🇩🇪 Germany
Visa-free, card-shy, and stricter about cash than you expect.
No - Australian passport holders can enter Germany without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Pack a Type C/F adapter for the 230V supply, one Australian dollar buys about 0.62 EUR.
Entry rules last checked 24 October 2026.
Germany is the transport hub most Australian European trips route through, and the one that surprises people by still being partly a cash economy. Entry is 90 days visa-free under Schengen rules. The things that catch Australians out are domestic: bakeries and bars that do not take cards, Sunday closing, and city centres you cannot drive an unstickered car into.
Your Germany trip setup
20 things Australians need to sort. Tick them off as you go.
Entry requirements
Visa-free (Schengen Area)Up to 90 days in any 180-day period View detailsFlights
Compare 3 searchs Search flightsConnectivity
Compare 8 plansFrom $8.50 Compare eSIMsTravel insurance
Compare 7 policysFrom $18.50 Compare insuranceMoney & payments
Compare 5 cards0.43%-0.65% conversion fee Compare cardsAirport transfer
FRA → FrankfurtFrom $10 Compare optionsDriving
AU licence OKDrives on the right Compare car hireTravel essentials
Adapter type C/FTap water: safe to drink View guideThings to do
Compare 7 experiencesFrom $38 Explore activitiesGermany at a glance for Australians
Best time to visit
May-September, plus late November for the Christmas markets
Oktoberfest runs from mid-September to early October and Munich accommodation triples in price for it - book by March or avoid the dates entirely.
22h 00m from Sydney
Busiest month for Australian travellers: July, quietest March. Germany travel statistics
Health & safety
Smartraveller: Exercise normal safety precautions
Australia has no reciprocal health care agreement with Germany. You pay for treatment up front, and an air ambulance home is the cost that turns a bad week into a bad decade.
Emergency: 112 for everything
Money
Improving but still the weakest in Western Europe. Assume any small independent business may be cash-only, and check before you order.
Sparkasse, Volksbank and Deutsche Bank ATMs are reliable and mostly fee-free. Avoid Euronet machines.
Tipping: Round up to the nearest euro or add 5-10% for good service, and say the total you want to pay as you hand over the money rather than leaving coins on the table.
Language & culture
German
English: Very good in cities and among under-40s, weaker in rural Bavaria and the former East
Capital: Berlin
Australian dollar to Euro
€0.62 EUR per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
Where Australians go in Germany
Berlin
Munich
Frankfurt
Hamburg
Cologne
Germany FAQs for Australian travellers
Do Australians need a visa for Germany?
No. Australian passport holders can enter Germany visa-free for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, as part of the Schengen Area allowance shared across all Schengen countries.
Is Germany really still a cash country?
Partly, yes. Card acceptance is the weakest in Western Europe: bakeries, bars, kiosks and small restaurants are often cash-only, and a sign reading "Nur Barzahlung" is common. Carry EUR 100-150 and ask before you order.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Germany?
Not legally, for stays under six months - an Australian licence is accepted on its own. An IDP is still worth the small cost, because some hire companies ask for one regardless of the law.
What power adapter do I need for Germany?
A Type C or F adapter. Germany runs on 230V at 50Hz, the same as Australia, so everything works normally once the plug fits.
Does the EU Entry/Exit System apply in Germany?
Yes. Since 10 April 2026 the EES has been fully operational at German borders. Your fingerprints and facial image are taken at your first Schengen entry and your crossings are recorded digitally instead of stamped.
Are shops really closed on Sundays in Germany?
Yes. Sunday closing (Ladenschlussgesetz) applies to supermarkets and most retail nationwide. Restaurants, bakeries, museums and petrol-station shops stay open, but do your grocery shopping on Saturday.
Planning Germany?
We will send you the Germany guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.