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DISCOVER
Discover Germany
GERMANY
Consulate General
of the Federal Republic of Germany
Dubai
MESSAGES OF GREETING BY
KLAUS RANNER, GERMAN CONSUL
GENERAL IN DUBAI
AUTOMOTIVE TRAVEL:
GERMANY, HOME OF THE CAR
MEDICAL TOURISM:
MEDICAL EXPERTISE AND
TECHNICAL INNOVATION
Germany
Travel Guide
Arabian Travel Market in Dubai
Photo: fotolia & Hendrik Weber
LUXURY SHOPPING IN GERMANY
P.O. Box 17666, Jebel Ali, UAE, Tel: +971 4 881 4000, Fax: +971 4 881 4001
Web: www.cedars-jaih.com, E-mail: [email protected]
Contents
Index
6
2 Message of Greeting – Klaus Ranner,
German Consul General in Dubai
12
3 Arabian Travel Market
6 Germany at a Glance
7 Federal States of Germany
8 Medical travel –
you‘ll be well looked after in Germany
11 Klinikum Stuttgart shows strong presence at
Arabian Travel Market 2013
12 Bavaria – Germany’s most popular holiday state
16 Baden-Württemberg
18
18 Berlin
20 German Island Idylls
22 A World of Events in Germany
20
23 German cuisine – regional specialties and
gourmet delights
24 Luxury Shopping in Germany
26
Activities for Children
27 Germany, home of the car
28 Just a few hours away
30 What Role does German play Internationally?
31 The German Consulate General in Dubai
32 Contact Details of German Institutions
in the UAE & Imprint
26
27
Message of Greeting
FOREWORD BY KLAUS RANNER,
CONSUL GENERAL OF THE FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF GERMANY IN DUBAI
Consulate General
of the Federal Republic of Germany
Dubai
Photo: German Consulate General Dubai
DEAR READERS AND VISITORS OF THE
2013 ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET IN
DUBAI,
The German Consulate General in Dubai is
issuing every year more than 50,000 visa
for travels of tourists or businesspeople
from the UAE to Germany. The German Embassy in Abu Dhabi is adding another more
than 25,000 to that number. This is more
than all the missions of other Schengen
countries combined.
Many of the holders of German Schengen visa
are travelling more than once to our country.
Approximately 125,000 arrivals of Emirati nationals with about 360,000 overnight stays
have been recorded in Germany in 2012, an
increase of 27 % compared with 2011 – and
additionally many Emiratis are staying in their
own homes in Germany, not bad for a local
population of not much more than a million.
This makes the UAE one of the more important source markets for the German hospitality business, even more so, as most Emiratis
are customers for the upmarket segment. It
is therefore no coincidence that the National
German Tourism Office has a very active and,
as can be seen from the aforementioned
growth rate, a very successful branch office in
Dubai, which is closely cooperating with the
Consulate General and can provide you information of all kind about Germany. Please, be
encouraged to use its services and know-how.
Whether Emiratis are travelling to Germany
for purely touristic reasons, e.g. to escape
the scorching summer heat, for business or
e.g. to undergo medical treatment in one
of its state-of-the-art hospitals – and there
“hospital”­has to do not only with medicine,
but with hospitality – the continuously increasing numbers of bookings are clearly
2
“Germany is offering
something for the taste of
anyone and of all ages.”
pointing at the attraction of Germany as a
tourist destination. Where else do you find
a country right in the centre of a continent,
where distances are short or can be covered
quickly and you can enjoy the moderate climate with four seasons, seaside, smaller and
higher mountains, lakes and rivers, cruised
by boats, the lush greenery of its forests and
parks, opportunities to practice many sports
and outdoors activities, landscapes to relax,
but as well vibrant cities with contemporary
and antique architecture, excellent shopping
opportunities, folklore festivals, cultural attractions, sports events, culinary highlights
and and and … Germany is offering something for the taste of anyone and of all ages.
Business travellers apart from reliable partners in Germany’s high tech industries and
services can find an extensive network of
well established trade fairs and the business
hotels with all necessary facilities near the
fairgrounds. So why not go to Germany for
business and stay on for a vacation?
German universities and academies provide
students from all over the world with excellent education in all fields, also in English,
and higher education in Germany is in many
cases free of cost or against rather nominal
fees.
This year’s German participation in the Arabian Travel Market with its 21 exhibitors is
showing an important, but certainly not completely comprehensive overview of the multiple offers and opportunities of Germany as
a travel destination. But you can find there
among others information about hotels in
various cities and regions, as well as shopping
opportunities in high-class outlet malls and
elsewhere and medical services of the utmost
quality. We know, of course, that the ATM is
frequented by visitors from all over the region and beyond. All of the visitors are welcome in our country. So: Discover Germany,
we’d love to see you there!
Klaus Ranner
Consul General of the Federal Republic of
Germany in Dubai
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Arabian
Travel
Market
Held under the patronage of His Highness
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Vice President and Prime Minister of the
UAE, Ruler of Dubai and set to celebrate its
20th anniversary, the show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the
region and one of the biggest in the world.
New to the 2013 event, ATM is launching
the Digital and Technology Day focusing on
online travel developments and showcasing
headline speakers from across the industry.
MAJOR REVENUE GROWTH FORECAST
FOR UAE TOURISM SECTOR BY 2016
According to Alpen Capital’s October 2012
GCC Hospitality Industry Report, the UAE’s
hospitality market is likely to reach US$ 7.5
billion by 2016, up from US$ 4.5 billion (67 %
increase) in 2011 as visitor demand gains
traction and new hotel supply enhances the
existing tourism product. “The UAE’s tourism
4
map is now incredibly diverse. The Northern
Emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah are
building on their own cultural foundations to
present a series of unique individual products
that, together with Dubai and Abu Dhabi,
position the country as a cohesive hospitality
hub, with varied appeal,” said Mark Walsh,
Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
Looking longer term, a recent Dubai Chamber study, supported by statistics published
by Business Monitor International, puts UAE
tourism sector growth at 6.5 % per annum
between 2011-2021, with visitors from the
Middle East, Europe and Asia Pacific the key
source markets. Employment growth prospects for the sector are also buoyant, with
a forecast annual real growth rate of around
4.1 %. Tourist arrivals in the UAE are forecast
to grow at a CAGR of 5.3 % between 2012
and 2022, with hotel supply also expected
to increase from the current 96,992 hotel
rooms in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, to a total of
125,383 hotel rooms in 2016.
Dubai International Airport, which is currently ranked the third busiest airport in the
world in terms of international passengers,
recorded total passenger traffic in 2012 at
57.7 million travelers, up 13.2 % against 2011,
with passenger numbers forecast to reach 98
million by 2020. Abu Dhabi has recorded similarly buoyant figures with 2012 another re-
cord year according to the Abu Dhabi Tourism
& Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which
revealed that in 2012 it welcomed 2.3 million hotel guests to the emirate’s hotels and
hotel apartments, representing a 13 % rise on
2011 figures. Hotel revenues for the same
period also increased by 6 % to US$ 1.261 billion. Ras Al Khaimah’s plans to position itself
as a nature-focused tourism destination are
gaining momentum. By 2021, the emirate
expects around 20 % of its GDP to be generated by tourism-related activities. According
to Oxford Business Group, the northern emirate is aiming to 10,000 rooms by 2016 with
a US$ 218 million commitment to tourism
­deve­lopment from the government.
48 % OF DUBAI’S HOTELS WITHIN 2 KM
OF A MEGA SHOPPING MALL
Market research conducted by Reed Travel
Exhibitions has shown that more than 276
hotels and hotel apartments are located within 2 km of one of five mega shopping malls
in Dubai.
“The original research was conducted to
look at how urban tourism has grown exponentially over the past two decades and how
the retail landscape has expanded in parallel,
to mark ATM’s own twentieth anniversary
celebrations,” said Walsh. “Five of the lead-
Photos: ATM
Arabian Travel Market is the main travel
and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound
and outbound tourism professionals. The
2013 show will run from May 6 - 9 at the
Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).
ing shopping malls in Dubai were identified
and ATM researched the number of hotel
and hotel apartments within a two kilometer
radius of each of them, or in other words a
five-minute taxi ride,” he added. According
to Alpen Capital, retail sales in the Gulf region will hit US$ 270 billion in 2016, which
it puts down in part to an expanding tourism and hospitality industry. Nowhere is that
more evident than in Dubai, which is home
to five of the region’s largest shopping malls,
namely Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Al
Ghurair Centre, Burjuman Centre, and Deira
City Centre. Of the 387 hotels and 188 hotel
apartments registered by the Dubai Government Department of Tourism and Commerce
Marketing (DTCM) at the end of 2011, 48 %
were within 2 km of one of these five shopping malls. Proving just how well developed
the relationship between retail and hospitality has become. A number of other interesting statistics were also revealed – even if the
search was reduced to within just 1km of
these five malls – there are still 125 hotels
and hotel apartments representing 24 % of
Dubai’s total hotel stock. Another interesting fact was that between 2005 and 2008
when Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta Mall,
Dubai Festival City and Dubai Mall opened,
the number of hotels in Dubai grew from 371
to 519 an increase of 40 %. Indeed between
2007 and 2008 alone hotel stock grew by
17 %. “Since the end of the Dubai property
boom, real estate has gradually begun to recover, but hotel trading performances have
been more impressive. According to Alpen
Capital estimates, hotels in Dubai averaged
80 %, occupancy during 2012, with US$ 228
revenue per available room (RevPAR) one of
the highest in the world,” said Walsh. Twenty
years ago, Dubai had only three major shopping malls, Al Ghurair Centre which opened
in 1981, Burjuman Centre and Wafi City
which both opened in 1992. Deira City Centre did not open until the end of 1995 and
it would be another ten years before Mall of
the Emirates would open.
INBOUND TOURISM A KEY ECONOMIC
FACTOR FOR GERMANY
Destination Germany remains on course
for success, with excellent growth in the
volume of overnight stays by international
visitors providing much of the momentum.
In 2012 the German Federal Statistical Office
recorded in excess of 68.8 million overnight
stays by visitors from abroad in accommodation establishments with more than ten beds,
an increase of around 8 % on the previous
year. “We have exceeded, by a clear margin,
the forecast volume of 400 million overnight stays from Germany and abroad. This
emphatically underlines the huge popularity
of Destination Germany, which is becoming
increasingly attractive to people from other
countries,” says Ernst Burgbacher, Member of
the German Parliament, Parliamentary State
Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology and Federal Government
Commissioner for SMEs and Tourism.
“The European source markets and the
BRIC countries are going from strength to
strength and they have played a major role
in this new record result for inbound tourism
in Germany. If the main source markets continue to perform strongly, we will be on track
to pass the 80 million mark in international
overnight stays by 2020,” says Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the German
National Tourist Board (GNTB). According to
a UNWTO survey, growth in inbound tourism
for Destination Germany remains well above
the global and European average. “In the first
eleventh months of 2012 the highly positive
uptrend in inbound travel continued from the
record levels seen in 2010 and 2011,” added
Petra Hedorfer. “Destination Germany looks
set to achieve a record number of overnight
stays again in 2012.” The mark of one million overnight stays by travelers from the
GCC countries was outdone in 2011 for the
very first time. Yet, the Arab Gulf States
maintained their highly positive trend, with
overnight stays rising by 27.7 per cent as
compared to the same timeframe in the previ-
ous year, with 1,216,490 overnight stays by
GCC travelers in the first eleven months of
2012. Visitors from this region are particularly high spenders: according to IPK International’s World Travel Monitor, their average
spending on a trip to Germany was € 3,850 in
2011. By comparison, the average for visitors
from Europe was € 511. “The GCC countries
continue to represent one of the top twenty
source markets in the German tourism industry and the latest figures demonstrate that
the popularity of Germany as travel destination is continuously on the rise in this region,”
said Antje Roeding-Boudier, Director of the
Marketing & Sales Office for the Gulf Countries at the German National Tourist Office
(GNTO) in Dubai, the local affiliate of the
German National Tourist Board (GNTB) for
the GCC countries. “When focusing more specifically on the Arabian Gulf market, the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) operates
to present the broad range of traditional and
innovative possibilities that Germany offers to
its Arab visitors,” she c­ ontinued.
The overall outlook for global outbound
travel in 2013 is positive. In a survey by IPK,
28 % of respondents said that they intended
to travel abroad at least once this year – up
by around 5 % compared with 2012.
ABOUT THE GNTB
The German National Tourist Board
(GNTB) has its headquarters in Frankfurt am
Main, Germany. It works on behalf of the
Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) to represent Germany as a tourist destination and is funded by the Ministry
in accordance with a decision taken by the
German Bundestag. The GNTB develops and
communicates strategies and products to
pro-mote Germany’s positive image abroad as
a tourist destination and to encourage tourists to visit the country. It has 30 agencies
around the world to support its activities.
[DME, GNTB], www.germany.travel
5
Photo: Andrew Cowin
The Federal Republic of Germany lies in
the heart of Europe and is a cosmopolitan,
democratic country with a great tradition
and a lively present. Germany has one of
the world’s strongest economies and ­offers
an innovative research and education landscape. At the same time it has a strong
creative economy and a dynamic cultural
scene. Germany is the European Union’s
most p
­opulous nation with 82 million
­inhabitants.
THE COUNTRY: LOCATED IN THE
­CENTRE OF EUROPE
Germany is surrounded by nine neighbouring countries. Its territory encompasses
roughly 357,000 square kilometres. It stretches from the North Sea and the Baltic Sea in
the north to the Alps in the south. Some of
the largest European rivers – the Rhine, the
Danube and the Elbe – flow through Germany. German landscapes are extraordinarily
varied and attractive: low and high mountain ranges, extensive lakelands, forests and
roughly 2,390 kilometres of coastline.
HISTORY: ENDINGS AND NEW
­BEGINNING
Historical schisms mark Germany’s path
towards constitutional democracy and a functioning parliamentary system: they include
the failure of the March Revolution (1848)
and the Weimar Republic (1919–1933), but,
above all, the upheaval of National Socialism,
Holocaust and the Second World War (1933–
1945). One of the consequences of the Second World War was the division of Germany
into the Federal Republic of Germany and
the German Democratic Republic (GDR). The
peaceful revolution by the people of the GDR
only brought down the Wall in 1989. The Two
Plus Four Treaty with the victorious powers
of the Second World War cleared the path
for German reunification on 3 October 1990.
6
POLITICS: DEMOCRATIC PARTNER IN
THE WORLD
Since 1949 the Federal Republic of Germany has been a democratic parliamentary
federation consisting of 16 Länder (states),
each with its own constitution, parliament
and government. The highest government
authority lies with the federation. In addition to the German Bundestag (federal
parliament), the Bundesrat (federal council)
of delegates from Länder governments also
participates in the legislative process at the
federal level. The Basic Law forms the legal
and political foundation of government. It
binds legislation to the constitutional order.
Special significance is attached to the basic
rights anchored in the Basic Law. Germany
supports peace, democracy and human rights
as well as environmental and climate protection worldwide in cooperation with its European and transatlantic partners. Germany is
a member of important European and other
international organizations. The Federal Republic of Germany is a founding member
state of the European Union (EU) and has
been a full member of the United Nations
(UN) since 1973. The German Bundeswehr
(armed forces) is engaged in foreign missions
that are mandated by the UN and conducted
by NATO and the EU.
ECONOMY: STRONG COMPETITOR IN
THE WORLD MARKET
Germany has the largest economy in the
European Union and the fourth largest in the
world. Germany is the world’s second strongest
exporting nation. German companies enjoy an
excellent international reputation. They stand
for the “Made in Germany” seal of quality, for
innovation, quality and advanced technology.
In addition to well-known global players, Germany’s industry-driven economy is also characterized by many world market leaders from
the small and medium-sized business sector.
Important industries include vehicle manufacturing, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemicals, environmental technology
and nanotechnology. Germany is an attractive
location for foreign investors. The world’s 500
largest are represented in the country, alongside some 45,000 foreign businesses.
SCIENCE AND SCHOLARSHIP:
­INNOVATIVE EDUCATION AND
­RESEARCH LANDSCAPE
Germany is a “land of ideas”. Great significance is attached to education and learning as
well as research and development. There are
Photo: Fischer, J. A.
Germany
at a Glance
some 370 institutions of higher education in
Germany, which is the world’s most attractive
country for international students after the
USA and the UK. Among European countries,
Germany ranks first when it comes to patent
registrations and is one of the world’s three
most innovative countries alongside Japan and
the USA. A total of 68 of the 80 German Nobel laureates received the prestigious prize for
achievements in the natural sciences. Organizations of extra-university research, such as
the Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer Society,
Leibniz Community and Helmholtz Association with their hundreds of institutes, provide
ideal working conditions for researchers and
are internationally renowned.
SOCIETY: LIVELY DIVERSITY
Germany has 82 million inhabitants. They
include roughly 15 million with a migrant
background, some 7 million of whom are foreigners, while 8 million hold German citizenship. German society is marked by a pluralism of lifestyles and a diversity of ethnic and
cultural outlooks. Despite changes in society,
the family remains the most important social
reference group. Most people have good vocation training, a high standard of living in
international terms and adequate scope for
shaping their own personal lives.
CULTURE AND LANGUAGE: RICH
­TRADITION AND CREATIVE PRESENT
Germany is the country of Goethe, Schiller and Thomas Mann, Bach, Wagner and
Beethoven. Culture traditionally has a high
standing and has many facets: Germany has
some 300 theatres and 130 professional orchestras as well as 630 art museums with
many internationally renowned collections.
With some 94,000 new books and re-issues
published every year, Germany can also be
counted among the great book nations. Its
young contemporary painting is internationally sought-after and German cinema is also
celebrating new successes in many countries
around the world. Some 120 million people
speak German as their native language and it
is the most widely spoken mother tongue in
the European Union. Approximately 17 million people worldwide are currently learning
German as a foreign language in courses at
institutions.
© Facts about Germany
www.facts-about-germany.de
Federal States
of Germany
Kiel
SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN
Rostock
MECKLENBURG-WEST POMERANIA
BREMEN
Schwerin
Hamburg
HAMBURG
Bremen
LOWER SAXONY
BERLIN
Hanover
Magdeburg
SAXONY-ANHALT
Dortmund
Halle/S.
Essen
Leipzig
Düsseldorf
SAXONY
HESSE
RHINELANDPALATINATE
SAARLAND
Dresden
Erfurt
Cologne
Wiesbaden
Chemnitz
THURINGIA
Frankfurt/M.
Capital: Berlin
Area: 357,021 km2
Population: 81,799,600 (2010)
Currency:Euro
Mainz
Mannheim
Nuremberg
Karlsruhe
Stuttgart
BAVARIA
BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG
Munich
map © www.wda.de
Potsdam
BRANDENBURG
NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA
Duisburg
BERLIN
Medical travel –
you‘ll be well
looked after in Germany
CLINICS AND HOSPITALS IN GERMANY
– MEDICAL EXPERTISE AND TECHNICAL
INNOVATION
There are over 2,000 hospitals in Germany. They include 37 university medical centers
offering the very highest level of care, around
700 public-sector and church-owned hospitals
and 500 hospitals belonging to private networks. Besides caring for German residents,
some 10 % of all hospitals also have a specifically international focus and have established additional services for patients from
abroad. To maintain this high standard of
quality in the long term, numerous medical
and scientific institutes are involved in quality assurance in the healthcare sector. Quality
assurance is required by law in hospitals and
doctor’s surgeries, which are also obliged to
implement internal quality-management pro-
8
cesses. Doctors have to undergo regular CPD
training and must be able to prove that they
have done so.
WELLNESS HOLIDAYS
Wellness and health have for years been
the rage among tourists. Many German
holidaymakers put a relaxation and wellness
vacation at the top of their list. And an increasing number of foreign guests choose a
relaxing holiday in one of the 330 recognized
German spa towns and thermal springs. Be
it classical massage or Qigong, Chinese energy motion therapy, there are any number
of hotels up and down the country specialized in offering wellness holidays. Especially
popular are the long-standing sea spa towns
along the Baltic coast, such as Heiligendamm,
the oldest and perhaps most refined German
sea spa town, with a famous, award-winning
grand hotel. Heiligendamm, the “white town
on the coast”, is also considered a masterpiece of Classicist architecture.
South Germany scores highest with a
wholesome climate, thermal springs, and “hay
baths”: Baden-Baden in Baden-Württemberg
and Bavaria’s Allgäu region are the preferred
wellness destinations. However, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the north and
Hesse in central Germany there is a particularly large number of spas.
According to industry experts, an expanding share of international patients is expected to visit Germany for health reasons in the
coming years. The German healthcare system
ranks among the most progressive and innovative healthcare systems in the world.
“Health tourism is one the fastest growing
global megatrends. Its increase in sales is
expected to reach 5.5 % yearly in the period
from 2010 to 2015,” said Antje RoedingBoudier, Director of the Marketing & Sales
Office for the Gulf Countries at the German
National Tourist Office (GNTO) in Dubai, the
local affiliate of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) for the GCC countries.
“Given the unparalleled level of collaboration between science, research, industry and
hospitals as well as the provided high level
in medical infrastructure, staff and technolo-
gies, the medical sector in Germany enjoys an
outstanding reputation, with patients arriving from all over the world,” she continued.
The Arabian Gulf States are among the main
source markets according to the records of
hospitals and clinics across Germany. Hospital
discharge statistics show that German hospitals treated nearly 4,200 patients from the
Arab Gulf States in 2010. These guests chose
Germany not only because of its excellence
in the medical sector, but also for the many
specialized services offered to international
patients by the medical industry.
Here are some popular destinations for
medical tourism in Germany:
MUNICH
The University Hospital (KUM) in Munich
is one of the top addresses for international
patients. It provides the latest in medicine
combined with maximum care for the patient. The clinic offers a full spectrum of
medical treatments for patients with specific
problems or special illnesses. Employees of
the International Patient Office speak fluent
Arabic, Russian and several other languages
to take care of the individual needs of their
patients. For example, if visa problems arise,
the office helps by providing a formal letter of
invitation for the patient including the whole
family. Patients at the KUM will get a treatment, time and cost plan after the diagnosis
is made. With about 9,000 employees; 2,200
beds; and 45 clinics, institutions, and depart-
Photos: GNTB, photodisc, fotolia.com
Germany offers some of the highest standards of medical care in the world, complemented by outstanding preventive therapy
and rehabilitation. It owes its leading
position to the unparalleled level of collaboration between science, research and
specialist clinics in the different regions
of Germany. Many of Germany’s highly
regarded healthcare centers and doctors
deal specifically with patients from abroad.
Specialist clinics in Germany offer a wealth
of medical expertise and a wide range of
treatment options for all sorts of conditions.
Bosch worldwide.
Innovative solutions
to improve quality of life.
As an international leader in technology and services, Bosch is committed to improving
quality of life. That is what Bosch employs more than 300,000 people to do, why it invests
more than 4 billion euros annually in research and development, and why it applies for
over 4,100 patents per year. The resulting innovative Bosch products and solutions have
one thing in common: they make people’s lives a little better each day. More information at:
www.bosch.com
HEIDELBERG
Heidelberg University Hospital is one of
Europe’s leading medical centers. International experts provide comprehensive care of the
highest medical standard. The hospital has a
long-standing tradition of providing medical
care to international patients. To avoid cultural problems, more than 1,200 doctors and
about 2,000 nurses are trained to fulfill the
patients’ needs. Heidelberg University Hospital combines the latest advances in medical
research, world class clinical practices and service beyond expectation. Outstanding areas
of expertise are found in oncology, cardiovascular medicine, neurology and neurosurgery,
endocrinology and metabolism disorders,
transplants, orthopedics and pediatrics.
MANNHEIM
The University Medical Center Mannheim
just recently opened its doors to the so-called
“Patient House”. It is a completely new system and the first ever in Germany. It not
only welcomes national but also international
patients. It should be seen as an option to
staying closer to the hospital, as it is located
on the hospital campus. 120 furnished single
rooms are available. All rooms have a radio,
10
a telephone and a TV which can also be used
as a multifunction center. It provides patient
information about the whole house, its procedures and about the patient’s individual
appointments. The ground floor of the building can be seen as a functional hub. Patients
and their guests are welcome to relax and to
use the catering services. The patient house
definitely can be seen as a house with a very
good hotel standard. It is a friendly well organized and innovative concept and has a lot
of potential for international patients as it is
strictly governed by the University Hospital
of Mannheim. This means that patients are in
the best hands in the event of medical emergency as even the wireless transponder system ensures that patients receive immediate
help when needed.
STUTTGART
The Klinikum Stuttgart serves patients
from all over the world in more than 50 clinics and institutions that are subdivided into
eleven medical centers. Patients are supported by a very experienced staff of more
than 6,400 employees that know about national and cultural needs. More than 84,000
inpatients and 400,000 outpatients receive
medical treatments and high quality advice
every year.
HAMBURG
The university medical center in Hamburg
– Eppendorf was established in 1884 and
was modernized in 2009. With 80 clinics it is
one of the largest hospitals in Germany. It is
known as the most innovative one in Europe
and has served a lot of international patients
since medical tourism arose. The hospital
works closely together with the RehaCentrumHamburg (Hamburg Rehab Center),
the Facharztklinik (Specialist Clinic) and the
Dorint Four Star Hotel. They offer a wide
range of treatment options and are open to
new approaches in therapy and diagnosis. An
international office has been formed to meet
the needs of their international patients. The
medical support, coordinated with the complete range of administrative support, is of
high quality. The international office makes
the stay for patients as comfortable as possible. Surgeries that are done in Hamburg
include general surgery, hepatobiliary, and
transplant surgery, as well as oral and maxillofacial surgery.
BERLIN
The Charite is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. The international
reputation of the Charite could not be better, mainly due to their long standing 300
year old history. In more than 100 clinics
and institutions, bundled under 17 Charite
Centers, about 3,800 doctors do research
and provide the best possible patient treatment. The hospital is one of Berlin’s largest
employers. It provides accommodation in
the Charite owned Virchow Guesthouse. The
Charite also assists patients in finding the appropriate hotel for their needs as the Charite
has certain special agreements with hotels
in all of Berlin. It also provides translation
services for international clients and airport
pickups. When visa problems occur they offer
assistance to visitors traveling from abroad.
The international team including doctors, surgeons and nurses try their best to respect the
intercultural customs and religious traditions
of foreign patients. The hospital provides
3,500 beds and 15,000 employees in total.
The Humbold University of Berlin and The
Free University of Berlin merged to provide
the best service and diagnostics all under one
roof. Berlin stands for first class medical care
for the present and the future.
[GNTB & DiscoverME]
www.germany.travel
Photos: GNTB
ments; Munich offers the best level of care.
They specialize in anesthesiology, occupational and environmental medicine, heart and
pediatric surgery, gynecology and maternity,
otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat),
human genetics, skin and genital diseases,
internal medicine, psychiatry and psychotherapy for children, neurosurgery and neurology,
orthopedics, radiology, urology and dentistry.
ADVERTORIAL
Klinikum Stuttgart shows
strong presence at
Arabian Travel Market 2013
Photos: Klinikum Stuttgart
Germany enjoys an outstanding reputation
when it comes to treating patients from all
over the world. There are over 2,000 hospitals, including 37 university medical centers
offering highest level of care. More than
1,200 preventive healthcare and rehabilitation facilities and over 350 health resorts and
spas are complementing the German healthcare system and offering attractive packages
for both patients and their escorts. “Made in
Germany” has always been a symbol of best
quality in the Arab world. The country offers
some of the highest standards of medical care
in the world, complemented by outstanding
preventive therapy and rehabilitation. It owes
its leading position to the unparalleled level
of collaboration between science, research
and specialist clinics in the different regions
of Germany. However, healthcare is all about
trust. One hospital which has gained an
excellent reputation in the field of medical
tourism is Klinikum Stuttgart. This success is
based on understanding and respect for the
real needs of the patient.
Klinikum Stuttgart is one of the biggest
and most efficient hospitals in Germany. More
than 50 clinics and institutes enable high level of specialization and comprehensive business activities in almost all medical faculties.
Renowned specialists supported by a competent pool of 6,400 employees work hand
in hand for the benefit of patients providing
state-of-the-art medicine and optimum care.
Every year, more than 84,000 inpatients and
400,000 outpatients are treated in Klinikum
Stuttgart. The major specialties include medical and surgical oncology, orthopedics with
endoprosthetic surgery and restorative surgery, cardiology and heart surgery, abdominal
and vascular surgery, neurosurgery, neurology
and all specialties in pediatrics. More than
4,000 foreign patients were seeking treatment at Klinikum Stuttgart in 2012, almost
half of them from the GCC. “Seven years ago
we started small, but from that time on we
are growing continually and are much more
successful now,” says Andreas Braun, head of
The International Unit at Klinikum Stuttgart.
He traces this back to the cultural skills that
were improved in the hospital so that foreign
patients would feel comfortable in Stuttgart.
„People from more than 170 different countries live here. Stuttgart is a safe city and
o­ ffers high-performance medicine on a worldlevel. In the past years, we have built solid
work relations and friendships with health
authorities as well as other institutions in the
GCC. They have become reliable and essential
partners for us. The strategic advantage of
Klinikum Stuttgart in terms of medical tourism is to have a strong partner on the spot,”
says Andreas Braun. The daily field of activity
is to build a personal network abroad and to
strengthen relations with partner organizations.
During Arabian Travel Market from 6 to 9
May in Dubai, you can visit Klinikum Stuttgart at EU8012 in Sheikh Saeed Hall 3.
www.klinikum-stuttgart.de/international
[email protected]
11
Magnificent Alpine scenery, beautiful rolling hills, fairytale rivers and lakes all add
up to making Bavaria Germany’s most popular holiday state. Located right at the very
heart of Europe Bavaria is the perfect allyear-round holiday destination for guests
from all over the world.
Münchner Oktoberfest, Photo: GNTB
Bavaria, home to 12.5 million inhabitants, is
located in the southeast of Germany and is
the largest of the 16 federal states of Germany. Bavaria covers almost one-fifth of the
total land area of Germany and has an area
of 70,548 square kilometers. Bavaria borders Austria, the Czech Republic, Switzerland (across Lake Constance), as well as the
neighboring German states of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Hesse, Thuringia and Saxony. The
capital city of Bavaria is Munich (München).
Other major cities in Bavaria include: Nuremberg (Nürnberg), Augsburg, Würzburg, Regensburg, Ingolstadt, Fürth and Erlangen. The
two major rivers that flow through Bavaria
are the Danube (Donau) and the Main. The
Bavarian Alps are home to Germany’s highest peak, the Zugspitze with 2,962 meters,
and form a natural border with Austria. The
landscape of Bavaria can be subdivided into
four major regions: the Alps, the Alpine foothills with numerous lakes, Eastern Bavarian
central mountains with the first ever national
park in Germany and the Swabian-Franconian
landscape.
Top Sights in Bavaria
BAVARIAN FOREST
The Bavarian Forest is the oldest national
park in Germany. Nature has been allowed
a free rein in this unspoilt highland region,
95 per cent of which is covered by forest.
Visitors are warmly welcomed to experience
the fascinating process of an ever-evolving
forest wilderness at close hand. A network
of clearly marked footpaths, cycle routes and
cross-country ski trails offers visitors plenty
of opportunity to enjoy the beauties of the
national park in summer and winter.
BERCHTESGADENER LAND
Berchtesgadener Land, located at the
southeastern tip of Germany, is considered
one of the most beautiful and varied vacationing spots in Germany. Active vacationers
will not only be impressed with the numerous
sport possibilities, but also with the sights
of this area: Be it the legendary Watzmann
Mountain, salt mine, Obersalzberg Dokumentation historic exhibition, world-renowned
Lake Königssee or the mythical Untersberg
mountain where, according to legend, Charlemagne slumbers in the deep.
There are hundreds of miles of idyllic hiking trails, for example in the Berchtesgaden
National Park. Here one finds abundant wildlife, including golden eagles, chamois, deer
and marmots, as well as a huge variety of
alpine wildflowers.
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN
A climatic health resort and famous winter sports centre in a stunning setting at the
foot of the Zugspitze mountain, Garmisch
Partenkirchen has breathtaking panoramic
views of the surrounding lakes and mountain
streams. Excursions over the high plateau or
climbing in the Wetterstein mountains provide a suitable challenge for mountain sports
enthusiasts, but you don’t have to be an extreme sports fan, there are plenty of wellmaintained footpaths suitable for everyone,
even those with pushchairs and wheelchair
users. And when winter comes around the
region reveals its special magic.
FÜSSEN AND KING LUDWIG’S CASTLES
The picturesque town of Füssen im Königswinkel on Lake Forggensee under the watchful eyes of King Ludwig’s castles is known as
the cradle of European lute and violin making. The varied landscape takes in mountain
ranges, the hills of the Allgäu region and idyllic lakes and is a paradise for energetic holidaymakers. This enchanting region inspired
King Ludwig to build his fairytale castles at
the southern end of the Romantic Road.
LAKE CHIEMSEE
Bavaria’s “sea” covers 80 square kilometres and is the largest lake in Bavaria. Set
against the Chiemgau Alps it is excellent for
sailing and windsurfing as well as a popular
swimming spot. On its islands are one of
“mad” King Ludwig’s fairytale castles, Herren­
chiemsee Castle, and the 1,200 year old Benedictine abbey Frauenwörth.
STARNBERG FIVE-LAKES-REGION
Beer gardens, picturesque villages, houses
with painted facades – Upper Bavaria’s towns
and landscapes appear to come straight out
of a fairy tale. Situated just a stone’s throw
away from the majestic scenery of the Bavarian Alps, 16 miles south of Munich, is the
Starnberg Five-Lakes-Region.
A attraction, next to the famous Andechs
Monastery, is the “Buchheim Museum” at Bernried, located close to Lake Starnberg. Throughout history, royals and artists alike have appreciated the beauty of this magical landscape.
Photo: mradlgruber, fotolia.com
Bavaria – Germany’s most
popular holiday state
ROMANTIC ROAD
This fantastic route between Würzburg
and Füssen offers visitors the opportunity
to see small historic towns with impressive
buildings and places of historical interest that
have lost nothing of their original charm. The
route leads through the charming Tauber Valley, the Nördlinger Ries situated in the heart
of a giant crater, the picturesque Lechfeld
plain, Pfaffenwinkel (Parsons’ Corner) – a
land of farmers, artists and monks in the
foothills of the Upper Bavarian Alps – before
finally ending up at King Ludwig’s famous
fairytale castles.
LIMES AND ALTMÜHL NATURE PARK
Around 2,000 years ago its forts, watchtowers, walls and palisades protected the
mighty Roman Empire from independent
Germania. It is the longest and one of the
most impressive archaeological monuments
in Europe, marking the frontier where the
highly developed civilisation of ancient Rome
met ‘barbaric’ Germania.
Impressive Jura Mountains lime rocks,
gentle river meanders or sunny valleys – the
land of Altmühltal has several faces. The
most beautiful and known are the Danube
resurgence between Kelheim and Monastry
Weltenburg, the group of rocks called „12
Apostle” in Esslingen near Solnhofen and the
natural monument „Steinerne Rinne“ near
Wolfsbronn.
BAVARIAN ALPS
In the south of Bavaria, from the Allgäu
in the west to Upper Bavaria in the east,
flanked by majestic, craggy giants and gentle
Alpine foothills are some 300 or so lakes that
glisten like deep blue sapphires in the sunshine. Right across the Bavarian Alps there is
a huge diversity of rural traditions for guests
to enjoy. Lively towns, picturesque villages
and cultural heritage sites all offer a wealth
of top-class concerts, musical festivals, literature events and exhibitions. For nature lovers
the Bavarian Alps are just perfect for every
kind of outdoor activity both in summer and
winter alike.
MUNICH – THE BAVARIAN CAPITAL
Munich is regularly voted as the place
most Germans would like to live, thanks to
its strong economy, low crime rate and weekends on the golf course, by the lakes or in the
mountains, just an hour away.
Symbols of modernity are all around the
city. Already familiar from last year’s World
Cup is the Allianz Arena, a 70,000-seater football stadium designed by Herzog & de Meuron of Tate Modern fame and known locally
as das Schlauchboot, or ‘the inflatable boat’.
But apart from making money, what Munich
really excels at is spending it on culture. It has
a vast array of theatres and museums – 110
and counting – as well as three symphony orchestras, two ballet companies and a worldclass opera house. And its art galleries are outstanding. The Pinakothek der Moderne (www.
pinakothek-der-moderne.de), next to the Alte
and Neue Pinakotheks, is an austere, impressive box, whose concrete-and-glass exterior
hardly prepares you for what’s inside. Two
huge staircases lead from a stark, skylit threestorey atrium to a succession of utterly plain,
white galleries; with no visible light fittings,
power sockets or humidity gauges, nothing
distracts from the art. It houses a fine collection of German Expressionism and Entartete
Kunst – ‘degenerate art’; those paintings condemned and confiscated by the Nazis – as well
as exhibitions of graphic art, architecture and
design – cars, furniture, prehistoric PCs, trainers, Handys (as Germans call mobile phones)
and other everyday objects asking to be examined in a new light. Munich’s other unmissable
art gallery is the Lenbachhaus (www.lenbachhaus.de), former home of undistinguished
portrait painter Franz von Lenbach but now a
light, airy space. The art is mostly 20th ­century
– works by the Expressionist Blaue Reiter
group (Marc, Kandinsky, Klee) and modern US
artists like Richard Serra and Jenny Holzer.
München Hofbräuhaus, Photo: Robert Hertz
MUNICH AND ITS SURROUNDING
The City of Munich boasts glorious palaces. Nymphenburg, formerly the residence
of the Bavarian Wittelsbach Dynasty, is at the
top of the city’s sights year-round. What is
remarkable about the palace grounds is its
expansive park that includes canals, small
lakes and hidden pavilions.
On the northern outskirts of Munich, the
Baroque Schleissheim Palace represents an
expression of light-hearted elegance and the
playfulness of life at the court. The Bavarian
princes’ summer residence was built in the
18th century. The Munich Royal Palace (Residenz) is located in the centre near the Opera. It was remodelled, expanded and built
over the course of five centuries. The Royal
Palace is a fascinating complex of buildings
that ranks among Europe’s greatest palaces
and boasts an impressive treasure chamber.
Visitors could also try designer-hunting in the
complex of arcades near the Town Hall, or
rathaus, called Fünf Höfe (‘Five Courtyards’).
A few steps away is the Kaufingerstrasse,
a pedestrian zone lined with department
stores, while Cartier, Chanel and Dior inhabit
the elegant boulevard of Maximilianstrasse,
Munich’s Bond Street. The grand hotels are
here, including the Vierjahreszeiten, and,
nearby, the fabulous Bayerischer Hof at
Promenadeplatz 2.
Munich prides itself on having the best
food in Germany, so don’t miss the Viktualienmarkt, a central market crammed with
green-painted stalls selling pyramids of fruit
and vegetables, wild mushrooms, flowers,
pork, sausages and wine. Stalls also sell
grilled Bratwurst to eat communally at small,
high tables, though if you prefer your sausages indoors, the nearby Weisses Bräuhaus
(www.weisses-brauhaus.de) on Im Tal is authentically Bavarian without being kitsch;
the food is simple but good, and the citrussy
wheat beer (Weissbier) better still. Those
who prefer fish but still want an echt keller experience might try the inexpensive but
good Austernkeller (‘oyster cellar’) (www.dieauster-muc.de).
Munich is a very green city, and the Englischer Garten is its main park. Try the Chinesischer Turm, a quirky pagoda, at whose
foot is a beer garden seating 7,000. Less busy
is Schloss Nymphenburg, 6 kms from the city
centre (15 minutes on a number 17 tram). Its
idyllic palace gardens are dotted with rococo
pavilions, among them an 18th-century heated swimming pool, tiled in Delft and lit by
a chandelier. Another wonderful curiosity is
the Amalienburg, a hunting lodge containing
perhaps the world’s most fanciful dog kennel,
designed by François Cuvilliés, who came to
Bavaria in 1714 as court dwarf.
Those in search of culture will seek out
the summer’s opera festival, whose full-scale
performances are at the Nationaltheater
(www.staatstheater.bayern.de), home of the
Bavarian State Opera, next to the Residenz.
This neo-classical monument was substantially rebuilt after a fire in 1823, funded by a levy
imposed on beer sales. A fine marriage of art
and commerce, then – a way of ensuring generous arts funding in a city often described as
‘the world’s unofficial beer capital’.
→
Castle Neuschwanstein, Photo: GNTB
Ludwig II spent his summers in Berg castle
close to the lake. The commemorative chapel
“Votivkapelle” and the memorial cross in the
lake are reminders of the king’s tragic death.
13
BMW Welt
Classic & Lounge
Photo: BMW
Event
Highlights
in Munich
June 2013
Re-opening of the Ägyptische Staats­
sammlung (State Collection of Egyptian Art)
Location: Kunstareal
www.aegyptisches-museum-muenchen.de
July 2013
Audi Cup 2013
Location: Allianz-Arena
www.allianz-arena.de
September 21 - October 6, 2013
Oktoberfest
Location: Theresienwiese
www.oktoberfest.eu
June 1, 2013
David Garrett Open Air Concert
Location: Königsplatz
www.eventim.de
July 6 and 7, 2013
Klassik am Odeonsplatz /
Classical open air concerts
Location: Odeonsplatz
www.klassik-am-odeonsplatz.de
October 2013 - Jan 2014
Exhibition Gerhard Richter “Atlas”
Location: Kunstbau Lenbachhaus
www.lenbachhaus.de
June 9 - September 29, 2013
Joelle Tuerlinckx (Exhibition)
Location: Haus der Kunst
www.hausderkunst.de
July 13 and 14, 2013
24-hours Race – Mountainbike Contest
Location: Olympiapark München
www.sog-events.de; www.olympiapark.de
June 15 - 16, 2013
City Foundation Festival
Location: city center
www.stadtgruendungsfest-muenchen.de
July 26 and 27, 2013
“Opera for Everyone”
Location: Max-Joseph-Platz square
www.staatsoper.de
June 18 - 23, 2013
25 Years of BMW International Open 2013
Location: GC München Eichenried
www.bmw-golfsport.com
July 27, 2013
Munich Summernight Dream
Location: Olympiapark München
www.olympiapark.de
June 21 - September 22, 2013
Ivan Kozaric (Exhibition)
Location: Haus der Kunst
www.hausderkunst.de
July 27 - Aug. 4, 2013
Jakobidult Fair
Location: Mariahilfplatz square
www.auerdult.de
November 2013 - Januar 2014
Longtime Companions
Jeff Wall in Munich
Location: Pinakothek der Moderne
www.pinakothek.de
June 23, 2013
City Run
Location: Munich City Center
www.mein.sportscheck.de
August 2013
Summerfestival impark 13
Location: Olympiapark
www.olympiapark.de
November 8 - 10, 2013
Germany Cup Ice Hockey Tournament
Location: Olympiahalle
www.olympiapark.de
June 26 - July 21, 2013
25 Years of Tollwood Summer Festival
Location: Olympiapark Süd
www.tollwood.de
September 6, 2013
World Cup Qualification: Germany / Austria
Location: Allianz Arena
www.wm2014-in-brasilien.de
November 24 and December 8 and 15, 2013
BMW Welt Classic & Lounge
Location: BMW Welt
www.bmw-welt.de
June 27 - July 31, 2013
Munich Opera Festival
Location: Bayerisches Nationaltheater
www.staatsoper.de
September 14 and 15, 2013
Streetlife Festival and Corso Leopold
Location: Ludwigstrasse and Leopoldstrasse
boulevards
www.greencity.de
November 29 - December 24, 2013
Christmas Market
Location: around Marienplatz square
www.christkindlmarkt-muenchen.de
June 29 and 30, 2013
Streetlife Festival and Corso Leopold
Location: Ludwigstrasse and Leopoldstrasse
boulevards
www.greencity.de
14
September 17, 2013 - Januar 13, 2014
Reading Andy Warhol (Exhibition)
Location: Museum Brandhorst
www.museum-brandhorst.de
October 13, 2013
28th Munich Marathon
Location: Munich
www.muenchenmarathon.de
October 19 - 27, 2013
Kirchweihdult Fair
Location: Mariahilfplatz square
www.auerdult.de
October 19, 2013
Long Night of the Museums
Location: various locations in the city
www.muenchner.de
December 31, 2013
Night of Colors – New Year’s Eve at the
BMW Welt
Location: BMW Welt
www.bmw-welt.de
[bavaria.by]
It’s summer tIme!
Are you planning to travel to Germany,
Austria or switzerland? And do you prefer to
communicate there in German?
Or are you looking for a “new” cool language
for the hot season?
then check out our fabulous summer course offers for adults
and children on our website www.goethe.de/gulfregion.
Or call us on +971 2 6727920 in Abu Dhabi and
on +971 4 3259865 in Dubai.
Baden-Württemberg
NATURE’S TREASURES
Delightful landscapes such as the Black
Forest and Swabian Alb area, the Neckartal
Valley and Lake Constance, Hohenlohe and
Allgäu offer unforgettable impressions just
waiting to be discovered. What you will find
here: forests, mountains, plains, moorland,
– an unspoiled nature to be enjoyed in over
2,000 nature and landscape conservation areas. There are further lakes, ponds and rivers
suitable for bathing and also walking and hiking trails. That all comes with pure air and a
pleasant climate.
16
RELAXATION, REST, REGENERATION
The superlative wellness vacation: BadenWürttemberg’s mineral spas and convalescent resorts combine health, fitness and
beauty with culture, art and culinary delights.
To escape the daily treadmill or to give a lift
to your health, nowhere else in Germany is
there more on offer to pamper the body, the
soul or the spirit than in the number one
spa state: Baden-Württemberg. The state is
home to 56 spas and health resorts. Health
resort tourism features particularly as a key
element of the Black Forest economy.
RICH CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
This is a region in which art and culture
are more closely linked into the everyday
lives of the population than almost anywhere
else. The cultural landscape is multifaceted,
adventurous and backed by intensive government support. The Stuttgart Ballet is world
class, and the State Opera in Stuttgart has
enjoyed a reputation as the premier venue in
the German speaking world for many years,
voted “Opera of the Year” many times in
succession. And Stuttgart’s Staatsgalerie is
famous for one of the most important Classic Modern collections. But art and culture
are not restricted to the state’s capital city.
The opposite is true: Baden-Württemberg is
home to two state theatres, three regional
theatres, nine municipal theatres, the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden and well over 100
small theatres. A wealth of drama and film
festivals, music festivals, musicals, orchestras
and cultural initiatives offer plenty of choice
when it comes to quality entertainment.
Eleven state-run and over 1,000 municipal
and private museums supplement the BadenWürttemberg’s rich cultural landscape.
LIVING TRADITION, HISTORY AND
HERITAGE
The Romans, the Staufen dynasty, the
Allemannians, dukes and kings have all left
their unmistakable traces on the face of our
cultural heritage – the Limes Road, the Roman boundary wall and Hohenzollern Castle,
the seat of the last German imperial dynasty.
A wealth of large and small castles, palaces
and ruins bear witness to a rich and event-
ful history, a heritage which in some cases
is still very much alive in our customs and
traditions. One such example is the SwabianAllemannian Fasnacht held at the end of Lent
every spring, when traditional costumes and
historic wooden masks symbolizing the banishment of winter.
LEISURE AND ENJOYMENT
Alongside historic cities such as Heidelberg, Freiburg or Tübingen, it is the carefully
tended villages and the urban town centers
which paint the true character of the state.
Great importance is attached to hospitality, and the people of Germany’s southwest
have a tremendous capacity for celebration
and enjoyment. This love of life is reflected in
the many wine and town festivals, fairs and
street parties held all around the region. Different, but by no means less enjoyable, ways
to spend leisure time are provided by a wide
selection of parks and adventure pools, leisure centers, wildlife reserves and zoos, museums, working mills and mines, as well as
monuments and memorials.
GOOD WEATHER (ALMOST) ALL THE
TIME
Statistically, you have a great chance of
enjoying good weather as a holidaymaker in
Baden-Württemberg. The Breisgau is Germany’s warmest region, while Klippeneck holds
the record for annual hours of sunshine. On
average, the sun has shone over the past
30 years for 1607 hours a year in BadenWürttemberg. With 1,948 hours of sunshine,
Baden-Württemberg was one of the sunniest States in 2011. With 2,177 hours of sunshine, Leutkirch-Herlach in the Württemberg
Allgäu district was actually the sunniest place
in Germany. In winter, the altitude of the
Black Forest usually provides optimum conditions for winter sport.
Photos: GNTB. fotolia.de, Zeppelinmuseum
Friedrichshafen, Stuttgart Marketing GmbH,
Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz, Bühler
Whether you come to enjoy landscapes,
culture, art, nature or for pure personal
indulgence and relaxation: In BadenWürttemberg visitors will find just what
they have been looking for. The state offers a variety which is second to none.
With 47,7 million overnight stays in 2012,
Baden-Württemberg is the second most
popular travel destination in Germany. An
attractive living environment, an unspoiled
natural habitat and a wealth of art and culture, no shortage of festivities and leisure
facilities provides the ideal balance to the
often stressful daily grind of work. Culinary enjoyment in the form of good food
and excellent wines is all part and parcel
of the experience. All of these facets make
Baden-Württemberg what it is – a place
with unlimited experiences to offer.
What’s on in
SouthWest
Germany 2013
When it comes to having fun, SouthWest
Germany is the place to be in 2013. The calendar is packed with special events, from
traditional festivals to celebrations of music,
art and even cars. Whether you are in cities, such as Stuttgart, the state capital, or
villages in the Black Forest and on Lake Constance, there’s always something going on.
A WORLD FIRST
2013 brings the 125th anniversary of the
world’s first long-distance automobile journey – and it was made by a woman driver!
In 1888, Bertha, the wife of Carl Benz (who
invented the car), borrowed his three-wheeler and made the 120-mile round trip from
Mannheim to Pforzheim. Her adventure
proved that the new-fangled horseless carriage was practical for daily use. Follow the
Bertha Benz Memorial Route to see some of
SouthWest Germany’s most attractive destinations: Ladenburg, Heidelberg, Bruchsal and
Schwetzingen.
For more information go to: Bertha Benz
Memorial Route – www.bertha-benz.de
WORLD FAMOUS
2013 is also the 175th birthday of Graf von
Zeppelin, the genius behind the first rigid airship. Celebrations take place throughout the
year in and around Friedrichshafen on Lake
Constance, especially on July 7th and 8th. In
the city’s fine Zeppelin museum, you can
board a full-scale reproduction of the cabins
on the LZ 129 “Hindenburg” airship. And, for
the thrill of a lifetime, book a flight on a modern airship. From 1,000 feet up, the views are
wide-ranging and glorious: Lake Constance,
the snow-covered Alps and three countries –
Germany, Austria and Switzerland!
For more information go to: Zeppelin
Museum – www.zeppelin-museum.de and
­
Zeppelin flights – www.zeppelinflug.de
THE WORLD’S OLDEST
2013 marks the 400th anniversary of the
Heidelberg Castle Illuminations, surely one
of the world’s oldest annual firework display!
They date back to 1613, when King Frederick
V welcomed his new bride, Princess Elizabeth
of England, with lights at the castle and rockets zooming into the night sky. On balmy
summer evenings, the Heidelberg Castle Illuminations start with the castle “catching
fire” (to commemorate an attack by French
troops) and finish with a truly spectacular
firework display. On three dates: June 1st, July
13th, September 7th, 2013.
For more information go to: Heidelberg
Tourism – www.heidelberg-marketing.de
WINE FESTIVALS
SouthWest Germany is one of Europe’s
major quality wine producers, with lovely
vineyards and centuries of tradition. To mark
the harvest, towns and villages put up “wine
villages”, where you can eat, drink and taste,
as well as talk to the winemakers. In the
charming half-timbered town of Heilbronn,
for example, the 9-day festival (September
13th - 22nd) provides a chance to try Riesling
and Trollinger white wines, as well as reds
made with unfamiliar grape varieties, such
as Lemberger and Samtrot. Add in live music
and it’s no wonder this Wine Village attracts
locals as well as visitors. Stuttgart’s much
larger “wine village” draws wine lovers to the
city from August 28th to September 8th, 2013.
For more SouthWest Germany wine festivals, go to www.tourism-bw.com
BEER FESTIVALS
In SouthWest Germany, small boutique
breweries thrive, producing beers with unique
flavors and character. To sample dozens of
different brews, head for the 168-year-old
Cannstatter Volksfest, Stuttgart’s annual beer
festival (September 27th - October 13th). With
a Ferris wheel, rollercoasters and seven marquees, two wine tents and numerous beer
gardens, it offers two weeks of fun for all
ages. Second only to Munich in size, it is considered much more authentic by connoisseurs.
For more information, go to: Stuttgart
Tourism – www.stuttgart-tourist.de
CHRISTMAS MARKETS
During Advent, in the four weeks leading up to Christmas, SouthWest Germany’s
historic towns look like a yuletide card come
to life, with a frosting of snow, carols, Bratwurst (hot sausages), Glühwein (mulled
wine) and sweet treats. Christmas Markets
(Weihnachtsmarkt) are throughout the region, but one of Germany’s oldest and best
is in Stuttgart, where some 300 stalls are
works of art in themselves. Small and cute is
the Bad Wimpfen Christmas market, 45 miles
north of Stuttgart, with its backdrop of centuries-old half-timbered houses and mighty
walls. In Baden-Baden, the elegant parks and
gardens of the “Lichtentaler Allee” provide
the setting for more than 100 wooden stalls,
while the chic shops, with their decorations,
add to the holiday spirit.
For more SouthWest Germany Christmas
Markets, go to: www.tourism-bw.com
17
Berlin
Berlin is a trendsetter: whether its museums
or galleries, gastronomy or entertainment,
music or fashion – there’s always something
going on in the scene capital. Certainly the
legendary night life, the attractive and unusual possibilities for shopping, but Berlin’s
unique history also enthralls visitors from
near and far. Another enormous plus for the
city is its outstanding price-quality ratio – in
Berlin you simply get more for your money.
Berlin is a attitude towards life: get to know
the most unusual metropolis in Europe and
discover the Berlin way of life: breakfast
available way into the afternoon and all-night
celebrating, visit Nofretete in the New Museum or Madonna in the waxworks, go for a
stroll along Kufürstendamm or do some shopping in a genuine original neighborhood boutique. All this at prices you can afford – from
a hotel room to a currywurst (curry sausage).
Shaped by its moving history and the rapid
and radical changes of the last two decades,
the city today exerts a quite unique fascination. Over twenty years following the fall of
the Berlin wall and the re-establishment of a
united Germany, the city has created itself as
a young, dynamic and cosmopolitan metropolis in the heart of Europe, which is constantly
re-inventing itself. Variety is guaranteed, but
Berlin also offers plenty of opportunities for
those who just want to relax and take it easy.
The fast-paced teeming metropolis on the
one hand and the relaxing haven in nature
on the other are not far apart from each
other. It’s the diversity, the contradictions
and the sheer inexhaustible number of possibilities that make Berlin so attractive. The
city exudes its fascination by both an exciting
mixture of history and zeitgeist and an unrivalled range of art, culture, music, entertainment and shopping possibilities. The modern
18
hotel landscape, the diverse gastronomy and
favorable prices also have a strong impact in
the particular appeal of the metropolis on
the Spree. A flourishing creative scene and
Berlin’s hot music and club culture make an
equally strong contribution to the unmistakable character of this lively and vigorous lifestyle metropolis of 3.4 million inhabitants.
SUMMER 2013 HIGHLIGHTS
Warm sunshine floods the city and the cafés move tables and chairs into the streets.
Berlin’s cultural life gets a breath of fresh air
as the life of the capital once again pulses to
street music, festivals and concerts. The beat
draws visitors and locals alike to an active
summer in the city. Beach bars, beer gardens
and parks, canoeing on the Teltow Canal or
sightseeing tours on the Spree – few other
metropolises can offer as many opportuni-
ties to enjoy the sunny season in all its many
facets.
The numerous swimming spots in and
around Berlin beckon you to relax and cool
down. There are plenty of opportunities
for swimming and aquatic sports: from the
Havel, Spree and Dahme rivers to lakes such
as the Wannsee, Liebnitzsee or Müggelsee. An unusual option is the “beach boat”
Arena Berlin, an old tanker anchored in the
city centre and equipped with a swimming
pool, a sandy beach and open-air bar, all with
magnificent views of the Oberbaumbrücke
and the TV Tower. During the day, Berliners
hang out, sunbathe and relax in hammocks;
at night it hosts regular parties and concerts.
The warm Berlin summer nights are ideal for
visiting the many open air cinemas. One of
the most idyllic spots is the open-air cinema
in Volkspark Friedrichshain. Film buffs will
find a great spot to enjoy the night’s film,
whether on the park benches or relaxing on a
blanket with a picnic hamper. An eclectic mix
of films, often with the directors present, is
shown each night as dusk falls. Berlin attracts
music fans with its “Fête de la Musique” to
celebrate the summer solstice on 21 June.
Choirs, DJs, bands and soloists show off their
talents throughout the city until well after
sunset. One of the highlights of Berlin’s cultural calendar is “Classic Open Air” on the
Gendarmenmarkt. From 4 to 9 July 2013, this
year’s 23rd festival will offer a versatile program filling the historic square in the heart of
Berlin with music.
www.visitberlin.de
Photos: www.visitberlin.de
With an area of 891 square kilometres,
Berlin is nine times bigger than Paris and
with 1,700 has more bridges than Venice.
108,500 events with 8.26 million participants were staged here last year. And Berlin has become Europe’s third most popular
tourist city following London and Paris, according to latest figures from the tourism
industry.
NEW HOTELS IN BERLIN
Berlin boasts the most up-to-date hotel
landscape in Europe. Event organizers can
book not only room nights but so function
rooms to suit every occasion - whether for
a small meeting or a large conference. One
of the hotels to open its doors in 2012 was
luxury brand Waldorf Astoria’s first hotel in
Europe to be constructed from the ground up.
It is located at Berlin’s Zoo Station and has a
conference area that can accommodate up to
1,200 people. Das Stue, in Berlin’s diplomatic
district, welcomed its first guests in December. The 56 m² Bel Etage Salon is well-suited
for smaller meetings or conferences. The number of hotels in Berlin continues to increase.
Some 25 new hotels and hostels with 5,500
rooms are expected to open in 2013.
•The paintings of Swiss painter Paul Klee
were the inspiration for the design of the
Klee Berlin Hotel. It will open in the Friedenau district in May 2013. About 80 rooms
and suites are planned. In addition, the first
floor will have an air-conditioned conference room with the latest meeting equipment available.
•The slogan of the Crowne Plaza is “The
place to meet”. Event organisers in Berlin
will soon have a chance to see for themselves the quality of the hotel chain. 256
rooms including a club floor with its own
separate lounge are under construction in
the former Postpalais on Potsdamer Platz.
It will encompass some 500 square metres
of meeting and event space and is due for
completion in the 1st quarter of 2013.
•Austrian hotel group Amedia is building its
first hotel in Berlin on the Kurfürstendamm.
Its opening is planned for 1 May 2013. 194
guest rooms and a seminar and conference
area will be available.
•The new Winters hotel “The Wall am Checkpoint Charlie“ is to impress already with its
façade, marked by a special wall design, as
suggested by the name. Inside, 170 rooms
are available with modern furnishings, freeof-charge W-LAN and a conference room.
The opening will be in spring 2013.
•The second half of 2013 will see the opening
of a hotel made entirely of glass and metal
on Bertolt-Brecht-Platz. The Leonardo Boutique Hotel Berlin will feature 310 rooms and
160 m² of conference space. The 150 m² VIP
Lounge will also be available for special events.
•A new design hotel will see the light of day
in autumn 2013, close to the Zoologischer
Garten, as part of the large-scale project
“Bikini Berlin”. The Hamburg “25hours Hotel Company” plans to build 149 rooms on
7,000 square metres. One special feature of
the hotel is the rooftop bar on the 10th floor
offering 360 o panoramic views of the city.
•The German flagship of InterCityHotel
GmbH will be built in the direct vicinity of
the main railway station, with impressive
dimensions: the 30 metre high building will
have more than 412 guest rooms and ten
conference rooms. It is scheduled to open
at the beginning of October 2013.
•The Spanish brand Riu has chosen Ku’damm
as the location for its first Riu Plaza Hotel.
This hotel with some 357 rooms is to be
erected there by December 2013. Furthermore, there are plans for meeting facilities
for up to 500 participants.
•The new Steigenberger Hotel am Kanzleramt is expected to celebrate its opening in
the first half of 2014. The first class hotel
is being built between Central Station and
government district. It will offer its guests
339 rooms, spa services and a large conference area.
•Another Steigenberger Superior Hotel is
planned to open in Berlin in 2015. It will
be located right outside the terminal of the
new Berlin airport and will offer guests 322
rooms and a spacious spa area. Eleven conference rooms with a capacity of up to 500
people will be available for meetings and
conventions.
•The AMANO Group is continuing to invest
in Berlin. After opening its first hotel in
2009, AMANO will be opening its largest
hotel yet directly opposite Berlin’s Main
Rail Station. 250 rooms and a conference
centre are planned. The highlight will be
the rooftop terrace and sky bar. AMANO
is launching three other projects in 2013:
At Friedrichstrasse 113, a former restaurant
is being transformed into a hotel with 100
rooms. A hotel with 110 rooms is planned
for Hackescher Mark and an apartmenthotel with 50 apartments is being built on
Torstraße.
19
German
Island
Idylls
Despite the enormous diversity of Germany’s islands, they all have one thing in
common: they inspire happiness in their
visitors. Tranquil havens of natural beauty,
family-friendly holiday destinations or places to experience great food and drink and
life with a maritime twist.
Wind and waves, the wide ocean in front
of you and nothing but the sky above. Germany’s North Sea islands have a wonderful
bracing climate, endless beaches and stunning
scenery. The UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea is a joy to visit, with gorgeous views
and panoramas and top-class accommodation
and cuisine. For relaxation and wellness we
have the Baltic Sea islands with their lovely
sandy beaches and secluded coves, while the
beautiful inland islands of southern Germany
are perfect for romantic souls and lovers of
culture.
20
RÜGEN ISLAND – SEASIDE RESORTS
AND WORLD-FAMOUS VIEWS
Rügen is Germany’s largest island. Its 926
square kilometres contain everything you
need for a perfect holiday: Baltic beaches as
far as the eye can see, unspoilt natural surroundings and luxurious seaside resorts. Rügen is located off the Pomeranian coast in
the Baltic Sea and is one of the most popular
holiday destinations in Mecklenburg-Western
Pomerania. Thomas Mann and the German
Chancellor Bismarck were both fans of Rügen
and its seaside resorts of Binz and Sellin. The
height of sophistication at the time, these
resorts with their elegant luxury hotels still
retain much of their nostalgic charm. Racing
Roland is another nod to the past. A narrow
gauge railway dating back more than 100
years, it chugs along at 30 km/h, carrying holidaymakers to the individual seaside resorts.
In addition to its 60 kilometres of fine, sandy
beaches, Rügen has a lot to offer on the
scenic-front. This includes the island’s large
national parks, the famous view of the Rügen chalk cliffs (as painted by Caspar David
Friedrich), sleepy fishing villages and elegant
manor houses. The white of the cliffs is echoed in Putbus, the oldest seaside resort on
the island, whose neo-classical architecture
– resplendent in white – is a stylish complement to the beautiful palace and park.
AMRUM – BIRD WATCHING AND
MUDFLAT TOURS
The North Frisian island of Amrum is one
of the best day trip destinations in SchleswigHolstein. With its bracing North Sea air,
coastal wetlands and a beach that seems to
stretch on forever, Amrum is ideal for active
holidays and relaxation. Amrum covers 20.46
square kilometers in all, making it Germany’s
tenth-largest island. It is located in the heart
of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park and boasts the incredibly wide
Kniepsand beach, which is great for water
sports and swimming. The sandbank that
makes up the beach is ten kilometers long
and almost 1.5 meters across at its widest
point. This is almost as wide as the island
itself, which measures 2.5 kilometers from
one side to the other. With winds reaching
gale force six, Amrum offers perfect conditions for windsurfers, sailors and kite boarders. And thanks to its lighthouse – at 63m
above sea level the tallest on the North Sea
coast – you can have a bird’s eye view of the
exciting goings-on below. As well as its many
activities, Amrum Island offers the chance to
experience remarkable natural spectacles and
is well worth a visit at any time of year. Cold
weather simply results in a warmer welcome.
The island’s five villages have plenty of charming thatched Frisian houses for you to stay in,
or wellness hotels for a relaxing break. Fish
restaurants provide delicious food for the island’s guests, and those keen to try out the
local beer should round off the evening in a
proper sailors’ tavern.
THE MOST URBAN OF GERMANY’S
INLAND ISLANDS – LINDAU ON LAKE
CONSTANCE
Lindau’s historical town centre is located
on an island of the same name on Lake Constance and is connected to the mainland by
a road bridge and a railway line. Situated in
a scenic region of Germany near the border
with Austria and Switzerland and with views
of the Alps, Lindau is a popular destination
with lovingly restored houses in the old quarter. A varied arts scene and plenty of shops,
restaurants and cafés add to the bustling
charm of this 68-hectare island.
German expertise
for your health
MAINAU – LAKE CONSTANCE’S ISLAND
OF FLOWERS
Whatever time of year you visit Mainau
Island in Lake Constance, the sheer botanical
diversity and abundance of brightly coloured
flowers across 45 hectares are sure to make
a big impression. The park, populated with
trees over 150 years old, is just as striking as
the tropical palm and citrus plant collections.
And no visit to the island is complete without
a tour around the baroque palace grounds
and church, and a trip to the butterfly house
with its 40 exotic species.
© German National Tourist Board (GNTB)
We take care of your health
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treatment,scheduling
appointmentsandreferrals
•Providingacostestimate
andatreatmentplan
•Assistancewithvisa
formalities
•Pick-upservicesand
transferinprivate
limousines
•Airambulancefor
emergencycases
PATIENT MANAGEMENT
TRADEX-Services GmbH
International Patient Management
Am Schlichtfeld 2 - 82541 Muensing - Germany
[email protected] - www.ipat-services.com
A World of Events
in Germany
COLOGNE: CARNIVAL
Carnival is the first thing that springs to
mind when Germans think about Cologne,
where it is celebrated in a particularly lavish and traditional fashion. “Kölle Alaaf” – a
cheer for the city of Cologne – is the cry that
rings out at the opening of the carnival season. Over five fun-packed days it is the Jecken
(carnival jesters) that hold court at the carni-
22
val festivities. This spectacular event culminates in a crazy Rose Monday parade, when
people call on the passing floats to throw
them sweets and bunches of flowers.
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN: FOUR
HILLS TOURNAMENT
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the second
of four towns which host the ski jumping
world championships known as the Four Hills
Tournament. The venue for the event, which
traditionally takes place on New Year’s Day,
is the Olympic Ski Stadium. Kicking off in
Oberstdorf, the championships then move on
to the New Year ski jumping competition in
Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Innsbruck is up next,
while the fourth and final leg takes place in
Bischofshofen.
HANOVER’S “SCHÜTZENFEST” FAIR
The Schützenfest fair in Hanover can
rightly claim to be the largest of its kind in
the world. For ten days the city’s Schützenplatz fairground turns into a huge stage for
the festivities – just as it has done since the
17th century and visitors can expect a festival of superlatives. Electrifying, ultra-modern
rides sit happily alongside their more traditional counterparts, and the place is packed
with stalls, beer gardens and party marquees.
Despite all this, the highlight of this longestablished festival is the riflemen’s parade,
the longest procession in Europe.
MUNICH: OKTOBERFEST
Year after year the Oktoberfest attracts
millions of visitors from all over the world
to the Theresienwiese. Beer tents and fairground rides as far as the eye can see guarantee an exuberant atmosphere for a whole
two weeks. Experience the real Germany of
traditional music and costumes, wurst, pretzels, and an inexhaustible supply of the finest
beer in the world.
RALSWIEK: STÖRTEBEKER FESTIVAL
Pirates ahoy! Every summer Ralswiek,
on the island of Rügen, goes into a state
of emergency as the most notorious of the
Victual Brothers, Klaus Störtebeker, takes
over this peaceful town with his band of pirates. Watch out for pirates and buccaneers Störtebeker is in town! Each year plays about
the famous pirate, based on real historical
events, are performed on the charming waterside stage. More than 120 members of
cast and crew, four ships, several horses and
special effects make this festival a real treat.
The highlight of every evening is the firework
display over the “Great Jasmund Lagoons”.
ROSTOCK: HANSE SAIL
Hanse Sail, the Baltic region’s biggest
regatta for traditional sailing boats, attracts
around half a million people to the Hanseatic town of Rostock every year. It is not only
the largest maritime event in MecklenburgWestern Pomerania, but also a huge public
festival with an eclectic mix of entertainment
and cultural attractions. Everywhere you look
there are tall ships, museum ships and vintage boats. The traditional sailing vessels are
a particular highlight of the regatta.
www.germany-tourism.de
© German National Tourist Board (GNTB)
Photo: Andreas Kaster, GNTB
BONN: RHINE IN FLAMES
When 2,000 red Bengal lights bathe the
famous sights of the Rhine and the riverside
promenades between Bonn and Linz in a festive glow on the first Saturday in May, the
illusion of the “Rhine in Flames” is created.
On land or on board one of the 60 cruise
boats, the spectacular firework event in Linz,
Remagen, Bad Honnef and Bonn captivates
tens of thousands of people every year. The
Rhine is transformed by a frenzy of fireworks,
and there is also a kaleidoscopic program of
entertainment and other events.
Photo: Joachim Rieger
Photo: OK Neujahrsspringen e.V.
BERLIN: BERLINALE
The international film festival has blossomed to become the most acclaimed event
in the city’s cultural calendar. Every year this
huge two-week event attracts over 16,000
visitors from all over the world to Berlin.
With around 350 films covering all genres,
lengths and formats, the Berlinale boasts
an eclectic program that includes countless
European and world premières. The line-up
ranges from major productions with stellar
casts to lesser-known independent pictures.
An unashamedly public festival, the Berlinale
is not just an event for industry insiders.
German cuisine –
regional specialties
and gourmet delights
Cuisine in Germany is as diverse as the regions in which it is made. Good old-fashioned taverns, more than 200 star-rated
restaurants and everything in-between offer something for all tastes and any budget.
Photos top down: Photodesign Thomas Rathay, GNTB //
Achim Käflein, GNTB // A. Liebich, Thüringer Tourismus GmbH //
Achim Käflein, GNTB // HA Hessen Agentur GmbH
People love to eat in Germany, and it is easy
to see why! But it would not be half as good
without all the regional specialties, which
include fish in the north, fruits from the orchards of the Altes Land, potato dumplings in
eastern Germany, sauerbraten in the Rhineland, and egg noodles and sweet treats in the
south. Between mid-April and late June the
humble asparagus features heavily in dishes
in almost all parts of Germany.
Embark on a culinary tour of discovery and
get a taste of Germany‘s diversity – Guten
Appetit!
MEAT AND FISH: FROM ORGANIC BEEF
TO WHITEFISH FROM LAKE CONSTANCE
Regional meat and dairy products are fundamental to German cuisine. More and more
German meat is being produced organically,
so it is healthy and tastes delicious. Typical
regional products, such as meat from the
heathland sheep of Lüneburg Heath and the
black headed sheep from the Rhön hills, are
also provided by specialist suppliers. You are
equally spoilt for choice in Germany when it
comes to fish and the regional connection is
strong here, too. Enjoy sprats, herring and
shrimps on the North Sea and Baltic coasts,
eel in Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg, pikeperch from the Oder and Elbe rivers, carp and
trout from Franconia and the Black Forest
and whitefish from Lake Constance.
FRUITS FROM THE TREE & THE SOIL
Plum jam, red berry compote and Black
Forest gateau are German specialties made
with typically German fruits. These are not
only grown on large fruit farms but also in
the orchards dotted around the countryside.
Many German dishes are based on apples.
Well-known apple producing regions in Germany include Baden and Lake Constance, the
Rhineland, the Altes Land in Lower Saxony
and the Oderland in Brandenburg.
„Apple of the earth“ is a rather misleading­
German term for something different alto-
gether: the potato. Although potatoes have
only featured in German cooking for a few
centuries, they are very popular in Germany.
Regional specialties include boiled potatoes
with pears, beans and bacon in SchleswigHolstein, potatoes with celery and cream in
the Palatinate and potato flan in the Sauerland. Mashed potato, apple sauce and
black sausage, known locally as „Heaven and
Earth“, are a specialty of Cologne.
TYPICAL GERMAN VEGETABLES:
ASPARAGUS, CABBAGE & MUSHROOMS
In the spring, asparagus appears on
menus throughout Germany. The creativity
of Germany‘s chefs extends well beyond the
classic asparagus with hollandaise sauce to
asparagus soufflé, asparagus confit and green
asparagus ice cream.
Cabbage is perhaps the most typical vegetable used in German cooking. It is grown
mainly in the north of the country and appears most famously in the form of sauerkraut, a vitamin rich accompaniment to traditional meat dishes. Curly kale with pinkel
sausage is a specialty of Lower Saxony. Cabbage was once considered „poor man‘s food“
but today it is enjoying a renaissance: it is
tasty, versatile, low in calories and rich in
vitamins and minerals. Cabbage features in
traditional German dishes and is also highly
prized in modern haute cuisine.
On the theme of haute cuisine, other
vegetables traditionally grown in Germany
and used increasingly in a variety of dishes
include mangold wurzel, parsnips and horseradish. Like cabbage, pumpkins come into
their own in the autumn; their orange flesh
brings a bright note to many German dishes,
sweet or savory.
German cuisine without onions would be
unthinkable. Not only do they spice up lots
of recipes, they are also extremely healthy.
In the autumn, a popular south-German specialty is bacon and onion flan.
Mushrooms are widely used in sauces and
soups, especially in southern and eastern Germany. In Swabia, mushrooms are served in a
cream sauce with Bavarian dumplings.
www.germany-tourism.de
© German National Tourist Board (GNTB)
23
Photo: visit berlin
Luxury shopping
in Germany
GERMANY’S MOST POPULAR
SHOPPING STREETS
Germany’s towns and cities are a happy
hunting ground for anyone who enjoys shopping, and our busiest shopping streets have
now been officially revealed! The Zeil in Frankfurt has the heaviest footfall of any shopping
street in Germany with 13,120 pedestrians
per hour, closely followed by Schildergasse
in Cologne. When it comes to luxury goods,
however, the Königsallee in Düsseldorf is
way out in front. Berlin and Munich have the
highest number of heavily frequented shopping streets (more than 5,000 passers-by per
hour), with five each, ahead of Düsseldorf,
Hamburg and Hannover, all with three.
24
Shopping Tips
BOSS OUTLET STORES
Since the opening of the Hugo Boss factory outlet store in Metzingen in the 1970s, a
number of other factory outlets have opened
in the town. The Boss factory outlet store is
so busy that it even operates a shuttle bus.
An increasing number of international labels
such as Bogner, Escada and Jil Sander have
opened outlets around the Boss store.
CENTRO OBERHAUSEN
On a square kilometre of ground on the
site of a disused steel factory, a spectacular
project was born – the CentrO in Oberhausen is the largest shopping and leisure complex in Europe. With 200 shops and a wide
range of cafés and restaurants surrounded by
steel, marble and palm trees, it attracts more
than 20 million visitors every year.
HAMBURG’S MÖNCKEBERGSTRASSE
Along the “Mö”, as the people of Hamburg
like to call their favourite shopping street, the
old merchant’s villas are now home to a wide
variety of huge department stores. Ever since it
was built at the beginning of the 20th century,
this magnificent boulevard between the main
train station and the town hall has embodied
the economic power of the Hanseatic city and
today welcomes visitors from all over the world.
HEIDELBERG OLD TOWN
In the Hauptstraße that runs parallel to
the Neckar river, there is more than one
kilometre of shopping heaven between Bismarckplatz and the Karlstor arch, with enchanting side-streets, historical surroundings
and modern living. This is where the heart of
the old town beats.
KADEWE DEPARTMENT STORE BERLIN
KaDeWe is one of Germany’s pioneering
department stores. As early as 1907, it provided its customers with a staggering range
of goods across five huge floors. Today, the
allure of the finest quality goods is as strong
as it ever was. The food hall on the top floor
is legendary.
KÖNIGSALLEE IN DÜSSELDORF
Several times a year the world’s most
prestigious fashion designers congregate in
this city on the Rhine. Shortly afterwards
their collections are showcased in the elegant
window displays of the “Kö”. Stroll around
and enjoy the exclusive ambience of this
renowned boulevard with its exquisite designer-label boutiques and shopping arcades,
stopping off for a delicious treat in one of
the cafés.
LÜBECK MARZIPAN
Surrounded by water, Lübeck’s town centre is perfect for a stroll in the exclusive ambience of Hüxstraße, the vibrant pedestrian
zone, its romantic side-streets or to the renowned Cafe Niederegger. Here visitors can
Photo l.: KaDeWe
Photo m.: Rainer Kiedrowski, GNTB
Photo r.: Lothar Sprenger, Staatliche
Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH
Photo: J. G. Niederegger GmbH & Co. KG
Shopping is part of almost every trip
abroad, whether you’re looking for souvenirs for family and friends, or fashion and
jewelry that you might not find at home.
Germany is a veritable shopping paradise
for many, and especially for visitors from
outside the European Union. The purchase
of luxury goods, in particular, is becoming
increasingly significant for international
shopping tourism. Frankfurt, Munich and
other big cities are, of course, popular destinations for shopping, but the many outlet centers such as Outletcity Metzingen
and Ingolstadt Village are also well worth
a visit if you are planning a spot of retail
therapy while in Germany.
relax, enjoy a bite of marzipan, and find out
how this almond-based delicacy has developed through the centuries from its oriental origins. Take home the perfect gift for a
sweet tooth!
STATE PORCELAIN FACTORY IN
MEISSEN
As the story goes, King Augustus the
Strong ordered his subjects to find a way to
manufacture gold. After much experimenting,
scholars finally discovered the next best thing
– “white gold” or porcelain, which proved a
blessing for both the King and Meissen.
heritage. In recent times it has become one of
the centres of modern outlet shopping. From
modest beginnings with a staff shop at Hugo
Boss, Metzingen has grown into a buzzing
retail destination of international standing.
Spectacular flagship stores selling cuttingedge and high-fashion labels are the new
face of Outletcity. Each year, it attracts over
three million visitors from 185 countries. Besides special offers and additional discounts,
this unmissable shopping experience also
features tempting culinary delights, a diverse
program of entertainment and other events.
VALUE RETAIL: CHIC OUTLET
SHOPPING® WITH TWO CENTERS
IN GERMANY
Outside Frankfurt and Munich, Value
Retail operates two high-end outlet villages offering leading international fashion
and lifestyle brands at up to 60 % or more
off high street prices, all year round. Chic
Outlet Shopping® – the name stands for a
new kind of retail experience. Shoppers stroll
from store to store under open skies in a gorgeous, village-style setting, benefitting from
top-quality at low prices and a five-star service. In around 900 outlet boutiques, global
brands sell their collections from previous
seasons and offer an unbeatable, high-end
experience for a discerning European clientele. This concept has made Ingolstadt Village
and Wertheim Village major attractions for
shoppers from Germany and abroad. The scenic surroundings and proximity to major cities
makes them ideal for holidays that combine
shopping with culture or with active pursuits.
© German National Tourist Board (GNTB)
www.germany-tourism.de
WERTHEIM VILLAGE
In Wertheim, culture and shopping go
hand in hand. The outlet centre Wertheim
Village, located between Frankfurt and Würzburg, sells last season’s collections by top
designers at prices up to 60 % cheaper than
the recommended retail price, the whole year
round.
OUTLETCITY METZINGEN
Outletcity Metzingen is one of Europe’s
largest outlet centers, with more than 50
top brands and price reductions of between
30 and 70 per cent all year round. Fashion,
lifestyle, design, food & drink and premium
shopping set within innovative architectural
surroundings and all just a stone’s throw from
the historical town centre of Metzingen. The
picturesque small Swabian town of Metzingen, 30 kilometers south of Stuttgart is now
known for more than its great wine-growing
25
Photo: Phantasialand
Particularly popular with young and old are
the theme parks such as Europa-Park and
Phantasialand with their white-knuckle roller
coasters and fairytale themed lands. For a
playtime that’s larger-than-life visit Playmobil-FunPark, Legoland® and Ravensburger
Spielland Go on a fascinating journey through
the ages at medieval castles and fairytale palaces – from famous Schloss Neuschwanstein
to the longest castle in Europe at Burghausen. Historical insights can also be gained at
a multitude of museums. Interactive exhibitions, covering more modern subjects such as
technology and art, educate and entertain in
equal measure. Many are geared specifically
to a younger audience. The wide choice of
holiday activities is matched by a wide choice
of accommodation. There’s everything from
holiday homes, farm stays and campsites to
family hotels, baby-friendly hotels and youth
hostels.
PHANTASIALAND – THERE’S SIMPLY NO
LIMIT TO THE IMAGINATION
Phantasialand theme park in Brühl near
Cologne has six themed areas offering a
wonderful combination of high-speed thrills
and lovingly staged rides, gripping attractions
and fantastic shows especially for children.
The park also has a wonderful selection of
themed hotels to suit every taste. Fast-paced
26
action, adrenaline, fun, adventure and the
best in live entertainment – the Phantasialand
theme park in Brühl near Cologne is the ideal
destination for all groups and ages, both in
the summer and during its winter season. A
wonderful combination of high-speed thrills
and more leisurely, lovingly staged rides as
well as many attractions designed especially
for children. In the six themed areas there
are more than 50 attractions and outstanding shows. Of course, those looking for fastpaced rides, nerve-jangling excitement and
the ultimate thrills are also well catered for.
Crowd pleasers such as the Black Mamba
rollercoaster, the Talocan top spin and the
aptly named Mystery Castle are among the
park’s main attractions. Phantasialand is also
a great place to stay. There’s a whole range of
accommodation to suit every taste and budget, from the four-star Chinese Ling Bao hotel and three-star superior African Matamba
hotel to Smokey’s Digger Camp tepee village
which exudes the romance of the Wild West.
www.phantasialand.de
EUROPA-PARK – GERMANY’S BIGGEST
THEME PARK
High-octane thrills are on the agenda at
Europa-Park in Rust, along with themed European worlds and spectacular events with a
Europe-wide reputation. At Europa-Park, the
whole family can look forward to a sensational mix of adventure, entertainment and
white-knuckle thrills. The 90-hectare grounds
are divided into themed lands, 13 of which
feature the architecture, food and flora of a
particular European region. More than 100
shows and attractions – including eleven
rollercoasters – promise extreme thrills, excitement and plenty of memorable moments.
In the Greece themed land, you can hurtle
between the heavens and the seas on the
Poseidon – a combination of high-speed rollercoaster and water ride – or join younger
visitors experiencing a rollercoaster for the
first time on the Pegasus, a YoungSTAR
Coaster. Over in Russia, daring thrill-seekers
can ride to the stars in the Euro-Mir, while
the Silver Star in France offers an extreme
adrenaline rush at speeds of up to 130 km/h.
To round off an action-packed day, you can
enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean in one
of the park’s quintet of 4-star themed hotels
or experience a Wild West adventure at the
Camp Resort.
www.europapark.de
LEGOLAND – A GREAT DAY OUT FOR
LEGO FANS
In the Bavarian town of Günzburg there’s
a land where everyone can be a hero: it’s
called LEGOLAND® Deutschland. In eight
fascinating worlds of adventure, the park has
more than 50 attractions, rides, live shows,
a holiday village and faithfully replicated
models made from over 50 million pieces
of Lego. In the Bavarian town of Günzburg,
one hour from Munich and Stuttgart, there’s
a land where everyone can be a true hero:
it’s called LEGOLAND® Deutschland. In eight
fascinating worlds of adventure, the family
theme park has more than 50 incredible attractions, rides, live shows, a holiday village
and faithfully replicated models made from
well over 50 million pieces of Lego. Water
attractions and rollercoasters help turn a visit
to the park into an unmissable highlight of
any holiday. Fun and entertainment combined
with learning through play and interactive elements – an outstanding combination that
makes LEGOLAND® Deutschland truly special. For anyone wishing to extend their stay,
overnight accommodation is available at the
world’s first LEGOLAND holiday village right
Photo: Legoland
For spending a holiday together as a family, Germany is the ideal destination. Visitors of all ages will love going to theme
parks, water parks, castles, museums and
fun pools, getting close to nature in the
national parks, and engaging in active pursuits such as cycling, swimming and walking. Attractions that all ages can enjoy are
a feature of family holidays in Germany.
Photo: Europa-Park
Activities
for
Children
next to the park. Built in the typically colourful LEGO style, the holiday homes pick up on
the themes from the park, whisking guests
off into a world of pirates, racing drivers,
knights and adventurers.
www.legoland.de
© German National Tourist Board (GNTB)
www.germany-tourism.de
AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCES
Whether it’s a museum built by one of
Germany’s big car manufacturers or a private
collection, all over Germany there are places
where you can learn more about the story
of the car. Explore the huge interactive exhibitions, see the vehicles that have become
icons and trace the history of automotive
engineering, from the production of the very
first car through to the present day. Collections compiled with tremendous affection and
dedication on display at a number of car and
motorbike museums are sure to make your
visit to Germany an unforgettable experience.
There’s so much more to find out about the
fascinating history of automotive engineering
in Germany, from legendary models with cult
status to rare historical vehicles.
AUTOSTADT WOLFSBURG
Autostadt is an exhibition complex in
Wolfsburg, the home of the Volkswagen
Group. Focused on the subject of mobility, it
offers a variety of exciting attractions and activities. Autostadt Wolfsburg takes you on a
fascinating journey through the world of the
automobile. Set in more than 25 hectares of
parkland, a mixture of stunning architecture,
design and nature provides the framework
for a wide range of attractions. Exhibitions
feature classic cars through the ages and
focus on what made them so groundbreaking at the time. Works of art and short films
offer new perspectives on automotive subjects, while interactive research installations
provide hands-on experiences. Autostadt
also hosts events that open up new horizons
– ranging from themed marketing presentations to the Movimentos festival. Experiences. The diversity of attractions on offer at
Autostadt reflects the wide-ranging interests
of Volkswagen as a global company and its
corporate responsibility for people, culture
and society. Art lovers will be able to find
just as much inspiration here as engineering
enthusiasts, multimedia fans and those looking for peace and quiet. Find out why quality
ensures safety, how performance and sustainability go hand in hand, and the significance
the company puts on client focus. Autostadt
also showcases the knowledge generated by
the company’s employees around the world
and explains the philosophy behind the individual brands. Visit Autostadt for an experience that embodies the theme ‘People, cars
and what moves them’!
BMW WELT AND MUSEUM
A combined venue for new car handovers,
interactive museum exhibitions and events,
BMW Welt is in a class of its own. The neighbouring BMW Museum provides an insight
into the history of the company stretching back more than 90 years. Housed in a
spectacular complex of buildings, BMW Welt
is designed to be experienced with all five
senses. At the Technology and Design Atelier,
for example, you can see, hear and feel BMW
technology and design. The BMW Welt plaza
is a car enthusiast’s dream: an exhibition of
motor cars, currently more than 120 metres
in length, features a wide variety of models
from the BMW product range. At the ­Junior
Campus, seven to thirteen year olds are
taught about technology in a child-friendly
way, while being encouraged to be curious
and use their imagination. Throughout the
year, a variety of music, arts, political and
business events are also held in the remarkable surroundings of BMW Welt. The BMW
Museum, not far from BMW Welt, covers
all facets of more than 90 years of BMW’s
history. Key aspects that are typical of BMW
are grouped into seven themed areas, which
is reflected in the layout of the BMW Museum’s new low-rise extension: each themed
area is contained within its own ‘house’. Gain
insights into the history of the BMW brand
and find out more about BMW’s innovative
technology and its fascinating designs. Other
BMW-Welt, Photo: BMW AG
German cars are renowned throughout the
world. Brands such as VW, Mercedes-Benz,
Porsche, Opel, Audi and BMW are synonymous with high quality and innovation and
enhance the image of Germany as a travel
destination.
More than 200 attractions and museums
up and down the country offer exciting experiences themed on cars and technology. Volkswagen, for example, has opened a fantastic
theme park its home city of Wolfsburg. The
Autostadt is set in 25 hectares of parkland,
and art lovers will be able to find just as much
inspiration here as engineering enthusiasts,
multimedia fans and those looking for peace
and quiet. Adrenaline and action are guaranteed at Germany’s five major race tracks,
including the Nürburgring and Hockenheim
Grand Prix circuits, where you even can get
behind the wheel yourself and experience the
thrill of being a racing driver. Germany also
has more than 150 themed holiday routes
that offer exceptional driving experiences
through captivating landscapes and regions.
And even without your own car, you can still
enjoy some exhilarating drives in Germany.
A whole host of car hire companies such as
Hertz, Sixt and Avis operate an extensive
network of rental locations throughout the
country. So there really is nothing stopping
you from visiting the many automotivethemed events, classic car rallies and motor
racing highlights that Germany has to offer!
Porsche Museum, Photo: Porsche AG
Autostadt, Photo: Rainer Jensen
Germany, home of the car
themes include motor sports and motor­
cycles, with special exhibitions rounding off
the experience. Discover the ultimate driving machine, made in Bavaria – visit BMW
in Munich!
MERCEDES-BENZ-MUSEUM
‘Building the future on tradition’ – the
Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart is more
than just a home for 125 years of auto­
motive history. The building housing the
Mercedes-Benz Museum is an exceptional
piece of architecture, which reflects the ideals of originality that lie at the heart of the
Mercedes-Benz brand, always striving to
­
create completely new concepts for ­human
mobility. A double helix inside the museum, based on ­human DNA, symbolizes the
­‘genetic makeup’ of the brand. There are two
tours available. The route of the first takes
in seven ‘Legend rooms’ that relate the history of the Mercedes brand. From car production pioneers to motor racing icons, you can
find out everything there is to know about
the remarkable history of Mercedes-Benz.
The second tour consists of five separate
­‘Collection rooms’ that showcase the diversity
of the brand portfolio from passenger cars
to heavy goods vehicles. The ‘Fascination of
Technology’ exhibition provides visitors with
a glimpse behind the scenes into the work of
Mercedes-Benz employees and towards the
future of the motor car. A detailed picture
of the Mercedes-Benz brand emerges from
27
AUDI FORUM INGOLSTADT AND NECKARSULM
The two Audi Forums in Ingolstadt and
Neckarsulm are exciting destinations offer-
who have bought an Audi can turn their first
encounter with their new car into a special
experience at the Audi Forum. Both Audi
­Forums also offer stylish restaurants, exclusive brand shops and a wide variety of events.
Vorsprung durch Technik. Discover Audi’s history and technology up close in Ingol­stadt,
Neckarsulm and at Munich Airport.
AUDI Forum Ingolstadt, Photo: AUDI AG
Mercedes-Benz-Museum, Photo: Chrysler AG
over 1,450 individual exhibits, including 160
vehicles, many of them epoch-making, such
as the Gullwing from the 1950s and the
Silver Arrows. Special exhibitions round off
the experience. Take a journey of discovery
through the history of the motor car, from its
very beginnings 125 years ago to the latest
technological visions for the future. Come to
Stuttgart and come face to face with the history of mobility!
ing an attractive mix of services, events and
automotive exhibitions in architecturally impressive surroundings. See the past brought
to life at Audi’s ‘museum mobile’ with numerous exhibits presented in their historical context. In addition to the rapid advances in car
design during the last century, the museum
also focuses on the corporate history of AUDI
AG. By setting the exhibits within their economic and sociological contexts, the ­‘museum
mobile’ becomes much more than just a museum of technology: a visit is not simply a
tour through the entire history of the motor
car but also provides a fascinating look back
at the radical changes that took place during the 20th century. Jahrhundert mit seinen
umwälzenden Veränderungen.Would you
like to get up close to an Audi? There are a
number of themed guided tours that give a
fascinating insight into modern car production. Watch the ‘birth’ of an Audi, from the
huge, heavy presses, the highly-automated
bodyshell construction and the assembly line
through to the finished motor car. Customers
© German National Tourist Board (GNTB)
Flight Connections between
Germany and UAE
Just a few hours away
Five airlines offer regular direct flights from
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to some of
Germany’s most exciting destinations. Hop
on board in Dubai or Abu Dhabi with Lufthansa, airberlin, Emirates, Etihad or RAK
Airways and discover Berlin, Düsseldorf,
Frankfurt, Hamburg or Munich, which you
will reach in less than seven hours.
LUFTHANSA
has a daily rotation from Abu Dhabi to
Frankfurt and also offers daily flights from
Dubai to Munich and Frankfurt.
28
EMIRATES AIRLINE
is servicing four destinations in Germany:
Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf.
While there are three daily flights between
Dubai and Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf and
Hamburg are serviced twice daily. On one of
the two daily rotations from Dubai to the Bavarian capital Munich, Emirates flies with the
world’s biggest airliner, the Airbus A380.
ETIHAD AIRWAYS
offers flights to Munich, Düsseldorf and
Frankfurt departing from Abu Dhabi on a
daily basis.
RAK AIRWAYS
operates charter flights from Hamburg,
Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Berlin.
[DiscoverME]
AIRBERLIN
offers daily flight connection between Abu
Dhabi and Berlin since January 2012.
What Role does German
play Internationally?
German usually appears on the relevant
linguistic maps as a language spoken only
in Europe. Its distribution as an official language is limited to seven central European
countries: Germany (roughly 82 million inhabitants), Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Luxembourg, as well as small areas of Belgium and Italy. Yet German is still
taught as a foreign language all over the
world. On the one hand, this is the result
of its historical importance, primarily as a
language of science. On the other, global
interest in German is permanently backed
up by the economic power of its mother
countries, their political weight, their leading position in important technologies,
their attractive education systems, and the
role they play in the international exchange
of information and in tourism.
German usually appears on the relevant linguistic maps as a language spoken only in Europe. Its distribution as an official language is
limited to seven central European countries:
Germany (roughly 82 million inhabitants),
Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Luxembourg, as well as small areas of Belgium
and Italy. Yet German is still taught as a foreign language all over the world. On the one
hand, this is the result of its historical importance, primarily as a language of science. On
the other, global interest in German is permanently backed up by the economic power
of its mother countries, their political weight,
their leading position in important technologies, their attractive education systems, and
the role they play in the international exchange of information and in tourism.
A global survey published in March 2010
shows how this trend is continuing: the number of countries offering German in schools
has risen to 119, but the total number of German learners is now around 14.5 million. Figures have risen in many developing countries,
also in Brazil, China and India, but have fallen
in the CIS states and in some parts of eastern central Europe and Scandinavia. What is
striking is the spread to more and more countries, also in Africa – supported by new Goethe Institutes in Luanda (Angola) and Dar es
Salaam (Tanzania). In higher education, too,
German is taught in many countries as part
of German language and literature studies
or as a subsidiary subject: in 97 countries in
2005, 117 in 2010. Further important institutions of German teaching are the 123 foreign
German schools, as well as the approx. 1,500
schools offering intensified teaching of German as part of the “Schools: Partners for the
Future” programme (PASCH). However, German is hardly the first foreign language in any
school curriculum. No one knows how many
people in the world are actually able to speak
German as a foreign language and at what
level. Rough estimates suggest 100 million.
The number of native- and second-language
speakers who speak German regularly is estimated at 128 million, including minorities
and emigrants. This places German eleventh
overall, close behind Japanese and ahead of
French. Chinese is at the top of the list.
The German language plays an important
role on the Internet. Remarkably, it has held
second place in Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, for a long time – as currently classified
by the number of articles: English has more
than three million, German over a million and
French and Italian around half a million each.
Websites are, of course, more important, but
it is difficult to estimate their current total,
since the dominant search engine Google has
no procedure for counting them by language.
According to various slightly older sources,
German is also the second most popular language among websites, albeit a long way behind English, but ahead of French, Japanese
and Spanish. The number of users largely
depends in turn on the number of speakers.
German ranks sixth here, behind English,
Chinese, Spanish, Japanese and Portuguese.
Conclusion: globalization is clearly putting
pressure on all the international languages
and consolidating English as the world language. Nevertheless, it is realistic to predict
that German will remain a significant international language in the foreseeable future.
[© .de - Magazin Deutschland,
www.magazin-deutschland.de]
Here are some Useful Phrases in German
GREETINGS
MAKING FRIENDS
TRAVELLING
Hello!Hallo!
Welcome!
Herzlich willkommen!
How are you?
Wie geht es dir?
I am fine, thank you. Gut, danke.
Happy birthday!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch
zum Geburtstag!
Congratulations!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch!
Happy new year!
Frohes neues Jahr!
Have a good trip!
Gute Reise!
Goodbye!
Auf Wiedersehen!
What is your name?Wie heißt du?
My name is…Mein Name ist…
Where are you from?Woher kommst du?
Where do you live?Wo wohnst du?
I live in…Ich wohne in…
How old are you?
Wie alt bist du?
What are your hobbies? Was sind deine Hobbys?
Nice to meet you.Schön, dich kennen zu
lernen.
Where is the closest Wo ist die nächste
bus station?
Bushaltestelle?
I would like to go to… Ich möchte nach …
fahren.
Please tell me where Bitte sag mir, wo ich
to get off.
aussteigen muss.
How can I find a taxi? Wie kann ich ein Taxi finden?
How much is the ticket?Wie viel kostet die
Fahrkarte?
Here is my passport.Hier ist mein Pass.
BASICS
SHOPPING
EATING OUT
YesJa
NoNein
PleaseBitte
Thank you
Danke
Excuse me
Entschuldigung
Do you speak English? Sprichst du Englisch?
I do not speak German. Ich spreche kein Deutsch.
Do you have…?
Hast du…?
Where is…?
Wo ist…?
How far is…?
Wie weit ist es bis…?
Do you sell…?Verkaufst du…?
How much is this…?Wie viel kostet das…?
That is expensive.Das ist teuer.
I want to buy…Ich möchte … kaufen.
I want to pay.Ich möchte bezahlen.
The menu, please.Die Speisekarte, bitte.
I would like to order.Ich möchte bestellen.
Please hurry up.Bitte beeil dich.
Some more, please.Etwas mehr, bitte.
The bill, please.Die Rechnung, bitte.
30
The German Consulate
General in Dubai
Photos: Discover ME
Consulate General
of the Federal Republic of Germany
Dubai
The Federal Republic of German is represented in the UAE through two official missions: the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the
Consulate General in Dubai. The geographic area of responsibility of the German Consulate covers the Emirates of Dubai and
Sharjah as well as Ras Al Khaimah, Fujeirah, Umm Al Qwain and Ajman.
The Consulate General maintains political relations to these Emirates and usually reports
back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
Berlin.
The main task of the Consulate General is
to maintain and further promote the existing
close relations between Germany and the six
Emirates in all areas – trade, business, education and culture. This also includes closely cooperating with and supporting German institutions like the German International Schools
in Dubai and Sharjah, the Goethe Institut and
the German-Emirati Joint Council For Industry
And Commerce (AHK).
The Consulate actively promotes economic
and trade relations between Germany and the
UAE. Dubai serves as the main business meeting point in the region and is being used by
German companies as a platform for business
operations not only in the UAE and the Gulf
countries, but also in the entire Arab World.
Germany is represented with an official pavilion at over twenty trade shows in Dubai, making Dubai the third most important exhibition
location for German companies worldwide.
Although Dubai has been suffering from
the consequences of the financial crisis and
the collapse of the real estate sector, it is
estimated that neither the number of German companies represented in Dubai, nor
the number of German nationals living within
the UAE has been significantly reduced. Currently, the AHK counts approx. 500 members,
most of them German companies. The number of German nationals living in the UAE is
estimated at 9,000, with the vast majority
residing in Dubai.
WHEN APPLYING FOR A VISA TO VISIT GERMANY,
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
• the German Visa Section in Dubai is the 9th • you can apply for your Schengen-Visa well
largest Visa Section of Germany worldwide
in advance: up to 3 months prior to your
with over 50,000 visa applications per year
intended travel date
• you can find all visa information, require- • as of 2nd October 2012 biometric data
ments and applications forms on our web(picture and fingerprints) is mandatory for
site www.dubai.diplo.de
every application for a Schengen-Visa
Foreign cultural policy is considered to be a
vital pillar of German foreign policy, along
with classic diplomacy and the promotion of
the export industry. The two German schools
in Dubai and Sharjah as well as the German
language courses offered by the Goethe Institute, play an important role in promoting
German culture.
Another main task of the Consulate General
is to provide consular and legal services for
German nationals such as issuing passports,
dealing with matters of citizenship, legalisations and many more.
The Consulate General hosts the seventh
largest German visa section worldwide. In
2012 alone, over 55,000 visas were issued,
approx. half of them for UAE nationals and
the other half for nationals of third countries
residing in Dubai. The often requested abolition of visa requirements for UAE nationals
when travelling to Germany, however, is being discussed on a European level and needs
to be agreed to by all Schengen countries.
After having called the Sharaf-Building in
Bur Dubai’s Khaled Bin Al Waleed Street its
home for many years, the Consulate General
was relocated within Dubai. Two villas have
been constructed in the residential area of
Jumeirah to host the Consulate General. This
move provides better access for visitors to
the Consulate and enables us to better serve
the German and Emirati communities.
[Jörg Herrera, Deputy Consul General]
• basically all applications for Schengen-Visa
have to be submitted at the offices of our
service provider “VFS Global” (Wafi Mall,
2nd floor), which is fast and convenient
for you. Applicants who want to apply at
the German Consulate need to make an
­appointment through VFS Global
• the processing time of a Schengen Visa takes
up to 15 days, for a national German visa
(work or study) it may take up to 9 weeks
31
DISCOVER
GERMANY
S
Vif
Contact Details of German
Institutions in the UAE
Imprint
GERMAN EMBASSY ABU DHABI
Phone: +971 2 596 - 77 00 or 77 77
E-mail: [email protected]
www.abu-dhabi.diplo.de
DAAD INFORMATION CENTRE
Phone: +971 2 678 11 24
E-mail: [email protected]
http://ic.daad.de/abudhabi/
[publisher]
GERMAN VISA APPLICATION CENTRE
Phone: +971 4 345 54 61
E-mail: [email protected]
GIZ OFFICE GULF REGION
Phone: +971 2 678 11 22
E-mail: [email protected]
www.giz.de
GERMAN CONSULATE GENERAL DUBAI
Phone: +971 4 397 23 33
Visa call center: 7000 1 4000 (from UAE only)
E-mail: [email protected]
www.dubai.diplo.de
GERMAN EMIRATI JOINT COUNCIL FOR
INDUSTRY & COMMERCE (AHK)
Phone Abu Dhabi: +971 2 645 52 00
Phone Dubai: +971 4 447 01 00
E-mail: [email protected]
www.ahkvae.com
GOETHE-INSTITUT GULF REGION
Phone +971 2 672 79 20
E-mail: [email protected]
www.goethe.de
GOETHE-INSTITUT GERMAN LANGUAGE
CENTER DUBAI
Phone: +971 4 325 98 65
E-mail: [email protected]
www.goethe.de
32
GERMAN CONSULATE GENERAL DUBAI
P.O. Box 2247, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +971 4 397 23 33
Visa call center: 7000 1 4000 (from UAE only)
E-mail: [email protected]
www.dubai.diplo.de
[editorial partner]
GTAI – GERMANY TRADE & INVEST
REPRESENTATIVE IN DUBAI
Phone: +971 4 432 93 40
E-mail: [email protected]
www.gtai.de
GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
ABU DHABI
Phone: +971 02 666 86 68
E-mail: [email protected]
www.gisad.ae
GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
SHARJAH
Phone: +971 6 567 60 14
E-mail: [email protected]
www.dssharjah.org
GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
DUBAI
Phone: +971 4 338 60 06
E-mail: [email protected]
www.germanschool.ae
DISCOVERME PUBLICATIONS
P.O. Box 7277, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +971 4 881 08 38
E-mail: [email protected]
www.discover-middleeast.com
[design & layout]
WEBSTER DESIGN ATELIER
Charlottenburger Str. 22, Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 92 37 93 77
E-mail: [email protected]
www.wda.de
[print]
LIBERTY PRINTING PRESS
P.O. Box 52129, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +971 4 265 91 00
E-mail: [email protected]
www.libertyprintingpress.com
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Themajor
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largest
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More
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Modernste
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broad
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Renowned
Das
Klinikum
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Bürgerhospital
and
a broad range
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Renowned
Klinikum
Stuttgart
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Bürgerhospital
surgery
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restorative
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specialists supported by a competent
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ein umfassendes
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Klinikum
Klinikum Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Contact
us for
more
Klinikum
Stuttgart
Kriegsbergstraße
60
Leistungsangebot.
Von information:
der
rung
und ein
umfassendes
Katharinenhospital
International
Unit
Interantional
Patient Stuttgart
Management
Klinikum
70174
Stuttgart
Pränataldiagnostik
Contact
us for more
information:
Klinikum
Stuttgart
Kriegsbergstraße
60
tungsangebot.
Vonund
derintenKriegsbergstraße
60
P.O. Box 102644
P.O.
Box
10
26
44
Interantional
Unit Germany
D-70174
Stuttgart,
Patient
Telefon
0711
278-0
sivmedizinischenund
Versorgung
D-70022Management
Stuttgart
70174
Stuttgart
nataldiagnostik
intenD-70022
Stuttgart
P.O.
Box +49
102644
Phone:
- 26
711 44
- 2 78 40 20 60
Phone:
P.O.
Box+49-711-27832060
10
Telefax
0711
278-2420
Frühgeborener
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SpePhone:
0049
(0)
278-2710
Fax:
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- 2 78711
56
194
Telefon
0711
278-0
medizinischen Versorgung
D-70022
Stuttgart
Fax: +49
+49-711-278402016
D-70022
Stuttgart
[email protected]
E-Mail:
[email protected]
[email protected]
zialdisziplinen der Kinder- und
Phone:
+49-711-27832060
[email protected]
Telefax
0711
278-2420
hgeborener über alle SpePhone:
0049
(0) 711
278-2710
Fax: +49-711-278402016
Erwachsenenmedizin bis zu
E-Mail:
[email protected]
[email protected]
disziplinen der Kinder- und
www.klinikum-stuttgart.de
den besonderen Erkrankun [email protected]
Krankenhaus Bad
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zuKliniCannstatt
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www.klinikum-stuttgart.de
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