What You Need to Know About Germany
Located in the center of Europe, Germany, also called the Federal Republic of Germany, is an autonomous and autocratic state of the EEC. Its capital is Berlin, which is also one of the most appreciated cities in the world. The German maritime borders are the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.
The country also shares land borders with Denmark. To the west, the German borders are limited by the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, and France. To the south, the limits are defined by the Czech borders.
And finally, the eastern borders are limited by Poland. Germany has a fairly vast area amounting to 357,022 km².
With its 357,114 km², Germany ranks 7th in Europe in terms of area, behind countries like France, Ukraine, and Spain.
With a population of 83.5 million inhabitants, Germany is today the most populous country in the European Union, with a high population density of 236 inhabitants per km². This demography largely relies on immigration, as the natural balance has been negative for several years.
The official language is Standard German (Hochdeutsch), the mother tongue of the vast majority of the population, although several regional dialects remain lively, from Bavarian to Low Saxon and Alsatian. German is also one of the most spoken languages in Europe, with about 100 million native speakers on the continent.
Finally, the international telephone code for Germany is +49 (to be dialed as 0049 from a fixed line abroad).
The Best Cities in Germany
Main Attractions
Schwerin
Honestly, Schwerin took me by surprise. I didn’t expect much and I was left speechless. The castle is set on an island in the middle of the lake, with its golden domes reflecting in the water… it’s simply magical. Listed as a UNESCO site since 2024, it is well worth the detour. After the visit, I ate seafood at the Lukas restaurant and stayed at the Speicher am Ziegelsee Hotel with a view of the water. Perfect for unwinding.
Hamburg
Hamburg is a city full of life! The terraces along the Alster, the lively cafés, the port atmosphere… I spent an entire afternoon doing nothing but soaking up the vibe. If you go in December, the Christmas market is definitely worth it.
Berlin
Berlin is an emotional punch. The Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the cathedral… history is everywhere. A little anecdote: while climbing the glass dome of the Reichstag, I encountered a German school group reciting dates from memory — it reminded me how much this city still carries the weight of the 20th century. Don’t forget to go to Potsdam to see the Sanssouci Palace, just 30 minutes away.
Cologne
The Cologne Cathedral took my breath away as soon as I saw it emerge from the station. You arrive, look up, and stand there for a few seconds without saying a word. Six centuries of construction for this result is evident. The museums in the Rhineland district are excellent, and charming hotels like the Ameron are a great option to stay there.
Leipzig
Leipzig is often overlooked on classic tourist routes, and that’s a mistake! The Monument to the Battle of the Nations is gigantic, almost intimidating, with a breathtaking view from the top. The old town and its Renaissance market have a crazy charm. A city truly worth discovering.
Frankfurt
Frankfurt surprised me. You imagine a cold city of bankers, but actually no. St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, the Städel Museum, the covered market of Kleinmarkthalle with its colorful stalls and local specialties… I spent an entire morning tasting everything. And if you are there in October, the Book Fair is a global event not to be missed.
Where the cities are located on the map
Schwerin
Schwerin is located in the northwest of Germany, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. What struck me upon arrival is that the city is literally surrounded by lakes and forests, you feel far from everything, in a good way.
Hamburg
Hamburg is situated in the north of the country, connected to the North Sea by the Elbe over about 110 km. You can feel this port identity everywhere in the city, in the architecture, in the atmosphere, even on the plates!
Berlin
The capital extends in the northeast of the country, between the Spree and the Havel, on a large plain opening towards Poland. A city of XXL size, flat, easy to explore by bike which I did for two whole days.
Cologne
Cologne is nestled in the west of Germany, on the banks of the Rhine. It is a transit city that is often crossed without stopping, and that is a mistake. I myself had planned to stay one night, I stayed three days.
Leipzig
Leipzig is located right in the center of the country, northwest of Saxony, in a natural basin that gives it a somewhat unique atmosphere. A compact city, pleasant to explore on foot, and frankly underestimated by tourists.
Frankfurt
Frankfurt lies along the Main, a tributary of the Rhine, in the heart of Germany. Its central position makes it an ideal hub to radiate to other cities — Basel, Munich, or Brussels are all less than 400 km away. I took advantage of this to make it my starting base.
Climate map of Germany
Germany has a moderate continental climate with cold and warm periods of equal length. In the northwest, the climate is influenced by maritime winds. Consequently, summers are warm and winters mild. Winter temperatures are around 1.5°C. On the other hand, the central part of the country displays a temperate continental climate with unstable temperature variations.
Winter in the center is colder than in the north but summers are less hot. The coldest period begins in January with temperatures around 1.5°C in the north and around -2°C in the south.
Berlin :
The climate of Berlin resembles the climate of northwestern Germany because the city is located there. The city experiences a hot and rainy summer. Temperatures are around 23°C. Winter, on the other hand, is very mild with temperatures around 3°C. These seasons define a continental climate.
Cologne
Cologne is a warm city compared to other cities in Germany. This city experiences a spring and late season with temperatures around 14°C and 15°C during the months of May and September. Winters are also mild and summer very hot with temperatures reaching up to 24°C.
Frankfurt
It is a pleasant city to visit in summer because of the heat; temperatures can reach 25°C. However, winter is quite mild with temperatures around -1°C.
Hamburg
The climate of this northern port city of Germany is a temperate continental climate. This city is colder than the capital. The hottest month in Hamburg is August where temperatures are around 22°C. Winter, on the other hand, is cold enough but also mild with balanced snowfall. The average temperature in winter is 1°C.
Financial Map of Germany
Germany has a mixed economy, combining industrial activities, business services, and international trade transactions. It ranks among the top three global economic powers, with a GDP of over 4,300 billion euros in 2024.
Germany has a mixed economy, combining industrial activities, business services, and international trade transactions. It ranks among the top three global economic powers, with a GDP of over 4,300 billion euros in 2024.
- Currency: Euro
- GDP per capita: 41,500 EUR, among the European leaders
- Unemployment rate: 3.2%, reflecting a strong labor market
- Trade balance: 226 billion euros surplus
- Current account balance: 245 billion euros, a sign of a highly export-oriented economy (automotive, chemicals, machine tools)
- Economic growth: 1.5% per year
- Investment: +2.6% annual variation
- Industrial production: -3.1%, declining due to international competition and rising energy costs
Administrative and Demographic Map of Germany
Germany currently has 83.9 million inhabitants, about 1.07% of the world population, ranking it 19th worldwide. With an area of 348,560 km², the population density is 240 inhabitants/km². The population is mostly urban: 76.3% of inhabitants, nearly 64 million people, live in large cities.
Some key indicators:
- Median age: 45.7 years, a generally adult and aging population
- Birth rate: 9.5 births per 1,000 inhabitants
- Mortality rate: 11.5 per 1,000 inhabitants
- Life expectancy: 81 years for women, 79 years for men
Administration
The Federal Republic of Germany is organized into 4 administrative levels: the federal state, the Länder, the districts, and finally the boroughs and municipalities.
- 16 Länder, of which 3 have city-state status: Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen. The other 13 are Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia
- 22 districts, distributed in only 5 Länder
- 405 boroughs: 110 urban and 295 rural
- 12,200 municipalities
Demolinguistic Data of Germany
There are 7 types of German according to the regions of the country:
Low German of the West
- The Schleswig dialect of Schleswig
- The Holstein dialect of Holstein
- The Northern Low Saxon
- The Frisian
The Low Saxon of the Northeast
- The Westphalian
- The Eastphalian
The Low German of the East
- The Mecklenburg dialect
- The Northern Mark dialect
- The Middle Mark dialect
- The Southern Mark dialect or the Berlin dialect
The Franconian of the West
- The Hollandic
- The Flemish
- The Low Rhenish
- The Limburgish
The Rhenish Franconian
- The Middle Ripuarian Franconian
- The Moselle Franconian
- The Hessian
- The Palatine
- The Southern Rhenish Franconian
- The Eastern Franconian
The Central German of the East
- The Thuringian
- The Upper Saxon
- The Lower Silesian or Lusatian
The Upper German of the West
- The Swabian
- The Low Alemannic
- The Alsatian
- The High Alemannic
- Upper Alemannic
Upper German of the East
- North Bavarian
- Middle Bavarian
- South Bavarian
