans and if you have second thoughts before saying a German sentence, you can easily ask a German friend standing by and save yourself from embarrassment.

Don’t get me wrong, mistakes happen in learning another language and strange as it may seem, it’s one good way also how to learn a foreign language. Learn from your mistakes and move on.

Travel: Filmmuseum Potsdam & Babelsburg

During the Cold War, Potsdam was the Hollywood of the DDR (the Deutsches Demokratisches Republik), and Babelsburg was the name of the studio at which all the films were produced. Now, however, it’s a museum within an hour’s journey from Berlin. Potsdam is easily accessible via S-bahn, and the museum is within walking distance of the Potsdam Hauptbahnhof (the main train station in Potsdam). The museum has a very modest entrance fee, but once inside, you are treated to all kinds of movie memorabilia.

Those who have visited the museum prior to 2005 will remember that not the entire museum at the was translated into English, but enough of it was visual so that a visitor who spoke no German could still enjoy it. The permanent exhibit is both intellectual and fun in that it deals with the politics of the 20th century and how it influenced film production. Even if one has zero interest in politics, the various film props and costumes are of interest. The exhibit is pleasingly interactive, but not overwhelmingly so: there are touch screens that quiz the visitor on which scenes movies come from, for example, and one can listen to interviews about the filmmaking process.

There are film screenings every day, usually for an extra charge. Naturally these films are usually in German, but there are English-language screenings, too, usually of fairly recent award-winning films. The best part of the museum, though, is the children’s exhibit, which is fairly unusual for a German museum. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, the studio produced many children’s films that were of traditional fairy tales. At the time of my visit, there was a large interactive exhibit featuring real items from Babelsburg sets, so children can really “experience” the movies for themselves.

Even very little children or non German-speakers can have fun with the visual and tactile aspects. The exhibit incorporates video and computer touch-screens for a really immersive experience. Families traveling with small children will find this a great treat.

Even the museum’s café is worth a visit. It’s not very overpriced, and the food with a Turkish-influence and a hint of Italian is memorable and served by friendly wait staff.

Berlin Flats: The Frugal Traveler's Choice Of Home In The Capital

Berlin flats are one of the reasons Berlin is a truly wonderful city to immerse yourself into.

Berlin, Germany is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Visitors from around the world flock to Germany's capital city, which also happens to be the only truly international metropolis that is comparable to Paris or London.

What makes Berlin a must-visit place? Many say the city's appeal lies not only in its highly prominent role in history, but also in the spirit and bounce of the city and its people. Berlin has Macht und Geist, that powerful combination of power and intellect. It is an important hub of culture, contemporary architecture, nightlife, and avant-garde artistry. It is therefore no surprise that Berlin is such a riveting magnet to individuals who are drawn to artistic freedom, liberal lifestyle, and urban eclecticism.

Be Kind to Your Wallet.

If you're a tourist and are seeing Berlin for the first time, experience all that the city has to offer more concretely and thoroughly by choosing Berlin flats over hotels. If you plan to stay in the city far longer than tourists normally do, then Berlin flats are also the most economical option for you. Everything in Berlin has great architecture, even run-down East Berlin flats. Though built to maximize the use of space, they hold a whimsical, old world appeal and look like lego bricks stacked on top of each other. Berlin flats allow you to experience German life first-hand. Moreover, they are budget-friendly because they are much cheaper than hotel rooms.

There are many affordable flats in Berlin, and this is largely due to the disparity between the sheer number of apartments available and the actual number of people who choose to live there. Berlin flats are so affordable that if you are a tourist used to New York or London prices, you would find the rent laughable.

Where Does One Find Berlin Flats?

So, how do you go about finding Berlin flats? You may book online or try your luck with newspapers, magazines, and agents. Online, you may book through any of the real estate websites in Germany. In newspapers and magazines, look at the Wohnen section. Wohnen means Living, and this is the section in magazines and newspapers where you will find a listing of Berlin flats. Among the newspapers that you can try are the Berliner Zeitun, Der Tagesspiegel, and the Berliner Morgenpost. The leading private advertising paper, Zweite Hand, is also a good bet because every Saturday, it features hundreds of listings for every flat size and type imaginable. Now, should you decide to use the services of an agent, be warned that such services can set you back between 15% to 100% of one month's Kaltmiete, or the equivalent of one month's rent without side costs in the form of utilities, for example. The good thing about this option, though, is that you can have the agent do the paperwork for you. There are many agencies to choose from and you can shop for your agency of choice online or from telephone directories.

It has been said that the best way to acquaint yourself with a city is to experience the parts of it that are ordinary and real. No part could be more ordinary or real than Berlin flats.

A Travel Guide For Cologne

Cologne is the four most populated cities in Germany. These days the city is a beautiful cultured destination with great leisure facilities, pubs and shops. However, during WWII, Cologne was heavily bombed and damaged. After years of restoration work it has been rebuilt to portray the wonderful historic Roman city it use to be.

Travelling to Cologne
Flying is the recommended choice of transport as the city has Köln/Bonn Konrad Adenauer Airport located 10km from the centre. Also, for people arriving from countries that are outside Europe, Frankfurt Airport is the closest and provides transfers for the 200km journey. Trains and large roads make it easy to get to the city via other methods.

Accommodation in Cologne
Hotels are the most popular choice of accommodation in Cologne. However, check for the festival dates as this can seriously affect the availability of rooms. Hotels are great as they offer different classes of rooms and are conveniently situated around the city.

A Brief History of Cologne
Cologne has a vast history as it is the eldest city in Germany. The city has great importance in Roman History as it is one of four sanctified cities that formed the north corner spot of the Empire.

At the beginning of the thirteenth century Cologne was renowned for being the largest fortified city in the world. However, it has been changed around a lot since then as 90% of Cologne was destroyed during WWII.

City Attractions and Sights
Since the heavy bombing in WWII, restoration efforts have seen the city burgeon into the historic Roman centre that it used to be. The Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) that was originally established in 1248 was rebuilt to its previous state. It is an important feature of the city and one of the worlds most impressive Cathedrals.

If you are interested in museums then head for the Aldstadt city’s most famous museums are such as the Museum Ludwig. For relaxation check out Claudius Spa that is found in the Rheinpark area although, you will need a car to make the journey.

Shopping in Cologne
Cologne has a great range of shops that cater for everybody’s needs. The most popular shopping areas are in the centre where there are a number of large. Other smaller streets that head out of the centre have more unique shops and indoor markets. The shopping areas are sectioned off for pedestrians, attractive and well laid out.

Food and Drink
Cologne has a great range of top quality restaurants that offer all kinds of international food. There are also numerous attractive cafes and bars as well as all takeaway options.

A Review Of German Mannerisms For Foreign Travelers

Visitors from other parts of the world that visit Germany for vacation or business purposes are typically pleased to note that Germans are cordial, polite, and welcoming. However, as with any culture, Germans have mannerisms that are unique to them. Since social etiquette is considered important in every society and Germans are no different, visitors that take a small amount of time to familiarize themselves with what Germans consider good manners will find that locals will often appreciate and even more warmly accept them into their country.

Shaking Hands

Germans typically wait until introduced by a host to shake hands. Typically, older parties in a group or more senior persons reserve the right to extend their hand for a handshake first. Attendees of small parties will always take the time to shake hands with one another when greeting, as opposed to larger functions where hand shakes are very rarely performed. The act of shaking hands in passing is considered rude. If one takes the time to shake hands, it is considered a precursor to at least a brief chat. Additionally, it is considered to rude to shake hands while the other hand is in your pocket.

In formal settings, it is still considered custom to kiss a lady’s hand when introduced, though the lips should never actually touch the hand. When being introduced to adults, little German girls will occasionally courtesy in greeting. Furthermore, unlike in the United States, children will rarely thank someone for a compliment.

Addressing Others in Germany

The female term “Fraulein” is only used to address particularly young, unmarried girls. The shorter “Frau” is used to address older, unmarried young ladies and women since it is considered a more mature greeting. Also unlike in the United States, a married woman is not addressed by her husband’s first name (e.g. Mrs. John Smith), but by her own first name (e.g. Frau Jane Smith).

Common Business Etiquette in Germany

“Du” and “Sie”

The method of addressing others by saying “you” is divided into the formal and informal manners of “Du” and “Sie.” “Du” is considered informal and should be reserved only for close acquaintances, friends and family. To avoid seeming disrespectful when meeting new persons, especially in a formal or business environment, it is generally accepted that “Sie” is the proper form to use.

Attire

American standards of business dress have relaxed in certain niche industries in recent years, but that doesn’t mean that the same is true of Germans. It is typically customary for business attire to be worn in nearly every business setting. Jeans, T-shirts, and similar clothing will typically be frowned upon. When in doubt, always opt to possibly slightly overdress than to take the risk of under-dressing.

Meetings and Functions

Unlike many other cultures, Germans will typically send invitations that outline not only when a meeting or function will begin but also when it will end. It would be considered good manners to use this time as a queue to bid a proper farewell. Though no one will expect every one to jump up and run out the door at the exact time, it can be considered rude to ignore the outlines set up by the hosts.

Travel Tips to European Countries: Germany

About the country

The Federal republic of Germany is the most influential country of Europe. It has witnessed the most controversial facts of history like Nazism, Holy Roman Empire and the building and demolition of the Berlin wall. With many magnificent castles it has wealth of art and culture. German is the widely spoken language in German, but outsiders can find many English speaking locals especially in the common tourist destinations.

Weather

The weather here is very unpredictable as there is a possibility of rain almost all months, so carry clothes accordingly. April and May are the months of spring which brings in full bloom of fruits and flowers. Months from May to September have very fine weather with sunny skies and offers the best time for traveling and site-seeing. People who have a passion for sports like swimming, hiking, and cycling can have the best time here during these months. Winter sports can be enjoyed at the resorts in the months from November to early March. The temperatures are below freezing and the days are too short (comprise of only six to eight months) in winter.

Local Customs

Locals greet each other by handshaking and saying Guten Tag. To say goodbye, people use Auf Wiedersehen. Guests are expected to bring uncovered and odd number of flowers, especially roses, when visiting someone’s home. The guests are welcomed with either food or refreshments. At the table, hosts say ‘Guten Appetit’ to which the guests should reply with ‘Ebenfalls’. Smoking should be better avoided in public areas. Locals dress informally but certain occasions like opera, theatre, certain restaurants and social functions call for formal wear.

Electricity

220 V, 50 Hz

Moving Around

The best way to get around is to buy the Welcome cards or the city passes which allows the customer to access unlimited bus facility in many cities of Germany. It also gives special offer on certain tourist attractions. For flexibility one can rent-a-car or go for chauffer driven cars. Along with the rent, VAT of 16% is payable. Car insurance should be available before hand in case of any accident. The speed limit within the cities is mostly 50kph and 100kph on the highways.
Nine stars

The nine stars of Southwest Germany comprise of Baden-Baden, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Heilbronn, Mannheim, Pforzheim Stuttgart, and Ulm. They are considered to be some of the beautiful cities of Europe. Each of the cities play a vital role in the culture of Germany. Baden-Baden has few of the finest resorts and also has Europe’s second largest opera and concert hall. Freiburg is known as the historic city center and is famous for cobblestone mosiacs, open streams and ancient alleys. Heidelberg has world famous castles and Germany’s oldest university. Karlsruhe has the famous museum Center for Art and Media. Look out for various amusements along the Nectar river of Heilbronn. Pforzheim is the capital for watches and jewelry. Stuttgart is famous for theatres and opera. Ulm is the birth place of Albert Einstein and is also house to the world’s tallest hurch spire.

Travel

The national airline that serves Germany is Lufthansa. Bwelin-Tegel airport is situated at 8 km away from the city and it takes about 20 minutes to reach there. There is a provision of duty free shops, banks, post office, eateries, conference hall, and car hire and tourism information for the passengers.

Another busy airport is the Frankfurt airport which is located at 13km away from the city. Buses take about 20 minutes to get there. Taxis are available at any time. The Intercity railway network at the airport also provides international services to Hungary, Switzerland and Austria. The facilities provided here are duty free shops, left luggage, restaurants, banks, conference halls, post office, car hire and tourism information. No departure tax is levied on the passengers.

Those wishing to travel by sea can avail the ferry connections to Finland, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Latvia, and Norway.

Eurostar provides railway service to and from Belgium, France and the UK. Booking can be made by telephone. The Inter-Rail offers unlimited second class train travel within 29 European countries. The Eurailpass offers unlimited first class train travel within 17 European countries.
EuroCity and InterCity trains have a restaurant on board, providing food and drinks. InterCity Express target the business class and provides services such as fully equipped office, conference compartments, etc. Tourist over 17 years of age can carry alcohol and tobacco with them within permissible limits.