Germany Geography
Germany has the largest population in Europe with over 82 million inhabitants.
Germany lies in the centre of Europe and covers an area of just over 357,000km², stretching from the Alps in the south to the North Sea and Baltic Coasts in the North. The highest point is the Zugspitze at 2,962m in the Alps and the lowest point is at 3.53m below sea level near the North Sea coast. The country is made up of 16 federal states and shares borders with nine European countries. Its longest River is the Rhine (865km), followed by the Elbe (727km) and Danube (687km).
Berlin officially became Germany’s capital city in 1991 but the transition from the former capital, Bonn, took a total of 12 years.
Natural resources include iron ore, coal, timber and copper.
Facts + Figures
Population: 82 million
Size: 357,021 sq km
Capital: Berlin (with a population of 3.47 million)
Flag: horizontal tricolor, with black, red and yellow stripes
Highest peak: Zugspitze in the Bavarian Alps (2,962 m)
Major rivers: Rhine, Danube, Elbe, Ems, Main, Weser
Federal States: 16 - Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia
Neighboring countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland
Religions: Lutheran, Catholic and others
Currency: Euro
On the 1st of January 1999, eleven European nations - after years of intensive preparation and controversial discussions - introduced the Euro as the official European currency. Germany was one of the major driving forces behind this currency union and the German Mark was replaced by the Euro.
There are seven different Euro notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros, plus coins of 1 and 2 Euros and 10, 20 and 50 Euro Cents.
The Euro proved to be quite volatile against the US$ initially, but has stabilized eventually. The Euro currently trades at around 1:9,5 to the South African Rand. You can check the daily rate on the Reserve Bank website.
Due to the current SA foreign exchange restrictions, South African residents may only buy Euros at South African banks, if they are in possession of a flight ticket and valid passport. You may exchange up to 100,000 Rand per person, however, not earlier than 60 days prior to departure. By the way: you get more Euros if you change your money in South Africa.
Means of payment
Cash is the preferred mode of payment in Germany. There is a dense network of automatic teller machines, where you can draw cash. The ATMs are mainly located at the banks. There are four major banks in Germany: Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank, Commerzbank and Sparkasse.
Time zone: Central European Time. Between End of March and End of October (German summertime) time is identical to the South African time. During the German winter halfyear the clocks in Germany are set back for 1 hour.
Electricity: The voltage is 220V.
Climate and Weather in Germany
The weather in Germany is not as stable and predictable as it is in southern Africa. Low and high pressure systems change much quicker, due to the fact that Germany is influenced by dry continental air masses from Eastern Europe and by maritime air masses from the Atlantic. This, generally, leads to a moderate climate with good rains throughout the year. Extreme temperature lows and highs are rare. The weather varies from year to year, so rainy summers can be followed by spectacular sunshine in the next year.
Spring
April - May. In April, the weather is most unpredictable in Germany. It can be sunny and warm or rainy, windy and cold. Even hail or snowshowers are possible, especially at the higher elevations. "April, April, der macht, was er will!" goes the saying. May is usually a beautiful month as plantlife starts again and the country turns green. The days get longer and you can smell spring in the air. It can be a rather mild and warm month with little precipitation. People swing onto their bicycles and enjoy the singing of the birds and the awakening of nature.
Summer
June - September. Precipitation in Germany peaks in the summer months. Humidity levels can be high and there is always a chance of an afternoon thunderstorm, especially during July and August. Summer temperatures usually range between 22 and 30°C. Prolonged heat waves with temperatures up to 35°C are rare. It is - usually - warmer in southern Germany. The particularly pleasant climate in the Rhine and Moselle regions allows for successful cultivation of vine.
Autumn
October - November. In October, weather can still be sunny and warm. People are sitting in the beer gardens and street cafés, enjoying the "Altweibersommer" (Indian summer). In November, however, the scene changes. Days are getting noticeably shorter, and even in the midday hours the distinction between sky and land becomes difficult. It usually is misty, foggy and cool, uniformly grey - a time to appreciate a cozy home and start engaging in pre-Christmas crafts and light some candles.
Winter
December - March. Winters are rather mild with daytime temperatures averaging between 0 and 5°C. However, temperatures can fall far below zero, especially at night. It is - usually - colder in eastern and southern Germany and warmer in the North and in the Rhine regions. Snowfall normally occurs in December, January and February. The amount of snowfall is influenced mainly by altitude. Apart from the Alpine regions, the Bavarian Forest receives the most snow.
Germany History, Population, Language and Culture
After the collapse of the Second German Empire following the defeat of German forces in the First World War, the Weimar Republic was founded. Its first elected president was Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg. Germany’s economic depression resulted in discontent within the masses and Adolf Hitler’s nationalistic views and calls for a Greater Germany fanned the flames. Hilter was made chancellor in 1933 by Hindenburg. After Hinesburg’s death in 1934 Hitler began rearming the military. His invasion of Poland was the precursor to the Second World War. Germany was split by the Allies and Soviets after their victory in 1945. The split resulted in the occupation of West Germany by Allied Forces and East Germany effectively being controlled by the Soviet Union.
The re-unification of Germany was achieved through the collapse of the East German communist government and negotiations between the West German and Soviet Governments.
The country was officially re-unified on 3 October 1990.
Today, Germany consists of over 82 million inhabitants; more than 7 million are foreign nationals. Its two main religions are protestant and catholic. Religious freedom is enshrined in Germany’s basic law (Grundgesetz). The official language is German and many dialects are spoken throughout the country that can be difficult to understand for those who speak standard German. Approximately 80% of the population speaks at least one foreign language, the most popular being English.
German people generally take great pride in their neighborhood and the streets are generally clean and free from litter. As a workforce, Germans have a reputation for being diligent, accurate, reliable and loyal.
The standard of living is generally high, with rental and retail purchase being comparatively cheap.
An OECD study for 2008 revealed that low earners pay some of the highest taxes and social security contributions in Europe – up to 52% of gross income.
German Food
If you stroll through a standard German supermarket, you will be overwhelmed by the enormous variety of food items. Hundreds of different cheese types, yoghurts, sausages and meat items, veggies, fruit, frozen food, tinned food, beverages, bread types, cakes and sweets.
Generally, food is of highest quality in Germany and - due to more competition and less inflation - cheaper than in South Africa. This is especially true for the discount food chains like ALDI, LIDL, PENNY, PLUS and others, where you can buy excellent mainstream food items - and even delicatessen - at very low prices. They also sell bargain non-food items nowadays. It can be computers sometimes, or tools, or clothes. Anything goes and it varies all the time.
By the way: You must bring your own bag or buy plastic bags at the cashier. But nobody will pack your food stuff. You have to do it yourself, as labour is expensive in Germany.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are available at supermarkets, but the freshest and best you will find at the greengrocer or at the traditional "Wochenmarkt" (weekly market) which is held regularly (once or twice a week) in every suburb or smaller town.
Shopping in Germany
Kaufhäuser
In every German town centre there is a pedestrian shopping area, called "Fussgängerzone". Between restaurants, coffee shops (Cafés), ice cream parlors, fashion boutiques, jewelers, shoe shops and numerous specialized shops you will usually find huge "Kaufhäuser", multi-storied warehouses such as HORTEN, KAUFHOF or KARSTADT, which offer basically everything, from cosmetics over food, toys, kitchen ware, books, sports equipment, hardware, stationery to clothing of any kind. The biggest and most famous Kaufhaus is the KADEWE in Berlin. It first opened in 1907 and offers a shopping - and Gourmet - experience not to be missed.
By the way: There is WOOLWORTH in Germany as well. However, contrary to South Africa, products' quality is rather low here.
Fashion and Textiles
Clothing is of higher quality in Germany but rather more expensive than in South Africa. The biggest fashion warehouse chain is called C&A. Prices are relatively moderate here, the quality is good.
Computers and Electronics
Computers and electronic equipment can be purchased best at SATURN or MEDIA MARKT - huge specialized warehouses with prices normally far below the South African standard.
Food
Food is cheaper in Germany, the quality is higher and the range of food items as well. If you want to buy exceptionally cheap, go to ALDI, LIDL or PLUS, discount food stores which you will find everywhere. Quality is - despite the low prices - excellent.
Christmas Markets
If you are visiting Germany during December, don't forget to go to one of the festive and romantic Christmas markets. You do not necessarily have to travel to the famous "Christkindlmarkt" in Nuremberg. There are over 2,500 Christmas markets in the country today, all sparkling with thousands of Christmas lights and with the delicious aromas of Glühwein, roasted almonds, ginger bread and Bratwurst in the air.
Outstanding German Museums
Many of the bigger German towns and all the cities have interesting museums - by far too many to list them all. Here we only present some of the most outstanding ones:
Berlin: German Historical Museum
The most comprehensive museum on German history. The collections comprise about 35,000 exhibits of the history of monarchies, economies, and everyday lives prior to 1914 and for the time frame from the beginning of World War I up to the present more than 100,000 objects are currently available. Address: Deutsches Historisches Museum, Unter den Linden 2, 10117 Berlin. Phone: 0949 (0)30 203040; Fax: 0949 (0)30 20304543.
Berlin: Pergamon Museum
The Pergamon Museum is - with over 850,000 visitors per year - the most popular museum in Berlin. It exhibits mainly classical Greek, Babylonian, Roman and Islamic art and architecture. Its main attraction is the Pergamon Altar which dates back to the 2nd century BC. The next room to the south contains the immense market Gate of Miletus, an outstanding example of Roman architecture. From there visitors can proceed to the Museum of the Ancient Near East. The Collection of Classical Antiquities contains Greek and Roman works including not only architectural remains, sculptures and vases, inscriptions and mosaics but also bronzes and jewellery. The Pergamon Museum is located on Berlin's Museumsinsel. Tel: +49-(0)30-20905577.
Berlin: Bauhaus Museum
The Bauhaus Archive presents parts of its collection in a permanent Bauhaus exhibition. Temporary special exhibitions are dedicated to individual artists, or to topical themes in the fields of art, architecture, and modern design. Address: Bauhaus-Archiv Museum of Design, Klingelhöferstrasse 14, 10785 Berlin (Tiergarten), Tel. 030 2540020
Cologne: Römisch-Germanisches Museum
Right next to the Kölner Dom stands one of the most impressive museums on Roman history worldwide. Address: Roncalliplatz 4 50667 Köln, Tel.: 0221-221/24438, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Munich: Deutsches Museum
This is one of the most comprehensive museums on technical inventions in the World. It features aerospace and astronautics, astronomy, ceramics, chemistry, chronometry, computers, electrical power, energy technology, microelectronics, motor vehicles, music, power machinery, printing, textile technology, tunnel construction, weights and measures. There is also a Center for New Technologies and a Kid's Kingdom. Address: Deutsches Museum, Museumsinsel 1, 80538 München. Tel: 089/21791, Fax: 089/2179324, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Passau: Oberhaus Museum
One of the best German museums on Medieval history, arts and religion with emphasis on life on a Medieval castle. Located high above Passau in the castle "Veste Oberhaus". Excellent edutainment also for children. Address: Oberhaus Museum, Veste Oberhaus 125, 94034 Passau, Tel: 0851/4933512, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Health Insurance Requirements for German Visa
In order to obtain a visa to travel to Germany, all non-European citizens must have a travel/medical insurance policy that meets particular requirements. The policy also must show that you are specifically covered in the country of Germany. There are many worldwide policies that cover you outside of your home country. So, it may be wise to purchase one of these policies in case you might be traveling to one of the other European Union countries.
Health insurance requirements for the German visa are that your policy provides at least 30,000 euros (or $37,500) in coverage. The policy is to provide benefits for emergency medical evacuation, medical expenses and repatriation (return of your mortal remains to your home country). Most domestic, U.S. health insurance policies do not provide this coverage in countries outside the U.S. Typically, they will provide emergency only type coverage. This will not be sufficient for the consulate. In addition to meeting the above requirements, you also must submit written proof of coverage to the consulate. It must state that you have coverage in Germany and show that you have coverage up to the required amount for the necessary benefits.
Germany tourist visa is not required for citizens of United States for a stay up to 90 days.
Bodies responsible for issuing visas
Under German law (section 71 (2) of the Residence Act), responsibility for issuing visas lies with the missions of the Federal Republic of Germany, i.e. its embassies and consulates-general. In principle, the Federal Foreign Office is not involved in decisions on individual visa applications, nor does it have any knowledge of the status of individual applications being processed by the missions.
Ratione loci competence (local responsibility) for issuing the visa lies with the mission responsible for the area in which the applicant has his/her ordinary residence or domicile.
Ratione materiae competence (subject-matter responsibility) lies with the mission of the Schengen state in whose territory the sole or main destination is situated.
Visa fees
Since 14 May 2008, the fee for all types of visas has been EUR 60.
Time required processing a visa application
As a rule, missions require between two and ten working days to decide on an application for a short stay visa. Applications for visas entitling the holder to a longer stay or to take up gainful employment may take several months to process.
During the peak travel season there may be a waiting period for making an application to a German mission. Persons requiring a visa to enter Germanyshould therefore submit their applications in good time.
Application procedure
As a rule, applicants must submit visa applications, together with all necessary documents, in person at the German mission responsible for their place of residence. In order to avoid time-consuming requests for additional information or documentation, applicants should consult the website of the respective mission well in advance of their departure date to find out about the visa procedure and about the documentation which has to be submitted.
Visa application forms can be obtained from the mission free of charge (in the local language). Applicants may also download the forms here (see right). The forms submitted must be original versions in the appropriate language of the mission in question. Application forms may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the competent mission.
Requirements for the issue of short stay (Schengen) visas
Since 5 April 2010, Regulation (EC) No. 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code) forms the statutory basis under European law in all Schengen states for the issuing of visas for transit through the Schengen area or for short-term stays in the Schengen area not exceeding 90 days in any six-month period.
The Visa Code standardizes the visa requirements which must be examined by the mission in the course of the visa procedure. The respective mission makes a decision on the visa application at its own discretion, taking into account all the circumstances in any given individual case.
There is no automatic entitlement to a Schengen visa.
The mission must ensure that the following requirements have been met in each individual case:
The purpose of the trip to Germanymust be plausible and comprehensible.
The applicant must be in a position to finance his/her living and travel costs from his/her own funds or income.
The visa holder must be prepared to leave the Schengen area before the visa expires.
Documentary evidence must be provided of travel health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euro valid for the entire Schengen area.
Should an applicant be unable to prove that he/she can finance the journey and stay from his/her own funds, a third person may undertake to cover all costs associated with the trip in accordance with sections 66 and 68 of the Residence Act. This undertaking is normally to be made to the foreigners authority in the place of residence of the person making the undertaking.
Persons whose entry into the Schengen area would jeopardize security or public order in the Schengen states or who do not fulfil one or more of the above-mentioned requirements, cannot be granted a visa.
Should a visa application be rejected, the applicant will be informed of the main reasons for the rejection. Every applicant is entitled to take legal recourse against the mission’s decision.