Arrival in Hamburg

FAQ's
For general questions regarding your visit to Germany, please consult the IO links that will give you first information on the page General information. Please make sure you have considered our list of things to do and to carry with you when entering Germany and check our information at preparing for travel.
Here is an overview of the entry regulations for Germany (applying also to all Schengen Agreement member states) from the European Union
German customs details can be found at the website of the German customs authority

For any further questions you may have with regard to your visit to the Max Planck Institute, please do not hesitate to contact the International Office before your departure. On the day of your arrival at the Max Planck Institute, please come to the IO and get a check list of things to do.

Currency
The Euro (EUR, €) is the valid currency in Germany. For your first steps after arrival in Germany, make sure you bring enough cash with you to get you through the first days here. Please enquire with the International Office if you have any queries regarding financial issues. Please keep in mind that buses, subways, some taxis and small shops only take cash. No cards are accepted.
Find more details on the Euro, plus a conversion table at HowtoGermany.

Arrival in Hamburg
The International Office will try to ensure that you are met at Hamburg Airport or at the central railway station upon your arrival.

Please plan your arrival in Hamburg between a Monday and Friday during regular office hours (approx. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.). This is necessary in order to ensure that you get the keys to your rented accommodation upon your arrival. Likewise, avoid arrival on German public holidays listed at HowtoGermany.
Incase you arrive at a time where we cannot ensure that you are met upon your arrival, the directions to MPI-M in our Visitors Information.

How to reach your apartment or hotel by public transport

For instructions to reach the Max Planck Institute from Hamburg Airport, see our 'Visitors Information'.
For instructions to travel to other destinations within Hamburg, you may use the Hamburg public transport (HVV) website and get your personal itinerary by selecting English language top right:

Enter a street name which you want to reach.  

• At -Start- select green button 'Station' and enter either 'Hamburg Airport' or 'Hauptbahnhof' for central railway station, or 'Hamburg Airport'.

• At 'Destination' enter the (a) street address or (b) station name you know that you want to reach. For (a) select the green button for 'Address', for (b) select the green button for 'Station'. You may get a choice of roads or station names with the same name but in different locations. Search for the road name that has 'Hamburg' added to its name or enter Hamburg into the window 'Region'.

• Alternatively you can also find bus connections if you select 3 or 4 routes at the bottom part of the window 'maximum number of results'. Or enter bus at 'vehicle types'.

• On the results window, you get your connections. Note that your start and destination points always accompanied by a large map of the surroundings in the results window:  In the grey fields, at -start-  and -destination- you will find a link in blue letters, click and open the map in a new window.

By clicking at the HVV logo, you get back to the homepage and find a map of underground lines which you can download as pdf (Select 'Fahrplaene & Strecken', then 'Streckennetzplaene', here U/S/A/R-Plan'). This gives you an overview of the metropolitan underground train lines.

Start at MPI-M: insurance, payment
Upon your arrival, your working place will be ready for you. We will make an appointment with you on your first day at the institute and help you deal with the necessary formalities. From the day of your arrival you have to hold a valid health insurance. In case you entered Germany with a temporary insurance you have to take up cover from a German company on the first day you arrive at MPI-M.
Our Human Resources Department will assist you with the insurance and will
arrange your financial questions on the day of your arrival, see next chapter below.

Opening a bank account in Germany
To receive your monthly payments from MPI-M, you need to have a German bank account. When arriging at MPI-M, we will inform you how to open a bank account in Hamburg.