Getting There By Road

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Germany is covered by an excellent and extensive system of major roads and motorways. Traffic drives on the right and the minimum age for driving is 18. There are no tolls or speed limits on the German motorways (the famous Autobahnen) but a maximum of 130kph (81mph) is recommended. On other roads, speed limits are 130kph (81mph) or 100kph (62mph) on major and minor roads outside the cities, and 50kph (30mph) in built-up areas. Foreign drivers require their national driving licence and proof of insurance – third-party insurance is mandatory, but a green card is strongly recommended. A country identification sticker or national licence plate must be displayed on the vehicle.

Emergency breakdown services
ADAC (tel: 01802 222 222).

Routes to the city
The A1 motorway runs to Hamburg from the southwest and north, the A7 from the north and south, the A23 from the northwest and the A24 from the east. Road signs and directions to Hamburg are clear and frequently posted.

Driving times to the city
From Berlin – 2 hours 30 minutes; Copenhagen – 3 hours; Amsterdam – 4 hours; Paris – 8 hours; Zurich – 8 hours 30 minutes. If you want to take your car to Hamburg from the UK, you will have to take the Eurostar to Calais or Brussels and drive for a further 763km (477 miles) or 588km (365 miles) respectively.

Coach services
National Express (tel: 0871 781 8181, in the UK; www.nationalexpress.com) runs a regular coach service from London to Hamburg.