Country Information

Country Code: . Local and international calls can be made from phone boxes in towns and cities. These usually accept both coins and pre-paid cards (available at post offices and other outlets). In larger cities, you'll often be able to make international calls from internet cafes too.

Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good. It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving. If you're going to be in Germany for a long period of time, consider obtaining a local SIM card.

Internet is readily available; there are many Internet cafes all over the country. Large Internet access centres exist in most main cities. Most hotels also provide facilities, either included in the room rate or charged separately.

Each of the country's 16 regions regulates its own private and public broadcasting, and operates public TV and radio services. The country has one of the largest and most diverse TV markets in the world. It’s also home to some of the world's largest media conglomerates, such as Bertelsmann and Bauer Media Group. The most influential daily papers include Die Welt, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Süddeutsche Zeitung. The most widely read of the weekly publications are Der Spiegel (a current affairs magazine) and Die Zeit (a quality weekly newspaper). Many major English-language newspapers and international magazines are also available in large cities.Sky Deutschland (previously Premiere) is a pay-TV operator. ARD and ZDF operate the public national TV channels; RTL operates entertainment channels. Deutsche Welle is the international TV service, and operates in a number of different languages; Arte is a Franco-German cultural channel. Deutschlandradio operates national public radio stations, Deutschlandfunk and Deutschlandradio Kultur; Deutsche Welle also broadcasts radio in many languages.

Stamps are available from hotels, slot machines and post offices.

Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1200. Smaller branches may close for lunch.