Travel and accommodation in Germany

Flights to Germany

Germany has 30 international and regional airports. The main international airport in Berlin is the Berlin Tegel Airport and the international Cologne Bonn Airport is the largest European hub for low fare airlines. There are buses and trains offering quick and comfortable connections to and from the airports, as well as the usual taxis and car rental companies at arrivals.

Internal flights

There are regular internal flights between the major cities mostly run by Lufthansa and Deutche British Airways. Call Lufthansa, on 08457 737747, or British Airways on 08457 799977 for internal flight information.

Travelling by car or rail

The road and railway infrastructure in Germany is considered one of the best in Europe and this makes travelling around the country an easy and pleasurable experience. As you would expect, the rail system is excellent in Germany and there are plenty of good connections to European destinations.

German public transport is also reliable and efficient. The national rail network is operated by Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) and is one of the most extensive and advanced networks anywhere in Europe featuring super fast InterCityExpress (ICE) trains. Tickets can be bought at stations in Germany.

Most major German cities have an underground, and a good bus and tram system. Tickets need to be purchased before boarding at the automated ticketing machines and need to be date stamped using the dating machines on board the vehicle, or at the entry gates of major stops. The Welcome Card has become very popular in major towns and cities and gives the visitor discounts or free admission on many tourist attractions and unlimited travel on local public transport. They’re valid between one and seven days and can be purchased from railway stations or at local tourist offices in Germany. 

Taxis are very easily available in all major cities and are usually cream coloured Mercedes Benz cars. As a general price guide the average fare in Germany is at least €1.30 per km with higher than average prices in the large cities. There is a minimum charge of €2.50. 

Accommodation

Hotels in Germany offer excellent value for money.  The World Travel and Tourism Council compared the average price for hotels in countries worldwide and the rates of German hotels ranked well below other European countries. The average hotel room in Germany costs €65 per night.