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Country guide · Germany

Germany travel apps and what you need before you go

Germany follows Schengen rules: many visitors, including US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens, can stay up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa, and since April 2026 non-EU travellers are registered at the border in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). ETIAS is not running yet. On the ground, use DB Navigator for trains and the EUR 63 a month Deutschlandticket for local transport, take rides with FREENOW, Bolt or Uber, order food on Lieferando or Wolt, and carry some cash.

Checked against official sources on 22 October 202611 apps · 4 to set up at home
Neuschwanstein Castle above the forest in Bavaria
Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0

What you need to enter Germany

Rules depend on your passport. Check if you need a Schengen visa with the German Federal Foreign Office or the EU's official travel site before you book.

Schengen visa or visa-free stay

Germany is in the Schengen area. Many passports, including US, UK, Canadian and Australian, are visa-exempt for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries combined. Nationals of countries on the EU visa list need a Schengen visa from a German mission.

Source: German Federal Foreign Office: Schengen visa · EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, visa lists

Passport validity

Non-EU visitors need a passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.

Source: Your Europe: travel documents for non-EU nationals

Entry/Exit System (EES)

The EU's Entry/Exit System started in October 2025 and has been fully running at all external Schengen borders since 10 April 2026. Non-EU short-stay visitors have their passport details, a face photo and fingerprints recorded on first entry, and passports are no longer stamped. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip.

Source: European Union: EES · eucrim: EES fully operational since 10 April 2026

ETIAS

ETIAS, the planned EUR 20 travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, is not in operation and no start date has been announced. The EU says it will give several months' notice. Do not pay any site offering an ETIAS today.

Source: European Union: ETIAS · SchengenVisaInfo (19 October 2026)

Funds, accommodation and return ticket

Border officers may ask for proof of where you are staying, a return or onward ticket and enough money for your stay. Germany does not publish a fixed daily amount for visa-exempt visitors, so carry a bank card and a recent statement or similar.

Source: Your Europe: travel documents for non-EU nationals

Before you fly: 7 steps

  1. Check if your passport needs a Schengen visa.
  2. Make sure your passport is under 10 years old and valid 3 months beyond your departure from Schengen.
  3. Keep hotel bookings, your return ticket and a card or bank statement handy at the border.
  4. Install DB Navigator and book ICE trains early for Sparpreis fares.
  5. If you will use local trains a lot, buy a Deutschlandticket for the month and cancel it straight away so it does not renew.
  6. Set up FREENOW, Bolt or Uber with your home number before you fly.
  7. Bring some euros in cash and a Type C/F plug adapter if your devices need one.

The apps that matter in Germany

Grouped by the job they do. Set up at home means install it and sign in before you fly, while you still have your home number and Wi-Fi.

Taxis and ride hailing

FREENOW by Lyft

Germany's main taxi app, for booking and paying for licensed taxis, with private-hire cars in some cities.

Set up at home

Paying in the app avoids the occasional taxi that only takes cash.

Official siteSource: FREENOW Germany

Bolt

Ride hailing in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne and over 60 other German cities.

Set up at home

Compare with Uber and FREENOW; prices change with demand.

Official siteSource: Bolt: Cities

Uber

Ride hailing in larger German cities using licensed private-hire firms, with taxis bookable in some cities.

Set up at home

Set up with your home number and card before you fly. In smaller towns a taxi app is more reliable.

Official siteSource: Uber Germany newsroom: taxi fixed prices in Berlin

Metro, buses and city transport

BVG (Berlin)

Berlin's transport operator apps for U-Bahn, tram and bus routes, live departures and tickets.

Buy single, day and 7-day tickets for zones AB or ABC in the BVG ticket app; the airport BER is in zone C. If you hold a Deutschlandticket you do not need any other Berlin ticket.

Official siteSource: BVG

MVGO and MVV (Munich)

Munich's transport apps for U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram and bus routes and tickets.

Since September 2026 you can also buy Munich day tickets and the Airport-City-Day-Ticket on the MVG online ticket shop and save them to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, with no app or account.

Official siteSource: City of Munich: Wallet tickets (August 2026)

Trains and long-distance travel

DB Navigator

Deutsche Bahn's app for ICE, IC and regional train tickets, live delays, platform changes and local tickets in many cities.

Cheaper Sparpreis fares are tied to a specific train, while Flexpreis lets you take any train that day. Delays are common, so turn on journey alerts for connections.

Official siteSource: Deutsche Bahn

Deutschlandticket

A monthly ticket for all local and regional trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses across Germany, second class.

It costs EUR 63 a month in 2026 (EUR 66.80 from January 2027) and is sold only as a subscription in DB Navigator or on DB's site, valid for calendar months. It is not valid on ICE, IC or EC trains. Cancel by the 10th to stop it at the end of that month, or it renews automatically.

Official siteSource: DB Regio: Deutschlandticket · DB: Cancel the Deutschland-Ticket · European Consumer Centre Germany: Deutschlandticket

Maps

Citymapper or Google Maps

Public transport and walking directions in Berlin and other large German cities.

Download offline maps for countryside drives and hikes, where signal can be patchy.

Official siteSource: Citymapper · Google Maps

Messaging and calls

WhatsApp

The most used messaging app in Germany, for hosts, guides and small hotels.

Set up at home

Keep it on your home number so contacts and booking chats carry over.

Official siteSource: WhatsApp

Food and delivery

Lieferando or Wolt

The two main food delivery apps in German cities, with Wolt also delivering groceries.

Check both for the same restaurant, as menus and fees differ. Handy on Sundays when shops are closed.

Official siteSource: Lieferando · Wolt Germany

Deals and bookings

Too Good To Go

Buy bakery, café and supermarket surplus food at reduced prices for collection at a set time.

Bakery bags late in the day make a cheap breakfast. Pay in the app and show the receipt at pickup.

Official siteSource: Too Good To Go

Money: Euro (EUR)

Germany is less card-heavy than its neighbours: in 2025 cashless payments overtook cash for everyday purchases for the first time, which still leaves a lot of cash in use. Most supermarkets, chains and hotels take cards and phones, but some bakeries, cafés, kiosks and small restaurants are cash only or take only German girocards, so carry some euros. When a card machine offers to charge in your home currency, choose euros.

Practical things to know

Plugs
Types C and F (two round pins); 230 V.
Emergency number
112 for fire and ambulance, 110 for police. 112 also works from any phone across the EU.
Mobile data
EU SIMs roam at home rates. Others can buy an eSIM or a prepaid SIM; German prepaid SIMs must be registered with a passport or ID, often by video check, before they work.
Tipping
In restaurants, round up or add about 5 to 10 percent for good service. Say the total you want to pay when you hand over the money or card, rather than leaving it on the table.
Sunday closing
Most shops and supermarkets are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Shops in main railway stations and airports, petrol stations and some bakeries stay open, so stock up on Saturday.

Questions travelers ask

Can tourists buy the Deutschlandticket?

Yes. It is sold as a monthly subscription in DB Navigator or on DB's site for EUR 63 a month in 2026. It runs for calendar months, so buying late in a month gives you less value. Cancel by the 10th to end it at the end of that month.

Does the Deutschlandticket cover ICE trains?

No. It covers regional trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses in second class, but not ICE, IC or EC long-distance trains.

Do I need cash in Germany?

It helps. Cards are now used for most purchases, but some bakeries, cafés and small restaurants still take cash only or German girocards only.

Are shops open on Sunday in Germany?

Mostly not. Supermarkets and most shops close on Sundays and public holidays; station and airport shops, petrol stations and some bakeries are the exceptions.

Do I need ETIAS to visit Germany?

Not yet. ETIAS is not in operation and no start date has been announced. The EU says it will give several months' notice before it starts.

Sources

Checked on 22 October 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm with the official links before you travel.

Found a mistake? Report a correction and we’ll check it against the source.

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