General Information
Travel Documents
Foreign nationals require a valid passport or other identification document to enter Germany. The passport must be valid for at least another four months after entry into Germany or the Schengen area. For citizens of EU countries a valid identity card is sufficient. Children must be included in their parent's passport or carry their own children's passport. Citizens of certain countries require a visa to enter Germany.
Visa
Visa Regulations can be found on the web pages of the Auswärtiges Amt.
Money
The euro has been legal tender in Europe since the beginning of 2002. One euro equals 100 cents. It is no longer necessary to change money or convert various European currencies' exchange rates if you are travelling either within or to countries within the euro zone. The euro and foreign currency and other forms of payment can be brought into and taken out of Germany without restriction. Travellers from the twelve member states of the European Monetary Union (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain) can pay in euros by bank transfer or cheque.
1 $ (USD) = 0.76 € (EUR) (as of March 2012)
Credit Cards
Modern cash machines accept a variety of German and international debit and credit cards. The airports and major railway stations have electronic currency changing machines which can be used to exchange foreign currency for euros. Credit cards are not universally accepted, particularly in smaller outlets.
Climate
Aachen lies within the moderate, maritime climatic zone. Because of this, Aachen experiences warm summers and mild winters, hardly ever reaching extreme temperatures warm or cold. Rain can fall throughout the year. September has average temperatures ranging from 52 to 73 degrees F (11 to 23 degrees C) offering warm temperatures just after summer.
Opening Times
Shops open between 9am and 10am, although some bakeries and newsagents open at 6am. Pharmacies open from 8am. Most shops in the town and city centres do not close for lunch. From Monday to Saturday, shops normally close between 6pm and 8pm. Banks and post offices close by 6pm at the latest.
Shops are closed on Sunday, with the exception of bakeries which generally open on Sunday mornings. Cafés and cake shops are open on Sunday afternoons. Many filling stations have very long opening hours, sometimes around the clock. It is possible to shop there outside normal opening hours, as they often sell food, newspapers and other everyday basics as well as fuel.
Electricity
The electric current in Germany is 230V and the cycle is 50Hz. Germany uses a round two pin plug and socket system
Time Zone
The whole of Germany lies within one time zone, Central European Time (CET). Clocks go forward in spring and back in autumn. The switch to summer time (forward one hour) happens on the last Sunday in March. Winter time (back one hour) starts on the last Sunday in October.
Important Facts About Germany
