Language

German is the official language. English is also widely spoken and understood.

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Money

The unit of currency is the Euro (EUR), divided into 100 cents. ATM's and exchange bureaus are widely available. The major credit cards are becoming more widely accepted in many large shops, hotels and restaurants, although Germans themselves prefer to carry cash. Travelers checks are best cashed at exchange bureaus, as banks often won't change them. The quickest and most convenient way to change money is to obtain cash from one of the ATM machines that are ubiquitous features of all German streets. Banks are closed on weekends, but exchange bureaus at airports and main railway stations are open daily from 6am to 10pm.

 

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Communications

The international access code for Germany is +49. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the U.S.). The city code for Berlin is (0)30. Note that telephone numbers in Germany can range from four to nine digits. There are surcharges on international calls made from hotels; it is often cheaper to use public telephone boxes in post offices, which use phone cards. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns.

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Tipping

Some restaurant bills already have a service charge added, but if this is not the case add 5-10 percent. Hotel porters expect around €1, and cleaning staff, hairdressers, taxi drivers etc expect small tips.

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Safety

A visit to Germany should be trouble free, but take normal precautions to avoid mugging, bag-snatching and pick-pocketing, especially at airports and railway stations in the large cities.

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Health

There are no serious health risks in Germany, although there have been recent outbreaks of measles in Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine Westphalia. The German health service is excellent. Cases of bird flu have been reported throughout the country, but no human infections have been found. The deadly virus has also been found in cats. The risk is low for travelers to Germany, but all close contact with wild, caged or domestic birds should be avoided, and all poultry and egg dishes should be well cooked as a precaution.

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Electricity

220 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are standard.

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