Skis in the morning and a lake paddleboard in the afternoon is a real day here, twice a year.

Driving licence

An EU or EEA licence is accepted as it stands. Licences from outside that area are generally accepted for a limited period after arrival, often alongside a translation or an International Driving Permit, and rental desks apply their own stricter rules on top. Bring the physical card.

Ski hire and the fitting

Ski and boot hire is a fitting rather than a transaction: your height, weight, boot size and stated ability set the binding release, and it is adjusted on a jig. Book the fitting slot as well as the kit at peak times, and expect a deposit or an identity check. Damage terms for edges and bases vary widely between shops.

Deposits

Alpine and climbing equipment is usually held against a card deposit rather than a document. Traditional dress hire carries a cleaning charge and a damage deposit. Car deposits are standard, but the premium categories set both a higher minimum age and a much larger hold.

The low-emission zone

The city operates an environmental zone requiring a windscreen sticker, and further restrictions on older diesels have been introduced in stages. Rental vehicles registered in Germany normally comply, but confirm this for a vehicle picked up elsewhere and driven in.

Boats on the lakes

The lakes south of the city have their own rules: several restrict combustion engines entirely and hire out electric or rowing boats only, and hire is by the hour from a jetty rather than by the day. Small electric craft generally need no certificate. Confirm the rules for the specific lake, because they differ from one to the next.

Two very expensive weeks

The Oktoberfest fortnight and the winter school holidays are the two periods when accommodation, cars and equipment all peak at once. Traditional dress hire runs out before the festival begins, and ski hire in the February holiday needs booking in the autumn.

Licence categories, age limits and what may be taken out without a certificate change, and operators set stricter terms than the law requires. Treat everything above as orientation and confirm it with the operator and the local authority before you book.