General Information for Germany

Location
Europe

Capital
Berlin

Language
German, English

Int. direct dialling code
49

Driving
National or EU licence required. Minimum driving age is 18 (17 for holders of a full UK license)

Currency
Deutsche Mark (DEM 1 = 100 Pfennig)
Euro (EUR 1 = 100 Cents). Circulation starts 1st Jan 2002

Notes
DEM: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000
EUR: 10, 100, 500

Coins
DEM: 1, 2, 5. Pfennig: 1, 2, 5, 10, 50
EUR: 1, 2, Cents: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50

Banks
0830-1300 & 1430-1600 Mon-Wed & Fri, 0830-1300 & 1430-1730 Thur

Offices
0900-1700 Mon-Fri (many offices close earlier on Fri)

Shops
0900-1830 Mon-Fri, 0900-1300/1400 Sat (regional shops), 0900-2000 Mon-Fri, 0900-1600 Sat (city shops)

Emergency services
Police: 110. Fire: 112

Climate
Weather can be changeable throughout the year. Eastern Germany and South East (Bavarian Alps) tend to have colder winters with more frequent snow and frost. Rainfall is fairly evenly spread throughout the year although less in summer

Clothing
Light or mediumweights for the summer and medium or heavyweights for winter, with rainwear all year round