Germany lies in the centre of Europe and is the ideal place for a fly-drive holiday. With distinct regions throughout the country it offers tourists with a hire car the chance to drive the autobahns and sample much of the culture. The cities of Germany vary from old world elegance to domineering modernism, with a history so rich in culture and events there is little surprise that Germany is as fascinating as it is beautiful.
The road network in Germany has long been heralded as one of the best in the world, mainly due its liberal approach to speed limits. When in a hire car do not however get carried away on the autobahns; surprisingly only a limited amount of the network has no speed limit and penalties are often harsh for law breakers.
There are also rules that must be followed that are different from other nations, especially when letting other cars past. Using a hire car to experience the autobahn system can be fun, but remember the stress of performance sports cars belting past you at high speed is not always enjoyable. Traffic jams can also be a problem; my advice is to use the autobahns minimally and use country roads as much as possible.
The nature of Germany is as diverse as its history, the swathes of deep forest offer those who like the serene accompaniment of the countryside a tranquil existence. The use of a hire car when touring these forests is highly advisable as they are spread apart and the facilities in national parks are perfect for visitors travelling by car. With over ninety nature reserves within Germany, nature lovers will be spoilt for choice.
If entering the south Munich, Freiburg and Passau are the main gateways and picking up a hire car from any of these airports brings Bavaria into focus. The Bavarian people are warm and hospitable and love to party. Visitors will enjoy the wide variety of beers and historical beer halls that are found in nearly all towns. Munich annually hosts the Oktoberfest festival which sees huge amounts of people descend on the city for drinking and revelry. If a fan of good beer and good company Oktoberfest is a must, although it may be wise to leave the hire car at home.
Due to the German history of castle building, there are hundreds of examples of castles throughout the country. Making a road trip of these in your hire car is a perfect romantic getaway; especially as many now offer accommodation. Ranging across a variety of epochs each castle in Germany has its own distinct charm and appeal. Some resemble the castles of a fairytale while others are clearly evidence of Germany's military past. Many illustrate the opulence of Germany during the latter modern period and would most likely be called palaces rather than castles.
In Germany the motor industry is heavily developed with some of the most recognisable names in the entire world. The country reflects this love of the car with a host of museums linked to such powerhouses as BMW, Mercedes, VW and Porsche. There are even excursions that will allow the hire of a high performance car to experience the many racetracks. Of these racetracks, the Nurburgring is probably the most notorious and is definitely worth an excursion for anyone who considers themselves a car enthusiast.
There is no doubt that Germany as a destination is well worth a visit. Whether it is to sample the beer and cuisine, or just drive around in a hire car visiting the fabulous castles there is something for everyone. As the country that invented the motor car, enthusiasts will be fascinated by the motoring history and will most probably enjoy the race tracks. Just remember to take car on the autobahns.
Thomas Pretty
The road network in Germany has long been heralded as one of the best in the world, mainly due its liberal approach to speed limits. When in a hire car do not however get carried away on the autobahns; surprisingly only a limited amount of the network has no speed limit and penalties are often harsh for law breakers.
There are also rules that must be followed that are different from other nations, especially when letting other cars past. Using a hire car to experience the autobahn system can be fun, but remember the stress of performance sports cars belting past you at high speed is not always enjoyable. Traffic jams can also be a problem; my advice is to use the autobahns minimally and use country roads as much as possible.
The nature of Germany is as diverse as its history, the swathes of deep forest offer those who like the serene accompaniment of the countryside a tranquil existence. The use of a hire car when touring these forests is highly advisable as they are spread apart and the facilities in national parks are perfect for visitors travelling by car. With over ninety nature reserves within Germany, nature lovers will be spoilt for choice.
If entering the south Munich, Freiburg and Passau are the main gateways and picking up a hire car from any of these airports brings Bavaria into focus. The Bavarian people are warm and hospitable and love to party. Visitors will enjoy the wide variety of beers and historical beer halls that are found in nearly all towns. Munich annually hosts the Oktoberfest festival which sees huge amounts of people descend on the city for drinking and revelry. If a fan of good beer and good company Oktoberfest is a must, although it may be wise to leave the hire car at home.
Due to the German history of castle building, there are hundreds of examples of castles throughout the country. Making a road trip of these in your hire car is a perfect romantic getaway; especially as many now offer accommodation. Ranging across a variety of epochs each castle in Germany has its own distinct charm and appeal. Some resemble the castles of a fairytale while others are clearly evidence of Germany's military past. Many illustrate the opulence of Germany during the latter modern period and would most likely be called palaces rather than castles.
In Germany the motor industry is heavily developed with some of the most recognisable names in the entire world. The country reflects this love of the car with a host of museums linked to such powerhouses as BMW, Mercedes, VW and Porsche. There are even excursions that will allow the hire of a high performance car to experience the many racetracks. Of these racetracks, the Nurburgring is probably the most notorious and is definitely worth an excursion for anyone who considers themselves a car enthusiast.
There is no doubt that Germany as a destination is well worth a visit. Whether it is to sample the beer and cuisine, or just drive around in a hire car visiting the fabulous castles there is something for everyone. As the country that invented the motor car, enthusiasts will be fascinated by the motoring history and will most probably enjoy the race tracks. Just remember to take car on the autobahns.
Thomas Pretty
