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2008 FORMULA 1
EVENTS
2008 OTHER
MOTORSPORT EVENTS
2008 MOTORBIKE
RACING EVENTS
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GERMANY - GENERAL INFORMATION
| GERMANY OVERVIEW |
Since the reunification in 1989 Germany is once more one of the biggest countries in Europe with its capital Berlin. Obviously, it contains many geographical features as varied as the shore of the Baltic and North Sea and the ecosystem of the Alps.
357,000 sq km are home to 82 million people with almost 80% living in urban areas. Germany shares borders with Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland.
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| CAPITAL OF GERMANY |
Berlin |
| THE PEOPLE OF GERMANY |
Germany has a population of approximately 82,3 million. Germany's population is predominantly Caucasian, with a significant Turkish minority. Germany has absorbed a significant number of refugees from the former Yugoslavia. |
| LANGUAGE |
German is the main language although local dialects can be strong. |
| RELIGION OF GERMANY |
Germany is a rather secular country. Even though the vast majority is Christian with 38% of the population being protestant and almost 34% being catholic. There are a certain number of Muslims and Jews forming religious minorities. |
| GERMANY CLIMATE |
Germany’s climate is almost as varied as its country but mostly temperate or marine. Extreme temperature lows and hights are rare. Winter temperatures vary from west to east, with about freezing temperatures in the west and well below freezing in eastern Germany. Summer temperatures are typically between 20 and 30°C, with more rainfall during the summer. |
| GERMANY TIME |
The time in Germany is GMT+ 1hour and GMT+ 2 hours from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. |
| GERMANY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS |
National Identity Cards (European Residents) Citizens of European countries that are members of the European Union may enter Germany with a National Identity Card proving that they are residents of one of those countries. All other visitors to Germany must be in possession of a valid passport or travel document with a minimum validity of three months beyond the intended visiting period. Most nationalities do not require a visa for social or business visits.
Nationals of all the following non-EU countries, who intend to visit Germany for a period of 90 days or less, do not need to obtain a visa:
ANDORRA, ARGENTINA, AUSTRALIA, BERMUDA, BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, BRUNEI, BULGARIA, CANADA, CHILE, COSTA RICA, CROATIA, CYPRUS, CZECH REPUBLIC, EL SALVADOR, ESTONIA, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, HONG KONG, HUNGARY, ISRAEL, JAPAN, LATVIA, LIECHTENSTEIN, LITHUANIA, MALAYSIA, MALTA, MEXICO, MONACO, NEW ZEALAND, NICARAGUA, PANAMA, PARAGUAY, POLAND, RUMANIA, SAN MARINO, SINGAPORE, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA, SOUTH KOREA, SWITZERLAND, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, URUGUAY, VATICAN CITY, VENEZUELA.
Nationals of other countries (except those European residents specifically referred to above) must obtain a visa to enter Germany. Vaccination: none required.
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| CURRENCY |
The Euro is the official currency of the12 EU member states (including Germany).
Notes are in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euro.
Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent.
There are no restrictions on the import or export of either local or foreign currency.
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| CREDIT CARDS AND TRAVELLERS' CHEQUES |
All the major credit cards - MasterCard, Visa and American Express - are accepted in approximately 60 per cent of all shops, petrol stations, restaurants and hotels, but don't assume that you'll be able to use your card to pay for things; inquire first. Large shops, petrol stations and hotels are most likely to take credit cards but Germans are still a hard cash society, so be prepared. ATMs are numerous throughout Germany and you should have no problem accessing your credit or debit account back home. |
| BANKING HOURS |
Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri: 08h30-13h00 and 14h30-16h00,
Thurs: 08h30-13h00 and 14h30-18h00 in main cities.
Main branches do not close for lunch.
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| WATER |
The drinking of bottled water is advisable. |
| EATING IN GERMANY |
When one thinks of Germany, the dish that springs to mind is sausages washed down with hearty proportions of beer. And it is no wonder, as there are over 1,500 types of sausages, such as the Frankfurters (milder), Nüremberg (which are served barbequed) and Bavaria sausages (white). But German cuisine offers many other possibilities such as smoked fish, sauerkraut, cheeses of the Mainz region, pies (especially strudel, the famous apple pie). German food is characterized by its richness and high caloric content. Some unavoidable dishes include smoked pork chops, cabbage leaves stuffed with minced meat and small filets of minced meat called Frikadellen.
Drinking: The Germans have a reputation as a true beer-loving nation. In Germany you will come across an amazingly wide range of beer varieties and brands, both local and foreign. Beer is reportedly a German’s favourite.
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| GERMANY SHOPPING GUIDE |
Special purchases include precision optical equipment such as binoculars and cameras, porcelain, handmade crystal, silver, steelware, Solingen knives, leatherwear, sports equipment, toys from Nuremberg and Bavarian Loden cloth. Special purchases in eastern Germany include musical instruments, wooden carved toys from the Erzgebirge Mountains, and Meissen china. |
| SHOPPING HOURS |
Most stores in Germany are open only from 08:00 - 18:30 on Monday to Friday and from 07:00 to 14:00 on Saturday. Recently, relaxed shopping rules allow stores to stay open till 20:00 on Saturday. If you need something after hours, or on a Sunday, your options are limited to venturing to the Hauptbahnhof or to a petrol station minimarket. |
| TIPPING IN GERMANY |
At restaurants, the service charge is always included in bills and tipping isn't compulsory, though it is appreciated. Germans are used to rounding up prices as tips, but rounding up in euros can be too generous. Taxi drivers expect a small tip of around 10%. |
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