Germany is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The country is renowned for many incredible things among which are some of the most famous landmarks in the world such as the Brandenburg gate, Neuschwanstein castle. Germany is famous for its industry and some of the finest products of German engineering can be witnessed on the streets of almost every town in the world every day. One of the largest festivals in Europe and the World is the Oktoberfest. This incredible festival begins in late September and lasts until the first weekend of October attracting millions of tourists to try some of the finest beverages in the world. Although Germany has so much more to offer, there are risks and hazards involved in exploring the country.

Travelling info

Because Germany is a member of the Schengen convention all members of this agreement may move freely to Germany for tourist, business, starting a new life or any other purposes without the requirement to obtain any sort of a visa document. The only document required to cross the border is an ID card. There are several countries who are outside of the European Union however they are a part of the Schengen convention. These are Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland. Nationals of countries which are not part of this convention are required to obtain a Schengen visa that will allow them to move freely within the boundaries of the Schengen convention nations. (list of countries in sources). Schengen visa is normally admitted once per half a year for a duration of 90 days. Schengen visa holders can not work or study during their stay within the Schengen boundaries. Visitors who decide to drive in Germany must have their domestic driving permit, insurance certificate and car registration documents with them at all times whilst driving. An international driving permit is not required in Germany however it may be handy if the domestic license is not written in Roman script.

Travelling hazards

Road conditions in Germany are excellent. Driving is safe and road fatalities are very low. Contrary to the popular belief the German Autobahn has speed limits on its various stretches, particularly close to urban areas or on curvy stretches. Most road accidents involve cyclists, therefore, it is important to stay vigilant as cycling is very popular in Germany. Although cyclists have dedicated bike lanes a lot of them choose roads instead. Marked bike lanes often cross through roads on turns into side roads. Beware of checking sides before turning as even in the light is in favour of the driver, hitting a cyclist on a marked bike lane is automatically blamed on the vehicle driver.

Environmental hazards

Although Germany is one of the largest countries in Europe it has a relatively small amount of dangerous creatures and even smaller chances of becoming a victim of any of these. Although Germany has vast forests and mountainous regions bears became extinct within the borders of the country. A single specimen appeared after 170 years since extinction in 2006 but was shot as it was deemed too dangerous. There are over 150 wolves in the country and their population is increasing. Although these animals are potentially dangerous there are no reports of human interaction with the animals. Meeting these is extremely rare. The European common viper inhabits most of Germany and has venom potent enough to kill a grown adult if treatment is not sought in time. The most dangerous creature inhabiting Germany is the smallest out of all the mentioned. The ticks are increasingly large problems. These are becoming more and more widespread and often carry Lyme disease which attacks the nervous system eventually leading to death. If being bitten by a tick do not throw it away. Take it and submit it to a laboratory to test for Lyme disease. Early stages can be treated however if treatment is not started early enough the disease is untreatable at later stages.
Although Germany is not a disaster-prone region, earthquakes do occur particularly in the Rhineland. Although earthquakes do occur and may possibly cause damage, no dangerous earthquake was recorded in recent years. Floods are much more common and cause much more damage in Germany that its earthquakes. These great damage buildings and infrastructure causing millions of euros of damage. Unfortunately, floods are becoming more and more frequent.

Health hazards

There are currently no outbreaks of any diseases in Germany, nor are there any requirements as to vaccinations. There are however several vaccines which are recommended for a safe stay. These are the routine vaccines, hepatitis A and B, and rabies vaccine. Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung or the German Healthcare system is one of the best in the world. Both the Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung and its private equivalent deliver some of the best quality services in Europe and the world. Although the public sector will not deliver free services for expats, the holders of the European health insurance cards are eligible for free service. These do not apply to private services. For those who do not own the EHIC, health insurance is the recommended alternative as treatments and visits may come at an expense.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Safety in Germany varies. Although the crime reports announce almost a 1% drop, the “Aliens-Act related” is not included. This marginalized report involves all of the crimes committed by illegal aliens which mostly involve murder, attempted murder, sexual assault, serious bodily injuries, drug and weapon offences. All of these statistically increased by over 25% since 2016. Police are known to dismiss cases of crimes committed by illegal immigrants which result in vast amount going unreported and undealt with. Although most German cities and towns are safe during the day the situation changes during the night particularly in and around the areas where illegal migrants have been settled. During major holidays and festivals, German police have set up “safe zones for women” where police patrols are plenty. Female solo travellers are generally safe in the daytime however during the night travelling alone is discouraged. Tourist areas are a generally safe however petty crime is common. To avoid falling a victim of petty crime it is advised to stay vigilant, not leave personal belongings unattended and to avoid exposing signs of wealth. Wearing money belts helps to prevent instances of pickpocketing. Public transport is safe during the day however it does get dangerous during the night. German drug laws are quite lax but stricter than those of the Netherlands. Although small quantities for personal use are not a criminal offence, there is no specified amount which constitutes a small quantity.

Summary

Germany is a country that offers attractions all year round. The season never stops as during the summer both the coast and the cities are prepared areas whereas during the winter plenty of tourists flock to the skiing resorts in the south of the country. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.germany-visa.org/do-i-need-a-visa/
http://www.germany-visa.org/germany-visa-requirements/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/germany
(Drug laws)
https://www.loc.gov/law/help/decriminalization-of-narcotics/germany.php