Situated in the heart of Europe Germany borders nine countries - Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland and Denmark.
With many lively cosmopolitan cities including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne, as well as the natural beauty of the Black Forest, the Alps and the Rhine and Danube rivers, Germany has plenty of diversions to stimulate the medical tourist, and is less than a two hour plane journey from most cities of Europe..
Following the reunification in 1990, Berlin was reinstated as the capital of Germany and is located in eastern Germany, about 70 kilometers west of the border of Poland. The events of the past may have left their mark on Germany’s largest city, but today Berlin is one of Europe's most buzzing capitals, a vibrant culturally rich city and a permanent hive of activity with performing arts, museums, galleries, and some 300 clubs, 7,000 bars and restaurants, many of which are open around the clock. Shoppers will be in their element on Kurfürstendamm or Friedrichstrasse and shouldn’t miss KaDeWe, the department store on Wittenberg Platz which is the largest store on European mainland.
Munich has developed as just the center of high-end medicine in Germany. Many outstanding medical professionals have created the medical cluster of Munich which is determined by the presence of two world known medical schools in this city, many innovative thinkers and researchers in combination with medical technology providers have made Munich the secret capital in Germany which is true for its leading position in medicine.
Or take Hamburg: the city has successfully developed cooperative structures among many high-end hospitals in the town, whcih attract a lot of medical tourists, especially from russia and the Middle East. Unnecessary to mention that Hamburg has an unbeatable attractiveness due to its luxury sjhopping malls and nearby sea resorts for the northern style of recreation: fresh air and the long natural beaches of the Northern Sea.
Cologne is known as the arts capital on the Rhine and hosts Germany's largest cathedral which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. The city's Rheingarten park and old quarter are other highlights. Bonn is located 20km south of Cologne and was the capital of West Germany between 1949 and 1990. Along with Germany’s lively cosmopolitan cities there’s much more to experience in Germany and before or after surgery medical tourists can explore more of the country’s natural beauty which is easily accessible via car or train. Think fairytale castles in Bavaria, charming medieval towns like Hamelin and Trier and over 25 world heritage sites. Hot spots include the Rhine and Moselle valleys, the Bavarian Alps and lake lands, the Baltic coast, the Harz Mountains, Lake Constance, Saxon Switzerland, the Black Forest, the Bavarian Forest and the volcanic Eifel region.
Germany has something of an industrial prowess, with market leaders such as Siemens and car manufacturers BMW and Volkswagen. It is also famous for its many beers, such as Franconia and Wheat beer from Bavaria, Kölsch from Cologne as well as red and white wines. The “Oktoberfest” beer festival in Munich is world renowned and typical German foods include sausages, Stollen cake and Black Forest gateaux.
Private cosmetic surgeons operate in the major cities and health care standards in Germany are considered to be high, with surgeons undergoing many years of intensive study and training in order to practise. The University of Bonn medical centre hospital, for example, is a modern, state of the art facility and internationally renowned for its surgical and medical expertise.
English is widely spoken and understood in Germany and while prices for cosmetic surgery may not be as competitive as in other European or far flung destinations, the cost of travel, accommodation, food and drink is generally cheaper than in the UK. Many providers offer initial and follow up consultations in London which eases the whole process for the patient and savings can still be made. In a UK private hospita,l rhinoplasty (cosmetic nose surgery), for example, can cost up to €4,600 while the price of the same procedure in Germany is likely to be around €3,800. Breast augmentation can cost up to €5,700 in the UK, but in Germany, it is €3,400.
The climate in Germany is similar to the UK, but summers are generally hotter and winters colder.
