Germany: Getting there & around

Getting There

• bus

  There are several budget bus companies that run services to Germany from the rest of Europe and the UK. Prices are very appealing and the buses are getting more and more comfortable; if you're travelling in an off-season (when you might score some room to stretch out) or are travelling short distances, they are often a good budget option.

• car

  Travelling to Germany with your own car or motorcycle is easy. All you need is a valid driving licence, your car registration certificate and proof of insurance. Foreign cars must display a nationality sticker unless they have official Euro-Plates (number plates that include their country's Euro symbol). The main gateways to southern Germany are Munich, Freiburg and Passau. Coming from Poland or the Czech Republic may entail delays at the border.

  Coming from the UK, high-speed Eurotunnel shuttle trains whisk cars, motorbikes, bicycles and coaches in 35 minutes from Folkestone through the Channel Tunnel to Coquelles, 5km (3mi) southwest of Calais, in soundproofed and air-conditioned comfort. From there, you can be in Aachen in about three and a half hours.

• air

  Frankfurt International Airport is the main gateway for transcontinental flights, although Düsseldorf and Munich also receive their share of overseas air traffic. There are also sizeable airports in Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart and Freiburg (EuroAirport), and smaller ones in such cities as Bremen, Dresden, Erfurt, Hanover, Leipzig, Münster-Osnabrück, Nuremberg, Karlsruhe-Baden-Baden and Friedrichshafen.

  Some of Europe's new budget airlines - Ryan Air in particular - keep their fares low by flying to some pretty odd and remote airports, some of which are little more than recycled military airstrips. The biggest of these is Frankfurt-Hahn, which is actually near the Moselle River, about 110km (68mi) northwest of Frankfurt proper.

• rail

  Long-distance trains connecting major German cities with those in other countries are called EuroCity (EC) trains. For longhaul trips the most comfortable option is to take an overnight train. You can choose between Schlafwagen (sleepers), which are comfortable compartments for up to three people, with washbasin; Liegewagen (couchettes), which sleep between four and six people; and Sitzwagen (seat carriage), which have roomy, reclinable seats. On daytime trains, reservations are highly recommended during the peak summer season and around major holidays. They can be made as late as a few minutes before departure.

• water

  The Romanshorn-Friedrichshafen car ferry provides the quickest way across Lake Constance between Switzerland and Germany.

  Germany's main ferry ports are Kiel, Lübeck and Travemünde in Schleswig-Holstein, and Rostock and Sassnitz (Rügen Island) in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. All have services to Scandinavia. Ferries to the UK leave from Cuxhaven in Schleswig-Holstein. Return tickets are often cheaper than two one-way tickets.

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Getting Around

• bus

  Basically, wherever there is a train, take it. Buses are generally much slower and less dependable, less efficient and less comfortable than trains. There are, however, some regions where the terrain makes train travel more difficult or impossible; the Harz Mountains, sections of the Bavarian Forest, the Black Forest and the Alpine foothills are among such areas. Germany does not have a nationwide bus system, meaning that separate bus companies, each with their own tariffs and schedules, operate in the different regions.

  The frequency of service varies dramatically, depending on the destination. It can be as little as three buses daily, and sometimes even fewer at weekends. Routes geared to commuters suspend operations altogether on weekends. If you depend on buses to get around, always keep this in mind or risk finding yourself stuck in a remote place over the weekend.

• car

  Motoring around Germany is an enjoyable and flexible way to see the country. German roads are generally so excellent that you're less likely to spot a pothole than a UFO. The country's pride and joy are its 11,000km (6835mi) of Autobahnen (motorways, freeways), which extend to all nooks and crannies of the land. These are supplemented by an extensive network of Bundesstrassen (secondary roads, highways). No tolls are charged on public roads. Many tertiary roads have no highway numbers and road signage is often inadequate or confusing so having a good road map a must.

• bicycle

  Bicycle touring through Germany is fun, popular and eminently feasible, in large part because of a dense network of lightly travelled secondary roads and dedicated bike paths. In the cities you'll often find special bike lanes and pavements separated into different sections for pedestrians and cyclists. Bicycles are strictly verboten on the autobahns but can be taken along on most trains. Germany has over 200 well-signposted long-distance routes.

• air

  Most large and many smaller German cities have their own airports and numerous carriers operate domestic flights within Germany.

  Unless you're flying from one end of the country to the other, say Berlin-Munich or Hamburg-Munich, planes are only marginally quicker than trains if you factor in the time it takes to get to/from the airports. Fares have become more competitive in recent years but generally prices are designed with business travellers in mind.

• Disabled Travellers

  Overall, Germany caters well for the needs of people with disabilities ( Behinderte ), especially people who use wheelchairs. You'll find access ramps and/or lifts in many public buildings, including train stations, museums, theatres and cinemas. Newer hotels have rooms for mobility-impaired guests with extra-wide doors and spacious bathrooms. However, other disabilities (such as blindness or deafness) are not as well catered for, and German organisations representing people with disabilities continue to lobby for improvements.

  The web page of the German National Tourism Office (www.germany-tourism.de) has an entire section dedicated to information about vacationing in Germany with a disability (under Travel Tips) with helpful links. Many local and regional tourism offices also have special brochures for people with disabilities. The Deutsche Bahn operates a Mobility Service Centre (tel 01805-512 512) whose operators can answer questions about station and train access, and can help you plan a route requiring minimal train changes. With one day's notice, they can also arrange for someone to meet you at the station and assist you in any way necessary. Generally, all ICE trains and most IC/EC, IR and S-Bahn trains can accommodate people in wheelchairs. Guide dogs are allowed on all trains. In cities, U-Bahns and buses are becoming increasingly wheelchair-friendly as well.

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