Getting There & Away
The main arrival/departure points for flights in Germany are
Frankfurt-am-Main, Munich and Düsseldorf. Frankfurt is Europe's
busiest airport after Heathrow. An airport departure tax of around
US$5 is included in ticket prices. If you're already in Europe,
it's generally cheaper to get to and from Germany by train or
bus. While train travel is often more expensive than catching
a bus, it's generally faster, more comfortable (particularly for
overnight travel) and more efficient. Germany is served by an
excellent highway system connected to the rest of Western Europe.
Roads from Eastern Europe are being upgraded but some border crossings
are a little slow, especially from Poland. To enter Germany with
a car or motorbike, you must have third-party insurance. Ferries
run between Germany's northern coast and Scandinavia and the UK.
Getting Around
Getting around Germany is easy. Domestic air travel is extensive
but unless you're in an awful hurry, you might as well save your
money - the German train network is wonderful. The eastern and
western train systems have now been fully merged, although fares
in the east are still cheaper. Numerous fares and ticket passes
are available. There is usually a surcharge for the InterCity
Express (ICE) trains but it's worth it to travel 250km/h (155mph)
through the German countryside. Forget about buses until you're
in train-unfriendly terrain.
German roads are excellent, and motorised transport can be a great
way to tour the country, although most towns have problems with
car-parking. The national and (in)famous motorway network known
as autobahnen can be wonderful and can be a nightmare: speed-of-light
Porsches and BMWs looming monster-size and impatient in your rear-view
mirror are one factor, soul-destroying traffic jams are another.
Technically there is no general speed limit on the autobahnen,
but, in an effort to increase safety and curb noise pollution,
many segments have speed limits ranging from 100km/hr (62mph)
to 130km/hr (80mph). On other parts of the autobahn system, high
performance sports cars will pass you in excess of 250 kmh (155mph).
Be careful!
Bicycle touring in Germany is very popular. There are often separate
cycling routes in the cities, towns and in the countryside, but
cycling on the autobahnen is strictly verboten |
