Germany: Getting There and Away

The main arrival/departure points for flights in Germany are Frankfurt-am-Main, Munich and Düsseldorf. Frankfurt is Europe’s busiest airport after Heathrow. An airport departure tax is included in ticket prices. If you’re already in Europe, it’s generally cheaper to get to and from Germany by train or bus. While train travel is often more expensive than catching a bus, it’s generally faster, more comfortable (particularly for overnight travel) and more efficient. Germany is served by an excellent highway system connected to the rest of Western Europe. Roads from Eastern Europe are being upgraded but some border crossings are a little slow, especially from Poland. To enter Germany with a car or motorbike, you must have third-party insurance. Ferries run between Germany’s northern coast and Scandinavia and the UK.

Frankfurt International Airport is the main gateway for transcontinental flights, although Düsseldorf and Munich also receive their share of overseas air traffic. There are also sizeable sizeable airports in Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn and Stuttgart, and smaller ones in such cities as Bremen, Dresden, Erfurt, Hanover, Leipzig, Münster-Osnabrück and Nuremberg.

Some of Europe’s new budget airlines – Ryan Air in particular – keep their fares low by flying to some pretty odd and remote airports, some of which are little more than recycled military airstrips. The biggest of these is Frankfurt-Hahn, which is actually near the Moselle River, about 110km (68mi) northwest of Frankfurt proper.

Long-distance trains connecting major German cities with those in other countries are called EuroCity (EC) trains. The most comfortable travel option is to take an overnight train. You can choose between Schlafwagen (sleepers), which are comfortable compartments for up to three people, with washbasin; Liegewagen (couchettes), which sleep between four and six people; and Sitzwagen (seat carriage), which have roomy, reclinable seats. On daytime trains, reservations are highly recommended, especially during the peak summer season and around major holidays. They can be made as late as a few minutes before departure.

There are several budget bus companies who run services to Germany from the rest of Europe and the UK. Prices are very appealing and the buses are getting more and more comfortable; if you’re travelling in an off-season (when you might score some room to stretch out) or are travelling short distances, they are good bet.

Travelling to Germany with your own car or motorcycle is easy. All you need is a valid driving licence, your car registration certificate and proof of insurance. Foreign cars must display a nationality sticker unless they have official Euro-Plates (number plates that include their country’s Euro symbol). The main gateways to southern Germany are Munich, Freiburg and Passau. Coming from Poland or the Czech Republic may entail delays at the border, although this is likely to change now that those countries have become members of the EU.

Coming from the UK, high-speed Eurotunnel shuttle trains whisk cars, motorbikes, bicycles and coaches in 35 minutes from Folkestone through the Channel Tunnel to Coquelles, 5km (3mi) southwest of Calais, in soundproofed and air-conditioned comfort. From there, you can be in Germany in about three hours.