Visa to enter in Germany is required by all, except nationals of the following countries:

American Samoa, Andorra, Argentina, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Korea (Rep. of), Latvia, Lithuania, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela and US Virgin Islands. But they don�t require Visa for stays of 3 months, after this time, they must obtain a Visa.

Visa isn�t required either for passengers who continue their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft; however, it is important check with the Embassy before your trip.

Citizens of EU countries holding a valid national ID card just need a passport to enter Germany. But, if you want to take up employment, it is absolutely necessary to have a full passport.

Students
If you want to take up studies in Germany, you will need a visa for entry, but not any type of visa. You must obtain a visa for purposes of study. Documents required are:

• Valid passport with one blank page to affix visa stamp.
• Application form
• Two passport photos
• Proof of sufficient funds to finance your period of study
• Fee (payable in cash or by postal order)
• Letter from the place of study (University, college or school)

Tourists
If you are not a citizen of EU countries or of any country mentioned before, you must obtain a tourist visa. Documents necessaries are:

• Valid passport with one blank page to affix visa stamp.
• Application form
• Three photos
• Proof of adequate means of support during stay (at least £20.00 per day).
• Proof of medical insurance.
• Proof of accommodation
• Fee (payable in cash or by postal order)

Business
If you have to enter to Germany for any business purpose, even if you are self employed, you need a visa. Documents necessaries to obtain a Business Visa are:

• Valid passport with one blank page to affix visa stamp
• Letter from the employer or place to work, if self employed, a letter from a solicitor, accountant, bank manager or local Chamber of Commerce
• Formal obligation from host in Germany
• Fee (payable in cash or by postal order)

Work permits
Currently, citizens of EU countries don�t need a visa or work permit to work in Germany. But non-EU nationals must obtain a visa or resident permit before entering Germany. Documents required to obtain a work visa are:

• Valid passport with one blank page to affix visa stamp
• Two application forms
• Two passport photographs
• Employment contract or a letter from your future employer in Germany (with a copy)
• Police certificate of good conduct
• Fee (payable in cash or by postal order)

Validity of Visa
Visa is valid according your stay type, and it can not be extended. If you want to stay more time, you have to make a new application.

Short stay (single and multiple entry): Valid for 6 months from date of issue for stays of maximum 90 days per entry or for 1 year from date of entry for stays of maximum 90 days in one half-year.
Transit (single and multiple entry): Valid for a maximum of 5 days per entry, including the day of arrival.

Potsdam, capital of Brandenburg state, is a suburb of Germany�s cosmopolitan capital: Berlin. This beautiful baroque city is home for the magnificent palace of Sanssouci that is comparable with other amazing European royal palaces like Versailles and Windsor Castle. Other impressing attractions include Nikolaikirche church, Cecilienhof, Holländisches Viertel, Französische Kirche church and the historic Dutch quarter among others. Potsdam is also a green city surrounded by lakes, hills, and several �palace gardens�

During the 18th and 19th century the city was the residence of the Prussian kings, many of Potsdam�s sights date of this epoch. As many cities Potsdam was damaged by bombings in 1945, but a number of palaces in the Sanssouci park remained intact.

The film industry is important in Potsdam, particularly Babelsberg Film Studios that made many important German films. Also, in the city you can find many cafes, riverside villas and historic streets which you have to stroll before leaving. For those reasons and more, Potsdam is a very attractive place to live.

BAMBERG is a town in Bavaria, Germany, it is set in the rolling Franconian hills where the Regnitz River flows into the Main. Bamberg is a city with an original character and a very special atmosphere. 1000 years of history are united in an Old Town that is a cultural and architectural site of European rank.

In the Middle Ages, Bamberg was a powerful ecclesiastical center. Initially, it was two towns divided by the river: One was the Ecclesiastical Town of the prince � bishopric, and the other was The Secular Town of the burghers. Nowadays, Bamberg is known as �a beer drinker�s Eden� because there 9 Breweries with lots of different kinds of beer, being the most famous the �smoked beer�. The average Bamberger drinks 190 liters of beer a year!

Bamberg is also famous for its architecture, with styles ranging from Romanesque to Gothic, Renaissance to baroque. There you can find narrow cobblestone streets, ornate mansions and palaces, and impressive churches. In Bamberg there is always party going on somewhere, the Franconian hospitality expresses itself when people get together, and the major occasions to celebrate are the frequent anniversaries of churches� consecrations.

Würzburg

Near from Frankfurt, Wüzburg is a vibrant university town surrounded by vineyards and full of architectural splendors. Its cultural scene includes traditions and popular events all year around like the Mozart Festival and the Africa Festival which attract many visitors. Wüzburg is also a wine-centre of the Franconian region, the wine in the typical bottle “Bocksbeutel” is served by many taverns.

In and around the city there are many cultural attractions like the famous Main Franconian Museum with sculptures by the famous artist Tilman Riemenschneider, the Fortress Marienberg, the Cathedral museum, and the Martin Wagner museum that is a splendid archiepiscopal residence and the famous masterpiece of Balthasar Neumann, an extraordinary baroque architect.

The city is also the main shopping town for the Franconian region been the most important chain stores Domstrasse and Schönbornstrasse, Furthermore, there are many small shops located on Juliuspromenade where you can find unique souveneirs.

Berchtesgadem, with its beautiful scenery, is an attractive town to visit. The city is mostly visited in winter by its ski resorts on the edge of the Berchtesgaden National Park. There is also the �Eagle�s Nest�, the famous mountain that was refuge of Hitler in the World War II, from there you have an impressive view of the Berchtesgaden area.

In the city�s center you can find many historical attractions, like the Royal Palace and the famous church of Maria Gern. The art is not apart from de city, many houses around the market place are decorated by artistic painting with mountain motives and animals.

The main attraction is the Berchtesgadem National Park that with its stunning high mountains and the renowned Lake Königssee is one of the oldest protected areas in the Alps. In the park, there are many fauna that reflects the bio-diversity of its landscape; and if you are lucky, you will see the rare golden eagle.

The citizens in the Berchtesgaden area complement with nature and preserve their culture and traditions, many people wear traditional clothes like leather trousers and they love Ooompah music. You will be fascinated with this place!

Trier is located in Mosel River Valley, is known as Germany�s oldest city. The City was one of the seats of the old Roman Empire, a proof of that is the amazing ruins� architecture. The most dominant structure is the mixture of two churches: The Dom St. Peter and the Liebfrauenkirche, both build upon ruins. The city is also home of the stunning Porta Nigra, the best preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps.

Currently, Trier is a gateway from Germany to Luxembourg. There are also a lot of wine producers. If you would like to you could even try to work for a week in the vineyards, it is a great experience! The city is also an active town; there you can find wine festivals, river trips, cycling, and an extraordinary cultural life.

In Germany, The Rhine has a spectacular beauty and it is a popular holiday destination. There you can find impressive places to visit like castles, cathedrals, vineyards and hiking trails. Its magnificent scenery inspired a lot of painters and poets. In fact, Germany is full of castles, but the Rhine has an especially amount of important castles. Some are ruins and many of them have survived the past of the years.

The Rhine has a sunny, dry and warm climate. For that reason, the vineyard agriculture is famous there. In every village, there is at least one wine festival per year; the most famous series of festivals is the Rhine in Flames.

Its river is the best place from where you can observe the beauty of the area; every day tour boats set sail with many tourists. If you don�t like boating, you can also explore the Rhine by car. The best period to visit the Rhine is in summer, the weather is sunny and the festival season is in full movement.

Getting around Germany is incredible easy. The train network is comfortable, reliable, fast and reasonably priced. The eastern and western train systems have now been fully merged. German roads are also excellent and motorized transport can be a great way to tour the country. However, almost all bigger cities suffer from a severe parking problem. The national and famous motorway network known as autobahnen, officially there is no general speed limit, but, in an attempt to increase safety and control the pollution, a lot of segments have speed limits. Another good and healthy way for getting around Germany is �cycling�. For the Germans, cycling is a fundamental part of life and many cities encourage cyclists with designated bicycle lanes, but cycling on the autobahnen is strictly forbidden (verboten).

From the high Alps in the South, the Bavarian plain, and the flowing hills of central Germany to the coast of the North and Baltic Sea: it all looks like a miniature train landscape packed with the nicest of old towns, medieval houses, gothic churches and small villages. Thanks to the different regional princedoms, earldoms, monarchies and states Germany did not unite until the last centuries. Thus Germany has not one but many major cities. And each city has its own unique character, formed by its history and the surrounding region. Each is a whole new world unto itself in which you will experience not only different architectural styles and art treasures but also a very distinctive lifestyle. Local traditions and mentalities are clearly reflected everywhere - in the arts, the nightlife, the shops, the pubs and restaurants and the way people work and live.

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Germany’s cities have endless pleasant surprises in store for those who enjoy good food and drink. In addition to top-quality international cooking each region has its own local specialities, ranging from hearty country fare at simple inns to modern light cuisine at star-rated restaurants. Accompanied by our world-famous beers and wines, all this plenty is guaranteed to make your tour of Germany’s cities an unforgettable culinary experience.

Discover the beautiful Southwest of Germany with cities like Freiburg, Heidelberg and Tübingen. In the western part cities still have some french influence, discover Bonn, Düsseldorf, Cologne- the heart of the Rhineland, Trier, the oldest city of Germany and a former capital of the Roman Empire or Aachen with its impressive cathedral and history back to Charlemagne.

Today, Germany is also an industrial powerhouse. In the Ruhrgebiet ( Essen, Oberhausen, Duisburg and surroundings) there is heavy industry, different car brands like Mercedes (near Stuttgart ), BMW and VW make Germany one of the world’s biggest car producers and Frankfurt is the country’s bank and finance centre, called also “Mainhattan” (”Main” is a river in Frankfurt). All this makes the standard of living one of the highest in the world.

Germany offers a huge choice of regions (16 states called Bundesländer or short “Länder”) most of which could provide an enjoyable and fascinating holiday. Germany is also famous for its forests, mountains and lakes.

Let�s begin for the North: Germany has coasts to the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. In this part of the country you can find the famous Fairytale Road with white, sandy beaches, resorts and seaports. There is also the city of Bremen, the Germany�s second port; there are galleries, the town hall and the Roland Statue. The Germany�s number one ocean gate way to the world is the international port of Hamburg; there are chic shops, elegant hotels and great museums. We can not forget Berlin, Germany�s capital, one of the mega cities in the world and the top travel destination in Germany. Berlin offers a wonderful combination of history, night life, architecture and culture.

In the Germany�s south you can find from the beauty of the Black Forest to the dazzling allure of the Alps. There is the city of Heidelberg, where stay the Germany�s most famous castle ruins. Other important city is Freiburg, the capital of the southern Black Forest; it is also known for its magnificent cathedral, an excellent example of late gothic architecture. There is also Munich, Bavaria�s capital and one of Germany�s most beautiful and charming cities, it is home of the world-famous Oktoberfest and of the Deutsches Museum, the largest science and industry museum in Europe. Other areas of interest in Germany�s south include Triberg, Lindau, Dinkelsbühl and the historic Franconian city of Würzburg.

In the middle, you can find Europe�s center of international business and finance: Frankfurt. The city is vibrant, dynamic, and flashy, earning it the questioning distinction of the most Americanized city in Germany. In the eastern part of Germany, you can find extraordinary cities: Leipzig, Weimar, Schwerin and even Dresden, famous for its Frauenkirche and historic center. In the western part cities still have some French influence, discover Bonn, Düsseldorf, Cologne (the heart of the Rhineland), Trier (the oldest city of Germany) or Aachen with its impressive cathedral and history back to Charlemagne.

We have to recommend the Germany�s valleys, well-known as �Romantic Wine Valleys�. Let�s begin for the Rhine Valley; its unique beauty unfurls across the legendary River Rhine. It is famous for its wine festivals during the autumn. The next romantic valley is the Moselle Valley; it attracts visitors not only for its beauty, but also for the friendly atmosphere created by wine and song. Other beautiful valleys are The Ahr Valley, the Weser valley, the Neckar valley, and the Altmühl valley.

Germany is an excellent destination all the year although its climate can be unpredictable. Most people prefer to visit it between May and September (high season) when the sunny days are most likely. A lot of activities are popular in this season, especially outdoor events (hiking, cycling and swimming) and festivals. Cold and wet weather should never be unpredicted in Germany, however: between one-third and one-half of the days each year brings some amount of precipitation. In June and July, school groups filled the major youth hostels, bringing noise and confusion.
The other seasons (from March to May and from October to early November) bring fewer tourists. Usually, in April and May the weather can be mild and sunny. On the other hand, between November and early March skies tend to be gloomy and the mercury often drops below freezing (there are only six or eight hours of daylight); in this season, travel to Germany is becoming more and more popular, especially to the ski areas in the Bavarian Alps. Keep in mind that the rain is a possibility in any month, so try to be cautious.