Europe Vacation and Travel Guide

GERMANY

MOVING TO GERMANY

Travel Tips

Browse our Guide to help you with your move to Europe.  We have everything you need to help you with your transition and getting settled in.
 

Money Matters

Military Pay Scale
GS Pay Scale
CONUS COLA Rates
OCONUS COLA Rates
BAH
OHA
Per Diem Rates
Exchange Rates

Military Finance Center
 

Military Communities

USAG Ansbach
USAG Bamberg
USAG Benelux
USAG Grafenwoehr
USAG Heidelberg
USAG Schweinfurt
USAG Stuttgart
USAG Vicenza
USAG Wiesbaden


DOD Installations
 

Entertainment & Recreation

MWR Europe
AFRC Garmisch

AFN TV Schedule
AFN FM Radio
AFN News Radio

 

Useful Links

Where is my POV?
Garmisch Jobs
DOD Jobs

 

Photo Galleries

Germany Photos
Mountain Photos
Christmas Market Photos
Castle
Send an e-Postcard

 
Germany offers a variety of landscapes from the coast in the north to the Bavarian Alps in the south.  The country boasts a multitude of historical towns and cities, romantic castles, and excellent museums.  The tourism infrastructure is well developed and most of the people speak English. 

Our Favorite Germany Vacation Destinations

US MILITARY TIPS
US Air Force | US Army | US Navy | US Marine Corps
Berlin | Heidelberg | Frankfurt | Munich | Stuttgart

PCSing or going on TDY to Germany?
Use this page as your guide!

MAIL

INBOUND MAIL
A Consolidated Mail Room (CMR) is located on almost every installation.  It is your choice as to where you would like to have your mailbox.  To obtain a mailbox, take a copy of your orders to the CMR and complete the application.  Your sponsor can obtain a mailbox for you prior to your arrival so you can begin having your mail forwarded.  Mailrooms are unlocked 24 hours a day to check your box, but the service windows for packages are only open specific hours.

You may also receive packages from friends and family, as well as from merchants who ship to APO addresses.  In order to have your purchase shipped to your APO box, it will have to be sent through US Mail.  Don't confuse UPS (United Parcel Service) with USPS (United States Postal Service).  UPS won't deliver to APO and it would cost quite a bit to have something sent UPS to your overseas street address.  The same goes for FedEx or any other delivery service other than the US Mail.

When you fill out your shipping address put your CMR information in the second line (under your name), then on the third line put APO for the city, AE for state, and your APO zip code in the zip code space.  If there a pull down menu for the states, look first for AE.  Many online sites now have AE as a choice.  If AE isn't offered, then use NY.

Some sites check to see if your zip code is valid for the state and reject an APO zip in NY. You may have to email or call the vendor to confirm your order and your address.  Don't be surprised if you have to explain that APO is domestic postage.

The types of shipments you are able to receive is further limited by the size restrictions applied to mail sent to a CMR/APO.  Large items in excess of 70 pounds and 108 inches in combined length and girth will not be accepted.  To determine the size of the package, measure all the way around the package and add that number to the length of the longest side.

Community members can also receive mail at their German civilian address.  For those living on post, letters and packages mailed to the civilian address will be delivered to an assigned mailbox within each building's stairwell.  However, friends and family members in the States can expect to pay extremely high international shipping rates when mailing UPS or FedEx to your German civilian address.

OUTBOUND MAIL

An Army Post Office (APO) is also located on every installation.  The APO is where community members go to send outbound mail and packages.

Ways to send mail and packages from an APO:

Military postal System (MPS) - Private individuals and organizations can mail letters and packages to other military postal addresses within the European theater free of charge through the Military Postal System (MPS).  Packages must weight 70 pounds or less and have a combined length and girth measurement of 100 inches or less.  In order to take advantage of the free postage, the sender must write "MPS" in the upper right hand corner in place of postage stamps. 

Space Available Mail (SAM) - Packages up to 70 pounds, and up to 100 inches in combined length and girth.  Airlifted from Europe to the United States port of entry and trucked to or railed to the package's final destination.

Parcel Air Lift (PAL) - Weight up to 30 pounds, and measurement up to 60 inches in combined length and girth.  Airlifted from Europe to final US destination.

Priority Mail - Weight up to 70 pounds and up to 108 inches in combined length and girth.  Goes by fastest means possible.

Military Express Mail - Weight up to 70 pounds and a measurement up to 108 inches in combined length and girth.  Includes insurance up to $500.  Guaranteed delivery before 3:00pm of the second or third day after mailing, depending on zip code.

Mail to German addresses - Letters sent from an APO to a civilian address in Germany can be mailed by affixing US postage stamps, and packages are sent at the US mail rate.  You must use a complete APO return address, not a civilian address.  Mail to civilian addresses in other foreign countries goes at the international rate.

DAMAGED SHIPMENT?

SEE OUR GUIDE TO CLAIMS FOR LOSS/DAMAGE TO HOUSEHOLD GOODS/BAGGAGE

Castles

Heidelberg CastleHeidelberg
Heidelberg is the very image of romantic Germany.  The city's 17th Century red sandstone castle ruin and the old bridge are two of the most majestic sights in all of Germany.

Neuschwanstein CastleNeuschwanstein
Venture into the Bavarian Alps and visit the fairy tale landmark upon which the Walt Disney based his Disney Land Castle: Mad King Ludwig's Schloss Neuschwanstein.

Vacation Tips

Browse our options below to help plan your vacation activities.  Don't miss these sights and activities.  Preview our photos before you go.

Panoramas

Colosseum
Heidelberg
Innsbruck
Lichtenstein
Salzburg

Ulm Cathedral
Vatican City
Vienna
 

Highlights

Sights
Food
UNESCO World Heritage
 

Activities

Castles
Festivals
Hiking
 

Countries

Browse our Travelogues

Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
France

Germany
Ireland
Italy
Malta
Northern Ireland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland