General Travel Tips

Visa Regulations

Please find visa regulations here.

Currency and Credit Card

The German currency is the euro. The quickest, easiest and usually cheapest way to exchange money is to use an ATM, called ‘Geldautomat’ in German. They are ubiquitous in German cities and can be accessed 24/7. Visa and MasterCard are usually accepted in Germany - but not everywhere. (American Express to an even lesser extent.) Credit cards (Kreditkarten) are less common and withdrawing money with your credit card at an ATM (you have to know your PIN number) may result in high fees.

Voltages and Plugs

In Germany the power sockets are of type F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Time Zone

GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October).

Emergency Number

Ambulance/Fire: 112
Police: 110

Tipping Etiquette

Service and VAT are included in the menu price in restaurants, bars, etc. all over Germany. Tip is not included. Thus, it is typical to round up the amount to some more-or-less round figure. A rule of thumb is to add 5 - 10 %, generally ending with a full Euro amount, the higher the happier you were with the service.

Smoking Policy

Smoking has been prohibited in all public facilities including hospitals, schools, restaurants and government offices in Hamburg since January 2008. Designated smoking sections are the rule here for restaurants, provided that the rooms have appropriate ventilation devices. Party tents for special events are excluded from the ban. Individuals can be fined anywhere from 20 € to 200 € and businesses from 50 € to 500 €. In some smaller pubs smoking is allowed.