Getting Around Germany

Germany is famous for its transportation network, and getting around the country is a breeze.

First there are the trains, with both high-speed and local services crisscrossing the country. You can get from major cities rapidly thanks to the InterCity Express (ICE) services, which run at up to 300 kph. As a result, you can get from Berlin to Munich in less than four hours.

Local transport is also well-developed, with many cities boasting trams or metro services. Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich and Nuremberg all have underground train networks known as U-bahn.

If you prefer to drive, Germany is known as a great place for cars. Highways, known as autobahns, are often free from speed limits, so you can drive as fast as you want. Just make sure to get out of the fast lane each time you overtake or be prepared for some angry driving from those who want to get past.

There are also domestic flights between big citie,s but the availability of high-speed rail services means they are hardly worth bothering with. For example, the Berlin–Munich flight takes one hour 20 minutes, but by the time you get to the airport and check in, you may as well sit on the ICE train service.