Banks: 08:30 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 15:30, Monday to Friday (many banks open until 17:30 on Thursdays)
Post offices: 08:00 to 20:00, Monday to Friday; 08:00 to 18:00, Saturday; 10:00 to 16:00 Sunday
Government departments: 09:00to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday; 09:00 to 14:00, Saturday
Shops: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday; 09:00 to 13:00, Saturday; late night shopping on Thursdays to 20:30

Hamburg is a clean and safe large city, but, as with anywhere, keep your wits about you and especially at night. Places to be most aware of are Mönckebergstrasse, the Reeperbahn and around the central Hauptbahnhof train station where pickpockets are more likely to be.

The Reeperbahn has a large police presence here that makes it one of the safest nightspots. Hamburg police differ to police forces in the rest of the country, including the federal German police, in that they wear blue uniforms as opposed to green.

Swimming in the Elbe River is popular in the summer months but keeping clear of ships passing by goes without saying. Large waves crash against the shore from passing cargo containers and keeping an eye on kids when at the shoreline is also advised.

Police: 110
Electricity: 240 volts, 50Hz

Germany is a healthy nation with an excellent health service and Hamburg has a good standard of hospitals and clinics. Germany has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, whereby free emergency medical treatment is available to those country’s citizens on presentation of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

There is no substitute for proper health insurance, however, where policies should include coverage for medical eventualities, accidents, theft, lost baggage and missed flights et cetera.

Health risks specific to Hamburg include being careful when bathing in the River Elbe and when on the lakes and being mindful of the busy traffic, especially when one is travelling with kids.

Hamburg lies in the north of Germany, on the river Elbe, between the Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony regions. Apart from the official High German spoken here, the visitor may encounter the German variant known as Plattdeutsch, which has Dutch, Frisian, and English slants and is slightly different. Most people in public service in Hamburg will be able to speak English and the great majority of visitors will have no problems getting by with just speaking English. However, the Germans respect foreigners who try to learn their language and encourage them to do so, and you will have a much better time if you learn basic civilities in German.

The euro (EUR) replaced the German Deutsche Mark (DEM) in 2002 as with many other European nations. Euros come in denominations of: €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10, and €5. Note. Changing €500 notes can be tough. Euros are divided into 100 centimes (cents) and come in gold-and-silver coloured €2 and €1 dollar pieces; gold-coloured 50, 20 and 10 centimes and copper-coloured 5, 2 and 1 pieces.

It is always worth changing money before you arrive at your destination although you will get a better rate of exchange at Hamburg Airport. There is a ReiseBank at the airport as well as conveniently located in the Hauptbahnhof and Altona stations. One can also change foreign currency at banks and booths.

ATMs (geldautomat in Germany) offer the most convenient way to draw money from home and many participating banks in Hamburg allow you to draw euros on your account. Those with Cirrus and PLUS impregnated cards will generally have the best chance of finding participating ATMs. Simply input your standard PIN number.

Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are the most readily accepted credit cards although Germans are still less credit card-friendly than many other nations. Large shops, hotels, and fuel stations will generally take credit cards.

Using traveller’s cheques is still a popular method of obtaining foreign currency overseas and American Express are the most commonly accepted in Germany, while Thomas Cook, Visa, and MasterCard traveller’s checks are also widely accepted.

The following items can be brought into Germany duty-free: 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco; one litre of spirits, two litres of wine, and a reasonable amount of gifts. Note. Passengers must be at least 17 years of age to bring in liquor and cigarettes. Those bringing in drugs illegally into Germany are treated harshly.

Germans can be somewhat reserved and abrupt at the same time and it is worth taking note of a few social conventions so you don’t get caught out. For starters, make sure you place the right trash in the right bins when out and about as Germans take their recycling efforts very seriously.

While shaking hands, take your other hand out of your pocket and make sure you are punctual if meeting one of the locals. Germans tend to speak their mind, even among strangers, and while they may not warm to you immediately, don’t be offended by the abruptness.

Germans are very proud of their nation and history, with the general exception of WWII where most people didn’t agree with what their country was up to, so it is worth not bringing the war up in light conversation.

Dining Etiquette
It is custom to say ‘guten appetit’ or ‘mahlzeit’ before starting a meal, or even the obligatory French ‘bon appetit’. Germans are also fairly up on table manners and you should not eat with your mouth full, place elbows on the table, or eat with your hands unless the meal dictates it.

Dress is pretty important although you will not be chastised for dressing overly casual in a typical Hamburg restaurant. Simply not wearing scruffy clothes, beach attire and trainers will see you through.

Make sure you are punctual and bring a small gift if you have been invited home to dine with German friends.

Service charge is always included in the bill at a restaurant and although many locals simply round up to the nearest euro, tipping isn't compulsory and the Germans aren’t big tippers.

Visitors from the EU do not need a visa to enter Germany and those with ID cards can simply enter the country with them. Citizens from the UK must carry their valid passport.

Visas are also not needed for citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for visits of up to three months, but these nationalities should always ensure that their passports are valid for at least six months beyond their intended exit date.

Hamburg has a few tourist information centres where maps and information on attractions are readily available. The main one in town is located in the Hauptbahnhof: Kirchenallee Main Entrance. Phone: +49 40 3005 1201. Hamburg Tourismus GmbH is another useful one and is located at: Steinstrasse 7. Phone: +49 40 300 51 300; website www.hamburg-tourismus.de