Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [693]
Take the trip from London to Frankfurt, for instance. If you’re flying, you’re generating 0.349 tons of emissions. If you’re driving, it’s still 0.223 tons. But by travelling by rail or bus, you can cut that number down dramatically to just 0.092 tons. Just catch the Eurostar (opposite) in the afternoon, then switch to a night train in Paris and be in Germany for breakfast. There are also direct overnight trains from Warsaw, Vienna, Munich, Paris and Brussels, as well as frequent daytime connections from many other cities.
Buses are slower and less comfortable, but they’re another option, especially if you’re travelling at short notice or live in an area poorly served by air or train. The main operator within Europe is Eurolines (below).
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STA Travel ( 800-781-4040; www.statravel.com) and Flight Centre ( 877-233-9999; www.flightcentre.us) are both reliable budget travel agencies offering online bookings and brick-and-mortar branches throughout the country.
LAND
Border Crossings
Germany is bordered anticlockwise by Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxem-bourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland. The Schengen Agreement abolished passport and customs formalities between Germany and all bordering countries.
Bus
Eurolines (www.eurolines.com) is the umbrella organisation of 32 European coach operators connecting 500 destinations across Europe. Its website has links to each national company’s site with detailed fare and route information, promotional offers, contact numbers and, in most cases, an online booking system. Children between the ages of four and 12 pay half price, while teens, students and seniors get 10% off regular fares. In Germany, Eurolines is represented by Deutsche Touring ( 069-790 3501; www.touring.de).
Sample Eurolines fares:
If Germany is part of your Europe-wide itinerary, a Eurolines Pass (www.eurolines-pass.com) may be a ticket to savings. It offers unlimited travel between 41 cities within a 15- or 30-day period. From late June to early September, the cost is €310/410 (15/30 days) for those over 26 years and €260/340 for travellers under 26 years. Lower prices apply during the rest of the year; the website has full details. The pass is available online and from travel agents.
Berlin-based Berlin Linien Bus ( 030-861 9331; www.berlinlinienbus.de) is a similar organisation with some 55 national and Europe-wide companies serving 350 destinations all over the continent. There is some overlap between services provided by Berlin Linien Bus and Eurolines.
Backpacker-geared Busabout ( in the UK 08450 267 514; www.busabout.com) is a hop-on, hop-off service that runs coaches along three interlocking European loops between May and October. Germany is part of the northern loop, which includes stops in Berlin, Dresden, Munich and Stuttgart. Loops can be combined. In Munich, for instance, the northern loop intersects with the southern loop to Italy. Trips on one loop cost €419, on two loops €719 and on three €879.
If you don’t like travelling along predetermined routes, you can buy the Flexitrip Pass, which allows you to travel between cities across different loops. It costs €369 for six stops. Check the website for the full low-down or to buy a pass. Passes are also available from travel agencies, such as STA Travel and Flight Centre.
In many cities, buses drop off and pick up at centrally located hostels.
Car & Motorcycle
When bringing your own vehicle to Germany, you need a valid driving licence, your car registration certificate and proof of insurance. Foreign cars must display a nationality sticker unless they have official European plates. You also need to carry a warning (hazard) triangle and a first-aid kit. For road rules and other driving-related information, Click here.
Coming from the UK, the fastest way to the continent is via the Eurotunnel ( in the UK 08705-353 535, in Germany 01805-000 248; www.eurotunnel.com). These shuttle trains whisk