Germany

There are a number of ways to get into Germany. From neighbouring European countries, a drive with the car or a train or bus ride are perhaps the easiest and most comfortable options; visitors from further away will probably be using air travel.

Notes larger than €100, while legal tender, aren't seen in circulation all that often and will be refused at some stores or for small purchases. Be prepared for larger notes to face more scrutiny with regards to potential counterfeits. Small shops and even a few automated machines for public transport do not accept €50 or larger banknotes.

On the whole transportation is efficient and fast, though last minute tickets can be a bit on the expensive side. All modes of transportation are up to a high modern standard, including a dense network of airports, high speed rail services connecting most major cities and regional trains, one of the densest highway networks on earth (with stretches where the speed limit is shrug emoji), and intercity bus services.

The official language of Germany is German (Deutsch). The standard form of German is called Hochdeutsch (High German). It's understood by all and spoken by almost all Germans. However, each region has its own dialects, which can challenge even native speakers. This is usually noticeable only in the south and rural areas of the north and east. Dialects remain a strong part of regional identity in Bavaria, Saxony, the southern Rhineland and Hesse, Württemberg and Baden. Generally, the Main River d…

Germany is a very safe country. Crime rates are low and the rule of law is strictly enforced. Violent crimes (murders, robberies, rapes, assaults) are very rare compared to most countries. Pickpockets may sometimes be an issue in large cities or at events with large crowds. Begging is not uncommon in some larger cities, but to no greater extent than in most other major cities and you will rarely encounter aggressive beggars.

Sanitary and medical facilities in Germany are excellent. See the section on emergencies above if you are in an emergency. === Health care === If you have a non-urgent medical problem, you may choose from any local doctor. The German health system allows specialists to run their own surgery so you will usually be able to find every discipline from dentistry to neurology on duty within reasonable reach. In remote regions finding a doctor might require a ride to the next town but the German infrastructure allows fast connections. GPs/family doctors will usually describe themselves as "Allgemeinm…

===Telephone=== The international calling code for Germany is 49, and the prefix for international calls is 00; the area code prefix is 0. Some number blocks are reserved for special use: Numbers starting with 010xx let you choose a different phone provider, 0800 and 00800 are toll-free numbers, 0180 are service numbers (which may or may not be more expensive than a local call). Avoid 0900 prefix numbers. These are for commercial services and usually incredibly expensive.

===Culture=== The Germans have earned a reputation for being stiff and strict with rules but also hard-working and efficient. If you are caught breaking the rules or seen doing something wrong, this will be readily pointed out to you by someone. The main exception in Germany seems to be speed limits. A quintessentially German action is waiting at a red traffic light at 02:00 with all streets empty.

Public holidays are called Feiertag (literally: "celebration day"). On these days, most people do not work, retail businesses are closed, and public transport tends to run at a reduced schedule. Restaurants and museums, on the other hand, sometimes open longer and on days they would otherwise be closed.