You will be awestruck by the lush spruce covered terrain that leads you into Selb at the heart of Germany’s porcelain road and the idyllic Fichtelgebirge.

When you arrive enjoy a refreshing walk through the idyllic surrounding nature areas, then settle in for some delicious local fare. Though there is not a large variety of restaurants, you will find that all of them will serve up something tasty in a friendly comfortable atmosphere.

After dinner stroll through town and visit the town hall where you will surely hear the dainty peal of bells. That’s the town’s unique porcelain carillon. Imagine the craftsmanship to make such a thing! Perhaps you will be inspired to visit the Porzellanikon (museum of porcelain and ceramics), where you can see people creating ceramic goods right before your eyes.

There will almost certainly be a festival taking place while you’re there, as the season of festivities kicks off on the first Saturday in June with the Burgerfest Selb, and is followed one after the next by Weisenfest Fair, White Gold Weeks, The Night of 1000 Lights, Festival of the Porcelain Makers, and then capping off the season of fun is the Farmers Market, which runs from September until December when the Christmas Market kicks off.

If you are there in the fall or winter be sure to take a gander at these local markets. You never know what unique treasure you might find.

Which brings me to shopping! ;-)

Selb offers an excellent opportunity to purchase fine ceramic gifts at affordable prices. Bring home souvenirs for friends and family, or just pick up some fine china pieces for your own enjoyment.

If you get a chance there are also plenty of other recreational opportunities including bicycling, bowling, mini-golf, horseback riding, fishing, sailing, swimming, skiing, and tours through the beautiful countryside. Selb even has its own international film festival.

Every moment you spend here will nestle quietly into your memory, and when you leave you will take with you the wonderful experiences you’ve gathered, and recall them as clearly as the porcelain bells you heard in Selb.

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Below is one Selb webcam showing you what’s going on in Selb right in this moment.

Note: Click on the webcam image or title to view its large version.

• Selb City Center
  Here’s the beautiful city center of Selb. :-)
  • ← Refresh
  • Courtesy of selb.de

While you will probably fly into one of Germany’s major airports, Germany is such a compact country that there is not a great need for internal air travel. However, if you do need to get from say, Munich to Hamburg, air travel in Germany is easy and efficient.

In general, domestic air travel is geared towards business travelers so it may be the usual means of getting around within the country for them, alongside traveling by train.

Tourists usually drive or take a bus or train (or find ways to travel through Germany on a budget ;-).

German Airlines

German airlines transport over 50 million passengers in and out of the country every year. There are also almost 100 other international airlines that have regular scheduled flights to and from Germany. It is common to have a connection through Germany on an international flight, so many passengers take the opportunity to see a little more of the country.

Lufthansa is the major domestic airline in Germany. It will connect with all major airports with at least four or five flights a day. These flights are short, usually less than an hour in duration.

Restrictions And Rules

Air travel into and out of Germany, as well as domestic travel is subject to the same sort of restrictions as most countries. You need to be two to three hours early for an international flight and about an hour early for a domestic one.

There is a ban on carrying sharps and liquids (more than 100ml) in your hand luggage and you will have to go through security to get to the concourse.

Airports In Germany

German airports are a delight. They are government owned private franchises and are well maintained and efficient with all the modern conveniences.

Most feature the typical duty-free shops, restaurants, bars, banks, car rental facilities, post offices, and medical facilities. Germany’s largest one, Frankfurt Airport even has a supermarket, dentist, casino and pet kennel. In December, you’ll even find a traditional-style German Christmas Market there! :-)

It is not always easy to find your way around such huge airports, but rest assured signage is clear in both German and English. There are plenty of numerical and pictorial guides to help you find your way.

It is also quite daunting just how big some of the airports can be; you may have to take a train, several moving walkways, elevators and still walk a few hundred meters. It’s a testament to just how many airlines fly through Germany everyday.

Besides, there is always a staff member available to help you find your way.

If you do find yourself flying through Germany and decide to take a short flight to one of the other small airports for some sightseeing there are some wonderful things to visit. Try the high-society Düsseldorf, the fun city Cologne and/or the fishermen metropolis Hamburg. A short flight to either of these locations will be cheap and quick and the airline will give you suggestions for accommodation.

Although, it is certainly more convenient to simply pick a stay using the hotel search here on MyGermanCity.com. ;-)

If you want to do a little shopping Düsseldorf is the place to go with its fashion centers and trade fairs, while Cologne has a vibrant arts scene and more than 30 museums. Hamburg is a media center so there is always an interesting premiere or performance to visit.

All in all, air travel to Germany, from Germany and all around the country is easy and pleasurable with such a comprehensive and well run air travel system. It is a simple and fast way to get around the country.

A trip to Germany doesn’t have to break the bank — you just need to know where, how, and when to go. If you make a few plans and have a look at your options before you book your trip you will find that it’s quite easy to travel on a budget in Germany.

Good Budget Travel Seasons

The first way to keep your trip on budget is to plan it well. From June to about September are summer holidays in Germany, meaning it can get busy on the roads and in the hotels. You will also be paying a premium for your lodging and fighting for space at local attractions, restaurants or festivals.

Mid or shoulder seasons (from March to May and from October to early November) attract smaller crowds. The weather is warm and balmy. In April and May, which is when the indigenous flowers bloom, it can be mild and sunny. It is not uncommon for summer to stretch even until autumn.

If you are traveling to focus on German city life and aren’t spending too much time outdoors then winter may be the perfect time for you. It is cold and the days are short and dark so there are fewer tourists (except around Christmas and New Year), thus accommodation and travel are much cheaper and easier to find. Just pack warm clothes and be aware that the sun can set quite early at that time of year so think of things to do after dark.

Means For A Budget Travel Through Germany

Another way to enjoy a budget travel in Germany is to share your travel. mitfahrzentrale.de is a site that allows you to partner up with other people driving across the country, even across Europe. People list their journeys across Germany and you can contact the driver and join for the price of gas.

This service is fabulous for people who want to travel economically and who have a great respect for the environment. Sharing saves energy and, of course, allows you the pleasure of sharing an adventure. Besides, you may have the chance to meet some very interesting people and learn more about the local culture and language. :-)

If you are up for a real adventure, hitchhiking is a very cheap way of traveling. There are Internet sites that give advice to potential hitchhikers in Germany, suggesting places to ask for rides, and the best locations for getting a free lift.

How To Sleep On A Budget :-)

It is usually cheaper to stay in German hostels or backpacker boarding houses than in hotels and it can pay to stay in a dormitory situation. Germany is well set up for backpackers with hundreds of hostels and a well-developed network of companies who offer travel and activity deals to budget travelers. (As a matter of fact, the German school teacher Richard Schirrmann was the “founder” of youth hostels since he developed its idea.)

Most major cities will have a hostel and they often provide food at a very reasonable price. Hostels are usually in busy parts of the city or town, close to attractions (often closer or much better located than 5-star hotels!), and staffed by professionals who know just about everything about traveling Germany on a budget. Many even have their own cafes and internet facilities.

If you haven’t got a lot of money or you are looking to stretch your travel savings a little further it is important to remember that it is possible to travel in Germany on a budget and still get a real feel for the cities, culture and people. It’s just a matter of choosing your times and places with care to save as much money as you can.

The country is well set up for budget travel. You will find some amazing deals and people willing to help you at every step of the way.

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