Germany Holidays

You can travel to Germany without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism.

Your passport must have an 'issue date' less than 10 years before you arrive in the Schengen area.

Your passport must have an 'expiry date' at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.

Be prepared to register your biometric details like fingerprints and a photo when you first enter the Schengen area.

At German border control, you may need to show a return or onward ticket and prove you have enough money for your stay.

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries, with some exceptions for baby and medical foods.

You must declare any amount of cash or other payment types above 10,000 euros when entering Germany.

Be particularly vigilant against pickpocketing at airports, railway stations and in crowded places, and do not leave bags unattended.

Only change money at banks, ATMs or official money exchanges and always check your change to avoid counterfeit currency.

If asked for ID by police, be prepared to show your passport, as you may be escorted to retrieve it if you cannot.

Possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including cannabis, carries severe penalties including long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Check that any organised outdoor activity company is reputable and has documented safety procedures before taking part.

Be aware that some German inner-city areas are low emission zones, restricting entry to vehicles that meet specific exhaust standards.

Off-piste skiing is very dangerous, can invalidate your insurance, and there is an avalanche risk in some areas.