Germany

1 of 3

Your vacations in Germany

Germany – officially, the Federal Republic of Germany – is a country in Central Europe. It’s bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The territory of Germany covers 357,021 km² and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. With 82 million inhabitants, it accounts for the largest population among the member states of the European Union; the country is also home to the third-largest number of international migrants worldwide.

Germany is a federation of 16 states, similar to the U.S., each with a distinct and unique culture. And, contrary to the general foreigner's conception, the country isn’t a very homogenous nation.

In 1949, after World War II, Germany was divided into two separate states – East Germany and West Germany – along the lines of Allied occupation. The two states were unified in 1990. West Germany was a founding member of the European Community (EC) in 1957, which became the European Union in 1993. It adopted the European currency, the euro, in 1999.

Germany is recognised as a scientific and technological leader in several fields.

Official language

German

Currency

Euro

Electricity

230 volts, 50 cycles

Shopping

Favourite items for shoppers include porcelain, handicrafts from the Bavarian Alps, as well as timepieces like Cuckoo Clocks and specialty knives for those who love to cook.