Germany: Before You Go Guide (Printable + iPad)

Germany runs on rules, rail and cash habits that surprise first-timers: quiet Sundays and closed shops, bottle deposits, an Autobahn with no general speed limit, a Deutschlandticket that is regional-only, and timed castle tickets.

This printable guide puts everything you should know before a trip to Germany in one place, in short plain-English points, checked in October 2026 with links to the official sites so you can double-check anything.

WHAT'S INSIDE

• Conditions right now: the Berlin Stadtbahn and Rhine rail closures, the Deutschlandticket price, Neuschwanstein winter hours, the Reichstag dome closure, the Pergamon Museum, Cologne Cathedral tickets, Rhine low water and Christmas market dates
• Entry, customs and rules: Schengen, the EES and ETIAS, customs allowances, drones, green-sticker zones, Autobahn rules and Pfand bottle deposits
• Getting there and between countries: Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin and the other airports, international trains and FlixBus
• Getting around: DB Navigator, ICE and regional trains, Sparpreis fares, seat reservations, delays, car hire, EV charging and bike share
• Money, phone and tax: the euro, card versus cash, tipping, VAT and hotel city taxes, eSIM and ATMs
• Safety and nature: pickpockets, Alpine weather, Wadden Sea tides, Rhine currents, winter tyres and ticks
• Culture and etiquette: punctuality, quiet Sundays, Sie and du, beer gardens, recycling and jaywalking, and how to eat German
• Six regions at a glance, festivals and seasons, and 14 mistakes first-timers make
• What things cost: 30 everyday prices in euros, from a pretzel to a Neuschwanstein tour
• A month-by-month calendar, a pre-trip countdown, a tick-box packing list and a first-day checklist
• German basics with pronunciation, plus place names (Neuschwanstein, Heidelberg, Rudesheim and more)
• Emergency numbers, including 112, 110 and the on-call doctor line 116117
• Two editions: a printable PDF and an iPad edition with a tappable contents page

PERFECT FOR

• First-time visitors to Germany
• Anyone planning a rail trip between Berlin, the Rhine, Bavaria and beyond
• Travellers who like to arrive prepared
• A thoughtful gift for someone with a Germany trip booked

PAIRS WELL WITH

The Germany in 10 Days rail itinerary.

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

You'll receive 2 PDFs. No physical item will be shipped.

• Print edition (21 pages): US Letter, prints fine on A4
• iPad edition (24 pages): tappable contents, room to write

This guide is general travel information, not legal, medical or immigration advice. Rules (including drone, entry and customs rules) depend on your situation: always confirm with the official sites before you travel.

PLEASE NOTE

Rules and prices were checked in October 2026 and are subject to change: fees, fares, menus, hotel rates and taxes can change without notice, and rail works, closures and weather change daily. Please confirm important details with the official sites before you travel. Photos are illustrative. Researched and written with the help of AI tools.

Made by Global Trip Insight. For personal use only.