Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [696]
OSLO–KIEL
Color Line ( 0431-730 0300; www.colorline.de) makes this 20-hour journey almost daily. The fare, including a berth in the most basic two-bed cabin, is around €225. Children, seniors and students pay half-price on selected departures. Cars start at €84.
Sweden
GOTHENBURG–KIEL
The daily overnight ferry run by Stena Line ( 0431-9099, 01895-916 666; www.stenaline.de) takes 14 hours and costs €71 for foot passengers (€46 for children, students and seniors). Taking your car will cost €171 in peak season, including all passengers. Berths are compulsory and start at €78.
MALMÖ–TRAVEMÜNDE
Finnlines ( 04502-805 43; www.finnlines.de) makes the trip in nine hours. It’s primarily geared to passengers travelling with their own car. Tickets start at €60 for daytime sailings and €120 for overnight departures, including car and one person.
TRELLEBORG–ROSTOCK
This Scandlines ( 01805-116 688; www.scandlines.de) service runs up to three times daily, takes between six and 7½ hours and in peak season costs €144 per car and all passengers. Foot passengers pay €25 (kids €13) or €26 if you bring a bike. Berths start at €84.
TT-Line ( 04502-801 81; www.ttline.de) makes the same crossing in 5½ hours and charges €95 per car with passengers. Adult walk-ons pay €30; children, seniors and students pay €15. Bikes are €5.
TRELLEBORG–SASSNITZ
Scandlines ( 01805-116 688; www.scandlines.de) operates a quick ferry to Sweden, popular with day trippers. There are five departures daily and the trip takes 3¾ to 4½ hours. Peak season fares are €114 for regular cars and all passengers, €16/8 for adult/child foot passengers and €23 for you and a bike.
TRELLEBORG–TRAVEMÜNDE
TT-Line ( 04502-801 81; www.ttline.de) operates up to five ferries daily on this route, which takes 7½ hours and costs €30 for adult foot passengers and €15 for students, seniors and children. Cars, including all passengers, start at €135. Bicycles are €5.
UK
There are no longer any direct ferry services between Germany and the UK, but you can just as easily go via the Netherlands, Belgium or France and drive or train it from there. Competition from Eurotunnel and budget airlines has forced ferry operators to significantly lower their fares, meaning great bargains may be available at quiet times of the day or year. Check the ferries’ websites for fare details or check www.ferrybooker.com, a single site covering all sea-ferry routes and operators, plus Eurotunnel.
TO FRANCE
P&O Ferries ( in the UK 08716-645 645, in Germany 01805-500 9437; www.poferries.com) Dover–Calais; 75 minutes.
SeaFrance ( 0871-423 7119; www.seafrance.com) Dover–Calais; 75 minutes.
Norfolkline ( in the UK 0844-499 007, in Germany 01801-600 31; www.norfolkline.com) Dover–Dunkirk; two hours.
TO BELGIUM
P&O Ferries ( in the UK 08716-645 645, in Germany 01805-500 9437; www.poferries.com) Hull–Zeebrugge; 13½ hours.
TO THE NETHERLANDS
P&O Ferries ( in the UK 08716-645 645, in Germany 01805-500 9437; www.poferries.com) Hull–Rotterdam; 14 hours.
Stena Line ( 0431-9099, 01895-916 666; www.stenaline.co.uk) Harwich–Hoek van Holland; 3¾ hours.
DFDS Seaways ( 0871-522 9955; www.dfds.co.uk) Newcastle–Amsterdam; 15 hours.
GETTING AROUND
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Germans are whizzes at moving people around, and the public transport network is among the best in Europe. The two best ways of getting around the country are by car and by train. Regional bus services fill the gaps in areas not well served by the rail network.
AIR
Most large and many smaller German cities have their own airports (see also Click here) and numerous carriers operate domestic flights within Germany. Lufthansa, of course, has the most dense route network. Other airlines offering domestic flights include Air Berlin, Cirrus Air and Germanwings.
Unless you’re flying from one end of the country to the other, say Berlin to Munich or Hamburg to Munich, planes are only marginally quicker than trains if you factor in the time it takes to get to and from the airports.
BICYCLE
Cycling is allowed on all roads and highways but not on