Germany for Dummies Book

	Introduction	1
	About This Book	2
	Conventions Used in This Book	2
	Foolish Assumptions	3
	How This Book Is Organized	3
	Icons Used in This Book	6
	Where to Go from Here	6
Part I	Getting Started	7
Chapter 1	Discovering the Best of Germany	9
	Touring Germany's Cities	9
	Roaming Romantic Landscapes	10
	Marveling at Castles and Palaces	11
	Enjoying Awesome Arts and Culture	11
	Feasting on German Food	12
	Shopping for Local Treasures	14
	Remembering the Nazi-Era Past	14
Chapter 2	Deciding When and Where to Go	15
	Everywhere You Want to Be: What This Book Covers and Why	15
	The Secret of the Seasons	20
	Germany's Calendar of Events	24
Chapter 3	Presenting Five Great Itineraries	29
	Just the Highlights: Germany in One Week	29
	East Side/West Side: Germany in Two Weeks	32
	Fresh Air: Germany for Lovers of the Outdoors	36
	Prosit! Germany for Wine Lovers	37
Chapter 4	Planning Your Budget	39
	Adding Up the Elements	39
	Keeping a Lid on Hidden Expenses	46
	Cutting Costs for Bargain Hunters	46
Chapter 5	Planning Ahead for Special Needs or Interests	49
	Bringing the Brood: Advice for Families	49
	Going Gray: Suggestions for Seniors	53
	Accessing Germany: Information for People with Disabilities	54
	Stepping Out: Advice for Gays and Lesbians	57
	Remembering the Past: Resources for Jewish Travelers in Germany	60
Part II	Ironing Out the Details	61
Chapter 6	Getting to Germany	63
	Consulting a Travel Agent	63
	Considering Escorted Tours	64
	Benefiting from Package Tours	67
	Making Your Own Arrangements	69
Chapter 7	Getting around Germany	75
	Weighing the Options: Train or Car?	75
	Taking the Train: The Easy Way to Go	76
	Touring by Car: Autobahns, Tankstellen, and Benzin	81
	Sailing through Germany: River Cruises	85
	Flying around Germany: A Good Idea?	86
Chapter 8	Booking Your Room	87
	Finding the Place That's Right for You	88
	Beating the Rack Rate	91
	Surfing the Web for Hotel Deals	92
	Reserving the Best Room	93
	Paying for Your Room	93
	Arriving without a Reservation	94
Chapter 9	Managing Your Money	95
	Knowing Your Euros	95
	Choosing Traveler's Checks, ATMs, Credit Cards, or Cash	96
	Exchanging Your Currency	98
	Handling Loss or Theft	99
	Talking Taxes and the VAT	100
Chapter 10	Tying Up the Loose Ends	101
	Dealing with Passports	101
	Considering Visas and Health Certificates	104
	Deciding Insurance Needs	104
	Taking Care of Your Health	105
	Getting Reservations and Tickets Before You Leave Home	106
	Packing It Up and Taking It on the Road	108
	Arriving in Germany	112
Part III	Berlin and Eastern Germany	113
Chapter 11	Settling into Berlin	115
	Getting There	116
	Finding Information After You Arrive	119
	Orienting Yourself in Berlin	120
	Getting around Berlin	125
	Staying in Style	129
	Dining Out	138
Chapter 12	Exploring Berlin	145
	Sightseeing in Berlin	145
	Seeing Berlin by Guided Tour	162
	Following an Itinerary	164
	Shopping for Local Treasures	165
	Discovering Nightlife in Berlin	168
	Day-tripping to Potsdam and Sanssouci Palace	174
	Fast Facts: Berlin	178
Chapter 13	Dresden, Leipzig, and Weimar: Jewels of the East	181
	Dresden: Florence on the Elbe	181
	Leipzig: City of Heroes	196
	Weimar: Capital of the Enlightenment	206
Part IV	Munich and Southern Germany	215
Chapter 14	Munich: Capital of Gemutlichkeit	217
	Getting There	218
	Finding Information After You Arrive	219
	Orienting Yourself in Munich	219
	Getting around Munich	222
	Staying in Style	223
	Dining Out	230
	Sightseeing in Munich	238
	Seeing Munich by Guided Tour	248
	Shopping for Local Treasures	249
	Discovering Nightlife in Munich	250
	Fast Facts: Munich	252
Chapter 15	Bavaria: The German Alps and Fairy-Tale Castles	253
	Bavarian Alps: Traveler Basics	253
	Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Doing the Zugspitze	256
	Oberammergau: Woodcarvers and Passion Plays	261
	Schloss Linderhof: Ludwig's Little Versailles	264
	Fussen: Medieval Memories	266
	Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau: Castles in the Air	270
Chapter 16	The Bodensee and the Black Forest: Scenic Southwest Delights	275
	The Bodensee (Lake Constance)	275
	The Schwarzwald (Black Forest)	284
Part V	Western Germany	303
Chapter 17	Cologne: Wine and the Romance of the Rhine	305
	Cologne: Pleasures beside the Rhine	307
	The Mosel Valley: Great Wines, Beautiful Scenery	321
Chapter 18	Frankfurt am Main: Apple Wine and Euros	325
	Getting There	328
	Finding Information After You Arrive	329
	Orienting Yourself in Frankfurt	330
	Getting around Frankfurt	330
	Staying in Style	331
	Dining Out	333
	Sightseeing in Frankfurt	336
	Seeing Frankfurt by Guided Tour	343
	Shopping for Local Treasures	343
	Discovering Nightlife in Frankfurt	344
	Fast Facts: Frankfurt	347
Chapter 19	Heidelberg and Nuremberg: Castles and Kaisers	349
	Heidelberg: Romance on the River	349
	Nuremberg: Renaissance and Rebirth	360
	A Side Trip: Rothenburg ob der Tauber	370
Part VI	Northern Germany	375
Chapter 20	Hamburg and Lubeck: Hanseatic Cities of the North	377
	Hamburg: Germany's Gateway to the World	378
	Lubeck: In a (Hanseatic) League of Its Own	395
Part VII	The Part of Tens	405
Chapter 21	Ten (Zehn) German Lessons	407
	Basic Words and Phrases	407
	Accommodations	407
	Colors	408
	Days of the Week	408
	Directions	408
	Entertainment and Attractions	408
	Numbers	409
	Seasons and Elements	409
	Time	409
	Transportation	409
	Warning Signs	410
Chapter 22	Ten of the Best German Hotels	411
	Der Europaische Hof-Hotel Europa, Heidelberg	411
	Der Kleine Prinz, Baden-Baden	411
	Excelsior Hotel Ernst, Cologne	412
	Hotel Brandenburger Hof, Berlin	412
	Hotel Reutemann/Hotel Seegarten, Lindau	413
	Kempinski Hotel Atlantic Hamburg	413
	Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Munchen	413
	Le Meridien Grand Hotel Nurnberg	414
	Sorat Art'otel Berlin	414
	Zum Roten Baren, Freiburg	414
Chapter 23	Ten Great German Museums	415
	Albertinum, Dresden	415
	Alte Pinakothek, Munich	416
	Deutsches Museum, Munich	416
	Gemaldegalerie, Berlin	416
	Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg	416
	Judisches Museum, Berlin	417
	Mercedes-Benz-Museum, Stuttgart	417
	Pergamon Museum, Berlin	417
	Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart	418
	Zwinger, Dresden	418
Appendix	Quick Concierqe	419
	Toll-Free Numbers and Web Sites	423
	Where to Get More Information	424
	Worksheets	429
	Index	435