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Language: German is the official language. English is also widely spoken and understood.
Currency: The unit of currency is the Euro (EUR), divided into 100 cents. ATMs and exchange bureaux are widely available. The major credit cards are becoming more widely accepted in many large shops, hotels and restaurants, although Germans themselves prefer to carry cash. Travellers cheques are best cashed at exchange bureaux, as banks often won't change them. The quickest and most convenient way to change money is to obtain cash from one of the ATM machines that are ubiquitous features
on all German streets. Banks are closed on weekends, but exchange bureaux at airports and main railway stations are open daily from 6am to 10pm.
Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are standard.
Communications: The international access code for Germany is +49. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The city code for Berlin is (0)30. Note that telephone numbers in Germany can range from four to nine digits. There are surcharges on international calls made from hotels; it is often cheaper to use public telephone boxes in post offices, which use phone cards. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns.
Duty Free: Passengers arriving from non-EU countries can enter Germany without paying duty on 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g smoking tobacco, or a proportional mix of these products; 1 litre of spirits with 22% alcohol volume, or 2 litres of spirits or aperitifs made of wine or similar beverages with alcohol content lower than 22% or sparkling, still or liqueur wines, or a proportional mix of these; perfume up to 50g or 250ml eau de toilette; 500g coffee; and other goods to the value of EUR175 for personal consumption. Prohibited items include any poultry or pet birds from poultry and derived products coming from Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Tourist OfficeGerman Tourist Office: +49 (0)69 974 640 or www.germany-tourism.de
EmergencyEmergencies: 110 (Police); 112 (Ambulance)
Embassies
German Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 298 4000.
German Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7824 1300.
German Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 232 1101.
German Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6270 1911.
German Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 427 8900.
German Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 269 3011.
German Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 473 6063.
United States Embassy, Berlin: +49 (0)30 238 5174.
British Embassy, Berlin: +49 (0)30 204 570.
Canadian Embassy, Berlin: +49 (0)30 203 120.
Australian Embassy, Berlin: +49 (0)30 880 0880.
South African Embassy, Berlin: +49 (0)30 220 730.
Irish Embassy, Berlin: +49 (0)30 220 720.
New Zealand Embassy, Berlin: +49 (0)30 206 210.
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