Germany Sex Guide advises where to find sex, working girls, prostitution, street hookers, brothels, red-light districts, sex shops, prostitutes, erotic massage parlors, strip clubs and escorts in Germany, Europe.

Germany, (officially: the Federal Republic of Germany), (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is the largest country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by Denmark, to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic, to the south by Austria and Switzerland, and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Germany is a federation of 16 states, roughly corresponding to regions with their own distinct and unique cultures.

Sex Scene and Prostitution

A German prostitute's self-portrait in a brothel, 1999.

Prostitution in Germany is legal, and so are brothels. In 2002, the government changed the law in an effort to improve the legal situation of prostitutes. However, the social stigmatization of prostitutes persists and many prostitutes continue to lead a double life. Authorities consider the common exploitation of women from Eastern Europe to be the main problem associated with the profession.

Documentary-makers in Germany have claimed that legalising prostitution has turned the country's capital Berlin into World biggest brothel. Sex trade laws were radically liberalised by the German government in 2002 but a documentary called Sex - Made In Germany estimates that over one million men pay for sex every day. The film was based on two years of research captured using hidden cameras and explores Berlin's world of 'flat-rate' brothels where customers pay €99 and receive as much sex as they want.

Laws were originally relaxed in the hope that they would offer a degree of protection to prostitutes who now have access to the basic things like health insurance and benefits. But more than a decade on the changes in the law have brought criticism from those who claim that they have simply made it easier for traffickers to force foreign girls into prostitution, according to The Guardian.

It is thought that around two thirds of the country's 400,000 sex workers come from other countries, in 1999 only half of the prostitutes came from other countries. But according to figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) the number of reported cases of sexual trafficking in 2011 in Germany - 636 - were down by a third on a decade earlier. Red light districts have also become much more prominent in Germany's major cities - there is approximately 3500 established brothels in Germany and the trade is now big business.

According to public services union Ver.di, over 14 billion Euros is accrued by the sex trade in Germany annually. Roshan Heiler, head of counselling at the Aachen branch of women's rights organisation Solwodi, is unsurprised by the numbers of guys paying for sex because it is so cheap and they won't get prosecuted. Defending the laws, Monika Lazar, of the Alliance 90/Greens party, told The Guardian: 'Prostitution is still socially stigmatized, but the law is helping to strengthen the position of prostitutes and ensuring girls and men are better protected.'

The details of prostitution vary regionally, because the federal states and municipalities decide where and how brothels may operate. (Berlin is the only city without zoning restrictions.) In some places, streetwalkers line up along motorways with open-air booths nearby for quickies. In others, such as Saarbrücken, near the border with a stricter country like France, entrepreneurs are investing in mega-brothels that cater to cross-border demand.

See Also: The Countries With the Most Prostitutes

Regions

Germany is a federal republic consisting of 16 states (called "Bundesländer" or shortened to "Länder" in German). Three of the Bundesländer are actually city-states: Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg. The states can be roughly grouped by geography as listed below.

Regions of Germany Northern Germany (Bremen, Hamburg, Hannover, Bielefeld, Rostock)

Western Germany (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Essen, Bonn, Duisburg, Bochum)

Central Germany (Frankfurt,Erfurt)

Eastern Germany (Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig)

Southern Germany (Munich, Stuttgart)



Cities

Major Cities

Berlin — the reunified and re-invigorated capital of Germany; known for its division during the Cold War by the Berlin Wall. Today, it's a metropolis of diversity with elegant clubs, shops, galleries and restaurants. Berlin is the only city in Deutschland with no Sperrbezirke, i.e. no areas where prostitution is banned.

Bonn - was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (previously, West Germany) and lies on the river Rhine some 20 km south of Cologne. The city has set up 'Verrichungsboxen' on the Immenburg Straße" for use by street prostitutes. Cars are parked up in a secured environment.

Bremen — one of the most important cities in northern Germany, its old town is a slice of hanseatic history. Compared to the hundred or so women working in Bremen´s red light area during its high-point, the street now houses maybe half that number.

Cologne — city founded by the Romans 2000 years ago with a huge cathedral, Romanesque churches, and archaeological sites

Dresden — once called 'Florence on the Elbe' and world-famous for its Frauenkirche and rebuilt historic centre destroyed during World War II

Düsseldorf — Germany's capital of fashion also offers fascinating new architecture and a vibrant nightlife. In Dusseldorf, Hinter dem Bahndamm red light area consists of a five-storey building with each window numbered.

Frankfurt — seat of the European Central Bank (ECB), with a skyline reminiscent of Manhattan ( "Mainhattan" ). The 'Bahnhofsviertel', east of the Central Railway Station - concentrated on the Taunusstraße and its side streets of Moselstraße, Elbestraße and Weserstraße is area with many brothels.

). The 'Bahnhofsviertel', east of the Central Railway Station - concentrated on the Taunusstraße and its side streets of Moselstraße, Elbestraße and Weserstraße is area with many brothels. Hamburg — Germany's richest and second-largest city, famous for its harbour; liberal and tolerant culture with its nightclubs and casinos along the Reeperbahn. St Pauli and its Reeperbahn is also more of a 'tourist' and general entertainment area than most Red-light districts.

Munich — Bavaria's beautiful capital city, gateway to the Alps and the site of the famous Oktoberfest

Stuttgart - the capital of Baden-Württemberg.

More Cities

Aachen - a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, at the point where Germany borders on Belgium and the Netherlands.

Augsburg - lovely city of about 266,000 people in the German Bundesland (Federal State) of Bavaria.

Bielefeld - the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold.

Bochum - a city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and part of the Arnsberg region.

Braunschweig - a city of around 250,000 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany.

Dortmund - a city in the North Rhine-Westphalia region in Germany.

Dresden - is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony.

Duisburg - a city in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Essen - a city in the central part of the Ruhr area in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Freiburg - is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany with a population of about 230,000.

Halle (Saale) - is a city in the southern part of the German state Saxony-Anhalt.

Hagen - located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Hannover - is the capital of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen).

Karlsruhe - a city on the Rhine in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. It is in the north of the Black Forest, close to the French border.

Kiel - is the capital city of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein and has a population of roughly 240,000.

Krefeld - is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Leipzig - is the second largest city in the German federal state of Saxony, with a population of approximately 521,000.

Magdeburg - is the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany with a population of 232.400.

Mainz - is the capital of Rheinland-Pfalz Bundesland - The area is well known for the major wine production of Germany.

Mannheim - a city in the northwest corner of the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany, at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers.

Münster - a city of about 293 000 inhabitants known for its university and as an administration centre.

Minden - the best known by consumers is Melitta for its coffee products.

Mönchengladbach - "MG", as it is often abbreviated, is mostly reknown for it's Soccer Club, Borussia Mönchengladbac.

Nuremberg's old town has been reconstructed, including the Gothic Kaiserburg Castle. Visit the Nazi party rally grounds, the Documentation Centre and Courtroom 600 (the venue of the Nuremberg Trials)

Oberhausen - a city on the river Emscher in the Ruhr Area, Germany, located between Duisburg (c. 12 km) and Essen (c. 13 km).

Rostock - a city near the Baltic Sea and to protect its fishing and access rights it actually annexed Warnemünde, a port area to the north.

Saarbrücken - a city is situated next to the French border at the heart of a metropolitan area where most of the people of Saarland live.

Wiesbaden - a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse.

Wuppertal -a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in and around the river Wupper valley, and is situated east of the city of Düsseldorf and south of the Ruhr area.

FKK Saunaclubs

FKK Saunaclubs are very popular in Germany (and also in Austria and Switzerland). The guests pay entry fee (50-150€) and got several services for their money. The most commons services are: solarium, sauna cabin, bar, infrared cabin, showers. The most of Saunaclubs offer erotic or sexual services as well, from porn movies to private sex with girls.

The most common FKK Saunaclubs in Germany:

FKK Saunaclub Artemis, Berlin

FKK Saunaclub Acapulco, Velbert

FKK Saunaclub Magnum, Düsseldorf

FKK Saunaclub Oase, Friedrichsdorf-Burgholzhausen

FKK Saunaclub Happy Garden, Tönisvorst

FKK Saunaclub Das5Element, Eichenzell

FKK Saunaclub Babylon, Hamburg

Read more: FKK Clubs

Red Light Districts

Famous Red Light Districts in Germany:

German capital Berlin has one huge FKK sauna club, Artemis and a lot of call girls working in apartments – but no red-light district actually.

Cologne (Koeln) has Europe's biggest eros centre, Pascha with 11 floors and several bars. Another smaller whore house is just beside Pascha.

Frankfurt has a giantic, big redlight district near central railway station. Some 14 eros centers offer the cheapest prices of all Germany, as little as 20€ for suck and fuck.

St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg hosts Germany's most well known redlight district around Reeperbahn. You can find places of all price levels, but be aware of tourist scams. Usually going rate in Reeperbahn is 50€.

Hannover has its Steintor area in the centre of the city. Many eros centers and sex clubs at very fair prices.

Munich has banned its red-light to several remote industrial zones, such as Stahlgruberring. Clubs and bars near its central railway station are in the off-limits area.

Stuttgart has its redlight district around Leonhardstrasse and there is also several luxurious sauna clubs.

Prostitutes and Sex Workers

Germany has huge amount of sex workers all over the country. You can find any type of girls from Germany: ebony, caucasian, African, Asian, latin, you name it!

Street Hookers

There are lots of street walkers in Germany but most high-class girls are working at brothels, FKK Clubs or massage parlors.





Live Sex Cams

Can I watch Live Cams in Germany? - Yes, you can! Basically you can watch our online live sex shows for free anywhere in the world if you’re connected to internet. You can choose any girl from our trusted Live Sex Cams! Join to get 10 free private teasers and 9.99 credits for free!

Live Sex Cams are booming at the moment. Webcam models can be found from all over the world and you can find girls, guys, trannies, couples and groups of different ages performing to you. Watching live sex shows is usually free, but if you buy some credits, you will have much better chances to see adult action as desired! It's possible also to hire a webcam model to a private chat room where you can ask the person to fulfill your fantasies.

Adult Locations

If you're searching for adult locations, Germany is your biggest dream! Especially FKK Clubs are very famous and popular in Germany.

Escort Services and Agencies

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Finding an escort when you're travelling can be a bit tricky. If you are looking for escorts in Germany, Escort Directory is the ideal solution. There are thousands of beautiful young women at EscortDirectory.com waiting for your call!

Escort agencies are operating all around Germany.

Erotic Massage Parlors

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You can find erotic massage salons from every city in Germany.

Brothels and Sex Clubs

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Germany has always had brothels and red light districts. About 30 years ago in a town called Lichtenberg outside of Bonn a man started the first FKK club. The term FKK means "Frei Korper Kultur" Free Body Culture which translates best to "nudist". The difference between a normal brothel and an FKK club was the presentation and system. The owner and inventor named "Bernd" got tired of the brothel system where price was negotiated, dark lighting, pressure sales and the workers bodies were hidden by clothing. Starting out in his basement he opened the first FKK club with his own system. Women were totally nude, the club had normal lighting, prices and services were set. Above all service was based on quality and customer satisfaction. Bernd's main customer base were local business men. The club is located in a small village in his basement. He charged an entry fee which included all you could drink beer, alcohol and snacks. Women were paid a flat fee for a session which averages about 30 minutes. The concept caught on and soon the club took over the entire home.

As the years went by numerous other clubs opened and used similar terms such as Sauna Club or FKK Club. The main difference is all the clubs offered a sauna but FKK clubs meant the women were totally nude.

Years ago the clubs were not tourist friendly and one had to speak some German to enter. Today some clubs still limit visitors and forbid entry to some guests. Tour providers have opened many doors to tourists and convinced clubs that foreign visitors were another form of income. Guests are picked up from major airports, transported to the clubs and then to a hotel in the evening. Tours were provided in the English language as well as Japanese. Tour packages came in 6 or 8 day tours and visited 10-12 clubs during the duration. A guide is provided to the guests who explains rules, culture and history of the clubs in their own.

In spa town of Aachen, men may go window-shopping for sex; they can have unlimited sex with as many girls they liked for 99€ at a “flat-rate” brothel in Berlin; or they can visit Pascha, an eight-story “mega-bordello” in Cologne.

Prostitutes in Germany all work freelance — instead of being paid a salary, they rent rooms from brothel owners who sometimes still do not question their health or see proof of insurance. The city of Stuttgart is home to high-class brothel Paradise, where girls were required to be completely naked at all times while men walked around in bath robes.

FKK Saunaclubs are very popular in Germany (and also in Austria and Switzerland). The guests pay entry fee (50-150€) and got several services for their money. The most commons services are: solarium, sauna cabin, bar, infrared cabin, showers. The most of Saunaclubs offer erotic or sexual services as well, from porn movies to private sex with girls.

The common term in Germany´s sex business is a Laufhaus, it is used because the customers walk through the corridors of the house, can negotiate directly with the prostitutes and, where appropriate, may enter into a contract. The entrance itself usually costs nothing in to the Laufhaus. In a classic Brothel, however, the customer entrance and usually also some expensive drinks must pay before he usually comes at a bar, with the women working there to do business.

Strip Clubs and Striptease

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You can find strip clubs in every big city in Germany. Sometimes you can also wacth striptease shows in German brothels and sex clubs.

Check out also Germany Strip Clubs.

Karaoke and KTVs

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There aren't any KTVs in Germany.

Swinger Clubs

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Germany is very good country for swinging. You can find swinger clubs or other swinging action almost every city in Germany.

Sex Shops and Adult Stores

If you don’t feel like visiting or cannot find any local sex shops in Germany, you can easily order adult products from Online Sex Shop.

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Every big city has good selection of sex shops and adult stores in Germany.

Love Hotels and Short Time Hotels

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Chambre Charme View Map Mit den Worten "Das Beste ist gerade gut genug", präsentiert sich das Chambre Charme auch bei den weiblichen Gästen als seriöses Etablissement, welches somit einen zuverlässigen und sicheren Vermieter für selbstständige Unternehmerinnen darstellt. Mit den Worten "Das Beste ist gerade gut genug", präsentiert sich das Chambre Charme auch bei den weiblichen Gästen als seriöses Etablissement, welches somit einen zuverlässigen und sicheren Vermieter für selbstständige Unternehmerinnen darstellt. Loebstraße 13-14, D-54292 Trier, Germany

Trier Europe Loebstraße 13-14, D-54292 Trier, Germany Hotel Q! View Map This hip hotel is a 5-minute walk from both Uhlandstrasse U-Bahn station and Savignyplatz S-Bahn station, and 4.5 km from Berlin Potsdamer Platz train station. The striking, minimalist rooms, studios and suites offer room service and free Wi-Fi, plus flat-screens and iPod docks.Breakfast is free ... This hip hotel is a 5-minute walk from both Uhlandstrasse U-Bahn station and Savignyplatz S-Bahn station, and 4.5 km from Berlin Potsdamer Platz train station. The striking, minimalist rooms, studios and suites offer room service and free Wi-Fi, plus flat-screens and iPod docks.Breakfast is free ... Knesebeckstrasse 67, 10623 Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany (Charlottenburg)

+49-30-8100660

Berlin Europe Knesebeckstrasse 67, 10623 Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany (Charlottenburg) +49-30-8100660

There aren't many real Japanese style love hotels in Germany.

Nightclubs and Bars

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Nightclubs, bars and pubs are everywhere in Germany. Beer costs sometimes less than a glass of water. Many German girls like to get drunk and party in the nightclubs, mostly during the weekends. You have good chances to find a local or tourist girl from the clubs and have sex with her.

Gay and Lesbian

Gay modeling in internet is getting more popular all the time and it's a big market alongside with gay porn. You can watch gay live sex also in Germany as long as you are connected to internet.

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The attitude towards gays and lesbians is rather tolerant with openly gay politicians and celebrities being considered increasingly normal. While some, especially the elderly, Germans inwardly still don't approve of homosexuality or bisexuality, they usually suppress open utterances of homophobia. Therefore, in most cases, display of homosexuality (holding hands or kissing) will at most provoke stares or sometimes comments by youngsters or elderly people.

In some areas of Berlin and eastern Germany 'gay-bashing' is popular with Neonazis or other gangs, so use common sense and be geared to the behaviour of the locals around you: if they display homosexuality, it is safe for you; otherwise, if not better avoid it. In small towns and in the countryside, display of homosexuality is almost unknown while it may be commonplace in Berlin and other big cities.

Other Adult Services

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There is a very good selection on BDSM clubs in Germany's big cities.

Dating

Dating in Germany can be a bit tricky due to cultural differences, so your best bet is to sign up for a dating site before your trip so you can meet a few locals ahead of time. AdultFriendFinder.com, for example, lets you meet local members in Germany and get to know them on a personal basis before you arrive. Take advantage of features like live chat rooms and member webcams so you know who you are chatting with before arranging a face-to-face meeting. Since time in your destination may be limited, get to know each other’s desires beforehand so when you do meet, you can skip the awkward introductions and start having some real fun.





Transsexuals and Shemales

Finding someone for transsexual dating when you’re on the road can be a bit tricky, so your best bet is to sign up for a dating site before you go so you can find locals ahead of time. TSdates.com is a dating site designed to help you find exactly what you are looking for in your hookup in Germany. Take advantage of site features like live chat and member to member webcams so you can begin flirting before arranging a face-to-face meeting. With over 40 million members, and thousands of transsexual members around the world, TSdates.com is the world’s largest site of sex-minded friends for discreet encounters and will help you find your next transsexual play partner.

Where can I find shemales in Germany? You can watch transsexual live sex shows in Germany as long as you are connected to internet. Check Now: Tranny Live Sex Video Chat



Hundreds of shemale escorts are working in Germany all year around. They mostly advertise their services online, but also some big brothels have their own transsexual girl section.

Sexual Services for Women

It's easy to find male escorts advertising their services online.

Sleeping and Girl Friendly Hotels

Before booking a hotel, make sure that it's OK to bring guests to your room at night time. Prostitution is legal so you shouldn't be ashamed to ask the hotel staff about that.

Naturally if you'll rent an apartment no-one is going to ask you anything. Anyway, it's very easy also to go and visit one of the famous brothels. Million of locals and tourists visit German brothels and FKK sauna clubs every year.

Stay Safe

Germany is a very safe country. Crimes rates are low and the rule of law is strictly enforced.

Violent crimes (homicide, robberies, rape, assault) are very rare compared to most countries. For instance, 2010 homicide rates were with 0.86 cases per 100,000 inhabitants significantly lower than in the UK (1.17), Australia (1.20), France (1.31), Canada (1.81) and the USA (5.0) - and they continue to decline. Pickpockets may sometimes be an issue in large cities or at events with large crowds. Panhandling is not uncommon in some larger cities, but not to a greater extent than in most other major cities and you will rarely experience aggressive panhandling.

Staying in Berlin and Hamburg (Schanzenviertel) around first of May, Tag der Arbeit expect demonstrations that frequently evolve into clashes between the police and a minority of the demonstrators.

Take the usual precautions (such as do not walk in parks alone at 3AM, do not leave your camera unattended, and do not flash around a big fat wallet) and you will most likely not encounter any crime at all while staying in Germany.

Emergencies

The nationwide emergency number for the police, fire and rescue services is 112 (same as in all EU countries). This number can be dialed toll-free from any phone, including phone booths and mobile phones (SIM-card required). If you are reporting an emergency, the usual guidelines apply: stay calm and state your exact location, the type of emergency and the number of persons involved. Do not hang up until the operator has received all required information and ends the call.

There are orange emergency telephones interspersed along the main motorways. You can find the closest SOS-phone by following arrows on the reflection posts at the side of the road.

Ambulances (Rettungswagen) can be summoned via the national toll-free emergency number 112 and will help you regardless of insurance issues. All hospitals (Krankenhäuser) except for the smallest private ones have 24-hour emergency rooms able to cope with all kinds of medical problems.

Racism

The overwhelming majority of foreign visitors will never deal with issues of open racial discrimination or racism in Germany. Large cities in Germany are very cosmopolitan and multiethnic with large communities of people from all continents and religions. German government officials and at least quite a few organizations exercise a very strict no-tolerance policy against any people known to have a Nazi / Nationalist ideology. Many Germans still feel at least quite aware if not even ashamed of the historical burden of the Nazi era and are usually open-minded and tolerant in contacts with foreigners. Non-white visitors may get an occasional wary look (particularly in Eastern Germany), but not to a greater extent than in other countries with a predominantly white population.

The situation may be different in some predominantly rural parts of Eastern Germany (including the outskirts of East Berlin). The feeling of being left alone with widespread underemployment and unemployment and the desperation caused thereby can lead some people to xenophobia ("they are stealing our jobs"). As a result there are more incidences of racist behavior than in the West with a few incidents of violence. Most of these happen at night when groups of drunken "Neo-Nazis" look for trouble (and solitary victims) downtown or near public transport stations. The anger of these groups is directed against anything which is different. Hence, it might not only affect foreign visitors, but also homeless persons, West Germans and people with alternative looks such as Punks, Goths, etc.

Public displays of overt anti-semitism are strictly forbidden by laws that are very much enforced. The Hitler salute and the swastika are banned, as well as the public denial of the Holocaust. Violations of these laws against racism are not taken lightly by the authorities. There is no such tolerance for things like "I was only joking about the matter".

Police

German Police officers (Polizei) are trained to be always helpful, professional and trustworthy, but tend to be rather strict in enforcing the law, which means that one should not expect that exceptions are made for tourists. When dealing with police you should remain calm, courteous and avoid getting into confrontations since you may be fined for insulting police officers. Most police officers should speak/understand at least basic English or at least have colleagues who do so. The younger they are, the better the chance to catch one who speaks good English. The level of English varies but all have a pretty good understanding. Otherwise some do speak French, Spanish or their parents' languages like Turkish, Polish, Russian and so on.

Police uniforms and cars are green or blue. Green used to be the standard, but most states and the federal police have transitioned to blue uniforms and cars to comply with the EU standard.

Police officers are employed by the states except in airports, train stations, border crossings etc. which are controlled by the federal police (Bundespolizei). In mid-sized towns and big cities, local police (called Stadtpolizei, kommunale Polizeibehörde or Ordnungsamt) have some limited law enforcement rights and are in general responsible for traffic issues.

If you get arrested, you have the right to have an attorney. Foreign nationals also have the right to contact their respective embassy for assistance. You are never obliged to make a statement that would incriminate yourself and you have the right to remain silent. Wait until your lawyer arrives and talk to your lawyer first. If you do not have a lawyer, call your embassy (or someone else who can hire one for you) else the local justice official will appoint a lawyer for you.

If you are a victim of crime (for example robbery, assault or theft in public) and wave an oncoming patrol car or officer, it is not uncommon that the officers will (sometimes rather abbruptly: "Einsteigen") command you to enter the back seat of the police cruiser. This is an action to start an instant manhunt to identify and arrest the suspect. In this case remember that you are not under arrest but to help the officers to enforce the law and maybe get back your property.

German Police do have ranks but are not that keen about them. Do not count the stars on the officers shoulders to choose the officer you will address. Such behaviour is seen as impolite and a disrespect to lower rank officers. Talk to any officer and they will answer your questions or redirect you (if needed) to the officer in charge.

Drugs

Alcohol may be purchased by persons 16 years and older. However, distilled beverages and mixed drinks with those (including the popular 'Alcopops') are available only at 18. It is not technically illegal for younger people to drink, but it is illegal to allow them to drink on premises. If the police notices underage drinking, they may pick the person up, confiscate the drinks and send the person home in the presence of an officer. In many public transport systems, such as the subways and buses in Hamburg or Nürnberg and increasingly many other cities, as well as on private local train operators such as Metronom in Lower Saxony, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. (Therefore you will see lots of beer and brandy bottles on interchanging station like Uelzen)

Smoking is allowed starting at age 18. Vending machines for cigarettes require a valid "proof of age", which in practice means that you need a German bank card or a (European) driving license to use them.

The situation on marijuana can be confusing. The Constitutional Court ruled that possession for "personal use", though still illegal, should not be prosecuted. Germany is a federal state therefore the interpretation of this ruling is up to the state authorities. In fact charges are sometimes pressed even for tiny amounts, which will cause you a lot of trouble regardless of the outcome. As a general rule the northern states tend to be more liberal while in the south (especially Bavaria), even negligible amounts are considered illegal. The customs officials are also aware of the fact that you can legally buy marijuana in the Netherlands and therefore set up regular border controls (also inside trains) as the import is strictly prohibited.

Even if you get off the charges, the authorities may cause different problems, like revoking your drivers license and if you have more than a few grams, you will be prosecuted in any case. Also, the drugs will be confiscated in all cases.

All other recreational drugs (like ecstasy) are illegal and possession will lead to prosecution and at least a police record.

Weapons

Some types of knives are illegal in Germany: this concerns mostly some types of spring knives, "butterfly" knives, knuckle knives and the like. These knives are illegal and owning them is an offense. Knives that are intended as weapons are restricted to persons over 18.

It is illegal to carry any type of "dangerous knife" on your person in public unless you have a valid reason to do so. For example, if you are out fishing you are still entitled to carry a fishing knife. "Dangerous" knives are generally those with a blade length exceeding 12 cm and "one-handed" folding knives.

Carrying any knife (except a Swiss Army knife in some cases) without any professional reasons (carpenter, etc.) is seen as very rude and unacceptable in Germany. Germans consider any non-professional used knives as signs of aggression and do not accept this behaviour. Flashing a knife (even folded) may cause bystanders to call the police, who will be very serious in handling the upcoming situation.

Firearms are strictly controlled. It is practically impossible to legally carry a gun in public unless you are a law enforcement officer. "Fake" firearms may not be carried in public if they resemble real guns. CO2 and air guns are relatively easy to acquire. If the police find any kind of weapon or firearm on you, you will appear highly suspicious.



