What to know if you’re driving from Denmark to Germany this summer
Many people holidaying from Denmark in the customary ‘summer holiday’ month, July, choose to drive through Germany to reach their destination. Here’s how events in July 2024 could affect travel.
People driving through Germany – not least motorists from Denmark – are likely to experience more traffic and queuing than usual this July.
That is partly a result of additional measures in place during the Euro 2024 football tournament, including border controls.
Passports will be required for travel from Denmark to Germany for the duration of the European football championships, which take place in Germany between June 14th and July 14th, German authorities have previously said. The border controls -- which also affect Germany's other borders -- will be in effect until July 19th.
Diversions are in place at some of the Danish road crossings, notably Frøslev, where signage has been set up to redirect drivers.
READ ALSO: Germany to check passports on Danish border during Euros
The border controls are not the only factor affecting traffic, with traffic around host cities for the tournament also heavier.
German motorists' organisation ADAC recently published a traffic forecast for the summer.
"We expect a high level of traffic density and resulting queues this summer. Traffic has generally increased in recent years, and there is still a lot of road work. That combination inevitably leads to queues," ADAC spokesperson Katharina Lucà said in a press release produced by Danish energy company OK.
Motorists should be prepared for tailbacks at most of the typically busy hubs, according to ADAC. These include Bremen, Dortmund and Cologne in western Germany. On the A7 Autobahn through the centre of the country – used by many Danes travelling south on holiday and north returning home – congestion is expected at Hamburg, Hanover, Frankfurt and Würzburg.
People driving from Zealand in Denmark are more likely to use the A9 Autobahn, which has better prospects with only the Nuremberg – Munich road likely to see delays.
READ ALSO: Here's what you need to know about travel in Denmark in the summer of 2024
The map below shows where the congestion is expected.
Graphic: ADAC
ADAC also advises drivers to avoid busy sections on the days when Germany begins its own summer holidays. That includes the weekend of July 12th to 14th in several federal states, when ADAC says queues of up to four hours could occur at the hubs mentioned above.
"It will take a long time to drive through Germany during the day this summer, so allow plenty of time for the journey and take breaks every two hours, especially if there are small children in the car,” Lucà said to OK.
“We also recommend that you don't drive excessive distances without stopping, so plan an overnight stay if possible," she added.
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People driving through Germany – not least motorists from Denmark – are likely to experience more traffic and queuing than usual this July.
That is partly a result of additional measures in place during the Euro 2024 football tournament, including border controls.
Passports will be required for travel from Denmark to Germany for the duration of the European football championships, which take place in Germany between June 14th and July 14th, German authorities have previously said. The border controls -- which also affect Germany's other borders -- will be in effect until July 19th.
Diversions are in place at some of the Danish road crossings, notably Frøslev, where signage has been set up to redirect drivers.
READ ALSO: Germany to check passports on Danish border during Euros
The border controls are not the only factor affecting traffic, with traffic around host cities for the tournament also heavier.
German motorists' organisation ADAC recently published a traffic forecast for the summer.
"We expect a high level of traffic density and resulting queues this summer. Traffic has generally increased in recent years, and there is still a lot of road work. That combination inevitably leads to queues," ADAC spokesperson Katharina Lucà said in a press release produced by Danish energy company OK.
Motorists should be prepared for tailbacks at most of the typically busy hubs, according to ADAC. These include Bremen, Dortmund and Cologne in western Germany. On the A7 Autobahn through the centre of the country – used by many Danes travelling south on holiday and north returning home – congestion is expected at Hamburg, Hanover, Frankfurt and Würzburg.
People driving from Zealand in Denmark are more likely to use the A9 Autobahn, which has better prospects with only the Nuremberg – Munich road likely to see delays.
READ ALSO: Here's what you need to know about travel in Denmark in the summer of 2024
The map below shows where the congestion is expected.
ADAC also advises drivers to avoid busy sections on the days when Germany begins its own summer holidays. That includes the weekend of July 12th to 14th in several federal states, when ADAC says queues of up to four hours could occur at the hubs mentioned above.
"It will take a long time to drive through Germany during the day this summer, so allow plenty of time for the journey and take breaks every two hours, especially if there are small children in the car,” Lucà said to OK.
“We also recommend that you don't drive excessive distances without stopping, so plan an overnight stay if possible," she added.
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