Tag: germany

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Germany Planning a Trip

Getting from Munich to Venice

Venice is a one-of-a-kind city but it’s also a very controversial one: you can either love it from the first minute or hate it just as fast. There are plenty of things to do in Venice and none has to be very touristy or part you with a lot of money.

Munich is a major travel hub in Germany and is particularly a good idea if you plan to take the train to explore more of Europe.

Quick summary

With no buses linking Munich to Venice and the connecting flights starting close to €150 one way , the cheapest alternative remains the train. Book in advance and you’ll pay about €60 one way and if you travel by day also get rewarded with stunning views along the way.

Flights from Munich to Venice

There are two airports to use when flying into Venice, but the one handling flights to/from Munich is Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). It is located 8 km from the city and is hub for Air One, Alitalia CityLiner and Volotea. The airport mostly receives seasonal flights.

Direct flights to Munich are operated by Lufthansa and the airport used is Munich International Airport (MUC), the second busiest airport in Germany. It is hub for: Air Berlin, Augsburg Airways, Lufthansa, Air Dolomiti, Air Independence, BinAir, Condor, Hamburg International and TUIfly.

Even during the shoulder season in mid-September 2012, expect to pay from € 450 for a direct flight, one way and from €147 one way for a connecting flight via Dusseldorf on Air Berlin. Unfortunately , the fares don’t go down during the low season, either. In fact, you can pretty much consider flying into Venice an expensive affair, no matter when you plan to travel.

Read more about
>>Airfare to Venice
>>Cheap flights to Munich

Trains from Munich to Venice

A very scenic way to get between Munich and Venice is by train. Bahn.de lists all the connections between the two cities.

The direct trains leave Munich daily at 11:31 a.m. (Venice Santa Lucia), 6:57 pm (Venice Mestre) and 11:40 p.m. (Venice Mestre). The travel time is between 6h40 min and 9 h. Single savings fares start at €59 (morning train) and €53 (the night train). Standard single fares start at €82.80 (morning train) and €114.80 (the night train).

On the way back , catch the direct trains at 1:14 a.m. (Venice Mestre), 1:34 pm (Venice Santa Lucia) and 9:05 p.m. (Venice Santa Lucia). The same fares apply.

Please note that the fares depend on how far in advance you purchase the ticket and which train you choose. Rail passes can be used on these trains.

Driving from Munich to Venice

Both Germany and Italy are part of EU and the Schenghen area, which means you won’t be paying surcharges for taking the rental car across the border. However, do make sure you ask the rental company if you may cross borders in the car.

The shortest route – 476 km – between Munich and Venice is on SS51 and the drive takes about 5 h. The route passes through Austria. You might want to drive on A22 although it’s a slightly longer route (543 km) but the driving time is about the same and it also passes through Austria.

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Photo by cuellar

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Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Berlin to Munich

Both Berlin and Munich are major travel hubs in Germany, offering plenty of connections to the rest of Europe and the rest of the country. Munich certainly appeals to those looking to experience Oktoberfest, but the city also offers plenty of other things to do. On the other hand, Berlin is known for its history and night life.

Quick summary

The cheapest way and also the slowest way to travel between Berlin and Munich is by bus. Single fares start at €43 but you’ll be traveling for about 9 hours. Trains take less – 6h – but the savings fares start at €69 one way (and depend on when you travel). Flights can be as cheap as €50 one way but you need to add the cost and time of getting to/from the airports and the city centers, too.

Flights from Berlin to Munich

There are two airports serving Berlin and both direct flights to Munich.

Schönefeld (SFX) is the base of low cost carriers serving Berlin and is hub for EasyJet and GermanWings. The airport will be merged into Berlin Brandenburg Airport in early 2013, so plan accordingly. Flights to Munich are operated by GermanWings and take 1h. In mid-September 2012, the single fare starts at €50.

Tegel International Airport (TXL) is the main airport serving Berlin, a hub for Air Berlin, Germania and GermanWings. In early 2013, Tagel is supposed to close and Berlin Brandenburg Airport will take its place. Flights to Munich are operated by Air Berlin and Lufthansa. In mid-September, the single fare starts at €85 on Air Berlin.

Munich is served by Munich International Airport (MUC), the second biggest airport in Germany and seventh biggest in Europe. It is hub for : Air Berlin, Augsburg Airways, Lufthansa, Air Dolomiti, Air Independence, BinAir, Condor, Hamburg International and TUIfly.

Plan in advance (up to 6 months) and you’ll be finding cheaper fares on Air Berlin. Hence, in mid-December 2012, you’ll pay from €60 one way for flight from Tegel.

Read more about:
>>cheap flights to Berlin
>>cheap flights to Munich

Buses from Berlin to Munich

The bus is certainly the cheapest option for traveling between the two cities, but it’s the slowest, too. It takes about 9 h to cover the distance. Berlin Linien Bus offers direct buses , departing Berlin daily at 8:15 a.m. The single fare is €43. On the way back catch the bus from Munich at 9:45 a.m. The same fares apply.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Germany

Trains from Berlin to Munich

Bahn.de lists the connections between Berlin and Munich. Berlin is served by five train stations, but Hauptbahnhof is the most important , serving the high speed trains and connections to the rest of Europe.

Munich’s main station is located in the city center , west of Marienplatz. Deutsche Bahn uses Munich as a major hub.

There are direct trains, leaving about every hour to two hours from Berlin, but there are also plenty of connecting trains available. The direct trains take 6 h and the single saving fare starts at €69 but depends on the time of departure and how far in advance you make the purchase. The standard fare starts at €121. Both fares are valid on high speed trains.

>>read more about Train Travel in Germany

Driving from Berlin to Munich

You can certainly rent a car and drive the 588 km (shortest route on A9) between Berlin and Munich in about 6 hours (depending on traffic).

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Photo credits : Munich airport , Berlin train station

Categories
Germany Planning a Trip Transportation

Getting from Berlin to Prague

Berlin is the capital of Germany and also its biggest city. It is also an excellent travel hub, offering connections to the rest of the country and the rest of Europe. Many travelers choose to head to Central Europe as well and one of the most beautiful cities to visit there is Prague, the capital of Czech Republic.

Prague might have lost its “hidden gem” status but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to enjoy the city without falling for the touristy things. One thing to consider is showing up in Prague in spring or fall, when the tourists are generally avoiding traveling. Pack warmer clothes and something to fight the rain, though.

Quick summary

The short distance – 356 km – between Berlin and Prague doesn’t require a flight but there are low cost flights available by way of Cologne. To save money, you can catch a bus (and sometimes booking in advance means you pay €5 one way). Or you can catch a train and pay from €29 , if you book in advance. Both trains and buses take about the same to travel between the two capital (about 4 ½ h).

Flights from Berlin to Prague

There are two airports serving Berlin and both offer connections to Prague, via Cologne , Warsaw or other European hubs.

Schönefeld (SFX) is the base of low cost carriers serving Berlin and also gets a lot of traffic from Central-Eastern Europe. It is hub for EasyJet and GermanWings. The airport will be merged into Berlin Brandenburg Airport in early 2013, so plan accordingly. Flights to Prague are operated by GermanWings and they connect via Cologne. In mid-September 2012, the single fare starts at €90.

Tegel International Airport (TXL) is the main airport serving Berlin. It is hub for Air Berlin, Germania and GermanWings. In early 2013, Tagel is supposed to close and Berlin Brandenburg Airport will take its place. Flights to Prague are operated by LOT via Warsaw , Swiss via Geneva and several other companies, all with connections in various European capitals. In mid-September, the single fare starts at €247 on LOT.

Prague is served by Ruzyně International Airport (PRG), located 20 km from the city center. It is hub for the following airlines : Czech Airlines, Smart Wings, Travel Service, Wizz Air, ABS Jets and Grossmann Jet Service.

>>book a cheap flight to Berlin

Buses from Berlin to Prague

Eurolines operates direct buses between Berlin and Prague. There are two departures per day (7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.). The travel time is 4 ½ h to 4h 45 min and the promo fare is €5 one way. The standard single fare is €39.

Student Agency Bus also operates direct luxury buses between Berlin and Prague. Youngsters (under 26) and senior (over 60) benefit from discounts and so do students with valid IDs. Passengers are allowed to carry one hand luggage and one standard luggage in the luggage compartment (other luggage costs €8 per piece). Single fares start at €30.60 (discounts for RT tickets). There are daily departures from Prague at 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and there are also additional buses on Wed, Mon and Fri. The travel time is about 5h. All buses have toilets on board. Hot drinks are included in the price and each seat has radio player.

Trains from Berlin to Prague

Bahn.de lists all connections by train between Berlin and Prague. The direct train takes 4h 40 min and there are departures almost every 2 h from Berlin. If booked in advance, the single savings fare is €39. The standard fare starts at €63.80.

On the way back, catch the direct trains from Prague on the same schedule (about every two hours). The single fare starts at €29 if booked in advance.

Driving from Berlin to Prague

Both Germany and the Czech Republic are part of EU and Schengen Area, which means you won’t be paying surcharges for taking a rental car across the border. However, make sure to ask the rental agency if you can take the car across borders.

The shortest route between Berlin and Prague is 356 km on A13 and E55 and takes about 4 h. Please note that the route has tolls.

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Photo credits : Berlin Airport , Prague train station

Categories
Germany Transportation

Getting from Copenhagen to Berlin

Copenhagen is Denmark’s capital, an interesting city well known for its nightlife, culture and shopping. It is a geographical and cultural link between Scandinavia and Europe and an interesting stop when exploring other Scandinavian countries, too.

Berlin is the capital of Germany, a city well known for its history and nightlife. There are plenty of things to do while here , including sampling the beer.

Summary

The cheapest option for traveling between Copenhagen and Berlin is the bus. Fares start at €39 but not all companies offer daily connections (so pay attention when you choose). A good alternative is the train. If you book the ticket in advance , you can get tickets starting at €59 one way.

Flights from Copenhagen to Berlin

Copenhagen is served by Kastrup Airport (CPH) , which is the main international airport serving the city. It is located 8 km from the city center and is hub for the following airlines Blue1, Jettime, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Novair, Primera Air, Scandinavian Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, TUIfly Nordic, Copenhagen Air Taxi and Star Air. Some low cost carriers fly here: EasyJet, AirBerlin, Norwegian and Cimber Sterling. You can get to the airport from the city by train or metro.

Berlin is served by two airports, both handling flights to/from Copenhagen:

  • Tegel International Airport (TXL): is the main international airport in Berlin , located 8 km from the city center. It is hub for: Air Berlin, Germania and GermanWings. Buses are the only cheap way to get to /from the airport. Flights to/from Copenhagen are operated by Air Berlin and Scandinavian Airlines.
  • Schönefeld Airport (SXF): is another international airport serving Berlin, located 18 km from the city center. It is hub for EasyJet and Germanwings. The airport is served by the regional trains and the local trains. Flights to/from Copenhagen are operated by EasyJet and Norwegian Air Shuttle.

In March 2013, Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is scheduled to open and replace Schönefeld. Pay attention that online booking sites already list flights to/from the new airport even if you search for an earlier period.

In mid-August 2012, expect to pay from €38 on EasyJet (fligh to Schönefeld). Flights to Tegel start at €53 and are operated by SAS. A return flight during the same period costs from €58 on EasyJet. In mid-October 2012, expect to pay the same fares on EasyJet.

>>book a cheap flight to Berlin

Trains from Copenhagen to Berlin

Bahn.de lists a direct train between Copenhagen and Berlin, departing daily from Copenhagen at 6:10 p.m. The travel time is 10 h 15 min and the single fare starts at €79 (savings fare, if booked in advance). The standard single fare is €170.60.

There’s also a train which arrives a bit faster (9 h 35 min) but connects through Odense. It leaves Copenhagen daily at 6:50 p.m. and the fares are the same as in the case of the direct train.

On the way back, catch the direct train in Berlin daily at 00:32 a.m. and the other at 5:15 a.m. The return ticket is cheaper (€59 , savings fare , if booked in advance, for the direct train), but more expensive fro the indirect one (€89 , savings fare, if booked in advance).

Buses from Copenhagen to Berlin

The following companies operate direct buses between Copenhagen and Berlin:

  • Eurolines : offers up to 3 connections per day (but not every day), at 6:30 a.m., 4:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. from Copenhagen. The travel time is between 7 h and 7 ½ h and the single fare is DKK 599 / €80.60. There’s at least one connection per day, leaving Copenhagen at 6:30 a.m. On the way back, there are also up to 3 connections per day: 7:30 a.m., 3:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. (the earliest leaves daily). The same fare applies on the way back, too.
  • Berolina : offers a connection per day and the single fare is €40. Buses depart from central Berlin (ZOB). You can reserve the tickets here https://www.berolina-berlin.com/ticketsystem.aspx?id=GB
  • Bohemian Lines : offers a connection per two times a week, leaving Berlin at 9:50 p.m. (Mon, Fri) and , on the way back, leaving Copenhagen at 9 p.m. (Tue, Sun). The flex fare is €39 one way. The travel time is about 8 h.

Driving from Copenhagen to Berlin

It’s certainly possible to rent a car in Copenhagen and drive the 435 km to Berlin. Both countries are in the European Union and part of the Schengen area so you won’t be paying any surcharges. However, do ask the rental company if you are allowed to take the rental car across the borders.

The travel time is about 6 ½ -7 h but it does depend on the traffic. Please note that the route includes a ferry crossing.

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Photo credit

Categories
Germany Things to Do

Take a Last Minute Munich Trip for Oktoberfest

Despite its quiet beginnings – at least relatively speaking – the famous Oktoberfest celebration will mark its 200th year when the festivities get underway later this month. In other words, if you’ve been looking for a reason to head to Germany and see how you look in leiderhosen, this could be an ideal year to do just that.

If you’re lucky enough to already be in a major European city like Edinburgh, that means you have easy access to cheap flights to Germany – and since airfare is typically the biggest line item on a travel budget, being able to get there for a fraction of the cost of most flights is a huge incentive. Accommodation can be a bit tricky in Munich during Oktoberfest, as the cheapest and best places book up quickly well in advance of the start of the party, so if you haven’t already booked a bed somewhere you might be forced to pay for something that’s a bit more expensive than you ordinarily would. But on the bright side, when you save big on airfare you can afford to spend a bit more on your hotel or hostel room.

For those of you who are more inclined to buy a package deal whenever possible, there’s probably still time to sift through the Oktoberfest deals out there to see if one suits your needs. Again, it will likely cost more than if you booked the entire trip yourself, but if you have money leftover after buying your plane ticket you might still come out ahead. Depending on the deal, you might just get accommodation and entry into an Oktoberfest tent – in some cases you might also get airfare, so you’d have to make sure it was a better deal overall than you could get if you bought the flight separately.

Before you land in Munich, be sure to read this Oktoberfest travel guide so you’ll have all the background on what to do and see – not to mention what to expect and how to behave – at Oktoberfest this year.

photo by uLe @ Dortmund

Categories
England Germany travel guide

Why not Germany for a side trip from England this winter?

munichUsually during an English winter, anything you’d file under “quick getaway” would be to a warm destination – and that’s even more true this year, when snow is blanketing places that don’t typically see much of the white stuff. But just because it’s cold at home doesn’t mean the only option for a short holiday is some place warmer. In fact, one could argue (as I’m about to) that it’s the perfect time to visit another chilly climate.

I’m talking about Germany, which – technically – could qualify as heading south during the winter. If you go to southern Germany, that is.

But I digress.

The truth is that if you’re in the market for a budget-friendly trip to Germany, there’s no better time to schedule it than during the winter. It makes sense, because most people want to be jetting off to tropical beaches and sipping cocktails with little umbrellas in them when they’re on holiday. But that kind of trip isn’t usually easy on the wallet.

Right now, however, you can find all kinds of cheap flights to Germany from all over England. This isn’t necessarily the time of year you’d want to consider basking on the seaside in northern Germany, but cold temperatures are all the excuse you’ll need to enjoy all of the indoor entertainment in cities like Berlin and Munich. Spend more time in the museums because you’re not fighting long lines or big crowds. Linger in shops because you’re getting more personal attention from the merchants. And have another gigantic mug of beer because… Well, you probably don’t need an excuse for that.

Not only are airfare costs down at this time of year, you’ll also benefit from low-season rates on accommodation, too. Germany’s cities have plenty of hostels to choose from that help keep budget travelers coming back, but that doesn’t mean they don’t raise their rates during the summer. Visiting in the winter and staying in Berlin or Munich hostels will stretch your travel budget further than you thought it could go in Europe. And if you’re not a hostel-goer, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find wintertime rates on hotels in even popular cities are lower as well.

No, Germany may not be the first place you’d think of as a wintertime getaway from England, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go!

photo by Andi Licious