32
edits
Changes
m
As a general rule, you should always stick == Road types ==To hitchhike efficiently in Germany it is good to know the "Autobahn" a long as possible three different kinds of roads between cities and try to change between major "Autobahns" as less as possible, even if this means some detourstowns. As soon as you By descending speed these are on the Highway and stick to service stations, you are hitching fast and reliable. In :* motorways or expressways called ''Autobahn'' with no general you may have to wait quiet long waiving your thumb at on-ramps speed limit (especially if its hard to stop there and/or you are malecan still be signs with speed limits), so if possible it often pays (* federal roads called ''Bundesstraße''* country roads called ''Landstraße''Their use in terms of time and frustration) to travel by foot hitchhiking is different and public transport to the closest service stations. Asking people directly just works better. Other good options are local petrol stations close to the Highway on-rampsexplained below.
Many German motorways have no speed limits=== Autobahn ===For more information, therefore you might wanna first try to get a ride hitching a personal car before asking truck drivers. Trucks are great for a night-ride; however, there are restrictions, like in see the article [[FranceAutobahn]], of when trucks are allowed on a motorway. In Germany most trucks aren't allowed on motorways on Sundays or public holidays before 22:00.
If you travel a specific motorway, have a look at the '''[[TemplateFile:Highways DEBundesautobahn_7_number.svg|"German motorways"thumb|left|150px|A traffic sign indicating Autobahn A7]]The autobahns in Germany are the fastest links between cities. Their numbers consist of an '''A''' page where you can find very specific information and hints about hitchhiking on German motorway ramps, etcthe number of the highway. - for example, On traffic signs the ''A'' is not mentioned but they can be distinguished by the route [[Amsterdam]]–[[Berlin]] along blue colour of the [[A2 (Germany)|A2]] and [[A30 (Germany)|A30]]sign.
* See also: '''Tips on Hitchhiking Germany''', an article The lack of a general speed limit is something most Germans are proud of demonstrating to you and what makes them the best choice for longer distances. Subsequently walking and hitchhiking is illegal on [http://www.digihitch.com/europe/western_europe/149_1_1_article.html Digihitch] by [http://www.digihitch.com/userinfo-dsmith4721.html David Smith]the autobahn and the emergency lane.
=== Legal stuff ===Hitchhiking in As a general is legal in Germany. It is only forbidden rule, you should always stick to hitchhike on the highway itselfAutobahn as long as possible and try to change between major autobahns as little as possible, meaning even if this means some detours. As soon as you standing are on the highway (or its emergency lane). You are perfectly fine stopping at Autobahn and travel between service stations , you are hitching fast and asking the peoplereliable. If you want to start hitching at the highway rampsFor more information about this kind of hitchhiking, make sure you stand before see the rectangular blue sign indicating the start of the highwayarticle on [[petrol station hitchhiking]].
Police As trucks do not travel faster than 90 km/h you might want first try to get a ride hitching a personal car before asking truck drivers. Trucks are great for a night-ride; however, there are restrictions, like in general is really suspicous of hitchhikersFrance, especially in the southern states of [[Bavaria]] when trucks are allowed on an autobahn. In Germany most trucks aren't allowed on motorways on Sundays or [[Baden-Württemberg]]public holidays before 22:00. Be polite and show them your ID (which you should always carry while hitching in Germany) and they will leave you alone (after checking that you are no criminal)As most truck drivers stop earlier truck traffic already gets less on Saturday afternoons.
=== Crossing the border ===Germany has signed a [[Schengen Agreement]] which means Note that borders with other Schengen countries are open. Since 2009it is no longer required to change plates if you move, all neighbour countries are Schengen members as so a HH (Hamburg) car may very well, so there are no border checks at all anymorebelong to someone living in München (M). At the Swiss border, there are still custom controlsmoment this is not yet a big problem, but in due course it may lead to the situation that will probably only affect you if you are license plates become as useless as those in many other countries for determining the direction a truckcar might be going... (Switzerland has joined the Schengen Agreement in 2009!)
=== Maps ===
If you're not staying Recommended maps for Germany are listed in [[Maps#Germany for long you |this article]]. You can easily hitch through having any Germany with just a map of Germany that has motorway petrol all service stations marked along the Autobahn on it. For that, go to any petrol station located on There are maps at many service stations in a motorway and ask for an "Autobahn-Guide" - it is for little free. Youbooklet which are quite misleading, they do '''not'''ll get a booklet describing contain all services on German motorways and including a map with an overview service stations, just the ones belonging to one of all motorway petrol stations and other service areasthe big companies running them. For more information look here: [http://www.tank.rast.de/standorte/servicenetz/index.php tank.rast.de]. While For a good map to print out and bring with you that has all the service stations on it have a petrol station, look here: [http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/684/rastekarte.jpg/ Rastekarte]. This is the same one you can also will find at the service stations as big overview maps, more detailed maps for ~5 Eurooften than not those can be nicked very easily as well.
Recommended maps for hitchhiking are '''Michelin Regional''', On the orange ones with the numbers 541website: www.autobahnatlas-546online. There are six de you can find detailed listings of these mapsall Autobahnen, with all drive-ups, each covering a different part interchanges, all types of Germany. They are very detailed and show every single petrol stationrest stops, hoteltunnels, restaurantand bridges along their ways, or a parking place on German motorwayswith exact kilometer allegations. The scale is equal This comes along handy when hopping from station to 1:350000. Bigger city maps are included, too. You can usually get these maps in local bookstores for about EUR 8station.
Hitchhiker On a longer journey with several route options, [[Userhttps:Platschi|Platschi]] suggests that the ''Aral Straßen//www.diercke.de/content/deutschland-stra%C3%9Fenverkehr-978-3-14-100800-5-64-1-Atlas Deutschland & Europa'' can be very good for hitchhiking trips, too: it contains a detailed 1 this map of Germany and of ] showing the bordering countries, with city maps traffic volume of the biggest German cities, and all service stations located on motorways. Price: EUR 7,95. Available on all ''Aral'' service stations, and in German bookstoresdifferent highways might help you deciding which could be faster due to more traffic.
=== Eating ===Try to avoid eating For those using mobile app MAPS.ME, you may download a .kml file with all the service plazas for viewing on your map offline. Considering Germany is extremely well mapped on motorway [[rest area|service stationshttps://openstreetmap.org OpenStreetMap]] if you want , these locations can be assumed to save money be very accurate and up-to have a good taste of food-date. These restaurants are notoriously expensive (very often you have to pay for You can view the toilet, too) [https://overpass-turbo.eu/s/MGq data extract here] and click Export > Download as KML and then open the food quality is quite low.kml file on your phone to be loaded in MAPS.ME
At some service stations == Language ==Despite German being the major language, (with a [[Sanifair]] system you get a EUR 0,50 coupon for over 95% of the toilet which you can use population speaking it as a valid equivalent to monetary payment when buying things at the petrol station shop or in the restaurant. If you're lucky you can also find thrown away first language [http://hitchwikiwww.bbc.co.orguk/languages/european_languages/encountries/Image:Sanifair_vouchergermany.jpg Sanifair vouchersshtml] for free) you will find that many Germans speak English or French as a second language. Other common languages in the country are Turkish, Russian and Arabic.
Nearly everywhere in Germany you === Learning to speak German ===The basic hitchhiker needs can drink water from be satisfied by a look at the tapphrasebook [[western Europe phrasebook|here]].
Keep in mind When asking your drivers for help it pays off to know that most shops (including supermarkets) are not allowed the German word ''Straße'' for street contains the weird letter ''ß'' which looks a bit like a B. If you pronounce it like an ''s'' Germans will understand you. Contrary to be open popular belief the diacritics on Sundays. There are no 24h-shopsÄ, ä, Ö, although non-stop petrol stations often offer some food choices (very limitedö, though)Ü and ü are not metal umlauts and thus they do affect pronunciation. When If in bigger citiesdoubt try to pronounce the word as if the diacritics didn't exist. For instance, if you can usually get pronounce the cheapest food at Turkish and Italian restaurantscity ''Würzburg'' as ''Wurzburg'' you will probably be understood.
See [http://trashwiki.org/en/Germany trashwiki] for info on dumpster diving for free food in Germany.== Useful links ==
=== Speaking ===Have a look at the phrasebook * [https://warmroads.de/en/hitchhiking-in-17-germany/ Comprehensive guide about hitchhiking in Germany] by [[GermanUser:Korn|hereKorn]] on https://warmroads.de* [http://deu.anarchopedia.org/index.php/Deutschland:Trampstellen Hitchhiking spots in Germany], in German, on a GFDL wiki* [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Autobahn_1-999.png Overview of autobahns in Germany]*[www.mokli-help.de] helps you find free showers/food/emergency accommodations, some of the listed ressources are aiming to ‘solve the problem of homelessness’ - just pick what suits you (please delete if it doesn’t belong here)*
== Practical links ==* [http://deu.anarchopedia.org/index.php/Deutschland:Trampstellen Hitchhiking spots in Germany], in German, on a GFDL wiki* [http://www.hitch-hiking.org/ www.hitch-hiking.org], general information on hitchhiking (in English and German)* [http://www.liftershalte.info/?country=DE A map with good/bad places to hitchhike]* [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Autobahn_1-999.png Overview of motorways in Germany]* [http://www.best-restaurants.de/aurade.htm A map with motorway restaurants in Germany]* [http://www.gastro-stars.com Best Restaurants in Germany]* [http://www.tank.rast.de/standorte/servicenetz/index.php/ Service stations on German motorways]{{nomadwiki}}
{{Hitchbase_country|73}}
[[wikipedia:Germany]][[trash:Germany]][[digi:Germany]]__NOTOC__
→Useful links
|pop = 82,314,900
|currency = Euro (€)
|hitch = <rating countrygood>|BW ='de' />DE
}}
[[File:2003 Hitch-hiking in Germany.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[User:Sigurdas|Sigurdas]] thumbing towards Nürnberg, 2003.]]
'''Germany''' is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]]. It is a great country for [[hitchhiking]], both on motorways (via [[on-ramp]]s, [[rest area|service stationstations]]s, more seldom - parking lots) and local roads. Motorway is called ''Autobahn'' in GermanGermans are a little bit suspicious, while a [[service area]] is ''Raststätte''but nice if you get to know them. Latter one is a very common place Thumbing makes it easier for hitching a ride - many drivers stop there for re-fuel and some restthem to say "no", because they do not even have to look at you. There you Those who will stop are often find [[maps]] people who hitchhiked themselves when they were younger. Many of Germany them have families, jobs and surrounding countries that indicate every single petrol station or any other service area located on motorways; in addition, there are map stands (usually by fast cars now.Because of the main entrance to a petrol station) that give a general overview absence of all service areas speed limits on the territory of Germany. Motorway ramps usually are many motorways it's a good option country to get a free ride, too. One has to make sure, though, not to end up on co called ''Schnellstrasse'' (it usually leads to motorways) where cars go fast and can not stophitchhike long distances in short time.__TOC__
If you travel a specific autobahn, have a look at the [[autobahn]] page where you can find very specific information and hints about hitchhiking on German motorway ramps, etc. - for example, the route [[Amsterdam]]–[[Berlin]] along the [[A2 (Germany)|A2]] and [[A30 (Germany)|A30]]. ==== Getting onto the autobahn ====[[File:Zeichen 330.svg|thumb|right|100px|The on-ramp sign of an autobahn]] To get onto the autobahn either hitch a ride from a city, thumb at the on-ramp '''before''' the sign or go to a service station by public transportation and walk there. A good possibility is to look for a street with traffic lights that leads to an autobahn. Wait for the red light, then knock at the windows (do not forget to smile!) and ask for a ride. If you look neither like a homeless nor like a drug dealer, they will be happy to help you. ==== Service stations and rest areas ====You have various possibilities for being dropped off along the autobahn to look for your next ride. As petrol station hitchhiking is faster, try to avoid being dropped at on-ramps where you have to thumb. On the autobahn, it is preferable to be dropped off at a service station instead of a rest area as rest areas have much less cars stopping. [[File:Zeichen 448.1.svg|thumb|right|150px|Autobahn traffic sign of an Autohof]] The ''Raststätte'' is the usual choice for hitchhiking because most cars tend to refuel there. Make sure your ''Raststätte'' has not just a restaurant but also a petrol stations because more people stop there and they leave quicker. Most ''Raststätten'' are on both sides of the autobahn and there is often a bridge or tunnel nearby to cross. Therefore you might consider hitchhiking to a ''Raststätte'' in the opposite direction first to get onto the highway quicker. At the entrance of the petrol station shop there are usually map stands that show the surrounding area and other service stations in Germany.With a few exceptions all service stations can be entered by foot from the side and feature an unlocked door in the fence or wall. The off-autobahn ''Autohof'' is a local fuel station that is marked on traffic signs on the autobahn. Food and fuel is cheaper there but most car drivers don't bother and thus mostly trucks stop there. This means that they are okay on weekdays but have to be avoided on Saturday evenings and Sundays at all cost. Another disadvantage for continuing on the autobahn is that local traffic also stops at the ''Autohof''. === Federal ''Bundesstraße'' roads === [[File:Bundesstraße 42 number.svg|thumb|right|150px|A traffic sign indicating Bundesstraße B42]] The federal ''Bundesstraße'' roads are indicated by yellow signs and carry numbers like ''B6'' or ''B49''. Like in the case of the autobahn the ''B'' is not written on traffic signs, but federal roads can be distinguished by the yellow colour of the sign. As they are smaller and carry more local traffic they should only be used to get from and to the autobahn, though there are a few exceptions to the rule. Their general speed limit is 100 km/h and they usually have no emergency lane so they are difficult to thumb. To get a ride either try petrol stations or choose a place where have a lot of space to see you and stop or where they are going slower, e.g. town exits. Police might consider it illegal to thumb in sites where cars cannot stop without putting the traffic in danger. [[File:Zeichen 331.1 - Kraftfahrstraße, StVO 2013.svg|thumb|right|150px|A fraffic sign indicating the beginning of a ''Kraftfahrstraße'']]To make it more complicated some of the ''Bundesstraßen'' are a so called ''Kraftfahrstraße''. For them most of the ''Autobahn''-rules apply (e.g. no pedestrians and bikes allowed). You can recognise a ''Kraftfahrstraße'' by the sign of a white car in front of a blue backround. === Smaller federal ''Landstraße'' roads === These roads are not numbered on traffic signs and usually connect minor towns. As most of them have lower speed limits thumbing is likely to work. As they might not have a lot of traffic coming through they should only be used for getting from and to you final destination. == The Ruhr area warning == When hitch hiking towards and from Belgium, be carreful passing the Ruhr area (Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg). Once you get in, it's difficult to get out. Raststättes are rare and passing traffic avoids this region. We tried on several places and had to take the train to pass this area (lost 5 hours). There are sufficient work arounds to avoid this area. See also the hitchwiki page of the [[Ruhr Area]]. == Legal stuff ==Hitchhiking in general is legal in Germany. It is only forbidden to hitchhike on the Autobahn itself, meaning you standing on the autobahn or its emergency lane. It is also forbidden to walk on a ''Kraftfahrstraße''. You are perfectly fine stopping at service stations and asking the people but keep in mind that service stations are private property / leases. It occasionally happened that owners try to get rid of hichthikers at "their" service station. If that happens, just move to the parking space and hitchhike there.If you want to start hitching at the on-ramps, make sure you stand before the rectangular blue sign indicating the start of the autobahn. Just like other people, police may or may not be friendly towards hitchhikers. It is said that police controls are more frequent in the southern states of [[Bavaria]] and [[Baden-Württemberg]]. As a foreigner you have to carry your passport at all times; a national ID card is sufficient if you are from another EU country. If you are being checked, be friendly, show it to them and they will leave you alone. === Car registration/number plates ===You can determine where a car is registered by its number plates. While tehre are certain plates on rented cars. (Europcar has „HH“ (Hamburg), Avis – „EU“ (Euskirchen), Sixt – „M“ (Munich), Hertz „DN-H“ (Düren)), other plates are associated with areas [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Kfz-Kennzeichen_in_Deutschland - DE], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Germany EN]. The first letter is usually the district where it is registered. In addition, there is a little patch beside the number which tells you what state that number plate belongs to, which is useful if you do not know the district letters. == License plates ===
There are between one and three letters on a license plate which show the city or region where the car is registered. For example, look for license plates starting with '''B''' if you're hitching to [[Berlin]]. Have a look at the articles on Wikipedia for more information: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_car_number_plates German car number plates] (in English) and [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Kfz-Kennzeichen_in_Deutschland Liste der Kfz-Kennzeichen in Deutschland] (in German).
[[File:IMG 5392.JPG|thumb|250px|right|[[Tiziano]] hitching from [[Berlin]] to [[Munich]]]]
== Trains Trashwiki & Nomadwiki ==See [[Deutsche Bahn]].
<!--* [http://www.linksundrechts.com/karten/u_oesterreich.gif Autobahnübersicht Österreich]
* [http://www.bibione.com/upload//sito_bibione/162sito_bibione.jpg Bibione Strand]
-->
{{Highways DE}}
{{IsIn|Western Europe}}
[[Category:Germany| ]]
[[fr:Allemagne]]
[[pl:Niemcy]]
[[ru:Германия]]
[[tr:Almanya]]