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energy are growing industries in Germany, and Alliance 90/The Greens in particular see these and other environmentally friendly sources as a driving force in job creation. By late 2009 household solar collectors were contributing about 6000 megawatts each year to Germany’s needs – the equivalent of about seven medium-sized nuclear-power stations. Meanwhile, Gorleben, Germany’s controversial intermediate nuclear-waste disposal site in Lower Saxony, is claimed by some in Germany’s antinuclear movement to be potentially unsafe. To make matters worse, the nearby Asse storage facility – where radioactive waste was deposited when the nuclear-power industry was in its infancy – was found to be flooded with water and dangerously near collapse. Nuclear energy and Gorleben, which for many years have been the focus of large-scale and often violent demonstrations, are likely to remain hotly debated issues in the future, long after the dust from Germany’s 2009 election has settled.

Getting Started

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WHEN TO GO

COSTS & MONEY

TRAVELLING RESPONSIBLY

Accommodation

Food

Transport

TRAVEL LITERATURE

INTERNET RESOURCES

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No matter whether you’re a backpacker, a three-button suit, a lifestyle jet-setter, a trendy urban nomad or travelling with the tots, you’ll find all your travel needs and expectations met in Germany. Reservations for rooms and travel arrangements are recommended between June and early September and around major holidays, but otherwise you can keep your advance planning to a minimum.

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WHEN TO GO

Any time is a good time to visit Germany, even though most people prefer to come between May and September, when sunny skies and warm weather are most likely. Much of life moves outdoors: beer gardens and outdoor cafes are in full swing; festivals and alfresco events enliven cities and villages. This is also the best time for hiking, cycling, water sports and other outdoor pursuits. On the downside, you may have to deal with clogged roads, expensive and elusive lodging and crowds at castles, theme parks and other major attractions.

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See Climate Charts for more information.

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The shoulder seasons (March to May, and October) bring fewer tourists, often surprisingly pleasant weather and a riot of colour: wildflowers and blooming trees in spring, foliage in autumn.

With the exception of winter sports, activities between November and early March are likely to focus more on culture and city life. Expect reduced opening times or seasonal closures at museums and other sightseeing venues. Some smaller lodging properties, especially in rural areas, close down through November until early December, when they reopen for the holiday season. The ski season usually kicks off in early to mid-December, moves into full swing after New Year’s and winds down sometime in March.

For related information, Click here and Click here, and the Events Calendar on Click here.

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COSTS & MONEY

If you’re used to £5 pints, $12 glasses of cabernet or €8 lattes, you’re in for a pleasant surprise when visiting Germany. You should be able to live quite comfortably on €120 to €150 per day (per person, travelling as an adult couple). For mere survival, budget on between €40 and €70, which will have you camping or hostelling, preparing your own meals and limiting your entertainment. For ideas on how to stretch your euro further, Click here.

Comfortable midrange accommodation starts at about €80 for a double with breakfast (€60 in some rural areas). Many hostels and hotels have special ‘family’ rooms with three or four beds, or they can supply sleeping cots for a small extra fee. For more on travelling with kids, Click here.

A two-course meal in an average restaurant costs between €20 and €30 per person, including a beverage. The bill will be lower if you stick to cafes or casual eateries and skip alcoholic drinks. Kids’ menus or dishes are quite common.

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HOW MUCH?

Adult admission to Schloss Neuschwanstein €9

Berlin’s best doner kebab