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Camping in Germany: mountains, forests and inviting cities

That you can enjoy a wonderful camping holiday full of variety in Germany goes without saying. The countryside is very contrasting, from the North German lowlands and the East Friesian Wadden Sea islands to the Alps in the south. Sightseeing can be just as varied and ranges from fairytale castles and historic towns to famous rivers and lakes. And then there are the metropolis cities such as Hamburg and Munich… Germany has it all!

On holiday in Germany – another world

The Lüneburg Heath, the largest continuous heathland in Europe is located in northern Germany. It is a popular destination for a motoring holiday Germany. The small town of Celle is right on the edge and has a well preserved centre full of half timbered merchants’ houses and a huge castle surrounded by a moat. Other places for an interesting day trip from your camp site in northern Germany are the Hanseatic towns of Lübeck, Bremen and Hamburg.

Discover the Baltic Sea coast, islands and lakes of northern Germany

Northern Germany is an excellent choice for lovers of nature and culture. If you’re a keen cyclist, we recommend the Baltic Sea Cycle Route. This cycle path runs along the German Baltic Sea coast from Flensburg to the island of Usedom. Along the way, you’ll pass lovely cities such as Lübeck and Rostock, and extensive beaches with their typical wicker beach chairs. On the scenic islands such as Zingst and Rügen, you’ll find attractive campsites in the middle of unique landscapes. If you love water sports, peace and quiet, or birds, the East German lakes of the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte (Mecklenburg Lake District) region are highly recommended. In a water-rich area of more than 100 lakes, you might be lucky and spot white-tailed eagles or ospreys. And in spring, countless cranes come here to breed.

Camping by the River Moselle

Go on a voyage of discovery in the Moselle Valley. It’s a delightful area for a camping holiday. You’ll have a fabulous view of the meandering river and the green vineyards covering the steep slopes. Along the way, you can explore lovely places such as Koblenz, Cochem and Trier. Stop off along the way at a beautiful castle, then finish the day with a wine-tasting. Because all over the Moselle Valley, you’ll find wineries that are proud of their harvest. Would you rather leave your caravan or tent in just one place? The Moselle Valley is also ideal as a base. Most campsites in the Moselle Valley are right by the river. Great for some quiet fishing or a refreshing swim in summer.

Camping in the Eiffel

The Eiffel is located further to the south, a wooded area full of lakes formed by craters and trickling mountain streams, also known as Little Switzerland. This make the Eiffel perfect for those who like long walks and the countryside. And when you are staying at a camp site in the Eiffel be sure to visit beautiful Trier, Germany’s oldest town! From your Eiffel camp site you can follow the Mosel upstream and visit the wine growing areas to sample a glass in the wine centres of Rüdesheim, Eberbach or Bernkastel.

Camping in the Black Forest

Another famous destination for motoring holidays in Germany is the Black Forest (Schwarzwald). There are wonderful views here of valleys, mountain streams and waterfalls carved out by the glaciers, and no fewer than 7000 km of marked footpaths. So there are plenty of camp sites to suit hikers in the Black Forest! Baden Baden as its name suggests is one of the principal spa resorts in the area and is a popular day out for many people who go camping in the Black Forest.

Camping in Bavaria

Bavaria borders onto the Czech Republic and Austria. A huge area with old traditions, friendly locals and undulating scenery filled with forests of conifers and interesting little towns, which has plenty on offer for a wonderful motoring holiday. If you want to go out for a day in Bavaria you are spoilt for choice. To Munich for example for the traditional Oktoberfeste where everything revolves around the theme of Beer and Bratwurst (German sausage!), or to the chique BMW museum. Würzburg is noted for its picturesque centre full of Baroque and Rococo influences and of course for its famous castle high up overlooking the river.

From cathedrals to fine dining

In Germany, it’s easy to combine your camping holiday with a city trip. You’ll find a number of ACSI campsites near beautiful and lively cities such as Berlin, Dresden and Munich. Marvel at the history of centuries-old cathedrals and castles, and enjoy German hospitality with delicious food and drink.

Important information for your trip to Germany

Petrol (Super 95, Super 95 E10 and Super Plus 98) is easily available (if you want to fill up with E10, check the fuel tank opening, the manual or your car dealer to find out whether your car can run on this fuel). Diesel and LPG are also easy to find.The European connector (ACME) is used for filling up with LPG. Most petrol stations are open at least from 8:00 to 20:00 CET and those on motorways are often open day and night.There are also unstaffed petrol stations.

There are many charging points for electric cars, although there are also some areas with less comprehensive coverage. Please take note of the various charging rates. It’s sometimes cheaper to charge your car at night.
You’ll find a list of the charging points on ladesaeulenregister.de.

Dimmed headlights are obligatory in bad visibility, in the dark and in tunnels. At a crossroads without any designated priorities, traffic coming from the right has priority. Traffic on a roundabout has priority if this is indicated by a priority sign. Uphill traffic has priority over downhill traffic (but on narrow mountain roads, the vehicle that can most easily move out of the way must give way).You’re forbidden from holding a telephone while sitting behind the wheel, even if the vehicle is motionless (hands-free phoning is permitted).
Children under the age of 12 years and under 1.50 metres in height must sit in a child car seat.
Winter tyres are required in winter weather conditions. Many German cities also have low emission zones where the German emissions sticker is required.

If you’re in a traffic jam, you must move as far as possible to the right or left, to create a free lane (Rettungsgasse) in the middle for emergency vehicles. When overtaking cyclists (including those on a cycle lane), you must maintain a lateral distance of at least 1.50 metres. In Germany, cars are not permitted on a dedicated ‘bicycle road’ (Fahrradstraße), unless indicated otherwise. Zig-zag lines on the road indicate that you’re not permitted to stop or park there.

It’s obligatory to have a warning triangle, a high-visibility safety vest and a first-aid kit in your vehicle.

A camper van or car-caravan combination may be a maximum of 4 metres high, 2.55 metres wide and 18 metres long (the caravan itself may be a maximum of 12 metres long). On motorways with three or more lanes, you may not drive with a caravan in the lane furthest to the left, unless you want to turn left. If you’re towing a caravan weighing more than 750 kg, you must have 2 wheel chocks.

A cycle helmet is not obligatory. It’s forbidden to telephone or message while cycling. Children must cycle on the pavement and cross roads on foot until they’re 8 years old. Cyclists must be aged 16 years or older before they’re allowed to transport a child under 7 years in a child bicycle seat. Cycling side-by-side is only permitted on a cycle path that is separated from the road by a raised barrier or a grass strip.

An environmental sticker or vignette (‘Umweltplakette’) is required in increasing numbers of German towns and cities. This also applies to foreign vehicles. The vignette may be yellow, green or red, depending on your vehicle’s emissions. This vignette is not required on motorways. An environmental zone is indicated by signs for ‘Umweltzone’. If you drive into such a zone without a vignette, you risk a fine. Some cities have a ‘diesel ban’, meaning that older diesel cars and cars without a catalytic converter are no longer permitted. The rules vary from one place to the other.
For more information, see: gis.uba.de/website/umweltzonen.

Place your emergency triangle on the motorway at least 200 metres (on other roads 50-100 metres) behind the car.All people in the car are advised to put on a high-visibility safety vest. In the event of a breakdown, phone the emergency number of your roadside assistance insurer. You can also call a German breakdown service: +49 89 22 22 22 (ADAC) or +49 711 530 34 35 36 (ACE). And you can call for roadside assistance from an orange emergency telephone. You’re advised not to repair your vehicle yourself on the side of the motorway. Towing on the motorway is permitted as far as the next exit.

German campsites are among the better-quality sites in Europe. Campsites are focusing increasingly on target groups such as families with children, hikers and cyclists, or wellness fans.
Wild camping outside organised campsites is generally forbidden. It is only allowed if the landowner gives permission.

Nearly all campsites have a midday rest time (usually from 13:00 to 15:00 CET), which must generally be strictly observed.

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