Welcome to Germany! | Willkommen in Deutschland!
A guide to customs, daily life and travel in Deutschland
If you are traveling to or within Germany, we have information, resources and photos to help you have better experience. Germany (called Deutschland in German) is Europe’s largest nation, both in population and the size of its economy. Geographically it offers everything from North Sea and Baltic beaches to Bavarian Alpine splendor. Germany’s rivers are legendary, and you can cruise many of them on special river ships, or explore them by rail or car.
Munich’s international airport is where many travelers begin their Germany experience. PHOTO: Hyde Flippo
We also have guides to many of Germany’s most interesting cities, from Berlin in the north to Munich in the south.
More > Germany: Facts and Figures
Getting Started
So you’re off to Germany. Willkommen! (That’s German for “Welcome!”) Here are some things that can help before you get there:
- Know Before You Go – Passports, money, customs and more
- How to get to Germany > By Air | By Car | By Rail
- Public Transport in Germany – A Guide: S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus, tram
Frankfurt International Airport (FRA): Official Website
Also see: Austria for Tourists and Switzerland for Tourists
Destinations in Germany
- City Guides: Germany – What to see and do in selected German cities
- Berlin & Potsdam – What to see in the German capital and surroundings – history, sights, photos
- Dresden – What to see in Saxony’s second largest city: The Zwinger, the Marienkirche, and more!
- Frankfurt am Main – Germany’s financial capital (“Bankfurt”) also has attractions for travelers – History, sights, photos
- Munich – What to see in and around the Bavarian capital – history, sights and Oktoberfest!
- Trier – Roman ruins and the birthplace of Karl Marx – history, sights, photos
Topics: Germany for Tourists
Interesting and helpful information related to traveling in Germany:
- Germany – History and culture
- History of Germany with notable Germans, past and present
- The Euro – About the currency that first went into circulation in Austria and Germany in January 2002.
- Cell Phones in Germany – Advice concerning taking a mobile phone to Germany and Europe
- The iPhone in Germany – Advice on buying an iPhone for Germany and Europe
- Air Travel – Airports, airlines, advice
- Driving in Germany – Things you need to know about getting behind the wheel in Germany and Europe
- Driving on the Autobahn – Fast and furious!
- Public Transport in Germany – Getting around locally via S-Bahn, U-Bahn, bus, and tram
- Rail Travel in Germany – Taking the train in Deutschland
- Dialects – The German you hear in Germany is often a regional variation
- Notable Germans include:
- Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) was West Germany’s very first chancellor.
- Wernher von Braun (1912-1977) was a charismatic German-American rocket scientist (and former Nazi) who helped put Americans on the moon.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was Germany’s greatest author, dramatist and poet.
- Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-1886) was the famous King of Bavaria (1864-1886) who built Neuschwanstein Castle and other palaces. Learn more about the king and his Wittelsbach dynasty.
- Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a German philosopher, writer and journalist who published the “Communist Manifesto” in 1848.
- Leni Riefenstahl (1902-2003) was a controversial film director during the Nazi era.
- Konrad Zuse (1910-1995) invented the first digital, programmable computer.
- More…
- Holidays and Celebrations – Key holidays and other official and unofficial observations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland
- Germans in Hollywood – German, Austrian and Swiss people – past and present – in Hollywood
Next | Switzerland for Tourists