Travelling through Germany - roads, airports, railway, bus transportation

The transport system in Germany is all about quality, reliability, punctuality and respectability. It is considered one of the best in Europe. The quality of the pavement is simply the top. Besides usual autobahns, cities and provinces are interconnected by railways and bus routes. Many travelers prefer to have transport by their side and rent a car. Driving the highway is free. In some major German cities, one-way car rent is allowed. It is worth considering that the price of gasoline in the country is quite high, so you should calculate the budget well. Before you go on a journey by car, you need to review the rules of the road, because German law has its own regulations.

Excellent railway system covers almost every region of the country. Therefore, the train is one of the most popular means among tourists. For example, you can go from Munich, which is located in the south, to northern Hamburg in just 6 hours. The same distance will take 8.5 hours to drive by car. At the same time, the tourist will be able to fully relax and enjoy the picturesque landscapes. Electric trains with comfortable lounges run along cities. The Express route is laid between large cities; the train there can make up to 320 kmph. Almost all types of railway transport are operated by the same German travel cards. Inside the region, tickets vary in prices. Tickets for the Verkehrsverbund system must be validated.

Besides trains, you can travel inside cities and regions by bus. The transport runs on time. At the stops, there are special screens, which display the time before the arrival of a particular bus. You can buy a ticket for the trip in the vending machine at almost every stop. Tickets are disposable; you can buy one for a week and even for a month, which allows you to save considerably. The subway system of large cities is simple and straightforward. Everywhere there are schemes of intersection of subway lines, so it’s difficult to get confused here. You can also call for a taxi, but note that this is one of the most expensive means of transport. Taxi services are urban and intercity ones. If the trip inside the city may not be that expensive, the journey between the cities will result in a large sum. There are several international airlines in Germany; they are based in large cities. The cost of a flight by different airlines on a particular day can vary. Germanwings is considered the most money-saving for tourists.

Most tourists come to Germany by plane. This is one of the safest ways to travel. Besides that, it’s very comfortable. More than 40 airports operate in Germany. In different cities of the country, there are international airports that welcome flights from Europe and Americas. The largest of them is Frankfurt am Main. In the world rating, this airport occupies the third position by the volume of passenger traffic. There are 5 comfortable rooms, snack bars and restaurants, as well as shops with souvenirs. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The next, but not less important airports, are Dresden Cloche and Franz Josef Strauss in Munich. Huge liners of the world's most famous air companies land here. According to statistics, these two airports enjoy great success among tourists. Here, a constant flow of travelers is recorded both in the ski season and in the warm months. Budget tourists, as a rule, fly to Frankfurt-Hahn. It is situated in the west of Frankfurt, so it has a convenient traffic junction. The next major airport is Stuttgart, which is located in the city of the same name. Fans of beer festivals, as a rule, come to this air harbor and then go for solemn events.

In Berlin, there is the small airfield, Tegel, which serves a number of famous international companies. The international airport Cologne Bonn operates around the clock that allows it to welcome more passengers than others. You can get to the city by taxi, by personal transport or by using public transport services. Schönefeld Airport is located not far from the town of the same name. It still has the status of international, although it works mainly with budget airlines and charter flights. On the vast territory of the airport, the most comfortable conditions for tourists are created. There is a pharmacy, a baby care room, several cafes and restaurants, as well as a variety of shops and souvenir stalls.

The development of the country's transport system is associated with progress of international and domestic trade relations. To the date, Germany's transport interchange is recognized as one of the best in the world. Therefore, there is always the best option for any tourist. Railways are very popular. They are laid both inside the city and between regions. This is worth considering when buying a ticket. In mountainous regions of the country, there are specially equipped cog railways, so you can have a train even to the ski resorts. The rail transport features the high comfort and punctuality. There is a subway in 10 major cities. In Berlin, there is the largest and most extensive subway network, which embraces a dozen lines and more than 170 stations.

Inside the city, you can also travel by bus and tram. You can buy tickets at any stop in special vending machines. At the same time, if you need to travel regularly on such mean of transport, it’s better to purchase reusable tickets. There is an opportunity to buy a ticket even for a month, which will help to save a lot. All bus and tram stops are equipped with special screens that show information about certain routes and the time before arrival. The tramway is well developed in lands of Bavaria. Some routes pass even under ground. Wealthy connoisseurs of comfort can rent a car or use their own. In doing so, it is worth to study traffic regulations in Germany attentively. It’s allowed to drive at a speed of up to 100 kmph; in towns the limit is 50 kmph. On autobahns, the speed of the car is not controlled at all.

The territory of Germany has navigable routes; their length is about 7 000 km. The basins of the Rhine and the Danube are interconnected by the Main channel. Thanks to the river channels, it is easy to get from one region of the country to another and to cruise along major ports, while enjoying the delightful scenery. Boats regularly run along the canals. In Berlin, you can even use the services of a boat taxi that runs along the river Spree. The ferry can be reached from the port of Puttgarden to Warnemunde. An alternative for a traveler is to rent a bicycle. Since 2002, Germans actively began to develop cycling, so there are special lanes for two-wheeled vehicles even in small provinces. There are parking lots for bicycles; rental points are located practically in every district of any city.