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As [[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 general rule, you should always stick to the "Autobahn" restaurant but also a long as possible petrol stations because more people stop there and try to change between major "Autobahns" as less as possible, even if this means some detoursthey leave quicker. As soon as you Most ''Raststätten'' are on both sides of the Autobahn autobahn and stick there is often a bridge or tunnel nearby to service stations, you are hitching fast and reliablecross. In general Therefore you may have might consider hitchhiking to wait quiet long waiving your thumb at on-ramps (especially if its hard a ''Raststätte'' in the opposite direction first to stop get onto the highway quicker. At the entrance of the petrol station shop there and/or you are male), so if possible it often pays (in terms of time usually map stands that show the surrounding area and frustration) to travel by foot and public transport to the closest other service stations. Asking people directly just works better. Other good options are local petrol stations close to Autobahn on-rampsin Germany.
Many German motorways have no speed limits, therefore you might want first try to get The off-autobahn ''Autohof'' is a ride hitching a personal local fuel station that is marked on traffic signs on the autobahn. Food and fuel is cheaper there but most car before asking truck driversdon't bother and thus mostly trucks stop there. Trucks This means that they are great okay on weekdays but have to be avoided on saturday evenings and sundays at all cost. Another disadvantage for a night-ride; however, there are restrictions, like in [[France]], of when trucks are allowed continuing on a motorway. In Germany most trucks arenthe autobahn is that local traffic also stops at the ''Autohof''t allowed on motorways on Sundays or public holidays before 22:00.
If you travel a specific motorway, have a look at the === Federal ''Bundesstraße'[[Template:Highways DE|"German motorways"]]''' 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]].roads ===
Germans [[File:Bundesstraße 42 number.svg|thumb|right|150px|A traffic sign indicating Bundesstraße B42]] The federal ''Bundesstraße'' roads are a little bit suspiciousindicated 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 nice if you get to know themfederal roads can be distinguished by the yellow color of the sign. Thumbing makes it easier for them to say "no", because As they do not even have to look at you. Those who will stop are usually people who hitchhiked when smaller and carry more local traffic they were younger, but there are should only few of them be used to get from and today it is not common any more. The best way to hitchhike in Germany is to look for a street with traffic lights that leads to a motorway. Wait for the red lightautobahn, then knock at the windows (do not forget to smile!) and ask for though there are a ride. If you look neither like a homeless nor like a drug dealer, they will be happy few exceptions to help youthe rule.
* See also: '''Tips on Hitchhiking Germany''', an article on [http:Their general speed limit is 100 km//wwwh and they usually have no emergency lane so they are difficult to thumb.digihitchTo 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.com/europe/western_europe/149_1_1_articleg.html Digihitch] by [http://wwwtown exits.digihitch.com/userinfo-dsmith4721.html David Smith]Police might consider it illegal to thumb in sites where cars cannot stop without putting the traffic in danger. === Smaller federal ''Landstraße'' roads ===
=== Legal stuff ===Hitchhiking in general is legal in GermanyThese roads are not numbered on traffic signs and usually connect minor towns. It As most of them have lower speed limits thumbing is only forbidden likely to hitchhike on the Autobahn itself, meaning you standing on the motorway or its emergency lanework. You are perfectly fine stopping at service stations As they might not have a lot of traffic coming through they should only be used for getting from and asking the people. If you want to start hitching at the motorway ramps, make sure you stand before the rectangular blue sign indicating the start of the motorwayfinal destination.
Just like normal people== Legal stuff ==Hitchhiking in general is legal in Germany. It is only forbidden to hitchhike on the Autobahn itself, police may meaning you standing on the autobahn or may not be friendly towards hitchhikersits emergency lane. It is said that police controls You are more frequent in perfectly fine stopping at service stations and asking the southern states of [[Bavaria]] and [[Baden-Württemberg]]people. As a foreigner If you have want to carry your passport start hitching at all times; a national ID card is sufficient if you are from another EU country. If you are being checkedthe on-ramps, be friendly, show it to them and they will leave make sure you alone after checking that you are not wantedstand before the rectangular blue sign indicating the start of the autobahn.
=== License plates ===There Just like other people, police may or may not be friendly towards hitchhikers. It is said that police controls are between one more frequent in the southern states of [[Bavaria]] 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 [[BerlinBaden-Württemberg]]. Have As a look foreigner you have to carry your passport at the articles on Wikipedia for more information: [http://enall times; a national ID card is sufficient if you are from another EU country.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_car_number_plates German car number plates] (in English) If you are being checked, be friendly, show it to them and [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Kfz-Kennzeichen_in_Deutschland Liste der Kfz-Kennzeichen in Deutschland] (in German)they will leave you alone after checking that you are not wanted.
=== Food and drink===
==== Eating on the Autobahn ====Try to avoid eating on Autobahn autobahn [[rest area|service stations]] if you want to save money and if have a good taste of food. These restaurants are notoriously expensive and the food quality is quite low. If you're lucky you can find thrown away [http://hitchwiki.org/en/Image:Sanifair_voucher.jpg Sanifair vouchers] of the toilet system. You get a cumulative 0.50 euro rebate for them in the shop.
=== Hygiene ===
=== Language ===
==== Learning to speak German ====
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[[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 stations]], more seldom - parking lots) and local roads. Motorway Germans are a little bit suspicious, but nice if you get to know them. Thumbing makes it easier for them to say "no", because they do not even have to look at you. Those who will stop are usually people who hitchhiked when they were younger, but there are only few of them and today it is not common any more.* See also: '''Tips on Hitchhiking Germany''', an article on [http://www.digihitch.com/europe/western_europe/149_1_1_article.html Digihitch] by [http://www.digihitch.com/userinfo-dsmith4721.html David Smith]. == Road types == To hitchhike efficiently in Germany it is good to know the three different kinds of roads between cities and towns. By descending speed these are:*motorways or expressways called ''Autobahn'' with no speed limit*federal roads called ''Bundesstraße''*country roads called ''Landstraße''Their use in Germanhitchhiking is different and explained below. === Autobahn === For more information, while a see the article [[autobahn]]. [[rest areaFile:Bundesautobahn_7_number.svg|thumb|left|150px|service areaA traffic sign indicating autobahn A7]] is The autobahns in Germany are the fastest links between cities. Their numbers consist of an '''A'Raststätte''and the number of the highway. Latter one On traffic signs the ''A'' is not mentioned but they can be distinguished by the blue color of the sign. The lack of a very common place 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 the autobahn and the emergency lane. As a general rule, you should always stick to the autobahn as long as possible and try to change between major autobahns seldomly, even if this means some detours. As soon as you are on the autobahn and travel between service stations, you are hitching fast and reliable. For more information about this kind of hitchhiking, see the article on [[petrol station hitchhiking]]. 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- many ride; however, there are restrictions, like in France, of when trucks are allowed on an autobahn. In Germany most trucks aren't allowed on motorways on Sundays or public holidays before 22:00. As most truck drivers stop there for fuel and some restearlier truck traffic already gets less on saturday afternoons. There If you will often travel a specific autobahn, have a look at the [[Autobahn|autobahn]] page where you can find very specific information and hints about hitchhiking on German motorway ramps, etc. - for example, the route [[mapsAmsterdam]] of –[[Berlin]] along the [[A2 (Germany )|A2]] and surrounding countries that indicate every single petrol station or any other service area located [[A30 (Germany)|A30]]. ==== Getting onto the autobahn ==== [[File:Zeichen 330.svg|thumb|right|100px|The on motorways; in addition-ramp sign of an autobahn]] To get onto the autobahn either hitch a ride from a city, there are map stands (usually by thumb at the on-ramp '''before''' the main entrance sign or go to a petrol service stationby 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!) that give and ask for a ride. If you look neither like a homeless nor like a general overview of all service drug dealer, they will be happy to help you. ==== Service stations and rest areas on ==== You have various possibilities for being dropped off along the territory of Germanyautobahn to look for your next ride. Motorway As petrol station hitchhiking is faster, try to avoid being dropped at on-ramps usually are where you have to thumb. On the autobahn, it is preferable to be dropped off at a good option to get service station instead of a free ride, toorest area as rest areas have much less cars stopping. One has If you don't have to leave the autobahn to make sure, though, not get to end the service station it is called ''Raststätte'' whilst service stations up on co to about 500 metres from the autobahn are called ''SchnellstrasseAutohof'' (it usually leads to motorways) where cars go fast . With a few exeptions all service stations can be entered by foot from the side and can not stopfeature an unlocked door in the fence or wall.
=== Crossing the border ===
At the Swiss border, there are still custom controls, but that will probably only affect you if you are on a truck. (Switzerland has joined the Schengen Agreement in 2009!)
== 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). == Maps ===
[[File:IMG 5392.JPG|thumb|250px|right|[[Tiziano]] hitching from [[Berlin]] to [[Munich]]]]
Recommended maps for Germany are listed in [[Maps#Germany|this article]]. You can easily hitch through Germany with just a map that has all service stations along the Autobahn on it. There are maps at many service stations in a little free booklet which are quite misleading, they do '''not''' contain all service stations, just the ones belonging to one of the big companies running them.
For more information look here: [http://www.tank.rast.de/standorte/servicenetz/index.php tank.rast.de]. For a good map to print out and bring with you that has all the service stations on it have a look here: [http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/684/rastekarte.jpg/ Rastekarte]. This is the same one you will find at the service stations as big overview maps, more often than not those can be nicked very easily as well.
Drinking tap water is safe all over the country. You can usually get inexpensive but good food at Italian and Turkish takeaways, the latter ones have ''Döner'' or ''Kebap'' written on them. Typical German fast food shops are marked with ''Imbiss'' signs and sell cheap sausages and french fries. Keep in mind that most shops including supermarkets are not allowed to be open after 20:00 and on Sundays. Petrol stations, 24-h shops and kiosks have a very limited food choice and are more expensive. As a free alternative you can try dumpster diving. More information on this can be found in the [http://trashwiki.org/en/Germany trashwiki article on Germany].
Most toilets on the service stations are maintained by [[Sanifair]] and are clean. You get a 0.50 euro coupon as part of the 0.70 euro service fee, which you can redeem when buying things at the petrol station shop or in the restaurant. [[User:Pathofdhamma|Pathofdhamma]] suggest to seize the moment and jump the barrier if there are no people or cameras around. The turnstyle is only blocked for the inwards direction. With some luck and smooth moves, you can sneak in. Turn it towards you, walk one step; turn it again, walk another step: you are in!
There are showers in most ''Raststätte'' and ''Autohof'' service stations on the highway and near the highway (called ''Autohof'')autobahn. Prices are between 2 euro and 5 euro.
Despite German being the major language, (with over 95% of the population speaking it as a first language [http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/european_languages/countries/germany.shtml]) 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.
The basic hitchhiker needs can be satisfied by a look at the phrasebook [[western Europe phrasebook|here]].
When asking your drivers for help it pays off to know that 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 popular belief the diacritics on Ä, ä, Ö, ö, Ü and ü are not metal umlauts and thus they do affect pronounciation. If in doubt try to pronounce the word as if the diacritics didn't exist. For instance, if you pronounce the city ''Würzburg'' as ''Wurzburg'' you will probably be understood.
== Other possibilities of transportation ==
Other cheap possibilities include [[carpooling]] and special offers of the German railways [[Deutsche Bahn]].
=== Railways ===
* [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 autobahns in Germany]* [http://www.best-restaurants.de/aurade.htm A map with motorway autobahn 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 motorwaysautobahns]
<!--* [http://www.linksundrechts.com/karten/u_oesterreich.gif Autobahnübersicht Österreich]
