Germany tours & travel

 

Capital city	Berlin
Population	82.3 Million
Language	German
Currency	EUR
Time zone	(GMT+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna
Electricity	Type C (European 2-pin) Type F (German 2-pin, side clip earth)
Dialling code	+49

 

Germany is a the second most populous European country after Russia, and over 90% of the people are of German ethnicity. They are renowned for their industrious values, practicality and orderly lives. At the same time, it’s a very modern and progressive nation with liberal attitudes towards women, sexuality and diversity. Most people identify as Christians, but many are non-practicing, and there is a significant minority of Muslims. Germans love their arts, with an appreciation of classical music, literature and high art. 

Germany sits in the heart of Europe, sharing borders with nine different European countries. It borders onto the North Sea and the Baltic Sea of the Atlantic Ocean. Its landmass spans from the Alps in the south through to the forests of the central region which cover over a third of the country. The weather is temperate by European standards and it is home to a surprising diversity of wildlife who live in the abundant woodlands. These include deer, eagles, boar, badgers and hare, and can be spotted at the numerous national parks.

Germany has all the shopping opportunities a highly developed European country has to offer. You’ll find everything from big brands to independent fashion, flea markets to souvenirs. Germany is even home to one of the biggest shopping districts in all of Europe, the schildergasse in Cologne. Marienplatz in Munich is another major place to satisfy your material urges. There are books, clothes, jewellery and shoes, as well as a buzzing market called Viktualienmarkt, where you can get tasty German street food.  

• Karneval

Like other carnival events around the world, Germans come out of the woodwork during lent to celebrate their local cultures. The celebration involves parades, dress ups and plenty of feasting and drinking.

• Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest attracts up to six million people each year – and they all want to drink and be merry. Bavarian beer is some of the world’s best-loved, and goes well with chicken, pork and plenty of sausage.

• Long night of the museums

This festival originated in Berlin but has caught on in other German cities and greater Europe. Galleries and art museums stay open late to host special exhibitions.

 

Germans are famous for their hearty foods and thickly brewed beverages. Try some of their popular and traditional meat dishes, such as braised pork hock and pork belly. Another typical German meat is the wurst or sausage, usually complemented with vegetables like potatoes, beets and turnips. For breakfast, enjoy some traditional German bread and baked goods of which there are thousands of delicious varieties. And if there’s one thing you’ve got to try on your Germany tour, it’s got to be their world-famous beer – prost!

• The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert
• Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall by Anna Funder
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• The Reader by Bernard Schlink
• Berlin Noir: March Violets; The Pale Criminal; A German Requiem by Philip Kerr