Papers
Travelers from English-speaking countries will need a passport or visa to visit Germany. These countries include the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Ireland. A passport from your home country will allow you to visit for as long as 90 days. Longer visits require a visa, which is obtained at home before you leave. Visas are readily obtained for work and educational visits to Germany.
Entering Germany
You may not have to show your passport or visa when you first enter Germany. This is due to the fact that Germany is part of the European Union and has signed on to various parts of the Schengen Agreement. The Schengen Agreement is a legislative document that has been signed by many of the countries that are part of the European Union. There are many different aspects to this agreement, and each participating nation can choose which part of the Schengen Agreement it signs. Germany (along with many other EU nations) has agreed to open borders. In reality, this creates a large block of countries through which individual travelers can freely pass. Therefore, when you first enter an EU nation you will have to show your passport, but will not be required to do so when passing from one EU nation to the next. The U.K. and Ireland have not agreed to this aspect of the Schengen Agreement, so when traveling between England and Germany, a customs check will occur.
Learn Some Language
German sounds very strange to the English-speaking ear, but in fact this language has common roots with the English language. Many German words are similar to their English counterparts, but it takes some time and study to understand this. Just learning a few introductory phrases will greatly enhance your visit and, fortunately, in most of Germany, an English-speaking native is never far away.
Bring Ample Money
You will need to bring enough money to enjoy the entire length of the voyage in whatever style you deem appropriate. In other words, foreign residents don't really appreciate cheapskates. If you are sleeping in hostels to save money, spend some extra time in a museum or a castle. But whatever you do, make sure you have ample monetary resources to take part in the foreign culture.
Respect the Native Country
This is a good idea even if you do not like what you see. The idea of foreign travel is to take in and reflect on the change in language and culture. It takes time to understand or comprehend another country and culture, so try to take the time to learn about the other culture. And if do have something to say about something you don't like, at least say it in German.
