Travel Insurance Germany

Germany is one of Europe’s largest countries as it encompasses a diversity of landscapes, plains, and the forested hills. The country is located in the heart of Europe and has a history that includes both bad and good. It borders nine countries, which is more than any other European country.

Nevertheless, traveling to Germany gives you a lot of opportunities to explore and visit new places; but you can’t ignore the health and travel risks that you may be exposed to when in Germany. That is where Germany travel insurance comes into the picture, to help you safeguard your trip. Most importantly, while healthcare expenses are quite exorbitant in Germany, even a single hospitalization is enough to drain all your savings.

Travel insurance plans for your Germany trip are available in India. A single Germany travel insurance plan offers comprehensive coverage to most of the risks that may arise during the trip. Can’t ignore the fact that Indians are among the most frequent travelers to the Schengen Area, and the demand for Germany visas is quite high. In 2017, approximately 1 million Indians visited Europe. Out of them, more than 1.5 lakh applied for German visas.

Fast Facts

Entry Essentials

Those planning to travel to Germany must get familiar with the different aspects of passport and visa formalities ahead of time to ensure a hassle-free trip to the country.

So, before beginning with the application process, one has to figure out where to apply for a Germany visa. In Delhi, there is one German Embassy and there are four consulates across India that are listed below:

• German Embassy in New Delhi
• German Consulate in Kolkata
• German Consulate in Chennai
• German Consulate Mumbai
• German Consulate in Bengaluru

You can apply for a specific visa base on the purpose of the visit. One can apply for a tourist visa while visiting friends and family or for vacation purposes, Student Applicant Visa (Visum Zur Studienbewerbung), Business Visa, Language Course Visa, Student Visa (Visum Zu Studienzwecken), Airport Transit Visa, Working Visa, Internship Visa/ Guest Scientist Visa Training, Medical Treatment Visa , Job Seeker Visa, Trade Fair & Exhibitions Visa and the likewise.

Documents Required For Visa Application

• Application form
• Two Photos ( as required)
• Valid Passport
• Proof of the accommodation
• Travel health insurance
• Return Ticket
• For employed applicants:
  • Contract of the employment
  • Leave permission from the employer
  • Up-to-date bank statement of 6 months (please do not submit online bank statements)
  • Certificate of TDS or Income Tax Return (ITR) form
• For self-employed applicants:
  • Business license copy in India
  • Income Tax Return Proof
  • 6 months bank statement of the company
• For Students:
  • Enrollment proof
  • NOC from the university or school
• For Retired:
  • Pension statement of the latest 6 months

Visa Procedure

Before you apply for a visa, it is important for you to know your visa type and you will need to arrange all the documents for your application as listed below:

• Passport
• Visa Application Form
• Photograph
• Other Necessary Information

You can apply online at a German Consulate/ Embassy with the jurisdiction (as mentioned in the below table). Your visa application will be examined in the consulate or embassy and you may be called for an interview if required. Once the verification process is completed and is approved, your traveling visa will be issued.

Travel Insurance- However it is not essential to buy a travel insurance cover when traveling to Germany, it makes sense to get one as it will compensate your unanticipated expenses and travel-related emergencies. The cost of availing medical facilities is exorbitant in a foreign land. It is suggested that you take a preventive measure of buying travel insurance cover when away from home. Here are some of the benefits of buying a travel insurance policy for people traveling to Germany:

*Data culled from ICICI Lombard travel insurance policy brochure. The coverage may vary from one insurance company to another.

Best Time to Visit Germany

It depends on your purpose of visit and your idea of a holiday. Germany has cool winters and mild summers. Mountains in the South receive maximum snow and rain during June, July, and August.

July is the hottest season with rains just like India and January is the coldest time of the year. But July sees the maximum tourist and it makes it the most expensive time of the year.

Germany Transportation

The public transportation system in Germany is excellent. Even in medium-sized cities, public transportation is well-connected through trams, buses, and urban/suburban rail lines. Most of the metro cities have the U-Bahn/Untergrundbahn for underground rapid transit. 

S-Bahn, which is a suburban commuter rail, operates within the city including the nearby towns and suburbs. They also work well in bigger cities such as Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Cologne-Düsseldorf-Ruhr District, Frankfurt-Mainz-Wiesbaden, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Dresden, Magdeburg, Leipzig-Halle.

Tickets can be purchased at one time daily, weekly and monthly pass. With one valid ticket, you can have access to all the public transports within the city including U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, buses, and ferries.

For night transportation, buses make the cheapest mode of transportation.

List of International Airports in Germany

Germany Weather

1. Summer (June, July & August)

• Temperature ranges from 11C° to 24° Celsius
• Weather:  Humid

2. Autumn (September to November)

• Weather: Cold and Rainy

3. Winters- December to February (Off Season)

• January is the coldest month
• Weather: Snowfall, frequent rains  

5. Spring (March to May)

• Weather: Unpredictable (sunny, rainy and snow)

Top Tourist Spots in Germany

Germany has a lot to explore including its natural beauty, culture, and much older history. Mentioned below are some of the best places that you can visit to really get into the nitty-gritty of this European nation:

• Neuschwanstein Castle
• Europa-Park
• Brandenburg Gate
• Oktoberfest
• Cologne's Cathedral
• City of Trier
• Black Forest
• Dresden Frauenkirche
• The Romantic Road
• Christmas Markets

Shopping Attractions in Germany

The mall culture is not so prominent in Germany. Every important city has vibrant shopping streets that can offer you something interesting and unique for the shopaholic in you. Here is a list of popular German shopping destinations and markets:

1. Schildergasse, Cologne
2. Zeil, Frankfurt
3. Konigsallee & Schadowstrasse, Dusseldorf 
4. Ku’damm, Berlin
5. Mall of Berlin
6. Kleinmarkthalle, Frankfurt
7. Mauerpark Flea Market, Berlin
8. Kathe Wohlfahrt’s Christmas Shop
9. Ingolstadt Village Designer Outlet
10. Mönckebergstraße, Hamburg

Eating Out In Germany

You can relish some of the best Indian delicacies at these Indian restaurants in Germany:

*Prices are subject to change.

Hotels in Germany

Germany has always been a popular tourist destination and the country offers countless accommodation options across all the cities. Hotels in Germany are relatively expensive and do not offer a refund upon cancellation. And this is where travel insurance will come in the picture and if there is a sudden trip cancellation you can get at least your hotel cost recovered.   

Some of the best hotels for accommodation in Germany are listed below. You can choose one as per your requirement and budget:

• Hilton Munich Airport
• Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport
• Arthotel Munich
• Select Hotel Berlin The Wall
• Mercure Hotel MOA Berl
• Arthotel Munich
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Berlin
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Hamburg Airport
• Hotel Victoria
• Pullman Berlin Schweizerhof

Things to Do in Germany

• For the Bach festival, you can visit Leipzig, for the Handel Festival you can go to the Halle an der Saale or for the biggest International music festival Rock a Ring you can go to the South of Bonn.
• Other things on your list should be the Berlin Open Air festival in Berlin, Berlin Gay pride parade and the Munich Opera Festival. Berlin International Beer Festival is a must if you are planning your vacation in August.
• If you are in Munich, go to Oktoberfest of Germany, which is held at the end of September.
• And if you are visiting in winters, then you can try popular winter sports, such as cross country skiing at the Bavarian Alps or the Black Forest. And you can also enjoy the Karneval celebrations.
• Cologne Literature Festival is a must-visit for all the book lovers and also the Leipzig Book Fair. There is the Frankfurt Spring Fair in Frankfurt. In Germany, there is the biggest Spring Beer festival, The Fruhling Fest in the month of May.

Tops Hospitals in Germany

Nearly 50 percent of the hospitals in Germany are public and 30 percent of the hospitals are university hospitals.  And the rest of them are private hospitals, from which 30 percent are non-profit hospitals and the remaining are profit hospitals. Many of the Germany hospitals offer healthcare services to international citizens. Make sure that you have a travel insurance policy that covers medical expenses while you are traveling to Germany. Here is a list of some of the Best International Hospitals in Germany for Visitors :

• University Hospital Heidelberg
• Asklepios Kliniken Bad Abbach GmbH
• University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
• Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
• University Medical Center Freiburg

University Hospitals in Germany

Germany University Hospitals are institutions that are a great combination of a hospital and medical students/medical research. University hospitals are usually affiliated with university medical schools in Germany. Here are some of the popular ones:

• Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Berufsgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil
• University Medical Center Erlangen
• University Medical Center Freiburg
• University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Local law and Etiquette in Germany

• Buying/Drinking Age - The legal drinking age in Germany is 16, though kids must wait until they're 18 to drink spirits.
• Smoking Age - The legal smoking age in most states in Germany is 18 years. The country had banned the TV advertisement of a cigarette since 1975 Germany in 1975. All the 16 federal states of Germany follow their specific smoking laws. And because of this reason, you would still see smaller restaurants, bars, and cafes offering a small smoking area. But all the public places and areas are smoke-free.
• Emergency Contact Numbers - In Germany, the emergency contact number for fire brigade is 112. It is toll-free number and is reachable from mobiles, phone boot, and even fixed line. The nationwide toll-free number for police is 110 (or otherwise via the 112 operators).

Money Saving Tips to Germany Travellers

• Try Living in Budget Hostels: Hotels in Germany come in all the ranges but good hotels are pricey. For budget travellers it is suggested to look for rooms in any of the dorms or budget hotels.
• Transportation: Taxis are an affordable way to get around the city. You can even see the city on local buses if you do not want to pay hefty taxi expenses.
• Street Eateries: Just like hotels, most of the restaurants in Germany are too costly. Budget travelers and students who want to save money can opt for local eateries.
• Staying Fit in Germany: To avoid paying for medical expenses in Germany it is recommended for students and budget travelers to maintain their health. Additionally, make sure that you buying an international travel insurance policy that covers emergency medical expenses when traveling to Germany.

Embassy Information

Before flying if you have some knowledge about home country’s consulates and country’s embassy it can prove to be useful in different situations involving political tension, loss of identification, a catastrophe that results in evacuation and the likewise. Here are the Indian Embassy and Consulate locations in Germany: