Most widely accepted cards: German domestic debit cards i.e. Girocard and international PIN-based Maestro and V PAY cards. However, foreign debit cards (VISA Debit/Electron, Debit MasterCard etc.) and credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express) are only accepted in major retail stores. Euro is the only acceptable currency. Only certain shops and restaurants at airports and train stations are willing to accept foreign currencies or exchange currency (mostly U.S. dollars).
What is the history of Germany?
History fo Germany can be traced back to ÊGermanic tribes which were followed by the Holy Roman Empire. It was post the Napoleonic wars, that the German Empire was formed. The empire, however, ended in 1918 when Germany was defeated in World War I. Strong totalitarian forces took the forefront and the Nazis seized power in 1933 i.e. the nationalistic and racist National Socialist German Workers' Party and Adolf Hitler came to power. He led Germany to war with many nations, leaving the country in ruins by 1945.Post its devastating defeat in World War II, Germany was divided into four sectors, controlled by the French, British, US and Soviet and in 1961, the Berlin Wall was erected. In the late 1960's, a sincere and strong desire to confront the Nazi past came emerged as the society became much more liberal. Germany was reunited peacefully in 1990, and the post-war limitations to Germany's sovereignty were removed.
What is unique about culture of Germany?
German culture is heavily influenced and shaped by religious and secular currents in Europe, especially in lieu of the major intellectual and popular events. In fact, German is referred to as Das Land der Dichter und Denker (the country of poets and thinkers). The country is well-known for its traditional Oktoberfest and various other carnivals. Awarded as the worlds second most respected nations in 2013, 38 properties in the country are on the World Heritage List.The dominant religion in Germany is Christianity. Of the total population, 65% to 70% follow the Christian religion - Lutheran-Protestantism and Calvinism are the most popular denominations. German is the official language of Germany. However, since every region of the country has its own dialect, this can be a serious challenge for both native speakers as well as tourists. But, fortunately, all Germans learn English at school so one should be able to easily navigate through the country. SpanishÊFrench and Russian are also widely spoken but not more than English. Common words in German Hallo (Hello), Bitte (Please) and Danke (Thank You).