GERMANY

 

When you think of Germany, you likely think of enchanting castles, world-class beer, and/or the manufacturing of luxury vehicles, but let’s address the elephant in the room. Everyone is aware of Germany’s infamous history - especially during the World Wars. Although no one will deny their faults, I have come to admire the way the Germans have taken responsibility for their actions - especially through their education system. For example, the Holocaust is a mandatory part of their curriculum and most students are required to visit concentration camps. There is a high emphasis in the value of teaching history to ensure past mistakes are not repeated. Additionally, the Germans have made it a point to become world leaders in many different areas such as renewable energy, climate change, technology, and science. Look at the Germans go!

  • Updated COVID-19 Travel Information:

  • Currency:

    • The official currency of Germany is the Euro (EUR) (€)

      • $1 USD = €0.85

  • Pricing for Leisure Travelers:

    • Average Hotel Expenses = €88-€101/Night ($105-$120 USD/Night)

    • Average Food/Drink Expenses = €25-€38/Day ($30-$45 USD/Day)

  • Pricing for Backpackers:

    • Average Hostel Expenses = €17-€25/Night ($20-$30 USD/Night)

    • Average Food/Drink Expenses = €17-€25/Day ($20-$30 USD/Day)

  • Communication:

    • German is the national language of Germany, but you will find that many people speak English very well.

  • Transportation:

    • Bus: Traveling by bus generally gets the short end of the stick but I find the buses in Europe to be quite comfortable and efficient - not to mention inexpensive. I recommend booking through FlixBus, one of the continent’s premier companies headquartered in Germany.

    • Train: The largest rail operator in Europe, Deutsche Bahn, is based out of Germany. Regardless of your route, you should be able to find it on their website. In typical German fashion, their fleet is very comfortable and timely!

    • Airplane: Air travel is very popular in Germany. In fact, the country is home to two of the top fifty busiest airports in the world - Frankfurt am Main Airport (FRA) and Munich International Airport (MUC). The nation’s flag carrier is one of Europe’s top three largest airlines, Lufthansa. You can find cheap fares on their website or via Skyscanner.

    • Taxi/Uber: You won’t have any problems finding taxis in Germany; they are everywhere!

  • Miscellaneous:

    • Germany is famous for Oktoberfest, which actually takes place more in September than October. The 16-day festival begins the third Saturday of September and runs until the first Sunday of October. Annually, 6 million people attend and, yes, it is an absolutely fantastic time!

    • Germany offers free education for all. That goes for international students as well as for public universities.

    • Germany is home to a special kind of highway system known as the Autobahn. What makes it so special? The majority of this highway system has no federally mandated speed limit, only advisory speed limits. In other words, you can drive as fast as you want! On average, vehicles travel upwards of 130 km/hr. If you plan on renting a car, keep this in mind!

BERLIN

MUNICH